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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The simple life: Talking to myself
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today
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Bless New Orleans for keeping up tradition and having Mardi Gras as usual! Those people need this uplifting event to aid the healing process and keep the spirit of the city alive. The disaster from Katrina will never fade, it will always touch all of us, no matter where we live, but today marks the beginning of recovery for many souls. My heart goes out to all affected, and I'm sure most us know someone who was touched by this horrific disaster, myself included. I have two friends who lived in the path, had to leave their homes, uncertain, but returned amoung the lucky few. Prayers are still needed as well as supplies and faith, so do what you can and don't ever think it's not your problem, it's all of our burden, a natural disaster can strike ANYWHERE, so be thankful fat tuesday is here, full of body and soul! Rejoice!
With this warm up under way here, I'm itching to start my annual spring cleaning, inside so I can start cleaning up outside, and playing in the dirt! After months with the furnance blowing dust around, I am anxious to open the windows and air out the house, wash all the curtains and allow them to air dry in the sun, and clean behind those big pieces that only get moved once or twice a year. I've also got a couple of painting projects in mind, the hall way needs a little revamping and I need to finish up our bedroom, just minor details to call it done!
When the house is finished, it'll be time to plan the garden. If you haven't already checked out the forums at garden web, do so, there you will find any seed or plant that you could ever want. You will also find helpful and friendly people who share the gardening bug and who will help you out. It's one of my favorite places on the web and one where I have gotten alot of my seeds, cheaply or by trading. Visit them soon at www.gardenweb.com and get your garden ready for spring!
The sun makes everything better, warmer and brigher! Here in the Ozarks, it's looking alot like spring, seen the first robin yesterday and I have young shoots of hollyhocks coming back. The dog is shedding ALOT, so we brush him outside so the birds can use the hair for their nests, and they do, also throw out your dryer lent so they can recycle it too! Waste not, want not.
Well, the memorial was nice, a good turn out for a church she didn't attend too often due to her ailments. But the service gave everyone closure and brought the family closer and Linda would of wanted that, she was very proud of her family. Today we go through her belongings, my father in law doesn't want to see them, still hard to handle. So, I will pick out some jewery for the girls and I just want her cookbooks, she was a wonderful cook and we shared the craft, always exchanging recipes. Afterwards, I plan to get out and soak up some sun and the warming tend that is heading our way!
Since the memorial for my mother in law is tomorrow, we have been getting alot of thoughtful cards from friends, co-workers and neighbors, all bringing comfort in such a simple way, one that I have yet to experience till now. No one realizes the impact a card sent in a hard time does for the soul. Just knowing these people took the time to pop a card of sympathy in the mail so they would know that they were thinking of us just warms our hearts. People really do care, and so do the card companies who think up, print and sell small acts of kindness that just make people feel good to be a human being! So, don't forget to stock up on cards for every occassion or event, you might just be making a hard time a bit easier...
During a visit with a friend today, somehow the conversation got on the subject of yankees. I can remember when I moved to Arkansas back in 1985 and how people down there still didn't like the yankees and tried to run them out, of course the KKK was alive and well during that same time, so I guess it shouldn't of surprised me. But this 2006, and my friend being from Wisconsin has only been here for 4 years, yet she still runs into the disgrace of being labeled a yankee. One of her neighbors actually told her how the yankees come down here, that we take their money and send them home broke! I had to isolate that one neighbor as just being a jerk, because I'd like to think we have come farther than that over the years. She went on to tell me some history of her land. Seems during the civil war, 4 yankee soilders were shot to death in front of the house they built, they laid there for days because no one would bury them, somehow they were laid to rest in the nearby cemetary in unmarked graves. History aside, it's time to be a good neighbor!
The sun has returned and the snow is melting leaving behind plenty of mud pies for everyone! It's amazing how 23 degrees can feel pretty good, after a weekend that didn't get that high at all! So this morning after feeding the chickens, I took a walk around the property in search of tracks, and I found many. Most were from the ducks we have who finally ventured out yesterday and got some exercise, their paths are all over the place. Funny thing is they won't fly with snow on the ground? The pond is still frozen over and once they walked down to it, they skated out looking for a hole in the ice, too funny! Deer tracks as close to the house as the back garden, with bunny tracks making a race course all over the yard. February is trying to return to normal and we welcome it, so we can start planning the gardens and preparing for spring.
With the snow fall comes hope, with everything covered and looking clean and pure. I like to go out after a snowfall and look for tracks, to see what kind of critters poke around the place unseen. I usually find deer tracks, esp. down by the pond and always a coon or two. Many birds and rabbits, all just trying to find food under the frozen white shell. The plants need a good snow at least once a winter, to store water in their root systems, that is why the upper northern states are so green, those who get alot of snow reap the benifits of a good growing season. It's still very cold here, another day to stay inside and work on my crafts while a turkey is cooking and the sourdough bread is rising. It was also a good day for burning the trash pile out back that we created when we cleaned out the shop ( aka catch all), my hubby waits for a snow day to burn so it won't get out of hand and can be left unattended since the snow won't burn! The great white hope leads to spring thoughts and making plans for this years gardening season, just around the corner!
When it snows, it snows! We woke up to 6 inches of snow this morning, and freezing temps. only 15 right now. The old timers were right, they said we would pay for the mild months in Feb. and we are. But it doesn't stop my hubby who was raised in Wisconsin and looks for a excuse to go in it, so we loaded the truck up with firewood for weight and headed to town to have lunch with some of the kids, both of which just got new vechiles, 4x4's so they were ready and willing to test the four wheel drive out. The roads are pretty well cleared off, the plow passed us twice just going into town, but it all will freeze tonight as the temp will dip down to 0 above. Yes, winter isn't done with us yet!
So, I'm defrosting a turkey that we got for Christmas and will cook that up tomorrow with some more sourdough bread, and the coffee pot will be running overtime this weekend, as I plan to cut squares for a baby quilt and start a dollie or two! This is the kinda day I wish I had a fireplace, with a roaring fire going and a comfy chair parked right next to it so I could hang my feet over it and keep them warm, with a good book in one hand and cup of joe in the other! All simple pleasures of living in the country on a snow day!
After 
this trying time, the weekend will bring rest and very cold temps. with another chance for snow, this blast might even stick this time. If it's too cold to go out, I think a day of crafts is in order, I need to start my dollie and the first of three quilts too. One of my daughter in laws made me the sweetest scrapbook, all of the grandkids with pages left to add my own photos and comments. I am blessed, I have two daughter in laws that I love like my own, and who gave me the sweetest grandbabies ever! My heart melts when one smiles at me or reaches out to be picked up, such a small effort for them but the biggest joy for me! During the hard times like losing a loved one, you realize just how blessed you are and how everyday can mean so much if you allow it too.
Valentines day was the last for my Mother in law, after arriving home from dinner in town the word reached us that my Mother in law passed away. She went peacefully in her sleep, with her husband and some family close by. She had been living with one of her daughters and family, a nurse who was blessed to have that time to care for her and bond. And how nice to leave this world on the day of love so fond memories will always tie us together. She was a faithful lady, one who didn't want to be a bother, so it was hard for her to give up her home and live with one of her children. But she was ready to go and made her wishes clear, now the service is being planned and tears flow. But I like to think that she was not taken from us but sent for and our prayers for her comfort have been granted. My husband is doing good, thankful that she is no longer in pain and at peace finally.....Letting go is always hard but needed.
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