The End of Year One

..and what a year!! I have learned so many new things! Not only gardening, building a fire in a woodstove, how to live without running water, taking care of the animals and handling our first winter in the woods but learning more about myself.

I am much more resilient than I ever was and I’m so much stronger, and tougher–not only physically but emotionally also. I’ve learned what I’m willing to–and NOT willing to put up with. I’ve learned more about the workings of Rick’s mind although I do not understand those workings.

This has been a good life even with a few hard times. We are sure that we want to buy the property and will get in touch with Joe & Mary to start the procedure as soon as possible.

Some ’firsts’ of my first year homesteading:

–Watching the deer come into the garden and graze….such a peaceful sight!

–Learned about wild onions, blackberries, huckleberries…all of which are so-o-o good!

–Heard my first whippoorwill….what a beautiful sound to wake up to and fall asleep to every
morning and evening during the summer months.

–Growing aloe vera plants and using them for healing cuts/scrapes….works wonders!

–Discovering a Golden Rain tree near our garden….such beauty!

–Making watermelon preserves…wow! Good stuff!!

–Seeing albino armadillos by the garden. Ha! I lived in Texas for 8 years, where armadillos are
supposed to be famous for being everywhere, and I never saw one until living in Arkansas!

–Learning to draw up house plans and doing a damn fine job of it!

All in all a pretty good first year with the hope of many, many more to come! I love this way of life!!

((This will by last post for about 3 weeks as I will be preparing to move to Texas. I will be moving in wih my 87 year old Mom to take care of her. She’s getting to the point where she should no longer live alone. I hope to be back to posting by August 8th.))