Year in Review

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Goodbye 2025, hello 2026!!

I hope your year was good and interesting! For me it was just that - interesting, learning a lot, and kind of tiring.  Ups and downs were quite prevalent, probably more prominent than previous years.  I've been exploring farming, learning how to grow a variety of foods: potatoes, peas, carrots, strawberries, etc.  And in growing potatoes, I've been inspired to get heavy into investing in farming as a business.  Potatoes never go out of style - and who doesn't love homegrown produce? Of course, my plan is to grow and sell other produce, but my primary product will be potatoes.  

Becoming self-sufficient is a fulfilling process.  It forces you to slow down, think, and be productive with your time.  

In the process of growing food, we've been incredibly busy giving the farmhouse a refresh.  It's still not done, but it has come a long way in just over a year.  My sister and I have been slowly chipping away the paint and wallpaper in the 5th bedroom - which is slated to become a cat room/reading room.  

Now what is this blog post without pictures? Here are a few snapshots from the second half of the year:



Garlic has been planted in my potato patch! My plan was to have a third row planted, but the weather turned to winter quicker than anticipated, so 2 will have to do



My dad scrubbed the unvarnished section of the dining room floor.  I can't believe how beautiful the wood is.  The next step is to lift the varnish from the edges




I had a bit of fun rearranging my strings of lights.  One thing about me, I love messing around with white lights! They're perfect year-round! They also set a nice mood in the bathroom




My sister's room got a refresh! The way it was organized previously minimized the space.  Now, with the new arrangement, it's more aesthetically pleasing and functional! 


Time for the obligatory cat photos! I love photographing my kitties, so below will be my best snaps from the end of the year:

Pumpkin enjoying a drink

Luna just being a sweetheart

Boots liked being tucked in for a bit the other day 

Taffy being Taffy

Claire asking for pets

Luna again, her little tongue all silly

Cheddar Jack, my soul cat

And Mama Honey and her babies: Wafer, Thistle, Cupcake, Pumpkin, and Plushy

Can't forget my other good boy, Phantom!

Raising these cats has been a joy - but it also came with the heartbreak of losing 3 kittens this year.  My inside kittens were supposed to have a 5th sibling, but she was stillborn.  Spice's brother Marshmallow got attacked by another animal - his internal wounds were so severe, I had to make the tough choice to put him down.  The outdoor babies lost their sister, Snickers, to a congenital defect.  Yes, I about cried writing that out - the pain of losing animals, especially little ones you tried so hard to save, just burns.  

Perhaps 2026 will be a better year! Sometimes, after a rough year, a good one comes along to offset the hardships of the previous one.  And I certainly hope that's the case here, not just for me, but for anyone else who may have suffered heartbreak last year.  

Hope you enjoyed that little update! Here's to a productive 2026!

See you in the next post!

~Gigi


If you enjoy this blog, leave a tip by clicking the button below! Every contribution will go towards funding the farm and helping the cats! 


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