Country Life

Yesterday morning found us gathered together in the basement.  Michael had finished fence repairs, and he stopped in the basement to spend some time with the college student who is now enjoying summer break.  I went downstairs to work on the computer for a bit, and where ever I go the English Mastiff is usually close behind.  She was sound asleep on the floor by my feet.  Seth was also downstairs playing toys.  The rest of the kiddos were off at school.

As I was typing, I heard a man's voice in my living room.  Then I heard another man's voice talking.  It was obvious they were both standing in the house talking.  One of the men called  out, "Hello."  Since we live in the country my first thought wasn't, "Oh, my gosh there are strange men standing in my living room, I bet we are about to be robbed."  That thought didn't even cross my mind.  What I did think about was the fact that I hadn't cleaned up the living room floor and there were still some clumps of dog hair!  Then much to my horror I realized that I was also doing laundry and I always fold my laundry on the kitchen table.  "There are strangers standing in my living room and they are going to think that I am an awful house keeper!"  That was the thought that just kept floating through my head as my husband went upstairs to greet them. 

After I realized that I was a failure as a clean homemaker, I then realized that I had nothing baked to offer them.  I mean in the country this is a fatal mistake.  I usually almost always have something tasty sitting on my bread board to offer any person who drops by our house.  Our resident health nut makes fun of me about this.  He thinks I am convinced that people wait until their belly growls to show up at our house because I magically make food appear.  What the resident health nut doesn't understand is the way of a Southern woman.  It is part of our being and our fabric to feed whoever may walk into our front door! It is an unspoken rule.  The more they eat the happier we are.  That is why I like teenage boys so much. They are always willing to eat!

After we talked to the men for quite some time, they left.  Michael looked at me and smiled.  He spoke what was on my mind.  We both hope that the next place we move to and call home is as carefree as this community.  A place that an unknown neighbor can stick his head into the living room and call out hello because we left the front door standing wide open.  A place that we feel comfortable to leave the front door open to let the breeze pass through the house.  I think we are going to be okay.  After all, we will still be living in Tennessee!

grace and peace,
julie