The morning rang promise. The air outside twenty degrees and the inside of the house had warmed to forty eight. But the sun shone so brightly, so gloriously this morn and I found that the prairie’s cold edges had been softened by an overnight snowfall that left the spance of barrenness now dancing with tiny diamonds, facets of crystals, sunlight, and festivity. I let out an exhale.
Have you ever had those evenings when you blow out the oil lamp beside the bed, huddle under the covers, and pray to wake up in Hawaii? When discouragement and nit picking sadness won’t leave you but rather leaves you weary and desperate? Such a night it was. The feeling of insurmountable and never ending happenings start to take on its own unreasonable aura. For all the dreaming and praying and begging and planning and succeeding at finding our dream homestead, if you had told me that the house in an arctic blast would never get over fifty degrees, I would have said, “Oh, hell no.” I don’t stand outside when it’s in the forties, I am going to stay inside in it too? Yes sir. I have let go of all the souls that passed on this year but the sadness remains. I understand that it is tough times for folks but I went to bed wondering if I am being foolish with what I do. Healers don’t exactly bring in the big bucks, and sometimes they don’t bring in the little bucks either! We are here to help people who choose not to go to the doctor or hospital and there is absolutely nothing we cannot help with. But we have received more inquiries on social media about our old house and whether it’s for rent than for remedies. Our friends visit doctors who give them medicines that make them sick. Should I go get a real job and give up? Do people really need me? Should we move back to the city to somewhere that has heat? Should we….and then blissful rest overtook me until the dog heard something at one in the morning.
But then I awoke to this scene. The house feels warmer somehow. An older gentleman that has been battling severe nerve damage for many years in his foot is coming by for more medicine because it’s working for him. We are getting ready for a craft show tomorrow where we will see friends, perhaps help some folks with our remedies, and get excited for Christmas. We will get by and I should be thankful that we have a home, food, and some heat. This lifestyle may not be for everyone but it is certainly for me and Doug and I am thankful for those new beginnings, new mornings, and snow covered fields that remind us of all we have. Homemade gifts are in the works, hot coffee in the thermos, and life on this homestead goes on and is certainly sweet…if not a bit chilly.
Farmgirl School 
Well, we can surly say that we are SOOOO glad you do what you do!!! Thanks Katie and Doug!!!
Thanks for the housecall to fix my finger last weekend too 😉
Love you both
You are certainly welcome and thank you for the kind words.
You will be fine, you are living your dream. The heat situation troubles me though. Have you got the wood stove working properly? Has the homestead got any insulation. Being cold is the worst thing, the Prairie may be beautiful but it looks cold, we all hate being cold. How did our various forefathers do it? One fire in a whole house and I think, especially here in the uk, the winters were colder! Stay warm, snuggle up and enjoy the craft show.
The house is well insulated but without a furnace or a central wood stove the house gets very cold. We will try and save up to put in a wood stove in the main part of the house. The other one is just too small and is in the back part of the kitchen.
It;s been unseasonably cold here in the Ft. Worth, TX area and it always makes me depressed, so I can sympathize! Hang in there, you are living your dream, don’t give up on it. What kind of medicine does your client use for nerve pain? I think I am developing that. My doctor wants to put me on Lyrica, but I’m not interested, plus the co-pay is $100!
The Pain Reliever and the Pain Salve. They can be found on my site http://gardenfairyapothecary.com Both are extremely effective. If one is on pharmaceutical anti-depressants then the Broken Bone/Sprain Liniment topped with the Pain Salve are very nice. The Arthritis medicine is then safe for those that are on pharma anti-depressants. You can always call or email questions as well!
As a fellow new-to-farming-gal, I too have those thoughts. But I truly believe that it is those of us who Persevere that will teach the next generation. It is how it was done from the beginning of time. Yes the Colorado Plains are bitter cold this week. and Yes the snow was light( Thank God) and yes we did survive to see the beauty that we have every morning. Thank you for your Blog. I hope to meet you someday soon. I have been looking for a mentor like you!
Would love to meet you! Isn’t it funny how the now temperatures in the 30’s feel like a heat wave?!
I find that here in Nevada’s high desert snow is a wonderful reminder of new beginnings.. I am always in awe of the intricate dance performed by each tiny diamond as it is struck by the mornings first rays of sunshine. It does seem to make things a little warmer. Keep up with all that you do.
Love always,
Rebecca and the Crew at the Flying VS Farmstead
Beautifully spoken. Stay warm there too!