Another look at a farm girl's life, one who loves living in the country and everything is has to offer, good or bad, how else do we grow...
Name: Sue Neitzel
I live a simple life in the Ozarks, where my hubby and I tend to 5 acres of country pleasure, from raising animals to gardens, and finding comfort in knowing we are giving back to the land, after all, it's only on loan to us....
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Goodbye City Life
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Judes Blog
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Mary Janes Farm
Old Crow Farm
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The simple life: Talking to myself
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Sorry Motime, but after much thought I have chosen to move my Country Pleasures blog over to Blogger. Here I am limited to how many photos I can post and it's just not enough, I have to be able to share pictures with family and friends one of the main goals in starting a blog. So, I hope you all will hop over to my new home and continue visiting me and sharing in my ramblings of a simple life in the Ozarks...I will keep this one up for a bit giving everyone time to get use to the new place. So, tag along and let me know what you think, see you there..... www.countrypleasures.blogspot.com
It's always good to be home, but takes forever to get back to the old routine, but I'm getting back in the swing of things.... Fall is in the air, finally got to turn off the A/C and open the windows up since day time temps are only in the 70's and chilly 50's at night, good sleeping weather, and that first morning cup of coffee always taste better with a chill in the air! The trees in Pa. over the weekend were beginning to show signs of turning color and all the stores had their fall decorations up and out already. Funny how just a few states away the new season has already begun. I love fall and can't wait to decorate inside and out for the harvest season. Not much harvesting going on here, it was just too hot this summer, so I've come to realize it's time to till the garden up and put it to bed for the winter, and work on improving the soil for spring, it's long overdue and badly needed. Time to think about painting the house before it gets too cold....fall chores are plentyful!
It's always fun and good to get away, to see loved ones and new country sides, but ever so sweet to get home. On our 4 day weekend, we made a trip up to Pa. to take our youngest back to school for her last year of college. Stayed with our youngest son in West Virginia, got to spend a couple of days with him. I must say, he lives in the most beautiful part of the country, but he can't wait to come home, he misses the family. It was a long trip for only 4 days, a total of 2066 miles round trip. We crossed 6 major rivers, entered 5 states, climbed some of the tallest mountains ever made and saw more kuduz than I care to write about! Kentucky must be the kuduz capitol of the world, it was on everything! I loved the old homes, all so big and roomy, many having three stories to them and not a two alike! I was hoping to see a bear since it was bear counry where my son lives, they even have a season for it and trials leading to bear hangouts, no sighting this trip. It's funny to travel to new places and compare everyday stuff, like the Walmart somewhere in Kentucky that had fresh flowers in the ladies room, what a nice touch! The price of gas, the cheapest was in my state by the Kentucky line, only $2.24 a gal. but here at home it's $2.54. People always grab my attention, here everyone treats you like a neighbor, and for the most part on this trip people were nice and friendly too, some were just what you expected from mountain people, and I have to remember that I was just a visitor. I can never get tired of seeing trees, and the farther east we got the more trees there was, some bigger than skyscrapers, mostly evergreens so thick daylight could'nt pass through them. Walls of rock weeping with spring water, foot bridges to old homesteads, nature at it's best! It's good to be home.......
And it is!! I saw this saying on a sign today and it reminded me just how good most of us have it, esp. with the one year anniversary of Katrina yesterday. My heart goes out to that city and the people who still don't have a place of their own to call home. Even the homeless pets, just left behind to take care of themselves, it's all SO very sad, STILL! So, next time your feeling down or out, just think of New Orleans and how that disaster could of happened to your city!
It's feeling like fall here, in the 50's at night and only 75 now, crisp air brought out a flock of turkeys down the road, the quail could be heard before dawn this morning and the humming birds are drinking faster than I can keep the feeders full, they must be stocking up for their big flight down south. The season is changing.
Were packing for our trip to Pa. and West Virginia this weekend, so glad it's a long weekend. I won't be online from Friday till Monday. We have to take our daughter back to school in Pa. then spend some time with our youngest son in W.V. before heading home.
Life is good, count your blessings and I'll see you next month! LOL
Gee, if only my feet were webbed, I'd feel right at home! The weekend has graced us with much falling rain, always needed and apprecaited but always a bummer on the weekend. And with the rain comes the lightening and thunder, so my computer has been unplugged for most of the last 2 days. I've lost 2 modems to the lightening and learned the hard way to just unplug and be safe. At least I won't have to water all the flower pots and planters for awhile! lol
I've got grapes and elderberries to pick for jelly making this week, hopefully before Friday when we take off to West Virginia to our youngest son's where from there we will take our only daughter up to college in Pa. then spent some time with Tyler before we head back home on Sunday afternoon, taking our time on the way back since the trip up will be rushed, check in time at school is the 2nd. But it'll be nice to see where our youngest two went to school and see where Tyler calls home now. This summer will have been traveled on both sides of the Mississppi, out west in May and out east next. The roads are far apart but connects us to the past and future, there's still no place like home!
