Vacation
Spent most of the week away from the farm this week. The kids and I spent some time in the Great Smoky Mountains. We took in the great veiws from all the way at the top of Clingmans Dome and visited a very old farmstead on the North Carolina side of the park. The old farm is very neat, with it’s split rail fences, molasses processing pans, lye soap making, apple house, chicken coop, heirloom garden, smokehouse, barn, blacksmith shop, springhouse, and pig pen. It was great for the children to see just how the old timers made it. The farmstead leaves me longing for simpler times and wondering if someday I might find some remote peice of land and give it a try the old way myself. The children learned all about games kids used to play and even made some toys and played some of the games like buzz buttons and corn cob tipped feathers for darts. I enjoyed the park the most, but the children enjoyed the shows and rides. Madison said her favorite part of the trip was our dinner show at Dixie Stampede. She especially enjoyed the trick riding. My little girl is quite the equine enthusiast. Kaylee and Garetts favorite part of the trip was Dollywood and it’s roller coasters. They like the rides. We rode all the roller coasters even the new Mystery Mine. I think later this fall I will try to take them to Kings Island. We all played miniature golf at Ripley’s Old McDonalds Farm Golf. The animated farm animals were cool. The kids all posed for pictures with them. While there we visited a dinosaur museum that had an old half track out front. Half tracks were used in WWII. My grandfather drove one through most of the war. It was great to be able to show the kids one and relay all the stories about my grandpa. He was 15 when he lied about his age and joined the army to go off and fight. It’s hard to grasp just how rough things must have been here to see a war as an improvement. I have always said the WWII generation truly is our greatest generation and I take my hat off to them all.
Back on the farm. We have decided to go ahead with the poultry houses. After much discussion we have decided that it is an opportunity. It will allow me to get out of the factory and be on the farm. It will also pay for the farm and allow us to grow if we so choose. I geuss bottom line it was going to be very hard to justify passing up a steady income. In farming there aren’t very many ways that you can make it anymore and this seems to be one. Cobb has a very good reputation in this area. I’ll keep you all posted as to how it progresses.
I better go for now, I have promised to use the 6000 to move some topsoil and fill some holes in the yard of both the log house and the double-wide. Be sure to check out the pics I have added and check back soon!
August 4th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Good luck and lots of happiness with the poultry, it sounds like a nice opportunity!
August 4th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
I wanted you to know you are a very good writer. It is just like being there. You are so good and caring with your beautiful children. A lot of fathers and mothers ought to take some lessons from you. I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST. I hope you have a lot of luck in everything you do.
Gladys
August 5th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
I hope the poultry houses work out for you. I’ll keep you in my thoughts as you move forward.
August 5th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Well you have the same love of the farm as I do. You also have 10 acres more than me. lol Love reading about your everyday life on the farm
August 5th, 2007 at 9:50 pm
Evan,
Thanks for wishing me luck. I believe it is a good opportunity. I look forward to sharing the whole process with you all. Thanks for reading and check back soon!
Gladys,
Thank you for the compliments. I’m glad to have you reading!
Christy,
We’ll keep our fingers crossed and wish for the best. Thanks for reading!
August 6th, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Glad to hear you where down my way this past week. I do love that area. My farm is in the outskirts of Asheville NC. I know it was a hard to decide about the chickens but you have made a choice that will bring you closer to your farm, which in my book is good. Hope the kids are ready for school. Have a great week.
August 7th, 2007 at 2:31 pm
Joel,
Great to hear that you and the family had a chance for a short vacation before school starts back up. The statement about the molasses pans at the homestead farm reminded me of the stories my Mother told me about her father and grandfather. Her mother’s father owned one of the general stores, the other one was owned by her other grandfather. Anyway, he owned the grist mill to, and would grind grain on shares. I guess he would sell his excess grain through the store as meal and feed. At that time they had a “traveling” cane mill and pan set. One of the families down there would by the mill and pans and make sorghum on shares as well. From what I understand, neither of my great grandfathers owned the mill and pans, but it changed hands several times as one owner would get tired of all the work involved in setting it up and then overseeing the making of the sorghum. (Virtually everyone down there raised at least a couple of acres of cane to make molasses, which was the main sweetner other than honey. Sugar was available, but most of the locals raised almost all the things they needed.)
August 12th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I remember my grandparents’ farm in Eastern Ohio very well. It was the best place to be a kid and just have fun and help do things like milk cows, etc. At that time, all the plowing was done with horse pulled plows (Early war years). I’m really glad that the chickens can mean you get to spend more time on the farm and with the family. Best Wishes to you and the family.
Your blog is one of my very favorite ones.
August 16th, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Ann,
The Smokies are one of my favorite places in this country. You’re lucky to live near there. I hope the chickens are a good decision. Only time will tell. I certainly am looking forward to being on the farm more! Kids started school Monday and are doing well.
Kevin,
Doesn’t it make you long for simpler times? I too remember the molasses making get togethers.
lella,
I too think a farm is a great place for a kid. That is the biggest reason I have hung on here. I know it is best for my children. I am certainly looking forward to being on the farm more. Glad to have you reading!
September 15th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Good luck. They are a lot of work and they stink too. You do get used to the smell after awhile(sort of).