Random thoughts

Def becoming a dog person. Took me long enough. We never had one growing up, and I'd been around them a bit, but between dog BO, dog breath, and dog poop, never considered myself that much of a fan. Being around Chloe, Mom's lil runt (a Morkie), and my recent embracing of other critters in the animal kingdom (learning about keeping chickens, sheep, etc.) has cultivated a desire for a dog or two that I hope to realize when we have a house. Not before though, as it's barely enough room for the two of us and the cat at the apartment.

Meara passed along her version of a budget to Mom and I, and it's a nice starting point to creating a budget for our household. It's so dang easy to let "extra" money go into the register at Starbucks (or Zaxby's or Chipotle, or...), and that needs to stop, period. This week, I'm building our household notebook on the computer and in hard copy, and setting my to-do lists down on paper. Should also start a list of books I want to own.

Dark Meadow will be small by farm standards, 10 acres tops, I think...because honestly, I'm only looking at a handful of sheep and if I seriously go 'round the bend, a milk cow. Otherwise, it'll be small, more contained critters like chickens, which even with mobile tractors for pasture raising don't take up too much room. Wouldn't mind some trees and scrub brush, since I hope to have a wood stove in addition to whatever central HVAC system...ideally we'd love solar and wind power, but that's years down the road.

Farm wannabe

Hi there! Welcome to the fickle mind of Melanie J., aka Ember Madrone and NC Moving. I’m here because I’ve been thinking of creating a blog dedicated to my very special dream, that of having a farm someday. Just a small one. A couple of sheep, some meat and laying chickens, a decent-sized garden, a dog or two. A couple of acres that are off the beaten path but not crazy-far-away from Starbucks. As you can see, I want it all.

I tend to get whiny at Ember Madrone…that blog is really a journal/diary, which I should probably make private, considering how in-your-face I make it at times. Dark Meadow isn’t going to be like that…it’ll be solely for the trials and tribulations of making this dream happen, from my container gardening exploits to repairing our credit to move out of Jacksonville to budgeting to buy a house and hopefully, land. Life is a journey, and I could use another place for my to-do lists.

Why Dark Meadow? It’s a combination of the meanings behind my and my husband’s names: Melanie (dark) and Leslie (meadow). It may change…who knows! For now, I like it. Let’s see where it takes me :)