Looking Back | Chickens in the Road

Sep
22

A year ago, my house looked like this:

I was still living in the slanted little house and our new farmhouse was just a twinkle in my eye.

No goats, no giant puppy, no chickens.

One year later, the new farmhouse is busy with a garden, bread coming out of the oven, and jam in the pantry.

And goats and a giant puppy and chickens! It’s been a great, scary, wonderful year, full of good things, a few bad things, surprises, disappointments, love.

One year ago, this girl looked like this:

And this weekend, she got a new haircut and looks like this:

I started this little retrospective into my photo files looking for a picture of the foddershock at the old farmhouse from last year. I wanted to make a foddershock and had planned to get corn stalks from Georgia, but my cousin plowed the garden under. Georgia had forgotten to save corn stalks first and I hadn’t asked her soon enough. (Sob!)

And so I have to content myself with photos of last year’s foddershock and all the other good memories the past year has left to me.

I wonder what the next year will bring? I see eggs in the hen house. New baby chicks. New baby goats. Baby ducks! Maybe a pig! (I want a pig!! A mama pig and piglets!) And maybe—

Maybe a whole lot of things I don’t know about yet. And that’s the best part.

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38 Responses
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9-22
4:29
am

You’ve come a long way baby! Who knows what may be next around the bend of your life, but I’m sure you’ll conquer it just like you have everything else thrown your way. And I look forward to reading about it, you make it so interesting! :thumbsup:

TeresaH -
9-22
5:06
am

Way to go! So far so good. Can’t wait to read about all the interesting things that happen on your farm over the next year. Not to mention you trying to drive down that driveway in the snow! :weather:
Looks like you’ve got more ads, congrats on new sponsors!!

Patty -
9-22
6:36
am

Happy Fall in the new digs!

Snapper -
9-22
6:49
am

Princess looks wonderful with her new look!

Maureen -
9-22
7:12
am

Congrats on all you’ve done!

Ashley -
9-22
7:19
am

You have made wonderful progress, it’s plain to see you are a ‘doer’. I didn’t know what a foddershock was, but now I do.

hayseed -
9-22
7:21
am

It is amazing what a year can make, what can happen quickly and slowly. YOu have accomplished a lot, now if we canget those chickens on track!!!!!

jane -
9-22
7:29
am

jane, you stole my first line!!!

When you are going through it…especially when building a new house..it seems to take FOREVER…but looking back look at all the dramatic changes in just 350 days!!! amazing.

you forgot something! look at this blog 1 year later!!! I just want to say thank you for your comittment!!! I so enjoy it every morning and without fail you always have a great new post!

job well done!!

Tresh

Tresha -
9-22
7:31
am

Happy One Year! What a lot you have accomplished … congratulations! You go, Girl! It has been fun and a privilege to follow you and your family thru all the changes, challenges and wonderful growth as you added a huge puppy, chickens, ducks and goats to your home and now have a garden, and are learning to be a ‘regular farmer’ and accomplish all the experiences and discoveries on a farm that many of us, sadly, will never be able to.
Like the new look for Princess.

Shari C -
9-22
7:59
am

What a change one year has brought about! So glad that I was able to share it from a distane (no work – just all the fun! LOL!). Wishing you all the best in the year to come!

Lisa L -
9-22
8:26
am

Princess, your new haircut looks beauteous!!!

Lauri V -
9-22
8:30
am

What a difference a year makes. I can’t believe how grown up Princess is. I just came across a picture holding her when she was a baby! All frilly, pink, and had the cutes hair band.

Kacey -
9-22
8:36
am

Congratulations on all your accomplishments. And I hope many more are to come!
Princess looks great, just like here Mama!
Here’s to you and all the good things to come!
Oh, yeah, I like the foddershock.

Beckynsc -
9-22
8:48
am

Thank you for blessing me each day with your adventures in the country. You are very talented. Look at all you accomplished. Blessings.

Abiga/karen -
9-22
8:57
am

PLEASE GIVE THE PIG A LOT OF THOUGHT – PIGS GROW INTO HOGS I CAN’T IMAGINE YOU LOOKING AT THE HOG AND THINK “HAM.”

MMHONEY -
9-22
9:29
am

no slight accomplishment here!!

and go for the porcine – nothing like bacon and smoked ham steak from a source you know

congratulations!!

