Blah, Blah, Blah, The Park Wife Speaks

Times are tight. People are trying to get the biggest bang for their buck. At times, they might even have to, well.... settle. See, The Pioneer Woman is a little busy with her new book coming out, so that is where The Park Wife comes in.

I will be speaking at various conferences this Spring, yes, I speak for cheap. Or, my talk is cheap, whatever. Just offer food, heirloom seeds for my garden, a day away from the ins and outs of motherhood, and I am your gal.

Here is a list of where I will be speaking, I would love to meet you so come on out!
February 25 - Arkansas Farmers Market Association Conference, Little Rock
March 5- Arkansas Women in Agriculture, Little Rock
May 21 - Arkansas Homeschool Convention, Searcy

There are a few others in the works, I will let you know when and where in case you are so desperate for entertainment that you want to come out and heckle me.

Yada, yada, yada,
The Park Wife

Letter to My High School Self

I will be 40 in a few months and I might be having a bit of a freak out. I am not sure why because I have an extraordinary life, wonderful things are happening, I think it is just the number, is my life really half way over?

A group of girls from high school are meeting up in April (unfortunately I have a conference I am speaking at that weekend so I can't go) and it made me think back on high school, where I have been and what I wish I would have done differently. Of course, all the choices I have made led me here and God has had it all planned from the start. But, have you ever thought if you could go back and write a letter to your high school self what it would say?

So, as I approach the big 4-0, I have enough experience, wisdom and now a little clarity to give myself advice had I known then what I know now. Here it is, a letter to my peppy, fun, spastic high school self.

Dear Park Wife (you will figure that name out, but it will be years from now),

You will look back on growing up in this small town with fond memories, and the good news is that you get out, live all over the South, travel all over in your jobs, and at the age of 40 have a beautiful life in a wonderful place.

You are a good friend to people from all different "cliques", continue this (even though you are chastised by the "in girls"), you will be happy about it when you look back. Right now you are a good friend to someone that has trouble being friends with people. Continue to be her friend even when she is not a good friend to you, this is training you for relationships in the future with bosses, family, and friends that have to be dealt with. You can not always walk away from people that are not like you nor nice to you. You will have "sandpaper" people in your life, this is to make you better, it is not really about them.

When you put on your cheerleading skirt this Friday night, enjoy it, this is the best you will ever look in a skirt that short. Do a few extra back flips too, after you have kids those stomach muscles are not the same.

I know your mom and dad drive you crazy sometimes, but know that they love you and sacrifice for you daily. Spend more time with them on the weekends rather than cruising around with your friends trying to "fit in". They are your biggest fans and you will miss your dad's hugs, jokes, eating Chinese out with him, and his endless sacrifices for you. Thank him for loving you as if you were his own and never treating you like you weren't. Memorize every step as he walks you down the aisle and holds your first-born.

Be who you are, you will spend many years worrying about what everyone else thinks about you. Stop it, they aren't, they are too busy thinking about themselves and worrying what others think of them, putting on a show not being who God created them to be. Use your energy for good, be authentic, you are a pretty cool chic.

High school boys are a waste of time, your love/relationship training ground will not start until college. There are guys that are put into your life for a season and definitely for a reason. You will learn many lessons that will prepare you for the incredible man God has planned for you. He will be SOOOOOO worth the wait. He will be your true companion, the love of your life, more than you think you deserve. The two of you will be blessed with two of the most extraordinary gifts, be diligent as this is your legacy.

Don't be afraid of being "normal" because you crave the attention of being exceptional. I'm not saying don't be exceptional, I'm saying don't crave needing to be recognized for it. This will be your greatest obstacle.

Don't eat fast food, you will not believe what they put in that stuff, wear sunscreen when you live in Destin, wear your retainer, big hair and a thick gold chain is not something that you really want to have in your high school portrait, you will never like ironing or putting up dishes but you will be a great keeper of the home, asking questions is more important, and honest, than having all the answers.

Try to secretly learn a lot about the Internet. Then, start an online community where people can join, create profiles, post status updates, give virtual thumbs ups, and poke each other. You’re confused? Don’t worry, you’ll get it someday. Oh, and buy stock in Google, trust me on these two.

Know that everything you go through, every experience you have will add to you. God will use the good times and bad to teach you, strengthen you and bring you closer to Him. Soak it all in, write it all down. Don’t stress about the future because no matter what you envision as your future it will not turn out how you imagined, it will be more than you could have ever asked for.

Stephanie

Take the time to write a letter to your high school self and share with us all!

Arkansas Women Blogger Meetup Huge Success

Just over a year ago, I sat in line for four hours to get a cookbook signed by the extraordinary Pioneer Woman. I met many wonderful women in line that night and as I was driving the two hours home, I thought about the fact that I was not the only woman blogger in Arkansas. A few months later I started a little blog to try and wrangle all these women into one place in the bloggity world. Arkansas Women Bloggers was born. After a few months it was evident that I needed some help, enter Fawn of Instead of the Dishes and Julie of Willow Tree Creek Farm stage right.

