All Because Two People Fell in Love

"All Because Two People Fell in Love" announces a fulfilled dream of this couple as you ascend onto their porch.  The anniversary gift words are mounted above the entry to the home.   We stood on the porch announcing our arrival to celebrate our own anniversary in one of their cabins.  My husband, with the assistance of our two oldest sons, arranged for us to spend our 32nd Anniversary in a cabin at a farm.

I know, that isn't the place most women would want to go...a cruise, Europe, an island, or New York,  but for me, at this season of life, a farm is exactly where I wanted to be.  This farm would hold many inspirations....which would go into my summer sand pail and fulfill my "spunky" word for the year.

Now you must understand WE ARE CITY FOLKS!!!  The closest we get to the farm life is in our imagination and my background of my grandparents' farm.  My husband's idea of roughing it, on the other hand, means there must be A/C and TV available...so you will see that roughing it didn't come into the picture, but relaxation sure did.  There were also other things to glean, from watching the couple whose sign above their front door told the story.

Just entering into this different lifestyle brought excitement with a feeling of adventure.  The red clay soil, as well as the pecan trees and pines brought both of us back to time spent with our grandparents.  We both have roots in East Texas.  Each little town we stopped in and visited, while getting to our destination, populations were less than one our church services...all the cities combined were still smaller than our whole church membership.  This truly is a different way of living...and one I enjoyed being inspired by.

Our cabin for the night looked out over the lake.  I could have set on the porch or the swing for days!

Inspiration 

• This is a couple's dream that started at retirement. they planned their dream and walked out their plan
• She followed his dream, while also finding her niche in the dream, she is a trained chef and teaches cooking classes in her wonderful kitchen, using the produce of their farm

• Hard work has its own rewards...their day starts early and ends tired, fulfilled and satisfied
• The whole family is involved at different stages...two married children and grand children were there to help during this season and also enjoy family vacation time
• It is possible to do something later in life that you don't have training in if you are willing to learn...they bought this place in 1998 and now it is a self-sustaining farm

After a wonderful steak dinner in the small town of  Avinger (population smaller than my son's high school), I strolled onto the front porch, relaxed in the rocking chair and listened to the "country symphony" being played by God's creation...priceless.  The restful sleep you receive in the stillness of the country fosters an early morning rise of excitement for a day of berry picking.  I first retreated to the porch, Bible in hand, soaking in His word and the wonder of the creation before me...pecan trees, pine trees, fish jumping in the pond...a small taste of heaven. Genesis came to mind..."and He said it was good."

Our berry picking produced  17 pounds of blueberries and blackberries.  This week I will be learning again how to make jams and jelly.  I plan to try my hand at Blueberry Lavender jam and Blueberry Chipotle.  I think a blueberry cobbler is in order also.

My lessons of inspiration...sometimes the work is worth it!  Sometimes small is better than large.  Sometimes you just need a vision. Sometimes God can create something in your second half of life that was greater than the first....all things are possible.  Goodbye Greer Farm, the 24-hour visit was way too short...I will be back, next time to soak in more and fill my journal with new inspiration, while taking a cooking class.