IowaCowgirl -
9-22
9:30
am

Suzanne, Better think about getting pigs.
They get big real fast. Then what? Are you
going to eat them or still keep for fun ?
I have been there. It’s not a fun decision.

Princess, You look beautiful with your new
haircut !!!
Anne

anne -
9-22
9:42
am

First off let me say Princess looks so pretty with the new haircut. And is that lipstick I see? :mrgreen:

You have come a long way in a years time. I think everything you foresee in the future is great, except the pigs. :rotfl:

Treasia -
9-22
10:14
am

:mrgreen: OHHH, Princess is so pretty!!! She has such a cute personality to go with that! A “to dream for daughter” with a heart of gold!!!

You HAVE come a long way and hasn’t it been FUN!!! Hard work and struggle but so worth it!!! I LOVE your home and stories and pictures, and children!! and all the farm animals… :catmeow:

I am so happy for you, that all is turning out so wonderful and I surely enjoy your blog and Forum!

Donna -
9-22
10:21
am

The Princess’ new look is smashing!

Tori Lennox -
9-22
10:28
am

Looking back is good exercise. Wow! You’ve come a long way. I hope you’re patting yourself on the back for all you’ve accomplished.

And thanks for my new word…foddershock. Who knew?

Suzette -
9-22
11:34
am

Happy Autumn Equinox!

Jodie -
9-22
11:38
am

I had never heard foddershock before! WOW! I have a new word. I’m trying to figure out how I can use it in my daily conversations.
Princess looks great with that new haircut, but she was always pretty anyway!
I am just amazed at all you have accomplished in a year. I wish I could say I had done half of all that!
I think I have my daughter convinced that WV is the place to go, when we have our money together and are ready to make the BIG move. It’ll be years before we get to do that, but there’s lots to do in preparation…I cannot wait!

Claudia W. -
9-22
12:09
pm

You just go ahead and get yourself a pig!!! I am sure you will research it. Here is a site to get you started.

http://www.naturesharmonyfarm.com/grass-fed-meat-farm-blog/2007/9/7/the-ossabaw-island-pig.html

” PORK!! IT COULD BE FOR DINNER!!!!”

:flying:

p.s. I am not affiliated with this site. Just thought it was interesting…..

wkf -
9-22
12:37
pm

Princess looks fabulous! It’s amazing how much you have achieved in a year!

Hi 52.

Susan C -
9-22
12:46
pm

That’s where a dream, hard work and perseverance gets you. Thanks for taking us on the trip back to “before.” xxoo

Carolyn A. -
9-22
1:34
pm

Hi everyone—-

Suzanne is pretty amazing. Thank you all for your kind—and supportive—- comments.

52 -
9-22
2:03
pm

Maybe a whole lot of things I don’t know about yet. And that’s the best part.

Yep. Isn’t it amazing what a difference a year can make?

Amy -
9-22
3:10
pm

Happy, happy, joy, joy :elephant: Can’t wait to see what the next year brings

catslady -
9-22
3:48
pm

Hey – a word from 52!!!!! Now if we could have a head with that please???? hmmmm maybe it is like those eggs that wont come either – what in heck are they wating for – inquiring minds want to know -

jane -
9-22
3:52
pm

You have accomplished so much in the past year!
Congratulations!!!

Estella -
9-22
4:09
pm

I love Princess’ new hair! Also, you don’t want pigs. No, really, you don’t. They’re nasty, gross creatures who are only good for bacon.

Robin G. -
9-22
5:05
pm

There’s a line in a song that says,’What a difference a day makes’, and look at the difference a year has made for you.

Keep up the good work. How is the goat milking comeing along. It’s about time to make some cheese. Have you gotten any eggs yet?

Shirley -
9-22
5:15
pm

Talk about what a difference a year makes!

Brandy -
9-22
6:40
pm

They grow up so fast! Cute hair.

Michelle Willingham -
9-22
10:51
pm

I don’t know what Foddershock is!!!!?????

Donna -
9-23
10:06
pm

What a great year you’ve had! It is amazing how much can happen in a year. I hope a year from now I can write a similar post.

Christy O -
9-23
11:37
pm

I recently discovered your blog and it’s one of the most enjoyable that I have come across. Of course I have always been partial to the cuteness of goats and chickens Great photos, wonderful words, stellar attitude! Congratulations on a year well lived.

Connie

Connie -