For a while we put up posts of Arkansas bloggers on the site and we chit chatted about how much fun it would be to have some type of meetup or even *GASP* a blog conference. After looking at several college football schedules (because that is how all events in the Fall in the South are planned), it kind of got put on the back burner. And, then enter Katie McManners of the Museum of Discovery stage left. I was talking to Katie on the phone about their MOD Voices series where she asked me to write a guest post for the museum. I learned quickly that if you put Katie and I together, ideas and excitement rule the day.

From that initial conversation, the first Arkansas Women Bloggers Meetup hosted by the Museum of Discovery was born. With the enormous generosity of Petit Jean Meats (who has the most delicious food and they ship to your door), along with Boulevard Bread Company, Kroger, drink sponsor Momcation, and the extraordinary blogger/cupcake maker Elaine Hodges of Cupcake Crazy Arkansas, the event was planned.

Forty-five women bloggers, "the whos who of women bloggers in Arkansas" according to Katie McManners, descended upon the museum this past Saturday. For over two hours we networked, met new friends, shared information, and enjoyed being inspired by speakers LaTonya Richardson and Kyran Pittman.

collage by Gina of Desperately Seeking Gina

The day would not have been possible without the help of my extraordinary friends Fawn and Julie. Ladies, you are an inspiration to me and proof that valuable, true friendships can be made in the bloggy world. I am a better woman for knowing you both. Now, let's get to work on that conference, haha. I would also like to thank my new friend LaTonya, you are composed, articulate, funny, true to the woman God created you to be and I am so glad I can call you friend.

For all of you Arkansas bloggers, stay tuned on Arkansas Women Bloggers for information on what we have up our sleeves next and for those of you who are not from the Natural State, think about planning a meetup in your area, it is a BLAST!

Inspired and Grateful,
The Park Wife

The Park Wife Is A Facebook Quitter

Yes, I quit Facebook. Now, get up off the floor from shock and let me tell you why. Their names are Big Buckaroo, Little Buckaroo and Littlest Buckaroo. It was not that I sat at the computer all day watching people's status go from "single" to "in a relationship" and back the next day, nor was I obsessed that someone was not going to be able to feed their pig on Farmville because I have live animals outside my back door that need actual food that I have to get in my vehicle, drive to town, use real money to buy at the co-op, then feed. In reality, it sucked time from my life in spurts that really added up.

I would be going to put a load of clothes in the dryer, stop to see new status updates and stroll through new pictures for 10 minutes. Then, as I was going to get a book to read to the boys, I stopped to see if there where any new friend requests. Another 5 minutes sucked away, 10 when I could not figure out who they were then feel guilty for not accepting. This happened all day long. Speaking of friends, I had over 400 Facebook friends and can guarantee that if I was sick or in a bind, there are just a handful of them that would show up at my back door with soup or to offer to help with my kids. I know, I know, it is a social networking tool, not real life. hmmmmm......really? Is it for you?

I do love that I reconnected with people from my childhood (love you Cathy Strahan, Aunt Libby, Marijoy, Nicky C., Suzanne J. and some others) and kept up-to-date on my brothers, I do have 5 of them, but I will now keep in touch with more primitive means like email and the phone, hey I might even write a letter and send it by snail mail. The FB mind cloud has cleared, I know that collecting friends, virtual gifts and wall posts does not validate me as a person or attribute to my success as a living, breathing human.

I have worked hard to take away all the noise in my life that could possibly detract from a life well-lived and focus on things that actually contribute to my growth spiritually, intellectually, my family's happiness. And then I registered on Facebook. No more, I say!

I will continue my blog because it is a fun space for me to write, post pictures, make meaningful and beneficial connections with like-minded people, keep family updated, and blab about my life on a state park. I love that people are reading and I welcome all comments (and I do love them) but my motivation now is to worry less about Google Analytics and more about developing my voice as a writer. And, making sure Grandma has the latest pictures of her little guys.

Now, I know this choice is not for everyone, it is what is right for me. And, I do not think Facebook is evil, just does not add to my life in a meaningful way. Since logging off, I have not felt stress over getting homeschooling done, house cleaning, cooking, playing with kids, preparing for a huge blog meetup that is tomorrow, working on making our town a better place to live and on and on. I feel lighter and happier, less ragged.

Status: Mom guilt subsided, kids and hubby happy, spending more time in His word, going to meet 54 women bloggers from my state tomorrow, life is great. (Did I go over my 140 character limit?)
The Park Wife

Women Blogger Meetup in Little Rock

Check out this press release for our first meetup!

Museum Event Connects Women Bloggers From Around the State
The Museum of Discovery is partnering with Arkansas Women Bloggers to present a networking event at the Museum of Discovery on Saturday, December 11, 2010 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The event is open to any Arkansas woman blogger. The event is free but reservations are required. RSVP by emailing arkansasbloggers@gmail.com.

