Hey thats GREAT! And some aw shucks-ing

Hey! It's a Shout Out day for some of my online pals! Oh golly did I get some fun news and I just had to share....

First, remember my pal J from Insurgent Chickens? The story continues and I just had to tell you about the great turn of events. You can also hear it from the man himself over on his blog...but here's the story. J is doing such a great job with his farmin' in a limited space... and I loved to hear about how he was "share cropping" on a friend's land. They had some extra dirt, he had the gumption - so they worked together to put in a plot of taters. Wow what a great partnership!

But wait there's more... my friend BBH mentioned that she wanted to get more creepy meat chickens but was holding off because she really needed some help on butcher day. And guess what - BBH lives kinda close to J....and he really needed more space if he was going to do more chickens....and BBH needed butcher help...and the light bulb went off in my little head. So I made the introduction - and they made the connection....and now BBH is raising the chickens and J will head over for butcher day. Now THAT'S great team work. I'm really proud of both of my pals for figuring out a way to work together for the benefit of them both. And I can't wait to hear the story about butcher day.Yay team!

And for the aw shucks-in'... I loved that Coco Over at Galician Garden gave me the Versatile Blogger award. Yay! Thanks baby! She has a beautiful site - be sure to check it out.  I received this award before but I have to tell you - I just love this kind of thing. So thanks again, Coco! I think these awards are a fun way to recognize each other and to be introduced to new folks.

So here are the rules - thank the person who gave you the award, link back to them - of course, and then pass the award on to other folks (and be sure to tell them about it). Then you must give seven fun facts about yourself.

I really thought you knew everything about me as you read  here.  But OK maybe I still have a few secrets:

1. I can free dive to over 50 feet - probably close to 60 feet. Its true. I used to spend a lot of time in Hawaii and I can snorkel and free dive with the best of them. Someone once called me Jackie Cousteau and I thought that was pretty funny.

2. I don't like bananas. Or banana flavored stuff. The smell of baking banana bread makes me want to barf. I say no more on this.

3. I'm a total sci-fi nerd. I think you know this but I don't think you know how bad it is. I have a Christmas tree ornament of the Enterprise. It lights up and everything. I love it.

4.  I don't like team sports. I don't like to play them or watch them. One time I went to a pro baseball game (under duress) and after the first seven hours got bored and started to read a book. Some of the drunken fans screamed at me for not caring about their game. Really? And you think a drunk fool yelling at me is gonna make me want to come back? Really?

5. One of the best days of my life (besides my wedding to The Big Man, of course) was a spectacular summer day in my early 20's. The first time I went to Europe I was on one of those tours - you know the company, the guy from PBS? And when we got to Switzerland I just couldn't leave. So I abandoned the tour, waved goodbye to the bus, and hiked the high roads in the Lauterbrunnen valley alone. It was perfect.

6. My father was a Thud pilot, its where I get my 'hell yeah.' This will mean something to some of you - like Chai Chai's The Commander - and it might just make some of you take a step back and say "Well that explains a lot."

7.  The chickens are the best part of my farm day. I can't help it - I love them and don't care who knows.

Since I've passed this award along before I'll  remind everyone who I choose. And... I'd love to give J at Insurgent Chickens this fine award for all his good work.

Happy Monday everyone!

How I got The Big Man

Happy Anniversary to us! Today is the day - our wedding anniversary. I always remember it as "the last day of June" but I'm never sure if its the 30th or the 31st. So I guess today is as good as any to tell you how I got The Big Man. So here goes:

Simply put, I've loved him since we were 15... maybe a smidge before. We were in shop class together... and me and my best friend, locked him and his best friend in the tool shed. We girls were In Trouble with the teacher, let me tell you that much. But I think that started it. As a random note, both of the best friends were red heads and they didn't particularly like each other.

