From my farm to your's, I say hello.

[poor_old_dad]

I saw you posting about Memorial Day. As soon as the tears stopped, I just had to leave my farm to stop here at your's.

I'm an organic farmer, mostly growing cooking herbs, tomatoes, peppers, cut flowers and shiitake mushrooms. My grandfather got me started in organic gardening and I got into the "back to the land and set my soul free" long ago. I've been working and building up my organic farm for several years. I noticed ya'll are organic farmers too. The goats are cool, but could you tell me about your crops.

In my wandering through these forums, I've come across a few other organic farmers. Would it be ok if I suggest to them that they stop in and say, "Howdy"?

There's an old gardner's saying that I like, "May the bugs in your garden eat only the weeds."

[~Sam~]

And if they eat all the weeds, I always plant enough for them to get along on.

Hey Dad, the plain, honest truth this year is that my animals have occupied all of our time. So, my raised bed garden is home to some awesome comfry plants and canadian thistle. We got flooded a couple of years ago and the thistle are thick. The Goldfinches love them when they go to seed, which is most of the summer... and because they normally just pass through here on their way South in the Springtime, I'll get to see bright flashes of yellow, flitting around my garden all summer long!!!

Our manure pile is composting well... with goat manure, you can really put it right out of the manure-pack onto the garden and not burn a thing... But I think we'll let it age a bit... like fall.

I'm making Kuimiss tonight for the very first time. And Kenny says that the Goats are calling me... gotta go do chores.

Sure! it's ok to send those guys over here. I like to talk, and I like to talk about this kind of shit... Good to see you here.

Sam

And as we wind on down the road
Our shadows taller than our souls
There walks a lady we all know
Who shines white light and wants to show
How everything still turns to gold
And if you listen very hard
The tune will come to you at last
When all are one and one is all
To be a rock and not to roll
Woe oh oh oh oh oh
And she's buying a stairway to heaven

[poor_old_dad]

Sorry to hear about the flood and resultant problems.

Do you make cheese? We have many around here who have goats, but when asked about cheese they look at me as if I were speaking a rare dialect of Chinese. Part of my farm is a tree farm, which was just thinned. I now have a lot more ground with sun light. Now that I can grow some pasture, how much room would I need for a couple of goats. Also, please, I'm here alone. I don't want to start something I can't continue.
Thanks, til later - P.O.D.

[~Sam~]

Well... the first thing I would ask you is; "How much time do you have?" Goats are pretty adaptable critters. As long as they have love, and your company for a couple of hours a day at chore time and to check on hay and water during the day, they can get along just about anywhere. They're a kind of in-your-face, in-your-pocket kind of furry friend. I like em. But they're not the kind of Spirits that can be ignored... well they can, but you won't like the attitude that you'll have to deal with.

I'll keep these considerations kinda simple;

Loose housing is best. With a door or opening facing South, and opened all year long, 24/7. I figure, 9'x9' per adult goat. The Does can go 200 lbs. And it's a kind of "Personal space" kind a thing for them. Close packing or overcrowding causes stress and a lot of ammonia.

AT least a 30'x30' yard. In the 34 years I've been keeping goats, I've found that electric fencing is The best. They only have to touch the wire that bites once. To keep them in... you really only need to keep it on for about a week. Then again, temporarily, if someone runs through it. But... if you have neighbors with dogs, you keep it on all the time to protect your friends. I saw 3 dogs tear apart a sheep one time. It wasn't pretty and I don't want to see it again. thank you very much.

Electric works great for a pasture too. You can fence in a whole hell of a lot. More than I have. But... you have to walk the lines and pick off fallen branches or pull out growing vegetation where it's shorting out.

You'll need room to store hay, straw and grain. And of course... a source of clean water. Goats won't drink from a stream. They HATE water. If a rain drop lands on them, They squishle all up, and run on their tippy-toes for shelter. Lord, you'd think they'd melt. But any goat I've ever known or seen has behaved this way. I use the garden hose on Jet, and give it a short burst in their direction... just to let em know they can't yell at me. Mostly I talk softly.

About the Cheese looks... I gotta smile about this. Makin' the milk is the Easy part. If you want to make cheese, you need tons of stainless steel equiptment. Mostly very large kettles, thermometers, packaging stuff and a place or room for each stage of ripening to happen, and a great deal of time. It's really a full-time job. Then you have the waste water and whey to dispose of. You have more of this than you have cheese in the end. It's a problem... environmentally and aesthetically. You have to like cheese an awful lot, or you just want to do it. some folks love to make cheese. I like to be outside.

I truly welcomed your inquiry, Dad... I hope I've done good.

