More Proof

I actually meant to include this picture in my last post, Down on the Farm. These bales of hay were in the lot adjacent  to our yard. They are growing alfalfa right next door. This is indeed the country life.

Down on the Farm

I like to think of myself as a city girl. However, I have only spent a small portion of my life living in an actual city. I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Although the city is not a huge metropolis, Fort Wayne is big enough to have many of the attractive features of an urban area. There are sidewalks, street lights, libraries, theaters, public transportation, museums, and lovely parks. Most importantly homes have city water and city sewers.

When I was fourteen, our family moved to a subdivision. Although I think that our subdivision was within the city limits, for a teenager without means of transportation this seemed quite uncivilized to me. There were no sidewalks or street lights. There were no stores or other distractions within walking distance. Furthermore, there was not easy access to public transportation to go to a store, to the library, or to the movies, a sad state of affairs for a young teen.

Across from our home of 38 years

Later, in my life, my husband and I lived in an apartment that was across from a dairy farm. Cows lived right across the street. Furthermore, our first house, where we resided for 38 years, was across the street from a farm as well. When we moved into the house, we had a well and a septic tank, attributes foreign to this city girl. Three years ago, we moved to the other side of town. This home is also across from an active farm; plus, we get our water from a well and our sewage goes to a septic tank in our back yard.

Interesting barn across the street from our new home

This year's corn crop

Country life is okay, but I miss sidewalks, street lamps, and most of all city water and city sewage. (I could also do without herds of mice and the dead raccoons that litter the highway.)

Perfect Day for Weeding

In reality, I do not think that there is a perfect day for weeding. Weeding is not a task that I relish. However today, I spent an hour or so removing weeds and saplings from a three foot by ten foot planter in our yard. The planter is in an area surrounded by red lava rocks. There were plenty of weeds and saplings in the lava rock area too.

Even if I do not particularly enjoy the task, the weather was extremely pleasant. The sky was a bright, clear blue. The temperature was seventy-three degrees, and a gentle wind was blowing. All in all a lovely day.

As I removed weeds, which is a rather mindless task, I imagined that one might remove metaphorical weeds from our hearts and souls in a similar fashion. Some of the weeds in the planter are easily extracted roots and all; others take two hands or even a trowel. Some of the more stubborn culprits are seemingly impossible but can be diminished by cutting. Productive life changes may be similar. Some habits are easily abandoned; others take more work. Finally, other unhealthy practices can be diminished, but stopping them may be extremely challenging. Perhaps, I will begin such a process as the weather is perfect.