It has been 5 years since we packed up a moving truck in Kensington and headed to Bird House Farm (then Buggy Whip studio) in the pouring rain. The newly refinished floors in our new (old) home were wet, unable to dry in the wet weather and we had only two rooms we could pile all of our furniture and our family of 5 + 1 au pair into. I'll never forget that night, all of us sleeping in a tiny bedroom which is now a walk in closet. We woke up to hear that the bank had dropped the loan because of a battle over the ag taxes. We couldn't close on the house that we were all moved into. Somehow it all worked out and here we were in the middle of an old, leaky house surrounded by overgrown everything.
We have all learned more than we could have imagined. When I look back, I don't think I realized how much my childhood experiences were pulling us to where we are and I am so thankful that Sam jumped on board, with just a little persuation. Sometimes it's hard for adults to take risks, especially when so many lives are involved, especially the little ones. Since then we have: had 3 litters of pigs, two litters of great pyrennees puppies, learned to bottle feed baby goats, mastered the kubota, become fence pros, are used to something leaking, bursting, cloggin maybe montlhy, improved the pool, bathrooms and mudroom, welcomed horses and veggie farmers and the list really goest on. Are we glad we did it. Well, I can't speak for Sam but I will say when I open my eyes and ears to the sound of the tractor or chain saw humming, I sure smile inside. When we are hosting our large family and see all the kids running around, I smile inside. In fact, almost every morning I come down the stairs and have a little jump for joy. Things have transformed and progressed as life on little or big farms often do I suppose. We started really with the idea of homesteading. We began a vegetable plot and hooked up with a veggie farmer through land link. I brought my first two pigs home in the new Honda Odyssey, eager to show Sam the joy of living on a farm! Bacon! Fresh eggs! Paleo! Space for parties! Those were the ways I knew this land would make him happy. I became good friends with the crew at our butcher even to the point of knowing his favorite jammies (whitie tighties and a gold chain). See, being that I work during the day, they allowed me a special time to bring the pigs. I think they were glad not to have to deal with the crazy, new suburban, farmer lady who had to bring a last supper of the pigs favorite foods to say goodbye. But sometimes I needed a little back up and I would have to knock on the door of their house next to the market. Good times. As our oldest daughter continued on in pony club, our vision began to change. Why not keep them here? I love the work, caring for animals of really any kind and Maddie was dying to set up her own little thing. Yet another scary move to mentally process. Since mom is scared of taking risks.....that's a joke. Onward and upward. So here we are 5 years later. The pigs are gone and the horses are here. Maddie has just 4.5 years before college. I think the horses will be here until then. The chickens and ducks still bring fresh eggs and the sheep and goats are good weed eaters and companions when one of the two horses is off property. Mom doesn't have to go through the pain of seeing the butcher in his gold chain and whitie tighties and sending the pigs of to their fate with boiled eggs and yogurt. Our vegetable farmer has just moved out and the carriage house is being transformed into Yea Yea's (chinese for Grandpa) apartment. Today is election day. Biden or Trump. We are in the midst of a national pandemic and there is no place I'd rather be.
1 Comment
1/17/2024 11:55:12 pm
Thanks for this great share. This site is a fantastic resource. Keep up the great work here at Sprint Connection! Many thanks.
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AuthorCatherine Moy Archives
October 2020
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