For one, we had to get an address and buy a mailbox!
The house we moved into was just built a few years ago and the previous owner had a PO box in town, so there was no physical mailing address or mailbox. We wanted to get mail delivered to our home, so we had to get an address. It took a while to get all the kinks worked out, but we now have a rural route address. We normally don't have issues getting our mail, but have found that FedEx and UPS don't recognize our address so they won't deliver to us.
We also learned all too quickly about the danger of ticks. Just two weeks after we moved, David was bit by a tick and developed the "bull's eye rash" associated with Lyme disease. Thankfully, if caught early enough and treated with antibiotics, Lyme disease can be prevented. But that really scared us, so we immediately got a flock of guineas to wage war on the ticks. The guineas have worked surprisingly well at reducing the tick population (when they're not busy dust bathing in our herb garden, that is).
We knew before we moved out here that our water would be supplied through a well, but being the city girl that I was and not knowing much about well water, I didn't realize that the water got to our house through an electric pump. Of course this means that if the power goes out, we have no water. Obviously we (and our animals) need water to survive, so this became a huge concern. We could deal with losing the lights and maybe the heat for an extended period of time, but water is the ultimate necessity.
David's mom and stepdad heard about our concerns over the possibility of losing power and being without water, so while they were in town visiting for Christmas, we got a VERY unexpected blessing...
They bought us a generator! We had been talking about buying one after this last power scare and were trying to think of how we could pay for one, but now we don't have to worry about that. I don't think I've ever received such a generous gift and we are so very grateful. Thanks again, Cindy and Ramon!
Have you made the transition from city to country life? What took you by surprise?
~Tammy
Shared with Down Home Blog Hop, Farm Girl Blog Fest
Hang on - how did you get your mail in the city? I guess I took it for granted that everyone had a mailbox, of some sort. Hmmmm?
ReplyDeleteI'm about 25 miles outside of Boston, so we're not technically "in the country", but we're much more suburban than many other towns in the area. Ticks are a HUGE threat and I check my boys for them nightly in the summer.
We had a mailbox and an already established address when we lived in the city. I figured that every house would have a mailbox (even in the country), so we were surprised when we had to buy one and get an address!
DeleteWe moved to a quite spot in KY and learned all about ticks this past year--and we've brought a few home too.
ReplyDeleteSomeone told us about Guinea Hens, but my Hubs backed down after he listened to a clip of them on youtube. They are noisy little buggers.
Ticks or a big problem where we live. The next town over from us is Lyme, where some people think Lyme disease originated! I got bit several years ago, developed the bulls eye and went on antibiotics. I ended up with a fever and aches in my joints. Every now and then I still get the aches, but they aren't too severe.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful for them to get you a generator! The kindness of family knows no bounds :)
ReplyDeleteOh wow. Congrats on that awesome generator. I wish we had one!
ReplyDeleteLOL, we had to get a mailbox and address when we moved here too!
Your water story is funny to me. I had the exact reverse happen to me when I moved from the country to the small town I live in. Everytime the power would go out, I would stop using the water. My husband asked me why and I told him that is what I have always done, and he laughed at me while explaning that our water comes from the water tower a few blocks away, not an electric pump like I had always had before...
ReplyDeleteOh what a truly generous and I must say in your case life saving gift. I know what you are talking about country living is very different. Luxuries that city people call the necessities are so very different. There are many lessons to be learned. I am so happy you have learned yours quickly and well.My Hero and
ReplyDeleteI were tested for Lyme disease also, it is a concern and with my Fibromyalgia that is the first thing I was tested for. I am glad David had the rash so he knew. We are lucky enough to have a well that we can throw a rope and pail down if we need too don't forget to tie the rope we learned that the hard way:) Guinea hens great idea well except for the garden part:) Great post Tammy. B
When I saw the mailbox, I thought you were going to say people kept knocking it down. That is a common pass time around here. They don't mess with mine though, it's solid steel! I had never thought of not having an address before. I guess I just thought they assigned one whenever a house was built!
ReplyDeleteA generator is such a great gift! Something you don't want to buy yourself but so nice when you need it! I think you are doing a fantastic job on your homestead...and as always, I love to see the guineas, I love that they wipe out the tick population!
