Today, as you read, I will be wending my weary way home. Hopping planes, trains and and automobiles plus a bus or two until I am all the way back home. Door to door is about 15 hours. This has been such a lovely break and the unBloggers have been stunning. And here is Lyn!
Good Morning Farmy Friends!
Our very good friend Celi has asked me to write a ‘guest blog’ whilst she is on her trip to sunny California. So with butterflies in my tummy (never done this before) I will attempt to do so.
First a real quick background on me and where I come from.
I was born in England just after WWII. The reason I mention this is to put a little nugget in your mind regarding my up bringing during a time of ‘rations’ and hard to come by food people have now become used to. The staples around at that time were things people now turn their noses up at, namely ‘OFFAL’! Yep I eat liver, kidneys, heart, tongue and other unmentionables! Good source of protein! Also what ever you could grow in your gardens, as fresh vegetables were also a luxury.
Fast forward 50 some odd years and guess what, I am eating that kind of food again. Now not because of the restrictions of war, but from choice.
The years in between, like most people, I abused my body with all sorts of crap (am I allowed to say that word?). Mostly due to my lifestyle and chosen career of a Project Manager with an international computer software company, that kept me on the road most of the time. This career was the reason I found myself, back in ’94, embarking on a fork in the road that bought me to theUSA. Here on a 2 year work contract I found myself living in New Jersey. I also found myself dashing around from State to State, living in hotels and eating from fast food restaurants more often than not.
In 2005, my then husband and I moved to Bedford Virginia, and bought a house at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and I retired from my travelling. Sad to say life then threw me a curve ball and one messy divorce later I was to find myself alone in this wonderful part of the country. With my share of the divorce I did manage to buy myself a little cottage that was just my size. It has 2 acres of land and had a lot of potential. I moved in with one dog, Shelly, one cat, Nala, 2 suitcases of clothes and a blow up bed. That was basically all my worldly goods. Oh and I was unemployed.
My little cottage
This was my back garden just after I moved in – not a lot going for it!
After surviving my own little war I reverted back to my childhood and decided I needed to provide for myself as we did back then. I was lucky that I had a father who filled my brain with all his knowledge of growing stuff. A friend made a number of raised beds for me and I started growing in earnest all the food I could want to eat.
Obviously I wasn’t equipped to just live off this alone, so got me some chickens to help with my protein needs.
Money was still an issue; therefore I embarked on a new career as a ‘Pet Sitter’. Initially this was walking dogs and feeding cats, but I live out in the boonies somewhat and soon I was asked to look after horses, goats, ducks, chickens, the list goes on! My love of animals saw me through thankfully and the only problem I ever had was a Pot Belly Pig called JD (short for Jimmie Dean) who, whilst I was walking him on a leash, decided to bite me! Needless to say I haven’t looked after him since.
After reading numerous books on what is actually in the food we buy from the grocery stores and how the animals are treated, I have now done things I never thought I would. Make my own bread, can my own produce and stay away from processed foods. I also only buy my meat from local farmers that I know treat their animals well, and they are more than happy to provide me with the ‘offal’ that local people turn their noses up at LOL..
Finding Celi’s blog has also been a wonderful help as she has given me the courage to continue my new lifestyle. No where near the scope of her little farm, or the wonderful things she does day in and day out, my little cottage and animals are my life now and I am so happy to be away from that Corporate world I worked in for far too long! Oh and the back garden is filling up fast!
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The Kitchen's Garden 
86 responses to “And last but not least – Lyn of Virginia.”
Beautiful cottage and garden, and bravo to you for growing your own food and living off the land and your care taking business in a way that makes you happy! 🙂
Thank You – I can honestly say I have never been so ‘stress free’! If I could write a letter to my younger self I would say I should have done this years ago!
Amen!
