Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Top 10 Reasons I Love to Live on A Farm!


Our barn and corral

This is a different type of post for me.  I've never written a top 10 list before.  But here goes!  The top ten reasons I love to live on a farm!


The General Store where we hold our "gatherings" and we do some cooking and canning

1.  It is quiet.  We live a half mile off the road, and our nearest neighbors are at least a half mile away in any different direction.  So that lends itself to quiet living.  Quiet, that is, if you don't take into account the roosters, guineas, and peacock.  The cows who MOO every time they see the pick up truck, and the sheep who love company.  But people noises, we don't have a lot of that.


GrandBoy moving a "brand new" just born goat!  He is so proud.

Our "girls"

2.  There is plenty of room for any hobby or activity your kids want to pursue.  Our daughters are all grown up now.  But we are starting on the next generation!  GrandBoy wants to be a tractor driver when he grows up.  I remember when we first moved here, the girls all took up special hobbies and interests.  Daughter #1 decided to raise goats, and she called herself the "Goat Queen"!  Daughter #2 bottle fed a Brahman bull calf one summer.  That bull recently sold for $1,700 at the cow sale.  And our youngest daughter decided one day that she was going to find out how the chicken laid an egg.  She stood by one hen for a couple of hours,  pulling her rear up off her nest, until she finally saw an egg.  From then on, she was convinced that eggs came out of chickens!


GrandBoy making juice with our fruit press.  Pappy is helping.

3.  There is always room for a large garden.  We plant a ton of stuff each summer.  By the end, I'm pretty much ready for the garden to be done.  But we eat organic and try to produce as much of our food as possible.  We (I should say I because the girls are grown and don't help much any more) can and freeze as much of our food as possible.  Daughter #1 and Pappy are mad at this statement and just reminded me they canned peaches last summer!  So I'm thankful for our garden.


Pears waiting to be canned

4.  We have plenty of fruit trees and berries.  The first summer we were here, we started planting fruit trees.  This year Pappy is planting blackberry and raspberry patches.  We have peaches, grapes, apples, and pears.  Blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries.  So it's nice not to worry about what has come in contact with our food.


Just bottled wine

Within hours the balloons inflate, and you know it is working

5.  We have learned to make our own wine.  When we moved here, I found the Welch's Grape Juice wine recipe on line.  I made wine, and we enjoyed it with our friends.  When Pappy retired, he started making wine out of our fruit juices.  People still love it, and we do this every year.  Some flavors are better than others, but we live and learn.



One of my favorite quilts on our "downstairs" clothes line.

The front yard clothes line.  This one gets used the most.  But some days call for both.

6.  We have room for a clothes line.  Actually we have two!  I like to save on the utility bill anyway we can.  Most of our tenants' utility bills are higher than the one we get for the whole farm, farmhouse and all.  We try to conserve where we can.


Some of our Black Angus herd

Sheep and goats

7.  We raise our own meat.  I just asked Daughter #1 what her favorite thing about living on a farm was.  I was actually afraid she would say, "nothing".  But she said that her favorite part was having our own food and meat.  We are beef cattle farmers.  We take at least one cow to the processor each year.  This year Pappy ended up processing a cow that went down while calving.  She was paralyzed, and if a cow can't walk, the processor can't take it.  We also raise our own chickens, rabbits, sheep, and goats which are all used for meat.  Occasionally the hunters who park here while hunting, will bring us some venison.  And most years we buy a pig from the processor.  We are very well stocked for meat, and Pappy gets mad at me if I buy any.


More cows!

8.  We have our own goats' milk, and may be expanding to cows' milk soon.  We have had dairy goats for a few years now.  Probably about four.  But last night Pappy told me that a friend had bought a herd of miniature cows, and there were a few jerseys in the mix.  So we may be getting a dairy cow.  And if so, I'll never buy dairy products again.  That is really what most of my grocery budget is for.  Dairy, produce, and bread.  When I retire, I am going to go back to making my own bread like I used to when the kids were small.  We make some of our own cheese now, but its hard to get enough goats milk for much cheese if you want to drink any.  Most of our goats are meat goats.


A friend from church

9.  If someone is coming down the long, dusty driveway, you know they must want to see you!  You will know long before they get to the house, and can come out to greet them and see what they want.  I say that but there was a time when we had three teenage girls and Pappy worked third shift.  I swore I was going to buy a drive way alarm system.  I found out that teens had been up and down our drive one night, and a wrecker even came and picked up one girls' car!  But that is the exception, not the rule.  At least, I hope so!


Independence Day!

10.  We have lots of "Gatherings".  Friends are always wanting to meet and spend time with us on the farm.  They want to bring their own company to meet us and see our home.  We are like a tourist spot!  Pappy's Police friends are always "gathering" here to rest, relax, and spend time enjoying each others company.


