How To Wait

I met this toad earlier today in my garden.

“What ‘cha doing just sitting there, Buddy?” I asked.

He said nothing.

He just sat there.

And waited.

For what I don’t know.

“What are you waiting for, Little Dude?” I asked him.

Nothing.

He seemed happy enough to just sit there.

I wish I could learn to wait like that toad.

Wait, wait, wait.

He was still there when I headed inside for a cup of tea.

“See ya later, Alligator…”

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  1. Denise says:

    Loved this :/)farm life is hard completely rewarding. Though I haven’t had the pleasure of trying farm life out for myself as yet. Love your attitude to life

  2. For my chickens, every day is a new day. They STILL squawk when they lay an egg. I have seven Jersey calves coming, starting in February. It takes FOREVER, 9 months to be exact. Can’t say, "can’t wait," ’cause I have no choice. "Will wait, will wait, will wait."

  3. Diana Henretty says:

    Oh my, your blog "just hit the spot" for me again this morning, we too are waiting. Waiting to meet our #5 grandson, soon to arrive any day now, carried by a precious surrogate mama who offered so unselfishly herself these past 9 months.
    Waiting to see our two oldest adopted grandsons again, waiting to celebrate the holidays with 5 grandsons in one year’s time.
    Waiting for the Ozark leaves to change, for life to slow down, wintery snows to come again, waiting to sit by the fire and quilt.
    Waiting…..it teaches us how to count our blessings while standing still!
    Waiting, Wondering, and Watching for good things from the Ozarks with hugs, Diana

  4. Joan says:

    CONGRATULATIONS the 1st egg!!!! I know what you mean about saving the 1st, I saved more like the 1st 2 dozen from my son’s families chickens and I blew them. Very carefully poke a large needle in each end, use needle to stir/break the yoke and then pressure blow into one hole, with a dish under the other end to catch the egg. I have heard that someone sells and egg blower but for the life of me I haven’t found it. After the egg is out, slowly dribble it full of water and a drop of soap and shake, covering the holes, then uncover the holes and shake out water, more water to rinse, stand shell up in a small container so water can drain and air can go through. This may sound like a lot to do but oh so much of a reward. I happen to have a small wire chicken that I display the shells in, also the chickens that share with me lay colored eggs but your white will be beautiful too. Have fun. Thanks for the ‘day at the farm’. God Bless

  5. Linda Petersen says:

    Hi Rebekah! Congratulations:0) It’s so exciting when the first egg appears. Like the "firsts" of everything good in life! My flock numbers four Buff Orpingtons & my husband & I love them like pets too. We walk outside & they come running & crouch down to be petted. They have a cute coop & run & of course they free range the yard during the day. I saved the first egg too~~~marked the day on the calendar(Aug. 13th)& blew it out to save in a sweet little nest. Took pictures also next to an egg from the store~~~huge difference! I found out that the first eggs are small in the beginning & now we have an abundance of eggs to share the wealth. Have a wonderful week~~~XO!
    Linda, Chino Valley, AZ.

  6. Denise S says:

    Love your column! You made me laugh out loud several times reading this one. Congrats on your first egg, I’d be just as proud of it too! 🙂

  7. Rebekah! You "crack" me up!! Could not resist the pun. You are the kind of farmer I would be. Naming my chickens and wait so expectantly. I love your references they make me chuckle. I’m happy for your dream come true farm. I’ve been a MJF subscriber since 2008. Hugs, Allison in Nirth Texas

  8. TeriGrace says:

    Love your Chicken Story! I love chickens too! My first chickens were a small batch of exotics someone had left behind when they moved. I was so excited. Got my uncle and cousins to help be build a rather sad enclosure in an old machine shed. Hauled in straw bales, rounded up feeders, etc….. There was 1 rooster and 5 hens. But there was never more than 1 egg a day. And then I realized….. that it was
    5 roosters and 1 hen. It’s hard to tell with those exotics. But the crowing is a dead give-away. Have fun! And enjoy all the double ‘yokers’.

  9. Amanda says:

    Congrats on the first egg!! When we had chickens that was an "egg-citing" time for us,too! Then once we got past that, we waited in anticipation for a double yolker. My husband was the lucky recipient twice this week with the eggs we get from the local orchard. We miss "the girls"! Anyway, I want to leave you with these quotes:
    The farmer has to be an optimist or he (or she) wouldn’t still be a farmer.
    Farmers never have good years. Only some years that are less bad than others.
    I hope you have many omelets to come!!

