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Memorial Day Weekend in New Hampshire

May 29, 2023

Memorial Day Weekend in New Hampshire. Nestled up near the Canadian border, Pittsburg sits unassuming.   It’s crufty, worn, and strong like the old barns that dot its landscape.  The old barns are a nod to the farming landscape that used to be abundant, vibrant, and thriving as a way of life. Every year I get to trek up to this country. I think about the family members I…

Family

Siblings: For Better or Worse

April 23, 2023

(From the archives-It’s been dusted off and polished up) The other day I drove by a local farm. Two of the brothers were out in front of the barn working together.   One brother was on the back of a tractor, and the other brother appeared to be holding something for the project. Seeing them pulled at my heart as I thought of my boys. Were those brothers peacefully…

Family

A Weekend Visit and a Nugget

April 17, 2023

I had a great weekend with Tyler at Purdue for FarmHouse Mom’s Weekend. This year was even bigger and better, with more moms–which was great! We put together a flower arrangement and cookbooks of our favorite recipes.  I can’t wait to start cooking! I always enjoy my time with Tyler, and out of it, there is always a nugget to share.   As I sit here and write, I am…

Family

Peeps and J.M. Fields

March 27, 2023

It’s Easter season, and I do love Easter candy! When I think of Easter, it always comes back to my sisters and me spending Easter at my grandparent’s house on Cross Street with my cousins and the EB! Easter egg hunts, the ham dinner, and going to church are solidly there in my mind with pictures to boot! But, in a close second for memories is my mother,…

Family

And like that, it’s almost over

February 12, 2023

Dear Jakey, Watching you play basketball has been one of the greatest joys of my life.  Seriously, it has.  I am your biggest fan! Through primary basketball, AAU, DAGS, and Varsity.  Late nights coming back from practices and weekend-long tournaments, it has been so much fun, and I wouldn’t trade that time with you for anything. Your feisty defense and serious offense—you never let up, always working hard…

Family

Jacob is looking for colleges

November 6, 2022

It’s hard to believe, but this little cutie pie is going to college next year!  And we are out touring college campuses this week. Purdue?  Michigan State?  We are on the hunt for a great Agri-Business or Farm Business Management curriculum that fits Jacob. Aunt E is going to introduce us to her alma mater, Michigan State.  And of course, Purdue has the one and only, Tyler Ziehm.…

Family Lifestyle

Happy Halloween!

October 30, 2022

The kids don’t trick-or-treat anymore, and the costumes are hidden away in the attic. But we will carve a pumpkin tomorrow afternoon and light it tomorrow night because… …it’s still Halloween!  And for any sweet tooth candy hound like myself, it’s an excuse to eat candy like it’s your business! So that’s what I will be doing today, Monday, October 31.  Preparing for my trick-or-treaters–who this year will…

Family

4th of July Boat parade

July 10, 2022

Happy Sunday! Summer is now officially in full swing, the 4th of July came in with a bang! Like always, we spent our holiday weekend up at the lake in NH with family and friends. We were missing someone though. Tyler missed his first 4th of July at the lake ever. For good reason, he was in Michigan cultivating cucumbers. We missed him, but we are very happy that he…

Family

My Dad keeps us afloat

June 19, 2022

My Dad keeps us afloat. It’s a very difficult job, but somebody has to do it! Always the caregiver, Dad, constantly goes about making sure that everything gets done for us.  Property management is his forte.  🙂  When things get tough, he is apt to hand us a $20 bill, or start doing some task to help, under mom’s direction, anything to restore our happiness. If we are…

Family

Happy Memorial Day 2022!

May 30, 2022

Happy Memorial Day! We celebrated in true “Cilley” style, a trip up to Back Lake, in Pittsburgh, New Hampshire.  It’s a family tradition. It was a bit different this year.  It was just Sam and me, no Tyler or Jacob.  Tyler is interning in Michigan this summer at a very large cucumber farm.  Jacob’s high school lacrosse team was in a big sectionals game.    So, off we went…