Hi Rebekah,
So glad you’re ‘staying’! You do have a right to be there, with all the hard work you and your family have done to ‘make that your home’, stay put!

Thank you for saving the bat. Bless you! So many folks do not realize how beneficial bats are to our existence. They can eat their own weight in flying insects every night, from mosquitoes to moths that take out a farmer’s corn crop. A bat house near your pond would be a great addition to the farm (if you do add one, it needs to be at least 8 feet high + it would be a great educational tool to teach folks about bats + bat watching at sunset as they come spiraling out of the house to go on their first feeding). We love bats and we often sit out on our back deck in the evenings and listen to them as they feed while soaring overhead.

take care, Marcie

Oh Rebekah, I so relate to your snake phobia. I NEVER go into my yard, flower gardens without a stick to poke the ground before I step. I lived in my previous home 38 yrs. and the last 10 years of that time I had snakes, the reason that all of a sudden they were there doesn’t matter BUT I moved into this home 8 years ago – all new housing area in the middle of an old buffalo ranch, clean clear ground, did all the planting of everything and never a snake but obviously I brought my phobia with me and it is ok, I am just totally aware of every where I step, put my hand, look up n down at all times. This all being said it is ok to have the phobia, just be aware and live at your lovely, wonderful farm as if you were always there. Thanks for sharing your experiences. God bless.

Your childhood experience reminds me of a Bill Cosby routine, where his parents go out and leave him in a playpen in the kitchen, telling him snakes will bite him if he gets out. So he calls out to them, “Snakes, snakes, you out there snakes?…don’t bite me, just give me a little snaky lick!” As only he could say it. My mother hated snakes and wouldn’t even pick up a magazine if it had a picture of a snake in/on it! I, on the other hand, freaked her out as a child by putting a black snake around my neck and showing her! My father taught our full-size Cocker Spaniel to kill snakes. He would shake them until there was not a piece much bigger than an inch left! I am much older now and more cautious, but have never seen a poisonous snake. Good luck and I envy you living in the country. Enjoy God’s creation. Beautiful sunset, by the way.

Rebekah, I had snakes at my home in La., where we had a creek that ran all the way thru our property. We had water moccasins and copperheads, it got to the point that they would even come up on my porch. I was so sick of snakes, so someone had told me to throw moth balls around, I threw them up under everywhere, and the snakes stayed away. I also told The Lord, Lord, I am superior to snakes, and I am saying now Snakes you have no right to my property, be gone in the name of Jesus, and no more snakes here in NC after doing that. Good luck, and remember what we fear most is what we bring about. Be Blessed!

By the way, you are a Brave Girl!

Jesus says to ‘speak to the mountain’. In other words, whatever the mountain in your life is, speak to it and say “Be thou removed”. You need to speak these words to your fear and anxiety over the snakes. You’re being tormented with these critters and you need to come against them with your words. “I refuse to fear” is a favorite of mine daily. Just a thought to help you through. Our imaginations can do us a huge disservice in the fear department.
By the way, I thoroughly enjoyed the part about your husband and the bat, haha. Don’t be run off your farm by disappointments. You have far too many successes to let a few unfortunate things rule the roost. Take care 🙂

I love your posts. They are refreshing and honest and sweet.
Can I make a suggestion? (You don’t have to take it of course 🙂 )
Learn everything you can about snakes. What are the names of the snakes that live in your area, their habitats, their habits… the food they eat… everything. I can promise you that there isn’t a snake alive that has humans as their main dish. You will probably learn that they like to stay hidden for a reason and it’s not to be sneaky.
I hope this would be helpful for you in learning how to co-exist.
When I was a little girl (the youngest out of 4 kids) my siblings teased me unmercifully with June bugs. I know, crazy right? I was scared spitless of them. (To this day I’m still not all that crazy about them but … we’re good lol). One evening my dad took us to visit his parents in Oklahoma and he sat me on his lap. There was one of those creepy little things under me and I could feel it fluttering around. I wasn’t sure what it would do but I knew it was there. My dad wouldn’t let me up until I told him what was wrong and the more he held me the more freaked out I became. Finally he couldn’t hold me any longer and I ran to the bathroom and locked myself in.
All was much better until…. (this was an old house and the light switch was on the outside of the bathroom door. So cruel…)
The point of that story was to say, I understand irrational fear. I’ll give it to you snakes can do much more damage than any June bug, but on the other hand we went camping all the time in California and the river we went to had rattle snakes. We were told to not move any rocks or logs, things like that because the snakes would sleep under them during the day to stay our of the heat. I remember when I would see a snake I was told to move slowly away and leave it alone so as not to scare it. So, rattle snakes were fine…. June bugs on the other hand totally freaked me out. (Thanks loving siblings of mine 🙂 )

I’m only 5 years ahead of you on the city-country transition, and still suffer from the “varmint vapors” from time-to-time. Ticks are my especial fear (for good reason). Snakes I must tolerate (at a distance) since they feast on the field mice, which are plentiful. I’m hoping my intrepid cat will scare away the snakes from near the house, as well as dispatch a few mice to their eternal reward. I wish you courage and strength as you continue to face the challenges that will come your way. A crisp autumn night with stars strewn like diamonds across a black-velvet sky is just one of many rewards for your efforts.

