The little tree that could.

Hope is in the air again.

For the first time since Sam and I purchased the Christmas tree farm 20 years ago, we sold a tree before Thanksgiving! While we have customers who always come and tag a tree in November, no one ever took one home
to decorate before Thanksgiving!! And that weekend, Sam sold two more.

The Christmas spirit is thriving once again. And people are excited about the future.

I know I am.

Hope and faith are very much alive and thriving in our little tree farm, in the form of a simple Fraser fir tree. Yes, a little tree. So, what's the big deal? It's a Christmas tree farm, and that's a tree. Hardly worth getting excited about, right? Well, Fraser firs do not thrive at this elevation or in our climate. They require a rain forest climate to grow and aren't well suited for dry climates with low humidity.

The Christmas trees we grow are a white fir species called concolor fir, so named for the variety of colors the tree comes in as it matures. This species is native to the southwest, is drought tolerate, and well suited for the Lewis-Clark valley climate.

For the first few years, we only ordered and grew concolor firs, but people kept asking us if we had any grand firs, or fraser firs, as these are the species most well-known and what you will find at any tree lot. So in 2015, we ordered a small batch of grand fir, fraser fir, and noble fir seedlings as an experiment, 10-20 of each species. We planted some here, and I took a half dozen up to our cabin (elevation 3,800') to see if they would grow up there. To my disappointment, none of the seedlings survived...except this one single fraser fir here in Lewiston. I thought maybe the ones planted at the cabin would make it, but the summer proved too hot and dry; by fall only a twig and slip of marker tape was all that remained. And so, I turned to this one simple tree and silently asked it to stay and grow. Then I stood back, checking on it occasionally, always wondering how much longer it would stay.

The lone Fraser fir, December 2016.

It became my little tree that could. A testament of my faith when all seemed lost...and hopeless. Yet, in that simple tree, I found a miracle. I know it seems silly, but I love little things like this; I tend to believe in the impossible.

Sam standing next to the lone Fraser fir, December 2019.

Christmas can be a time for hope, faith, wonder and maybe a bit of magic. I hope as you read this, you find the faith you need, and it fills your heart with joy in the simple things we may overlook.

The lone Fraser fir today, December 14, 2024.

All grown and thriving at over 7 feet, December 14, 2024.

#fraserfir #treefarm #FaithJourney #keephopealive #christmastreefarm

Apples + Fall...a winning combination!

A comfort food that's good for you, I'm in! Apple Cider Donuts. Just in time for fall!

Common sense. These days it seems everywhere we turn someone makes the comment that common sense is lacking in our society. That's a troubling thought. But I believe that is about to change. It happened last year when I read a book titled, Thyroid Healing: The truth behind Hashimoto's, Graves', insomnia, hypothyroidsim, thyroid nodules & Epstein-Barr by Anthony William, Medical Medium. There's just something about what he says and writes that makes sense. Right now, I'm reading his first book, Medical Medium, which he revised and expanded because of the covid pandemic.

Anthony helps us bridge the gap between our understanding of how our bodies work and how everything we eat, think and do affects this amazing machine we live in. He provides the tools to get healthy and stay healthy. In simple, easy to understand and follow language. Plain and simple.

I consider myself to have an open mind (most of the time), but I carry a healthy dose of skepticism as well. However, my life experiences have proven to me, time and time again, that anything is possible and there is so much we do not know or understand about this world, this universe, we live in.

I have tried many of Anthony's recipes which offer healthy alternatives to comfort foods (those foods we crave even when we know they are not good for our bodies). But Anthony flipped the script on these misunderstood gems and created easy recipes that not only taste wonderful but provide us with a healthy alternative: ice cream made from frozen bananas (OMG, where has this been all my life!), "Nacho Style" baked potatoes that were fulfilling and delicious (now that's flipping the script!), and a garlic cashew aloli which quickly became my favorite topping. Just to name a few.

I've reached the age where serious changes are happening within me, and I have no desire to lose any of the ground I enjoy standing on. If change is in the cards, then I'm dealing the cards and taking some control of the hand I am dealt.

There are sacrifices. Eggs, dairy, pork have to be completely eliminated if I want to heal my body.

Love is about making sacrifices, but it is so worth it.

It is time. I am learning to become my best advocate for my health.

If you missed the above link for the recipe, click here---> Recipe for Apple Cider Donuts.

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An Open Letter to Hollywood

Hollywood. Go back to making movies with substance and humanity.

Stop with the gore, horror, and apocalyptic themes. That's not what makes us tick.

You have hit rock bottom in our minds and hearts. Too many within your so-called elite circle dabble in the dark side, wholly supported and hidden by you. It appears you thrive on scandals, abuse, and violence.