New baby goats


Meat Rabbits

11.  This one is a bonus, but we meet lots of people who drive down that long driveway to see if they can bring their kids to see "real" farm life.  When I had a Child Care Center, we brought the children here each Spring.  Now families come around Easter to buy rabbits.  Home school families stop by and say they have heard about us and will be back. All year, people knock on our door, and ask what we have for sale! 

Stop by soon to see us!  We can't wait to see you!

72 comments:

  1. I love this! I agree with all these reasonings. I've never lived on a farm but I have lived in the country and I love it so much better than city life. I can't stand living right on top of someone else. I love the space and the quietness and being able to do my own thing without neighbors complaining. (Not that we do anything odd, but you get the point.) :)

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    1. I do get the point! I had grown up in town, so all this was new to me. Glad you enjoyed your visit!

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  2. Lucky you..... I envy you...I used to visit my grandfather's place every year which is a village and they have a large farm there... and its a very very nice place....

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    1. I'm glad this brought back happy memories to you! Have a great day and stop back by to visit me soon.

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  3. Thanks for sharing such great pictures from your farm. While I am a bit more used to my creature comforts, I do hail from country folk and sometimes, it's nice to get back to my roots and disconnect from everything. Though I don't know that I would ever have any meat, because they would all become my pets!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! My sister in law has offered to take some new photos for me. I'm really a bad photographer, but I'm glad you enjoyed my efforts. We have had animals that were off limits for food before. So I understand that sentiment!

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  4. I live in a town in a rural community. I love being able to spend time in the country and visit my friends' farms, as well as raise chickens and have gardens in town.

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    1. I know you do! I'm glad you have a nice place to live and raise your family.

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  5. We just moved to our little farm 6 months ago and are hoping to have chickens and a puppy by spring!

    Love the picture of your grandson with the baby goat!

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    1. I know you will enjoy your farm! I don't know how we are going to get that paci away from him! He is 3 now.

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  6. I wish I could raise my own meat. You all must eat so healthy.

    Thanks for sharing your story.

    Stopping by from the 100 Comments event.

    http://www.AsToldByLisa.com

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    1. We do try to eat healthy. I am pretty good at what I eat and what I feed my family, but the girls are old enough to buy their own junk food, and the even smuggle it in to Pappy!

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  7. I love love love to leave on the farm. It's still one of my dreams that I definitely believe will come true. Enjoy your life on the farm.

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    1. I hope your dream does come true! Stop back by anytime!

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  8. I grew up on a farm and I loved it! Luckily several Aunts and an Uncle still live on farms so I can get my farm fix whenever I need it. Nothing relaxes me more than to wake up on the farm.
    Although I have to say our Peacock made our farm very noisy. He liked to stand outside the upstairs window on the porch room at 5 am every morning and scream. Would always scare me to death. Not a fan of the peacock.
    Loved the pic with your grandson! So adorable.

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    1. Our friends thing the peacock sounds like a "dragon". It's always commical the first time someone hears him! We think GrandBoy is a cutie!

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  9. Love your list! It just adds to my longing to move out to the country. I'm still hoping to someday.

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    1. I'm hopting you get to move to the country soon! Good luck.

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  10. I love your list too! We live on a farm, we actually run a horse rescue, but I have raised chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, and peacocks too! Right now I'm down on birds but hopefully I can some chickens and ducks again soon! I bottle raised a calf one year that we had butchered as well as rasied cornish hens for meat.

    I also love how quiet it is, I never want to live in or around a city ever again! I think farm life is just awesome!

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    1. I've never raised cornish hens before. We have had geese, but tend to stay away from them now, cause ours were mean! One bit my daughter. We sent one of our mares to an "old horse home" in Tennessee. My husband was afraid the kids would come home one day and she would be "gone". She had a colt when she was 30 years old!

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  11. My Farmboy (boyfriend) has a goat dairy. I call myself a weekend farmer. I love going to the farm. I grew up in the country (not on a farm-my parents are educators) so I appreciate the quiet. My only concern about living on the goat farm is my allergies...I can almost count on getting sick after I've been there for the weekend. :( I've always wanted a mini cow!!!

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    1. I have awful allergies too, so I know what you mean. I take an allergy pill and sinus meds everyday. We also had other jobs. Husband was a Law Enforcement Officer, and I owned a child care center and managed real estate. I still work, but husband is retired and works the farm now. I know the dairy must be great. I'd love to spend a day there.

