Hi!! My name is Alicia (Lish).  I'm a 46 year old wife and mom and live just outside Charleston, WV. I work full-time in Huntington, WV (can you say commute?).  I'm a native West Virginian and have always lived within a 50 mile radius of Charleston. 

I found this blog through 304blogs.com.  I'm drawn to all things West Virginian.  This blog has become an obsession though. When I saw Walton, WV, I just had to read.  My father was born in Roane County, WV only a few miles (as the crow flies) from The Slanted Little House.  My grandparents and great-grandparents all lived and are buried in those hills.  My father graduated from Walton High School in 1939.  I spent every weekend and most summers at my grandmothers modest little home in those hills and those days are some of the best memories of my childhood. 

Suzanne takes me back to that little farm. My grandparents didn't have all the critters.  We gardened and canned and played. My father and brothers hunted. We "helped" (and I do use this term loosely) with the neighbors cattle and hogs. 

I'm attempting to go backward and read every post.  I still find I miss posts, but I'll get through it all eventually!  Meanwhile, I'm enjoying every minute.  The posts, the photos, the recipes.  It truly is Ordinary Splendor.

Thank you Suzanne (=

Hello!  I joined this forum a while ago but have never "officially" introduced myself. 

I am Joy from the tall grass prairie in Iowa.  I grew up on a dairy farm and didn't know how good I had it.  Just recently moved back to the country to an acreage.  It's needed a lot of work, and still more to do.

I found Suzanne's blog about four months ago and just LOVE it.   My two young sons love the stories about the animals too.

Glad to be here!

hi guys! My name is Ali, and I live in western KY. I grew up in a rural area with my grandparents, we always had a huge garden and lived life simply. I miss those days! My husband & I live in a very small town, but unfortunately inside the city limits. We did manage a small garden this year, but we don't have much room. We are trying to find some land so that we can build a cottage and have a small farm. He is a butcher, and I am currently workin retail, but I am a cake designer. We just have to save the money so that I can open a shop!

I am learning so much from Suzanne's blog, and I can't wait to have a place where I can have a real garden and some animals. I grew up riding horses and I miss it so much. I also want some chickens, you can't beat fresh eggs! You guys are just gonna have to make me into a REAL farmer… (small scale). Since my husband is a butcher by trade we have toyed with the idea of opening a meat processing facility. Not sure.

Now If I could just master this grandmother bread!

Thanks for all the welcomes. I love the community feeling of this forum! I am checking out your blog Kentuckyfarmgirl!

I will definately be finding out about the chickens. I know they are allowed in many areas. We will have to clear the back side of the yard before we can do anything in that area.

Leah, I would love to be "the Cake Boss" lol. Buddy is a little better than me,  but I think I do pretty well. We will have to save for a long time or win the lotto before I can open a shop. You aren't too far from me either, so it's nice to see some "localish" people.