The Seat of My Pants

“I did everything by the seat of my pants. That’s why I got hurt so much.”

Evel Knievel

I usually write these blog posts as they are due: live in time. However, my new life on the farm is interrupting that usual course of action. It is Saturday night, going on 9:00. I am headed out in the morning to go to our old house to do some packing. And I decided about an hour ago to take my daughter with me. It’s been hard on us to live so far away from family, so she’s coming to visit while I work.

So I had planned to sit down today and write a blog post a few days early since I’ll be gone when it is due.

But noooooo. My farm had other plans for me….

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  1. Cathy R says:

    Name him ANGEL! Or KNIGHT! He’s beautiful!!!
    Keep on flying by the seat of your pants and enjoy the heck out of the flight! Happy Thanksgiving and Happy horse owner!
    Blessings from Idaho, Cathy

  2. Diane Van Horn says:

    I think you said it…Sweetie Pie! He is beautiful! Sounds like you are learning many skills, so proud of you.

  3. Michelle says:

    I would call him Dreamcatcher! Your dream was to have a farm and this beautiful horse! You have been able to "catch" all your dreams and make them come true! So very happy for you and your family! So much to be thankful for this year!

  4. Nancy Couden says:

    Maybe, Horseshoe. Just for another idea. Poor baby–those must hurt.

  5. Bonnie says:

    I love your story, Rebekah!
    You are becoming so educated on country living, and there’s nothing like it! 🙂
    I have to agree with Diane…Sweetie Pie seems like a perfect name for THE horse!
    Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving….you all have so much to be thankful for! (don’t we ALL?!?!?)
    Hugs from Oregon,
    Bonnie

  6. Adrienne says:

    I agree with the knight idea but I suggest Lancelot (Lance for short) for your beautiful horse.

  7. Pamela says:

    Dreamcatcher is beautiful, but maybe something more personable. The sweetest cat in the world who lives with me is named after cute old Dr. McCoy from Star Trek…. McCoy called Coy for short. I Think you have to talk to the animal and try out some different names and he will help you know when it’s right. I just love your posts and your adventure. Good luck with all!

  8. Shery says:

    Oh Rebekah, He has wonderful eyes. You can go down the ‘essentials’ list in the horse buying manual, but when you look long and hard at the heart & soul of a horse … what you need to know about their character is in their eyes. Well, at least the affirmation is. The eyes really are a mirror of the soul. Your new steed has soft, kind eyes.

    So happy for you. I don’t have a name idea for you. Sometimes you have to get to know them first and they kinda help you figure it out…what fits, what doesn’t. I take it you don’t like the name he wore in his former life. A new one will come to you. I’ve renamed horses sometimes … and others I left alone.

    From one horse lover to another, you really have a special addition to add to your Thanksgiving list — so happy for you. And, won’t he look smashing in a family Christmas photo?!…wearing a wreath or a bow.

  9. Nancy Itson says:

    I loved your story. You are a great writer and I felt like I was right there with you o yur fence adventure. You have a beautiful horse. And while I live in the city, I love to read about the farm life. My husband grew up on a farm, so farm stories are the best. As for a name for your horse, I am suggesting "Hi-yo, Silver!" after the Lone Ranger’s horse. May make him (the horse) feel important with a name like that!

  10. meredith says:

    Rebekah- He is LOVELY! I agree with Shery- as you take the time to get to know him, his name will come to you. The above suggestions are great, but what if you name him "KING" and he turns out to have the personality of, say, a "Howard"??? 🙂
    I had a fence run-in this morning too- was filling the horses water tank and got too close to the electric wire on top of the fence- POP!- there goes my arm! OW! The cattle sure respect that fence and I know why! Enjoy your new boy, and by the way, if the hay ever stops working to retrieve a wayward horse, a bucket of feed will work!

  11. Martha says:

    I think you already named him Sweetie Pie. Or Sweet. Or Pie.

    Sweetie is a name that would sound good when you’re calling him in from the back pasture. Sweeeee – ty. Come Sweeeeeee – ty.

  12. Heidi says:

    I would name him "Casper" from that cute show about the ghost, your daughter would like that. I also like Ghost but then that might be "scary".

