Phases and Stages

In my previous life as a law firm administrator, when I saw a memo…or later a firm-wide email…with the heading “Phases and Stages,” I knew there had been a significant event that altered the complexion of the firm.  Our managing principal, Robin Lloyd, used that phrase to alert us that change was afoot and that we should be ready for whatever it brought.  

Well, there is a reason I so titled this post.  Change is afoot, and it’s a big one.  As you probably know, John and I had planned to spend most of this spring at the farm catching up on chores before leaving in July for our annual RV excursion. We were deeply involved in that project when…COVID happened!  At first everyone thought it was no big deal, and then it was…a very big deal.  Fortunately, we could self-quarantine at the farm and have little exposure to the virus, so that is what we did.  

Our lives went on through the spring and early summer without much change, except that we wore masks when going into town to shop and were especially conscious about hand-washing.  But we still had contact with family and friends...outdoors or at a distance, of course.  

The turkeys still pursued grasshoppers in the tall grass of the pastures; 

the bluebonnets and Indian paintbrush bloomed;

cows calved; 

Allan & Jef and John & I continued to cut cedar, poison invasive plants and do other farm chores; 

the dogs enjoyed their daily walks, 

and Cody and I worked on our sheep-herding partnership.

Then, when we were ready to return to Volente to get ready for our annual RV trip, we realized two things.  First, travel to other areas, even those where the virus was not especially prevalent, was a concern.  So, we made the difficult decision to cancel our trip this year due to the uncertainties about the course of this pandemic and questions about the advisability of travel. 

Falcon and the Royals will stay at home, at least for the next several months, and we will move some things from this year’s bucket list to 2021.

But the more important thing we realized is that, as much as we love our home in Volente, we feel our home going forward will be the farm.  From time to time, we have discussed moving there, but we were never sure it was where we wanted to spend our remaining years.  The more we have thought and prayed about it over the last several months, the more certain we have become that it is what we are meant to do.  

I can’t think of a better way to greet the day than sitting on our patio looking over the pasture below the house, 

or a better place to watch the sun rise and set.  

This little farm, which my daddy called “Goat Hill,” was the place my parents, Bob and Evelyn Jones, worked so hard to acquire and maintain as their legacy to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It is also the place they loved and cherished and enjoyed sharing with their family and friends for over 40 years.  Daddy always said it was “the prettiest place in Hamilton County.”  We think so, too, and we are blessed to be able to continue sharing it with our family and friends and preserving it for our son, grandson and nieces and their families.  

So, we’re preparing for the next Phases and Stages of our life.  We expect to spend several months getting rid of many years’ worth of stuff, both in Volente and at the farm, that we don’t need.  We will also build a barn on the property to house what we do plan to keep that won’t fit in the Goat Hill Casita.  If all goes as planned, we will put our Volente home on the market early next year, and hope we can sell it to someone who will love it as much as we have.  

We will keep you posted on our progress.  Keep us in your thoughts and prayers and keep in touch.