In Retrospect – the Anniversary Edition…

For Chloe…

Well my friends – it has been a year since our sojourn into farming.

Our one year anniversary was actually August 29th – but it has taken me a few days to digest, meld and work through the thoughts and feelings that I have on being a “farmer” for full year.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. Promise you won’t tell??? – we are not real farmers. Not really. Sure we have livestock – but we do not till the land, sow crops or raise consumables.

We dally and play with out herd. We are weekend warriors in our quest to have our perfect farm.

What I/We have learned in the last year.

There is no “perfect” farm.

Our barn leans a little to the left – but that is OK – we are working on making it true.

I have no upscale stable for my herd – but that’s OK – they are warm – well fed and loved.

My paddock may be wet – but my little stable is dry and warm and inviting.

Our house is not furnished with the “latest” style – but truly – those chairs cost me 5 bucks each at the thrift store – FIVE BUCKS!!!

Our lawn gets cut when we have time. Who cares- are the “lawn police” going to come and ticket us?? I doubt it.

I/We have made friends – ohhhh – such good friends. We have learned that community is more important that expensive chairs and cut lawns and indoor riding arenas (although I really do want one)

We have learned to not overfeed – we have learned that people do things out of the goodness of their heart – not for ulterior motives. We have learned to trust people.

We have learned that wild parsnip burns – the mosquito’s are huge and that snakes roam freely on our property.

While we may not be farmers in the traditional sense- milking, tilling, planting etc- we are still farming our dreams and tilling our place in this community.

We are now officially “planted” here and ladies and gents – we ain’t going no where!!!

Looking back on a year ago – it was chaotic. I kept asking myself – what have we gotten into??

Winter was a cruel beouch and she taught me to suck it up buttercup and move on.

This year has put me in the best shape of my life!!

I sit in my office/tack room. The smell of leather and cat litter (we have 5 indoor cats) and I watch the bat parade (happening right now FYI) and I listen to tree frogs and I worry about my kittens outside and if they are warm and fed and I just breath and smile and look forward to tomorrow.

Tomorrow like every other day – I will get up at 0500 – I will feed my herd – I will go to work – and I will come home and I will breath and I will smile because – well – I love it here – we love it here.

Many years to come – you betcha!!! I would NOT change one thing about this past year.

Interesting how that one little step – the one little push and that one little leap can take you to the place in your mind and heart that you have dreamt about and talked about and yearned for  your entire life??

Orange Acres – our home – all are welcome – we are little but we will make room. Bring a sleeping bag, a tent and come and enjoy our little slice of heaven.

PS. Chloe was a dear horse from my previous barn who unfortunately crossed the rainbow bridge after a bout of colic. She was beautiful and loving and I will miss her. I hope her human is OK.