  13. Deborah Bessom says:

    I thought Nancey’s idea of a family Christmas photo was a good one. Unless you have a few extra wrinkles or grey hairs to hide, you might want to pose in front of him so he doesn’t photo bomb your faces. The picture of your husband is hilarious!
    Btw, I’m liking the name Sweetie Pie too. Sure looks like it fits him.
    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Deb

  14. loreta says:

    What was his name before you got him? you might not want to change it because he already knows that one. Love your blog.

  15. Mary says:

    I love to read your farm news. It’s exciting to read of someone else enjoying the everyday things of farm life. Have always enjoyed it, altho didn’t grow up with horses or cows, just cats and dogs.
    The name is Sweetie Pie seems a good one, but so does Lancelot. Just go through names when you are around him, and see what seems to fit. You’lll get it!
    Happy Thanksgiving.Thanks for sharing!

  16. Linda Petersen says:

    Hi~~~Yikes! I had no idea that horses could do such agressive things to each other! Those marks look nasty. I think his official name should be "Sweet Baby James" with "JimmyJo" as his everyday name. God Bless you & your
    family & Happy Thanksgiving!!

    XO, Linda

  17. Sherry says:

    I’m thinking Cloud because of his color and shading, and he looks so dreamy. He is absolutely beautiful.

  18. Marcie says:

    How about James Taylor as a name for your horse?

    Rebekah, please remember tetnus shots for everyone, especially when you’re straddling barbed wire fences. I did that once back in TX at a place we managed and when the wire went through my jeans into places it should not have, I looked at my husband with a strange look in my eyes and said, "tetnus shot". We both went to the doctor that day.

  19. Victoria says:

    Love your blog! I too am a lover and owner of horses, six to be exact, well two of them are Mimi’s and moste of them are rescues. There is an adjustment period and your new horse will find a best buddy to pasture with on his own. There was a wild house named Cloud on the PBS station as a series a few years ago. He was a beautiful white horse!

    If you ever need any equine help, just email me and I will lend a helping hoof!

    Victoria

  20. Katie B says:

    Ohhhh, yes, Cloud is a great name. If he becomes more assertive over time, you can preface it with "Thunder".. Or "Moon", or "Winter". You can add a lot to Cloud to mirror his personality. My little niece in SoCal always asks us, "did you get me a white pony?". We moved from hectic Southern California to tranquil Tennessee almost a year ago.. I have to disappoint her each time since we don’t have the acreage for a horse. But he is gorgeous! Many happy years together! One request, can you blog more often? 🙂

  21. Judy Kennedy says:

    I have loved horses since I was five years old. Not having room to own my own horse I have instead taken some riding lessons over the years and whenever my husband and I travel, we try to incorporate a horse ride into the itinerary and see a place in a more personal way. I have now ridden horses in through vineyards in Tuscany, Italy, around the beautiful lakes and castles at the Killarney National Park in Ireland, along the beach and in the ocean in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and through the pampas grasslands in Argentina gaucho style. I also love ancient Egyptian art so I always thought that Ramses would be a proud name for a horse, but you must fit the name to the horse not the other way around. So after learning a bit of your personality through reading your wonderful blog, and looking at the photos of your new steed I have decided that White Christmas would the perfect name for your horse, Chris for short. I love living vicariously through your experiences as you live your dream on a farm, thank you for sharing.

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Transformations

Do you believe it?

Ralph Waldo Emerson’s sentiment that “Life is a journey, not a destination” ?

I was going to wait until I’d fully reached my destination to share some parts of my life with you. I figured who wants to hear about the journey? Ho hum, right? Well, it’s going to be a while until I reach my destination. I may never. So, here’s my life as is.

Small things are changing with me. Things like what I keep in my front right pocket at all times. I used to keep nothing there. I mean, why would I put something in my front pocket that could actually create a visible pooch? But now. I have something in there that is the first thing in, the last thing out every single day.

What is it?