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  12. I'm absolutely green with envy! (Not really. It's a sin.) But I wish we could live like that. My husband was raised a farmer and we bought an old farm way back when and lived there 18 months before we had to move. (He couldn't get a job in the area.) To this day, that run down old dump is the favorite place for the entire family. We even had an outhouse and a tub - that drained through the wall with a garden hose - but no water heater. LOL I could talk about this all day. Would love to know where you live. Please look me up on FB at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1384980956. Thanks for the memories. Deb

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    1. Well, we should get together and talk sometime! I'm sure you loved your farm. Part of the excitement is making a place your own. Stop by and visit us anytime. Look forward to hearing from you again.

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  13. That sounds really nice for you guys.

    I envy a bit even...enjoy it!

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    1. Glad you enjoyed your visit. Stop by to see us again!

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  14. This sounds like a really interesting life but I don't know that I would even know where to start if I lived on a farm. Thanks for sharing this!

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    1. I didn't either, but you learn! I was a city girl all the way. Grew up in a large town, and went to private school. But I love natural, clean living.

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  15. You live my husband's dream! :) I would like 2 - 3 acres to have some chickens and grow a larger garden. Maybe someday. :) Thanks for such a great post with great pics too!

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    1. Thanks! Glad you liked your visit. The place we had before this was 2 and a half acres with a barn, house, and small creek. I hope you get your place soon.

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  16. Sounds like a great life! I especially like the fact that you have room, lots and lots of room. The hubby's always complaining about our tight parking, small house, and small yard. No where for our dogs or son to play freely (without being run over by a car. Yeesh!)

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    1. I can understand that worry about the dogs and child getting run over. I know you have to stay beside him every minute! Thanks for stopping by.

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  17. It sounds like you may be from the South to me! I hope you get to build your cottage. I keep trying to put a bed in the "General Store" for guests, but my husband won't let me!

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  18. We didn't live on a farm, but on some land and I tried the garden and raised chickens, turkeys, etc. It was great for our small kids.

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  19. So fun! Even though I would never want to live on a farm myself I love to visit farms and let my kids experience them. Beautiful photos.

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  20. I love my country life, and tho we don't technically live on a farm, we are able to have a garden & chickens, buy milk and eggs and meat from the farming neighbors, and enjoy many of the other benefits you mentioned. Thanks for sharing your little place with us here!

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  21. I love the country also. I used to visit my grandmother in the summer months and enjoyed all the quiet times. Great post!

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  22. The farm life is sounding more and more appealing to me (although also totally scary since I can't so much as keep a house plant alive and I'm not self sufficient at all!) I have had my own reasons for finding the farm life appealing but yours make me want it even more! I worried that living on a farm without close neighbors would be isolating, but you make the life sound so "full." Thanks for sharing!!

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  23. I actually grew up on a farm way out in the country in the South. Loved every single minute of it! No better way to grow up! I post a lot of my farm stories on my blog as living on a farm produces lots of great stories! Thanks for sharing! Brings back a ton of memories!

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  24. How awesome! We moved from a rural area into the 'burbs, and I think my husband would love your farm! Personally I love the clothes line and the "home grown" veggies and meats -- we're a huge fan of raw milk too! =)

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  25. When I was a kid I lived on a 21/2 farm with a huge barn and I loved it. We had Rabbits, Chickens, Ducks, Pigs, Geese, and Goats.

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  26. It sounds interesting. I love that you grow your own food. You definitely get the real organic and not the stuff I buy. And making wine from fruit sounds yummy!

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  27. Great blog post! I've always been a city gurl (and I absolutely love it!), but I enjoy reading about where other people live and how they live. Your grandboy is absolutely adorable!

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  28. Sounds delightful - EVERY single reason would be one I'd want to live on a farm for too... except I have little/no skills for raising animals for meat. :) I'd still LOVE to though! :)

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  29. I love the baby goat. My husband's parents bought him a baby goat as a child and they have the funniest stories. I would love to play around on a farm for a summer.

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  30. Great post! I was born and raised in a rural area and now live closer to the city. While there are some things like I like about city life, I definitely miss the quiet of the country and its benefits. I didn't live on a farm, but it was nice having so many near by where you could buy fresh meat, produce etc.

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  31. I wish I had room for a garden! I would love to be able to grow my own organic vegetables and meat! Great list!

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  32. Where I come from, I have never had the opportunity to live on a farm. You are so lucky to have all that land.

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  33. Great Post! I wish we could do something like that. I mean I know it's hard work, but well worth it when your family is totally provided for. The only thing I couldn't handle is the spiders. I would never be able to go in the barn knowing they are in there. Yikes!!

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  34. Love all the pics in your post. I would enjoy all the fresh fruits and veggies.

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  35. Thank you for sharing this glimpse into your life! I love the pictures. We are currently looking to purchase a house, and while we don't want to have a large farm, we would like enough land to have a very large garden and some chickens. :)

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  36. It sounds like you are living a life that is just right for you. What a blessing that you are able to do so. This was so enjoyable to read.

