November 21, 2023

Yesterday was our two year Riley-versary. The big anniversary of bringing this lil Texas pup home. Originally from a litter of 13 pups in Arkansas, he was rescued by Great Pyrenees Rescue Society and sent up to the PNW to be fostered. He was the wildest little pup we've ever lived with and he's brought us so much laughter and joy (and frustration) these past two years and we are so grateful.

Coincidentally, yesterday we were able to donate $220 to GPRS from our Tuffy toy fundraiser in the farmstand. Thank you to everyone who bought a Tuffy toy and so much thanks to everyone who has shown up for our little farmstand fundraisers over the years. In the past four years we have been able to donate almost $8000 and numerous gift certificates and flower subscriptions to organizations close to our hearts. The list includes: NAMI SWwa, Council for the Homeless, GPRS, Aina Momona, Oregon Dog Rescue, I Paw'd it Forward, Hockinson HS Boosters, Hockinson ASB, Hockinson PWT, Hockinson Main Street Team, Hockinson Band Boosters, Hockinson Grad Night, Chinook Rugby Club, American Suicide Foundation, Clark County YWCA, YWCA Safechoice Program, The Children's Home Society, SwWa Humane Society, Whatcom County Humane Society, Vancouver NAACP, Blanchet House, American Red Cross, Quinn Driscoll Foundation, North Clark County Community Food Bank, The White Helmets, and The PCRF. 

Thank you all for making this happen. For showing love and helping support these amazing organizations doing good in their communities. Whether that was sharing posts and bringing awareness, following the organizations' social media, or participating in farmstand fundraisers, every little bit matters. We are all connected. 

"Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go."

-Mother Teresa

*photo of Riley on our way home after picking him up

This photo is for Beth Tugaw who gifted me this gorgeous amaranth from her magical garden this morning and reminded me just how important it is to play.

If you live in Hockinson, you know the name Beth Tugaw. A recently retired teacher, she pours her heart into our community. Whether it be in the classroom or her contagious positive energy at all the sporting events, she is a mood lifter. Students adore her. However, if you're a gardener, you also know that she has some of the most gorgeous, impeccable gardens in the county. When she gave a speech at my oldest son's graduation and tied it to gardening, I cried. She is so wise and the kids were so lucky to have her at the high school for so many years. 

Soooo, when she reached out to let me know she had some extra amaranth and asked if I would be interested in it for bouquets, I was honored.  She was kind and generous enough to drop off a bucketful in the farmstand a few minutes ago and as soon as I finished making bouquets, I decided to make a crown fit for a garden queen.

If anyone is a queen in this community, it's Mrs. Tugaw and I am so grateful that in messaging with her this morning I was reminded of the importance of play. Play is one of the keys to well-being and she certainly fosters that in the youth of our community.

Thank you, Beth, for this amazing amaranth and for all you do for our kids!

❤️

"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."

-Coretta Scott King

So grateful for this lil flower community. We were able to send Maui love via our farmstand fundraiser.Thank you!! 😘

So incredibly grateful for this time spent at @greatpyreneesrescuesocietyinc. I'm not completely certain when I'll return to the farm as I booked a one -way ticket to Texas. This has been what our hearts needed. Dog rescue is tiring, endless work and the neglect and abuse that so many dogs have endured is heartbreaking, but what I choose to see in rescue is unconditional love, dedication, sacrifice, courage, and hope. 

Flowers and dogs are healers and uniters and I'm grateful every day that I get to have them both in my life. Of the two, dogs have always been my truest love. They are my heart. They've been my lifelong support and joy and I wouldn't be here without them.

Thank you to everyone who gives a bit of themselves to rescue and for giving these sweet souls another chance at life. You are so appreciated.

Edit: I've already had questions about if this means I'll be flowering this year. Oh yes, when I say I'm not sure when I'll return to the farm, I mean which day. Sometime in the next week. I will need to get back to my family, dogs, flowers, and customers. 😘

Things I'm feeling especially grateful for today:

-Teenagers. They often get a bad rap, but this farm wouldn't run the way it does without their helpful hands. I love having their fun spirits and positive energy bopping around the place. Thanks, kids!

-A goofball puppy and a family of crows. Their silly antics keep me amused while working in the field each and every morning.

-Cetirizine. Keeping my nose from dripping and distracting.

-A hubby who comes home after work and without fail, comes to find me in the field or barn despite the long walk and always with a smile.

-Really killah fillah. They're the backbone of our market bouquets and just never seem to get the spotlight like the flashy peonies, ranunculus, and dahlias. Here's some from this morning's harvest. Getting a big ol hug because they deserve it!

I hope you find some things to be grateful for today!

Flowers in the self-serve roadside stand until dusk.

#gratitude #flowers #family

Last week, someone messaged me and pointed out they dont see my face on IG and they wondered if it's intentional. Hmmm, I don't know if it's intentional, but the question did make me realize it's been awhile since I introduced myself. 

