Well friends, here we are. Two weeks into the adventure and we’re still having fun.
This was a big week for Hidden Meadow Farm. While we’re still definitely in the honeymoon phase, the warm and fuzzies are just starting to be replaced by an ever growing panic of what in the actual heck did we just sign up for?
It was getting a bit harder to reconcile the vision we had in our heads with the to-do list we saw everywhere we looked, like seriously everywhere.
Then came Sunday, and everything changed.
Now one thing you have to know about us is we’re pretty passionate about community and doing life together with others, we also pretty firmly believe that not attending your local church and not using your gifts in your church community is no bueno.
All that to say, as much as we love “church shopping” (insert sarcasm and grimace)–because come on it’s obviously the worst–we were eagerly waiting for Sunday to attend a church in our new town and get a little more settled into our home. But here’s the thing, there was only one man in this galaxy with the skill, knowledge and experience to bushhog our SERIOUSLY overgrown pastures, and he could only come Sunday morning.
Now I know what you’re thinking, just leave ’em and go to church anyway. And while in theory that would have worked, the reality was that he had been known to discover copperheads, hornet nests, and other delights on his previous bush hogging adventures here, and I didn’t feel quite comfortable with leaving Ben the Bush hogger (who was in his 70’s btw), alone, 30 minutes from town.
So we stayed home and tackled projects inside the house and kept an eye on Ben while he worked his mowing magic. Every couple hours I would bring him a drink and he would update me on the critter count, 4 black snakes, no copperheads (phew) one yellow jacket nest, and my favorite, a bear bed. (!!!)
No I’m not joking, he found a place in the pasture with a large clump of polk berries (a toxic weed that bears just happen to love). In the middle of said berry patch was a flattened out circle where a bear had clearly been lounging and snacking the summer away. This bear was clearly living his best life, but I’m not gonna lie it was a little concerning to know that we have now thoroughly pissed him off by removing his favorite snack spot.
Above is a pic of the back pasture mid-bushhog. You can’t tell, but those weeds were 7-8′ high. It was a jungle.
So 8 hours and $800 later, Our wallet was lighter but our view was wide open. We gleefully pulled on our boots and tromped around the pasture’s perimeter. We exclaimed over discovered walnut and pear trees, found fencing, and then…
…then we summited the top of our back pasture.
For the first time ever, we saw the view.
Our view.
A local ridge lit up by the warm late afternoon light. It was spectacular. And suddenly we felt like we could breathe again. This was possible. Our dream was possible.
Simply expanding our view, getting a new vantage point, had changed everything.
Our minds lit up with images of fencing and frolicking sheep and horses that we just couldn’t visualize before through all the brush.
Our to-do list is still impossibly long, and our to-buy list even longer. Today we’re planning on spending a silly amount of money on a garden tractor (read lawn mower on steroids) to help us maintain our freshly shorn pastures and lawn. But even so, we’re moving forward one project at a time.
Speaking of projects, we decided we needed a quick mental win inside the house. And so, over the weekend, we tackled a remodel of one of our guest bedrooms. There was a built in bed frame in the room. While unique, it limited the layout of the space, so we decided it had to go. Tim took on the demo and tore it out in a matter of hours, while salvaging a lot of good lumber and moving an electrical outlet. #handyman
The bedroom, like almost all other rooms in the house, was painted a pale yellow. While we still need more bedding and a window treatment, we love how much brighter the space feels now!
The next project inside will be finishing painting the living room ceilings and walls. Before and after pictures will follow.
Outside of farm life we’ve been diving into getting to know our neighbors and Tim’s colleagues. We attended a dinner for new faculty this week at the president of VMI’s house, a 4 star general! It was so fun to meet and hang out with some of Tim’s new colleagues. Everyone has been so warm and welcoming and we can’t wait to get to know them better.
One parting thought,
If you’re feeling stuck in a rut or overwhelmed this week I encourage you to think about what that one thing is you could do to change your perspective, and expand your vision. Whether it’s clearing out clutter, painting a room, or just taking a walk to watch the sunset. Do it. Don’t wait.
Happy dreaming friends.
Until next week.
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