The December 11 "meetup" is a social gathering of women bloggers. From tech blogger to mommy blogger, food blogger to political blogger to whatever-pops-into-your-head blogger; all are welcome. Attendees have the opportunity to talk about shared interests, learn new technologies and develop new friendships and social connections. Also, attendees receive a "behind the scenes" peek at the Museum of Discovery's future plans for renovation and how they can be contributors to the Museum of Discovery's "MOD VOICES" guest blogger series.

"We are honored to host the inaugural meetup of Arkansas Women Bloggers," says Katie McManners, Museum of Discovery Marketing Director. "The Museum's mission is to ignite a passion for science, technology and math in a dynamic, interactive environment. What is more dynamic and interactive than a group of people using technology to connect ideas and people?"

Launched earlier this year, Arkansas Women Bloggers is an online gathering place for Arkansas women to share ideas and pride; joy and pain; birth and loss; and every other story that is part of living a life. The group transcends the barriers of race, politics, religion, and age to form a supportive community of women, most of whom do not know each other in person. There are currently 229 bloggers from the natural state listed in the group's regional directories. The website is www.arkansaswomenbloggers.blogspot.com.

"Women bloggers are a powerful force to be reckoned with," says The Park Wife, Arkansas Women Bloggers Co-Founder. "Women are the most powerful consumers in the world. Women who can harness the tools of social media are an especially important demographic. Many brands and businesses are utilizing these effective influencers to build personality, loyalty, and sales for their product."

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact us by emailing arkansasbloggers@gmail.com
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So very excited about this, everyone is invited and I can't wait to meet you!
The Park Wife

The Comedian In Me

Sometimes I crack myself up. Really, I think a little quirky fun is needed in everyone's lives. People need to loosen up and have some fun. Anyway, my hubby walks in and shows me this pair of jeans.


Big Buckaroo: "Honey, do you think you could put a patch on these jeans? They are still good enough to wear up at the cabin to work."
The Park Wife: "Are you serious? Look at that huge rip in a not so good place."


Big Buckaroo: "Oh, just put a patch on them and they will be fine."
The Park Wife: "Baby, I could go buy you a pair at Goodwill that cost less than a patch and are in better shape."
Big Buckaroo: "They really are fine, just need a little patch, no one will see them but us."
--a few more minutes of this back and forth goes on---
The Park Wife: *****Sigh**** "O.K., I will take care of it."

And take care of it I did!

I totally crack myself up. Husband, not so much, but I laughed very hard when he saw them. He packed them for his trip to the cabin this weekend. I hope he is wearing them when our Mennonite neighbors come over to talk to him about saw milling and insulation for the cabin.

Still laughing,

The Park Wife

Thankfulness Time Of Year?

Ahhhhh, it is November, finally we have cooler weather and everyone is thinking of Thanksgiving, can't you just smell the turkey, dressing, and fruit pies? Oh, and there is also the attitude of thankfulness that is magnified this month, hmmm.... seems to be a bit of a second thought most of the time.

For the past few days, I have seen 30 days of thankfulness posts on blogs and on Facebook and the first thing I thought was that I really need to start that thankfulness journal I have been wanting to start. Now, let me stand up and say I AM GUILTY OF NOT BEING AS THANKFUL FOR MY BLESSINGS AS I SHOULD BE.

Sometimes I think it is because of the busyness of life, sometimes just being complacent, but it also can be because of stinkin' thinkin'! I am learning that I have to be very careful with what I allow myself to think about! Oh dear! Our negative emotions have a huge impact on us and those around us. It changes our heart and the way we see the world.

Think about a gal you know who is as sweet as pie, gracious, cheerful, passionate about life, filled to the brim with wholesome goodness, kindness and creativity, now, think about a woman you know with a sour-milk attitude, always complaining, filled with bitterness and resentment toward others………. which one of those gals would you rather spend time chatting with over coffee and a yummy treat?

We can't be syrupy sweet all the time, there are such things as hormones and just plain 'ole bad days. That would be those “help me Jesus” days when we want to pull our hair out, or scream or do both. Yea, I am a homeschool mom, just sayin', it happens. Those are the times I have to take a deep breath, ask for God’s grace, sit down with a Dr. Pepper and try to gain my composure.

But then, after I whine just a little bit, I try to pull myself up by my boot straps, cancel the Pity-Party, ask the Lord for strength, and guess what, He gives me a sweet song in my heart! Yes ma’am, I become a thankful, toe-tappin', sweet, hymn-singin' gal (that is very off key)!

I want to raise thankful kids, not entitled, whiney woos. So, like I say often here, more is caught than taught! If we live a life (not just the month of November) with a spirit of thankfulness, think of the impact on our kids!

My Southern mantra is "Pretty is as pretty does" (remember that saying if you think it is alright to wear pajama's and house shoes to the Walmart) but it is also true to say pretty is as pretty thinks since everything we say or do starts with a thought.

If you read God’s promises, spend time praising Him and count your blessings everyday, your thankfulness and joy will start showing! Try it today!