So we were high school sweethearts. One of the teachers pulled me aside one day during our senior year and told me that technically he won The Coolest Car and I won The Best Hair but everybody wanted us to The Cutest Couple...but you wouldn't "win" two awards so we were crowned Cutest Couple. We were also on Homecoming Court and Prom Court. My Best Hair was spectacular and we were really something as we cruised up in his Coolest Car.

It was funny because we weren't part of the popular crowd – in fact, you know me, I was already giving the finger to what was popular. So we became the de facto leaders of the regular folks and led a rebellion against the cool kids, such as it was. But all things, including high school, end and so we parted ways. Me, for my college and him for his university. The long distance thing lasted just short of a year and I thought that was it.

Fast forward about 10 years after that – geez that's been about 15 years ago. We call this part "Take Two." I was living my software life on the Left Coast. He was living in New Mexico. Even without Facebook we found each other again and met half way for a kind of reunion. In Vegas. For exactly 14 hours. But what happens in Vegas can't always be left there. So we commuted between the desert and the ocean for about 18 months.

But he was extremely stubborn and refused to move to the city. And there was no way I was going to live way out in the middle of no where cut off from civilization. So we parted ways again.

Life went on. My big life got bigger... and in the course of his own life he eventually left the desert and went back to his family farm in Ohio.

Then one day I was sitting in a dreadfully boring training class for some new fangled techno-whizbang, legal beagle, people finder. I soon glazed over and wandered from the assigned syllabus and started messing around with the people finder. Golly. You can find just about anyone anywhere... say.. I wonder where The Big Man is living... I figured he and his lovely wife and 2.5 kids were still in the desert. But a small town in Ohio kept popping up every time I entered his name. I knew it was him because, being a keeper of useless facts, I remembered part of his social security number. So there he was. And there I sat in that class. And I remembered his old email address... hum....

All y'all know how this goes, right?

So I sent the first email and this is about how it went:

Me: Is that you?

He: Yep.

Me: I'm looking at the farm with this new google map thingy.. I think I can see the farm house.

He: Well, I'd better go get pants on then.

It turned out he wasn't married with 2.5 kids. He never married, and his only fault was that he was a Republican... but I could overlook that even if I was from the bluest state on the map. We corresponded. We caught up. I planned to visit my sister in Ohio and we agreed that maybe he could make the 2 hour drive and meet for lunch?

Instead of the expected happy reunion... for this third time of finding each other.... my family suffered a private tragedy. But he showed up anyway. He helped. He stood in the gap. He was the rock that kept me, and us, from slipping apart. He held my hand. He shouldered the weight for all of us. It was a lot to ask from someone I hadn't seen in 10 years.

During that time I considered buying a house near my sister here in Ohio and since he was in construction I asked if he wanted to go and check it out with me. It was a lovely older Victorian and I probably would have signed the papers right then. 

So you know how everyone hopes for that Hollywood moment? When the story comes together and the music is swelling and he and she are standing there and the sun hits them just right and... and... and...

Me: I LOVE this house – its perfect! Can you think of any reason why I shouldn't just buy it?

He: Because you should come and live on the farm with me.

And that was that. All those long years of being apart were gone in that instant and our fate was sealed.

After that we had our exodus from the city, the move into the old farm house, and then on one perfect summer day in June we got married. We wore shorts and so did our family. The pastor gave us the blessing and pronounced us under the crabapple tree in the back yard that one of the grandmothers had planted. The sun shined, the rooster crowed, the dog barked, and everyone cheered. We had BBQ and cupcakes under a tent in the yard between the corn fields.

The only problem with being married to someone who you grew up with is that you are no longer a mystery. At all. I hate that he has me all figured out. Unlike others, he doesn't flinch when I'm extra scary and trying to get my way – he laughs at me. Try to start an argument? It's no use. Pick a fight? Nope. He doesn't go for that either. Tell him how wrong he is? He just says that he's happy being wrong. Tell him to go sleep on the couch? He says “Great! Its just like camping!”

Its infuriating.

And then there's the matter of how we always have the same thought. At the same time. 

"Have your own thought!" 

"YOU have your own thought!" 

"Stop it!" 

