I've Gone Country A blog about a city girl learning a whole new world

I have noticed a lot of signs lately….

Some signs make you look twice….

Some make you scratch your head….

Some signs are so worn out…you wonder if what they say… still applies……

Some signs get ignored

Some signs are just for certain people….

Some tell you where sporting events take place.

Some welcome you…

Some tell you something by only using pictures….

Some are quotes from famous people….

Some are just for decoration…

There are a bunch of signs I have seen in the country lately….I don’t see them in the city.  It seems in the city the signs are telling about upcoming events, names of speakers and times to attend.

Yet the ones I pass by in the country are witty…

Some make you think….

They can apply to each of us….if we let them

and there are messages like this one that is never outdated.

I like them…..

Thinking country…you can’t help but think cowboys.  We went to Arizona a few years ago and had a great time visiting Tombstone.

It was then that Billy became my cowboy….

And I was his cowgirl!

Uh… oh….maybe I shouldn’t have said Billy’s name out loud…

I got into trouble for helping a fugitive…..

And ….well…poor Billy…..

So I looked everywhere for a new cowboy….

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But none of them were as good looking as “my” cowboy.

Somehow Billy had gotten away and I found him…hanging out with his friends.

He introduced me to some more buddies…

We visited with them for a while….

Then the time came when we had to say our goodbyes.

With the way the day had started, I thought the whole day had gone to pot….

Billy did too…

This cowboy was nice enough to show us the way to Old Tuscon

So we loaded up on a train and

we went to the High Chaparral….

But even there….my cowboy got into trouble!  I can’t take him anywhere…..

So, later when Billy reads this post…he will look at me and say…oh…that’s bad….and I will say…yeah…I know…it really is.

But the whole thing is…I’m just corny…and he loves me anyway.

I remember being single…I had a lot of good times…but I really enjoy my life with Billy.

I found this sign about a year ago and I couldn’t help but buy it.  It says a lot.

Sometimes those days come…and I think…argh…married life….

You know though, we have learned along the way…some things that help us.  Billy and I say to each other…you know that last nerve….. well you’re on it….

then we smile and move out of the other persons space for a little while.

But, you never want to take the other person for granted…..life is precious and the people in your life our priceless.

I thank God for my husband…my cowboy.

AWWWW….isn’t that sweet!  This was us…16 years ago.  Today is our Anniversary.   I laughed as I told Billy Happy Anniversary because I thought we had already been married 16 years…oh well …thats just part of getting old.

We had a home wedding.  Just immediate family.  We were both older and already had kids so we chose to do that.  It was a beautiful wedding.  My groom looked so handsome….don’t you think.  Here we were taking a bite of the cake.  Billy being so serious…however, notice the michevious look in his eyes.  Oh…YES…. HE DID…he smeared that cake all over my lips.  He didn’t make a huge mess…but it wasn’t what I was expecting from him.

Our marriage brought together three children, Billy’s two daughters and my son.

As with any marriage we have been through a lot.  Marriage is not easy.   I would encourage everyone to put Christ first..he will guide you through your life together.

We have welcomed new members to our family through marriage and birth and have sadly lost some through death.  However we all went through these things together.  These are the things that build a family.

I was humbled when our daughter Lindsay gave me this little gift.

Now…. I had the glass slipper, I already felt like Cinderella and it was wonderful to not be classified as the mean ole stepmother either!

But, true to form with my husband and his surprises….It ended up being Cinderella/Green Acres story!

Who would have thought these city slickers would have moved to the country…..

If you are near our age you will fondly remember the words to the Television Show….

Green acres is the place to be.
Farm livin’ is the life for me.
Land spreadin’ out so far and wide.
Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.
New York is where I’d rather stay.
I get allergic smelling hay.
I just adore a penthouse view.
Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.
…The chores.
…The stores.
…Fresh air.
…Times Square
You are my wife.
Good bye, city life.
Green Acres we are there.

Uh… oh….Wonder what he is thinking….

