This pretty much sums up country living and why a community is so necessary (actually anywhere you are). We are building ours now after buying an old farmhouse. I moved out of NY to the country and I have to say, community was equally important there, for different but similar reasons. Navigating the crazy world is a challenge and it is best when you have support and knowledge from those who have "been there" and "done that" to ease the pain.

you are truly lucky to have neighbors and friends like that!!!

You are the darlingest of darlings! You attract your good neighbors because YOU are a good neighbor .. yessss .. they are indeed there anyway … but they are there for you because you are YOU!

I adored your funny story .. what a great ‘memory’ for your ‘remembrance bank’! I’m sending your story to my ‘bestie friend’ Grace Parker and her honey-man Charles. They have a Christmas Tree farm in Creston, N.C. .. and are "the good neighbors’ you speak of! I do so hope that someday you will all ‘meet’. You would adore her and she would adore YOU! xoxo, frannie

Rebekah, you are the little farmgirl that said, "I think I can, I think I can", and you did! Congrats on another great accomplishment towards having the farm that you always dreamed of! It’s so good to have folks nearby that want to help each other. You are blessed!

I’m pretending I cannot understand what you said about the chickens and their personalities. I LOVE to eat chicken. Sometimes I tell my friends that if there were only two things (Chicken and Strawberries)to eat in the world that I might well be a happy woman. Of course a little Kentucky bourbon wouldn’t hurt, for medicinal purposes you understand.

Hi Rebekah, I also started raising chickens about 6 weeks ago but I’m still living in the city. My son and daughter-in-law gave me 6 of their chicks to get started. My "City Chicks" as I call them are so much fun to watch. I totally understand now why chicken scratch is called scratch…they each have to scratch the ground and do a little dance while pecking at the scratch while eating. I love to listen to the "girls" when they announce that an egg has been laid. There is so much more I could tell you of the fun of raising chickens. Also, nothing beats having fresh eggs.

Your blog about the chicks is so enlightening (and funny). I have learned things about chickens I didn’t know. I think its amazing that people are raising chickens everywhere, in the city, in the suburbs, as well as in the country. Although I live in an apartment (can’t have chickens), I manage to grow most of my own herbs and have a tomato plant. I frequent the farmers’ markets every weekend (we have many in the Boise ID area where I live). They actually begin in the middle of April and go through fall (one goes until Christmas-time). I, along with some of my friends, have been trying to eat as local and organic as possible and have found that the food tastes so good, and I’m sure it is so much better for us. Anyway, good luck with your chickens. Keep us posted as to their progress.

I love these lessons. I aspire to have chickens this summer. I want to eat them. I also want to have bunnies and eat them, but I bet you I’ll be like you and not be able to. I love Barbie Cochin. Of course you do outdoor chicken daycare. WHat else?
The rocking chair you can use to sit in and rock the chickens. How nice that will be.(well, there will be that chicken bedding, but still, you’re used to the smell by now anyway.) thanks for sharing and inspiring and encouraging.

Oh I do love the baby chicks. I get them every spring and enjoy all their lovely personalities. One trick I learned is to have space in the coop for a chair but don’t leave it in the coop. It will get yucky because the birds will use it. Also if you grow lavender in your garden you can harvest it and put the dried stems and flowers in your coop it will keep bugs away and makes your coop smell fresh. I mix it in with pine shavings. There is nothing in the summer that beats a good chair by the coop and a nice glass of wine. Have fun and enjoy. Vivian from http://www.gardengatelavender.com and http://www.womenfarmers.org.

Love reading your post, had a good laugh over your lessons, very funny and relevant too. Love what you’re doing with your farm too. Look forward to reading more posts 🙂 take care.

I Loved reading your post about your chickens. I too have started raising chickens I started off with 6 little Buff Orbingtons, they were just so cute and fluffy but yes they grew so fast and then became 5 Roos and 1 hen. We have been able to find homes for 4 of our Roos and now our Henry is so happy with his little Millie and there will be 7 new hens for him it was so nice to watch the two chickens get to know each other and Bond they hang with each other all day isn’t Love Wonderful

I feel so good when I read your everyday happenings and I always find wisdom that I can use in my life in suburbia. Even though there is a lot of work on your farm, it looks idyllic! I love the random surprise flowers, your freshly mowed fields and your farm critters. What lovely pictures. Even though a lot of us wish we were where you are, we can all learn to be joyful and to "bloom where we are planted". Am looking forward to your next adventure.