"No you stop it!" 

For heaven's sakes.

And there is no sense in even talking anymore – we just grunt like a couple of old fuddy-duddies. Its easier and faster. We already know what the other is going to say. Especially all his stupid jokes. I know all of them mostly because I come up with the same ones. 

We even had all the same movies so I sold mine at the big garage sale when I sold my house.

So here we are. Two old fuddy-duddies who know the same jokes, have the same movies, and know the same, stupid obscure trivia. We've each taken to taking to the poultry because at least they don't already know all our stories.

And that's how I got The Big Man. Again. I guess the third time is the charm?

But if I think about it.,. there were some funny moments at the wedding.. but that is another story entirely.

About (lets try this again)...

Yikes! Sorry about the technical difficulties, folks lets try this again. There were a few things left off this post and it published before I realized it...and then I went outside and forgot about it.
----------------------------------------------------
I figure I should do the About thing as an introduction for the new people...so here goes:

Who ARE you?
There's me - Ohiofarmgirl and my husband, The Big Man. We are a small, almost organic, kinda self sustaining, pretty much self reliant, small farm-for-us in Ohio. We have about 100 pieces of poultry including the usual suspects -- chickens, ducks, turkeys, geese, and those damn guinea hens that scream like howler monkeys. We get feeder pigs in the summer for a fall harvest, and we have dairy goats that provide us with milk, cheese, and supplemental feed for the barnyard. We have a huge garden that will be even better this summer.

What do you do? Like for work?
The Big Man is now off work, but generally he's the one that has the job. Me, I'm the one that works. Depending on who you ask I'm either retired or a slacker. I consider myself a farmer, altho I had to choke out those words at first. I don't spend hours on a tractor, I'm not overly concerned with the Futures market, heck... I don't even have overalls. But I do work this property, do all the planting, manage the critters, corral chickens, and milk those goats. I tried to list 'farming' on one of those airline credit card offers and they laughed at me. But sure, I'm the farmer here.

How'd you get here?
Read the gory details here but suffice it to say I gave up a big corporate life to dig in the dirt. Its totally cool.

Why are you doing this?
Why not? I know more than a few baby boomers who waited until retirement to enjoy their lives...and then either dropped dead, or became impaired somehow physically, so now they are restricted to sitting around. Me, I'm not buying that traditional life for a second.

How did you do it? How could you afford to do it?
I worked incredibly hard, made good decisions, was blessed, and got lucky. I learned the hard way not to wait so I lept when the opportunity came up.

Isn't it irresponsible to leave a good job?
You may have my old job. Really. Go ahead. Tell 'em all I said 'hi' and their lives will never be as good as mine. But I do miss Italian coffee and French pastries. Oh well. Guess I'll have to live with fresh eggs and a big slab of ham...and pie, of course.

Kinda saucy aren't ya?
You have no idea

What are 100 things I should know about you?
Check it out here - but not quite 100.... good 'nuff tho.

And because I'm a big goofball, I'm not sure some of the comments are going to post. But thanks to these folks and this is what they said.....
------------------------------------------------------------
Leontien
Haha it's good to know about those things but you make me really curious about the links!!! ;-)

Thanks
Leontien


tami
I just found you from "Tiny Gardener's" blog. Nice blog you have here. I'll be trolling through your old posts for a bit. I must say the post a few days ago about nothing growing around the area IS shocking. Hubby and I both grew up in Ohio. Still miss it even though we love NC.

David P. Offutt - The Gastronomic Gardener
Love it!, Not quite ready to pull the trigger, but getting close. Less than 10 years, that's the target.

Gingerbreadshouse7
Your a girl after my own heart..think it ..do it. Sassy and brassy..that's the way to get it done..while your young enough...

I'm Versatile! Thanks Weekend Cowgirl!

Yesterday I really needed a little pick me up - so I was thrilled when Weekend Cowgirl gave me the Versatile Blogger Award!

Thanks baby!  You all know Weekend Cowgirl, don't you?  She's the one with the spectacular Buttermilk Pie...and she has a beautiful blog. 

