The month started off with our long anticipated trip to Perry, Georgia for the State Fair. It was an inspiring trip to look at livestock and to enjoy some simple pleasures at our own leisurely pace. One that we often had to remind each other of, in our quickened steps to see as much as we could during our 3 day visit there. While at the motel we rested and spent time reading nutritional books and ones on self-sustainable living, which fueled an even higher desire to live simply and of one day hopefully owning a larger plot of land. Discussions abounded as we gathered, revised and talked out new information learned. We had a wonderful visit with some dairy goat farmers and watched the judging for some categories of cattle, sheep and goats. To hear us debate the merits of the candidates before us you would have thought we knew what we were talking about. That is until the official judges announced the blue ribbon winners, which by the way were not the ones we had picked out. Oh well, we have lots to learn and we know it. We did alot of walking and ate some of the typical fair foods, saw some lovely quilts on display and heard 2 concerts, along with seeing the usual fair exhibits.
Even though sickness hounded every step of our trip, which caused us to wonder about our health and food choices being connected. We enjoyed the time away from the everyday schedule we keep. Every time one of us made a negative statement about a new healthy choice option, the other would counter with a "why not?" Every one of us spends our hard earned money on something, why not invest it into something that leads to a productive health and ministry?
What at first glance may appear to be a contradiction against simply living, is at the heart of it. Those things frequently seen on a farmstead like dairy goats or cows, raising chickens for eggs and meat, baking bread, making cheese, harvesting a garden /herb bed, knitting, quilting and other types of handiwork, tending bee hives and a host of other options are the skills necessary to live with little influence from those whose main goal is to steal our time and money. Two resources that everyone declares to be in short supply of. Though often fail to make any changes necessary to remedy their individual circumstances. Such a sad state of living, to be in pursuit of more, which keeps us all in bondage for even more of the same. I believe Lon and I have seen the dawning of a new day for us and are ready to say enough to that which seeks to steal life from us. Odd looks are sure to ensue as we make the changes we feel are needed in our lives. It will be full of ups and downs and a few failures I am sure. But a sweet journey of really living life as I believe God intended for us.
Another trip closed out the month of October for us as we took a day trip down to "Westville", below Lumpkin, Georgia. It is a 1850"s living community, where you can see the homes, trades and lifestyles of the early settlers. They were having their "Pioneer Days" and the cool fall weather made it a wonderful outing for us. We were able to watch cotton being ginned, cane syrup cooked, candles being hand dipped (which I bought one of), quilting, cooking over an open hearth, and other examples of pioneer day to day activities. A few farm animals were on display, like a pair of hogs from Spanish decent, sheep and mules working in various jobs. I tasted fresh squeezed cane juice and bought a sample of hot from the fire ~ gingerbread. YUM! It seems that where ever we travel now, we are meeting new people who encourage us in homesteading. Westville was no different as we met a potter who also raises meat goats, gardens organically and homeschools her children. Talking to Nea was so enjoyable that she gave us her email address to stay in touch.
After leaving we traveled west to Providence Canyon, also near Lumpkin. I wanted to show Lon the beautiful little grand canyon as it is sometimes referred to. Years ago when I homeschool the boys we went on a field trip with other homeschoolers to see it and Westville too. How I remembered it was not the same as we saw it. Fifteen plus years had seen alot of growth to the surrounding undergrowth and trees. Only small glimpses of the canyon walls could be seen and we some how missed the path to the canyon floor. Which led us on a 3 mile hike through the woods surrounding the rim of the canyon, it was a God-send as we actually was able to see more from above. Our exercise done for the day (or week) and another Fall Favorite marked off my list and we headed towards home. Stopping along the way at the "Country Store Restaurant" at Callaway Gardens. Boy did we pig out on some of the best country fixins around and their legendary Muscadine Preserves on hot biscuits. The ride home was long due to a traffic holdup but it gave us a chance to digest our supper meal before bedtime. Giving us one satisfactory day of fun, not to mention the extra jars of Muscadine preserves that rode home with us.
Deborah
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