At The End Of The Day, Your Feet Should Be Dirty

I'm may be crazy. And I probably have NO idea how much work I'd be creating for myself....in fact, I'm sure I don't....

But one of these days, I will have me a cow, some chickens, a couple goats, maybe a horse and definitely a muddy pig. Oh, and throw some honey bees in there for good measure as well.

I want a farm. a real farm with real farm animals...a sweet, smelly stench in the air...dirty kids! (oh, we already have that part!)

Since moving into the "barnhouse", the kids have repeatedly asked for animals and to have a farm. So the idea has always been there. We've always dreamed of this being our little farm...we have the garden and a dog! ha! But we want a "real farm" as they put it.
 
This past weekend, we went on a spontaneous trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains. Sometimes I think I was made for that place. I could totally sink my bare feet into the freezing streams and dance through the grassy knolls. I could rock my babies to sleep on a big wide front porch in a rickety old rocker with a quilt over our laps. I could see us growing old there. But the roads are so long! The curves, so curvy!! And I get super motion-sick. So trips are probably the extent of my life in the mountains. But I do love it. It feels like home to me. In fact, a little shop in Blowing Rock was where I first heard Michael Buble over the stereo system and instantly fell in love. "Home" was our song.  It's a barefoot in the rain, arms tight around each other, swaying to the beat kind of song.



But our home is where we are now. And I'm ready for my farm...to grow our peaceful haven by a few chickees and calves!

What really set my heart and mind in motion was after leaving Linville Caverns, we backtracked to a little store we saw alongside the road that was selling cheese. Cheese, as in, the best food on the planet...fresh, homemade, straight from the cow in the pasture, cheese. The Caverns give you a ticket stub, that, if you present to the store clerk at , they'll give you a dollar off your purchase! Bingo! We love a deal!

The rain pouring didn't stop us from having a blast. We ran for the door and as soon as we landed on the porch, Jasper hollered "Momma! It smells so YUCKY!"....I said, "Baby, that's the sweet smell of poopy cows!" we giggled, opened the door and I walked straight into home.

Farmer man was sitting on a cooler spooning his icecream with his leathery-tanned skin and white t-shirt and muddy boots as granny sat on the bench quilting by hand. She marveled at Alanna's teething necklace wondering where those were when her children were little! The cheese samples called our names...

...Key Lime spread with graham crackers (the grown-up's favorite)
......Buttercup cheese with spicy pepperoni (Lukas' favorite, the buttercup, not the pepperoni!)
..........Roasted tomato and basil spread with crispy crackers (who doesn't love a dip?!)

And a cooler wall full of curds, cheese blocks, homemade pickles, farm-fresh eggs. Holy toledo.

It's exactly what I want. (To be a voluptuous farmer's wife, overdosed on cheese, obviously!!!)

I want my tanned, rugged and musky husband sitting by my side enjoying a bowl a handmade icecream or cheese drizzled with honey as the rain beats on the tin roof of my red cabin store.

I want my kids running around in muddy boots and learning the importance of raising animals and providing food for our family. 

I long to use my hands to feed people; cultivate the earth; to prick myself with quilt pins.

I really do want the simple life. I want a farm that keeps us all busy and together.

I don't want much. But it sure will take a lot to make it happen. Our garden is growing, we are on our way to a more self-sustaining life. I don't want to go backward...but forward isn't where I want to be either. There's nothing wrong with the way people use to live before traffic and cellphones and Facebook and RUSH.

I want that.

You may think I'm crazy or don't have it in me....
but it's my dream and a burning desire of my heart.

While I pound away on a computer from 7-5:30 each day, my heart beats for home.
My Pinterest board knows that farm life is on my constantly begging at me.

So if the Good Lord's willing and the creek don't rise, hopefully one day soon, I'll invite you over for some fresh cheese curd, a ripe summer tomato & watermelon salad, maybe some warm bread straight out of the oven slathered with freshly churned butter, and we can chat about the crazy chickens, our dreams, homeschooling and raising children.

Sound like a plan?
Never stop dreaming.
Never think you are too old or too invested in a career.
Never give up hope, and always...

Island de Vides

Let's take a little trip back to 2012.

Before we moved in, the first thing we did was try to tackle the little "Island de Vides"...or Island of Vines.....otherwise known as a big huge patch of weeds that are overtaking the world, one driveway at a time!!!

We have pulled weeds & vines no less than three times since this day. The bad part is that the vines aren't even pretty. No blooms...no redeeming factor. They spread like wildfire!