So here are the rules - thank the person who gave you the award and pass the award on to ten blogs. Then you must give seven fun facts about yourself.

I've thought about this all day and... seven things you don't already know? Golly!  I thought I told you everything about myself here.  But here are a few extra things...

1. I walk like a trucker, I swear like a drunken sailor, and I'm hell with an axe. But I consider myself a traditional wife and I don't feel bad about it.

2. I like meat. Especially bacon. Heck, I pretty much just about any kind of meat off a pig. But not head cheese.

3. I used to go to Paris every year when I had my big life. I'd take a journal to write in and drink as much coffee as humanly possible in my 3 days on the ground.

4. In all the years I lived on the Left Coast I never ate sushi. I'm just to Mid West for that kinda thing. One time I mistakenly ordered "seared ahi" and I made them take it back and cook it. The server nearly died. But I didn't ask for tarter sauce so I think I did OK.

5. My BFF is the polar opposite of me - but she understands every beat of my heart. I'm blessed by such a dear friend.

6. I don't need to look at a recipe for most of the food I cook. So either I need to find some new fun things to make for supper or I have an eidetic memory for all things food related.

7. My pal SD might be right.... I might be a dog person after all.


I've decided to send some bloggy love to some folks you may or may not know about. So without further ado....

Summer Sweet Farm at These Two Hands  

Ian  at Life on an Acreage 

Contadina's at Contadina's Blog

Veggie PAK at Back Yard Organic Vegetables 

Janis at Animal Instinct 

Kristin at Going Country

Katie at katiegirlkate 

sfg at Small Farm Girl 

David P. Offutt - The Gastronomic Gardener

Thy Hand Hath  Provided  (My go to place for all things canning!)

Thanks again to Weekend Cowgirl - and happy thursday everyone!

Life is good!

I can't believe it! Grandpa over at Life on the Farm has presented me with the Life is Good Award!

Thanks, Grandpa! I do think that life is good and I'm so glad that you thought of me. He taught me to sing out "Its a glorious day!" every morning. And so I do.

The rules for this award are to first, thank and link back to the person that gave the award.
2. Answer the 10 survey questions.
3. Pass the award along to other bloggers whom you think are fantastic.
4. Contact the bloggers you have chosen to let them know about the award.

So here goes...

10 Questions:

1. If you blog anonymously, are you happy doing this? If you are not anonymous, do you wish that you had started out anonymously, so that you could be anonymous now?

Anonymity is part of the terms of my witness protection program agreement. Sorry if it offends.  And besides, it protects my family from being embarrassed by all these shenanigans.


2. Describe an incident that shows your inner stubborn side.

Where do I even start with that? Stubborn?  I think that's my middle name. But if you must know, we fenced in them stupid pigz despite crippling heat, completely crazed pigz, and lack of appropriate tools and materials. We won. Especially since we now have 79 pounds of ham. Can I get a "hell ya?"


3. What do you see when you really look at yourself in the mirror?

Someone who has chicken poop in her hair, a dirty shirt, and more than likely residue from someone's kitty litter paws on my face. Ewweeee....


4. What is your favorite summer cold drink?

Without a doubt, an ice cold Mike's Hard Lemonade with the first sip taken off and then the bottle topped off with tequila.

5. When you take time for yourself, what do you do?

I'm still waiting for that magical day. But when I get a second, I really love magazines. And pie.

6. Is there something that you still want to accomplish in your life? What is it?

Earlier in my life my goals were to sail around the world in the QE2, to get a polite round of applause by the Board of Directors, to have a household staff, and to be a really great Auntie OFG.

Now I'm no longer interested in travel because there is no place like home, the Board can kiss off because they rendered my stock options useless, my sibling's children think I'm a farm nerd and not cool enough to be around... but I really loved my cleaning lady when I lived in civilization.

So my new goal is to get a dairy cow. That would make me the most happy. 