A few years back, I shared to an online friend that I was having a LARGE mouse problem and that they were eating my tomatoes. He told me to JUST get a couple of snakes (I can’t remember the type) and problem solved…He even said that he could get me a couple! I have no doubt that the snakes would work, however I would be levitating over my garden and not be able to weed. Good job with accepting the value of the black snake!
I am so happy that you have some beautiful flowering surprises! With more space comes more possibilities…

Purple flower…maybe wild flox, at least that’s what I call them. Spring is an insane time, I think where ever there is "real" winter, not tropics winter! We have a cabin on a lake and a city home, we are completely insane with all the work! Too cold yet for gardens, so that is not done. Love it all though!

Rebekah, I’m glad you are able to deal with your snake. I too hate snakes, there was one in my chicken yard the other day and my husband assured me it was a garter snake, harmless, except for the fact snakes like to eat your eggs and baby chicks, (just saying) my husband use to take the big black snakes and kings snakes and relocate them since they are considered good snakes, the king snakes anyway because they eat all of the bad snakes and mice I suppose. I agree with the other lady I believe the purple flowers are some type of wild phlox. I would still get a couple of barn cats if you could, they usually dont bother the chicks. oh and now for the whole point I was writing, and this may sound a little goofy, but the way you can tell if your chick is a roo or not is pick it up blow on the feathers on his/her backend and you will see a slit, if it is horizontal it is a hen, vertical it is a rooster. (I know it sounds a little gross but that is how the guy at the farm store told me how to sex your chickens.) and it has always proven to be right for me. just saying. oh well we shall see….Be Blessed and keep having fun on your farm. Neta

I am so glad you decided to try raised beds. I love ours and it is so much easier and we don’t have to have a big ole tiller, I can do the garden myself and not wait for my husband to get home from work to till the garden.

My chickens are laying eggs like crazy, can’t wait to see what happens when yours start laying, it will be so much fun to gather the eggs.

Congrats on the snake tolerance. I hate mice with the same passion that you hate snakes and was happy to have a snake around, even though I would still jump ten feet back at the sight on one. Our old farmer neighbor told us once that those big black rat snakes would drive away the venomous ones. Not sure if that’s true but possibly, because we never saw any poisonous snakes. And you know NC’s reputation for rattlesnakes. Or do you? Maybe you didn’t want to know that! Sorry. Yep, I know you’re exhausted but it’s a good kind of tired! And such a sweet pic of your sleeping daughter.

Your large bush is some kind of Rhododendron (say that 5 times fast!), not sure what kind. Beautiful though!

I have always wanted a Farmer’s Almanac! Little by little, everything will come together. It’s the journey that matters! Bless your happy weeds…Cindy

I love your blog with all the information and your experiences which are so valuable. It gives me courage to continue with my farm project. I’m breaking ground on my farm house next month. EEEE! 🙂

Why would your shoes and socks get wet when you have a perfectly good, new pair of combat boots!

Just read your post, lovely. Suggestion if you want to make your enchiladas heathy and not use so much cheese and if you like cauliflower, you steam them mash them and then add your cheese. Just a suggestion. Have a wonderful Day!
Maria

Your life is my dream.

As I was always told – when one is busy, one stays out of trouble – YOU ARE ONE BUSY ONE!! What fun to read about it. So sorry sweetheart is having issues, hopefully the teacher will give him an attitude adjustment and he will be so happy to come home and be all that you know he can be. Love the boots, I had a pair back in the day, but mine were boring black, love the green . Chick chick chick another great love of my life, sorry for the loss but the others seem to be great fun. I once did the ‘chick before the house’ and ended up building a quick house, it is a house that I moved them outside before the real house was ready and also so that they could come inside at night, just a wooden crate,chicken wire and a run, oh the memories you bring back for me, thanks! My garden is still sitting in the kitchen, cold,snowy late into planting time and now we are getting rain, not really complaining because we have drought for years, so will put things out when I can. JEEPERS IF ONLY I HAD HAD AN ALMANAC – maybe I would have known that gardening would be delayed. Anyway whom ever gets the Almanac – congratulations and what a sweet idea of sharing with others. God Bless

I would love to win the almanac.

About the garden situation, I finally was able to get my garden in last week but we have had nothing but rain, rain, rain also here I Mid-Missouri.

Have you ever considered raised beds. That is what I did this year and you don’t need a tiller. It is a lot easier than tilling up a garden every year. I have about six raised beds and you can add to them every year. Make walking paths in between. I really like it better than a traditional garden which I have had for years. Much easier for this "over 50" girl.

