We’ve been working towards this move for so long that of course it’s tempting to imagine a prairie paradise once we finally got here. I knew in my heart NOT to allow myself to think everything would go so fine that nothing would ever be amiss, and that all would be easy.
In our lives, not a whole lot has come easy. And I don’t say that with any negativity, really. I say it in all honesty. We don’t mind, we know all that is worth having in life is worth working for, and this whole move was/is no exception!
I won’t say it’s not paradise, but of course there is reality. The reality is, you don’t move from a well worked, well maintained, hobby farm on the west coast of beautiful British Columbia, to an old farm house that has not been very well cared for over the past few years, without some bumps along the way!
If one imagines a picturesque image such as Julie Andrews in scenes of the Sound of Music, spinning in her smock and skirt, dancing along open fields, there is sure to be dissapointment in the reality of life on the prairies.
Rather then running through open fields, twirling in sheer joy… there was careful steps through long grasses, only to scare a very large field mouse which proceeded to get stopped by my son who called his dog over to fetch.
The next scene is one of a sheltie, my son’s dog, running around with a mouses tail hanging out of his mouth, strutting proudly because he was so smart to catch it! Talk about pride! He felt real good about his first catch on his new property! What a good dog, but YUCK!!
The drive to the praries was anything but idealic. A trip that took my husband 19 hours, took us almost 40. Both of us were towing trailers with our vehicles. My husband is accustomed to towing a trailer, I am not. My vehicle with uhaul trailer totaled 34 feet long. The trailer and I did not get along. Much too often if I tried to drive over 55 miles/90km per hour, it would start to fishtail. All this caused for a very tense, very long, 40 hour drive.
Fourty five minutes from our new home, my husband’s trailer’s fender caught on the tire, shredded the entire outer layer off the tire, and the tire layer and fender flew off right in front of me. I gasped and was sure the trailer would end up on it’s axel, as it was well loaded with my husband’s tools! However, my husband managed to pull over safely, and the tire and fender managed to miss my vehicle!
Phew!
Finally, after 30 minutes we were back on our way again! Homeward bound!
And the strike of reality continued…
Fourty five minutes later, we pulled into home. The drive over the old dirt road seemed endless and I was beginning to wonder where in Timbuctoo we were moving to!
The house had sat empty for two weeks, and smelled of rotten eggs because of the sulphur in the water.
The mouse caught me off guard. I knew there would be mice, I didn’t realize they’d be so big, and we’d see them so soon after arriving. I wondered how many were living in the house.
There were tiny bugs in a pot in the cupboard.
There were beavers, lots of beavers, building a dam in the slough in our back yard.
Reality.
Was this really the paradise we had hoped for?!
I was in shock.
We were DEAD tired. I had spent almost 40 hours driving with only 4 short naps along the way. I had ‘white knuckled’ the steering wheel for 40 hours straight and was beginning to feel the affects of it all.
However, the shock I was feeling was not about my new surroundings. I knew to expect all this. This is the PRAIRIES. I wanted to be a REAL homesteader.
The shock was due to the reality of what a FREAKING city girl I must really be!!
And then I knew, I just had to pause, take a deep breath, gather myself under control, NOT allow my emotions to rule my thoughts and feelings about our new home and simply wait until I had gotten some sleep before I made up my mind about our new situation.
And sure enough, once I had a nap, then a good night’s sleep later that day, I woke up in the morning with a chuckle about the image of our dog Shiloh with a mouse tail hanging out of his mouth and his proud strut, an amazement at the vast open countryside which sits before me, and a renewed vigor about this new adventure our family has begun!
At some point, I’ll get to share photos!
For now, the movers, eight days after the picked up our belongings, still have yet to deliver them so no computer to upload photos on. I can’t wait though. There’s lots to share. Soon.
Wow! You made it!! You’re finally at your prairie homestead!! Good for following your dreams and passion!
A long drive and little sleep will do that to you. For what it’s worth, on our homestead our ancient mobile home is full of mice, which keep the dog and cat entertained during the night. We’ve all just gotten used to it (and we’re building a real house soon). I think part of the joy of owning land is turning it into something wonderful, something uniquely yours. We’ve enjoyed the work we’ve done so far, and I know you will, too. Congratulations on a successful move!
Eh… the sulphur smell. My in-laws have a rental property where the water is less than ideal. I am a bit of a city girl in that regard as well 🙂
I feel like I am reading a Little House on the Prairies book. Can not wait to see pictures!
Praise God you made it! What an adventure!
Guess you are busy building fences now… did the horses arrive yet?
We look forward to more news… and, yes photos… ???
Praise God! I just remembered to read your blog today after about a month and was thrilled to read about pending move and then your arrival today. I am so thankful that you guys are together even though your dd1 has moved and grown up. Hugs and keep up the good work. I will pray for your adjustment to the prairie home.
Glad you made it safe! I got my package too!!
Sarah
I have SO been in that exact same spot,18 months ago, to include trailers, animals, lack of sleep, a whole new world, west coat to prairie. Sleep certainly does give a different perspective and outlook, as does time, as you’ve pointed out. It’s different, for sure, but just like most things in life, there is extreme beauty too, glad you’re open to seeing it =).