7. When you attended school, were you the class clown, the class overachiever, the shy person, or always ditching?

I'm an overachiever. I can't shake it and still think in terms of goals, objectives, and achievement. The chickens teach me otherwise.


8. If you close your eyes and want to visualize a very poignant moment in your life, what would you see?

To my knowledge I am the only person who has voluntarily left a rather famous European tour operator's group trip. I got off the bus in a small town in Switzerland and never looked back. I hiked back to a small inn on a perfect blue sky day. The grass was the most green, the cows were the most lovely, and the sky went on for miles. I realized that day that I could do whatever I wanted. For the most part.

9. Is it easy for you to share your true self in your blog or are you more comfortable writing posts about other people or events?

Who could make this stuff up? Yep. Its all me and yes its easy to share. I got over embarrassing myself a long time ago.

10. If you had the choice to sit down and read a book or talk on the phone, which would you do and why?

Since I don't answer the phone I'll choose reading a book. I don't even know where my cell phone is and I rarely can find the house phone. I'm good on email tho, but don't ever call because I'll be sharpening my battle skills by reading books about historical warfare. 

There are so many bloggers out there and so many folks who know that Life is Good.. but here are a few who are really making me happy right now:

Ginny over at Gingerbreads House just brings a smile to my face. She reminds me of my grandmother, whom I loved very much. I love sitting down at her table and seeing everything she is cooking.

Of course, Chai Chai always gets my obscure movie references and ridiculous jokes. And she's doing a great job with her new place. And I covet her sheep. There I said it.


My new pal Kenleigh Acres also has sheep. I covet them also. But more than that I love her happy farm pictures and her easy going way.

And I'm not forgetting my brothers in fun.... Heiko at Path to Self Sufficiency and Mr. H at Subsistence Pattern - both of them always amaze me.


Happy Thursday everyone! Life is Good!

A Star and more

I was shocked to my shoes when Grandpa from Life on The Farm passed on the You Deserve a Star Award to me.

Me? Seriously? When I clicked back thru the sites that this award has passed to I was even more shocked ....it came from real writers. They talked about the art of writing, their habits, and what inspires them. I don't consider myself a writer. At all. More of a teller of ridiculous things that happen to me.

I think I'm a bit of a disappointment to those real writers. I talk about whatever is happening out in the barnyard. Folks ask me where I come up with this stuff and honestly, I don't make it up. Its all happening right out there in front of me. I'm just a reporter here on this funny farm.

My writing habits are a bit lame. Most of the time I'm at my "Command Center" - my laptop on my baking table in the kitchen. Usually there are at least 2 or 3 members of The Insane Cat Posse fighting to get up on my lap. Almost always there is barn dirt on the floor around me from when I drug it in on my boots. Half the time I have one ear open toward the barnyard listening for malfeasance... and more than likely there is something going on stove. So I pound out a couple sentences and try to keep myself organized. 

Mostly I blame my friend, Kelly, for all this nonsense. She really got me organized and headed in the right direction. She is a real writer. And editor. And coach. After a lot of prodding from her I started this blog last winter and I guess it just kinda took on a life of its own. I think she liked my stories that I'd send her about what was going on here. So that's how it all started.

I am glad, tho, if I made you laugh....or helped you solve a barnyard problem... or gave you an inspiration to get out there and do something farm-y.

So, Grandpa, I humbly thank you very much. I'm a little bashful about these things, but I'm very honored.

I think Kelly would be a little disappointed if I didn't include a funny story... so I'm doing a second post today with the real life tale that got this whole thing started.

But first... I think I'm supposed to pass this along...

First for Kelly because this is all her fault.....

And for Mimi - back atcha, baby!

Girl. Drives. Truck

Thanks, wickett6029, for your kind comments! Here's a funny for ya... you know we farm gals need to stick together. You'll know what I'm talking about with this one...