Yesterday I showed you a picture of Chuck and Cupid and you could see just how much he had grown.

This is a picture of Brandy and her daughter Lee.  She was just about an hour old here…at the most.

She was born on September 4th.  It was the day that the tropical storm Lee was approaching, hence the name Lee.  Besides that Brandy really didn’t want us to get too close.  So we honored her wishes and assumed that Lee could be a girl or boy name…and we could check what sex it was later.

This is  them in early fall. Only a couple of months old.

And here they are just last week.  They are muddy.  This winter has been a cycle of  rain a day…dry a day…rain a day…dry a day.  Poor little guys, I know they are tired of the rain.

If you look closely you can see that Lee had milk on her nose.  I know,  I told her she is getting too big for all that!

Interesting though, if you see Brandy…you will see Lee.  They are still very attached.

Here Brandy and Lee are in the front of the pack.  Cupid is to the Right by herself… she is the mostly white cow.  And Chuck…well, he is somewhere back at the fence line.

He has become more independent.  Lee and Chuck are just 3 weeks apart in age…but Cupid and Chuck do separate a little more than Brandy and Lee.

I learn a lot watching the animals.  They have great personalities and they are similar in some things and very different in others….just like us.

They seem to enjoy each others company…and when they don’t they let each other know…funny to watch.

Here is one of my favorite pictures.  It was taken back last summer.  These are our neighbors cows, we had them all together in the pasture.

It was very HOT that day , I was so glad I had my camera with me

…………..so that I could catch these bathing beauties!

Yes, being out among the animals is always fun.  Most of the time there isn’t anything major happening….it’s just the little things.

Isn’t that just the way it is in life.

The day to day things we witness, and get to be a part of, are what makes life so much fun!

This past summer was our first year of having cows and going through their pregnancies with them.  I get sooooo excited when I know the time is near!  When I first started this blog Cupid had delivered Chuck.  

This is them about 3 days I think after delivery.

This is Chuck now.  I took this picture about a week ago.  He has grown a lot over the winter.

I didn’t go into a lot of the details last year, but Chuck was a twin.  His mother Cupid is a small cow.  She looked big while pregnant, but then again she is small built.  She delivered Chuck with absolutely no problem.  He was beautiful.  We were there and got to see the whole thing.  However, she walked away as soon as she delivered him and went further into the tree line.  We immediately started rubbing the calf and wiping it off, making sure it was breathing.

We lost a calf  back in May from our cow Punkin.  I had no idea she was that close to delivering, she delivered the calf and it was still born.  It broke our hearts.  She cried for days.  She would go to the place she had delivered and cry…just bellow.  Oh, we just about couldn’t stand it.  We even thought about going and buying her a baby calf to ease her pain.

So, after that sad sad day, I watched those cows like a hawk.  Then this day had come for Cupid to deliver.  Chuck was here…we made sure he was breathing…but why was Mama walking off.  Sometimes they do that if they are young cows, having a baby for the first time.  I watched her all day long, she struggled.  I asked everyone I could think of about how she was acting.  We all thought she was just trying to deliver the afterbirth.  It can take a while for them to deliver afterbirth so I was told to just wait until morning to see how things were.

Meanwhile,  I tried to take care of Chuck that day….leading him to his mother.  He followed me around, we would walk through the tree line and find her.  She would let him nurse, but just for a little while, she was at that time still trying to deliver.

Later that night we had to feed Chuck.  We had to make sure he had enough colostrum or he would die.  So, we loaded up on the golf cart, I was driving Billy and I searched for  Chuck, he would hide in the weeds.  Billy loaded him up on the cart in his lap and I drove us to an area where we could feed him close to some light.  It takes a baby calf a little while to find the nipple and to learn how to suck.  They of course would prefer Mama, so this bottle was not very exciting to him.  It took about 45 minutes to get just a little bit of the colostrum in him.