I LOVE all the adventures you are having! I live vicariously through you since buying a farm is not an option for us. Thanks for sharing!

I hope you change your mind again about eating chicken. It is SUCH a gift to be able to raise your own NO CHEMICAL fed chickens for your family table. Enjoy the clean meat and maybe the FRESHEST eggs in the world when the time comes, and be happy to have it.
The almanac offer sounds wonderful. Hope it is Moi!

I can whole heartedly second Jans suggestion of getting more training yourself while your boy is at boot camp. A less schooled horse with a novice rider who figures out he has a novice rider may go to school and come home smart, but he will remember your skills or lack thereof! It’s not so good if he is aware he knows more than you, so surprise him with more skills of your own! Good luck!

Rebekah, love the boots, and I hope your lovely horse learns some manners, also I love the turkey. my friend back home in La. had one come up on her property and he actually ended up living there and being a great protector over her hens. She named him "Gordy". I hope you get all your seeds planted if not this year put them in the fridge and they will be good for next year. Happy farming, and love seeing all of the updates on your new farm. Be Blessed. neta

I wish you much success and I am sure it will all work out eventually. I love the combat boots and the permission that you have given yourself to wear them. The chickens are cute as can be and I agree with you and your daughter; chicken would be off my menu (I am not a vegetarian but don’t eat much meat for the same reason I love animals too much). I am sure you will be riding your beautiful white horse in the very near future and you will feel so free and happy when you do. The garden problem is one that I have going on as well; maybe next year. The dream that we have is a big wonderful dream and the good thing is that we have actually taken the step to live it, the sobering part is that it is going to take work, money, patience and time…but we will get there. The journey is the destination anyway. Much success to you and I love the chance to win a copy of the almanc. Thanks

The list of seeds you bought are really interesting. It would be fun researching some of them.
I love the way your new farm life is coming together.
Where did you get the beautiful combat boots in that color?

I need a farmer’s almanac. i have planted a porch container garden with gro-boxes (brand name) and they are great. Maybe you could start there and work up to the big one. Rain here in Clemmons, NC has been over-abundant too. Unfortuneately we know how easily we slip into drought to complain. i have a big troy built tiller that we don’t use. Interested? lol have a great day. nothing was ever done in a day.

hi Rebecah, I’m a first time chick mom too (thanks to MJF & a friend who thought it would be a win win to give me 11 orphaned 2 day old babys); now they are 14 days old & in the house as are yours; not cuz they dont have a coop; cuz mama is afraid something will get them ; ) anyway, rosemary essential oil is helping w/ the smell & it is good for the chicks! might give it a try…

Enjoy your blog so much…and understand…three years into a country home from the big city for us…don’t know if we will make it! It is challenging…to say the least!

Just reading your seed list made me weak in the knees. I say save the bulk of it for next year, buy a few tomato plants and enjoy the farmer’s market. Squash is easy to grow from seed, and you’ll want a cucumber plant or two, and some bell peppers. Some herbs of course. The greens you can plant later for fall. See, it’s already getting carried away!

Google chicken moat. I’ve never done it, but it looks like three birds with one stone. It’s a protected chicken run, deer deterrent (because of the double fence) and pest control at the same time. Love the almanac. Count me in!
Here’s to boot camp!

♪♫ Happy (early) Birthday to You! ♫♪

Love your truck…you need it!

I am 55 years old this year and I take all of my learnin’ from my sweet auntie (who just turned 90)! She lives life to it’s fullest everyday!

I call her every morning just to chat a little. This morning she told me her son took her shopping for a couple of new britches and she found the most "darling" pair of capris…they had bright orange flowers embroidered all over them. She told me she stood there looking and loving these pants, but kept wondering if a 90 year old could wear them!? She had to have them so she said she bought a bright orange shirt to match and a cute pair of shoes with orange on them as well!! haha

I had to laugh…she has to live in an assisted living facility now. But I bet she puts a smile on everyones face when she dons her new duds. Age is only a number, your heart and spirit know exactly where you are at!

Glad the chickies are doing well. They sure are cute!

Love the truck (especially the color), Wylene is the perfect name, and I need to do something about these grays, but I’m just too lazy!