Thinking how we farmgirls are all in the same boat..rather, truck... kinda reminded me of a story of what happened when this Ohiofarmgirl took a drive one day. I actually had a “function” to attend... no big deal but different than my normal day. I even had to look nice. So I put on my 'goin to town clothes' (my one set of non-pooped on clothes) and boldly launched out of our driveway in Big Red – our enormous fire-engine red, Ford work truck. Settling in for the big drive several hours away, I had my snacks, bottle of water, and a lot of country music. I was supposed to be there in the early afternoon.

The late fall, sunny drive was stunning – tons of leaves to peep, sunshine, and warm enough to have to the windows down. I sang the latest hits at the top of my lungs as I headed on down the highway. I made the exchange to the northbound freeway and headed for my favorite truck stop.

Now, aside from being the only woman at the dump... nothing is better for the feminine esteem than being the only woman at the truck stop in a big ol' 'arrest me red' Ford F250 4X4, superduty, extended cab, extended bed work truck, with an NRA sticker in the window. I hopped out of the cab and instantly was the center of attention.

This wass funny for a couple of reasons.
1. I'm not a spring chicken anymore
2. I don't particularly do anything to attract THAT kind of attention.

In fact, on a normal farm working day with my too-long shorts, big sweatshirts and work boots I generally turn heads AWAY from me. But in the clean clothes and shiny truck, I guess I was just too much for them long distance boys to handle.

“How you doin', honey?” One of my fellow big work truck drivers said to me over the pump.

“Why jus' fine.” I replied moving an imaginary hair out of my face and flashing my wedding band... just in case.

“Nice truck,”  he continued.

“It'll get her done, if that's what you mean, friend.” I said as casually as I could.  Knowing where this just might go I looked over his smaller, not heavy duty, short bed Ford. He started so say something else but I cut him off...

“Say friend, whatcha got in that truck?”  I asked already knowing the answer..

“Well, I work construction so I have all my tools...”

I cut him off again with a slightly bothered “Hum.”  Then before he could defend himself I observed,  “That little truck carries all those tools? Well, friend, what you need is a man-sized truck then – like this one here.” I said patting the hood.

The pump clicked off and in a smooth, practiced motion, I repelled back up into the cab, waved, and roared off leaving him stunned and wondering what I may have meant....

North bound and down, loaded up and truckin' I hit the city limit sign several hours later.

I stopped at the nearest McDonald's to put on my official church meetin' outfit. Not just the clean clothes I wore for the drive but real dress clothes. I had even curled my hair that day – all I needed now was a little make up and I'd be just about presentable.

I opened my official 'girl bag' of cosmetic products and peered in. It had been a while since I had actually worn any make up. In fact, our wedding may have been the last time... so it all looked a little unfamiliar and I carefully removed each small packet of this and that as well as the necessary fluffy brushes for appropriate application. I found lipstick that may or may not be older than our youngest cat. I began the beautification process.

The problem, clear as day right there in all my glory, was that the day before the event I had developed the worlds largest zit.  It was right there for all the world to see. The remedy was the all important girl-product, liquid make up. It hides everything if you believe the lady at the Estee Lauder counter – but she's paid on commission so you never know. Hopping it would work as directed I reached into my bag for it. I searched in my bag for it. Panicking I dumped my bag out onto the counter looking for it. Gone. Not There. None. Now what?!?

My mind raced. I could... I could.... stop at kmart and get some? Nope. No time. I could just go like this?  Nope. I looked ridiculous. I could... I could....and then I vaguely remembered something from an old episode of America's Next Top Model when Tyra said that you could mix some face powder with your moisturizer and voila – liquid make up. I had face powder! A-haaaa....there was the solution!

But.

I didn't have any moisturizer.  Humm... I thought as I gathered up all my “possibles” and shoved them crudely back into the girl bag.... wonder if there was anything in the truck that I could use..... I headed back to the truck.  Surely there was something, maybe some hand lotion in the truck???  I picked up the pace as I was going to be late if I didn't hurry.

Aside from some emergency tire inflater foam, and some window washer fluid... the only thing my search of the truck revealed was...

udder cream.

