Ellie

Hello and thank you for stopping by! I appreciate the chance to tell you a bit about myself and life in central Pennsylvania. I grew up in northwestern PA, but left after high school when I joined the Air Force, initially as a cadet and then as a military officer. I had lots of great adventures and loved serving my country. My life’s dream, however, was to be a farmer, so upon realizing that it was time to close my military chapter, I purchased a 13-acre farm in central PA. I am slowly growing it and spend my time taking care of poultry and pets. I love being in nature and living as naturally as possible, so I allow my pets and livestock as much freedom and fresh air as I can.  My daughter is 21 and in college and starting her own adventures, but I’d love to share mine with another child(ren). I’d love to meet you and see if this lifestyle of fresh air, nature, and independence is what you envision as well.

Living Naturally

My current life mainly revolves around my farm. In the mornings, I get up and feed everyone, starting with the pets and then going out and greeting the livestock. It really does not take up a lot of time. Then I have chores or projects to do, which are all of my own creativity or research from other farmers. I cook a lot, watch Phillies games, read, and above all love to hike. My daughter and I both have kayaks that we love to use as well. I have been actively working towards adoption for the last five years, but I found that the busy life I held would not allow me to focus as much as I wanted to on children, so I waited until I am living in this peaceful, slower area of central PA which focuses on family and neighbors. With a baby or more children, I plan on joining the community pool, 4H or FFA, Scouting, sports, and other outdoorsy and fun activities.

Hobbies and Interests

My hobbies are farming, animals, cooking and baking, drawing and crafts, hiking, and kayaking. I also love watching the Phillies play baseball, and in general enjoy watching sports. I also love to read a variety of different topics from farming, military history and stories, animal behavior, and even some fiction from time to time. I would like to start quilting and pottery-making.

As I love animals, there are a lot of animals on the farm. I have three dogs, Tab, River, and Meadow. Tab and Meadow have a job to guard the livestock and are mostly outside. River is my constant companion. I also have an indoor/outdoor cat named Oscar, and two rabbits named Camo and Ruger. For the farm, I have seven ducks, three turkeys, and three guinea fowl, and one rabbit. Sheep and more rabbits are scheduled this year.

My Home in Central Pennsylvania

My home is a mid-20th century farmhouse. The second story has three bedrooms, and the main floor has a living room, dining room, kitchen, and an extra room. The two main floors are very homey with bright colors and a lived-in feel despite being well-maintained.  There is a covered front porch and a back porch that leads down into the yards and fields. The field behind the house is fenced and has the poultry and barn for the farm. On the side of the house, the property extends into two fields and seven acres of woods with a creek bubbling through. The creek is stocked with trout every spring for fishing.

The neighborhood includes small downtown areas filled with local shops, a community pool, a community recreation area, and a wide river.

My Family

I have a daughter who is 21. She is in college and in the Air National Guard. We have always enjoyed hiking and kayaking together, as well as attending her sporting events when she did gymnastics, softball, and volleyball. We spent a lot of time doing crafts, and she now crochets and sews her own clothes and thrifts supplies from local thrift stores. We also cook and bake together, and she especially loves baking special treats for her friends, family, and co-workers.

My extended family is in northwestern Pennsylvania, so only a few hours away. They are excited to have more children in the family and plan to be involved in my future child(ren)’s life. They live near Lake Erie with beaches, hiking trails, and lots to do in the area.

Traditions

I enjoy traditions, especially during the holidays. My daughter and I always have a traditional Thanksgiving with lots of homecooked turkey, cranberry chutney, potatoes, and Brussel sprouts. We also cook for Christmas and enjoy putting a live tree up together and decorating the house. Since we are of Irish descent, we cook corned beef for St. Paddy’s Day with soda bread. We do lamb for Easter and BBQ ribs for the 4th of July. We love cooking homemade food to share with others.

My Promise

I promise to love and care for your child(ren). I promise to raise them with a love of nature, other people, and a sense of community. I instilled independence and good decision-making in my daughter, and will do the same for any future children. I will make sure your child(ren) get lots of fresh air, adventure, and attention throughout their life. We will be involved in the community, work hard at school, look for ways to contribute, and to enjoy the world around us. I understand each child’s path is very different and individual, so the future will be looked at from that angle. My path was college, the military, and farming. This is not a path for everyone, so I will give them the opportunity to explore their interests and find the best fit for them whether it be college, trade school, farming, entrepreneurship, or maybe something completely different. I am looking forward to being a part of their journey. I also want them to know their birth family and am open to connecting with you, if you desire, through messages and annual visits.

I’d love to talk or answer any of your questions. Please call or text Lifetime at 1.800.923.6784.

In Closing

I am very excited to share my farm, rural community, and blessings with another child or children. I am a loving, happy, nurturing person focused on healthy living, outdoors and nature, and adventures. I promise to provide a happy, healthy, and loving home with the chance to explore, learn, and be themselves. I am willing to have an open adoption plan with updates and arranged visits and assure you that you will remain an important person in their lives. Thank you for taking the time to get to know me, and I look forward to talking further!