It’s so quiet here now that the holidays are over. The kids go back to school in a few days, Christmas is wrapped up and put away, we’ve celebrated the New Year and we’re quite frankly…. bored.
We’re playing all our new Wii games, playing new board games we got, reading books and watching movies, but it still doesn’t take away the quiet that seems to have settled over our home.
We had a special visitor for Christmas…. my birth mother. She left last night, and since she left it has felt a bit empty too. I miss her and worry about her long journey back home to Pennsylvania.
I’m ready for Spring. It’s not even my favorite time of year, I’m just ready to be outside again, sun shining, birds singing and the world renewed from this frigid time.
What does it feel like at your house?
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Okay, so I didn’t blog during the week at all, which was completely unintentional. Been overwhelmed with my NaNoWriMo plot planning, so trying to focus on that only.
At any rate, I owe a few recipes and some entries that I have ready to go, so I will try to get those up in the next couple of days. On another note, notice the view of St. Louis isn’t as pretty as the view of Montana? Actually there are many areas around us that are just as pretty as that Montana picture. We don’t have mountains, but we definitely have hills, lakes and trees. Can’t wait to get there.
This week we did some research on the cost of chickens since it will be one of the first purchases we make when we get They aren’t too bad, and you get them as chicks. It takes about 5 months or so before they start producing eggs, but most of them produce daily. We are planning on ordering about 20 the first time we order. They have bulk orders of 50 and they are definitely more cost effective, I just cannot possibly imagine owning 50 chickens LOL I’m struggling with how easy it will be to keep 20!
The whole point of this post was to say that Montana Man is back home. His flight got in late last night, and it was nice to see everyone happy to see him back. He brought us amazing Huckleberry flavored candies. And OMG! So delicious – I had no idea they even existed. He brought Huckleberry jellybeans, gummy bears and taffy. Wow!
Today I checked online and was happy to have discovered that the store he bought them at, sells them online too – and they have flavored syrups, honey and jellies. More things I’d like to try. I wish we lived near fresh wild Huckleberries, because Montana Man’s stories about picking them as a child – buckets full every week, leaves me wanting that experience for my children.
So that’s all the updates I have. Hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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Montana Man has left the building. He flew back to Montana this morning. Actually, he flew to Portland, to meet up with his sister who lives in Vancouver, WA. They are driving the 11 hours to Montana.
Unfortunately, it is not a vacation for either of them. Their step father passed away, and they are going for a week to help out, work out the arrangements and be with their mother. While I have talked to Montana man’s mom on the phone several times in the past 3 1/2 years, I have not had the pleasure of meeting her.
Deep down, I wanted to travel with him, but I knew in my heart, that it was not the way I wanted our first face-to-face meeting to go.
So the six of us are on our own until the 15th. Plans include:
- Cleaning the house – you know – dusting, sweeping, mopping and organizing as much as possible.
- Making a meal plan for the next 7 days, and then running out to get what we still need.
- Making some Halloween treats – just because we can.
- Possibly a trip out to Purina Farms if the weather cooperates.
- Give the dogs a bath before it just gets to darn cold.
- A few other things too… we shall see.
This is only the second time that Montana man has been out of town away from all of us. Last time went well, so I am hoping this time we do great too. Interestingly last time he flew to Portland also – only it was for work. hehe
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Heading out to the DuQuoin State Fair today to see my boys (Whiskey Dixon) play. Today is Tim’s last official gig with Whiskey Dixon, so I feel I need to be there to see him play himself out. Plus, the band and all our friends are a blast to hang out with. I am all about taking my kids to any gig I can, that they can go to. Seems to me a state fair is perfect!
It has been so awesome to see the guys on major schedules… I mean how many local bands do you know that get to play with Darryl Worley or play the annual Bull Float trip?!?!! Only two if you were wondering. Here’s a clip from today’s Labor day schedule on the State Fair site!
I’m excited, as are the kids – we went to the same state fair two years ago, look at the kids back then! The little girl on the state with the Bucket Boys is my daughter Brielle. SO wish they would be there today too! LOL
Ryan isn’t in the picture because he was too busy looking at all the cool fishing stuff they had on display. LOL I would love to try to “re-stage” this photo today. LOL
So I will try to take loads of pics, some video if I can and I’ll put it up soon! Hope if you’re in the area, or don’t mind a little drive, you’ll come out and party with us! Hope to see you there!!
P.S. If you are near the greater St. Louis area or Illinois, and you can sing and play rhythm guitar… check Aaron’s ad out!
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Oh yeah. I absolutely love it when someone thinks they know me, and they don’t. I took a quiz over on facebook this morning titled “How country are you?”. Before I even took it, a friend took it and got a 0%. I couldn’t have agreed with his results more. He is so NOT country. LOL However, I commented on his, that I knew I was 100% country even without the quiz. He wanted me to take it anyway, swearing I was not and that I would figure it out by the questions. Well, guess what?