Going to start a thankfulness journal,
The Park Wife

Stop the Insanity, Be the Change

Whew! Election day is over, now I won't have to get all upset when I walk to the mailbox and retrieve a pile of postcards from candidates touting how awesome they are while all I am thinking is how wasteful they have been with their money campaigning. Oh the number of postcards and yard signs in the landfill right now.

I am naturally a very positive person, but every once in a while I just stop and wonder about the loss of logic in today's society. Here are a few things that have been driving me crazy lately:

1- In addition to the campaign paraphernalia littering our streets and mailboxes, yard sale signs that are left up for weeks on end are ridiculous. Now, I am all about a yard sale, but people respect the beauty of your town! As you are heading to the mall to spend the money you made at your yard sale, pull over and pull down the signs you put up!

2-As I was parallel parking the other day (yes, I am a parallel parking champ), I looked at the vehicle in front of me, a big 'ole, I mean big SUV, and good grief it had an anti-BP bumper sticker on it. I think they might be missing the point.

3-To the coach of the other soccer team we played last week, you really do not have to scream at and berate the 6-year-olds when they don't have the skills of Pele'. My college soccer coach screamed at us like that and I promise it did not make us want to be a better player or a better person.

4-My boys tend to have short haircuts, but some boys look cute with the longer hair thing that is trendy right now. HOWEVER, if your son is blessed to be a pretty child and his hair is long, please do not be upset with me if I ask how old your daughter is.

5- Mama's don't let your daughters grow up to be trashy. Seriously, how long does it take to put on some pants and shoes to go to Walmart? Do you really have to go in your pajama pants and fluffy house shoes? Oh, and boys, pull up your pants, I really do not need to know what kind of underwear you have on.

6- Right lane for slow folks that want/need to go under the speed limit, left lane for passing. Move over! Oh, and I am not a mind reader, please use your blinker. Also, turn your music down, I can't hear mine! This is how road rage begins, stop the insanity people.

7-When you post on Facebook, could you please not use slang? I live on a state park and am evidently quite sheltered because I have no idea what you are saying!

8- Hang up your cellphone when you are ready to check out at the store. And, I don't need to hear your entire conversation in the grocery isle. Cellphone etiquette, yes, there is such a thing.

Thank you, these are off my chest now. I will now resume my positive personality.

Back to politics, wait, wait, don't click off!!!! I have been told numerous times from a dear friend of mine in reference to child training that "more is caught than taught". I want to raise world changers, men of Godly character that bring something to this world to make it a better place. With that said, thanks to all the voters in our little village for electing me to the city council!

Working to make our little town a better place than I found it,
The Park Wife

Oh Deer! and Thanks Ree!

We joined Big Buckaroo this past weekend for the end of his 8 day hunting trip to our land. Although I do not like being at home with the kids for that long without him (no nervous breakdown, but a lot of bubble baths after they went to bed), I sure do love the time we enjoy after being apart.

FYI for wives out there: Send your husbands to the woods for a week, pack one or two hot meals and then the ingredients for other meals. Now, grab a book, holiday magazines, a couple of chic flicks and enjoy being at home where it is warm, dry, you have running water and a refrigerator.

By the time you join your hunting hubby (who has not shaved since he left and is smelling a bit like a gym locker), the sparkle is in his eye's and he remembers how life was without you. Now, after he showers and shaves, enjoy the following week of goo-goo eyes and romance (between all of the loads of clothes you are washing of course). Ahhh, the appreciation of a hunter's wife, well, at least this hunter's wife.


Oh, and another thing I appreciate from my hunter? (well, aside of the nasty preparation) - deer meat, yes, a bounty of venison! Sorry Bambi, but you are looking good in my freezer.

Another note of thankfulness, my go-to-blog-friend has helped a sistah out AGAIN!

Yes, Ree has listed me on her post about her book signing in Little Rock (which brought many new blog friends around), then sent me some of her cool PW t-shirts for me to giveaway on my blog, and now she is helping me out with a giveaway for our first Arkansas Women Bloggers meetup in Little Rock!

She has always responded to my requests (and I am sure she gets MANY). I have seen her being berated on others blogs lately. There is enough judgment and hate in this world, if you don't like a blog, just click off of it and find something that is of interest to you.

My first-hand experience is that Ree is an extraordinarily gracious and giving woman and I am thankful for all the kindness she has shown me.

Make a list of all you are grateful for today,

The Park Wife

Hunter Education for Wives

Here is a post from last year, we all need a hunter education for wives refresher course!

Fall hunting season opens this weekend and Big Buckaroo has loaded up the trailer and 4-Runner and hit the road with his dad. They are going to our land to "put the metal roof on the cabin" ~ man speak for going to work on the roof around hunting.

Although Big Buckaroo hunted some growing up, it was not until we bought our land last year that he started going hunting in his adult years. The past few months, there have been numerous hunting magazines and catalogs around and I am amazed at the amount of time he and his dad can sit and talk about a pair of binoculars. It rivals all the health care bill talk.