  10. caroljname says:

    Rebekah,

    I’m way late to this party, but I want to tell you something about eggs. You don’t have to blow out the insides. You can just leave them and the insides will eventually disintegrate. Just don’t ever crack one open: peeEuw! My mom has some quail eggs that she has had since I was about 10 and I’m 55 now. I always enjoy your blog and your column in the magazine. Happy Thanksgiving!

    Carol

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My Old Barn

I never thought I’d have the joy of owning an old barn, much less several old barns.

When we moved here, the buildings were in various states of disrepair. I only saw their potential at that time, never thinking much about the actual process of them REACHING their potential.

Whew. It is a process, a definite process. We are tuckered-out with the process.

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  1. Brisja says:

    I can’t tell you how much old things thrill and excite me. We spent yesterday afternoon going through an antique shop that specializes in salvaged items from houses that are being torn down. I love the aged look and the history you know each piece contains! It is so good to see that someone else is fascinated by these things and wants to preserve them for use in current everyday life. Your old barn is a treasure!

  2. Susan says:

    I think it would be hard to be a Farm Girl if you were not a preserver, a saver. Your barn is incredible. I wish 30 years ago when the barn was still standing at our place we had redone it. I wasn’t into the Farm Girl then – Now? Oh yes, I love being a Farm Girl. I wish I had been then. I’d be so much further along instead of now worrying about running out of time.

  3. Adrienne says:

    Looks great so far and my fingers are crossed the weather holds for you until the hay is in, the barn is finished and the snakes are gone. Perhaps a prayer to St. Patrick to drive the snakes out? 😉

  4. sue says:

    Cattle head holders are called stanchions and your barn is beautiful you are so blessed
    Life is a Journey not a destination enjoy the journey

  5. diana henretty says:

    Ahhhh, loved your barn story and your pictures to brighten my morning here in the Ozarks!
    One of our most favorite things to do is to go for country drives and look at all the old barns in our area.
    The old Route 66 is especially great, you can see every kind of barn imaginable.
    Glad you didnt tear it down, glad you gave it a "heart flip" and a new life!
    Sometimes thats all it takes, is recapturing the old and shining it up a little.
    Blessings from the Ozarks on this hot summer morning! Diana

  6. catherine says:

    What color did u paint the shed? I love that red.

  7. Joan says:

    Oh yeah love the barn!!! and the run-into!! Preserving and saving is number one when being a farm family, never know when that ???? will come in handy. Oh yes there are those that say farms are junky but it doesn’t have to be, there is always a corner somewhere where all the ‘lovelies’ can be stored and I know you will use them some day. AHH what to do in the loft of the barn – always wanted to preserve a barn and live in it – yes that was a dream that did not come to fruition so I am so happy that you get to live your dream and that you share all the words and pic’s of it. Thanks much. God Bless

  8. Rene Foust says:

    Wow what a beautiful barn! I wouldn’t tear it down either you should see what mine looked before we started working on it!
    It is going to be so amazing when it is complete

  9. Looking good! I love to reuse old things too. Hubs is starting to move into the pole barn he built for a wood shop and I have to keep an eye on him. He likes to toss things that I think could be used for another purpose. But I also want to be able to park in the garage again, so things do have to be put back away. I could see the poles being used to make a tepee out of to grow beans on or gourds?

  10. Pam deMarrais says:

    Hey Rebekah! I love your local country store! I miss having one nearby in our neighborhood. In addition to the cool things, you have the best information resource….the owners do know it all! [We go to our local water dept for important not so well known information.]
    I haven’t counted all of the foggy mornings we had in August, so I also have no clue as to how many snows we’ll have, but I remember driving in the foggy mornings, so I will have my shovel ready to clear the mailbox. I try not to drive these Tennessee hills when the snow is on the roads, so I don’t try to shovel the driveway….I just wait until it melts! I guess I’d better get prepared too!

  11. Deanna Taylor says:

    Rebekah..love the old barn pictures! Don’t you just feel like you are in a church when you stand in the hay mow with the sun shining in the windows? Doesn’t that barn just speak to your soul? As a life-long farm girl who grew up in the 40’s and 50’s with barns, thank you for preserving your beautiful old barn instead of tearing it down. I love barns so much that I have decorated with them including a stained glass cupboard door that is a replica of my grandpa’s prairie style barn. Bless you and keep going, girl!

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