Empty pastures, empty pens, empty hen houses…life on the farm is pretty empty.
I’ve been quiet the last few months and felt you all deserved an explanation on what has happened on our homestead. Life is what happened!
My hubby’s job has had him on the road the last couple years and to tell you the truth I missed him. So in a weak moment, we made the decision sell off our animals for a few months and take a break so I could travel with him.
The decision was hard but let me tell you what put me over the edge.
A few months ago I had to leave early to go to an appointment, and before I left, I let the chickens out. I knew I would be gone until nightfall and wanted to let the hens get some yard time. Since I was going to be gone, all day I left our lab in the house on the sun porch. Normally if I let the hens out I keep Libby outside to protect them or at least alert me to anything that may come in the yard. We had been having trouble with coyotes but didn’t think they would come in during the day. Well, I was wrong they came…they killed…and they left a mess for me to come home too! It was heart wrenching to come back to piles of feathers everywhere. It looked like a war zone, and I just lost it. When I let Libby out, I could tell she was shaken. She must have watched what was happening and couldn’t do a thing about it. She had knocked over a chair, and the rugs were all crumbled as I am sure she paced and barked and couldn’t help the girls at all. At that point I knew hubby was right, I needed a break! We loved our animals, and it was a sad day when friends came to give them a new home.
So I took a break and went traveling with him. We lived in our camper and went from job site to job site…together! Sometimes the simplest change can refresh your body and soul, and it was just what our life needed at that moment in time.
Now to tell you the funny side of all of this…
A few weeks ago hubby got a new job, and his new job will not require him to travel as much. Isn’t that funny! God has a sense of humor and must have known way before we found homes for all of our animals that his job would be changing. I think He knew we needed some time to reconnect with one another, and He made it possible. I look at it as another chapter in our book of life.
So as I am writing this hubby is ordering more chickens and scanning the farm papers and farm auctions to fill our pastures back up.
Our simple life just took a turn for a few months and now we are anxious to get back to homesteading as we once knew it!
In turn, I will get back to writing and sharing our life on the farm and our passion for simple living.
Thanks for understanding that life just happens and for being one of my faithful readers.
Thanks for stopping by!
Tracy Lynn
P.S. Do you like what you are reading?
Are you looking to slow down and live a simpler life?
I am so happy you’ve landed here and I can share some of the simple living principles that have made a huge difference in our lives.
To give you a place to start I have created a “5 Steps to Simple Living Guide“ that I am offering to you free.
Along with this free download, is included a complimentary subscription to our weekly Our Simple Homestead Newsletter. Each week you’ll receive simple living tips, homesteading ideas, old-fashion recipes and every once in awhile a touch of the Amish lifestyle.
Click here to receive your free download of 5 Steps to Simple Living today!
DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging activities, I may receive monetary compensation from affiliate and sponsored posts on this blog.
I hope you took Libby along for the journey. 🙂
We sure did and she loved it!
Thank you for sharing this honest post. I think I can partly relate to your story. My ex-husband and I had several ranches together. When I made the necessary decision to leave him, I knew that it would take a while for me to be able to afford having anything resembling of what we had for a while. It was HARD to say good bye to the animals. Meanwhile I’ve been using the time wisely, and learned more about aspect of the farm life that I did not know. Things have an interesting way to work out for the best. Best of luck with your new endeavors.
It was very hard to say goodbye to our animals but it sure is fun looking for new ones!
So sorry that you lost your chickens that way. It is always a shock to see. I am glad that you were able to take the needed break to rejuvenate because I love your blog! We are just getting started on our journey and I am grateful that we won’t have to work outside the home when we make our final move to our property. Please keep the great articles coming because they help so many others like myself. Thank you!
Thanks for taking time to encourage me!
Tracy, Glad to hear you are well and have taken the break your soul needed. How wonderful for you two to be able to spend some time together. Congrats on the new job keeping hubby closer to home. So sorry about your hens. I have experienced a similar scene only a mink was the culprit and they were cooped. Ugh! Again I’m sorry. That part is awful. I didn’t have hens again until this year. (it’s been a few years.). Blessings as you enter into another phase and wishing you many joyful memories in the making.
Oh, Tracy, I am so sorry about your chickens. But it sounds like, in the end, God’s plan was just what you needed! Now that you have had a nice break, reconnecting with your husband and enjoying the adventure, I am sure your life will be sweeter! BTW – I think His sense of humor is something that can sneak up on you when you least expect it! 🙂
I lost a couple of flocks of chickens in a similar way. Farming is just plain hard! I’m glad you were able to reconnect and rejuvenate yourself and your relationship. It’ll be fun to “shop” for new animals. 🙂
It just broke my heart to read about your chickens. Sometimes life on the farm can be so difficult. We all have our stories and it is encouraging for me to read that I am not the only one that has sorrowful days. Thank you for sharing. I credit you as one of my inspirations for finally taking the leap into striving for a more simple lifestyle. I can’t wait to read about your new animals and your fresh start!
It can be difficult but farming is like riding a horse…once you fall off you have to get right back on.
P.S. Did you notice my name is Tracy Lynn too:)
Welcome home Traci!!! We sure understood when you chose to go on the road with your hubby! I wouldn’t want to be here without my farmer man. 😉
SO excited that you are back on the homestead and making preparations for a new start, new animals and new hopes and dreams! Looking forward to your posts and SO excited about your magazine.
We will start the incubators up this week so if you need some golden laced wyandotte chicks just let us know…we would even deliver! 😊