The Boys at Hearts of Grace Academy

Friday, April 11, 2008

My Grandpa's Farm

You may not know this about me, but I'm just a country girl. I grew up in the country ~ lived, breathed, enjoyed and loved it.

The backstory: It was in September 1993 that my grandfather passed away. Ever since I was a little girl, my grandparents always lived on a farm ~ a huge farm. Huge in acreage. It was a small dairy farm, that was barely self-sufficient. Those of you that either have been or are farmers know full well what I mean. Not to mention the back-breaking lifestyle having a farm entails. The farm was about 93 acres. There is a creek that runs through the front pastures and the 1/10th of a mile drive crosses over this small creek. There is also a pond in the back pastures before you reach the train tracks. Yes, I loved this farm. There is also some acres across the road that we always used for hay for the cows. So when I found out in 1998 that my parents had to sell my grandfather's farm I was devastated, absolutely devastated. My grandfather's farm being sold. It would be equivalent to my parents selling their land. It simply wasn't right that my grandfather's farm wasn't going to be in the family. My parents did keep the acreage across the road. Their home and my sister's home is on that acreage. But the main part of the farm is no longer ours.

Fast forward to today: I always know that whenever my mom actually calls me (she lives in New York), that it usually isn't going to be good. Well, today is one of those times. She called to let me know that the current owners of my grandfather's farm have decided to sell about 6 acres of one of the front pastures. I know it's silly, but why sell? Apparently they aren't farmers, have no interest in farming and probably simply want the money. Oh, okay, I don't know that for a fact, but it simply doesn't make sense to sell that one portion of the land. So now my parents and sister are going to have (eventually) someone living across from them (on my grandfathers farm).

I just called my brother in Minnesota and of course I cried about the land being sold ~ I know silly. Unfortunately neither of us has the funds available to buy these few acres.

I guess the reason why it bothers me is it's like a part of me and my childhood is being sold and there's nothing I can do about it. This picture was taken the Fall of 2003, the last time I visited my family. It's in the back pastures of my grandfather's farm.

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Comments

Friday, April 11, 2008 - Sorry to hear...

Posted by Your DH

...that's happening. I remember the visit we made to the farm in 2003. I think we should definitely get back up there as soon as we can.

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Friday, April 11, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MiryClay

Happy belated birthday to you my friend! Birthday blessings are on my blog for you. Sorry to hear about your grandfather's farm being sold. I am a country girl too. It's so sad to see farm land turned into housing additions. Hopefully your brother & family will be blessed with good neighbors. ;o)

Love, Lori

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Saturday, April 12, 2008 - Oh Sweet Chelelew

Posted by bubbebobbie

I am so sorry this is happening to you. Sinc our family always moved around, I never grew up with this attachment. My husband has though and has watched his father divid the land build a house next door, sell the house and build another house. And watching the care he gave them just waste awat in the care of the new owners has always been heart breaking.

I am sorry for the loss of your childhood homes and now land.

Because of Jesus, Bobbie

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Monday, April 14, 2008 - Untitled Comment

Posted by Anonymous

I know the feeling. No, mine wasn't a farm. It was my grandparents' house right across from the race track in Darlington. When my grandmother passed away almost two years ago, the family had to sell it. My cousins and I took it the hardest because it's the place we spent nearly all our weekends and the summer playing with each other. Not to mention parking cars for the races and earning big moula! At least a large part of your family farm is still in tact. That's a good thing.
Renee

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Friday, May 2, 2008 - Mother's Day GiveAway!

Posted by SchoolinRhome

From one country girl to another...
I wanted to let you know that I am hosting my first giveaway over at my blog! It is to celebrate Mother's Day! Stop by and tell me why you are happy to be a mother and you could win an awesome devotional book, a journal and a cooking with kids CD-Rom.
Enjoy your weekend with your family!
SchoolinRhome
Here is the giveaway link:
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SchoolinRhome/525838/

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Thursday, May 8, 2008 - Grandfather's Farm

Posted by Anonymous

Hi Chele,
I am a part of the Konos Yahoo Group. I just happened to read your post and went to your website. I don't normally do that, but I did today. I saw your title about Grandfather's farm. It touched a spot with me as well.
My grandfather also had a farm in mid-central Kansas. It had been in the family for years. I was eleven when he moved off the property to move with his work. I was fourteen when he chose to sell the property. I was devastated. I had always known that I could go back to the property one day..... until he sold it.
I refused to talk to my grandpa for almost a year. The property was then sold again about five years later to a local cattle farmer who promptly proceeded to tear down the house and all the barns. He also filled in the root cellar. Boy did I cry then!
I have gone back only twice since then because it is so hard to look at the property and know what it once was and what it now is. I still have wonderful memories of driving my cart and buggy down the dirt road next to the farm and having a picnic down the road in a clearning.
I know how hard it is to want to buy back the property and thought I was the only one that felt that way.....until about two months ago. My family went to stay with my mom during spring break and she told me that the old farmstead was up for sale and that she wished that she could buy it back and rebuild the farmhouse and such. I never knew that she missed it like I did until that time.
By the way, the farm was sold in 1984 and I just found that out about my mom in March 2008!

Anyway, Have a great day and know that at least one person knows how you feel!

Sincerely,

Darci Douglass
Wife to Terry for 19 yrs
Mother of four
Homeschooling mom of two growing babies(2.5 dd and 1 ds)

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About Me

Hi - I'm CheleLew, did you bring your cuppa coffee? Go get your cup ~ I'll wait!! So let's chat about the "the boys" - Joshua & Caleb and our homeschooling adventure with them. We'll also be chatting about homemaking, parenting, quilting, stamping, scrapbooking, and life. Have fun looking around and leave a comment.

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