ReplyDeleteThis is the second time today that I heard that guineas eat ticks. Never know that before. Hmmm...I wouldn't be thrilled with them in my herb bed though. :)
ReplyDeleteFarmhouse hugs,
Cindy
What caused you to make this life change?? I've always wanted to live in the country and off the grid! How do people living off the grid get water??
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful present!
Thank you so much for joining my blog and for all of your lovely comments. I love what you wrote here and boy can I relate. We have for the most part lived in the country with rural addresses. Putting up a mailbox...and we did this often because we moved a lot....was always a bit of a trauma. We have had school kids knock them over with baseball bats...just out having fun, or driving their cars into them just for kicks, that one we caught in the act and he had to pay restitution and plant three new shrubs that he ruined too....and then there was the time the mail woman drove into it.....whoops....like the day after we had just put it into the ground, then there was the snowplow guy with his big plow and our big snow up here in Maine who just with one whoosh by it knocked it over in the middle of winter when the ground was frozen and we couldn't put a new one up until the ground thawed....I bet I could write a book about " Mailbox Dilemmas "....I have to laugh now that I think about all the trauma our mailboxes have caused us over the years. There's nothing like living in the country though no matter what it's best of living the simple life and that is what I love so much.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I love your blog : )
ReplyDeleteoh yes! I hear you! Most of your 'things' were our things too. Mailbox buying is fun, powercut pump water not so much! We keep a large sealed bottle of water always for emergencies!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that something, there's dirt everywhere but they feel that have to bath in the garden! =0 Guineas are useful, tho, for ticks, as you said, but also as 'watchdogs'! They keep an eye out on the place... you might want to get a couple donkey, cuz they keep coyote & other predators away. =)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the generator! That's one awesome & useful gift, indeed! =)
The stars. We have a wonderful view of thousands of stars, especially in the winter time. It is breath-taking. :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh a tick two weeks in must have not been pleasant!
ReplyDeleteWell water is my biggest adjustment because even w/the household water softener, white clothes get dingy and surfaces (like the shower) get stained and are very difficult to keep clean. And there's no fluoride in the water, so that makes a huge difference for our teeth.
Great differences, it feels nicer, we breath easier, the neighbors are great, the atmosphere is all around better!
I love the country...too bad it doesn't come w/city water. ;)
Wonderful post ~ about your evolving process of living in the country ~ so glad your in-laws got you a generator ~ will make all the difference ~ Great photos and didn't know that guinea hens keep the tic population down ~
ReplyDeleteSo good to have you visit ^_^
(A Creative Harbor) aka ArtMuseDog and Carol)
Yep, I can relate! Since I was 9 I lived in the city. Then one day the hubby & I bought 12 acres of bare property. Yep, we had to get an address & squeeze our mailbox in between the neighbors so our address numbers were in order. Thank goodness we don't have to worry much about ticks in the Pacific NW. And, yep we have well water & a couple generators. We have a crummy power company & our power goes out frequently. One tip: Don't forget to have plenty of gas on hand in case you do need to use the generator! Our first winter we were without power for 2 weeks straight & our road is not plowed when it snows. And it snowed a lot. We had to buy gas from our neighbors. It's all these little things that make country livin' exciting.
ReplyDeleteWow! Love that generator! We also need one. We do have "city water", as the locals call it, but a generator would be great!
ReplyDeleteI guess those are things people don't know until they have to go through. I also thought everyone had a mail box!:) Congratulations on the generator! I love that picture of the dust bathing guineas!
ReplyDeleteTammy, I'm thankful for your generator too, and that you'll always have water! We have had to learn to use a chain saw (a small one) to help cut up firewood-when we first bought it my husband accidentally sawed through his shoe but the saw stopped short of his actual foot!! The good Lord was watching out for us that day!
ReplyDeleteTammy, Such an adventure you both have had! We purchased a generator a couple years ago because our electricity grid is up in the mountains. As soon as we get one of our pacific northwest storms.. we loose power for days. Not fun when the temps are in the 30's or 40's! You new guineas are adorable :) and I'm glad you have them to keep the tick population in check. We have black bear, dear, and an occasional bobcat in our yard. Never a dull moment right?!