We carted him back on the golf cart there again Billy holding him carefully in his lap and I driving.  We placed him back into the field near his Mom and headed home for the night.  Well, wouldn’t you know that Billy had the tail end of the calf facing me.  I felt something warm…but you know…I really never thought about it that much….

So when we got to the house…this is what I looked like.  I was a little shocked but I was glad Chuck’s plumbing was working alright.

Once you start feeding a calf you have to feed them twice a day, everyday.  I really hoped that the Mama was going to be well enough to take care of Chuck.

I called a vet the next morning and he came to check her.  She did in fact have a second baby.  The baby was dead.  Oh….I couldn’t believe it.  Even the vet told me though that there was nothing we could have done.  The baby was not in a good position and as I watched him pull the calf, having to use a calf puller, I realized that I really couldn’t have delivered it.  The vet was even shocked that she had a second calf.  Twins really are not that common.

Sure enough we only had to feed him that one time.  The very next day, she took her baby in and fed him like a good Mama should.  I about cried when I heard him cry for his mother and she cried back.  She crossed the field and all was well from that moment on.

It was sad though as we watched Punkin…she wanted a baby…Cupid even had to put her in her place a few times letting her know that the baby was hers….. not Punkins.

So….It is about time for some more babies to be born.  I am monitoring them now.  I keep a list of when I think the cows will be due.

I will be in the pasture a lot this Spring and Summer.  Billy has already teased me about making some sort of sleeping arrangements in the pasture for me.

I believe Punkin will be our first one this Spring!  I will be very happy for her to be able to have a new baby this year.

Although she is already getting tired of me walking around her checking her behind to see if she is showing signs of labor.

That’s ok….she can just thank me….. with a healthy baby calf!  I am sooooo excited.

We love being parents.  Having grand children….is just that….GRAND!

I do not know who came up with calling your children’s–children grand…but it is true!

This is Andy and Riley–two of our grandchildren.

And this is Layla…she is our other grandchild.

I like the fact that our kids bring their kids out to enjoy the land and the animals.  I love how clementine wanted in on this picture!

I can see the family resemblance can’t you…..?!

I think it is great that our kids make time to spend time with their kids…outdoors.  Times they both will always cherish.

Funny, they are really into hiking this year.  And they all need a walking stick.  It is REALLY, REALLY important  you know….

Pretty cool that now the dogs get to come with the crew.  This is Bailey a new addition. Andy is competing for attention here.  He isn’t real sure about this new dog.

This is Max.  He is our oldest daughters dog.  He loves to come to the land!

Ellie doesn’t mind having the other dogs visit at all…the more the merrier!  Just don’t take her spot in front of the wood stove…and everything will be just fine.

It was freezing outside….but that didn’t bother Layla any…she bundled up and went to swing with her daddy on the front porch…sunglasses and all.  You still have too look good!

Andy was posing like a scarecrow.  Pretty good job.

So I said….ok…Andy..now turn around and act like you like each other…..

Wrong thing to say….noooooo way.  Typical brother and sister.

I hope we always do just like Layla….and take time to smell the flowers!

Yeah…they ARE grand.

I am soooo excited.  The fence has begun.

Billy has used some cedar trees for corner post.   As you can see there are a lot of rock to go around.  It is very hard and tedious work.

This is field fence.  I call it critter fence.  It has graduating  widths.  At the top if you look to the left you can see that the wire looks wider…because it is.  Then look to the right at the end of the roll.  The area is smaller.  The smaller part is put closest to the ground.  It is to keep the “critters” from being able to get in…or our “critters”  from getting out!

Here is another corner post.  You can see where they are putting t-post along the line to run the fencing.

I know…I can’t believe I have learned all these terms for fencing either. (Hopefully they are right!)

The guys worked on it Saturday even in the rain.  It has rained a lot this winter.  Sometimes that prevented them from being able to make much progress.  But then again, it softened the ground so that more progress could be made once the rain stopped.