Continue reading

  1. Cindy says:

    I love this post! Yes, the courage to transform is something I am very well acquainted with. After divorcing two years ago I found myself handling life situations that I would NEVER have believed I could handle. I am a completely different woman now…and I like me. A lot! Whether it’s staring down a big spider, or staring down any other number of personal demons, the courage is the same… no, you cannot stay and rule my life. Be gone! I also pared down my life to where I don’t need the things I thought I needed before. This alone is SO freeing, isn’t it? My father always carried his pocket knife with him, as well. He was a whittler and a fixer, and he was never without that knife. I remember him peeling an apple in one long beautiful strip. That always delighted me! I thought he could do anything!

    I love your blog, Rebekah! You speak from a place that resonates with me. I so love following your farmhouse updates. You are living a blessed life!

  2. Lisa H says:

    Rebekah, I like the journey so much more than the destination. It is like a vacation. I get as much joy out of planning where we will go and what we will do as I do actually the going and the doing. I really think it all comes down to a few "A" words. The first being anticipation. The anticipation of learning something new. The anticipation of working on a project. The anticipation of what it will look like when we are done. The anticipation of adding another furry creature to the family. Wouldn’t life be boring without it? The next "A" word that comes to mind is adventure. You have an adventurous spirit that is radiating and catching. This spirit drives you to be open to new things and new challenges. What would a journey be without adventure? Another "A" word that comes to mind for our journey is adaptation. If we are going to enjoy this journey we have to learn to adapt to our new environment and find the positives of our situation as we go. Lastly, I think we also have to Accept where we are so we can Appreciate where we are going. If you were getting a grade for your new life project it would be an "A". Don’t you agree? 🙂

  3. Nancy says:

    Oh my, the spider thing. I used to freeze. Yes I slammed a great big white one about three weeks ago and it not only crunched but it splatted a brown goo all over the porch wall that I waited to show to my hubby to prove I’d taken care of the beast. It’s cleaned off now. I love when you do something I am just doing too, happy farming. Xox Nancy

  4. Rene Foust says:

    Rebekah I completely understand how you just know that you have it in you now. I was so completely put to the test this past spring and I almost failed it. But with a little help and a ton of will (lots of tears) I made it and now I know I have what it takes too! Good luck to you and your family on your new and wonderful adventure it is so great to watch the transformation.

  5. Jeanne says:

    Thank you for taking us along on your journey and not waiting for the destination.
    Yes, white wash the fireplace. It will transform the room to complete serenity. Love, love. love what you are doing with the farmhouse. It will be worth the wait. Many blessings…

  6. Mary Rauch says:

    Please, please, just for me, don’t whitewash the fireplace. Even if you loved it at the very first, please think ahead to those misty trails of carbon (smoke) that will rise out and up the front over the coming years. I think the stained whitewashed brick will be somewhat unattractive in time. Maybe you will think about it longer? It looks nice (to me) as it is (but it’s not my decision is it?)
    I, too, have a small device that cuts, gouges, screws,and punches that I carry at all times. Don’t know what others do without these all-purpose items in a pocket, purse or tote bag.
    Are you and your DH still employed? I keep wondering how you have enough hours in the day to do all this work?
    I hope your daughter is happy at school. The whole moving experience must be awesome for her.

  7. junebug says:

    I’m so enjoying your journey. You are living my dream of the country life. So I will be one faithful follower of the ride!!

  8. Lorrie MacKenzie says:

    Your blog is so fun to read! I totally admire you because you went for your dream and, despite the adjustments, are happy and willing to put in the effort it takes. I can’t wait to see what happens next. I want to hear everything!

  9. Sharon says:

    I know you have the courage to continue your transformation on this journey and can and will do what ever you set your heart on doing. Keep it up! Your courageous is contageous and helping me to face some decisons and changes I have known were necessary but was too afraid to face. Thank you!

  10. Nicole White says:

    Your post made me cry. Beautiful. I’m learning to go from country to suburbia, not easy, but I’m adapting. Getting a small hen house to shelter a few chicks today. I think I’m as chicken crazy as you are horse crazy. Learning to back yard farm on 1/3 of an acre. Learning to find the beauty in the noise and traffic of a large metropolis. The sunrise over the soaring mountains is incredible, the people friendly at the dump where I was dropping off my yard waste (to be made into compost) and picking up rich compost, the sun is shining… Thank you for sharing a glimpse into your transformation. It is lovely.