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice and generous gift! You are learning as you go, the only way to do it! We moved onto raw land 30 years ago and didn't even have electicity for a year and had to pay for it to be brought up our steep mountain road! We don't have a generator, but we have two woodstoves, a cistern for holding rainwater and we always store bottled water for emergencies because we are also on a well. We once had a mailbox, too, but like some other reader's, the local boys like to drive around and smash them. So it is a PO box for us! I didn't know guinea hens ate ticks, what a great way to deal with them and they are so funny! I love reading about your adventures. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm quite certain that I commented yesterday, but every time I use my laptop, the delicate sensor messes me up (changing screens or looking like a submit w/o one). Grr
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you got a generator, that really is a wonderful and thoughtful gift.
The country is ideal for me, but I miss city water (a lot). :)
What a great gift! And I can't imagine not having an address.
ReplyDeleteHow comforting to have a generator in case of emergencies! One of my biggest shocks in the transition is the wildlife in these hills! The coyotes were so thick and so close to the buildings last night! It was eerie listening to them. Transition issue #2 is winter road maintenance, I have totaled two vehicles on winter roads since moving here. I will get used to the slower way that roads are cleared and maintained here some day... Really I will!
ReplyDeleteyou're such a darling :) thank you for all your kind words on my blog. I think you have adapted pretty well and I can imagine your happiness with this unexpected Christmas gift. I love reading you, I always learn so much and also remind me of valueing our city things. I would want to have an address too, and a cute mailbox ;) xxo
ReplyDeleteSo glad you came to visit me, I took a quick tour of your blog and love it! It is the perfect blog for newbie farmers like me (well soon to be anyway). Following you my friend. Diane
ReplyDeleteThe ticks bites and Lyme disease are very scary. Glad you have it under control there. The generator is a very nice present and we found it to be necessary living with well water and electric heat. I love the guineas photo. Have a happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteWow, I would LOVE to have a generator! What an awesome gift! We have the same problem with no water when the power goes out, which doesn't happen very often thank goodness. We were required to have an address when we moved here so that emergency services could find us.
ReplyDeleteLiving on our farm we are continually taken by surprise. I love that you went and got guineas to deal with the ticks...how smart and resourceful! Reading this, I am also struck with the realization that we have the same issue with an electric pump and we haven't even thought about getting a generator for backup. Thanks for that--it's now on the "wish" list.
ReplyDeleteWell, city chick, it looks like your transition to country life is going beautifully even if there have been some surprises.
ReplyDeleteThe gift of the generator was truly generous and thoughtful!
We had a horrible time with ticks last year. Both my husband and I found one on us. Luckily neither of us got bit, but it was a bad year since the weather stayed so warm. We live in the city, but most of WV is more rural than the rest of the US, so it doesn't fully count as true city living :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great gift! Since I have been a suburb girl most of my life...I can't really relate...but living in a rural area sounds very appealing...sometimes! I admire you for doing this...I love reading about your adventures! Have a great evening!!
ReplyDeleteI do believe the things that cause me allergies took me by surprise. I am on a twice-daily regimen of Allegra to combat the problems.
ReplyDeleteHow generous of your parents! Even though we live in a really well established area, we OFTEN lose our power for days at a time several times each summer!!! This past summer we were without power for a week. Luckily our neighbor let's us plug essentials (fridge and sump pump) into theirs. However, we often talk about making the investment......it's just so expensive and not a whole lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteI agree. A generator should be a must for everyone. We have a small Honda and we live in the city. When our power was out for a few days due to a mylar balloon, we were the only house on the block with TV, fridge, lights and ability to charge phones.
ReplyDeleteWe learned the hard way with a generator. I swear it's like Murphey's law. If you have one, you don't need it. If you don't, you need it. Hopefully you never need it!
ReplyDeleteI was so relieved to see you got a generator! It's a must have... it's great when you need it and the rest of the time, it's just security :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea that guineas helped with ticks!! And yes...I agree about the generator! We have well water but we do not have a generator yet so I understand your anxiety.
ReplyDelete