My name is Sarah and I'm 46 years old. This is my mom, who, while being a tiny bit older than I am, still seems to have more energy. The ever-reliable task-master, she has endless to-do lists and motivation. This photo was taken in the dahlia patch at the end of a very long, hot day last August. I can't remember the exact conversation at the time, but I'm guessing we were both insisting the other one take a break and sit down. I'm sure we were in a sit down stand-off.

My sweet momma worked a million hours a week at her corporate job while raising my sister and me, and always let us know we were her number one priority. She encouraged us to be strong, kind, and courageous and inspired us to chase our dreams.

She won many awards for excellence over the years at work, but she really deserves the award for her patience. As a Type-A personality with a tidy, spotless home, she allowed me to keep turtles, snakes, parrots, rats, mice, hamsters, feral cats, rescue dogs, fish, tarantulas and lizards as pets. In fact, I once turned the bathroom into an iguana habitat and she totally never freaked out. 

This isn't what I'd consider a good photo of myself after a sweaty, dusty day in the sun, but it's one of my favorites. 

"A person can learn a lot from a dog, even a loopy one like ours. Marley taught me about living each day with unbridled exuberance and joy, about seizing the moment and following your heart. He taught me to appreciate the simple things-a walk in the woods, a fresh snowfall, a nap in a shaft of winter sunlight. And as he grew old and achy, he taught me about optimism in the face of adversity. Mostly, he taught me about friendship and selflessness and, above all else, unwavering loyalty."

John Grogan

It's true, dogs really are the best of us. This year was a heartbreaking one for our family. Losing two of our dogs was gutwrenching. I still think I see my girl chasing bunnies in the field or hear old Barn Dog whining to go inside. It's been a hard adjustment, but we are so grateful for the time we had with them and our other two floofs keep us laughing every day. 

We've also been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to foster and to assist so many dogs in finding their people. Truly, they are the great unifiers. When seeing someone meet their dog for the first time, there's never a shortage of tears and goosebumps. I can't tell you how many big men have teared up and thanked us for fostering as they load their newly adopted pup into the car. And guess what? In meeting people through fostering, and through dogs in general, judgement, politics, differing worldviews, all of it is absent. There's nothing but love, joy, and gratitude. The spirit of the dog. May we always strive to be more like them. Love.

#nationaldogday #foster #adopt #spayandneuter #dog #love #gratitude #barndog #barndogflowerfarm 

Whoah! I'm running so late today! How are you guys? We're gearing up for the Hockinson Farmers Market tomorrow (9-1pm) and trying to rush our harvest this morning. We're harvesting daily from 6am until about 10:30 and then again each evening from 7:30 to 9:30. Gotta split the shifts in this heat!

Speaking of split shifts, my hubby and I have a system down for markets and well, life in general. For markets, he packs the truck, sets up the tent and is a general moral support leading up to it. I truly depend on him for so much. And he's cute and he keeps the mood light. Anyway, he unexpectedly jumped on a plane Wednesday to rush off to help a sick aunt in NYC. During a heatwave, on a farmers market week, with custom orders, with company here, with a giant tree removal job, and with irrigation failures. Oh, and with a dishwasher blowing out. That sounds like a lot right? I should be panicking, right? I suppose I could be a little crabby and disappointed that he'd take off on such a hectic week, but guess what? We have a choice. We can choose to see these little challenges however we'd like. I'm choosing gratitude. I am soooooo freaking grateful to have a life partner who would jump on a plane to rush off to be with a family member in need. I'm also grateful that he believes I can handle all the things I just mentioned. Because guess what? I can. 

So, that's my Friday morning pep talk reminding you that you can handle all that life throws at you. Yep, you can! It's also my way of letting you know that there won't be any flowers in the stand until at least noon and as I mentioned in an earlier post, I won't be able to take any new custom orders this weekend. 

Have a great weekend! Hope to see you at the farmers market!

Oh, did I tell you I was summoned to jury duty and it starts on the first day of our dahlia subscription? No worries, we will cross that bridge when we get to it! 

 #flowers

Twelve years ago I was raising two little boys. I'd left teaching five years earlier to stay home with them, to goof around on the farm, and to create a life for them that I had only dreamed of as a child. I wanted to live in the country, have oodles of animals, and play in gardens. While my family filled most of my cup, there was something missing. I missed work and having my own thing. So, I spent every single free second gardening. We donated produce to the food bank, and with the hundreds of mixed bag dahlias we grew, took them to our local hospice house. Occasionally, I'd have weekend barn sales where we sold produce and flowers and my crafty maker friends would bring candles, cards, jewelry, and other goodies. I loved the hum of those weekends and being surrounded by my creative girlfriends. It was my little outlet.  Did it pay bills? No.  Did I ever want to return to teaching? I didn't think so. My heart wasn't cut out for teaching. I subbed enough when my children were young to know that I was far too soft for it. I'd come home, sit on the couch, and cry on some of those hard days. Hungry kids, behavior issues from a life of neglect or abuse. It was hard. I would always spend the next day in the garden after subbing.