Sam


edit... had to come back and ditch the sig

[cerridwen]

that must be so fun... your farm sounds fantastic.... :D

[poor_old_dad]

Dear Sweet Lady,

Yes, this (now that I've had some time) has been VERY helpful. Some tree thinners took 7 tractor trailer loads of thinnings from my farm a few months ago. Sun light is hitting the ground now for the first time in 18 years. About 3/4 acre I can't get to to mow. It's being turned into a goat pasture. They love it.
One thing you didn't mention is how attached folks are to their goats. Getting a couple of females was like ... well, I don't know what. The couple I got them from come by regularly to be sure "their" goats are doing OK. I think it's to see if I'm treating them OK. I love it.
After bees and rabbits, this is my first (or next) venture into "animal husbandry". The other two are strictly for the business end of my farm. The bees for polination and the rabbits for raising worms and fertilizer. I really do want to make cheese, because I love goat cheese. I've researched it a lot more, and found that the cost & trouble of trying to sell cheese is WAY Tooooo much, especially since I'm a one person operation. But anyway, thanks for the info and inspiration.
Also let me say that I stop by your "Place" often, and to extend the metaphor, I've only been looking over the fence, just to see what's going on, without saying "Hi". Let me correct some of that now.
Mostly, I noticed what you said to Teepi, "I drink to the good men in our lives." (http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34769). I believe the men in ya'll's lives are the lucky ones. Some of the sweet Hippie ladies like yourself, Teepi, Rubymontana should ask those men. I'll bet the farm, they'll say I'm right. I sure wish any of ya'll had an older, un-attached sister.
Thanks,
Poor_old_dad (aka Glenn)

[teepi]

Good to see you here POD,and you are right, I'll bet the farm also that Kenny and Rubys man would say that about these beautiful spirits.

I love coming here to Sams and reading and sharing.
Larry is happy with me, we waited all those years to be back together and while I say he is my salvation he says I am his.
I never knew love like this till later in life, but at least it is a love that is so full.

If I was not attached I would come visit you myself...a GOOD man AND a farm,....WHOA YEAH...who could ask for anything more??
Alas, I have no birth sister.

teepi

[rubymontana]

Glenn, teepi is right on....maybe if we could live in a parallel universe.....I know you have a lot going for you brother, and I would be right along side of you from dawn to dusk. I wish I had a good sister to send your way, you seem like a good, simple kind of man. One in a million. Please don't be a stranger to us, it's good to meet you and hear about your world. Peace, ruby

[Fractual_]

that sounds like a beautiful lifestyle, one i may want to get into myself as well when I am of age...do you have a story for how all of this came to be?

[~Sam~]

I was wonderin' what happened to you there, Dad. And I was glad to see your name here again, and even more tickled to hear that you come over to look over the fence from time to time.

So... what kind of goats did you get? I like to know these things, for as you've discovered on your own, goat people are a wee bit over the edge about their girls. The Alpine does I bought last November are finally mine. Well, as far as I was concerned they were mine when I paid for them and brought them home here. But the former goat mother didn't think that way, and has kept in touch to see how her former children were doing from time to time. Welcome to the Goat World, Man.

When that wonderful Hippy Momma finds her way into your life... just make sure she can milk a goat.

Gotta Run... but, lots of good thoughts to you and your new 'girls'.

Sam

[poor_old_dad]

Ah, relief, at last we're having some rainy days!!! The farm needs the rain and I can use the rest. And it gives me a chance to get caught up on some correspondence (and laundry and dishes and paperwork - did I say rest? HMmmm )

First, let me thank you, Teepi, Ruby, and Sam, for your kind words regarding my relationship-less life.

Teepi, that you are attached is the good thing. That you and Larry are each other's salvation is why poems and songs are written.

Ruby, to have you or "a good sister" alone side me would make this great adventure even better. But, that you too are in a good relationship is also a good thing.

Sam, "goat people are a wee bit over the edge" ??? I think compulsive/obsessive is more like it. No, seriously, they're good, good people. I wouldn't want to get goats (or anything else) from someone who didn't care about the goats (or anything else). The folks I got these from call them "bush goats" (even with the 'bush' in their name, I took them). What they mean is they are the "Heinz 57" of goats. They are young females, not milking them yet, and they are a learning experience for me. Also, now that I have them, I feel like I've been admitted into some sort of secret club. As to "that wonderful Hippy Momma", I don't know about that. I've been alone (relationship-wise) since spring of 1986 and really I don't know if I remember how to be half of a couple.

To all three of you gentle ladies may I please say this: Don't read too much into what I call "my relationship-less life". I have two sons living here with me, I have my very diverse, paid for farm and other interests and I've had a life (so far) that some people don't believe. I am a very happy fellow. The "my relationship-less life" is the only negative, and when something, anything is the only negative, it fills the category.

