My sister, the "country mouse".

Recently I took a trip to Wisconsin to visit my sister.  She and her husband have spent the last 7 years renovating an old farmhouse on 3 acres.   It is one of my favorite places in the world to visit.  

Now, my sister and I did not grow up on a farm.  We lived in the small town of Brazil, Indiana and grew up  running around the streets of our neighborhood.  So farm life was not something we were use to.  But my sister has embraced this life, and excels at it.  She teasingly says she's now the country mouse and I'm the city mouse.  And I guess she's right, but I do love escaping the busy of Jacksonville, FL to be a part of that country life every year, even if it's for just a week or so.  

One of my absolute favorite things about their place is the chickens.  I show how much of a city slicker I am by being so entertained by them.  Seriously, they are just so cute!!!

 And they give you presents!

There were several years while we were growing up that my parents had a garden.  My sister loved working the garden, even as a child.  Now she works a garden of her own.

While I was visiting, spinach, salad greens and asparagus were ready.  And my sister does a beautiful job of using what food is in season.  So we had a lot of yummy salads and a delicious asparagus quiche while I was there.

In addition to her farm life, my sister is a talented artist and has a studio in her home where she makes pallet signs for her business, "White Hen".  I've mentioned her beautiful signs in my blogs a lot.  I have them in nearly every room in my house!

 This "Gather" sign is going up in my house!!  

But even though our lives are very different with me living in Florida being a "city mouse" and my sister in Wisconsin being a "country mouse",  our roots grow very deep and our love is wide enough to span from state to state and country to city.  We can learn and grow from one another and enjoy and benefit from the differences in our lives.  I'm very thankful for my sweet "country mouse" and the time I can spend with her is a precious gift.