TheOldBarnDoor!  Our very own OBD...
Picture
You know that great line from the end of The Wizard of Oz where Dorothy looks up at her friends and family and says something to the effect about “looking for her heart’s desire she wouldn’t look any further than her own backyard.”  Well, my life is sort of like that…except I discovered I didn’t have the right backyard.  So, after a 25+ year high pressure career, my husband and I chucked it all, sold the house in the big city and bought the farm…really…we bought a farm.

I’m not entirely certain what made us think we could be farmers as we didn’t grow so much as leaf lettuce when we lived in the city but knew we needed to make a change in our lives.  We have always been outdoor people with a deep appreciation of the world around us.  Our lives had become one of constant “take” and we knew it was time to “give back” to nature and the world around us.  So now we find ourselves 3 hours away from family in a beautiful log home (means drafty) with no neighbours in sight and a view of Lake Ontario. Not that we are anti-social but we do enjoy the peace and quiet. 

We are organic farmers and do most of our work with as little equipment as possible (means we can’t afford a big tractor).  We raise meat sheep, laying hens, meat chickens, and we are graced with the presence of a lovely retired race horse (pacer).  There is also an assortment of cats (Frankie Beans is my avi) and our crazy collie Abbie.  I have a large market garden of heirloom veggies and grow anything you can think of

I shared a love of stamp collecting with my father.  We could often be found pouring over scraps of paper leafing through catalogues and I’m sure to the uninitiated we must have looked like spies plotting our next great adventure. When he passed away a few years back it fell to my (means my sisters dump this on me) to dispose of Dad’s large collection of stamps, covers postcards etc.  I quickly found that it rekindled my interest in geography and history, two classes I should clearly have attended more often in high school.  I have acquired some cards of my own along the way and this is how I come now to Etsy to share these beautiful vintage cards with others. 

 

Click to set custom HTML
2/14/2011 09:22:20 pm

OBD, your life sounds like a beautiful dream. It goes to show you don't have to have a fancy high paced life to be happy & to appreciate life. :D

Reply
2/14/2011 11:07:32 pm

Love your story OBD! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Reply
MaudesMisfitFactory
2/15/2011 12:39:55 am

sounds like you've done a lot in your life and your coming around full circle. i tried to join the marines to go full circle. lol. they wouldn't accept me thank god.

Reply
2/15/2011 12:54:46 am

Very nice. Now I understand where all the postcards came from. Thought maybe when you bought the farm the attic was full. Your store is a treasury in itself.

Reply
forgetmenotmemories
2/15/2011 01:57:28 am

Everybody loves OBD - you are a treasure!

Reply
2/15/2011 02:21:23 am

OBD - you are my hero! My dream is to pack in the high stress job in the Big City and move to the country!

Reply
TheOldBarnDoor
2/15/2011 03:40:40 am

There's always room for visitors during hay season or when we clean out the sheep stall......ah, suddenly my life is not so interesting. Glad you enjoyed my story.

Reply
2/15/2011 04:29:03 am

So inspiring! It might be hard work but you are happy, and life's too short to be anything but! It's been lovely getting to know you :)

Reply
Luella L'Bella
2/15/2011 10:15:44 am

Paints a pretty picture!

Reply
2/15/2011 11:15:39 pm

So nice to read about your life, I think we all would love to live like that. You seem like a person I'd love to meet one day!!

Reply
2/27/2011 11:14:43 am

Thank you for allowing us to get to know you, your life sounds wonderful! >^.^<

Reply
6/18/2011 10:19:08 am

I loved reading about your background, OBD! Really sounds like you are enjoying life!
~ Michele
HauteInteriorsLLC

Reply
1/25/2012 07:37:38 am

I am envious......I am still working the career "dream".........wish I was brave enough to decide to change gears.....I have a hay allergy OBD, so I will need different accomodations.!!!! LOL
Congratulations on your win.....BEAD

Reply
1/26/2012 01:43:17 am

will return before long

Reply
1/26/2012 11:51:39 pm

THX for info

Reply
3/10/2012 02:21:51 pm

THX for info

Reply
3/21/2012 05:58:00 pm

nice post

Reply
3/23/2012 02:29:32 pm

Many thanks for details

Reply
7/12/2012 02:25:37 pm

Fine article bro

Reply



Leave a Reply.