I'm Packing my life away!

I feel like singing a song. Not any old song. But a song that truly reflects how I am feeling in my heart of hearts. The Lumberjack just shakes his head when I randomly bust out into a tune. Probably because I choose the worst of times, like in the middle of a disagreement. Anyway, one song I am thinking of is "Hit the Road Jack and don't cha come back no more"... but that's not right. I tried "If you're happy and you know it", but that didn't seem right either. I think I have settle on "Some where over the rainbow"...

Did I mention to you that the new farm was previously an Alpaca farm? The awesome family that lives there now actually ran a farm for children with Autism to come out and do therapy. The wife will continue to sell alpaca textiles to benefit children with Autism.

I bet you didn't know that I ADORE alpacas? Llamas and Alpacas to be specific. The Lumberjack said that before I even THINK about getting one as a pet, I need to strap on my homesteading boots and get a handle on how things are supposed to run on a farm.

Last week I was combing through post after post on chickens, goats, feeder pigs, calves, rabbits, and even barn cats. Let me tell you something. There is a ton to be learned about homesteading and taking care of animals.

Here in the little cottage I had back yard chickens for a few years. I spent a lot of time with those little ladies. I thought getting new chicks would be a sure thing until hubs returned from seeing the eye doctor. It seems that he has a little spot of histoplasmosis on his eye. Nothing to worry about the doc said. He probably got it as a young child at his grandparents hen house. However, if you read my bio, you'd know that my oldest son was in ICU and almost died because of histo. So for now, until baby lumberjack gets a bit older, there will be no chicks.

The Lumberjack is such a realist sometimes. I was explaining how ALL THE HOMESTEADERS buy at least 3 pigs. One to eat, one to sell to a friend to cover the cost of feeding them, and one for profit to buy 3 more new pigs in the spring. You get ethically raised pork, no additives, hormones or chemicals for the cost of your time. They only have ONE bad day. The lumberjack thinks I really need to reconsider this idea. Not because of the work, nope, rather because you shouldn't name your dinner. He knows me well.

The good news is that there are still goats, a calf and horses on the table for negotiations. Along with the two barn cats I think we need and a puppy for princess #2.

Pinterest sure does make this homesteading thing look easy. However, nobody told me I would have to watch HOURS of youtube videos to learn how to hay my fields and also what tractor implements are called and why you need certain ones. I'm just over here asking the Lumberjack if my little Honda that sits low to the ground will be able to get down the long drive and back to the blacktop road without needing towed once the snow starts flying.

Each day we are packing boxes. Taping, labeling and stacking them together. Only 23 days to go!

Citified Family~ Going Country

I almost can't believe I am making this blog post. After taking several years off from blogging, I have been encouraged to start once again by project write365. Honestly, it couldn't have happened at a better time. Why? Because the Lumberjack's family is finally moving to the country!

I know for some, it might not be such a big deal. For us it is a HUGE deal. You see, we have been praying about moving to the country for almost 20 years. We pretty much sealed our fate as city dwellers when we opened the business 15 years ago. A new company and country life just didn't go hand in hand. It is rather unfortunate because I think our children would have been much better off not being raised in the city. They are rough and tumble kiddo's who really needed space to explore. At this time, it's a moot point. The boys are grown and out of the house, princess #1 graduates this year and princess #2~ Well, let's just say I hope she knows what fun it shall be! Let's not forget, our newest little blessing who is now a year old! I still shake my head when I think of having a baby in my 40's.

I often proclaim how I am God's favorite. In this season, I really feel like I am the apple of my Papa's eye. You see, HE has provided us with the opportunity to move to Rural America. In 24 short days, we will be sitting at the closing company signing papers on our new farm.

You should see my Pinterest activity this month! Part's of me are over the moon excited about a new place to call home. After all, I have lived in the same house my entire married life. I have raised my children here, heck I've even given birth to a child here! This is all I have known. The day the Lumberjack and I returned from our honeymoon, we made an offer on our little house. LIFE happened, love bloomed, children grew. I am afraid that somehow, part of me will become missing with this move.

My hope is that it will be replaced with something even better. That deep longing for quiet and stillness will be attainable.

I look forward to sitting on the covered porch, iced tea in my hand, watching the sun go down across our land. I dream of opening the windows and hearing the birds chirp, the crickets calling to each other, the frogs bellowing. Right now I hear interstate noise and lots of sirens.

Mostly, I long for a place our children can continue to grow in. A place where the older ones will find peace and yearn to come. A place to raise little grandchildren that can roam freely and explore the beauty that God has created. A place in which I can grow old with the Lumberjack. A place in which I can learn to see beauty again.