Hollywood has lost sight of what is real, genuine and most of all, authentic. Your image is tarnished. Even the great Oscar no longer has value to the rest of the world. Not like it once did. Now the movie going public views you as just another fool.

Your customer base is shrinking. Soon, it may be gone. Is that what want?

There are thousands of stories written and published every day. Stories that bring people together. Stories we, your customers, can relate to because they have depth and meaning...and most of all give us hope that there is something worthwhile to believe in. Find those stories and writers, because the ones in your pockets today are giving you garbage. 

Get back in touch with your audience base, the real audience. Ask us what we want.

Go back to making movies that tell us a story of what it's like to be human. To stand strong with our heart and get back up when we get knocked down.

Move us. Inspire us. Lift us up. Fill our hearts with love. Bring yourself to be human again. Bring us movies. Like this one. 

Love is about making sacrifices, because it's worth it.

https://youtu.be/FUS_Q7FsfqU?si=VfwV4PTEJ5zpynQD

Of messages from the past

Often, I find myself filled with wonder at something I did or wrote, that was lost to my memory with the passage of time.

Thursday evening, I came across my journal from 2021. As I scanned through the pages, one entry dated 9/21/2021 in particular caught my eye.

Seeing it for the first time in years filled me with a sense of delight. I don't remember writing it, what inspired it, or what compelled me to put the thought down on paper. But I'm glad I did. It was a nice reminder that day.

It's been on my mind since.

It is the little things in life that lift our spirit and fill our soul with lightness.

Resilience isn't learned, it truly is built. Funny, how changing that one word, completely transformed the intention.

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Monday Morning Motivation, February 26, 2024

 

If I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that you should tell people how important they are to you. Not because they could leave at any moment, but because they’re here now, and it’s worth saying something. ~Unknown.

 

You are important.

Monday Morning Motivation, February 12, 2024

 

Good morning!

Wherever you go, may people recognize that you have a beautiful heart!

Photograph of Labradorite heart, copyright 2024 IdahoGemGirl (copyright embedded in image).

Monday Morning Motivation, January 29, 2024

 

5 THINGS TO REMEMBER TODAY

You are valuable.
You are enough.
You have a voice.
You are seen.
You are capable.

#mondaymorningmotivation #mondaymotivation #mondayvibes #mondaymood #bekind #bekinder #bekindertoyourself #bekindereveryday #encourage #encouragement #liftoneanotherup 

Monday Morning Motivation (on Tuesday), January 22, 2024

 

In case no one told you today…
Hello!
Good morning.
You belong here.
You’re doing great.
You make a difference just by being you.
Somewhere, someone’s life is better because of you.

Monday Morning Motivation, January 15, 2024

Good morning/afternoon!

I hope…

Yesterday reminds you how strong you were.

Today proves you how capable you are, and

Tomorrow tells you how fantastic you can be.

You can say that here

 Being around horses has distinct advantages. We can say things that, in any other time or place, might be deemed inappropriate. Things like...

"You look good on him." (I've had that said to me).

Or "He's too much for her, maybe you should get on him."

It's perfectly normal conversation at the barn; no one gets offended or put out. That's just the way it is; that's how we talk.

And such was the case at team sorting two weeks ago. I'll set the stage.

The barn owner/event hosts have many friends, one of whom is an avid team roper and frequent visitor to the barn. I'll just call him R and he's a hoot and a half, just a fun loving guy. Extrovert major. And that's when he's sober. Alcohol tends to magnify his personality, but not in a bad way. He becomes more...people friendly...if you know what I mean.

So, I'm sitting on Duke nursing a cold brew when I see R strolling on foot into the arena. Make that swagger into the arena. His entrance is one that won't go unnoticed because he has a certain lively energy to him at the moment...the kind everyone hears...and he has a beer in his hand.

Data gathered and noted.

To my right are my friends Erica, Hillary, and Kim. To my left is another friend named Judy; a shall we say mature woman. I had just taken a swig of my beer, as I'm watching R's face light up and he strolls right up to Judy, like he's on a mission.

Then he belts out, rather loudly, "Hey, how old is your ass?"

Judy is sitting on a mule. And responds to his question as if he was asking about her son. "He's 30," she says, nonplussed. And the two strike up a conversation about mules, comparing notes, etc. The way people meeting for the first time might chat.

Me? I'm really glad I already swallowed the beer, because it would have come out my nose if I hadn't.

If a guy said that to a woman (especially a stranger) anywhere else, he would have been slapped...possibly. Most likely more than once.

Okay...someone would be stinging, that's for sure.

There's no people like horse people.

Monday Morning Motivation, January 1, 2024

 

A tad late posting today. Got distracted by boxing up my Christmas decorations and needing a nap. :)