A life less ordinary

From the suburbs to the country in Independence Township, this is our journey. We are two suburban yuppies who always had a dream to leave it all behind and become country dweller's. Now we are on part two of this adventure. We just bought our Historical farm. We have six acres, a barn, some outbuildings, three excited kids, three dogs, one cat, a tortoise and us, the wonderstruck parents who are beyond thrilled and a little bit clueless about what the next chapter has in store for us!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Gratitude

Well, we finally got the last of the beds for the farm. Drove up to Oscoda Saturday morning and loaded the U-haul with everything we wanted to take down to the farm. Now we have a queen for the master bedroom, a vintage white painted brass twin for our daughter, a full size vintage brass for guests, a folding cot for sleep-over's, and the painted white wood bunks for the boys. We can finally set up the beds for Memorial weekend and actually get work done on the interior. I can't wait to paint the walls, and sand the floors. It's amazing what a couple coats of paint can do for a house! Now the majority of the hauling is done. The only other item that we haven't moved yet is the fridge from my mom's garage, but we can load it on our small trailer and take it out. It's good to be done with all the heavy moving. We can focus on fixing up the house now, and doing all the other repairs that need attention. The barn roof, the pasture fence, the tree trimming...
We got to the farm yesterday at about 4:30 and stayed until 7. We brought the kids dirtbikes and dunebuggy down from Oscoda. The boys were so thrilled to get on them and rip around the property. It's wide open and perfect for riding. I threw a blanket down in the shade and I just sat and watched them in all their dirtbiking bliss! My daughter, who is 5, was standing out in the field of dandelions, arms outstretched, trying to will a dragongfly to land on her. It almost looked like she was meditating. That moment with the sun slowly setting behind the pasture, and the work it took to get there, suddenly made it all worthwhile. I could have stayed there for hours, under the cool shade of those noble trees, just taking it all in. Children are such soulful, spiritual people, much more so than adults. It was one of those moments that you freeze in your mind, seeing your life before your eyes, and being flooded with gratitude.

No comments:

Inspiration that helped me get here.

Food for thought

The increase in U.S. food prices from 1982 to 2009 rose 128%.In the same period, prices paid to farmers rose only 34%.

1 in 3 Americans born in 2000 is expected to develop diabetes in his or her lifetime.

Jargon-food sovereignty: the right of peoples to eat healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems.

(from the declaration of Nyeleni, 2007)

32 hours, 50 minutes- The amount of on-screen media, including television, videos and video games that American children between the ages of 2 and 5 years old consume each week, according to the Nielsen Company.

Chicken-ism

I loved this so much that I had to post it. I cannot take credit, I found it on the web.

All I need to know I learned from my chickens.

Wake up early, stay busy, but always stay alert.

Visit your favorite places every day.

Scratch out a living.

Routine is good.

Plump is good.

Don't ponder your pupose in life, your brain is too small.

Accept the pecking order and you know your enemies.

Weed your garden.

Protect your children fiercely, sit on them if you need to.

Take them for walks, show them the little things, and talk constantly.

Brag on your accomplishments.

Don't count your chicks before they hatch.

Protect your nest egg.

Test your wings once in a while.

Squawk when necessary.

As you age, demand respect.

Leave a little something for those who care about you.

Chase butterflies.