Just rolling with it... (Part 2)
- Dusty Santos
- Jun 13, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 22, 2025
Hello Hen House readers!
Even though it's Friday, I'm still writing about earlier in the week. Check out the previous post using the button at the bottom of this one.
Using this blog I've kept you updated on my work and family life, but there's one thing I didn't mention. Not because I didn't want to, no. Just because it never came up.
Every Wednesday I volunteer at a Food Shelter called House Of Hope. I fill boxes for the next day. Peanut butter, cans of vegetables and fruit, onions, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, pasta and sauce, so on and so forth.
This started years ago when a teacher, realizing that I had 4 kids, suggested I take a box from the shelter. I did for a while, but it never felt right to me. So I started working for my food.
Now I work more, and take less. Just some snacks for my kids and vegetables for the house.
When I realized the farm needed cardboard, I knew exactly where to get it. I asked the owner of House of Hope and she loved the opportunity to donate to a local farm. That cardboard is just thrown away anyway, so it might as well go to a good cause.
My rolling with it day:
Yesterday was quite the day composed of a bunch of stops.
Watch my youngest sing with her kindergarten class.
My daughter was so cute. Here is a snippet of her performance. (Un-blurring of her face doesn't work part of the performance)
Take her with me
Get Gas
Pick up leftover cardboard at House of Hope
The great thing about this is, the boxes are already broken down.
Grab snacks for my daughter
Drop off paperwork at my middle schoolers school
Drop off cardboard at the farm
Visit the horses
Miss my turn and find a lake
Hike around the lake for an hour
Go home
Make a blog post
A couple of fun stories came from this day...
Dropping off the cardboard was a bit nerve-racking. I placed them in a shed because I didn't want them rained on or blown away.
This small shed (which the locals generously called a barn) had a bee in it. No big deal, I'll just mind my own business. I'm still very new on the farm and I didn't want to snoop.
As I kept entering I noticed that the sound of buzzing was quite strong.
I remembered that the owner of Red Antler Apothecary likes to bee keep. It was at that point I let myself look to the other side of the shed. There, not but a foot from the entryway was 3, maybe 4 bee hive boxes.
So I Ran SCREEMING!
No no no I didn't, but it's funny to think that I did.
I sucked it up, realized that if they didn't sting me, they probably won't sting me, and I put the rest of the cardboard in.
Believe me when I say, that buzzing was LOUD!
Here's my daughter with the one of the horses - See Her Pet A Horse
Events have changed. My engagement with the Lowell Folk Festival is a loss. Not sure why the coordinator dropped us. We are such a big part of the city.
I've added an event!
Christ Church United Yard Sale on June 21st from 8-1. Definitely selling at this one.
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The next story is one of adventure. While driving home I missed my turn. The road was full of residences, and people were behind me so I didn't want to turn around in a driveway.
I drove for a bit until I found an opening. To my surprise, the opening I found was an entryway to a lake and a series of hiking trails!
Me and my daughter got out and hiked all over the lake for an hour. It was a great discovery because I'm always looking for places to fish. Here are some pictures!
On the subject of my youngest, her birthday was Tuesday. We kept all the kids out of school to celebrate! Long story short, the day was a bust. All the fun things like roller skating and bowling are apparently closed during the day.
That didn't stop us from having cake and presents though! We decided to celebrate more this weekend. Birthday Video Here
The creative process hasn't stopped. My brain is still full creative mode. I still want to do the Dynamic Designs series and finish my K-Cup holders before my next event.
That being said, Red Antler Apothecary sells oversized home made soap. I'm designing a holder that will pair well with both brands.
It will have an elegant curve, drainage, and made of oak and cherrywood. Oak because I just got a bunch of it for free and cherry because I just love the look.
Looking at my life right now. I'm volunteering a lot. Spending money like crazy while not getting the return in sales I need. All to get connections that really make success possible.
Next post I'll be back in the shop. Finishing my projects and maybe starting new ones. Fingers crossed that the storage unit I've been waiting on will be open soon.
Thanks for reading! Don't forget to join the Hen House mailing list...
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