Another thing, I believe an very important thing, is that besides a significant other, people need friends. I can't over emphasize that. I have friends (some hippie and some not) from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and the 00's. Some of them I've known since before I met my now ex-wife. Even my ex-wife and I are still friends. Regular communication between some of these friends and myself break down from time to time, mostly my fault, because of all the moving around I once did (more on that later). And now that I come to think about it, none of those groups of friends are connected.

Anyway, what I'm trying to get around to saying (at another place on these forums, Teepi said I could run on if I wanted) is this. Almost all of those friends (especially the hippies) have been women!! I've been very lucky. Example, I moved away from Mobile, Al in the late winter of 1990. At that time in my circle of friends, 5 out of the 6 were women. Come to think of it, I guess they're still women. By the way, none of them had sisters/friends I might could have asked out on a "date".

That brings me to here and now, and how strange it is. Over on another thread, Ruby was telling Teepi about goose bumps from parallel lives. Let me add a few more:

- Teepi says she's happy to not to be moving, because she has moved around a lot. The first 30 years of my adult life, Christmas found me living in 22 different places. Five of the 30 years, I lived outside the U.S. It's not like I 'only' lived in 22 places, some years I moved 2 or 3 times. I spent most of that time as an international business computer consultant.

- All three of ya'll have thought about re-locating. Teepi will tell you, I've been thinking about it too. On one hand, the location of my farm is great for doing business. There are 4 or 5 separate markets areas within a two hour round trip drive, with over 1,000,000 people. These acres have never had a gardened and there isn't one within at least a couple of miles. That means insect and soil born problems are few. On the other hand, the location of my farm is in a county of about 50,000 people. In this county there isn't a book store, theater (movie or otherwise), not a putt-putt golf course, or bowling alley. There are 10 football fields and 43 Baptist churches. I have heard locals complaining about a new land fill and condemning "damn environmentalists" in the same sentence. I've heard men say," I didn' go to no college, my boy don't need ta go neither." The 'boy' in question is a very bright, artistic friend of one of my sons, he wanted to go for an art major. I could go on, but won't. The place I like, most of the people I don't. Neither will change. But on yet another hand, I've put in a lot of work and I'm not sure where I'd go.

- Here's more goose bumps - My oldest son is named Sam and his birthday is the same as Ruby's!!! For another bump will come if I can put my windows desktop background on this as an image.

More goose bumps may come later, but now let me answer my brother Fractual. For me it is a beautiful lifestyle. I have found that all things in life are a set of compromises, or trade offs. Where I am and what I'm doing is worth (to me) the things I have given up. Things like cable tv, high speed internet; now the nearest grocery store is an 18 mile round trip, things like that. I do "have a story for how all of this came to be". If you'd like to hear it, well read it, I'll type it in.

[rubymontana]

OMG! I truly know now that we have been guided here for reasons that will become even more clear. There are no coincidences in life. You and me, teepi,sam,fractual and more to come, are in this circle in cyberspace because we are open enough to take from each other what we are all needing. I have felt my spirit grow since coming to Sam's place, and it continues to grow from the love I recieve from everyone here, You too are one I can learn from. You have a friend here, anytime you need us. Peace to you, ruby

[poor_old_dad]

Yea, I know exactly what you mean. I too "have felt my spirit grow since coming to Sam's place". It's something I really look forward to. The sharing and friendship here makes me feel like we're all cyberspace neighbors. And at the same time there are, by the very nature of cyberspace, privacy fences. And as Teepi said somewhere around here, "GOOD FENCES MAKE GOOD NEIGHBORS....". All credit and thanks for this, of course, goes to Sam. She started it, but most important, she set the atmosphere.

Got to get back to work, see ya'll later,
Peace, your friend,
Poor_Old_Dad

[teepi]

POD I would love to "hear" your story.
I have a deep belief that we are sent blessings all the time, it is up to us to recognize them.
And yes we are all connected, the people here at Sams place feel like comfortable old shoes. Put them on and your happy for them to take you wherever.....

I am guarded about my privacy, but beyond that I am open to so much,(oxymoron??)
I don't think so in this day and age, just a bit more selective in what I will put up with, what I will deal with and cutting out alot of BS in my life.
Thats why I like it here, I feel in my soul that we here in this little corner are real and thats what its all about.

Relationships come and go, for reasons or seasons but the ones that are truly a connection last a lifetime, whether you ever see that person again or not.
As in death I have friends who have gone to another plane but yet they are still very real to me and I feel their spirit.
I have never seen any of your faces, but I don't need to... to know your essence.
You are all in my heart.
Love to all of you,
teepi

[poor_old_dad]

OK, I'll work on "the story".