Happy 50th Rebekah! I turned 65 this year — Medicare age — oh no! You’re right though, attitude is everything and how I fall short on this one at times! I appreciate your wisdom here — such a positive outlook I need right now. I have been a full time caregiver for my 95 year old mom in our home for 6 months now. It has been quite a life change for me and instead of seeing all that I’m missing by being home all day every day, I realize life is what you make of it.I’m going to enjoy every minute I have with her, because it could come to an end when I least expect it. I still have much to be thankful for and if I can’t go out, then I’ll just have to invite life’s adventures to come to me. Love you chickens, your beautiful truck, home and family. Such a joy to read your post!

What are you going to do with Dried Dandelions Blooms? I can’t imagine a use for them, but now that my yard is full of them, I should be collecting and drying them too.

Howdy… little Black Cochin, what a sweetpea!

Was trying to think of something profound to say about aging, so in my opinion, just live one day at a time. Seems to be enough…

Happy Birthday Miss Rebekah

Happy birthday you (very) young lady from 67 yo me! What I have learned is that first just put your trust in God and it will all work out in time. Also, it doesn’t matter if I tan or not, or if I wear glasses or not or if I have the perfect body or not. What does matter is love and loved ones. And fyi, gotta love those grandchildren!

Happy Birthday! I’m 59, and the bigest thing that I have learned is: what is going to happen, is going to happen. There isn’t anything you can do about it one way or the other. So get over yourself and just chill. The one thing you do have control over is your reaction to what happens. So get it right the first time or you will face the same test(s) over and over again until you finally get it right (like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day). Enjoy your birthday!

50 you’re a baby. I just turned 60 in Feb. I am a 23 yr. survivor of breast cancer. I learned a long time ago that age is nothing but what you do with your time that counts. People never believe that I am as old as I am. That is partly good genes, partly haircolor and mostly that I never act my age. Not quite sure what a 60 year old should act like but young is it for me. I also like the fact that I can say that I am old and have some wisdom to pass on and don’t need to take any guff from youngsters who think that they are in control. Here’s to a life well lived and time worth living. Happy happy birthday! The best to you always.

When I turned fifty I experienced a quantum shift in the universe. I had been coloring my hair for over thirty-one years, and I eased into the land of silver-haired divas. I have never felt more authentically me before in my life and it’s a grand thing! To wake up at fifty and finally be at home in your own skin and in your own life is a remarkable thing. Now if we can only teach our children to reach that mark in their thirties…oh how much happier their lives and our world could be! So welcome to the club my beautiful friend….enjoy the view and keep tithing those talents because what you have to share with the world….is a priceless gift. Never underestimate the power you possess…at any age! 🙂 It just keeps getting better and better! I promise you that!

Someone asked me the other day, "If you didn’t know your age, how old would you be?"

I am a 1963 baby. This is the first year I paid attention to my age. I suddenly stopped my rushing life and said, "Whah?? How the hell did that happen?"

Then I started thinking, about the next few years as I head towards retirement from my present all-consuming career. What do I want to do NEXT? What a wonderful, scary, crazy time.

The best advice? At least 15 minutes a day of sitting absolutely still, walking through the day in my head, and thanking God for the smiles, the touches, the ability of a leaf to gather sunlight, and another day of possibilities.

Happy Birthday.

Catherine

Oh my! I want some chicks! So sweet, love those fuzzy little butts. I have one Black Jersey Giant. She love me and I love her. Her name is Esther. Did I ever tell you, my chickens are named after our, hubs and mine, grand mothers that are living with the Lord. Esther was my rather tall black haired grandmother. We have thousands of tadpoles. Our grands always come and catch a couple to take home and watch them grow legs. Do you get sung to all night by the frogs. My favorite part of spring evenings. Ducks, yeah! I love them. We have a pair of mallards that drop into our pond every morning, I think they eat the tadpoles. Then they go off somewhere else for the rest of the day. The first year I got so excited I went out and bought my hubs binoculars for his birthday so I could get a better look. I’m in heaven for you! I bet you don’t even think about those snakes anymore.

Hey Rebekah! I’d be stuck like glue to yur farm too if I was you! Reading all the directions, takes half the fun out of something new doesn’t it? You are a good farm momma… enjoy all your critters… Oh, I spotted my first toad while out raking the other day…a sure sign of all things spring…!
love and hugs,
Deb ( your bloggin’s sis from the beach )

So exciting! I’ll have fun following you along on this Farmgirl adventure. (I have absolutely no chicken wisdom to share… I only read lots of books and dream…) :-))

You precious lady! i wish my mama was here. She would love your post.
Happy Farmin’.