#killallthevines

Little man worked so hard he tuckered out. Gigi took advantage!

Seriously. I can't get over how much this boy has grown in 2 1/2 years. He's almost to my shoulders at 7  years old. And that little bit of "baby" is almost gone.

Get me a tissue please!!

Do you see all of the vines?

They could give you Jumanji-style nightmares! Relentless little suckers. They pop up shoots clear across the yard. We really need to till up every square inch of this place.

I love a hard-working man. He seriously has put so many long hours transforming this place.

I probably should put the same amount of hours in blogging so that you all can actually SEE what it looks like now.

The sun shines here so beautifully through the trees.
It's most definitely peaceful.
I hope my kids remember the feeling of the sun peering through the branches and leaves. Feeling it beat on their cheeks. I can remember the feeling of my childhood yard. The ripples of the pond below our house. I remember so many little details.
And they are good.
So good.

I pray they carry the same good memories and treasure them for a lifetime.

I absolutely love most, that they are finding "wildlife" around the woods. Becoming such adventurous little guys. It amazes me how this one doesn't seem to have much fear when he's out there. In other situations, he's my more reserved child. But something about him being outside just sets him free.

Makes this momma's heart happy.

That hip.
Oh that hip.
It's of his daddy. And I love every little square inch of him.

And he sure loves his Doc.

But, holy cow who knew what we were getting in to when we moved here. We battle the leaves like nobody's business! The vines are now a little more under control but it takes maintenance for sure. And the turtle, well...he's probably still around, cute little guy!

So much to do when you live in the woods. There is no clean space. I'm dying to turn our Island de Vides into a perfect little spot for a hammock or waterfall. Something fancy....but low maintenance!

Something peaceful.

Helping Hands

Doc had this idea to paint wooden "hands" to hang around the Barnhouse. Hands of those who have helped make this place our home.

Notice all the pallets? They will be fancy furniture and a pallet wall.....one day!!

I'd say they've earned their "hands" on the barn as badges of their hard work!

They Dig It!

One House.
Four Buildings.
Twenty-Five Acres.
Seven Hundred Million Feet of Water Line.
Seven Hundred Million Feed of Electrical Line.
Six Yard Hydrants.
Many. Many Strenuous Hours Later....

We have water!!

Hard work I tell ya!!

Burn baby, Burn!

We've been working hard around these woods cutting down trees, pulling up vines, raking leaves...and leaves...and more leaves. Prettying up the place.

But holy freak-of-nature, this piece of land! You really can't even tell all the hard work we did with raking and pulling up vines because guess what?!?!

It's covered again! Vines. Leaves. Limbs.

You mean, I'm going to have to do this on a yearly basis?

Homeboy better get a better rake. Like an electric one. with a leaf boy to go with it. It's insane.

A couple of weekends ago we finally got a break in the weather, and schedule, and had us a big ole bonfire! Things get surrious around these woods and we break out the fire trucks and big hoses. "Arggh Arggh!!"

My little yard boys! Thirteen, six and three. I'll be darned. STOP GROWING!

Oh but wait!! Ha!! I don't need a leaf boy! I've got three! Ok, carry on acting all big and stuff.

Wearing your irresistibly cute hats that make your ears fold over like dopey and make my heart skip a little. Did I help make this cutie? Is he really mine?!

Well if so...."GET TO WORK KID!!! No sitting around while there are leaves falling every second of every day!"

See, like your daddy. He knows his role. :D

And yes, I know mine. Feed the hungry monsters. 

This fire was fah-sizzling hot!

One weenie on a stick is for the tough and the brave...and those without eyebrows.
I'm not tough and although I need a wax, I'd prefer to keep the brows. So I had my scarf turbaned around my head to block the heat. Then smartened up and went to multiple weenies on a stick.

Oh and hello, bonfire = s'mores 

I like mine hot. Says the girl married to the fireman. ;) Ahem. S'mores people! Get your mind outta the gutter!

See? Hot fireman-like dude staring at the hot fire. Contemplating whether to add more kerosene or let it burn nice and slowwwww.....

They let it burn. 

and burn.....

and burn....

Until it was dark. The kids were tired. I had to pee. It was fun. Now let's go home!

PSA: Did you know that poison oak travels through smoke? Oh you didn't? Just ask my husband, stepdad and stepson. They've got the itch, dry skin and grossness to prove it. You're welcome.