This is what I saw this morning.  It was really foggy, but the sun was streaming in the midst of the trees.  You can see some of the fence line!  I couldn’t capture just how beautiful the sun was as it peaked through.

I’ve been thinking about what is to take place inside our fence.

Little does she know…but Ellie is going to get to spend some time in the fence.

Who ME?……  Yes, you Ellie Mae.

And I am reading up on chickens…I am ready to gather eggs….I think.  So after the fence…there is the project of a chicken coop.

And then we would like to put some goats in there to keep the area cleaned out.  It is so pretty to be able to look up through the woods and see the rock croppings.  However, in the spring all the underbrush starts taking over.  The goats would love it….and we would love to oblige them!

So little Jethro and family can have a new area for grazing.  I look forward to watching him grow up.   And for him to enjoy his surroundings….in safety.

He loves rocks….so this area is going to be a little piece of heaven for him.

We all want to be able to enjoy his company.

Of course we love our little animals and I already cringe at the thought of something getting into the fence and hurting any of them.

It is put up for there protection and safety.  We will do all we can to guard them.  Although raccoons , fox, coyotes, and hawks are beautiful too, I do not want them to have a feast on our pets.

It reminds me of a scripture verse Proverbs 4:23.

—————-Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.——————–

Actually that whole chapter of Proverbs is really an interesting read.  It helps us know how to put the fence around our heart.  Sometimes the rain of life softens those hard spots that we previously had.  If we are willing, we can put a guard in place that will protect us and help us to live a life we can enjoy, even when surrounded by stuff that can harm us.

We have a lot of things that cross our paths in life.  Sometimes they are not things we need to mix with.  Things that are not in our best interest.

God wants us to guard our hearts.  To be careful what we allow in our fence.  He wants to protect us, He wants the very best for us.  But we have to want that as well.  If we leave the fence gate open and allow just anything in…it is often harmful and sometimes fatal.

This month I’ve talked a good bit  about the heart.  We often refer to so many things regarding our hearts.  Like when we love someone or something with all our hearts.  It is the central part of who we are.  God says to love Him with all our hearts, our minds and our souls.  My mom used to say…garbage in…garbage out.  Just like this scripture refers to the heart being the well spring of our lives.  What we let into our hearts and minds is what comes out of us, in our thoughts and actions.   We should be so careful about what we allow in.  Keeping the harmful things out….we will really enjoy our lives more.  It for for our own good. I believe we can see God’s rays of sunshine, even while the foggy blanket of life lies heavy, and we are still constructing our fence.  He guides us along the way, step by step.  Eventually we will have all the areas protected.  Then daily we will walk in His word and check for weak spots along our hearts fence.  He will be there to help us secure the areas.  And together we will enjoy each others company.

I can hear the t-post being pounded into the ground now.  They are checking spots that are along the rock so that it is as secure as it can be.  It is going to take a while….but it is getting there.

Now, I must continue to read up on my chickens, so that I can be ready when Spring arrives!  WOO-HOO!

I like to see trees with personality….

This is a sweet gum tree….I wonder if someone named a gum ball after these or were these named after a gum ball?….probably neither!

I think they are really neat looking though.

I think of those cartoons where the trees start singing or talking when I see trees like these.

I thought this one looked like propeller….I know…I’ve been in the woods toooo long!

We had a friend who came over with his daughter the other day…one of those days that was really cold.  But we bundled up and went for a walk anyway. She had blast.  I love to watch children.  When they see something new or something they do not see very often, the excitement just bubbles out of them.

Like this birdnest…it was in a little tree…so we had Billy look inside to see if it was occupied.

Making it fun….he saw it was not….and was able to let her have it…..

See that smile!  Priceless.

Oh, but there were more treasures to be found…..

She decided she would take the biggest one to her daddy!  As we walked it was so cute to listen to her talk to herself.  Don’t worry…I will keep you nice and warm, right by my coat.  Let’s just say…this is how we learn.