Sounds like lots of fun. I got baby chickens last year and we have so many eggs that we didn’t need to get any baby chicks this year but I miss it because it is so much fun to raise them. It really is pretty easy, don’t worry so much! Just have fun.

How exciting! I see a children’s book percolating in your brain complete with instructions on how to handle those chicks.

Oh what a wonderful post to wake up too – we are getting snow with 3"s on the ground so Spring is a bit different for us – which makes your story even the more precious. CHICKS – awwwww love all the other babies on the farm but CHICKS are the ones that you can hold and pet all their lives – great assortment and it sounds like you have provided a very healthy start for them. Peep Peep God Bless

I love my chooks too! Have fun and enjoy. Just wait till you get your first egg-you will feel like a proud mama for sure. From experience, the one they send for "free" is usually a rooster! I fell in love with my free buff orpington rooster last year but after receiving a nasty voice mail from a neighbor telling me to "have a chicken dinner"! I gave him away.Wow. Have fun and enjoy

love the update. enjoy they will grow fast.

Awwwww, your peeps are darling. The pompom head is a Polish. She’ll one day have a hat fancy enough to go to the Derby. Baby chicks are so much fun. The more you handle them, the tamer they will be. Yea, it all takes tame, but these are simple pleasures in life that make you smile from soul to marrow.

I had kinda talked myself out of chicks this year, but you’re pushing my TEMPTATION button hard :o)

Your farm is gettin’ pretty darn downhomey!! Chickens in the house. Yeee-up!!

Call Ducks are tiny. They can also fly. OhMyGosh…you have Wood ducks. They are so pretty. If you make a still-water puddle-pond, it will attract water fowl. They much prefer that to moving water.

Love you Rebekah. Glad you’re feeling better and you are smiling with the spring flowers.

Nope You can’t never tell. We had a few days of Spring and starting last night we have 65-70 mph wind and way below 0. Had much damage to the area and supposed to still get snow – eweeee you say DRIFTS. SO your message has warmed the cold corner of computer area and my heart is hopeful that we too will see the beautiful flowers blooming and children playing in the fields. Ain’t it JUST to have that wonderful experience for your daughter – ahhhh. Sorry you got the flu – I had it too – not sure where it came from but sure was no fun. Thanks again for the visit. God Bless

Hey Lady, glad you are feeling better. I had the weirdest stomach flu earlier in the winter. I won’t go into details in case you are eating breakfast, but it was weird! I’m thinking when "you can’t never tell" was invented, people didn’t know about double negatives. But…who knows… You can’t never tell about where those sayings first came from. I was thinking the other day..why is, "why did the chicken cross the road?" Such a popular saying. And I wonder who first said it and if they knew it would be around forever when they said it. I know…weird I would think that, huh? I’m with you on the blood and such. I don’t even watch a person get a shot on TV without closing my eyes! But…when my little Oscar (mini-dach God rest his soul) had to be in the hospital for several days, and I was single and poor, after day five I said I was going to have to bring him home and tend to him myself, IV and all, they were going to let me. I used to put gel on a dog I had with a skin condition too. You know what they say "Love conquers all."Hmmm wonder who ever said that first…..

Cindy Bee

Ps. I have been way too busy lately getting house in town ready to sell, but I’m going to go get my shower now so I can be ready to dance in my bee yard when the sun comes up. Yay for spring weather! My favorite!

I feel bad for the crows, too. But barns are amazing and blocking the view of it would have been criminal. Those pine boards must smell awesome! Can’t wait to see if you get that cutting board made. 😀

We once had a golden lab named Teddy who hated a particular set of birds-I think it was blackbirds. They would eat the dog food out of bowl. He never got over their thievery and barked and chased them every time they came around!

Such great adventures you have Rebekah! I’m so jealous (a good kind) of your beautiful property, barns, stream, and yes, even crows. How exciting to discover something new and then find creative ways to deal with it. Priceless memories for you all. Our dog hates squirrels — I found her one day almost climbing a tree to get them — they drive her crazy and we seem to have a lot o them. We have only got a few snowflakes here in the Pacific Northwest — lots of rain though. Turns the roof, bricks, lattice and grass a not so lovely shade of florescent green! But I am determined to bloom where I am planted and be thankful. Have a wonderful day and I am looking forward to your next adventure!

I agree with those trees needing to be removed. Barn is lovely! Crows will survive. Best to have moved them before nesting time. maybe they will move to your neighbors and give you all a little peace and quiet.