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  37. I've always daydreamed about living on a farm and having a simple life (that's "simple" not necessarily easy lol). It's so neat to take a look into that life--thanks for sharing!

    I know that I would not be able to realistically live that kind of life as I kill everything I touch lol.

    Christy
    www.alivinghomeschool.com

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  38. I grew up next to a milk farm and my neighbors on the other side farmed too - pigs, sheep, chickens. Great memories! They had a pet lamb that wore a diaper so she could be in the house! At one time they had a piglet in the house too. :)

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  39. I grew up on a pig farm and then we moved and instead of pigs, we had horses. We never had a farm to the extent you have but I love the idea of having a farm- home grown food is so very appealing! Buying organic from a grocery store is a huge chunk of money every month!!

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  40. My mom grew up on a farm, but farm life is pretty foreign to me. Thanks for sharing your photos and stories with us! xoxo- Rachel @ www.bubblynaturecreations.com

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  41. I know farm life is not an easy one, but it does seem like a sense of serenity. Thank you for sharing a lovely glimpse into your life!

    Visiting through Blogelina for the first time. Lovely blog!

    Best regards,
    Donna
    Award-winning Children’s Author
    The Golden Pathway Story book Blog
    Write What Inspires You Blog

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  42. The most fun I've ever had at a home, was our farmhouse. It was away from the city, we got to roam and play out in the acres with the cows and go down to the creek and get muddy. We had these big plastic tubes since my aunt worked at the manufacturing company that makes the play tubes for McDonalds, Chuck e Cheese and whatnot. We would also throw Halloween parties in the barn with bands and decorations galore. It was awesome times and I sure do miss it.

    I hope one day I can experience farm life or a home away from the city, again.

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  43. I want to start a small garden in my backyard. I live in town. Do you have any suggestions for a beginner?

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  44. Love your pictures - what an interesting life you've been able to share with your kids. I love the idea of growing your own food. I am very particular about what we eat, and we grow what we can, but I have to depend upon our local farmers for our meat, eggs and supplemental produce!

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  45. When I was growing up I had a friend who lived on a farm. I used to love to visit. She couldn't understand what I saw in it, but to me there were so many things to do at the farm that I had no idea about.

    Thanks so much for sharing. I also live in a rural area and wouldn't trade it for the world! We don't have a lot of property right now, but we are growing grapes to make wine. Would love to know more about your process and what you have learned to do and not to do!

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  46. Love it! My great-grandparents lived on a dairy farm when I was a kid, and I miss it. Sounds like an idyllic - and super hardworking - life!

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  47. I have always wanted to live on a farm. You're so lucky!

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  48. I grew up on a huge dairy farm. . .not quite the same quiet place you have but there is something to being more connected to nature and where our food actually comes from! You are a great inspiration!

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  49. You paint an idyllic life. I have spent a little time on farms, but the day to day I think I need the bustle of my city life. Wonderful place to raise those grandkids though!

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  50. It must be fun to live in a farm! Nice photos!

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  51. Oh I love that first pic of the grandbaby with the baby goat! Precious! Love all the photos. It's great you are able to do this and learned on your own how to take care of a farm and all it offers. I'm growing a garden right now but that's as close as it gets for me. Maybe one day when we have more room we can get some chickens at least. I love fresh eggs!!!

    I will be following along!!

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  52. You are living my dream life!

    The picture of your grandson with the goat and pacifier is priceless! If you entered it in a photo contest you'd win.

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  53. You are certainly living the dream, but also a hard life too! Thanks for sharing and tempting me to the country!

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  54. Writing a top 10 reasons was a great post idea!! I loved reading about why you love to live on a farm. Thanks for sharing. I definitely do envy the quiet, fruit and wine!!

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  55. Aw, I'm SO envious LOL! I would love to homestead, raise chickens and goats and cows. I'm afraid it's not in the cards for us so I will have to live vicariously through you. I do have a small garden but can't use it this year as we are in the process of moving 1100 miles away. We will have to leave all of our beautiful, raised beds behind-hand-made by my hubby. I also try to can as much as I can each year-which isn't a whole lot. I got a few jars of applesauce/pear sauce, about 10 quarts of tomato sauce and several jars of strawberry jam. It's start, I guess. I do grind our wheat and make our own bread-it takes no time at all (well, except for the rising, but I'm always doing something else during that time). Life on a farm sounds like a dream-a hard-working dream, but a dream nonetheless! Thanks for sharing!

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  56. I am so envious! I married a city man so the compromise we've made is to live in the suburbs where I can have a garden and chickens and he's within driving distance of a city.

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