Time doesn't fly, it soars........and the time spent with a sister doing sister stuff is the best kind of treasure found! I'm so grateful for those few days with my little sister from Nevada, hop over to her blog and check it out, she's posted some neat photos; www.purpleglasslover.blogspot.com As much as were both into taking pictures not much were taken of us, just one and I have to get it from the daughters. I've bragged about the goodies we got on our outings, but her latest post reminded me just how close in many things we are, and the interests we share are priceless. She's right, we do laugh alike, were both quiet and reserved ( till you get us going) and we value our family and homelife. It's funny where life takes you, who would of thought we'd be where were at today? But everything happens for a reason, I was meant to live here and she there, but no matter the miles, we remain close, sisterhood is a powerful thing! So, drop by her blog and say hey......
" When I rest, I rust" is one of my favorite sayings and so true of me when it's planting time, spring especially. I've had this old school desk for sometime now, it was given to me, two of them actually so I made a planter out of one, finally got one of those chair planters that I always admired at flea markets and landscape centers. 
Thought I'd share some of my new found treasures that I got while hunting with my sister last week. We combed through all the flea markets and antique stores here in town and found several goodies. I collect english china and did luck out and find a few new pieces to add to my collection. My dearest treasure has to be the china my sister brought me that belonged to our Mom. She had it when we were little and I barely remember it, but am so glad I have a few pieces now. I mainly bought small plates last week, a old butter dish, a bicentenial jar and so on. My sister found some more pyrex that she's been looking for, seems it's gone up in popurality spiking the prices way out there! Just makes you wish you kept everything growing up, esp. dolls, lunch boxes and metal toys. We had a great time treasure hunting, and our goodies will someday be passed down to our grandchildren.
We had a strong storm come in last night as we gathered with the kids for supper, so strong it took our screen door right off! Much needed rain fell, along with many leaves and limbs, but a cool front passed through and with it a reminder that summer is still alive and kicking!
Well, my visit with my sister is over, they are on their way home, a 1600 mile trip, my thoughts will be with them till they arrive and I get the call to let me know they made it alright. We had a wonderful time! The whole clan here plus a few extras gathered one night for dinner, a nephew and niece were able to make it up to see everyone so it turned into a little family reunion. While I had everyone here we had a special ceremony for my Mom. My sister brought me some of her ashes, so I had my son who is a preacher say a prayer over them and we passed the ashes around so the whole family could take part and lay their hands on the container that holds some of the remains. I think the younger ones thought it was kinda creepy, but one day they will fully understand the ritual that night. I know my Mom would of approved. She loved it here, she thought it reminded her of her homeland, England. So, I plan to scatter her ashes in my favorite flower garden, hand till her in the warm earth among the flowers she always admired and loved. I'm feeling a deep comfort just having apart of her here, she lived on such a tight budget for many years to save to come back here, so in a way, she got her wish. It's so important to respect the last wishes of a loved one gone, we paid tribute to her that night and she will forever live on in such a beautiful place. We also got her headstone while my sister was here, a very nice one, a simple yet perfect marker. It meant alot to me to have my little sister here for a few days, to spend some time together and to finally lay our Mom to rest.
It's only a matter of two hours before my sister and her family arrive from Nevada, the house is clean, the yard is mowed, porches swepted and I can't wait to see her and spend a few days together! So, if I'm MIA for a few days, you know why and I'll have lots to write about! One task we will do while she is here, is to find a headstone for our Mom. We've decided on a piece of granit with her name and dates on it, since she was creamated this will make a nice headstone within our budget, and knowing Mom, she wouldn't want us to go all out. The weather will be decent for their visit too, back in the low 90's, still above averege for us, but nothing about this summer has been about averege. So, have a great week and I'll be back in few days, oh the anticipation......
Yet another hot spell were under, but we did get a nice downpour of rain yesterday, so I won't have to water just yet. The skys are darkening and hopefully more rain will fall. Summer days are still full of yard chores, and cookouts. I'm planning a big cookout for early next week so the kids can gather here to see their Aunt and family who are coming for a visit, all the way from Nevada. Also busy trying to get things done before they arrive so we can sit back and visit and comb the flea markets and antique stores. I got my dining room all done, and it looks GREAT! I'll try to post a picture soon, if Motime will let me? The dragon flys are thicker than ever, I wonder if that's sign of something? Mice usually try to come inside when rain is near, I"ve learned that over the years, sure enough, if I spot a trace of one it rains very soon. I think the animals know when the weather changes, it's apart of their defense system, just my theory. Hummers are sucking up the sugar water faster than I can make it, maybe they are gearing up for a early trip down south? It wouldn't bother me if we had a early fall, I'm ready. Summer days lately have been long and hot, too hot to enjoy them, so a change is something to look forward too, it's all in your head, got to think ahead!
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