Anyway, a dozen years ago or so, our family was on a ski trip to White Pass and when we stopped in to a coffee shop in Packwood, my breath was taken away by a wall of clocks. Gorgeous, whimsical clocks, full of color and emotion. One clock jumped out at me for it was in my favorite color greens and had these soulful, emotive eyes. An owl clock. Although, I didnt buy one, they lit a spark in me and I couldnt stop obsessing about them all the way home. 

That Christmas, I opened a present from my husband, and in it, the owl clock. He snuck away and went all the way back to Packwood to get it. That guy! He'd move mountains. 

When I turned the clock over, I read the name Allen Design Studios. Hmm. 

Flashforward to 2021 when Michelle Allen reached out asking if I would be interested in doing little flower arrangements for a fundraiser she was doing at her home gallery. Uhhhm, fall over. 

Up until a couple years ago, I didnt realize that the artist who created the beloved owl clock lived right here in the Vancouver area. What?! And now she's inquiring about my flowers? No way. Of course, I texted a friend who knew the owl clock story and was around 12 years ago when I was gushing over my Christmas gift.  I wasn't freaking out at all. Ok, maybe a little. Would the flowers be ok? I mean, she's an artist. Would my color choices be to her liking? My friend texted back something like, "she's just a woman doing what she loves...just like you." It then kinda hit me. I am doing what I love. I have an actual business. People can see what I love. Eep, the introvert in me kinda panicked. Maybe I'm overexposing myself. But that little voice, that little message from the Universe said, "This is your flow. Keep it up. Be happy. Joy is ok."

I have been so blown away, humbled, inspired, and energized by the women I've met over these past couple of years who are following their bliss either in business or in hobby and are courageously letting their joy and their art be known. Michelle Allen, thank you for the beauty you put into this world and the joy you bring to others. And to all the women forging their own paths and following their hearts, keep it up! 

As one of Allen Design's paintings reads, "Fly so others can see the color in your wings."

Photo courtesy of Allen Designs

Flowers by Barn Dog Flower Farm

Pottery by Shelby Proudfit of Sip and Spin Pottery Co

Synchronicity. Coincidence. Call it what you will, but I find it to be of one life's most beautiful surprises. I delight in these moments. For me, when I'm in a flow, fully in the present, synchronicities will happen in clusters. Maybe a dozen a week at certain times. Here's an example. 

Years ago, we watched a logging project on a property we drove by on our way to school. A house completely shaded by dark trees brought into sunlight and completely relandscaped. At first we were sad about the cutting of the trees, but as we watched the landscape transform, we were in awe of the beauty and design. Here we are years later, forced to have our own logging project. A couple months  ago, as we worked to clean up, I thought of the property we passed often and decided to write them a letter asking who they may have hired for help. I did a little search, got their address, and wrote them a letter. The letter was returned. Wrong address.

As we drove by one day, my husband read the numbers on the mailbox and, remembering I had the letter in my purse, wrote down the correct address. The letter went back into my purse and was never mailed.

Flash forward to the Hockinson Farmers Market this past Saturday. We cruise in, wave to my friend Shelby of Sip and Spin who is setting up across the way from us and begin putting up our booth. Once we were all set, a woman came over to introduce herself as Shelby's grandmother. She wanted to let me know that she knew where we lived and that she had a connection with our home. Since she had lived in the community for 50 years, she knew people who lived here before us. She explained that her husband, now in his 80s, had grown up playing in our barn. Goosebumps. I love hearing these stories.

Our conversation then shifted to the flowers. I would have visited with her all day. She then mentioned they had some logging done a few years ago. I paused, asked her to hold on for just a second, walked to my purse, pulled out the letter and asked, "is this you?" She saw her address and she looked stunned. I said, "I wrote you a letter months ago."

So, I explained the story, we laughed and hugged (yay, hugs!!) and I winked at the Universe.

"A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden."

Uhhhhm, yep. 

With the heat, I was feeling overwhelmed by all.the.things. We've had sooo many projects and changes around the farm that sometimes I look up and everything feels broken and unfinished. I was racing to water trays and keep seedlings alive, harvest before it got too hot, and pot up the rest of an unexpected shipment of bareroot woodies this morning all while tripping over project ends in the barn. I sat down, a weee bit paralyzed and defeated and messaged a sweet friend to vent. She knows the ins and outs and ups and downs of the farm well. Her first response was, "how can I help?" I explained that I just needed to vent and that the frustration would pass. She responded, "I'll be there in 15 minutes." I tried explaining again that it was fine and I was having a moment, but before I knew it, she was driving through the gate.

She's one of those rare friends who jumps right in, doesn't mention your mess or how disheveled you appear. She tidies and chats and before you know it, order feels restored. 

Although I've claimed to be a one woman show over here, I truly couldn't do it without the support. My sweet friend has been behind the scenes cheering me on, running errands, gathering supplies, bringing me vases, helping me run the farmers market booths, giving me reminders, and listening to my big dreams for the better part of two years. So, while I look around and see a logging disaster,  barn reorganization messes, a half finished farmstand, heat stressed plants, and other small disasters, I know that they're fleeting frustrations in the scheme of things and I am one lucky lady to have such a dear friend who's brave enough to show up and dig in. Thank you, Julie! You're truly one of a kind!