Ok…she wasn’t the only one who was picking up treasures along the way….I thought this rock was really neat…wonder what caused that  pattern?

Taking a walk is just good, especially in natures classroom.

By the time we returned, we stopped and got another icicle…, the nest was now full.  There were flowers, special rocks and snails shells in it.  I smiled as I listened to her tell her daddy all about the walk.   And you know…it didn’t seem so cold after all.

It is official…. I have —-SPRING FEVER—-

You know it started weeks ago with the Jonquils popping their little heads up.

It can be deceiving….but all the plants have the fever too!

This is a mum…

Same mum plant….with a peek inside those branches…!!!! Woo Hoo

And this is a thornless blackberry vine.

And the buds of our blueberry bush…..yeah!

which should do GREAT this year…thanks to these little guys.  They were busy today.

And this is the willow tree…beside the goldfish pond…..

And if you look real close in the water…you can see that even they have come to the top to see what’s going on.

We have had a few beautiful days.  This time of year it can be warm today and freezing tomorrow.  I am not a big fan of cold weather.  I have a saying that I use and it starts sometime around October.  One day of cold….is one less day of cold.

Come on Spring…I’m READY!

With Valentines in February it seems that we think a lot about LOVE. There are several different kinds of love. We have love for our spouses, our family, love for food, places, hobbies and even our pets. There is also a love we have for one another. Sometimes that love is shown for a total stranger. It is a respect love…one of life itself.

In case you haven’t noticed yet….I am very sentimental, emotional, whatever you want to call it.  Maybe I think differently than a lot of people. I think I just don’t mind talking about some things that others do not feel comfortable with. Maybe they do not want to share their feelings.  To me it is healing.

I was touched years ago by an event that will always hold a special place in my heart. I have a younger sister who is married and has two beautiful children. She was surprised with the news that an additional member was being added to their family. Of course it was great news, just shocking,  as they went through a flood of emotions. They shared their surprise with the family and we were so happy for them. Shortly after that some problems started to occur. But all in all things looked alright. Meanwhile we were given the news that my mother had terminal cancer. We had just two short weeks before she passed away. While we were spending time in the hospital with her, my sister (who lived out of town) tried to spend time with Mom as well. Problems arose and she was put to bed rest. That was really hard for her and all the family.

Five weeks after my mother died we received a call that my sister was admitted to the hospital and that the baby was in danger. That night before going to sleep she asked to hear the baby’s heart beat one more time….and it was then that they could not find it. My older sister and I just wanted to be by her side. She needed us…or maybe we just needed her. We also wanted and needed our Mama. We had never gone through a crisis that our Mother had not been right there for us and with us. We were devastated by all that had taken place.

When we arrived at the hospital I thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. My brother in law was comforting his wife and all the while his heart was breaking too. She was lying there in the bed trying her best to come to grips with all the emotions she was dealing with. And her other children were home, worried and sad as well. Friends had already stepped up and were taking care of them. We prayed, we had already been praying, but we continued to pray. And we could feel the prayers of others who were praying for us.

The hospital staff was so compassionate. She was going to have to deliver the baby. It was going to take some time for her body to do that. The staff little by little tried to prepare them for what they were about to experience. This delivery would not be like her others. There would not be a crying baby….and it would not be the size of a full term baby.  I remember feeling so helpless. You just wish there was something you could do to make it all better. To take away the hurt….but you really can’t.

We camped out with her, finding a spot on the bench seat, in the floor wherever we could. Just not wanting to leave her side. I woke up in the middle of the night and my heart just swelled with love as I saw my baby sister lying there trying to rest, her loving devoted husband right by her side hurting with her. My older sister curled up exhausted, having left two small children and husband miles away herself. I remember thinking, Mom would be so proud that we were supporting one another, but most of all she would be proud that we were trusting God to get us through. This is what she had taught us. This is where she had drawn her strength, from the Lord. The One who cares about every detail of our lives.