Yep, thats right.  Every farm truck has got some udder cream for your cow, goat, whatever you're milking and for all your general farm uses. Bag balm they call it. It cures everything.

And as I now know, makes a damn fine base for homemade liquid make up.

Officially late and as beautified as I was gonna get, I took the last few turns and barreled into the parking lot of the event, straw flying out the back of the truck. As I dropped out of the truck and strutted just like one of those Top Models into the event, I laughed that Tyra Banks probably would look better than me in my work truck... but she probably didn't have any idea what you can do with udder cream.

Happy Friday everyone!

How did I get here?

I’ve been thinking lately about how I got here. Sometimes people ask how I did it and mostly I just shrug and say “I dunno. It all kinda happened pretty fast.”

But here’s the long, ‘short-version’ of how it all happened. First, a bit of background. I used to have a big life.  Fat, cushy job in an industry some folks would die to work in, money – oh yeah, lots of money. I had a NICE house in town, the works. But I was in a “bad situation” and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had to get out.

My life was unsatisfying and I’d sit in my office and stare at my vacation pictures and wish I were anywhere but sitting right there. I dreaded going to work every day and I spent my big money making myself feel better because I worked so much. So I worked more so I could buy more things to make myself feel better. It was a vicious cycle. And it wasn’t doing me any good at all.

A brief introduction.....

I am Ohiofarmgirl. I live on a small kinda-organic farm in the Midwest. Married to The Big Man, we have a busy little barnyard and 15 acres of fun. We don’t farm for profit – we farm for us in the most self-sufficient, sustainable way we can. Are we eco-nuts or survivalists? Nope, just regular folks who wanted to do something other than have a work-a-day life.

Why do we do this? Why the hell not? Farming is a great way of life – but not always a great way to make a living. We want to do this now while we still have the time and energy for the long days, the hard work, and having the weather and the seasons as our only boss. We gave up a lot of must have’s to live like this but we don’t regret it. Maybe one day we’ll go back to civilization but for now, we are enjoying every minute.

I love these question games so here is a little about me. Besides, what are you gonna do? Work? Ha!

Read on:

1. Name? Ohiofarmgirl or OFG or ohio.. whatever just dont call me late for dinner especially if we are having bacon
2. Gender? Female
3. What is your favorite color? Blue
4. How much do you weigh? Normal - changes a little and depends on summer or winter....
5. How tall are you? Short
6. Can you swim? Yep, like a fish. Open ocean please.
7. What's on your mouse pad? Don’t have one. My laptop is in my 'command center' in the kitchen... so I guess it’s the kitchen counter???

And so it starts....

It came upon me like a whisper I just barely heard... "go thee forth and dwell in The Good Land".. and then it was gone. Or maybe it was Toby Keith singing "I'm a hay seed and a plow boy, a farm kid and a cowboy..." I'm not sure but either way, instantly I was transported out of my urban dwelling into rolling fields of hay and corn stretching as far as the eye can see. I could smell the good earth, feel the sun on my face, see the richness of the land. Suddenly the vision shimmered and shook and was gone. I returned to my Big Life.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that I should not be there in the city and I needed to go into the country.

Eventually I heeded the message and took up my tents and made my exodus from the land of Moab and went forth into The Good Land.

Gone were the annoying neighbors, the traffic, my cushy extremely good paying job, the vacations others only dreamed about, and much to my dismay the luxury-grocery-store-just-two-blocks-away-but-that-was-still-too-far-to-walk.....

Here in The Good Land I made my place beside the still waters. I became a tiller of the soil, a keeper of the flocks, and a hater of pigs.

Here is what I learned:

1. Hard work is hard. Cold is really, seriously cold. And you just might fall over in the heat.
2. No one cares what your profit margins used to be if you can't schlep that 50 pound feed bag out into your truck yourself.
3. You can't get good Thai food in an Amish town.

and most importantly... That my life will never be better than it is right now.

Welcome to my blog. I have to keep track of all this ridiculousness somehow and so here it its.