You Can Call Me MISS Miz S From Now On.

I have wanted to visit Angie's farm for over 2 years, ever since I first read her blog. Here is a short list of things that Angie knows how to do: design blog templates, sew clothes, refinish wood, repair furniture, paint rooms, garden, can her own vegetables, cook anything, wire a barn for electricity, raise chickens, and God only knows what else.

The woman made her own wedding cake. Who the hell makes their own wedding cake??

I am fascinated by people with such a wealth of practical skills.

So, I ventured into Ol' Virginny on Friday, so I could visit Miss Angie on her farm. Normally I like to boycott Virginia because it pisses me off.  It is a measure of my affection for Angie that I made the journey.

I had so much fun. I got to meet the whole family, even Steve, who took the week off from work to get ready for the goats. Angie charmed me by referring to me as "Miss Mary" in front of the children.  Colby (age 20) is sweet and polite and kissed her momma goodbye and said "I love you" when she left for work. Gracie (age 9) is as sassy as could be and revealed family secrets to me, including that after the family eats Mexican food, the children close their doors at night because Daddy emits noxious -- oh never mind I won't finish that anecdote. J. (Steve's daughter from his first marriage) is 12, and looks exactly like her dad, right down to the shy, quiet smile. Little Steven is 17 months old, and might be the cutest little boy on God's green earth.

Angie spent the entire morning cooking me a home-grown meal. Almost everything on the table came from their garden. Vegetarian lasagna (with zucchini), garden salad, red and yellow tomatoes with mozzarella cheese and fresh basil, and homemade tapenade as a starter.

And it was all gooooooood. I ate myself silly.

After lunch, we toured the barns and the meadows to see the goats, chickens, and ducks. You should see that damn chicken barn. It smells better than most people's houses. Those chickens are living the life of Riley, I'll tell you what. The best chicken feed, augmented with expensive sunflower seeds and kitchen scraps, pristine water dispensers, a radio playing music, and an electric fan in the afternoon when it gets hot. That's a sweet life for chickens.

The goats, which were delivered by my brother on Thursday, seem to be adjusting to their new home just fine. (When I asked my brother if it seemed like the goats would be happy on Angie's farm, he said, "If they can't be happy there, they can't be happy anywhere.")

All too soon, it was time for me to face traffic on I-95 again. Which sucked, if you must know.

Anyway, it was a lot of fun to meet the person behind the blog. Angie is really nice and funny and easy to talk to. The only thing I can't figure out is how she ever has a minute to sit down and write a post because DAMN, running a farm, even a little one, requires a lot of work.

Comments

[MsCellania]

Sounds like heaven to me.
Not many have those life skills. I have dabbled in alot of it (but not animal husbandry) but more as a hobby, not as a lifestyle. To be honest, you never knew if you were opening up a can of heaven or hell with my offerings.
Angie ought to have a Rural B & B, and charge megabucks to 'let' people much the stalls, mend the fences, tend the garden, can the tomatoes, feed the animals and mow the fields - all the while tending her baby.

[Angie]

MsCellania, you may have just solved my problem of finding a way to make this place pay for itself!

Mary, you are much too kind. You are also just as sassy as Gracie. LOL

[Margaret]

Farms are very hard work, but rewarding too. I know I couldn't do it, so I'll just admire from afar.

[Kathryn]

Sounds wonderful! I occasionally dream of having a farm. Then realize I like sleeping in too much to be responsible for animals other than kitties. Alas.

[Vanessa]

Sounds like Angie is a wonder woman. I don't usually read new blogs, but I'm going to add hers to my reading list, now. Glad you had such a good time.

[vicki]

I have had a close encounter with the accomplished Angie myself: a lovely plant she sent when my mother died has grown from a tiny 4 inch size to a 4 foot diamter plant in a ten inch pot- and it blooms continuously. It has the essence of Angie in it's roots. Now if only I could meet her in person. We could can tomatoes together. I would like that and you were so lucky to have your mini convention at Angie's farm. Did she let you sit on the big red couch?

How cool is it that your brother's goats are now Angie's goats? Do they speak Latin?

[raehan]

You two warm my heart. What a fitting way for you two to finally meet.

[the bee]

Miss Miz S, we will call you ma'am if you like, just do not stop writing. We are all in awe of Angie.My biggest thing would be how you go away with all the animals on the farm? She is awesome and so are you Miz S.
I am still recovering from this walking pnumonia so I took a 3 hour nap today. It was heaven.
Oh, and we need info on the girls road trip . Are they back safe and sound? hugs to all you folks that work farms both big and small - the bee

[raehan]

And by the way, I would have had my girls call you "little Mizzy" because I like the way it sounds.

"Hey there, litle Missy..."

[Susie Sunshine]

DID YOU CHECK HER MEDICINE CABINET?! I have a lot of shit to do and enquiring minds want to know!!

Sounds like a lovely day. Goats are just the cutest and little Steven + goats might be a cuteness tsunami.