Sooo, I have been residing in the Country for a little over 10 years now, and I love love love it. If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you know I grew up in a big house in a nice part of town, and never ever once imagined myself being a Country girl.

NEVER.

I hated getting dirty, I liked paved roads, neighbors right next door, and being only a minute or two from the nearest mall. I was a make up loving, curling iron toting, don’t get your nails dirty, shop till you drop, City Girl all the way!

Until I met Dale.

{SIGH}

My Corn Fed Country Boy straight from the Dairy Farm.

Guess that life grows on ya, because he had me at hello! Fast forward a few years, and I can honestly tell you, if I have any say in it, we will never move out of the Country.

I have learned to LOVE the fact that from my front window, I see trees, not houses or road. I have learned to chase roosters when they try to get my babies. I have learned to shoot a gun. I have learned to kill spiders with something smaller than a 2×4 and not scream. {not very loud, anyways} And, I have learned that old outbuildings full of junk, make amazing forts for my kids and spots for my photography.

Without further adieu, I give you:…..

How to “Go Country”

Step 1: Move to the Country and fall in love with wide open spaces.

Step 2: While you are residing there, adjust to mice in the winter, {thank God that problem no longer haunts us} chasing foxes and skunks down the lane with a gun, or broom, either works, and say goodbye to purified water.
You will need to adjust to well water that is high in minerals and comes ice-cold straight out of the pump. {I used to say you had to chew it. Now, I say Mmm mmm good!}

Step 3: Learn to Garden. This is an ongoing process, and we still have lots to learn, like when to plant garlic and potatoes. I can NEVER remember in time! Anyhow, last summer we had 5 different garden spots around the yard, and most, were successful. YAY! Oh! Oh! AND I over came a really big fear of mine, and we learned to can! Jalapenos, tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce. Woo-hoo!

Step three: Get Animals…..
First Chickens.

Then Kittens.

Next up? Cows and pigs this Spring.

Ho boy. Now its really starting to sound Country around here!!!!

Step 4: Learn to eat weird, wild things your husband shoots in your own yard. Like deer, turkey, or even……………….

SQUIRREL.

If you follow me on 4 little Fergusons Facebook page, you know what I am about to share. For those of you that have yet to head over there and “like” us, {pretty, pretty please?} this was my status update:

I can’t believe I just googled “Is it safe to eat squirrel?”
Guess it’s a go, folks. Yikes.

See, “Do It Yourself Dale” wants us to be able to butcher the afore-mentioned cow and pig OURSELVES, so he built us a meat cooler. Naturally, he needed to walk the property and “shoot something” to try it out.

Enter Squirrely the Squirrel.

{Bang}

RIP Mr. Squirrel.

No, we haven’t eat him yet, he is still hanging in the cooler. I have tried Black Bear and Beaver at a Game Feed, but Squirrel just seems so, I don’t know, domestic? When we consume him, ugh, I will have completed step 4 to “going Country”.

ANYHOW, the whole point of this oh-so pointless post, is that I have taken yet another step in embracing this new Country Life of mine, here is it………..

Step 5: Own a pair of boots you call “Chore Boots”, as well as “Bibs” and a “Chore Coat” to keep you warm in the winter.

Clearly, I can check Step 5 off my list, because my sweet husband used his Christmas money from his Momma, to buy me a set of “Bibs and a warm Chore Coat”. I was super honored and surprised at this announcement, and I think it is oh-so sweet! I felt very loved and cared for by this thoughtful gesture, but I am fully aware, that it could also be that he acted out of sheer sympathy. ‘Cause I may or may not have chored the other day in 3 inch wedge heeled fur boots.

WHAT!

I was on my way into town and didn’t want to change.

Note to self: When choring in 3 inch wedge heeled fur boots, go ahead and duck those additional 3 inches when stepping through the chicken coop opening.

Just sayin’.

Alright folks, here it is. Step 5 and proof I have “Gone Country”.