Even though I am from Mississippi and have 5 brothers, I did not grow up around hunters. We were a little more citified. So this is all new to me. I have no desire to go sit in the cold on a deer stand, but I am supporting my husband in this because he needs something to get him outside (aside of building a cabin himself, hmmm) and get his mind off work.


When Big Buckaroo starts talking about hunting, I really try and pay attention but sometimes my mind wanders off to more important things like I need to paint my toenails, polish my silver, plan dinner, dust the ceiling fans, you know those important things that do not involve the quest for venison.

I am having a really hard time remembering some of the hunting terms. I really try to use the appropriate word but it just doesn’t happen. In one ear and out the other, that’s me.

So, in an effort to help other women in the same duck boat as me, I have compiled a few important terms you need to know to communicate with your hunter man and sound like you know what you are talking about. It will endear (pun intended) him to you.

The Park Wife term: Bambi ---Hunting term: doe (just think of do-re-mi)
The Park Wife term: Baby Bambi ---------- Hunting term: Button Buck
The Park Wife term: Caught a deer ---------- Hunting term: Doe down
The Park Wife term: Grunt thingymajigger ----Hunting term: Grunt call
The Park Wife term: Rattler thingymajigger ------Hunting term: Rattling horns
The Park Wife term: Williams-Sonoma -----Hunting Term: Hot Spot
The Park Wife term: Gifted or endowed ----Hunting term: Big Rack
The Park Wife term: Woman with a gun--Hunting term: Huntress or Not The Park Wife

Now that you have learned hunt speak, you must lay down some ground rules. Here are mine:

1. You must call each night and check on your family (if we don't answer, we are eating out so I don't have to do dishes).
2. He must strip all his clothes off in the mudroom when he arrives home (don't get any ideas, he has been in the woods for a few days).
3.Go straight to the shower and shave off that beard and lather up good. Dress in clean clothes that are not camouflaged.
4. Come in the living room and kiss your wife and hug the Buckaroo's.

Then, as he goes to clean all his weapons and take care of all the meat he has brought home to feed his family, slip out the back door and go shopping or to a movie. All the clean-up takes a while.

Happy Hunting,
The Park Wife

Blogger Meet Up

I am beginning to work on a women blogger meetup in my state! I have wanted to do this for a long time, but it just had not hit the top of my to do list, for some reason people like to be fed and have clean underwear around here. Well, I do live in a house of males, so the clean underwear thing probably is not true.

I get completely overwhelmed at times and that is when my blog suffers. I have thought at times that maybe I should just put blogging off for a couple of months and then KAPOW! things happen in my blog world that don't let that happen. Such as, Pioneer Woman, yes Ree, listed my blog on her site, yea that created some traffic and then Kim Severson, a culinary writer for The New York Times, talks about me and listed my blog in an article, big surprise since I use the smoke detector to know the bread is done.

So, just as my blogging was slowing down, I get a call that kicks me into gear, again. I was talking to a fabulous marketing gal about writing a guest post for her museums blog and it turned into us planning a blog meetup to be held at the museum. I am ecstatic.

Now, here is where you guys come in. Have you been to a blog meetup? If so, what did you like about it? What did you not like? What ideas do you have?

Remember, this is the first one, we really just want to provide a place for everyone to meet, so formal in depth blogging topics will wait until we plan other meetups or a conference. Did I say a conference? I see the laundry pile rising.

Help a sistah out!
The Park Wife

Wilma Working Hard in the Garden

Now that the county fair is over, it is time to get back to life at home. No more focusing on goat showing, crafts, or BBQ cook-off's until next year. It was fun, but, whew! I am worn out.

My focus this week (aside of the gigantic piles of laundry, cooking and educating kids) is my garden! Since we do not open the Farmers' Market in the Fall here, my Fall/Winter garden is just to feed our family (and friends when I have a surplus).

With the boys help and my trusted friend Wilma.....oh, wait, you did not know I have a garden helper named Wilma. Oh, you thought I did it all myself, oh no ma'am, I have been holding out on you.

Meet my friend Wilma!

Wilma is a hard worker, reliable, and pretty cute when she is cleaned up. I thought about painting her pink, but I loan her out and I think some of the men using her might feel a little embarrassed if someone drove by as they were working their garden with her. Hmmm...on second thought, I might go buy some pink paint at the hardware store today.



Oh giver of fresh veggies, let's get going! You have been neglected for weeks, I am so sorry.

I love tilling the garden. It is relaxing, yet energizing. As I go down each row I imagine its potential and envision the bounty that will grow there. Then, my mind wanders to how much I love being a part of the land and the blessing of being a part of a group (farmers, gardeners, foodies, etc) that desire to connect people to each other, to the farm, to our food.

Get out and enjoy this wonderful time of year. I will call you if I have too much broccoli!
The Park Wife

Farm Meets the Fashion World

I have some fabulous boots, they are quiet FARM FLASHY as I wrote about here.

