our off-grid holiday

We spent time at the cottage sleeping in, breakfast, games at night and more... It was a blast and the best part was we were a short walk from home!

We are making memories!

Stayin' at the cottage this Memorial day weekend. We slept so sound and peaceful, all 8 of us...
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Introducing "Angiepologie"

Be one of the first followers for this household name of the eclectic love of "all things Angie"

http://www.angiepologie.com/

Our Maple Cottage

Today, our whimsical meadow farm welcomes guests from San Francisco, St. Johns and Rockford... We can't wait!
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Number 57

I am at the flower-veggie auction this AM... Lots of interesting local camaraderie for sure and of course some plants... Fun!
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He is here

We proudly welcome "Billy" our first kid of 2011 to Maple Valley off-grid farm! Mother and baby are doing well! Ruthie is proud her goat birthed so well for the first time. We awoke and there he was.

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Our mare is ready...

Our dear Marge, our Belgian mare is ready to foal any day. She is truly "makin' bag". She has us a little ramped up for this event. She is not a first time mother, but still...

All eyes and hearts are on Marge these days and nights here at Maple Valley Farm! I would love to have some coverage of the birth but the other part of me hopes and prays we just wake up and there is a little colt or filly...

Stay tuned!
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An off-grid, home school, graduation openhouse! A first of many...

A day for the memory books! Our first home school graduate! 13 years of schooling complete, where has the time gone? To God be the glory, great things He has done! It has been a joy and pleasure from God to home school these children! I love being their Mom!
Let the people rejoice!

Mr. Serious with his oldest sister! The Great Him with one his best buddy!

They are the best of friends still at the teenage years!

Ruthie loves her oldest sister too!

a 15 year age difference but no love lost!

an off-grid open house would not be complete without ice from our ice house to chill the cakes... When you are home schooled you can pick out your school colors... She is a nature study girl at heart and designed all of these centerpieces... The smell was heavenly!

Ma and Pa kettle with our eldest!

Her heart for God outshines her outward beauty!

We were blessed with one of the loveliest Michigan weather days here at the farm!

not a stitch of rain, a wonderful breeze and sunny!

all the flowers were free! We picked them!

We served the cake and punch reception inside but our wonderful family and friends lingered on the porch and under the ancient Horse Chestnut trees and the children swung on the rope swing...

Thank you all who showed up for the wonderful day. It would not have been the same without you!

To God be the glory!

Jack pot!!!

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It has been a while...

It has been a while since I have written a heartfelt post to you… Life has been good here on the farm. I have been deep in thoughts and prayers constantly as the days go by with much gratitude. I am thankful that spring is here to stay. It seems as if after a long and tough winter for our family we have now traded those months for beautiful spring days with beautiful puffy clouds, sunshine, new spring smells and fresh baby farm animals. Funny how you can seem to forget the tough when “the sun comes out tomorrow”. I have forgotten most of the tough, but not all of it. But when I think back it brings me to God and I remember how fragile life actually is and it keeps me close to Him… I never want to forget how much I need Him… I think these tough times help us to remember that, so for this I am also thankful.
These children of ours are growing up so fast. How can I stop the hands of time? It seems like just yesterday each of these precious blessings had just been delivered to us. With tears at times I reflect on their precious lives that God has entrusted us with for much to short of a time. We actually live longer away from our parents in our lives that with them and I am not accepting this real well as of yet. I want to give these children wings to fly to Him and give them the jump in their step they need to get the best head start they can for the rest of their lives that they live away from us. When we moved here, that is the most important reason we did, to give our children the best start we could and that we as humble parents knew how…

To give them the best life we felt God called us to give them in a time like today, away from some of the mush that the world can offer, even if only for the beginning of their lives… It has been a blessing to have a safe spot for our family here and I thank God for this even after an extremely rough winter….

You see tomorrow a simple phone call could bring us back on the grid and more… Tomorrow we could go back to “it” all. But for right now, even if for a fleeting moment, we feel safe to keep things as they are…

I would not trade these last 3 years for anything but another 50 as rich and deep as these have been… And yes, “God is still driving this thing”.

(all photos taken by HomemakerAng here at Maple Valley off-grid Farm)

Let's just say

Tonight its fresh wild caught perch for supper from 1 of our ponds...
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I love decorating with nature...

Please forgive me as my camera died and I am currently only with a camera phone...

I wish you could smell these bouquets, trilliums from our wood, violets, a fern, mosses and of course lily of the valley from the foundation of the farm house...
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Pear blossoms from our orchard...

I am bringing the outside in...

How bout' you?
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Getting ready

For our first graduation open house... Our first home school graduate...

"Where has the time gone"? This Mama asks...

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Some of our Saturday!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=I44GbZgr-58

I will get a better link at a different time, but for now enjoy as is :)

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A good ending to a great day!
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Saturday on the farm!

Rotating pastures, planting in the misty rain, catching critters and more!

But first some farm fresh orangey, eggy baked french toast and maple syrup!

What are you doing today? I love hearing from you!
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We have been foraging this week for Morchellas

We are just starting to find the beloved morel mushrooms...

We have been making mornings of it with at a short stop today at a greasy spoon breakfast joint (a rarity for us) in small town USA complete with a working pay phone!

Life is what you make of it! Enjoy your family and life today, you never know what day could be your last with a loved one, appreciate each day with gratitude...
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Sunday highlights...

We went a nature walkin,, mushroom huntin' and horsin' around on a beautiful Sunday evenin' complete with a roarin' bon-fire by the pond...

How did you spend your weekend? "Come out, come out wherever you are and do tell"!
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