You Can Take the Girl Out of the Farm but You Can't Take the Farm Out of the Girl

Sorry, I've been quiet this week as I have been ill. The big news this week is that my parents just sold my childhood home. Yes, I'm heartbroken but I understand that my 80 yr old father can't keep up with a farm anymore. (Yes, I'm 27 & he's 80 as I'm the youngest of a huge litter of children) He's going to retire to the beach so expect more mermaid shoots on the beach:)! Even-though, i got married & moved away from Massachusetts to Washington, D.C. I will forever miss visiting the family farm. Maybe, I was literally raised in a barn but I can still be classy. Our farm was mainly a horse farm as my Dad raised race horses. We also raised fruit, vegetables, turkeys, pigs, sheep, and goats. Days on the farm were far from dull as the animals were expert escape artists and were frequently popping out cute babies.  There's even a spooky Native American burial ground up back behind the fields that I have been too chicken to explore. There is also a cool waterfall that drains water from the man-made pond. The pond was made because the property used to be a horse race track in the late 1800's. (the grand stands and stables are long gone) When I left for college I couldn't wait to live in the big city but after living in the city for several years I started to miss the farm.  One thing is for sure I won't miss all of the farm smells. Living on a farm has helped me appreciate the simple things in life and has helped make me more environmentally conscious.  We need more farms as they help people learn to be self-sufficient.  A few years ago one of my big sisters died and the farm always reminds me of her so it will be extra hard to say goodbye. When she left home to get married I inherited her room and when I spend time in there I feel connected to her. Lucky for me my parents allowed me to draw whatever I wanted all over my walls and ceiling in my room. Now, I will miss my old painted room even more as my murals will be painted over  because the new people don't want murals of tarot cards, butterflies, magic wands, and half-nude Greco-Roman Gods.  Another sad thought is that our swimming pool is going to be filled in  because they view pools as being sinful:(. It's really hard for my family to leave the farm as my family is so rooted to the place. It's in our blood as my Dad's Mom's family has lived on our street since the 1600's.  I know it's hard to imagine a violet haired lady like myself coming from a lot of Puritan stock but I do.  I'm the first one to leave Massachusetts. Like many New Englanders we've got our own silly collection of unfortunate Salem witches, scary mayflower puritans, & brave Revolutionary war heroes in the family. . my Yankee grandma rebelled and married an Italian. So that's how i ended up being both a guidette & a yank = American mutt:) two horse loving cultures. Hopefully, I will make a trip up soon to MA to help my parents move & see my old home one last time. Someday, I would like to own and operate my own fibers farm where I will ethically raise sheep for wool and plants to use for creating my own textiles.  These are all photos of the farm and the really old photos are of some of my ancestors who lived on my street long before I did.