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March 20, 2010

Change, change, change

It seems like we are all about change lately.
I have taken a position with my company in the Florida region, effective June 1! I have been looking online at homes in central Florida, with hopes to land within an hour of the Tampa or Orlando airport. No idea when we will move, that depends on when the house sells and about a million other factors, (we do have an offer on the house and are waiting for their buyer to finalize their house sale--wowie!) Providence moves in wondrous ways, how silly of me to ever forget that, even for a second.
We (collective) are mostly excited about this next phase of our lives and the challenge of the unknown future. Ok, honestly I am excited about it until I think of all the millions of things I need to do, and then I get a little overwhelmed. It will work out, it will work out, it will work out!
We are not planning on taking any livestock with us, though we hope to find a home on a large lot or in a semi-rural area (garden and citrus trees are a must!). We would prefer to live outside of a master planned community if possible, and avoid HOAs. A neighborhood that allows chickens and has 1 acre lots would be ideal. So, we plan to have a non-farming phase of our lives. A friend that lives in the Tampa area has assured me we can find local goods and grass fed meat, milk, poultry. Maybe this next phase is the one where I perfect my French cooking, or we work on our golf game, or go back to school, or take art classes. I don't know about those details, but the move and the lifestyle changes feel ok and I have peace about it. The one downside for me is Hattie, and selling her. It may sound goofy but I really really love that sweet cow and she is a member of the family. It will be essential that we find just the right family for her to go to. Vera is sold and goes to her new family tomorrow. The buyers were not interested in taking Jules so we took him to the butcher on Friday when we picked up the pork. It is great to have nearly full freezers and this time I remembered to ask for the fat, so lard is rendering as I write this.
Daisy is going back to Theresa, I am very glad for that. The 2 ducks, 6 chickens, and 5 barn cats will convey with the sale or be re-homed.
In other farm news: the garden is planted with the exception of the cucumber, and those seeds will be planted next week. The strawberries are blooming, the fig tree is budding out with leaves as is the apple tree. The oak and pines are in full pollen--a yellow film covers everything outdoors right now. We hope to get some bees from Melissa in the near future so we can convey the bee hives with at least one hive-ful. We could take the empty hives and supplies with us, though we have not talked about this yet. So many questions and things to decide.....!
If you are so inclined, please say a prayer, light a candle or send a positive vibe our way, there is potential for a lot of stress in our lives in the next few months. We greatly appreciate the positive support and shared joy of our friends!
Hey, have a great week!

6 comments:

  1. Liz, you will be in my thoughts and prayers. How wonderful that you are looking to this next phase with excitment! I know the move will be somewhat stressful but you can do it!

    I am glad that Daisy is going back to Theresa.

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  2. Liz, go girl go yourself! Change is part of life and you all are heading at it full speed ahead! Will keep the prayers for all to fall together in a good pattern.

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  3. Oh Liz! I think you are wonderful. I am terrible with change. I would be crying my eyes out.

    I just returned from vacation in Mulberry, Florida, which is 40 minutes from Tampa and 1 hour from Orlando... almost exactly halfway between them. This is a rural area of LOTS OF CATTLE and orange groves where strip malls are just beginning to intrude. We stay in a timeshare condo in a development, as it's inexpensive and we have no desire to "do anything" while we are there, just bike, walk, bird, etc. and swim in the condo pool. Please keep us posted where you end up!

    I wish I could somehow have Hattie. She is a sweetheart.

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  4. Oh Selden! So glad to see you here! Thank you for the kind words, I may call or email when I need a hug and I am on the verge of tears--for now all is just busy work!

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