When you said, "we are sent blessings all the time, it is up to us to recognize them", reminded me of this:

When hurricane Ivan hit and the water was rising, a rescue boat came by a house with a guy sitting on the porch.
They yelled to him, "Better come on with us, there'll be a lot more rain and the water will get higher."
He said, "It's OK, I've talked to the Lord, and he'll take care of me." They left.
As he was climbing out of the water, onto his roof, another boat came by.
They yelled to him, "Better come on with us, there'll be a lot more rain and the water will get higher."
He said, "It's OK, I've talked to the Lord, and he'll take care of me." They left.
As he was clinging to the top of his TV antenna, they came by in a helicopter.
They yelled to him, "Better come on with us, there'll be a lot more rain and the water will get higher."
He said, "It's OK, I've talked to the Lord, and he'll take care of me." They left.
Well, he drowned. When he got to heaven he said, "Lord, I thought you were going to take care of me."
Lord said, "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what do you want?"

The recognizing, that's the hard part.

Got to get back to work, see ya'll later,
Peace, your friend,
Poor_Old_Dad

[~Sam~]

Wow! You guys are too much. I feel very humbled by your feelings about this place. But, I guess sharing is like that. The more you share, the more you get back... that goes for all of us here on Earth. It feels so much better inside when you share.

Dad... I'm writing a goat story for you on a new thread....

Sam

[~Sam~]

Well.... that story will have to wait. My computer connection had shut down as I was getting ready to post the first installment... lost everything of the story. Now I have to go out and wait for my Veterinarian to get here to give Precious her booster for Potomac River virus.

I'll try to get back later....

[teepi]

WOW POD, that little story you just told is one that I sent to fractual in one of our many PM's....

See.....??
**~twilight zone music plays in background~**

[poor_old_dad]

Yea, been hearing that music a lot, lately.

By the way, Sam, I forgot to tell you what I named these two beasts, who will soon be the rulers around here.
One I named, "Betty", but call her, "Betsy". In honor of my mother.
The other, I named, "Annie", I'm sure you know why.

Peace, your friend,
Poor_Old_Dad

[~Sam~]

Excellent names, Dad! I think I mentioned in another thread that my first doe kid's name was Annie too. You'll have to tell me what their coloration is... are their ears upright or long and floppy.

Looking forward to hearing about them,

Sam

[rubymontana]

SAM = Mentor, Mother, Sister, Friend, Nurse, Truth,and Love.

[teepi]

RUBY= Sister,calm,loving, peacefullness, beauty,rock,wholeness,observer,giving,soul.

[rubymontana]

teepi = my sister

[~Sam~]

Friends... Bringers of warmth to my heart and spirit. Lighteners of my load. You carry in with you, the warm wind that freshens my soul.

I carried the feelings that your posts left me with, Friends, with me to the barn last night. As I was walking Raven up, Precious trotted past us and scooted into the barn. My mood was so light and happy that I just laughed at how everyone out there picked up on them.

Thank You So Much. But... in the future, try to keep it down, will ya? I don't know if I can take too much of a good thing. I might just break gravity and float off into space if you're not careful.

Love You Guys... A Lot.
Sam

[shameless_heifer]

Sam. hello.. just dropped by to have some tea.. and bring you some fresh baked bran muffins.I had no Idea of the personal forums.. I'm so glad I found your place..I hope you don't mind if I drop by again.. when I have some time.. Blessed Be..

[~Sam~]

Well, Hey There, Shameless!

Welcome... I'm so glad you've finally found us! Good group of folks come around here. Tea's on. This morning I'm brewing up some Chamomile Blossoms. Those bran muffins will go down mighty well with it, Thanks. I've just packed the bowl... earrrrrr..............

You're welcomed to drop in anytime, so please do!

Love,
Sam

[shameless_heifer]

why thanak you Sam.. teas mighty good chamomile is very soothing to my nerves.. I have three of my grand daughters this weekend,, and well.. I need the cup and the bowl.. let me add some hydro to that bowl..yeahh... ohh yeah..... whooooosshhh .. 'eeeaarrr back atcha.. MUFFINS.. I want MUFFINS..mmmmm..ahhhhh... munch munch..

[shameless_heifer]

huggss sam, ruby and teepi. as we sit in the circle of our approching cronehood.. we take part in the HYDROOOOO.. hehehe.. love you gals.. more muffins.. got any icecream..