Hello Lyn, you’re written a wonderful, inspiring story and I loved it. I know about your upbringing. I’m a bit later…end of the baby boom…but my father was British, and while I was born in Prague, have most of the British sensibilities and live there for several months/year; which is a lovely reminder. You know, I;m always amazed that, when I go to car boots, I find things like 1920s linens in starched and perfect condition. I love that make do and keep it for a million years mentality and I do that too even here in Vancouver where the built-in obsolescence is so prevalent.in just about everything. I also grow a garden, (as much as I can on a city plot, but bigger in E) and also because I’d rather feed my family with healthy food which I know has been grown organically. Every little bit helps, I think. Your little cottage and garden are charming and I bet you have loads of friends around you now, It’s nice to get to know you a little and I wish you were writing a blog because I’d love to get to know you more. 🙂
Lyn! Love your story! We all start out and end up with the most intersting tales to tell of our lives…if we are very lucky! Your cottage is lovely and look at all you have done with your acreage! Nice looking raised garden beds and very well kept my friend! No weeds! 😉 Grapes or morning glories on your trellis? I think liver is delicious! And Kevin loves pickled pig’s heart (not me, looks like a lab specimen..yikes). Have heard that tongue is delicious, but I just can’t bring myself to sample it! Big and kinda scary looking! LOL I am a bread baker too. So much less expensive and smells heavenly! Mmmmm comfort! You are most industrious and courageous! I am proud to know you! Your home is in a beautiful part of the country! I lived for a summer up in the Smokies! A little place called Blowing Rock, NC! I think I could have lived there forever! They ski on grass up there! And snow too of course… 😀 Got into blue grass while there! Thank you for sharing! Made my morning today!
Thank you Mere, I love it round here, and there is the Blue Ridge parkway on my doorstep for lots of dog walks! Have to be a little bit careful though as we have bears in them there mountains! have actually seen a couple of bears since I moved here. Which believe me to an English person is quite a shock! In fact the wild life around here is fascinating as we have nothing like it back in England. Couldn’t believe it when I first came face to face with a Opossum, thought is was a big rat!! Nothing like the Possum in Australia at all LOL
Funny thing is when I first came to the USA a friend told me that this country had a ‘throw away’ look on everything and I wasn’t sure what she meant. Then our fridge broke down so I called someone to come fix it. He looked at it for a while and said it was too old to fix, being 10 years old! My mothers fridge in England has to be at least 30 years old!! I suppose we were bought up to look after the things we had, knowing how hard we worked to get them. We had things that were kept for “best’, everyday things and things that were falling apart but still usable. We had our shoes and clothes that were mended and when clothes no longer could be fixed they were turned into rags. I am sure if this kind of thing was done by more people there would be less waste in the world! Sorry, off my soap box now LOL
This reply was to Veronica but took so long for me to write, Mere jumped inbetween LOL
I’m a little pest! 😉 I just couldn’t resist! You all fascinate me! 😀 I wish you were my neighbor too!!! I’d bake you some nice raspberry scones and make you a cuppa! Muah on the cheek! 🙂
Another fantastic post and if this was really your very first attempt I think that we all have a lot to look forward to. Once again Celi has chosen well..
Your early life , during the war, is something most of us born before or just about that time, can remember well. Not always good memories but then we turned our faces away fromnthe shadows and faced the sun and a brighter future.
your house is beautiful, surrounded by such lovely views and having a dog and cat..who could ask for more…plus chickens of course.
thank you so much for agreeing to step in for Celi. It will be nice to have her back, but meeting you and the others has made this week remarkable..so thank you and God Bless you all at the weenie farmy.
Very impressive. Love those raised beds. I’ll be surprised if we’re not reading more of your stuff in your own blog very soon. Good to meet you.
Thank you – I was very apprehensive when Ceii asked me to do this. When I write I either get writers block and can’t think of a thing, or my brain goes crazy and I can’t stop writing (my fingers have a hard time keeping up!). I also tried to think of a brief history of my life, and believe you me this is as brief as it gets. Looking back I can’t believe the things that have happened to me and how I managed to bounce back every time. But as I was telling a neighbour the other day, I think you learn more from the knocks then you do the successes!
Just the kind of story I like, Lyn! Wish I had the courage to change my life radically (I may start a garden next year when I move to a sunnier clime. I am often on the same soapbox about mending, repairing and reusing things rather than throwing them out: we buy cotton clothing and it all ends up in the rag bag eventually.
Sometimes fate takes over and change we must! But this isn’t a bad thing I have found. Good luck with the gardening, I am sure you will have fun, and eating your own food is eye opening for sure. Nothing tastes so good as something you nurtured and grew yourself!
