Posted by fayeroe on November 30, 2008, at 12:05:45
In reply to Re: too grateful » fayeroe, posted by seldomseen on November 30, 2008, at 9:33:56
I am very lucky in that I live in a secluded little house in a quiet part of time. Behind my back yard is a huge open area and beyond that is a springfed creek. My house is surrounded by oak and pecan trees. Friends who visit are surprised that anyone lives back here. It is so country like and quiet. I have every little mammal known to man that visits my yards. Three sets of owls live by the creek. Barred Owls, Great Horned Owls and Screech Owls!
Seldom, you will love this! When I moved to New Mexico in 1990, the villagers were extremely leery of me. Village of 125 and the majority of the inhabitants are Spanish.
One day a neighbor drove up and said that I needed a load of wood. I had already bought 4 loads from him and I started wondering what he was smoking. :-) He insisted upon unloading the wood, so I let him.
He and his friend had been hunting and had hidden the carcass of a deer under the wood. They kept watching my face and it was apparent that I was thrilled to receive such a gift! What a shock they received when I hung the deer in my washroom, got my boning knife out of the kitchen and went to work! Then they brought me other "gifts" during the winter and I never blanched when I saw what I was getting from them. I LOVED it.Venison is organic so I will eat it if I have a chance. White/Indian woman shocked the hell out of the village. It was no time until I was one of the "guys"..
In the early 2000s I had Rocky Mountain Spotted Tick Fever and my neurologist said that I had to eat organic meat. I was stunned because I hadn't eaten red meat in years and years. She insisted and my distant cousins started bringing venison to the house. My daughter and I have photographs of us working away in the kitchen with my cousins standing there openmouthed. :-)
We washed our clothes with lye soap til I was about 15.Mom heated the water in a huge iron pot.My daughters and I all make candles.
I love that kind of life. I will move back to the ranch in a couple of years and take up where I left off. AHHHHHHHHH, that wonderful woodstove that heats the entire house with the best warmth.
I was born in 1943..that is why I know all of this stuff. And I was also born in the mountains which were wild and we had to depend upon Mother Earth for almost everything. The downside is that I am very softhearted and it always really affected me when butchering day came around. I hid under my bed so I couldn't hear the shots. I had to quit naming the animals. :-)
My mom made the most beautiful quilts and crocheted constantly. I learned at her knee how to make my clothing but I was never very good at crocheting. I decided that I would learn recently and it didn't stick. In fact it was a huge mess.
I recently bought a pair of new Ralph Lauren slacks at a thrift store for $1.00 and I called the cleaners to ask about having them hemmed. It is $17.95! I could have gone to Target and bought the pants and a top for that...I will hem them and save $18.00. :-)
Great discussion, Seldom`!
Pat
poster:fayeroe
thread:865801
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081115/msgs/865906.html