[hippiehillbilly]

FROM OUR FARM TO YOURINS,, A HALLO EVE GIFT!!!!!!!!!!!!:rolleyes: :X
http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225DSC00586.JPG

http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225DSC00598.JPG

http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225DSC00280.JPG
NOT BAD FOR A HUSBAND STEALIN SISTER,,AN A OLE ASSHOLE WHOM ARE CHOOSIN TO BE LIVIN TRUE,, AN TAKIN CARE OF THEM YA CLAIM WE ABANDONDED
HUH???;)

http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225DSC00430.JPG

hELL AINT EVER BODY THAT CAN BE OF THE MIND SET TO CARETAKE HAYBURNERS ,,YOU SEEM TO HAVE THE ASSETS AN GUMPTION TO DO EM BOTH,,,,,..

DAMN GOAT TRADIN WOULD BE EASY IFFIN I WAS LIVIN ON GOVERMENT PENSIONS GAINED BY SOCIALIST EDUMACATION....

BUT WE WILL DO IT THE OLD FASHION WAY,, EARN IT...

http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225DSC00208.JPG
LUV~N~LITE

[~Sam~]

Hillbilly, Great Pics! Ya know... I think a lot of you. Sometimes I think that there are damned few of us who are doin' real stuff in this world, you and dillygaf are two of those. Teepi and her ole man, Poor_Old_Dad, and Ken and I are the only ones I know of who are doing the same.

I've got 18 years on you and I know how I thought when I was your age. When I was your age we were doing the same thing because I had my health and energy to live life with a livestock mentality. But why you have to lead off your thoughts with an attack is beyond my ken. This is not a contest. This is not an ego thingee. I'm doin' my thing and you guys are doin' yours. Comparing notes on animal care and what's goin' on in the woods would be much more in tune with the life style we're both leading. I've stayed clear of you because I didn't want to be a suckass like another bro who's strickly mental masturbation BS.

Looks like you got some nice Aracana chickens, and a nice calf too. Ken and I were wowed by the cabin you're building. I almost stopped in to see you guys when I was in your neighborhood a few weeks ago, but didn't because I thought that we had reached a point of distance that was amicable.

So... What's your point? I didn't earn the right to love and relate to a fantastic creature that completes my soul? I may not have many years left to do what means the world to me, including loving my horses. But I do have my horses, and I'll be damned if I'll make excuses to you or any one else for the way I live my life. You better back the fuck off with your attitude or I'm gonna have to come down there an turkey slap the shit out of ya.

Love You,
Sam

[hippiehillbilly]

Wow,, an here i thought i was on ignore......

Sorry i dont read essays as ya know,,,, See ya....;P

[~Sam~]

OK...

Hillbilly, it's real nice to hear from you. I'm glad that you are doing well.

Your chickens and calf look real good.

What else is up with you guys?

Love,
Sam

[oldwolf]

Yeah Sam,

Sometimes when the reason people choose to make you a target leaves you scratchin your head; all you can do is keep an open heart, your intent pure and realize that often people find in themselves something they react to when looking at you.
When the hand extended in friendship gets repeatedly bitten, frequently the best response is to stop extending your hand and give distance, and realize that change and growth will carry us all on our individual Ways.

Peace and Wholeness be yours
May your Way be your Blessing

[dilligaf]

OK...

Hillbilly, it's real nice to hear from you. I'm glad that you are doing well.

Your chickens and calf look real good.

What else is up with you guys?

Love,
Sam






:H


Same ole Same ole,, Workinhttp://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/289corners.jpg

,,An playin,,,http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225hhb_bike.jpg


an Bein real,,....:p
http://www.hipgallery.com/photopost2/data/500/225nite_2.jpg

[~Sam~]

Kewl Beans! The chinking on those logs is Fantastic! What do you call the way you have the ends stacked? I thought I knew, but seem to be havin' a brain fart just now.

That's gonna be a sweet looking cabin when you get done. It'll be nice and cozy too. We enjoy being in ours when it's snowing or raining hard. Yeah, I know ours is Nothin' like yours... Yours truly Iz a piece of Americana. I can't wait to see how you roof it. Are you gonna go with a rope strung bed? 'Scuse me for bein' nosey, but I just got that kind of picture in my mind of how you'll furnish the place.

You guys got a wonderful project going on. It must warm your hearts at the end of a day spent working on doing.

