Dear Friends, I was thinking about how I enjoy the forum, and what need it plays in my life. I hurry in morning to get most things out of the way, so I can come see what is happening here. It is a place where I can let my hair down, talk about my life, and not have to worry about what the neighbors or children or who ever, even my husband would say. Its a place for older folks can help combat lonelyness. I listen to your problems, or just everyday chats. I wonder what Melissa looks like, You know how you hear a singer, and you have him all pictured in your mind and he turns out totally differant. I think Melissa wears dress's, and has brown hair. I believe she is in her early 40's. I think Cabin Fever has to be younger, and is a really happy guy, and funny. Then there is Cheryl , and Ardie, lesley, What do you all look like. Also Sonda, And hoot. He sounds like a hick, but I don"t think so. He is one smart man. And Mitch who lives on the other side of the mountain. Oh my I can"t remember all the names. I come here to just talk, can"t talk much to husbands they just grunt responses. What does this forum fill in your lives?

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), April 24, 2002

Answers

Ah Irene, you think about me once and a while? You sweetheart! My impression of you is that you're the sweetest, kindess, gentle people I know (it must be the Minnesotan in you!). I bet you're the best ma and grandma there is.

I haven't figured out what this forum means to me yet. You all seem like a great bunch of people. I used to visit another forum much like this one for over two years. But that forum, for whatever reason, has more or less dried up. I still lurk there but there isn't much going on anymore.

I know that these kind of forums can mean a lot to people. In fact, I met the love of my life at a homesteading forum just like this one. She was from East Texas too, Irene! Now she lives in Minnesota.



-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_MN@yahoo.com), April 24, 2002.

Irene, there are some pictures on the back up site if you can figure it out.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), April 24, 2002.

To me, this is the back fence everybody used to talk over. We share "surface stuff" like recipes, garden tips, kids, etc. We also share "deep stuff" like emotional problems and (carefully) religion. It's a place to laugh or cry, tell jokes or sound off, or just put our arms around each other to say been there, done that, life's hard, but you'll make it.

And Irene, you seem like one tough but caring little lady. If we ever make it back to Texas, I wouldn't mind swapping howdies with you.

-- Cathy N. (eastern Ontario) (homekeeper86@sympatico.ca), April 24, 2002.

It is fun, Irene to come here and see what other country people (and country at heart)are doing, feeling, experiencing isn't it? This forum inspires me because of good people like yourself that are willing to share some wisdom and knowledge with the rest of us.

-- Marilyn in CO (www.tomeatbeef@aol.com), April 24, 2002.

Hi Irene

I come to this forum for the friends, and I can frequently find the answers to homesteading questions here.

-- Rick in Southwest WV (Rick_122@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

This forum reminds me of a very small town of 300 people that I lived in long time ago.

There was the post office, general store and the inn all in a row. All had benches and picnic tables in front and the store had a "free" box along the path to the post office.

In the morning, folks would bring their mail in and wait for the mail to arrive, have some coffee and socialize. In the afternoon, the working folks stopped in for their mail and refreshments, catch up on the news of the day, and of course, to socialize. Quite a few of us liked to catch both social hours in town to see if the morning's problems had been solved yet.

That is what this forum is to me. Drinking coffee in front of the general store, waiting for Old Charlie to come get his mail or Aunt Pearl to tell a story of the old days or just what Dianna's kids did THIS time. If we didn't see you for a few days, we went looking for you. We shared joys and problems, we helped solve problems, sometimes we created problems. We all loved the sense of community we had with each other. Yup, that's what this forum is to me, except I don't have to get dressed to sit and have coffee with Country Families.

Oh yeah the "free" box there had an assortment of dented cans, extra produce from everyone's gardens, spare roosters or old hens in a cage and sometimes even a runt piglet or two for the less fortunate in the community.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), April 24, 2002.

Laura you made me aware that we have been so busy learning our new land, and trying to set up our homestead, that we have never visited our new post office.

