Greetings to all as we say goodbye to 2024 and welcome 2025! As you may have noticed, our website has been under construction as we’ve worked to streamline (and clarify) our offerings. With many thanks to our good friend, Joan, who has put in countless hours to help us with this job, we are excited to make this an active page that we will be updating on a regular basis.
2024 was a full year for us at the Mill. Both of our rentals were almost fully booked from May-November and we hosted many gatherings and festivities.
It was wonderful to connect with new guests and heartwarming to welcome back so many returnees!
An annual highlight was the arrival of our kids. It is truly the best to combine worlds.
We’ll be adding more photos of guests in future posts! And we’d also love favorite photos you’ve taken while visiting that you’d be willing to share!
As usual, we’ve kept busy with lots of new projects around the Mill.
Among many things, we’ve fixed up the “Koffee Korner” with the hopes of opening it us as a “pop up” coffee shop when it works for us. We get so many requests for people to stop in and enjoy our terrace, we think it will be fun to experiment with it.
Piet (the world’s best neighbor and volunteer) is still coming by once or twice a week to lend a helping hand-at 81 years old!
Along with so many happy moments, we’ve experienced a lot of loss this year, on our little farm. We had to say goodbye to Merel who came to Han, stray and feral, almost 20 years ago. She was a sweet and loyal cat.
After 13 wonderful years, one of our sweet little schaapjes, Izzy, passed away peacefully in her sleep. Her sister, Bella, who was always by her side, was distressed and upset to be alone. We felt terrible for her, but with winter approaching, it wasn't an ideal time to find her a new companion. Therefore, we made the difficult (yet most caring) decision to have her live with three other sheep at our friend Ruud's nearby mill.
We are missing both of them but Bella has adjusted well and we see her often as we bike down the path next to Strijkmolen E.
In addition, four of our six chickens died this year! We think it was just from natural causes/age but it was a lot in a relatively short time. And since they are more like friendly dogs than chickens, they are very missed. We will be adopting some more in the Spring, for sure.
It takes thick skin to love animals! But, it is a comfort to know they are living their best life here with us.
In happier news, Finn just turned two. He adds so much life to our lives and gets us moving. He is a real character and it’s hard to imagine the Mill without him!
So that is a brief round up for now. The goal is to update this blog at the beginning of each month for those interested in knowing the latest happenings of life at the Mill.
Thanks so much for your friendship and support.
We wish each and everyone one of you all the best in the New Year!
With warm greetings from the Ambachtsmolen,
Kelly & Han
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