Tuesday Tunes: Shine!

  “You can be the most beautiful person in the world and everybody sees light and rainbows when they look at you, but if you yourself don’t know it, all of that doesn’t even matter. Every second that you spend on doubting your worth, every moment that you use to criticize yourself; is a second of your life wasted, is a moment of your life thrown away. It’s not like you have forever, so don’t waste any of your seconds, don’t throw even one of your moments away.” ~ C. JoyBell C. “Strong people have a strong sense of self-worth and self-awareness; they don’t need the approval of others.” ~Roy T. Bennett “Every woman that finally figured out her worth, has picked up her suitcases of pride and boarded a flight to freedom, which landed in the valley of change.” ~Shannon L. Alder “Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn’t have the time to sit around and talk about you. What’s important to me is not others’ opinions of me, but what’s important to me is my opinion of myself.” ~ C. JoyBell C. “Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn’t change the heart of others– it only changes yours.” ~Shannon L. Alder “There will always be someone willing to hurt you, put you down, […]

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Green Hill Farm: A Retrospective #2 — Perseverance

  *This post originally appeared in September 2014.  Farmguy and I were celebrating ten years of living on Green Hill Farm after the restoration of my family’s homeplace, and it seemed like a good way to start my blog, Fourth Generation Farmgirl.  Every May, I like to re-publish this post for new readers.  It’s an introduction to this blog, but even more, it’s a nice reminder for me of the importance of continuity.  For those of you who may have already read this post, I apologize for its repetition; however, if you choose to read it again, you have my thanks. 🙂 There’s a sign that hangs in our vestibule or small covered porch that reads “PERSEVERANCE,” and it’s been our mantra since moving to Green Hill Farm. My husband and I were in our early 30s when we decided to take on this project. Sometimes when we look back at pictures we say, “WHAT in the world were we thinking? Were we INSANE?!!” Whatever the answer, it was the path taken. This path has lead us on a journey that has been difficult and challenging at times but rewarding and enriching, too. Anyway, we all know that anything worthwhile isn’t easy. Which brings me to the next piece of our story. The first day we visited the house after construction had started was surreal. It was a hot, humid day in June, and the grass was starting to need cutting. […]

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Above and Beyond: An Everyday Hero

BANG! BOOM! WHOOSH!  These are sounds no homeowner ever wants to hear, especially late on a snowy, Saturday evening when your house is over 200-years-old. Farmguy and I were finally relaxing last night, after spending all day studying and making flashcards for our WSET sommelier exam, when suddenly, we heard a crashing sound that sent us both into a heart […]

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Out of Chaos…Beauty

Jackson Pollock Mural 1943 oil and casein on canvas National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C.   “We all find joy and radiance and a reason to move on even in the most dire of circumstances.  Even in chaos and madness, there’s still a beauty that comes from the vibrancy of another human spirit.” ~Ishmael Beah, human rights activist       […]

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Tuesday Tunes: Sisterhood

About four years ago, I had the privilege of being invited to join a chapter of P.E.O (Philanthropic Educational Organization) in my area. There aren’t enough words to convey the many attributes of this organization and the women who serve in it.  As I think of my fellow sisters, I see their smiles, hear their laughter, and feel the joy and warmth they […]

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The Weekly Bleat: Speaking Through Art

As someone who has worked with children who have a diagnosis of autism, I was especially moved and inspired by Blake Henkel’s story.  Blake is a young man from High Point, North Carolina.  While he has limited communication due to an autism diagnosis, he expresses himself beautifully and powerfully through his artwork.  Not only does Blake Henkel enjoy painting, but he is also a prolific and successful artist.  I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen to his story, appreciate his lovely, vibrant art…and be inspired. 🙂 See Henkel’s story in this edition of Roy’s Folks.  The link is below.    http://myfox8.com/2018/01/24/local-man-with-autism-a-prolific-painter/

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Good Vibrations

Edward Hopper American, 1882–1967 Ground Swell 1939 Oil on canvas National Gallery of Art Washington, D.C.   If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” ~Nikola Tesla; inventor & physicist “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…” ~Proverbs 23:7; KJV    

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