Hours and hours had gone by, she was admitted on the 15^th and delivered on the 17^th. It was mentally and emotionally exhausting for everyone. Of course she had the physical exhaustion on top of all the other.

When we were growing up my little sister had a piece of paper in her jewelry box that had a name on it. She had always said that was the name she was going to name her little girl. By now she had two children, a boy and a girl. She had named her first girl after both grandmothers and a great grandmother. They chose to name this precious baby the name she had saved in her jewelry box so many years ago.

Olivia Elise

Once delivery took place, the three of them shared some precious time together. A short time later we joined them. It was something I will never forget.

My older sister and I got the privilege of holding Olivia. She was absolutely the tiniest baby I had ever laid eyes on. My sister was just in her her fourth month when she delivered her. Olivia weighed 7 ounces and was just 9 ½ inches long. She fit perfectly into one of my hands. She had the tiniest little hands and feet I had ever seen. I couldn’t believe how she was so beautifully formed, yet so small.

One of Mothers favorite scriptures was Psalm 139: 13-16

After seeing Olivia , I truly see these scriptures differently. I am thankful for a God who created us so wonderfully and uniquely. Life is a beautiful miracle.

My little sister had prayed a prayer that only she and God knew about. While she was going through this process, she asked God if Olivia could have blue eyes like Mama’s. And could she please see them. Maybe that doesn’t sound like anything unusual, a lot of babies are born with blue eyes. The nurses however had now informed her that at this stage of development babies eyes are closed.  Also their other children were not born with blue eyes. Their whole family has dark brown eyes.

God honored her prayer and Olivia was born with beautiful blue eyes. And they were open. The nurses were amazed and told her that they had never seen eyes open at that stage. It was like getting a hug from God. As if He was reassuring her that…He was there…He knew they were hurting…but He would be right there, walking this hard road with them.

The nurses came in to take Olivia for some photos to make a book for their family to keep. They asked if my older sister and I would like to come too. We were taken to a room, complete with a little wardrobe of clothes to choose from. Every size and style you could imagine. The nurse laid her down gently. She picked through a couple outfits and said I think this is perfect. She carefully dressed Olivia handling her like a precious jewel. She gently posed her for photos. Priceless photos the family could have for years to come.

I was overwhelmed with the amount of love and respect shown. I cannot, even though I have just tried, I cannot put it into words. The clothes she picked from had been given to the hospital from volunteers who sewed and donated them. They were so small, just like her, they had beautiful embellishments on them. You could tell they were put together with love. Someone had taken a lot of time to make them. Maybe it was someone that had gone through something like this themselves. Possibly it was their way to give some love back, in a sense let others know that their loved one was just that…LOVED. And who thought of a photo book….obviously someone else that has been through something like this. Who allowed a nurse to take time to do this, someone who valued life and decided that a service like this should be offered by their hospital. WOW.

Today it has been 7 years. Olivia is missed each and every day. God has been there and is still there walking with them every day. There have been a lot of tears and I can’t say that I understand why it all had to take place.

We have seen and talked with many women who have gone through similar experiences. The hurt doesn’t just go away. You don’t just get over it…. I suppose it hurts for a lifetime.  Many women think that there is something very wrong with them for not being able to” pull it all back together ” as quickly as others do.  My sister has been burdened with how to help other women and their families who have struggled with a similar situation.  I pray that someone will find some healing in Olivia’s story.   The love and respect that we show one another is very important in the healing process.

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.  Romans 12:9-13

I have come to realize that we really never know what other people are going through. Some never share what is painful to them.

When I think of Olivia I think of love.

I think about the amount of love that one little tiny baby brought to our family. I think about the love she brought out in others.

Often we only see the ugliness of this world. It is refreshing to see love shown for one another. Love that reaches out and comforts, even through people you have never met before.

God continues to walk with us through everything we encounter in our lives. He brings people in our paths that help us through the struggles.

I want to treat others with that kind of love and respect.

The best kind of love we can experience is the love of GOD.