I do not subscribe to any magazines that are about fashion, unless you count Mary Janes Farm or Country Living, well, no you can't count those. I left my "gotta have the hippest, in-style wardrobe" life in my 20s. But, I do know that the fashion industry is undoubtedly a mirror of culture (I know, scary), so I was pleased (well as pleased as I can get about fashion these days) when I saw that food and farming had entered the psyche of Chanel and Ralph Lauren for their 2010 spring fashion lines.

Can you imagine being at that photo shoot? A bunch of hungry models playing in the hay, on tractors and in barns in designer clothing wishing for a big steak as they looked out in the field. However, it does validate what many in the sustainable food movement are calling a modern day farm revival. Oh, how I do love that!

Here is a photo from Ralph Lauren's Spring line

So, I guess that this year is not only the year that USDA rolled out their "Know Your Farmer" campaign, but it is also the year that shopping at Goodwill and dolling up "frugal and make do" can be fabulous. Who knows, maybe this fashion trend could influence people to slow down and get back to a simpler lifestyle that focuses on the condition of the heart where God, family, friends, and good, healthy local food are what matters.

The Park Wife
(who is not afraid to pair a sleeveless dress with cowboy boots, according to Kim Severson of the New York Times)

Summer's End

Tomorrow is our annual first day of school at the lake! We will get up, pack a picnic, wave to the school buses and head to a state park lake about 45 minutes away. We will get a pontoon boat and enjoy our last day of summer before we start our homeschooling on Tuesday. An exciting addition this year is my sweet friend Jenn, her hubby (another state park superintendent), and their two precious boys who will be joining us as it is their oldest little guys first day of Kindergarten!

The past week has been non-stop. My mom tore herself away from the heat and humidity of Mississippi to come up and melt here with us for the week. I have an igloo on order, but with my luck it will get here during the middle of an ice storm in December.

The Buckaroo's had a blast with their Grandma. They think she built the world and love when she is here with us (which is not enough).

Baking, washing dishes, playing I Spy and 4, 614 games of Candyland, and oh, she cleaned my whole house. I used to worry about it when she would want to help clean my house like I was not doing a good enough job, now, I smile and say "go for it! don't forget to mop!"

We spent three days at our community library/fire station working on crafts to enter in the county fair. It was a great time, one day we had 17 kids there! I have some fantastic friends who are eventually going to learn to say no when I say "I have a great idea".

Our last summer evening of music in the park was Saturday night with an incredible brass band who was dressed in Civil War period attire, bless their hearts they looked hot and sweaty, but the music was fantastic.

And, the highlight of the week (no offense mom, thanks for driving 7 hours to see us), Littlest Buckaroo and I made The New York Times.

Looking forward to waking up tomorrow to a 2nd grader and Kindergartner,

The Park Wife

The Park Wife For Dummies

Confession: I used Cliff Notes in high school and own several books with the words "..for Dummies" in the title. With life going full blast most of the time, I understand the need for a little shortcut here and there (that is why I have been known to use a cake mix in recipes, don't tell Pioneer Woman).

So, welcome to The Park Wife for Dummies. Now, I am not calling any of my new readers that came over from THE NEW YORK TIMES a name, just an overview to catch you up on the past few years of the blog.

So, here are a few posts to get you acquainted with me and my life!
Follow along as we build a cabin in the mountains
We Are Not in Gotham City
And the Chicken Trophy Goes To...
Living With Less Is A Choice
Humbling Through Kid's Soccer
The Buckaroo's Big Adventure
Political Education By The Park Wife
Learning to Sparkle

Of course, grab a snack and read The Park Wife and The Ranger, The Love Story. I am working on the next installment, so it will leave you hanging. But, here is a spoiler.....we got married!

If you read the article in The New York Times, thank you. I feel the need to clarify one little thing. It said "she loves the Lord and hates hypocrites". Well, hate is a very strong word in my opinion. Now, thanks to my friends Maggie and Karla who when they saw I was a little bothered by that word, grabbed a Bible, opened it to Proverbs and showed me the list of things that God hates. That made me feel a little better, but not completely.

I ranted extensively to Kim Severson about people, who we call peddlers, that go to south Texas and buy fruits and vegetables on the cheap and show up at farmers' markets peddling them as locally grown. Peddlers are lying, saying they have gardens. That is irritating. They don't put any money into growing their product. As a supporter of local foods, YES, I find that hypocritical and I do not like it! But, hate is not a word that describes any of my being or my heart.

Thanks to all my blog world friends for your support and welcome to all my new readers!
The Park Wife

New York Times Love

The Park Wife Made The New York Times!

I have had about 3, 500 people hop over to my blog to check it out since the article came out. If you came over from the NY Times, welcome new friend.

Please leave a comment and let me know if you have a blog and its address, I would love to go for a visit. If you don't, let me know about your world. Since you have read about where I live, I would love to hear about your life and where you live.

