Salute to Farming Families!

The barn my Grandfather built, now nearly 100 years old, with all brick construction and an all slate roof. Incredible craftsmanship that is still in great condition.  The original milking parlor is the small round structure on the right.

Sometimes I have the pleasure of finding myself out in more rural areas, usually either in Alabama or when I'm visiting family in Virgina. Recently I had occasion to run an errand to a local farm and was reminded how grateful I am that certain families are still committed to making a living on their farm. He told me to come by the barn around lunch as that is when I could catch them just before heading over to the house for lunch.  I'm struck by how different in many ways their lifestyle is.  Even in the country, they have all the modern conveniences that we have, but their profession dictates their hours and days.  Some days may be quiet and they are a little more free to have a relaxed day, but many are long because animals must be fed and crops must be harvested.  When it is time, these jobs must be done and can't wait until Monday or even morning.

Hay bales on a recent foggy morning.

My Grandfather and Uncles were dairy farmers.  Cows must be milked 2x per day, 365 days a year! Someone must be there 24/7 to tend to a dairy farm! I don't know that I could make that commitment!

One of the cows on my Uncle's farm. The farm always looks to me like everything is just on auto-pilot, cows eat and give birth, the rain waters the fields: but I know the business of a successful farm is really much more complicated.

 Farming like every industry has become more competitive. Most of the farmers of this generation seem to go to college for degrees like AgriBusiness, Dairy Science, or Horticulture. To be successful you have to be a great business person, to figure how much to spend per acre, how much yield you will get, when to upgrade equipment, whether leasing or purchasing more land will be most profitable, and which if any chemicals to use.  All while taking a gamble on so many factors out of your control, like the weather and what the market price will actually be when your crop is ready.  I would be frustrated by the fact that when I have a great crop with the right sun and rain, so does everyone else, driving the price at market much lower. And vice verse, when there is a drought or storm destroying my crop those are the years I could really make a killing because everyone is usually in the same boat.  Supply and demand at it's best, but so many factors out of the farmer's control!!

I love fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. So thank you to all the farmers who are willing to be "tied" to their farms and have a job that involves so many risky factors!

And if you have any little ones that love tractors, here is the Little Lamb Design salute to the farmers.

Below is a cute farm invitation as well as a waterproof label, perfect for your little farmer! 

I'm looking forward to fresh tomatoes and corn! Stella

Summer, please!!

Sea gulls who never seem to be bothered by cold wind and temperatures!

It is well documented by my family that I love warm weather and can never get enough of the beach! Now I love living in Birmingham, where we have 4 seasons; the change of seasons is always refreshing and each hold their own treasures. BUT, a recent cold snap has me counting the days until spring. So it is a testament to how much I really love being on the coast that I braved the cold recently to walk the beach.

 While visiting last week with my father who lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia I squeezed in some time on Chesapeake Beach, known by the locals as Chick’s Beach.  Below is a photo of that wild winter surf crashing on the pilings for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel, which touches land right on Chick's Beach.

This bridge is one of the Man Made Wonders of the World.  A 20 mile feat originally completed in 1964, includes two 1 mile tunnels, and hasn't ever used any tax dollars to build or maintain. It connects Virginia Beach to Virginia’s rural Eastern Shore (and Maryland and Delaware).

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel at sunset, with many cargo ships, waiting their turn to be loaded at one of the local ports, in the background.

It will cost you $12 to cross, but well worth the price to see this beautiful estuary usually teaming with large cargo ships, Navy vessels, and both commercial and sport fishermen.

The beauty of the beach in the winter is special, swept clean by the wind and storms, with only a few hearty dog walkers and Navy Seals out exercising. So while I’m thankful for this invigorating trip to the coast, I can’t wait for warm summer days, light summer clothing, and all the fresh summer fruits and vegetables!

In the meantime, I will keep using one of my favorite Little Lamb Design note cards. My partner designed this beautiful blue stationery with a delicate starfish, and I use it year-round to keep a little beach in my heart even in the winter. 

 Stay warm! Stella

Everyone still loves to receive letters!

Furman University has a beautiful campus with huge trees lining the roads, fountains, and an abundance of flowers, but most photographed is probably their bell tower surround by a lake and walking tail.

I recently spent a couple of days visiting my daughter at Furman University in Greenville, SC.  It is always so refreshing to be around young adults.  They are so full of energy and enthusiasm for both learning and socializing! The best part was probably spending some time in her dorm room where friends and other residents freely came and went, discussing their plans for the day, classes they were taking, plans for their major, politics, and recent speakers that had come to campus. 

Of course there was talk of some recent post on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest, as well as text received from one friend or another! Which brings me to my interesting observation, that in spite of all the electronic and quick ways of communicating they still really treasure the handwritten note.  My daughter has often reminded me that she loves receiving "real mail." She says it makes her whole day to go to her mailbox and receive actual personal snail mail! I also noticed that on her wall (real dorm wall not Facebook wall!) as well as others on the hall, she had pinned up notes and cards received from friends. There were notes of encouragement after a rough day or class, some "I came by and sorry I missed you, let's get together," and also the "I'm so glad we're friends," or "I'm glad you are in my sorority." 


So in the hurry up world of quick communication, the written note stands out as even more special.  The short thank you or thinking of you that is actually mailed to someone has such an impact. Even this younger generation recognize that it is special when someone takes the time to write them an actual note with pen and paper and deliver it! Below are a couple of my favorite Little Lamb Design notecards.  Treat yourself to some beautiful personalized stationery, or give some to your favorite college student.  You will make someone's day by writing them a note, and you might be surprised how much your college student will really use stationery!

Our NC610 is perfect for young and older women and has a matching return address label too!

This flat note card FC653 features fun and bright flowers.

You can add this matching return address label for a fun splash of color on your envelope.

Stella

Inspired By Nature

This is Stella writing today! I wanted to share an inspirational outing that I had the pleasure of last weekend.
My three children are now young adults and I just don't get to the park, zoo, ball park, or local bike trail like I used to. I love the outdoors, and miss those days that I spent many hours outdoors with my children! So last weekend, I grabbed a young friend and we headed to the Birmingham Zoo. It was a little cool, but beautiful and sunny for January.  I was in dire need of a dose of sun after a stormy week! We picnic-ed  and had just good clean fun, but I was really uplifted by all the inspiring colors and patterns in nature. I seems that no matter what combination of color or patterns that we might imagine, God has already created it in nature. Below are a few photos from our outing, as well as some of the Little Lamb Design invitations inspired by nature! 

This gorilla was unbelievable! He seemed to be showing off his muscles and definitely playing to the crowd. The texture of his fur is hard to see in this photo, but on this bright sunny day, his coat was truly beautiful.

This Caribbean Flamingo was absolutely beautiful.  His neck is bent all the way around, beak tucked into his back, and his eye appeared to be staring right at us. Look for new stationery this spring in this magnificent shade of orange!

Okay, it isn't hard to see where we got the inspiration for this custom valentine! But the zebras are just so fascinating.  I love the beauty of their gorgeous stripes.

The color and saturation of macaws were incredible, I couldn't get enough!

Check out our zoo invitation for your next party!

Okay, I have many more photos,  but don't want you to feel like you are watching your neighbors' vacation slide show, so I will leave you with these few.  But let me say, maybe since my children are grown, and I no longer was tending to scraped knees or hunting for their sippy cup (though those days were great, and I enjoyed every minute while they lasted!) I was able to enjoy the zoo in a whole new way! The animals' behavior, the color combinations, the textures, the patterns were all like a breath of fresh air!