T O P I C R E V I E W |
stoneyhollow |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 7:38:59 PM
Greetings to y'all from Virginia! I am so thrilled to have found you all! I'm a mom with 3 grown up kids, 1 teen daughter at home and several grandkids. My husband and I live on a small "farm" of 6½ acres back here in the hollow in the Shenandoah Valley, between the Blue Ridge and the Alleghany Mountains.
We both work for ourselves. Husband Cliff builds fence and does agricultural support (read that as bush-hogging and anything else that needs doing) Right now, I raise toy poodles (don't laugh - they are neat little dogs!). We also have a business together as distributors of a line of really excellent air and water purification systems. This last thing is what we hope to develop as our "retirement business", since fence building, ag support and dog breeding can be pretty hard at times, not to mention seasonal. (Pardon the pun, dog lovers. )
We have, in the past, done a lot of "farm-type" things. Raised chickens (still do), dairy goats (still don't), made goat's milk soap for a few years, sold veggies & home-made food items at the local farmer's market, got certified as an herbalist and sold salves & other little herbal things, raised pigs...gosh - I know there is more but I can't remember it all.
We are both on the local fire department. Cliff is the Treasurer/Fire Police/Board of Directors. I am into developing and coordinating Fund Raising and I'm also the "Auxillary Liason". Both of us are EMT's. Our son Will is also on the department (since he was 14) and is now a senior firefighter.
I have always considered myself a "homesteader"/homemaker, although I have only recently (last 10 years) really been able to do the things I have dreamed of doing. It is an incredible life.
I love MJ's new book. It appealed to me in so many ways. Kind of like Country Journal, the Mother Earth News, Mary Englebright and Southern Living all rolled up into one nice little package. I got my copy from the Crafter's Book Club. When it came today, I dropped everything and spent the rest of the afternoon reading it, savoring the ideas, recipes, patterns - the the whole psychological "feel" of the book was wonderful. Inspiring, relaxing, exciting, insightful, provoking - I cannot recall when I last picked up a book that I have enjoyed so much. Something to enjoy reading and retain as a reference at the same time. I will look forward to the "work books"!
PS - If you even need to know about raising dogs for a living (not as a puppy mill, but as a conscientious breeder), I'll be happy to help! |
4 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
PhillyfarmGirl |
Posted - Jul 16 2005 : 8:47:46 PM Welcome! I would never laugh, I love dogs! I have a wonderful black lab. So glad you found us here! Enjoy! Philly Farm Girl
~It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; It is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.~ ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
http://homeschoolblogger.com/PhillyFarmGirl/ |
Kim |
Posted - Jul 16 2005 : 10:51:21 AM Welcome Robin and Stoneyhollow! I'm making my first trip to Virginia in Septemeber. NASCAR Race. Not that I'm a huga fan but I get to go and I have never been to Virginia so I am looking forward to it.
farmgirl@heart
Be at peace with yourself and the rest will follow |
Robinwolf |
Posted - Jul 16 2005 : 01:23:02 AM Welcome! I live in Blacksburg, Virginia! So not too far from where you are! Don't we live in just the most beautiful area of the country? We have Pomeranians - we don't breed them, just have them and love them. Currently they are our only "farm animals" LOL! We raise our vegetables in pots on the deck, and are currently harvesting cucumbers and green peppers right now. My husband is a judge, and I'm a SAHW. We have one daughter, grown and moved out - she is 26. She lives in Blacksburg, too. I try to do as much by hand as I can, and the old-fashioned way as much as I can. Right now, I'm trying to find someone to put up a clothesline for me in the backyard. I too, found MJF book at my Crafters book club, and enjoyed every page of it. Here on the web, check out all the different forums. There are plenty and so much to chat about! Robin
Let the beauty we love be what we do. -- Rumi-- |
mollymae |
Posted - Jul 15 2005 : 8:20:36 PM Welcome Stoneyhollow! Your neck of the woods is sure heaven-on-earth! I used to live in Northern Virginia and miss the beauty very much! Glad you found us!!!
Cead Mile Failte, Molly
"If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the Aching or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain" ~Emily Dickinson
**When life throws scraps your way ~ Make a Quilt!**
Sisterhood of the Traveling Art |
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