I grew up in a small town, on a small farm and I went to a small school. I had chickens, rabbits, cows and, as every country girl should, a pony! There were chores to be done, gardens to tend to and hay to haul. And I hated 95% of it. Wyandotte, OK was where my father was born and raised and we were destined to do the same. Time with my paternal grandparents was spent shucking corn, shelling peas, & cutting open the persimmons that grew on trees along the long driveway to see how we would fare in the coming winter. My grandfather was a mechanic and his garage was his shop. Many afternoons were spent picking up greasy bolts and washers from the gravel. That homestead always smelled like tractor grease and honeysuckle...very relaxing. Holidays were low key, just the immediate family. Dinner served around the dining room table, no laughing while eating, home cookin' at it's finest and sweet tea with so much sugar in it that it left a film on the bottom of your glass. Noodles were made from scratch from a pile of flour on the counter top. Gifts were nothing lavish, but always thoughtful. They taught me about honesty, hard work and simple living. How to appreciate a cold bologna sandwich (with mustard on white bread) with generic potato chips! Most importantly at that house, there were lots of hugs.
I enjoyed my "weekend life" much better. My maternal grandparents lived in the BIG city of Tulsa, OK. On weekend visits there we would go shopping, out to eat at nice restaurants, and visit my grandmother at work. She worked at a gourmet coffee store called Mecca Coffee Company. Don't confuse this with todays coffee shops like Starbucks, she was not a barista. They sold fancy things, coffee beans, jam & jellies, pretty paper napkins and high end kitchen items. I LOVED being there!
I loved the freedom from getting up early to go feed the rabbits. I love that they had neighbors & paved roads!! I loved walking out the back gate in the yard, across the alley into the meat market to get steaks for the grill. Or to the Dunkin Donuts on the corner for breakfast. Holidays were a large extended family affair, with fancy china, fancy food and wine! Pasta creations were prepared in the Cuisenart with the special attachment, hence the fancy kitchen gadgets. The gifts were refined and large scale such as a custom built doll house complete with wallpaper and carpet and one year...fur coats! Rabbit of course, like the ones in a cage at my house. And just as on the farm, lots of hugs.
I was certain that I was a city girl trapped on the farm. When I was on my own, I would never live down a dirt road again!
I had the best of both worlds. A double life. An identity crisis.
As time has passed and life has been lived I have come to appreciate both worlds equally. So being 'The Fancy Farmer' seems like a fabulous fit! It is perfectly acceptable to put glitter on barn wood!!
Stay tuned...Find us on Facebook @ thefancyfarmer66713
Baxter Springs, KS
APRIL 2015
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