Juliepatchouli

I'm beginning my second year of living here on the farm. It's just a wonderful part of Heaven here on earth. I had some health problems this past year, from doctor error, and they dang near killed me. I was unable to work for over four months. God has continued to bless me. My near 'sainthood' husband was with me every moment. We recently celebrated our one year anniversary.

Here's a beautiful picture during one of the beautiful snows we had this season. The next picture is of one the fields. It's hard to see, but B is on a tractor working the field. That's one of the greenhouses of tomatoes. They are already staked and several feet high. These are much better than the 'grainger' county tomatoes, in my opinion anyway. B taught me how to drive one of the tractors this summer, the large Kobota. It was much easier than I thought it would be. If I could work full time on the farm, that would be ideal. We have some plans to work towards this eventually.

B's family has been farming for four generations now and is very well known in this area. I took agriculture and horticulture classes with him all through high school. We were in 'FFA" together. The last two years, we were officers - he was President and I was Secretary. We competed in parlimentary procedure contests together. We never placed higher than second, but hey, that stuff is no fun, especially for a teen, so I was pleased.

I'm so very happy these days. Things are so different than they have been in many years, really ever. You could not ever find one person to ever say one thing of ill will against my husband, he is so well thought of in this community; well in east tn, since they sell produce to such a large area. If you buy a pumpkin 'round here, it most likely has been grown and picked by him, even if you bought it in Asheville, Banner elk, or little ole Chucky Tn. That goes for watermelon also. He's a man who works very hard and a person of integrity, a man of his word. To be married to him, is what I consider an accomplishment.

This week B has been working on the corn planter and the sprayer. He has the most brillant mechanical mind.

I'm going to help him Saturday feed the cows and plant potatoes. There are many new calves.

I'm looking forward to when we can the cover off the pool and clean it and let it start to warm up. Some of the flowers are blooming in the yard. Looks like the begining of spring.

This blessed morning, I have the unexpected luxury of sitting on my front wrap around (well partial) porch enjoying my Jamican blue moutain coffee, as It's finally warm enough. The mountain view is spectacular as the clouds hug the tips of the mountains the sun peaks from behind. Pooh Bear, the Shih Zu, we found on the side of 11 E in peril of being run over; quite oblivious to it himself (his name very appropriate), brings me his toy and squishes it against my leg to throw it into the yard. He's not quite sure he wants to give it up at first, but then he's happy for the chase when it happens and returns shortly to push it upon me again.

The neighbors Boxer has come over to find play mates, so chaos has ensued.
I put two new bird feeders in the front yard yesterday. They should find it in less than a week or so. My husband, B has been working hard setting out the tomatoes in the greenhouse and preping the fields for crops. Soon enough he won't have to feed the cattle in the morning, but that time will be filled with planting, planting, planting; something like over 600 + acres.
I used to tell my mother I always wanted to live on a farm, have a beautiful mountain view, and have a wonderful husband. God has truly blessed me with many dreams that have come to fruition. My husband B is the sweetest most genuine man; who loves me so much; and would do anything for me; and I for him. I've known him from high school, and I adored him then. He has weathered some tremendously difficult times. They did not make him bitter or jaded or mistrusting; but instead gave him more compassion. He has such an ability to be so emotionally forthcoming that it's shocking at times - in a most wonderful manner; how honest he can be with his heart.

At his family farm, he works harder than any one person I have ever met. I wrote in his senior annual that I knew he would be a good farmer and I was right.

B and I laugh at the confabulations my former ex used to tell about his 'farm days'. I recall when he said he had bought calves at an auction in n. carolina at 'so much per penny on the hoof''. I didn't know at the time that was a ridiculous stupid thing to say; dare he say that to any farmer, they would have laughed and known right away about his fraud . B is often telling me he's going to buy me a 'miniture white donkey'; for the one my ex said he had bought that I never actually did see and the supposed receipient said he never did either. For the life of me, can't figure out why someone would lie about buying a miniture white donkey; or about having Emu's; which he made elaborate stories about having two of those - on his 'farm'. But at last, I'm in love with a real farmer, who has a real farm, they even have a large produce market. By the sweat of his own brow; nothing he had to make up. It's good to have things that are real, tangible, that you work for and earn and deserve. And be who you really are, not saying you have them by lying and deceiving, a false persona to whomever in whichever situation.

I suppose I should feel pity for someone who lies about almost every aspect of who they are; so that who they present is just a polished pretty shell of who they want you to see. I feel sorry for those around anyone like that; because they use those lies against someone's vulnerabilities and become close to someone so they can take advantage of you, gain your trust, impress you, and then deceive you. A person like that doesn't really have much of anything inside to feel pity for; nothing going on but plots, the next deception, how to keep up with the lies, the scams. Beneath that, nothing but emptiness, a spiritual bankruptcy. I think the only thing I can do, is I can pray that God heals that into something more; and in the meantime; hope their damage is minimal.