An Eastern Oklahoma Transplant

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Furthermore, even though I have some trouble thinking warm thoughts about the worm beds we invested in last summer, Karl points out that the wigglers are actually livestock, too. I suppose I should try to feel more friendly toward them, especially since we hope our "worm farm" will let both of us quit our outside jobs before very long.

In addition to our other undertakings, we're fattening a steer for beef, and have recently acquired a beautiful pair of Pilgrim geese with the hope of starting a flock. Our big duck plans sort of fizzled, though: The two Muscovies, which were such cute little pets when they were young, have become really ornery and will soon form the basis for a (delicious, no doubt) Sunday dinner. (The dogs, the cat, and the children are also thriving in the country, but we have no plans to eat any of them . . . even though they, too, get a little ornery at times!)

Just as most of our animal adventures have been successful, so have our vegetable gardening efforts. In fact, we preserved enough produce last summer to cut our grocery bills in half, and we should do even better this coming season ... since the garden patch was worked up in the autumn, and tons (well, it seemed like tons) of manure and compost were dug into it.

COUNTRY HARMONY

The fact is that everything we do around here seems a lot easier than the same chores did when we first came. I think our muscles and our minds have made the adjustment from city havoc to country harmony.

But before you assume that—now that we consider ourselves settled in—we're ready to rest, let me tell you that these old joints are just beginning to get limbered up for some real work: the construction of a new house to replace our present "shelter", which was built from a bit of scrap lumber and a lot of wishful thinking back in the 1930's. (There is one advantage, however, to living under a roof with absolutely no insulation. Ever since we spread black tar over the shingles in order to stop up all the leaks—didn't I tell you buckets can come in handy on a farm?—we have enjoyed instant solar heat on cold, sunny days.)

Best of all, despite the difficult work already done and the harder tasks ahead, there are moments when I look up from a job—perhaps covered with dirt, and sore to the bone—and feel so happy that I just want to shout out loud, "We're actually doing it . . . and it feels so very good!"

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