About Bliss

Welcome to the Ranch.

On any given day hanging out around here are me and the Brawn of the operation (guess that makes me the brains), and a gaggle of offspring ~ six to be exact. 

Marriage and DIY started about the same time for me, with building our first home.  From  digging the foundation ourselves, to nailing on the last shingle, we have tackled every home building task there is.  We have grown out of, and grown into, three new homes of our own, designing and building them around our family.

Bliss Ranch isn't always blissful, go figure huh?  It gets loud here, hectic, stressful and many times it doesn't smell all that good.  In the house.  Large families are funny in all those ways.

I'm not near as stuffy as the serene blog name implies, but I gave up on a clever title after a couple hours - others beat me to all the ones I wanted - and this one was available.

But *Bliss*  isn't a stretch when you read the dictionary definition, and if a ranch can be defined by 25 acres with woods, lake and meadow, a few domestic animals and plenty of uncaged wild ones, well then a ranch this is.  No one ropes any steer at this place (yet) but we do have to round up chickens and ducks from time to time.

So who are the people at the ranch?

There's me of course and the Grand Poohbah - the Brawn of the operation, my hunk-o-burning luv.  He's a master craftsman, and there's nothing he can't make or do.  Really.

I keep adding all sorts of new stuff for him to tackle.  There's a joke around here that if he looks like he's gonna sit on the couch I find something for him to do.  I suppose his friends think I never let him rest, but the truth is that he has been equally involved with making this house a home all of his own free will.  He is his kids' best friend, the best father and husband I know, and he can build anything  ~ he thinks that last part is why I keep him around.

 We've got a new ranch dog that keeps us on our toes, Honest Abe's his name, chewing's his game.

As for the gaggle of offspring, well this isn't a parenting blog so you probably won't be seeing many ~ if any ~ photos of them.  But because I realize inquiring minds want to know...... boy, girl, boy, girl, boy, boy.... all beautiful or handsome, talented in their own right, well adjusted normal human beings.

Me.  Hmmmm.  I find it hard to write about myself.  I'm no spring chicken anymore, and why is age the first thing I think is of importance? I was born in Seattle, grew up in Southern California with all the beautiful people, and ended up living the American dream in Minnesota.  We sort of went from having our own little caboose to the oldest ones procreating starting families of their own, so we've never really been without little feet hitting the floor.

I've been going around to garage sales, antique stores, junk piles and thrift stores since before it was popular or chic.  Chalkboard paint?  Yeah I had a chalkboard wall when it wasn't cool.  Galvanized bucket lamp?  Mmmm hmmmm, my friends just smiled at some of my unusual decorating...  you know, that smile that says bless her heart?

I like to repurpose things, upcycle a cast off, or reuse a vintage item in a new way.  I've never thought of myself as artistic, and I hate to paint.  Just don't tell the furniture that I re-do that part.

Of most importance in my life are the Man upstairs; that other guy I mentioned with the brawn; the gaggle of offspring and their kids; and maintaining a blissful house that is a place they all want to come home too.  Everything else I do, enjoy, or am interested in, seems insignificant in comparison to those things.  But hang around here for a while and you'll discover I can be quick with some wit, maybe drop a couple swear words, and I see humor in just about everything.

I firmly believe ....  

"The most important work you will ever do will be within the walls of your own home". 

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