I realized this week that this blog for Willow Pond will be like Whisper Wind Farm a little, but mostly it will be very unlike Whisper Wind Farm. Whisper Wind Farm was all about experimenting, learning, and adventuring into a new life filled with better health and more self sufficiency. Willow Pond will have a bit of that as we have talked about with the garden. But for the most part I know what works for us. I am mostly done experimenting just for the sake of trying something new. Our family is smaller so our needs are a bit smaller as well. Our eating habits have changed and seem to be changing a little more. I am sure that our goals might evolve a little more as time goes on and we get more used to our new little place, but for now here is where we are thinking of our journey heading.
Retirement- We will be here when we retire and most likely this will be the last house/farm that we will buy. We like our way of life and will probably continue doing this to some degree or another for a very long time, health permitting. With that being said we are looking at our design ideas from a retirement aging in place perspective. Making things built well, in a permanent type manner so to speak, with a design that will be easy on aging bodies. Hence the raised garden beds in an enclosure. I think it will make gardening well into our golden years much more possible and also much more enjoyable.
Livestock areas more easily managed- Of course since we are working with something already here it won't be exactly what I would like to have in my minds eye. But we are doing a great job of making what we have into what we want to have. It is taking time and money but will be worth it in the long run. Some of this goes along with our long term gold years/retirement plan of having things easier to deal with on aging bodies. Our livestock area is set up to easily move animals with minimal effort (the simple opening of a gate). It is also set up so that there is a place for everything and things can be kept where they are needed most.
Manageable Landscaping- I love a beautiful yard and I love cottage type gardens. But I also love to do many things...not just one. So our thoughts are to continue the previous owners idea of having a beautiful landscaping that needs minimal input from us. We have things blooming throughout the year here already and those things need very little from us. Average care needed is about an hour a week. I could do more and probably will do more as I love gardening and do want to add some more. We also want to cut down on the grass that we mow. We have already cut that down by adding another paddock. But the gardening that I am planning for beauty is also being planned for ease of care. Perennials are definitely the way to go.
House-- We spent 16 years in a house that we hated because we loved the property and it was in a location that was good for us at the time. When we looked for property this time, the house took a bigger priority on the list, which is why we settled for 6.5 acres when we were searching for 10-15 acres. I love my little cottage. It is beautiful. It isn't falling apart and won't be the money pit that the other was. It has been updated and cared for over the years unlike our previously vacant and neglected hulk of outdated everything. The rooms are big and open and it is charming for us. We love our little cottage and it is easily maintained and I imagine will continue to be so as we age.
Economics- Our biggest goal was to be able to go into retirement with no house payment. We have no illusions that our retirement will be smaller than we would like it to be. We started saving young, but life's hardships hit us badly and we not only had to stop for a number of years but wound up living on what had been paid. We would have starved otherwise and are thankful that the money was there to see us through. However, we are a bit more behind than we would like. So we wanted something that was reasonable enough to be paid off in 15 years. This house will be paid off before we retire and that will be a huge boon to being able to live off our retirement.
Health- We are no longer interested in experimenting. We know what we eat, we know the ins and outs of processing different animals and what we use the most of. So the food that we either grow or raise will be what will be most beneficial for us both in time and use. I will make very little cheese, because I eat very little dairy anymore. My youngest daughter doesn't like cheese at all. So my husband is the only one who eats cheese. Also for that matter will mean keeping fewer goats. Fewer goats is always easier, I don't care what anyone says.
Lifestyle- My youngest daughters interest is in horses. She is looking to do some heavy competing and maybe one day make a career as a trainer/coach/barn owner/competitor. So our focus is beginning to shift to be more on horses again. We are looking at paddock setups for our little place. It will also serve the other animals well also as a rotational system. However, we are leaving enough room for a jumping area and a full size dressage arena. Right now her training bill is high and will only get higher unless we can bring that training home. This is huge for us. As a homeschooling mom my goal is not only to teach my child in the traditional subjects, but also to give them the extra training/schooling that might be a career path for them. This daughter is severely dyslexic. She has thought about it and said that maybe college isn't the right path for her and she might be right. So maybe she has another path that is uniquely hers and being homeschooled she has the opportunity to explore that path early. We are giving her that opportunity. And of course I am delighted since riding was a big part of my life and probably would have been my career choice had my family supported me in any way.
So that so far is our list of goals and aspirations for this place. We are excited about this journey that we have entered into with more confidence thanks to the ups and down of our journey at Whisper Wind Farm. Blessings to all, Kat