The Farm

Hello all!

Follow me as we go for a little walk down memory lane. Back in 1972 we moved from middle class suburbia to a hundred acre farm that was over grown, in shambles and basically a nightmare of a place. I learned what multi flora was before mom and dad even signed the papers. I wandered around in a field and when I finally found them I wailed, "I never wanna come back here ever again!" My legs were all bloodied and awful looking! Well, we did and I lived here for around 8 years. We went for a period of time with no tub and poured hot water in a galvanized tub that could be used to water farm animals. I don't remember complaining. I thought it was an adventure.

This is the lower part of the barn. I remember the first door was the stall for Peanuts, my pony. I really liked him, but I don't remember asking for him and I'm not even sure why or how we got him. I remember riding him and how he whipped his head around and bit my left leg I still can't figure out. I didn't ride him anymore after that. Occasionally I would pet him and then he had to ruin it and charge at me. I fell down and he ran over me. I don't remember being hurt though. We also had a goat, Glenda. It was kinda hard to warm up to a goat though.

This was one of the chicken coops but now it stores mom's mower and some other necessities for farm life. I got pecked by one of the chickens above my right eye. Mom said that I screamed like a movie star being terrorized. When I ran down to the house the blood was already dripping the length of my face. I don't remember crying but I still have a slight scar. One Easter mom snuck up to the coop and placed colored eggs in the nests....yeah, I was kinda dense and thought I had special chickens! Okay y'all, quit yer laughin'!

This is the barn. This is where a bunch of us would hang out, swing on ropes from the rafters, mess around in the granary and play basketball. It was great for playing hide-n-seek!

This is part of the path to the "mound". I don't remember how we came up with that name. This is what we call the highest part of mom's land. It was usually a good 15-20 minute walk. The berry bushes are prolific and I remember picking enough raspberries to make a cobbler.

This is the really steep part although this picture is quite deceptive. I don't ever remember walking the final leg without at least one rest to capture my breath. Not even back in my youth. We always had a rule. We were not allowed to turn around to enjoy the view until we reached the top of the mound. As tempting as it was the entire trudge upward would be ruined if you peeked part way up to the top.

Here's the top! The picture just doesn't do it justice guys.
It is God's handiwork at His finest!

We decided a bench would be a good thing to have up here.
Just to sit and look out is sometimes all it take to put life in perspective.

Or sometimes laying down on the ground and looking up helps to figure out problems.

After the walk to the top you can go back into the woods.
Sometimes the land just seems to go on forever.

This photograph captures a little more of the panoramic view.

Is is any wonder this is where Dad wanted to be? I remember the first handful of ashes I scattered over the mound the wind shifted without warning. He hugged me and I smiled as tears fell.

My next post will include pictures of the farmhouse and some of mom's beautiful gardens. If you thought pictures of my yard was pretty...then you're in for a big surprise!

Thanks for taking a walk with me. Leave a comment?

Hugs, Happiness and Harmony,
Julie