Updates from Peaceful Cedars Farm

 New windows made a big difference!!

Healthy Sleep Habits

 

I am an insomniac from way back. At one low point in my life, I don’t think I slept much for several days. If I knew then, what I know now, I would’ve taken different steps, because I don’t think I was thinking clearly after all that time without sleep.

I now sleep through most every night, except for the occasional too hot, too cold and having to empty my bladder (old lady problems). BUT and this is huge, I get back to sleep fairly easily.

I have helped countless patients, over the years, to improve their sleep habits. I have referred many to various articles. My husband suggested I write my own article, from a personal and professional perspective.

Most people who are having trouble sleeping are guilty of violating at least one of the healthy sleep recommendations. For many, they are reluctant to give them up (but the television helps me get to sleep, etc.) and I will try to address all the excuses and why it is important to give up the unhealthy habits.

• Make your bedroom dark enough and cool enough
• Keep your room clutter-free. Clutter can actually increase anxiety. Anxiety can interfere with sleep.
• Set up a bedtime routine and try to do it about the same time every night. Wash your face, brush your teeth, do your nightly reading, praying or meditation. You are preparing yourself, physically and psychologically, to go to sleep.
• Bed is for two things: sleeping and sex. Nothing else.
• If you are having trouble with sleeping, do not read, watch television, text or surf while you are in bed.
• Do not go to sleep with the television on.
• Keep as many electronics out of your bedroom as is possible. If your cell phone is your only phone and you want to keep it in your bedroom for emergencies, turn off all other noise makers, especially texting and especially if you have friends who like to text in the middle of the night, just to talk. Let family/close friends know if they need to reach you for an emergency, they need to call. Yes, the same number they use to text they can use to call. If it’s not an emergency, it can keep until morning.
• If you cannot sleep, (after a reasonable amount of time) get up out of the bed. Go read, listen to meditation. Try not to turn on the television.
• Keep a worry journal. (will discuss later)
• Make sure your bed partner has healthy sleep habits.

Recalculating

Well......it's been a while since I've written anything and we've gone all over the place as to what we want to do with the property.  It's hard because I love the house I live in now, I just don't love the location anymore.  After much discussion, we are determined to move forward with moving into this house eventually and realizing our dream of becoming more self-sustaining and maybe having a small business in Lincoln County for the rest of our years.  We just will need to hire more help than we had originally thought and will have to continuously re-adjust our timeline, plans and dreams for the future.

And here is a future art project

And another

 And some random nature pictures

And a neighbor or two.

And Another Wall Bites the Dust

This weekend we spent a good deal of time doing demolition.  We made some good progress.  We got the walls down from between the two bedrooms that will become our Master Bedroom. 

This is a look at where you will enter the Master Suite, when we are finished.

 This shows the end of it from the hallway perspective; these doorways will be closed in. 

We got all the light fixtures down and put in temporary light.  We have been trying to take out everything we know we will replace, that might be carrying dust and smoke.

We have a temporary bed (currently covered with a tarp) an inexpensive dresser (to keep our clothes a little cleaner) so we can spend the nights there and be able to get more done on the weekends.

We got a refrigerator and a washer/dryer in the house so we can eat and be somewhat functional, without having a huge pile of laundry, when we get back home after a weekend of working.

We spent some time also cutting down trees, the cedars that are too close to the house and a small shrub tree that was growing into the house.  We also cut and burned a tree that was laying on its side.  

From the distance, I spotted the color of these beautiful spider lilies, by the fence at the back of the yard. 

These are pictures of Steve, with the pitch fork he found on the property.

Next some progress of cleaning up around the lean-to barn.

This is the pile, so far, of the junk left on the property that we need to haul away.

And the lawnmower that needs hauled away.

Steve set out some corn and a salt lick and then set up the game cam to see what comes by to have a snack. 

Next, enjoy some random pictures of nature; here's to good mental health.  I'll update you next week on more of our progress.

Stinky, stinky

When we returned to the farm house a week later, it still stank of cigarette smoke.  So, we spent the entire day, September 17, cleaning.  Steve mopped the walls with a Bona Mop (get yours here) and vinegar, which our research told us was the best for getting out cigarette smell.

Next I burned some more sage.  I also took a potpourri pot and lots of potpourri, with citrus, again to try and absorb the smell.  We opened jars of Fresh Wave (get yours here)

I took lots of coffee beans and ground coffee and kept a pot brewing most of the day.  I cleaned the cook top, oven and kitchen  counter tops again

and Steve tackled the master bathroom.  Just having a bar of Grandma's Soap in the bathroom made it smell oh so much better.  You can buy yours here.

 My sister came to visit and we walked the property, trying to identify trees and plants.  Next weekend we hope to spend three days and set up a refrigerator, washer/dryer and bed so we can get more done.

Some Days are Hard

Today was an emotional day as the reality set in as to how much work there is to be done.  No matter how much I cleaned the kitchen, I could not get beyond the ick factor of how dirty it is.  Steve said the kitchen smelled much better when he came in and that he thought I made more of a difference that I knew.  The living room, however, still stinks of cigarette smoke and we've made a decision that the beams must go.  They are fake beams, not in good shape, but they have absorbed too much cigarette smoke.  The book cases on either side of the fireplace must also go.  They are not in good shape and just scream "70's", if they were in better shape, we might consider up-dating, but, alas, we must say good bye.  The jury is still out on the fireplace itself.  If we can get it cleaned well enough it may get a white wash, part of it depends on how we decide to configure the house.

There were two shining moments.  The first illustrated by this set of pictures, which shows how much difference a quick pressure wash can make.

Then, of course, we ended the day by walking the back of the property, to remind us of why we bought this place.  Steve mowed a nice pathway about halfway to the back of it, including down to the pond and back to the lean-to building.

Next, just a few pictures of the flowers, bushes, which have all been badly neglected.

The garage looks better than I expected; though still a looooong way to go to clean.

But one of the most important things:  DJ had so much fun on the newly-mowed path.

Until next time: