An Old Soul

A calf looking in the front door of the ranch house......"where's my mama?"

What inspires us as individuals to "take up" a way of life, a passion...........and why us?

 My passion for "ranching" has long been with me.  For me, it started as a young girl.  Probably, thinking back, from the time I was 7 years old. I think of myself as an "old soul."  I can't remember feeling any other way.  My whole life has been building to this crux...........owning land, livestock, gardening, canning and living "the old ways."

For me, animals are the highlight of my day.  It gives me  "purpose" to care for them, treat them when they get sick, help the "girls" with their lambings should they need me............seems mine always do, for support if nothing else.  If you've never looked into the eyes of a ewe when she's ready to lamb, you can't know the depth of her "want" for you to be there with her.  Even if it's just sitting in the corner of a lambing jug, speaking quietly to her, coaching her through the lambing process.  It's one of the greatest feelings anyone can experience.  When an animal lets you know that it's "o.k." to be there with them during a difficult time, that's the ultimate.  

When your three day old calve sees you as his surrogate mother.  He'll follow you anywhere, nudge you for more milk, suck on your fingers for security..........even sleep on you.  That to, is the reason I do what I do.

I love when I return from a day gone from the ranch, the three dogs greet me at the gate ever excited I've returned to them, and they no longer have to be in charge of the sheep..........they bounce around, howl with joy, expect pets when you get out of the car.

Picking my own heirloom veggies from my garden(veggies now big and grown from seedlings I started back in winter).  Trimming and cleaning them in preparation for the canning process.  Experimenting with recipes and pickling brines............because I have canned for so many years, I have the confidence to "tweak" a recipe.  Washing my full jars after they've set for 24-hours and sealed.  Lining them up on my cellar shelves, knowing that I'll have fresh tasting fruits and veggies for the cold winter months.

Making my own sourdough starter (now over 12 years old) and making homemade artisan loaves of bread for "The Man" and myself.  Nothing is finer than having homemade sourdough biscuits with homemade plum, apricot, peach, blueberry or apple butter jam.............along with fresh eggs from my hens, and homegrown bacon or sausage from our hog.

Having a wonderful clothes line with an incredible view of the mountains, the BEST part of hanging my clothes out to dry.  The gray water from the washer draining into the orchard to water the fruit trees, while also providing drinking water for the many animals that wander through our ranch land.  I make my own cleaning and washing supplies so that I tread a bit lighter on our earth, eliminating many of the harsh chemicals that most "store-bought" supplies have.

My love of reading books rather than watching T.V. (my daddy used to call it the "idiot box!").  Cutting our own firewood for the long winter months, as it's the only source of heat we have........in 85 years, no resident of this ranch house has deemed it necessary to provide heat in any other way...........hmmmm?  I know why, because wood heat is the warmest heat!  My joy of putting on a pot of soup or stew in the winter on the ol' woodstove and simmering it all day.

To many people, this may sound like a lot of hard work, and I'll admit....not always do I want to hang my laundry out to dry, or make our bread, or even can.  But once I get started, push myself to do so, I'm happy.  I just had a "lazy moment" when I wanted to fudge on the task.  Then, from out of nowhere, I think about my ancestors, my "people," and I think.........what if they hadn't done what they needed to do for a day, a week...........?  Maybe none of us would be here.  

GOD gave us each a day to live in fullfillment.  I don't think he intended for us to sit in front of a T.V., a computer, an electonic game, or on our bumms!  He expected us to spend time outdoors everyday, working the soil, breathing the air, walking, working, cooking healthy meals, spending time in quiet respite and reflection............for me, it can only happen in a garden, "one is nearer GODS heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth."

But truly, my life has always been focused aound my two children.  They ventured into this journey with me from the day they entered this world. This lifestyle I live isn't something new to me, I've been living this way for many years...........by choice.
   I lived in Washington state on a remote five acres, my children grew up there. I grew a large garden, canned, raised animals, shovelled my own snow, dealt with frozen water pipes, dug myself out of the snow when stuck in my ol' truck (I was seven months pregnant on one such occasion)  I also worked, and attended college all the while being a single mom. My children rode a school bus for over three hours daily during the school months.  It was dark when they got off the bus and dark when they got on, they had over a mile walk back into our lil' homestead everyday.  Winter time, I met them out on the county road. They had just enough time to eat a home-cooked meal, shower, do homework and go to bed...........only to start over the next day.  My two children learned my work ethic............work hard, play hard and spent time alone everyday, so you have something to "bring to the table."  They are incredible young people and I love them beyond measure.  They are successful, educated, and productive individuals. They are kind, compassionate, smart, and very loving. We spend time with one another often. I'm a proud mama, I'm glad that my children appreciate how I've raised them.  I'm glad I've left them a legacy, something they can always "fall back on" and know how to.............


On any given day ask my children, "Has she left you a legacy? Has she inspired you to be your best? Are you strong in character and physical being, strong in faith?"  I know that answer..............

"Dreams come a couple sizes too big so you can grow into them."