A Good Day

As I am sitting here writing this, I am thanking God for how truly blessed I am. I got to experience a truly Great Day with my family. A day when family is dealing with a critically ill child from a car accident and a friend lost a brother in that same accident. So, yes, as I think about all the things that could be wrong or have made today bad, I am glad by God's grace I was allowed this one Great Day.

What made today so great, nothing special. We did not go on any fancy trips or spend a lot of money. What we did was spend time with each other.

Know I don't know how many of you know what "Dry Land Fish" are, but in the culinary world they are Morel Mushrooms. Every year in March and April they come up wild on our farm. So, it has been a habit of Brian and I to go and ramble over the woodlands of the farm to hunt these elusive "dry Land Fish".

Given that I had an abdominal hysterectomy last Thursday, I did not think that I would get to go this year, but like I said God was good to me today. We went to the farm and I got to watch my kids ride a mule while I sat in a chair for about 2 hours. Even my 3 year old can ride better than I can.

Then we were off, albeit much slower paced than we usually go with more Mommy breaks too. My Husband, 3 kids, Father in law and 3 squirrel dogs had a ball. The kids learned how to spot, and not step on, the Morel's and we got about a pound wet weight mushrooms.

Ella, my oldest who is forever running out ahead of the rest of us, learned not to walk into brush unless her Dad or I went first because in Tennessee in the Spring there are snakes in them their woods. I am glad it was only a black snake, but boy it sure taught her a lesson.

Around Five o'clock my Mother-in-Law got off work and the kids had a ball surprising her in the woods. She did not know we were there. Then we all went out to Mexican for diner. Let me tell you 2-3 hours of walking in the woods certainly puts kids to sleep.

No, today was not perfect. Brie got hit in the mouth with a stick, Cord sat on a sharp stump, and Cord had to Potty in the woods without wipes. But we survived and had fun doing it. Not once was there an argument over a TV show or iPod game. It was nice.

I think getting out and spending time is the best thing that any parent can do with their kids, and no I don't mean take them somewhere and expect them to entertain themselves while you veg out, read a book, or otherwise ignore them. I will be the first to admit that I like my me time, but kids need your we time.

It was fun to watch my Husband teach the kids how to track a squirrel, deer, and turkey. I liked showing them violets, May Apples, Morel mushrooms, and wild strawberries. It was fun watching them problem solve how to get from here to there when there was a downed tree and a ditch in the way, and for the most part they helped each other and worked it out.

Yes, I was proud of my day today. So proud that I don't have one picture to show for it except the ones in my head and sorry I cannot share those. Sometimes technology, even cameras need to wait in the car.

But, a note to my hubby should he read this - till Cord is a little older, the wipes should never wait in the car... ever.

Baby, its cold outside

Greetings from frozen Tennessee. This winter weather has made life interesting in my medical practice and for our farm. Our cattle are eating more hay and grain, and my patients are having to reschedule appointments and we are doing a lot of telephone medicine. My wonderful hubby is having to bring me back and forth to work too as our road is covered in snow and ice.

Brian and I were pleased to be able to go to the American Farm Bureau Federation's annual meeting in Atlanta this past weekend, and we both have to admit that we were more pleased to have driven ourselves and been able to leave on Sunday before the weather set in. We had no desire to be stuck in Atlanta in a snowstorm. We were learning a lot and were please to see our friends from across the country. I was really pleased to have been able to attend the AgChat Foundations training on social media and proper use for Agvocating for Agriculture.

We met and made many new friends as well.

I know that this blog can seem fractured in post at times. And after our training session, I have put more thought in what I want this blog to do. I want people to see the real issues facing agriculture and medicine. By writing and posting here, I hope to provide a glimpse into rural life here in Upper Middle Tennessee. I think that unless people start telling their stories, whether they are based in agriculture or in my case in both agriculture and medicine, the Average inner city American lacks the knowledge to be able to understand our world and the issues we face.

Agriculture has been a late love of my life. I stumbled into this passion of mine by my relationship to my Hubby and our common interest in making our Beef Farm a success. Medicine is a calling that I have always had and am fortunate to be able to continue - unless Congress keeps trying to cut my pay - haha!!!

Looking forward to a more centered approach with this blog, but I will admit there will still more than not be post about my family as well because they are the real reason that I do what I do. So, I guess this post is my New Years Blogging resolution, it just took a bit to write it all down.