Grateful to my new friend Kim Severson and for juicy watermelons,
The Park Wife

Eat, Pray, Love

I live on a state park in a rural area. I have two rambunctious, adventurous little boys that I homeschool. I have a husband I am madly in love with and adore. And, I have 256,421 things that I do in addition to those things - gardening, farmers’ market, community library, hanging with New York Times reporters, county fair board and on and on. So, I just got around to reading Eat, Pray, Love. The title hooked me, those are three things that describe my existence. I know many of you read it years ago. I just checked it out at our library where my librarian friend and I had to go find it tucked away on some obscure shelf where they put books after everyone has read them but The Park Wife. The movie comes out August 13 and I am eager to see it, but I recommend you read the book first.

There are books that draw you in and don't let you go until you've finished them. Then there are books that grab you through the stomach like a hook and drag you places that you would prefer not to go. These books are rare - I hardly ever stumble upon one of these. They are books that make me examine myself, my life, my past and future. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert was both for me. I'm far from the first person to write about it (since I am a few years behind, what’s new?). I believe that books that are going to make me think make their way to me when I'm ready to listen to them. It was time for Eat, Pray, Love to come into my life.

The first thing that hit me was “man, I wish someone would give me a cash advance to go find myself.” Next, I thought our family should start learning Italian and eating more pasta.

Some critics may argue the book is a self-absorbed memoir. So what? It is her story she is telling, her memoir. People criticize bloggers all the time about what we write, but if I want to be true to my authentic self, then I write what is true about me, about my life. So, are all bloggers self-absorbed? Maybe so. But, I believe we all have a story to tell and if yours enriches mine, then I welcome your words with open arms. If not, I will close the book or click off a blog.

I have Christian friends that will surely hate the book, and others that will no-doubt be seduced by it. In my view, the book is well-written as well as lush and beautiful in parts. It is honest and authentic. And there were many things that hit me right in the gut and many right in my heart. Of course there were many parts I did not relate to or particularly like. But, overall, it made me think, to take pause to evaluate my own life. Shouldn’t we all take pause at times in our life and do that? It is a much better use of our time than constantly judging others.

In the end, what I took away was that it isn’t about how we find our balance or even if we achieve it perfectly — it is that we try.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes from the book.
My absolute favorite: “It is better to live your own life imperfectly than to imitate someone else's perfectly.”

"You are, after all, what you think. Your emotions are the slaves to your thoughts, and you are the slave to your emotions."

"God never slams a door in your face without opening a box of Girl Scout cookies..."

"Imagine that the universe is a great spinning engine. You want to stay near the core of the thing - right in the hub of the wheel - not out at the edges where all the wild whirling takes place, where you can get frayed and crazy. The hub of calmness - that's your heart. That's where God lives within you. So stop looking for answers in the world. Just keep coming back to that center and you'll always find peace."

"you have the opposite of poker face. You have like...... miniature golf face."

“In the end, what I have come to believe about God is simple. It’s like this – I used to have this really great dog. She came from the pound. She was a mixture of about ten different breeds, but she seemed to have inherited the finest features of them all. She was brown. When people asked me, “What kind of dog is that?” I would always give the same answer: “She’s a brown dog.” Similarly, when the question is raised, “What kind of God do you believe in?” my answer is easy: “I believe in a magnificent God.”

So do I.
The Park Wife

Oh, the Random Things List

About a year and a half ago, I completed the very popular Facebook meme "25 random things about me". I am not big into meme's and am aware that viral narcissism like this is really for me because it takes more thought and energy to compose a list like that than it will take a reader to read it or even think twice about.

Mine is not very funny, only slightly insightful (to me, probably to no one else), and it is sharing way too much about myself that no one really cares about. But, it made me happy to go back and read a list I wrote to see if it holds true to who I am, who I strive to be.

1.I think my husband is HOT, still, after 11 years.
2.I have a weakness for Dr. Pepper, Mexican food, my husbands blue eyes and my little boys’ kisses.
3.When I got to college, I started playing soccer, played on the college team the next year, have refereed and coached more soccer games than I can count.
4.I have a soccer ball tattooed on my ankle.
5.I am on a mission to prove that not all homeschool moms wear denim skirts and have their hair in a bun.
6.I can not stand for my house to be a mess.
7.The closet door can not be open when I go to bed. Monsters, no, just compulsive about order.
8.I tried growing a pumpkin patch a few years ago and ended up with hundreds of them.
9.I miss my dad, he was a true man of integrity that sacrificed for his family, friends, and even strangers.
10.I get sucked into family drama easily and will defend my family to the bitter end.
11.I think that life is too short to not live somewhere beautiful, I prefer mountains.
12.Never listened to a country station in my life until my Wrangler and cowboy boot wearing husband came into my life.
13.My first kiss~ chasing Jason Hampton around the playground in elementary school, kissed him, then ran into the corner of a roll-out window and ended up with 8 stitches.
14.My children are beautiful, I know, all parents think that, but really mine are.
15.As I look back at high school, I wonder why we let people pour nasty stuff all over us to become part of a high school sorority, wish I would have stood up for myself better against people who made up lies about me, and am glad that my parents sacrificed so I could be a part of all the activities that I chose to do.
16.I have become a pretty good cook since getting married, but still use the smoke detector as a timer at times (especially with bread).
17.I am overly generous and a loyal friend, and I would not change that.
18.I have 5 brothers, am the only girl and was not spoiled one bit (shhhh bro's, no comments here).
19.One of the guys I worked with in Memphis (Greg) thought I was Elvis’ illegitimate daughter, we even called my mom so he could ask her if she attended any of his 1970 tour.
20.We are starting to build a cabin on our land that will be all solar and make the smallest footprint possible on our land. An 1800s homesite is just 50 feet away from our cabin site and we will rebuild the fireplace that still stands to make an outdoor kitchen. No, not city-fied anymore.
21.I don’t like to fold clothes or empty the dishwasher.
22.I love to entertain, I still polish my great grandmothers silver and use it!
23.I over-indulge my children as far as their imagination, they have every kind of outfit you can think of ~ Peter Pan, ninjas, most Superheroes, cowboys, Indians, pirates, oh, the list goes on. But, no they don’t own or play video games.
24.I don’t just want my life to make a difference, I want to change the world. To be PRESENT every day.
25.I love the Lord and yearn for a stronger relationship with HIM. Not what the church defines that is, what He defines that is.