I wonder how "un-federalized" it is!!

-- Rick in Southwest WV (Rick_122@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

Beautiful! I was thinking a few days ago how much you all figure into my life now! I use yor recipes, wonder about your families, your weather, and what you are all doing. I worry if I don't hear from you,and I use your advice! Even those who occassionally make me a little perturbed have taught me so much, and I still care about them too!!!

Irene, I really look forward to your stories and tips too, but my dear, you are pretty wrong about how I look!!! I don't even OWN a dress!! I live in jeans, t-shirts, flannel shirts etc... and they should be blue!!! I have blondish brown hair (light golden brown according to the bottle, but don't tell anyone!!!) I still need to lose a few pounds, and I am bigger in the "top" than I want to be, but I have thinner legs, and blue eyes and I wear glasses, which basically drive me crazy, becasue I am always switching from regular to photo-gray to sunglasses. The kids all laugh at me because I NEVER have the right pair, and I am always looking for them!!! Oh my hair is thick and wavy and I pull it back in a hair band because I can't stand to mess with it, and it always looks a little wild too!

So I guess we should start a thread on what we look like!!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 24, 2002.

I am 34, and I like to listen to music that is a little too loud, and Cale is always mad at how loud I have the radio on when he gets in the van! Most of the time I still feel like I am 16, and I wonder how I got so old, with all of these kids!!!!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), April 24, 2002.

Hi Irene,

I like to come here because everyone here behaves more like real life, neighborly neigbors do. Everyone trys to be helpful and mannerly :-).

Melissa may not fit your description of how you thought she looked but I'll use it, it fits me. I have brown hair, just hit "mid" forties and always wear dresses, even to do all outdoor chores in the summer and winter. What can I say? I just really like dresses :-)!!

Irene, I may not post a lot but do read this forum each day and always enjoy your input.

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), April 24, 2002.

I visit all the break off forums and CS also. I got my internet connection in 1998 and landed on CS forum very near the conception. IT WAS FUN TO HELP PEOPLE ! and I learned a lot also.

I know it is very hard to believe that I am the one who started the riot at CS (HA HA) that led to today and the variety of forums we have. I did it because we as homesteaders need the company, the compassion, the help with problems, and the PRAYERS ! We are somewhat out on a limb, down the backroad, beyond the sidewalks. It can get somewhat lonely ! I ask for peace and solitude, and I have it but occasionlly lonely is a side effect. CS and the 3 off shoots are medicine for that.

I love to debate issues with a cross section of people and this is the best place in the world for that. Most of all-- I'm still learning at age 50 and this is school ! Blessings to all !

-- Joel Rosen (JoelnBecky@webtv.net), April 25, 2002.

Dear Irene,

Being a newcomer to the forum, (I got here by search engine, looking for info on pygmy goat pregnancies)I can understand why you all keep coming back. I really enjoy checking in throughout the day and learning and laughing and asking questions that everyone is very helpful in answering. It is nice to "chat and have coffee" any time of day or night (woke up at 3 am today). I am starting to recognize names and yes, it is funny how you put an image to a post by the way the person answers or by the name and email address.

It certainly is a warm and friendly place. :)

-- Cindy (ilovecajun@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

I check in throughout the day to see what interesting posts come in. If anyone wonders what I look like, here goes. I'm 5'5" (used to be 5'6"), weigh about 50 more pounds than I should. My black hair just got a perm and it hangs between my ear and shoulders. I have brown eyes and use bifocals in gold colored frames. My clothing is strictly casual-I don't own a dress.

-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Hi---just checking in really quick this morning------while I'm waiting on a few things/ to finish here in the house/ so I can do my chores/etc/etc/--as hubby is waiting on me-----we are on our way to our kids house today---for one reason to pick up that ONE lone DUCK the grandson's hatched out---HA!! The kids wrote a contract on a farm & now they are getting the house in town ready to put on the market to sell-----they didn't think a lone quacking duck would help with the selling of the house----so Grandpa & I are on our way to go pick up Mr. Waddles---& other things/ the kids had borrowed---& now want more room!!!

