Baymule’s Journal

[Baymule]

Now how many does that add up to . .

ONE! one slightly fractured, separated white blob. One. Just one.
Want to buy any more sheep? Obviously you don't have very many.......

 

[Farmer.Rexi]

I’ve been a member here for, let’s see….at least 10 years and have never kept a journal. My life has blown up to the moon, with the death of my beloved husband of 25 of the best years of my 66 years of life. I am Blessed to have known such pure adoration, wrapped in unconditional love, safe and secure in that love. Most people live their whole lives and never know the happiness I had.

This is us in 1996, we were married shortly after. My hair has long gone white, heck it was white then, but I wasn’t ready to deal with being white headed. LOL Over the years, his hair whitened and he had less of it, but when we looked at each other, we saw one another as beautiful as the day we met.

View attachment 88252

I’m in a state of upheaval and change in my life. We bought our 8 acre farm in September 2014, moved on our 19th Anniversary, February 14, 2015. Our DD and family lived in Lindale and we wanted to be close to them so we could enjoy our granddaughters. They had to leave for better job opportunities 2 years ago, first in Odessa, Texas and now in Corpus Christi, Texas. Both locations are 8 hours away. I started making noises about moving closer, but staying in East Texas. BJ of course rumbled about moving, but eventually he would have caved in and followed me wherever I took a notion to go. He was always a good sport, no matter how wild or crazy of a thing I wanted to do, he piled in there with me and we did it together.

So now I’m all alone, no family, and the love of my life is in a cherry wood box on a table. I decided to move. I will put our farm up for sale in March. We had a great time. We worked hard, we lived our dream to the fullest. I raised feeder pigs and Cornish Cross meat chickens for the freezer, plus some to sell, that covered the cost so our meat was free. I raised a big garden, canned, froze and dehydrated the vegetables and shared with neighbors and friends. We bought 4 bred ewes, I couldn’t contain my excitement, I bed checked them every night at 11:00 and was out at daylight, looking for lambs. It seemed like eternity but I was finally rewarded by 2 ewes both presenting me with twins one morning. BJ ran out to see them and we held those babies, joy knew no boundaries.

I had 3 horses and a mule that we brought with us. I sold one of the horses and the mule. Later I saw a scrawny chestnut gelding, stocking legged and blaze faced, of course BJ bought him for me. We named him Prince and with care, he bloomed into a beautiful horse. One night I showed BJ a picture of an emaciated bony Tennessee Walker mare in a kill pen, slated for a one way ride to Mexico for slaughter. She was for sale. BJ named her Pearl on the spot and we went and got her the next day. Both horses were great with kids and I took the two little granddaughters with me on rides. We had a blast.

I always had chickens for eggs. I made us delicious breakfast with home raised pork sausage or home smoked bacon, with fresh eggs. We sold a few, gave away a few and thanked God for the bounty of the land.

BJ isn’t with me anymore. His smile, his laugh, his over the top personality, his never meet a stranger- in 5 seconds or less you’re best friends-in 10 seconds you’re kinfolks, is a memory of good times.

I must go on.

I did not make the decision to sell our farm lightly. I am embarking on a journey to find my place. I’m not sure just exactly where that will be. But I know it is no longer here.

My son has a house he bought 3 years ago to be a rental. It needs work. He is a crane operator and spends months being gone, sometimes moving his RV from one location to another, following jobs. He has tried to get workmen here to do what is needed, but has not had good results. Then the shutdown because of Covid, a year later he finally landed a job that barely covered the bills. Now jobs are opening up, he started a new job in Houston 2 days ago and will be moving his RV tomorrow.

He graciously offered his house as a place to stay after I sell the farm, to give me time to figure things out. It’s on 2 acres.

I gave away my hens to a disabled couple and their coops too. I sold my horses for real cheap, got tons of responses, and picked the families that I thought would give them the best homes. I’m keeping my sheep and dogs. I’ll have to build a shed to shelter the sheep and dogs, pens, etc. The property is fenced down both sides, with a fry-your-hair hot wire, it should be sufficient.

I’m here in the new-to-me house this morning, came down yesterday. I’m at the point of finishing up painting 2 bedrooms, still have to paint trim in one, then I can set up beds. I bought a twin/full bunk bed and will put the full in one room and the twin in the other.