Take Care,
Sam

[dilligaf]

oh i dunno what the ends are called or how they are done,,,,, hhb does tho,,,, :P
i just do as told in this project,,,, when it comes to critters n stuff then i am boss ;)

not real sure how it will be decorated other than with old or old style things,,, since it will be wood heated it will also be wood cookin,,,, aint gonna have plumbingso will have an out house,,, being small will only have a small table or two and a small loveseat or something n another sittin chair,,,, got a wash basin type thing a few weeks back n a can/ bucket thing with a spout for water haulin n such... as for the bed, we are hoping to find a real feather bed n go from there,,,, i am makin the curtains n such and actually saw an idea for a table type stand that i am seriously considering makin myself since it was just that easy to do that i could actually make it... outside will be a small porch area n flowers n bushes n stuff that are native to this area .... then when this is done we will make something different for another type shelter area,,,,i want a tipi next or a tree fort, type hut...:)

[~Sam~]

Tree house sounds outta sight. I have a friend who's christening his 5th tepee. (I think) They're real nice when they get a creosote coating from the center fire all over the canvas. The bigger ones seem huge inside.

Out in our shack, we have an old bed, a table made from an old sewing machine stand & wire chairs we found in an used furniture shop, a wooden potty that's built like a blanket chest... the lid lifts up and there's a seat that covers a bucket and its got a compartment next to the bucket for magazines and TP... a mirror and a propane 2 burner stove... I hate to say this, but we use a kerosene heater in the winter... but that was when I was real sick and couldn't carry wood and keep the fire. The cabin was for that reason too, a vacation for Sam. So we sold Kenny's Triumph and had the shack built. Kenny couldn't ride anymore... I was so sick I couldn't go anywhere... was hard enough to get dressed and walk out there then.

Maybe in the spring I'll bitch about the two of us building a small fire place... Fuck! I forgot about the small woodstove I have out in the barn... we used to heat the whole little house we used to live in with it. Damn! Where is my head? That's cool, issue's solved by happenstance.

I really like what you guys are doin'... Looks like you not only have the plan together, but the love and determination to see it through. I take my hat off to the two of ya. We'll have ta make sure we make a trip down south next year... Hey! Nice talkin' with you, Dilli.

Sam

[dilligaf]

eventually hopefully we will have a whole pile of weird or off the wall huts... some fancier than others and all built n decorated out of whatever dilli sees fit ;).... nah not really ,,, i just git ideas with what should go into a lil home fairly easily n then i or we hafta add atleast one lil off the wall element into it,,,,, on the cabin for instance tis the door,,,, which hhb has sed a time or two in his sig,,,, but the rest of the stuff we either try n find cheap or iffin we can to do it ourselves in our own weird way

n yes we got something tween us ,,,, or we would not have ever made it to where we are in our relationship after about 8 yrs of a net/ phone relationship n then a year n half of together time,,,, maybe tis the lil dream we have had common to the both of us through it all n finally being able to do it ,,,, n yall better make a visit sometime when ya head south ,,,,
luv n lite
dilli

[~Sam~]

You can make book on that visit... And, Yes... it shows. The love you have between you, I mean. Sometimes we have to find what we don't want first before we can slide in to what our hearts truly need to fully appreciate the gift we've been given.

Much Love to you both, Dilli. Oh! I collared Kenny as soon as he walked in the door lastnight about that wood stove out in the barn. It's like, Doah! So we're gonna put up a stone backdrop and put it the corner of the cabin.

It looks like we're in for a good weekend weather wise... so it's gonna be take care of all the outside chores that need done before winter really gets here. I cracked a rib when I fell in the barn last week, but I'm ready for work... I think.

You Guys Take Care Now,
Love... Sam

[poor_old_dad]

Hello one and all,

In case your blood pressure is too low, check this: http://www.hipforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=620885#post620885

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[poor_old_dad]

I came across this while looking for a cheaper source of kelp meal.

http://www.7springsfarm.com/floydfarmsforsale.html

Peace from POD

[ovidduke]

I just read your opening thread and you struck home with me. We've always lived in remote places, like we had 280 acres in a lake that dried up in northern Cal, we lived in the boonies in Nevada and now New Mexico. We'd love to get a medicinal herb business going. No time, we have the land, but we're both working on degrees in computers and electronics, and my ol' lady is studying Physics and Health as well. I'm a walking dead man but her and my daughter will get the farm going. All my uncles were ranchers or are and our landlord has donkeys, goats and a horse. We have three cats, two dogs and six ducks. My wife and daughter hate the eegs so that's what I live on, I think they're great. I used to have a goat who thought he was a dog. Loved to go for rides. I sure envy you.

[poor_old_dad]

Wow, dogs and ducks, how's that working out?

Pardon the pun, but I grew into the herb business. Almost all of the ones I grow are perennials. I got 3 or 4 going each year, for a few years. Over this winter I'm expanding (doubling) the size of the production area of the herb garden.