Oh my gosh the wood is so beautiful. I to am a country girl and love all your posts, thanks for sharing. Looking forward to more.

Those are going to be some beautiful floors. For the remnants I had alot of cedar remnants like that and I nailed them to 2×4’s and made a little corner fencing with a wild flower bed and bird bath. It was really cute. just an idea.

Oh Rebekah "of sunny brook farm’ – you are a hoot!! Such great adventures you take us through. Na can’t really feel for the caw’s, everyone gets relocated now and again, trust me they will find a new home quickly. Thanks again for the peek into your exciting life. God Bless

It’s amazing how much actually goes on in the country (like trout-tossing)! Savor every moment!

Nancy from LiveaSavoryLife

I can’t say much because I’m too busy laughing (about the foot cream) and nodding my head (about your slippery slope).

Oh, and the burrs. Weeds grow best for me, too. But one popped up even with snow on the ground? Is nothing sacred?

Loved this post…loved it. You are living the life I dream of….and I know it is beyond me, but I am so happy for you. This post made a LOT of sense, AND it was a fun one. Like I said. Love it.

Love it, love it, love it, your pure honesty and your whit, had to chuckle over
the mix up of foot and face creams too!
Good morning from the Ozarks!
Spring is around the corner here, we have that season of renewal and hope again for warmer, sunny days and growth in both our gardens and our spirits.
People ask us all the time why we would cook on an old cookstove when it is
work in many ways, why we garden when we can just walk to our town’s store,
why I make my own antibiotic salve when I can buy some from the drug store,
or bake sourdough bread that takes all day to rise, but there are just some things we do because we want to and chose to.
You will love your 50’s, each day you will become stronger and stronger
and it brings out the very best in all of us!
(I have a whole cupboard full of plastic bags that I have collected too!)
Blessings to you this morning from the Ozarks……..Diana

Rebekah dear, I live in San Francisco and I’m Jewish, so I have guilt about plastic bags and other offenses coming from all sides. I solved the plastic bag ban problem (yes, they are banned in the city and I’m charged 5 cents per paper sack) by having a small zippered cooler stuffed with at least 8 tote bags and two large mesh bags). The cooler has a strap that goes over my shoulder, an outside pocket for my grocery list, and it goes with me to the grocery store. The milk, eggs, cheese and other cold items are in the cooler; the rest of the groceries are divided among the tote bags so each is full but not too heavy to lift. You can get a plastic bag for 10 cents and it will be recyclable, relieving the guilt as well as your wallet. My friend uses a litter called S’wheat made out of–yes–wheat. It’s scoopable and decomposes unlike clay which lives forever in a landfill. In our apartment building, everyone has a small lidded container for our compostables. We empty it once a week into a plastic bag from our produce and place it in the compost bin which is emptied once a week. There are two other bins, one for recyclables and one for landfill. We’re as eco friendly as we can be but none of us feels guilty about it.

My suggestion: take a moment to find all your tote bags. Fold them and stuff them into one bag and leave them in your vehicle for shopping day. They’ll never be forgotten and you can wash, fold and return them to your vehicle before your next trip.

As for your chickens, I eat eggs from free-range cage-free chickens and we have farmers markets with wonderful folks who raise them organically and as humanely as possible. I’m a lacto-ovo vegetarian and will absolutely not make anyone feel guilty for their choices. Keep the good intentions in your heart and do what’s right for you. Best of luck!

Rebekah, you are a hoot!!!!!!! GUILT is an ugly thing that just takes up alot of our time & effort. FORGET IT!!!! My girls (chickens)are for egg laying & nothing else. Kill them, I DON’T THINK SOOOOOOO!!! I have great respect for those that can, but I don’t happen to be one of them. My girls will die of old age and natural causes. You have finally gotten to your dream farm, and you need to leave guilt out of it especially on this subject. Garbage bags, I’m right with you. Sometimes I remember other times not. When I bring them home they get used for kitty litter and many other things around our country home. I figure we recycle 99% of our household waste so I have no reason to feel guilty about a few grocery bags that I bring home. As for the foot cream. IT HAPPENS!! Glasses are a wonderful thing, and without them strange things sometimes happen. I totally enjoy reading your blog, and I’ve kept up with your farm dream, knowing that it would sometime happen. Enjoy every minute of it. We’ve been in our country home for 25 plus years, and there’s something new everyday. Enjoy your farm WITHOUT THE GUILT. Jan OB