Well you all are family & friends to me & I check in to see what ya all are up to----

I learn from ya all---& if ya shine a flash light on me/ I'll entertain ya--ha!---& I pray for ya all-----& I have cryed for some of you & laughted with most of ya!!!!

And most of all I feel an attachment for all of you!!!

But now I have to run so we can go get that duck!!!!! ha! Maybe spoil the grandsons just a little while we are there---& most of all take them some more EGGS!!!!!!!!!!! I still have eggs everywhere---- they kids eat them & share them also---

later ----Sonda in Ks.

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), April 25, 2002.

I look to this forum for advice, recipes, ideas, love and friendship. I feel like alot of you guys are like a second family. I check in periodically throughout the day to see how everyone is doing. I look at this as a place to go where you can express yourself and not have your words thrown back in your face. It is a great support system. I am learning alot about country living, And one day when I am able to move out of the city I'll be able to look back and say hey. I learned that on the country families forum.

-- Melinda (speciallady104@hotmail.com), April 25, 2002.

Irene, you are such a sweetie-pie! I visit here and elsewhere because since I can no longer go out and visit folks, you all have become my neighbors. I did so enjoy being able to drive down the road in PA and chat about this and that with my friends..we still write to one another, but with the post office increasing stamp prices, I'm not too certain how chatty we all be continue to be soon! Look like???? hmmm, My children still chuckle over several incidents in St. Louis when folks would come up to me in restaurants and football games and ask for my autograph..they were convinced I was Faye Dunaway.this went on for about 5 years or so, and made everyone but me laugh because I cannot for the life of me see any resemblance except for high cheekbones. I also have Auburn hair and she is a blonde..go figure....I always wear dresses.... long enough to trip over going upstairs, with huge pockets, since I am by nature a packrat....I have to use bifocals for reading and any close work now, and can never find them since they are usually on the top of my head tangled in my hair!

-- lesley (martchas@bellsouth.net), April 25, 2002.

I always look forward to seeing you on here Irene - you always have a little bit of wisdom, delivered with just enough salt and sugar to make it good! Not too sweet, doesn't sting! You all are better neighbors than the ones I have now - I see more of you, and I WANT to see you. I miss people when they aren't here, even though I have been so busy I try to at least log on and read, whether I have time to post or not!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), April 25, 2002.

A bazillion years ago....maybe 8 or 10???? Remember back when it cost about $5/hour to be online? Well.....a long time ago we used to have Countryside chats on the weekend for one hour. JD was there. I used to save up my money for that event ;-)

Once the 'net got cheaper and I joined a bunch of homestead groups, I forgot about any Countryside forums. I've popped in and out of this one for a few years, but have only become a regular in the last few months. I like groups better so I can read each email separately, but this sort of forum has grown on me ;-)

-- Peace and Carrots Farm, Vermont (wsm311@aol.com), April 25, 2002.

My answer is almost exactly like Rick in WV; trading experiences with good friends. I really miss it when GREENSPUN goes down, what a drag.

I still live in the city, but someday hope to live out in the country. Pretty much already have the attitudes; now have to get motivated and do something about it. Have a great day.

-- j.r guerra in s. tx. (jrguerra@boultinghousesimpson.com), April 26, 2002.

Where else can I meet people who have anything in common with myself? It's kind of been a revalation to me, as before all of my friends were mostly into cities, new clothes and shiny cars. I have to admit, it has been a hoot (and educational, as well!) talking with people of similar interests. As to what I look like, I am short and slightly rounded, have glasses and prefer to wear jeans and a t-shirt. I have long, red, fuzzy hair and freckles. When I was growing up a lot of people had trouble believing I was from the same family as my siblings, as I am the short person in a family of tall people, and both my sisters have dark hair.

-- Terri (hooperterri@prodigy.net), April 26, 2002.