  11. Hello Rebekah, things are looking great. I am enjoying the journey with you. I did my old fireplace in a taupe color, (so the soot and smoke do not show up so much), it goes well with anything the whitewash would go with. Just a thought….. keep up the good work. cant wait to get to the final destination one day with you. Be Blessed. Vivian

  12. Brenda says:

    love reading how things are going. country life is hard, rewarding but hard when you have to start from the start but it sounds like it is your cup of tea. enjoy each step those are the memories that will make it all worth it

  13. Cathy says:

    Very inspiring Rebekah! I know you’ll withstand and overcome anything that comes your way…..

  14. Diane Van Horn says:

    Whitewash that brick-you will love it!
    Love this post. It is all about the journey and it’s the hard that makes it great! Look forward to more of your journey!

  15. meredith (hereford girl) says:

    I knew you were strong enough- you just have to WANT IT that badly. And the spider crunch- its gross. Every time. EEEWWW. Loved your post- your enthusiasm makes me thankful I am a farm girl!

  16. This post is so heartening. It really is amazing how we manage to grow into whatever is needed of us. At some point in life, we have the luxury of screaming for someone else to take care of the spiders. But when we realize that there’s no one else, we find we have the strength and courage to do it. We may even, someday, remember that the spider eats pests, so we learn to nudge him into a jar and take him to a safer place.

    Yeah, that one takes a while. And none of us is capable of doing EVERYTHING. But every step of the journey makes us stronger.

    I love hearing how you are growing into your farm. I’m living my dream vicariously through you, so keep enjoying it!

  17. Denise Ross says:

    Thanks for your beautiful blog Rebekah. I love that you took the risk in following your dream. This is the first time I’ve read your blog. I love it. Keep enjoying the journey God bless

  18. Mary Pitman says:

    Oh, the joy of being a farmwife or country girl. My husband is not a farmer, but we do live on 35 acres, in the woods of Oklahoma. Love it here! So many things to do and see, with nature, and sharing those with granddaughters is so awesome!!!
    Thanks so much for your blog. Love it….and thanks for sharing your daily life. It’s so awesome to see others enjoy the country life, too.

  19. Judy from Maine says:

    Have you thought of facing the brick wall with some repurposed barn boards? These could be white washed or left natural in their "grayed" state. Then in the future if you wanted the brick back, it would only be a matter of removing the facing…best of both worlds! Love your blog, my hubby and I made our move north, dropping out of city life 30 years ago and have never looked back.

  20. Brenda says:

    Well that was a very heartfelt post! So glad you are enjoying your ride. I took up a new ride myself. I have joined weight watchers this past month. Nothing to report except it was suggested by one of my doctors and I have decided to go for it. I probably need to loose around 25 pounds but he only wants me to loose 5 before more blood test are drawn. I am not going to stop with that 5. I want to feel fit again even at this over 50 age. I have also started to work out again for the first time in about 2 years. Not every day because my joints are arguing with me but at least every other day. So I am going through a change of lifestyle I would guess of my own but I really hope to make my destination sooner than you do. Have a great weekend!

  21. Debbie says:

    I never doubted you for a minute!!! I love the new you!
    One night in the middle of the summer my husband found grass on my pillow as he was leaning over to kiss me goodnight…
    He laughed and said, goodnight farmgirl…Must have fallen out of my hair. I’ve been known to show up and the grocery store with leaves in my hair and dirt on my shoes and face after a long day of gardening. I personally love the journey… that’s what life is all about!
    Sending love and oh, here’s a little courage for white washing that fireplace! I think it would look great like that!

  22. Cathy R says:

    So delighted you love the country and all that goes with it! LOL about the spider! I vote for white-washing the brick ~ if it gets smoky ~ do it again! You are such a great writer ~ thanks so very much for sharing your journey with us! Heartwarming! Blessings from a kindredspirit in the hills of Idaho! Cathy R

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