The Grand Adventure.

They packed their backpacks with a thousand adventures galavanting through their minds, convinced that someting was going to happen. It didn't matter how big, or how small, but an adventure they were going to have. They had it all planned out, down to the last detail their minds could think of.

Slinging their backpacks over their shoulders and tucking their sleeping bags under their arms, they said their good-nights and swaggered out the back door. The youngest boy paused in his stride to catch hold of his dog, and together, they made their way to the great unknown: the back pasture.

The oldest boy, after a few minutes of walking, stopped and looked around, while the youngest walked blissfully on, chatting away with his dog, unaware that his elder had stopped.

This spot would work, the oldest boy decided, and without much ado, he threw down his bag and sat down carefully. It wouldn't do to ruin the big adventure by sitting in a cow patty. Patiently, he waited for his brother to realize that he wasn't there.

When his absence had been realized, and the two brothers plus the dog were reunited, they set out to make camp.

First, the tarp was taken out and spread on the ground. To keep the bugs from crawling in their sleeping bags, the oldest explained. Next came the sleeping bags, minus the pillows they had forgotten in their rush to explore. Finally, out came the three flashlights and the Adventure Journal, which was as of yet quite empty.

As the sky grew darker, and the stars multiplied, the two boys were content to sit there, occasionally playing with the dog, but mostly just joking around, as two siblings are accustomed to doing. However, they couldn't shake off the feeling that they had forgotten something important.

Together, they went through a list: Feed the chickens? Yes. Water the chicks? Yes. Feed the cows? Yes. Had they brought the jug of sweet tea? Yes, they had. What about an extra flashlight battery? Yes, there it was. And the BB gun? It was under a sleeping bag.

It wasn't until the neighbor, a young woman of impresive height, showed up at the fence line. She asked them if they had everything they needed, and something clicked in the youngest boy's head.

A tent! In all their hurry to go have a Grand Adventure, they had forgotten the most important thing of all!

But they weren't about to ask for one. No, their pride couldn't bear it. So, they decided to stick it out, and were in the process of figuring out who would take the first watch of the night when the neighbor appeared again. This time, she had a small tent tucked under her arm.

Gratefully, the two young boys held the flashlights and watched as she set up the two person tent. They had a grand time laughing as they tried to help her figure out which pole went where, and when the tent was finally set up, they climbed in, dragging their sleeping bags with them. The dog followed, albeit a bit reluctantly.


They laid there, long after they had settled down, looking at the stars through the mesh on the roof of the tent, and trying not to flinch everytime a coyote sang to the moon.

Catching each others eye, it was an unnanimous agreement that passed between them, and with sheepish smiles, they began to pack up their gear.


The Grand Adventure would have wait until they were a bit older. It was 11:30 pm, and way past their bedtime.

Taking Over the World.

Nine years ago, I never imagined that I could feel at home in jeans and boots. It didn't occur to me that living on a farm could be fun. No one told me what things could be experienced while living in the country.

Granted, I can't be called a true 'country' girl since I still enjoy going to the opera and theatre with Mother Dearest. I still put on that little black dress and the pearls, and shove my feet into the torture devices that are called high heeled shoes.

Trucks are a fascination now. I save up for boots instead of high heels. Horses and cows are no longer foreign animals. I don't cry every time an animal dies, I see it as a part of life. Farm life is taking over my life, and I don't have any objections.

Except for the heat, but there is no way I can change that.

Here, in this blog, I hope to share my experiences on the farm as a godly daughter . Every once in a while, I'll post a short story or two about the animals I care for.

Here's to the future tales to come.