My Country Roots

When I was two years old my parents moved their four little children into an old farmhouse.  It was on 80 acres of land owned by the Whittier school district, my father's employer, and was destined for eventual demolition and the construction of a new high school.  Until that time it was available for rent (cheap and affordable for a school teacher) and was a delightful place for our little family to spread out and grow.  We lived there for four glorious years.  These were years that shaped my little soul and imprinted me with a need for space and love of the country lifestyle.  At Six we moved to a nice suburban neighborhood where I lived happily until I left home to attend college.  Eventually I married my sweetheart Sheldon, a real city boy, and we raised six beautiful children, in the city.   Even though our employment and lifestyle required city living, I never really got over my farm roots.  I loved animals and we always had a variety of critters, everything that was legal to own in the city and some that might have been stretching the zoning laws.  A few years ago, shortly before his death, Sheldon bought me a horse.  My special son David named him Hay Pee because of his demonstrable ability to pee in the hay.  I felt my country roots begin to swell, and it was only a matter of time before they took over.  The result was that I sold our city house and bought a lovely little ranch in the wilderness.

So here I am.  Not far geographically from where I lived before, but light years from my former lifestyle.

My new home is on 5 acres of land, "off the grid."  This means that I have to make all the energy I use, pump all the water I need.  I'm getting a real education!  In spite of the challenges of country life, I immediately felt at home at Rainshadow Ranch (the name given by former owners.)  David and I are working hard to make it our home.  Hay Pee is here with us, with 3 other members of his herd.  I've also invited my mother Daphne Osborn and sister Patience to winter with us away from the winter snows of Utah.  So here we are, fulfilling my childhood dreams.