2012 in Review

January

- Zim's birthday
- We bought our first brand-new piece of furniture: a sectional couch with a hid-a-bed for company.  Likely not a big deal to anyone else, but as we've both moved so much in the previous 4  years, it gives us both a feeling of permanency and domesticity.

February

- Mandi's birthday
- Big snowstorm; we got the truck stuck in a 4-foot high snowbank at the end of the driveway.  Oh my, what are we going to do when we don't have a landlord to clear the driveway in situations like this...
- Project: We dehydrate some apples with our new dehydrator.  Mmmmmmmm, delicious!

March

- Project: Mandi creates a reversible wallet.

April

- We start seedlings for the garden.  These end up being planted in pots and buckets.

May

- We decided to go see a mortgage broker, "just out of curiosity", which set of a an unexpected chain of events.
- Projects: Fleecy bunnies for Mandi's goddaughter and her siblings and a ring in a box for their Mom; a pallet becomes a tool organizer.

June

- Our first wedding anniversary
- Jordan's birthday
- Projects: a new easy-pour lid for the baking soda jar; a wallet for a friend; a collar for Mander; rosebud earrings and ring, and holder, for the Rescue's silent auction.

July

- We bought Lone Pine Farm!!!!
- Mandi's been volunteering for one year.
- We headed off on a three-week vacation, stretching well in to August, to visit family in Alberta and Ontario.  This vacation was planned waaaaaay back in February, and there was no way we were going to postpone it.
- Projects: clothesline in the barn.

August

- Molly and Anomander's birthdays
- Jordan's brother Aaron comes home with us; we break the trailer for the quad so we buy a new, hardier one.  Aaron spots a beautiful double rainbow over the barn - I run out to take photos.
- We start a blog to keep our friends and family up-to-date.
- Projects: we start excavating the crawlspace with Aaron's help.

September

- Mandi makes a quick trip back to Alberta to see Linkin Park in concert :)
- We find the stream, complete with beaver dam and fallen log.
- Doodle comes out for their first playdate!
- Projects: Jordan starts painting the stalls side of the pole shed; Mandi builds a shelf for food storage; the garden is harvested; the roof of the vestibule for the root cellar is replaced; Mandi's parents come up and many things get done: the grass is cut and raked, the drawer fronts are routered, the dryer vent is hooked up, the hot water tank is installed, and new roof vents are installed as well; Mandi later installs another vent.

October

- We've now known each other for 13 years.
- It's cold enough that we turn on the fireplace.
- Projects: Jordan paints some fences; Mandi bakes some pies and crochets some dishcloths; we install a makeshift soffit to add more ventilation to the roof and a better outside light; Mandi installs some sink-front storage and builds a shoe shelf.

November

- Let the baking begin!
- We attend the Barnyard Business session, and meet Tessa.  This session will change our lives.
- Projects: Jordan starts organizing the shop by emptying out and reorganizing the toolbox; we prop up the back corner of the roof; Mandi's friend comes out and helps with the electrical.

December

- We meet with Tessa and Matt to chat about farming

- The roof starts to leak during warmer weather.
- Projects: Mandi bakes cookies; we set up the bookcases; we make some plans for the chicken coop.