Keeping it Country

Well folks I'm closing in on six years here in Tennessee. I can't say I'm officially a country girl but it wouldn't be for lack of trying, learning and doing. I see life differently now and I'm happy to say that living out here in the country has taught me lessons I never thought I needed to know.

Fences have to be checked and mended regularly, trees will fall in the driveway when there is no hint of a breeze blowing, hunters will trespass and poach, wood needs stacked even if you don't feel like doing it, kindling needs gathered and sometimes, in the winter, you might not see another person outside your home for days on end.

When I first moved here, I wondered why people waved at me when they didn't know me at all. They can be sitting on a mower when I drive by and they always raise their hand. They might be checking the mail at the box and the hand is waved. They pass me on the road and sometimes they just lift their fingers from the steering wheel in a small sort of wave. It never fails to happen though and I've actually become a waver myself. I don't know the people I'm waving to and they don't know me but it's a 'country' thing to do and after you're here for a while, you just do it too.

If I tried that in Florida, I'd be in a perpetual state of waving!

I've gotten used to no traffic lights, very few stop signs, no lines on the roads and by all means, no street lights. At least not on these old back roads. Friends from Florida visited recently and the drive from the interstate to our home was a 'white-knuckle' experience and I completely understand. The main road they traveled on is said to be so curvy you can see your own taillights. I'm inclined to agree as it's dangerous even in the daytime. My friends came in after dark.

There is no Wal-Mart in this county and I'm perfectly fine with that. We buy our beef and pork from a local farmer. He's open from November-March and we're welcome to view the entire operation. In fact, when you drive up, the entire operation is right there; cows grazing in the pasture and pigs grunting as they happily wallow in the mud. They are slaughtered in the most humane way possible.

To some the word slaughter is too harsh but it's the reality. In fact, all the meat that everyone consumes must be slaughtered. At least these animals aren't being raised in feedlots and then herded into a commercial slaughter house where hundreds of animals are processed on a daily basis. Only a few at a time are processed and the butchers are experienced and mindful of keeping waste to a minimum.  

It seems healthier to me to buy direct from the farm and there's no doubt it tastes better. It actually has a lot of flavor! Though I still have to buy chicken from the local grocer, my hope is that it will be available on the farm someday too. I'm sure there are chicken farms around here somewhere, I just haven't found them yet!

My friend Brenda told me she didn't like venison, that it didn't sit well with her. I shared my thoughts with her; maybe it wasn't cooked right (which does take some learning and practice), or, perhaps her system was so used to the growth hormones and antibiotics in industrial meats that all-natural meat was being rejected. She found this thought interesting and something to consider.

I explained that in the same respect, my system rejected most restaurant food. It just depends on what you're used to and what you have eliminated from your food sources. Your body will let you know if it doesn't appreciate your 'food decisions.' Ha ha ha!

Speaking of my local grocery, it's very much small town shopping. The cashiers, all three of them, know me and greet me when I walk in the door. The produce is locally grown, the fruit is typically from Florida or California. They have country hams hanging in the meat department, they make their own sausage and cure their own bacon. They don't have a pharmacy or a bakery and they don't sell beer or wine. It's customary for the bag boys to help you to your car with your groceries and they take the buggy without asking, it's just their way.

Sure it may take me 25 minutes to get there but there's no traffic, no traffic lights and no crowds. I'm spoiled by always being able to park right up front by the door. Always. Try that in Florida, right?

I've learned the art of building a good fire - just getting it started was a challenge at first!
I've learned how to string barbed wire fencing and the importance of good gloves!
I've learned how to use the weed-eater and the importance of wearing long pants when doing so!
I've learned that drinking water all day is a good thing!
I've learned how to relax, that things will get done and that I can't do it all in one day... or one week sometimes!
I've learned that my family and friends are just a phone call or a facebook chat away and that's important as days go by.

Keeping it Country!