If you are on facebook, and want to take this quiz, click on the graphic and it should take you there. 
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Happy Fourth of July my faithful readers. I hope you have an amazing time today and enjoy family, friends and fireworks. The essential F’s of the day (besides Fun of course!)
I was bored this morning, so I started listening to songs that truly make me think of the country, and I thought it kinda funny that two of my favorite Dixie Chick songs happen to remind me what I want…..
Enjoy!
Have an awesome day!!
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I was looking for a photograph for an article I am writing and getting ready to publish, when I came across these two photos. I LOVE THEM!
As soon as I saw them, I thought – I sure wish I could use them in my blog theme, but I love my current theme and don’t wish to change, so therefore I am simply sharing them with you.
Don’t you just want to wander down that bridge to see what’s on the other side? A fishing hole? A lake? A Field? A Farm? 
No idea, but the possibilities of what happens to actually be at the other end of this bridge, are limitless.
This picture is my new “icon” to what I want in life. I’m going to ask my mom to paint me a picture like these. I figure it will always remind me of that quiet place I am excited to get to, that I can be alone with God and enjoy our beautiful countryside.
Okay, so I’m done being deep for today, but don’t forget what is at the end of your bridge.
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This will probably sound stupid to some, but why does it seems like cooking and country life go hand in hand? Perhaps I’m just over analyzing things, but it seems like many of the best home-cooked meals and family style meals come from amazing chefs living in the country. Sure, I like the others, but there is just something special about cooking and country life.
Why was I analyzing this? No clue, just thinking is all. But I’m wondering why that seems to be the case. Is it because living in the country you don’t have immediate access to the convenience of shopping 1/4 of a mile away, or that restaurants are in over abundance in the country? Maybe. But all I know, is that it seems when I visit someone in the country, the meal is always hearty, hot and full of flavor. Something that it seems we sometimes lack in suburbia. And I know we are trying.
We’re all over the whole moving thing, everything just takes time and I’ve been spending time trying to pack up stuff around the house that isn’t needed like knick-knacks, books, decorations and other just non-essential items. I still have to tackle that evil cave we call a basement, but I’m making progress. Why is it when you want something, it seem to take forever to get it?
In other news, our puppies are going home in just a little over a week and a half and I’m filled with a mixture of relief (they certainly are a handful), and a bit of sadness. The positive is, that so far the puppies that are spoken for, are going to people I care a lot about and trust profusely – I will get to watch them grow up, which was something I definitely wanted. So both boys are totally spoken for, and two of the girls, leaving us with two girls to find good homes for. Anyone want a Shih-tzu?
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It seems like forever since I originally stated I was ready to “go country”, but we had to wait until the weather got nicer and get a few projects around here taken care of first.
We went up and finally looked at some property we found, and comes close to meeting our needs. Problem is, we are all picky about one thing or another. For me, I am looking for privacy, tree’s and space. I’m looking for at LEAST 3 acres. No immediate neighbors is a MUST. I’m ready to leave suburbia behind.
My Montana man, who unbelievably grew up in an area there that is so similar to what I want, is much more interested in modern day amenities. hmm… imagine that. Actually, what he is looking for isn’t all that unreasonable – public water and public sewer. I’m totally on board with the public water (no well water, thank you very much), and it’s easy to accommodate. Problem is, that country life doesn’t seem to be as willing to give us public sewer, which means we are staring a septic tank in the eyes. He seems to be resigning to the fact that it seem nearly impossible to find a property with public sewer, which is great for me because it is allowing me a bit more freedom to keep looking all over.
The property in the picture is one of the places we looked, and while we like it, there are other homes that border the properties. This particular lot is 3 acres and while that is the minimum of what I want, it doesn’t lend itself quite as nicely when there are people so close by. I sound like a recluse don’t I? I assure you, I’m not.
So the search continues, but at least this shows you a rough idea of what we are looking for.
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How in the world did I wind up on a blog called Frugal Changes, writing a post about going country? I’m not even sure where to start.
Since I was young, I have always felt like a little country girl, even when my mother dressed me in frilly pink dresses with lacey trim and white patent leather Mary Jane shoes. With bows in my hair, and polish on my fingers and toes, I was raised to act the part of someone I never quite felt like. I am certainly not complaining, but I know what I want in life, and that certainly isn’t it.
With the economy the way it is, and my love of frugal living, it only seems natural to look beyond my everyday lifestyle and figure out what changes I can make to not only live the way I feel drawn to live, but also to live a happier, simpler life. So begins my journey….
We have decided to make the move to the country. In the Spring we will begin looking at homes and land. I have lived frugally and written frugal living articles for near 10 years at this point, and I feel confident that I know what will work and what won’t.
To Do:
- Find Country Home
- Research country living
- Leave a life of suburbia behind
I’m ready! Are you?
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