Well first of all I’m plumb out of beans! And I intend to stay that way! Ok, so I have to admit, this post gave me a Willie! You know, where you get a cold shiver and goose bumps. Ugh….girl, Jake and Cake were ok…. being outside and all….but in the bathroom! Oh me oh my! So, I’m still living in one room in the basement while we build our house…still….still….still…..and I was thinking this morning… I really was thinking this….I kill one spider a day. I do. I used to not kill them. When I first moved out here, I’d re-locate them to outside. Now, WHACK! I’m tired of it. Tarrrrreeed of it all I tell ya! I have my eye on tomorrow’s spider…if it comes down from the ceiling. Guess where it is? Yup! In the bathroom!

Cindy Bee

Rebekah I am not sure where to begin there are so many thoughts running through my head as I write this post. One thing I do know for sure is that you are a brave and honest woman. I have had the same thoughts on many occasions about my decision to make the move to my “dream life” questioning my reasons and really wondering if I will ever really be happy, and then out of no where some simple random thing or thought shows me the light and I realize I am right where I am supposed to be. Snakes, mice, stink bugs and gnats wont run me away. Keep up the good fight and know that all of your friends are praying for your happiness and that you find a way to over come your fear of snakes.

After 51 years of being on this earth, our son has a home of his OWN. It’s pretty exciting for him and for us to watch his joy.

What a beautiful story of gifts that matter! So many time we overlook all the beautiful blessings showered upon us! This was such a good reminder to look beyond the covering and see the heart of the matter! God Bless You and your farm!

I thought I could never laugh, smile and cry all at the same time like I have just done by reading your wonderful story!!! My comment would be way to long if I said all I have in my heart now, but what I will say God bless you for receiving and sharing the blessings of your lovely farm and community.

It is amazing what we see when our eyes are opened to the beautiful gifts that we all receive daily. A sunset, a sunrise, the moon, the stars, fresh air….the mountains where I live close by, and the beach not so far away. A smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend. Tea on the porch swing, a note from a friend of long ago….My Mother is 90 years old today..to go this week and celebrate with my family the wonder and wisdom of living on this earth 90 years…she is a wonderful mentor, and friend.
Hugs to you for a wonderful blog, and for making us all open our eyes a little wider. 🙂

I love sitting outside and watching the neighbors horses grazing and rolling around on their backs on the grass and sometimes I see deer with them also. I love being outside at night and seeing fireflies, a lot more out this year. Also than looking up at the beautiful moon and stars, I love looking at the consolations!

Thanks for the post. I am looking around seeing some of the gifts I have been blessed with. Thank you.

Rebekah, I always look forward to your posts. Finally I was able to get on to the internet this morning and delighted to see your post. What a great birthday gift; I laughed, cried and just took some quiet moments while soaking in your words and pictures.

My husband and I have been traveling in our 28′ RV for the last month and nature has offered us many different, funny, peaceful and scary adventures. What I didn’t think about was the gifts from each one. Thanks for sharing.

After 51 years of being on this earth, our son has a home of his OWN. It’s pretty exciting for him and for us to watch his joy.

What a beautiful story of gifts that matter! So many time we overlook all the beautiful blessings showered upon us! This was such a good reminder to look beyond the covering and see the heart of the matter! God Bless You and your farm!

I thought I could never laugh, smile and cry all at the same time like I have just done by reading your wonderful story!!! My comment would be way to long if I said all I have in my heart now, but what I will say God bless you for receiving and sharing the blessings of your lovely farm and community.

It is amazing what we see when our eyes are opened to the beautiful gifts that we all receive daily. A sunset, a sunrise, the moon, the stars, fresh air….the mountains where I live close by, and the beach not so far away. A smile from a stranger, a hug from a friend. Tea on the porch swing, a note from a friend of long ago….My Mother is 90 years old today..to go this week and celebrate with my family the wonder and wisdom of living on this earth 90 years…she is a wonderful mentor, and friend.
Hugs to you for a wonderful blog, and for making us all open our eyes a little wider. 🙂

I love sitting outside and watching the neighbors horses grazing and rolling around on their backs on the grass and sometimes I see deer with them also. I love being outside at night and seeing fireflies, a lot more out this year. Also than looking up at the beautiful moon and stars, I love looking at the consolations!

Thanks for the post. I am looking around seeing some of the gifts I have been blessed with. Thank you.

Rebekah, I always look forward to your posts. Finally I was able to get on to the internet this morning and delighted to see your post. What a great birthday gift; I laughed, cried and just took some quiet moments while soaking in your words and pictures.

My husband and I have been traveling in our 28′ RV for the last month and nature has offered us many different, funny, peaceful and scary adventures. What I didn’t think about was the gifts from each one. Thanks for sharing.

Hi there! If your chicken who has a stopped up crop is still with you ( I hope!) try this, it worked for my chicken who was suffering the same. Fix her some oatmeal, but instead of using water, use corn oil. I tried this after having no luck with anything else, and it worked. It took 2-3 days for her to have enough lubrication to get rid of the stopped up stuff, but it worked! Just make sure it has cooled a bit before you give it. You could also just give her corn oil in a syringe orally if you can’t get the oatmeal in her. I will say a little prayer for your success!