“Hold fast to what is good.” Romans 12:9 Today is September 8th and my birthday. I’m so grateful for this past year’s journey around the sun. Not because it was perfect and wonderful, but because it was filled with difficult lessons—lessons which really forced me to see, reflect, accept, and grow. And… It. Was. Hard. This may come as […]
A special thank you to my mother-in-law, Lynn Burke for sharing Louise Pentz’s art and inspiring journey. This short film tells the story of Louise Pentz’s evolution as an artist. Thirty years ago, she began making functional pottery, such as teacups and dishes, but eventually lost her passion for it. Then, one day, she decided to look up the […]
“You are way too talented, gifted, and unusual to let anyone keep you from standing.” From the Film, Music and Lyrics
This speech by US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven is beautiful, moving, and inspiring. I hope you will watch it.
“You are the books you read, the films you watch, the music you listen to, the people you meet, the dreams you have, the conversations you engage in. You are what you take from these. You are the sound of the ocean, the breath of fresh air, the brightest light and the darkest corner. You are a collective of every experience you have had in your life. So drown yourself in a sea of knowledge and existence. Let the words run through your veins and let the colours fill your mind.” ~Jac Vanek
I’m truly grateful for this place…Green Hill Farm. And, what I’ve come to realize is that no matter the challenges of living here, my love for this farm is constant and irreplaceable. I love it for its enduring ability to lift my spirits, fill my heart, and give my life direction. The very thought of it…is joyful. I hope these photos of Green Hill Farm bring a bit of joy to your day. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂
My good friend, Rhonda and I are going to see Tom Petty in concert this weekend. So, I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite Tom Petty tunes as well as the answer to a question that was part of an award from a fellow blogger. A while ago, the joyful and effervescent Ritu of the blog, But I Smile Anyway, nominated me for the STARLIGHT Blogger Award. She asked, “Which song would you use as the soundtrack to your life?” Here’s my answer. I don’t know if I could narrow it down to just one song. I’d probably choose a couple from the Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers album called, Anthology: Through the Years, namely: “Runnin’ Down a Dream” and “Learning to Fly.” I chose these songs, because they speak to me about the journey of life. I like how the metaphors of driving down a road, weather, and flying are used regarding life’s ups and downs as well as encompassing the lessons of faith and perseverance. I also really LOVE the note of optimistic defiance in the lyrics. I think most of us can identify with the metaphor of life as a road in the song, “Runnin’ Down a Dream.” We start out on a sunny day, believing in our goals and dreams and that “anything is possible.” And, as we’re heading down the road of life, we run into those people or circumstances that are stumbling blocks rather […]
Farmgirl sharing a moment of joy with Sweet Sadie Circa 2006 “It was a very ordinary day, the day I realised that my becoming is my life and my home and that I don’t have to do anything but trust the process, trust my story and enjoy the journey. It doesn’t really matter who I’ve become by the finish […]
Farmgirl Circa 1976 “BE FAITHFUL TO THAT WHICH EXISTS… WITHIN YOURSELF.” ~André Gide
* So much better if you turn up the volume. 😉 “As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.” ~Mary Anne Radmacher *** “Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm.” ~Unknown “No one is useless […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 