Wow, loved your post! Wish it had been longer and that you also had a blog 🙂 I love Celi’s blog and she has had some amazing guests this week. Good luck to you in all your endeavors, hope to hear from you again!
Hello Lyn, so happy to meet you. What a wonderful, inspiring post! How lucky you found that lovely cottage with 2 acres! Isn’t it always amazing what we can do when we have to. I grew up during the 40’s and my mother used everything in those days. Tuesdays was always liver day and I have to admit that as a kid I hated it. Now it is a real treat…smothered in onions, yum. Our pullets are on the verge of laying their first eggs. We have a light on in their house to trick them into thinking it is still summer, although since it is snowing at the moment, I don’t know if they are convinced. I agree that you should have a blog….as with all the lovely ladies this week. So interesting and inspiring to read about you all.
Lyn, this was like reading a really good novel. Your cottage is darling and you have created such a beautiful and useful life for yourself–and others. Imagine creating a garden for others so that all they have to do is choose what to harvest.!
This is truly a small world. I just read Mere Frost saying she once lived in Blowing Rock, N.C. My very best friend from college in Chicago–has lived there for many years. (i was her maid of honor.) She ran and now her two daughters run a motel each. One is called Alpine Village Inn –i cant recall the name of the other. I just talked to her Sunday. We did some traveling together with our husbands.
Thank you for taking us into your charming world. I love that you not only care for dogs and cats but horses and all sorts of critters too. If you decide to blog, you could take us with you on your rounds. We’d love that!
Yes it is starting to get colder and darker here now, so my girls start to ease off on the egg laying. I read about the lights, but decided they deserved a wee break from laying. Having said that I still get the odd 1 or 2 a day, so still can have my soft boiled egg with soldiers to dip in! (I think that is a British thing! LOL)
Our winters are so long. We give our chickens a break in late winter. Here we say that we have Winter and July! What are soldiers to dip in? Sounds good, whatever it is.
LOL they are slices of bread and butter (or toast) cut into long strips that are just the right width to dip into the top of a boiled egg. They are one of the first ‘foods’ we feed are young children. Oh that and Marmite on Toast, but that is a whole other story!! Ask Celi (all though I think it is called vegimite where she comes from)
Just noticed this: Yes, in both Australia and New Zealand that ‘brown stuff’ is called Vegemite and you are not really an Aussie if you don’t love it and need it ~ which means that after all the decades here I don’t belong 🙂 !
Oh, the story ended way too soon, I wanted it to keep going and to hear more about your farmy life, and see inside your sweet cottage…it looks just like what we call workmen’s cottages here in Oz. Thanks for being a guest poster Lyn and giving us a peek into your life. Are you still living in the same area, near the Blue Ridge Mts. I’ll add my vote to you starting a blog!
Thank you – yes still by the mountains. The cottage looks quite small from the outside, but inside is quite spacious. Has three bedrooms (one upstairs with a walk in closet and a bathroom), lounge, dinning room, kitchen and downstairs bathroom. More then enough space for me. It was built in 1900 with the kitchen and bathroom built in 1950. This is quite old by USA standards.
Lyn, wonderful to put a place & story to accompany your name and comments we see 🙂 What shines for me is how much you give, the home, life and friends you have made. I understand pet/house/garden sitting is a vocation for you but it seems as well so much more than that, sharing your values and care to provide others, 4 legged and 2, with quality of life.
Regardless if you decide to blog, or simply continue sharing snippets via the Farmy Commenters Lounge, I enjoy hearing from you 🙂
You are too kind! I probably shouldn’t say this, but I find I have more in common with my four legged friends than the two LOL. We seem to have a lot in common, loving freedom and out door spaces.
Oh, I think that’s fair to say – I have had of my own, and still have of others’ some very good cat and dog friends 🙂
I loved this post Lyn! Your genuine and honest nature makes your story appealing and inspiring! I would love to hear more! Thank you for sharing with us. I’m casting my vote too… you definitely should blog if you like to write.
Well not that you are all applying any kind of pressure, but I am seriously considering it now! I am overwhelmed by all the wonderful comments everyone has made and humble that anyone would be that interested in my little life 🙂