I bought a coffee pot for this house, have been deprived on the couple of previous overnight stays. Everything goes better when I have coffee!

View attachment 88253

I’m drinking my coffee, surveying my Queendom. What a mess. There is a pile of OSB, 2x4’s, sheet rock, ladders, saw horses with a sheet of OSB to make a work table, lumber, buckets, and everything is dirty. At least when he bought the house, the kitchen and bathroom had been remodeled, a little clean up and it will be real nice. My goal is to make this rentable. I can do a lot of the work myself. It needs outside work, now that DS is back to working like he used to, he has plans on getting that done. Together we’ll make it happen.

Never one to stay down for any length of time, I’ve hit the ground running. I don’t wallow in self pity, I carry my grief inside, it’s not for public display. I deal real well with reality.

What better time to start a journal. In a time of major change, striking a course to I don’t know where, y’all can hitch a ride on The Crazy Train and come along.

Hello! I can’t begin to express enough to you the gratitude I feel. Reading this post helps me understand you and your journey on a new level. Tears are welling up in my eyes as I type this out. @Baymule i know the heart and soul you and your husband put into that property. Saw it with our own eyes yesterday. I pray that we are able to make you proud with everything we do w the farm. I pray nothing but happiness follows you wherever the road takes you! Here for you always!
Lyssa

 

[Mini Horses]

Saw it with our own eyes yesterday. I pray that we are able to make you proud with everything we do w the farm

Are you buying the farm????

 

[Farmer.Rexi]

Are you buying the farm????

We just received our pre approval for it today

 

[Baymule]

Hello! I can’t begin to express enough to you the gratitude I feel. Reading this post helps me understand you and your journey on a new level. Tears are welling up in my eyes as I type this out. @Baymule i know the heart and soul you and your husband put into that property. Saw it with our own eyes yesterday. I pray that we are able to make you proud with everything we do w the farm. I pray nothing but happiness follows you wherever the road takes you! Here for you always!
Lyssa

Dang it girl, now you got me crying. I walked the farm today, I guess saying goodbye. BJ and I had the time of our lives, we had so much fun. I'm so proud to turn it over to you and your family. It is time for me to let it go. It is time for you and your family to love it as much as we did. Without the love of my life, this isn't home anymore. We prepared a home for you and your family and I wish you many years of happiness here.

 

[Senile_Texas_Aggie]

Miss @Lstewart86,

That is so wonderful that you and your family are buying the "little patch of paradise" that Miss @Baymule and her dearly departed worked to make the wonderful place it is. I just wanted to let you know about a deed restriction that is in place. The restriction is that you now have to start keeping a journal, too! And as difficult as it may be, you will have to match Miss @Baymule's wit, a tall order for anyone! But I have a feeling you are up to the challenge!

Miss @Baymule,

Just because you are selling your "little patch of paradise" doesn't mean that you can retire from posting and telling as many funny stories as ever. Nope! No retiring for you!

Senile Texas Aggie

 

[Baymule]

Oh don’t you worry @Senile_Texas_Aggie !!! I’m keeping my sheep and LGDs. Well, sheep plus the 3 ewe lambs just born, minus Rosie and Isabelle who are bred and a farm gift to @Lstewart86 . Gotta get their farm started!!

I’ll move to Trinity county, will be looking in Houston county for another patch of paradise!

 

[Margali]

Aw, the land is staying in the BYH family.

@Baymule is wonderful about sharing her knowledge and skills. The sheepies say hi!

 

[Bruce]

Wonderful that you have a good buyer who will CARE about all that you and BJ did to the place. PLUS, when they have questions, they can ask you.

I got quite a few emails and texts from the people we sold our old house to. At one point I asked if they ever talked to each other because I answered a question from the wife and not an hour later the husband asked the same question.

I was selling eggs to them, will again starting in March when the girls get back to work, before we sold the house to them. We were renting it out and I'm not at all sure that the next door neighbor didn't intentionally send me over to where the future buyers were renting to sell them eggs with a diabolical scheme to instigate a house sale to their friends.

 

[Mini Horses]

Fast and smooth.....that's the best type of sale! Yes @Senile_Texas_Aggie is right, there is a deed restriction on that place!! BYH posting is required!