Peace, from poor_old_dad

[ovidduke]

All the animals love and respect each other but the Bull/Boxer is an Alpha dog and the Wolf/Malemute will only fight to protect man or beast. The B/B likes to get things to run so she can chase them but if they don't run she just turns away frustrated.
We did a lot of square-foot gardening in Reno but so far here its just been grains. We want to do Naturalpathic, we certainly spend enough on them. I might try setting up the staggered garden box on wheels so you can move them to get the most from the sun. Also it will keep the plants too high for the ducks. We planted a bunch of grain we're fixin to till under for spring but we'll probably just do more grains. My daughter wants a horse. When we lived in Northern Cal on 280 fenced acres we free ranged our horses. The mustangs loved us cause I handed out lots of honey oats. One little one could standing jump a 4 foot fence so we just let it live with us.

[teepi]

Thanks POD,
I'll visit there tomorrow...been up late baking cookies.

Joseph, sounds like a great life you have going there.
I'm so happy to see you in a good place in your life.
I want some ducks and guiena's...maybe year after next..

[poor_old_dad]

Hey ya'll check this out:

http://www.escapeartist.com/efan/efan1.htm

Peace, from POD

[~Sam~]

Now... THIS, is a Very promising site. I'm almost paranoid to type in the info... But, Hey! What the hell, I might just find a suitable homestead in Argentina or Brazil.

Thanks... I'll write you a post card when I get there.

Love,
Sam

[~Sam~]

My daughter wants a horse. When we lived in Northern Cal on 280 fenced acres we free ranged our horses. Now that's what I'm looking for to retire on, Duke. About a hundred acres in the middle of nowhere.

Welcome to My Place, btw. I apologize for not replying to you earlier, but as you've probably noticed, I've had my hands full lately.

Talk To You Soon,
Sam

[poor_old_dad]

Yea, Argentina or Brazil or something or somewhere,

The United States I grew up caring about in the 1950s and 60s, well, it's gone. Just gone, that's all. At one time the U.S. was the champion of human rights. At one time the U.S. was the country that would come to the aid of a small country being "picked on" by some big bully type country. At on time the U.S. was the country that feed the hungry, housed the homeless and cared for the sick. At one time the U.S. was the strongest economy and yet very respected, even by our enemies. At one time the U.S. was a country where you didn't have to be afraid to walk the street, speak your mind, or go to school. It was a country where you could be free to be a business success or live a quiet life, being left alone. A country where you could work for, and expect, a better future for your children.

I could go on, but I won't, because it's making me too goddamn mad.

Now the U.S. is the suppressor and oppressor of human rights, the U.S. is the bully nation. Now within the U.S. there are many millions of hungry, homeless, sick men women and children - with little hope for improvement. Tens of millions (like myself) for whom health care is but a dream. While the U.S. economy is still strong, the concentration is un-real. "The rich are getting richer and the poor are becoming more numerous." (I made that one up). The U.S. is not respected in the world, not even by our "friends". Now most of us are afraid to walk the street, speak your mind, or go to school. And the future for my two sons, well, this is a hard one. At the very least, the U.S. national debt they and their generation will inherit is a burden they'll never be rid of.

None of these things are new nor sudden. But they're on my "bad & getting worse" list. I've spent about 5 years of my adult life outside the U.S., looking to another country is something I've been doing for a long time.

BTW, one reason for Costa Rica, is their laws concerning non-citizen (US expatriate) land ownership are great.

Peace, from POD

[~Sam~]

"Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker,
You can drink all the liquor
down in Costa Ricker,
Ain't nobody's business but my own!"

~Eric Von Schmidt, early 1960s (wrongly attributed to Hoagy Carmichael on the postcard)

Dad... What you've said is xactly the way that I feel about this country. I have to say that I'm ashamed to be an american.

If I were 35 years younger, I think I might give protesting another go 'round. But leadership takes commitment and more energy output that I can call up these days.

So... I'll wait for my first delivery of the above ezine, put my feet up for a couple of minutes, fire up the bowl, sip on some Southern Comfort and dream of being a Gaucho in Argentina, or Brazil.

Then I'll go out and deal with reality.

Love,
Sam

Hail Atlantis...

Way down below the ocean,
is where I want to be,
She may be.

[ovidduke]

We found this place in the Reno newspaper as caretakers. We trained quarterhorses and even had a track and landing strip for the Ultra-light but the guy who owned the land was always trying to sell it to us then we found out they were repo'ing it. Not a neighbor for miles. 250 foot well, solar and generator (no electricity), 500 gallons of propane. No water heater so we had reservations at the Nugget in Reno every saurday to shower, shop, buy supllies and have fun.

