Thanksgiving 2024 is officially in the books, and the 2024 Christmas season is in full swing! It was a good Thanksgiving, full of family, laughs, and snow this year! I truly enjoy Thanksgiving. Unlike Christmas, there isn’t the underlying stress of shopping, decorating, party planning, and wrapping. Trixie and I may have been the first dog and 54th human across the finish line for the Thanksgiving Day Turkey…
The best piece of information that I got when I re-entered the workforce in 2011 was this: “You are going to screw up.” Bluntly, my new boss left it at that. I was a bit speechless. But after the initial shock of the statement, it kind of freed me up from worrying about doing the wrong thing. Because I was going to at some point. After that first…
Sam and I went on vacation last week with my entire family! We had a great time, it was so nice to get away. It has been years since I went someplace warm during the winter. Traveling to another country is an experience. Not to mention, doing it with your whole family is double the experience. With three different generations, there are a lot of things to…
When it rains, it pours.. …and even on the 4th of July, hiccups and clouds can come rolling in when you least expect it. That is exactly what happened this year for us. We had a triple threat this holiday week: A tree fell on the car, the refrigerator at the camp died, and it poured for all of our 4th of July festivities. Typically, the 4th of…
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…
I have a royal confession to make. I am a card-carrying royal watcher. I receive notifications from People Magazine about the latest going’s on at the palace. And I OWN IT! (please don’t think me pathetic) This “interest” goes way back to when I was younger and visitted England. I can’t help myself! All those jewels, fineries, and stories, oh, the scandals! So, of course, I tuned in…
If you farm, you have faith. We have faith that the rain will spill over from the clouds when it’s dry. And understand Mother Nature is on her time, not our time. Faith. Farmers have faith that the baby calf is going to live. Praying that the sparkle comes back to her eyes, her coat shines again, and she jumps up at feeding time. If the calf takes…
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…
On Tuesday, November 5, 1985, my life and the way I think of goodbye changed, forever. Over the last few weeks, I have watched close people in my life suffer through losing people close to them. I have been affected. Loss is a trigger to reflect and go deep within yourself. And even though it may not be your loss, you can’t help but be affected watching people…
Once a day, once a week, or once a month. It’s an event to be marked, especially when performed with family members. Moving animals. Reading the moods ahead of time doesn’t seem to matter, as you know, dispositions are likely to change on a dime. It is nearly impossible to anticipate all of the loopholes that an animal or herd of animals will find. Some days it’s like…
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