Oh dog’gon that GUILT it has caused more havoc than the All State havoc man, so let’s get rid of it right NOW!!! Yes we all need to listen to our inner self and do all we can to SAVE (the environment, world) but we must live without feeling guilty. I too use those dern bags more than I want too but if it isn’t a grocery bag then it will be a purchased bag and why waste the money on purchasing. I do also recycle the bags – more than I use, so that helps me not feel so guilty about the used bags. Now about those ‘pretty little flowers’ – what a love hate relationship I have with them too also we have Sand burrs – smaller but just as prolific, I use vinegar,salt, HOT WATER on them – yes they aren’t gone forever but mostly for a season. And now about the misusing of the creams – ahhhh the eye sight – I remove all such items into reusable containers, different colors for different product – but what the heck about the mix up – maybe you have come up with a great new idea. I wish you a very happy day – actually – and I’m sorry to say so but I did laugh through your entire experience – BEEN THERE DONE THAT!!! God Bless

Rebekah, loved your story! And, Amen! I could not kill my chickens, cows, pigs, or any other animal. Prefer to buy meat on those little foam trays at the grocery store, and if it comes to me having to kill my food, I will just learn to love beans! Once, my friend, forced me to take a quilting class with her. Those women bragged about their sewing machines, bragged about all those quilts they made, bragged about not watching television, (NOT watching TV?…I LOVE TV!). Sewing is just not my thing. One woman stood at my shoulder and ridiculed the way I cut, the way I pieced, and the way I stitched. She bragged about her Bernina, and laughed when I said I had a Brother, from Walmart, the cheapest one, of which I have owned for years, and I have still not figured out where to put the oil. My friend made a beautiful queen sized quilt, and a baby quilt. I walked out of there with one completed square. I intend to put it in a frame, and hang it on my stairway wall, that I papered in a beautiful rose patterned wallpaper, (ahh, something that I actually can do.) Bet that Bernina lady doesn’t have a clue how to do that. No guilt! Keep writing, love your blog. And by the way, I loved those purple flowers too. I once entered an arrangement in the county fair and won second place. I did not have a clue they made cockleburrs! Cindy Ingram. Fitzhugh, OK.

I feel exactly the same way that you do about chickens, septic tanks and plastic bags, we eat chicken, and when i get the plastic bags I use them to put trash in that "recycle worthy".
Regarding the Burts Bee’s products – – maybe you could suggest they think about changing there packaging – -different color backgrounds would fix the issue. At least it was not "toothpaste" that you mistook footcream for or visa versa… 🙂

Oh Rebekah, you are too funny. I like chicken too and I ain’t gonna kill my own either, and yes I said ain’t just because I wanted too. lol. Also, just be thankful you were washing your face and not brushing your teeth with the foot cream. lol. Girl, you better put some glasses in the bath next to your toiletries. Be Blessed and keep blogging.

Wow pushing 70! That’s right pushing 70! I know about the burs!!! Horses tails are the hardest.

How about taking a neon marking pen and draw a line around the entire tube to differentiate it from the other similar looking one? Or I take a marking pen and write one letter on the top. In your case, I would write a letter "F" on the top of the foot cream to remind me what it is. Also, hang the guilt. That’s what’s so great about 50!

Rebekah, now I feel guilty for not switching to tote bags for my food! I do reuse my bags, so I guess that I shouldn’t feel horrible, but you do make a great point. Love the pretty flower story….you are such a hoot! Have fun choosing your feathered friends. Just remember that you can’t have more than one rooster, or you will have a real fight on your hands. I learned that the hard way when I raised some chicks from our eggs. It seemed like my hens liked to have roosters [cockerels] for babies rather than hens [pullets]. Of course you don’t have to have a rooster, but they do a great job of keeping the flock in line and safe. Thanks for the great chuckles!

I’m laughing too hard right now! Too funny, girl! I so get the reading glasses part! And I save Kroger grocery bags specifically for cat liter…I have FOUR indoor kitties! I gave up guilt a long time ago! Freed my soul, that’s what I did! I love meat, but I don’t want any part of the killing, either! Nope, not me! I once brushed my teeth with Prep H. Don’t ask, but it had to do with my lack of glasses! My teeth didn’t swell for weeks! Anyway…TMI.

Have a wonderful time giving up guilt! Run free…

Cindy

Oh, hahahahahahahaha and HA! about the foot cream. You’re right, they need to change the packaging. That’s just funny. Ditto the Vagisil, that’s even better!