[poor_old_dad]

I've decided that I'm not going to let them drive me crazy. By "them", I mean all the crap I've been putting up with, or more likely fighting against. Or maybe it's that after 30 years of near constant travel, then the past 7 or 8 of staying right here, I need to stretch my legs. Or maybe after several years without one, I finally feel the need for a vacation. Hell, I don't know.

But I was re-watching the movie "Crocodile Dundee" (don't know why, doesn't matter), and at one point late in the movie, the main character tells everyone that he's "going to go walkabout".

I just wanted to let ya'll know, I'm going to "go walkabout".

Walkabout
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Walkabout is an Australian English word originally referring to the belief of non-indigenous Australians that Aborigines were prone to "go walkabout" - a pidgin (or perhaps quasi-pidgin) expression meaning that they would stop doing their jobs and wander through the bush for weeks at a time.

(In fact most Aboriginal cultures required people to visit certain sites at certain times and to engage in ceremonial meetings of many thousands of years standing. That this process could be dismissed as 'walkabout' is an indication of the unsophisticated approach non-indigenous Australians took to indigenous cultures and also perhaps the sense of humor of the Aborigines who coined the phrase.)

This has lead to a jocular modern usage, whereby someone who has wandered off (for a few minutes or a few months) is said to have 'gone walkabout'. It can also apply to a missing item, for example, "Have you got my stapler, Doreen? It's gone walkabout again."

The farm is asleep for the winter, I've got a couple months of free and I'm just going to have a little "me time". I may go to the Florida Keys. My brother lives there, owns a bar/restaurant, home etc. And he's getting ready to buy a shopping center. His wife and he have had two sons born over the past two years. I've not seen either of them.
Or I may just get a round trip bus ticket to California, one with lots of layovers. Or I may just go down to the Gulf Coast and look at some of my old hangouts & look up some old friends and be back in a few days.
Or I may do all of these, or none, or something else. I don't know, and I intend to not plan - just go.

Anyhow/anyway, if ya'll notice I'm not around for a while, now you know why. Really, I'm fine, in fact now that I've realized what I want to do, I'm feeling great. I just need a vacation.

Peace, Your friend,
POD

[oldwolf]

And may the quest for interior space reap you new visions to energize your time here and May all the gods smile upon you and your Way be made clear

[teepi]

How wonderful that you are adding another chapter to your life.

I'm so happy to hear you are taking a vacation, and I hope many wonderful things happen along the way.

If you get the chance to stop at a PC somewhere drop us a line....
And let us know when you get back.

All the very best,
love,
teepi

[poor_old_dad]

Well, I'm back home and mostly caught up on what needed doin'. After a couple of days to think about it, you know - reflect, here's what I came up with:
I didn't learn anything on my "walk about". I came to realize and reminded myself of the things I already knew. I guess that's one of the reasons to "clear your mind". I came back refreshed, rested and relaxed. I knew that would happen. I visited old friends and was reminded of the times we'd shared. I saw familiar places that brought back many memories. I knew those things would happen too. I'm sure these are among the reasons I went, the back of my mind knew I needed or at least wanted the rest, reminding and remembering.
Now I'm back home, and I also realize that all those things, people, places and events are safe and secure but in the past. Not that there's anything wrong with that. But I have, do, and I hope always will, live for (and somehow in) the future. However, I am looking for something that gets really high gas milage, so I can afford to visit "the past" more often. Maybe it's time to get another motorcycle ... HMmmm ....
So, like I've said, here I am back home and back here with ya'll. That brings me to the other thing I've realized that I knew. As great as the past was, my new friends, here, are too. Which reminds me of another thing, an old saying, "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold."

As promised, I've started typing in the story of my friend. Rick. A lot of folks have enjoyed the story, but most seem to think Rick doesn't exist or that these things didn't happen. He does, they did and I'm going to leave out some of the ..., well, some things I'll not include. Sam, I hope you don't mind if I take up some space here to post

Peace, your friend,
poor_old_dad

[~Sam~]

Don't mind at all, Dad. Please feel free to do so. I'm going away for a little while, but I'll look forward to catching up with you when I return.

Love,
Sam

[Southernman]

Thanks for sharing the thoughts about your 'Walk About', grand_old_dad.
May be, I'm a little bit to stoned at the moment, but I'm wondering why we call it 'Walk About' while using vehicles to do this. I'll call it 'Ride About' from now on, when I do this. I liked your description of 'What' s a hippie', it's the best I ever heared.
Wish you all a fine time and have a lot of 'Ride Abouts', not only to the past, even to the future.

Love,
Southernman

[ovidduke]

Back in 87' 4 English guys bought my "American Hot Rod" to tour the US and they called it being on "Holiday".
Here's how I like to travel. Stereo, heaters, etc