Thanks for all this. My thing with killing the chickens or bunnies I raise for food would be that I would give them a good, decent life, and a quick humane death. I mostly don’t eat any meat from the grocery store, because the conditions the animals live in are unspeakable. But OTOH, there is a farm near Corvallis (Ore.) that sells organic, humanely raised etc chickens. It’s an hour away, and I"ll have to buy in bulk and freeze, and I might. But, reading Farm City, Novella Carpenter makes some very good points about all this. I don’t feel guilty about any of it, I just want to reduce suffering in this world.
I do know where my meat comes from, because it came from farms nearby and they treat their animals properly. Right now I’m trying to find a dairy that does the same. Geesh, who’d a thot that you couldn’t find free-range dairy cows.

I used wood pellets for my litter boxes. It is usually pine, it dissolves into sawdust, and it is impregnated with urine, which is a lot of nitrogen. Right to the garden. I looked for the most dust-free I could find, and ended up buying bedding for animals, but I’ve also used pellet stove pellets.

Man, that’s something about the cockleburrs. None of that on the Oregon Coast, thank heaven.

I love your posts, Rebekah. I’m still trying to figure out wordpress for my baby blog.

Inspiring story there! Thank you for sharing your life with us! After reading, I always walk away with something special on my heart to ponder.

It sounds to be like you and your family will be creating the soul of the land by bringing the life and love of your animals and family to it.

Your farm has wonderful stories buried in it’s soil!
When we bought this 70+ yr. old house on the edge of town, I didnt really want it, I wanted the "out in the country life".
But, as the years have gone by, we have figured out, our life in this house was was meant to be, and we have everything we wanted right here, it was waiting all the time!
We found a antique piano in the basement, sales tax tokens buried in the driveway, a 1937 Seven Up bottle, an antique wooden toy top, and a beautiful milk glass vase filled with quarters hidden in a cupboard for a rainy day.
Thanks for warming my heart this morning as a blizzard is all about us!
Hugs from the Ozarks, Diana

Sounds like you are the heart and I am sure the soul will reveal itself soon! Look up The Gentle Barn. It is an animal rescue farm. May be just the soul you have been looking for! I could totally see you giving neglected farm animals a home. The Gentle Barn is a non-profit that runs on donations and good Samaritans can sponsor an animal. They also do farm days for visitors to come and love on an animal. Just a thought but think of all the kisses!

Rebekah,
you are such a kind sensitive soul, your love of animals and wanting to protect them is wonderful – Kiss, kiss to all your fuzzy lovable babies! And I must say I agree with Diane Henretty’s lovely note above, you don’t need to look for your farm’s soul, it is you. You are very much the soul of your farm and your family, you are what makes your home and your farm real and alive. Whatever purpose you decide to give the farm you are the one who brings it to life. I so look forward to hearing your stories, the good and the bad, as you move forward (and hopefully sometimes just sit and enjoy what you have in the present).
And a little side note, my home was a run down dump previously owned by another lover of al-key-hall who chucked his glass bottles off the back porch into the backyard…for 20 years. 12 years after purchasing I still find broken glass when digging in my garden and yard, it helps me to remember what it used to be and what we have made it now 🙂

I want goats too! Hubs says not. Sad face. I will be content with my chickens, they do not need much and Ladybug and the old mean cat that won’t come out of the basement anymore (don’t feel bad for him it is a walkout). It is a process. We have been here 5 years now. Ten acres. Seems we would fill it up but it is mostly woods and already filled up. Continue to have a wonderful time figuring it out and sharing your journey and we will keep coming back to see how it ends!

I saw a t-shirt once that said, "I don’t need another horse, I don’t need another horse, I don’t need another horse…" I get it! A friend who boarded with me had a Rocky Mt horse. He was drop dead gorgeous and oh so smooth. I called him Fabio, not his name, ha.

I’m guessing you’ve discovered Wendell Berry by now. He delves right into the heart and soul of land and you can see pretty clearly that we’re just the stewards.

Glad things are going well!

Ahhh… thank you for kissable horses. As you know MaryJane has had some great articles on chickens. They aren’t that hard. I love to watch them cluck and peck around, very soothing to me. We had goats (before our move to suburbia) They were so fun. We choose pygora goats, smaller like pygmy goats, with fleece like angora goats. In Organ they eat everything but thistles. Another nice thing we didn’t have to milk them everyday. Once a year we’d sheer them (hire someone the first time and get trained on how to do it- not as hard as it seems)and get this wonderful fleece to play with. Hugs!!