Now it is your turn. Do you have a list? If not, make a list, it is more for yourself than for others. You can share it with the bloggity world or just complete it so you can look back to see if your life is focused in the direction you dream it should be when you remember the list next year. Or, that you were sleep deprived, hungry, or bored when you wrote the list.


The Park Wife

The NY Times Reporter and The Park Wife

I love my life. I could not ask for more. But, there are times when things get a little shaken up. I have posted about my identity crisis here, here, and yep, here and how I have dealt with it. It seems that it is a battle I am destined to fight and overcome many times. Well, maybe not a full out battle, but a little skirmish here and there. I was programmed at an early age of the pitfalls of using the wrong fork, the faux pas of wearing linen after Labor Day, and how charm will get you only so far. You know, what was expected of me (thanks Grandma and Emily Post), not who I truly am. I do not blame my family for this, I embrace it and build upon it. The good news (especially for Big Buckaroo who has to endure as I go through this) is that each time I learn a little more about myself and in the end find a new appreciation for the authenticity of my being.

Last week, I was contacted by a food writer from The New York Times who will be in my state doing an article on a highly-recognized and respected garden design expert and would like to come to my town for the day. She wants to learn more about one of our highly celebrated crops (meaning we have a festival) in our area. So, I put my public relations practitioner hat back on, with a kid on my hip, and hopped on board to arrange everything. As you all know, I am passionate about promoting eating local and our farmers, so I got a little excited (understatement).

I called Big Buckaroo at work, relayed my exuberance, and then I freaked out. Did I tell you that she is from The New York Times???? For a Journalism major that is a little intimidating, ya think? My simple life living self almost hyperventilated thinking about the opportunity to actually spend time with and have a conversation with a New York Times Reporter. She has three books out, won four James Beard awards for food writing, and won the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. Intimidated? In awe? Um, well yea.

And then….she and I began emailing frequently about the logistics of her visit. She is friendly, kind and funny; completely down to Earth. I Googled so I could read some of her articles to be prepared on angles for her story, to see her writing style. Amazing writer, of course. Then, I read an overview of her latest book and KABOOM! Identity crisis over. Her latest book is a food memoir, a personal story filled with, well, the stuff of life — and not all of it great, easy, or pretty. It is a testament to struggling to discover your sense of self. What? I am not the only one that has gone through this, even a NEW YORK TIMES reporter. She has been where I have been?

I am so excited about meeting her and being me, just me. A wife, homeschool mom, local food advocate, community builder, and friend who is fine with the woman I have become and am thankful for the immense blessings in my life.

Oh, and don’t worry, I will post more about her visit. I am going to the city this week so it is possible I can pick up a copy of her book to get signed and give out to one of you guys. Hey, maybe she can wrangle me a visit to The Pioneer Woman’s lodge where she can talk with Ree about her cookbook and life and I can sit back and EAT!

Living faithfully to my authentic self,
The Park Wife

Life Gets In The Way

Whew! I have been a bit busy lately, sorry oh faithful readers (all 4 of you), but I am here for an update.

This time of year the farmers' market consumes my life; from speaking to various civic groups to radio interviews to working with our farmers to get them ready for market. And, it has all paid off. We opened the market last Saturday with 13 farmer/producers and MANY customers. It was a huge success. The best part of it all is that I think that people are genuinely interested in not only supporting their local farmers but also the health value of eating locally.

Thanks to Food, Inc., Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution, the rapid growth of farmers' markets, and even Michelle Obama's White House garden, people are starting to get it!!! Yes, our food system is screwed up. Factory farming, genetically engineered food, foodborne illness, diabetes and obesity, cloning, oh my! I urge you to learn more about where your food comes from that you feed your family.

I also love that farmers' markets help to create community, something that is lacking in our technology-driven world. It is a great gathering place for local producers and their neighbors that fosters the connection between our food, our culture, our land and our environment. Nothing beats sitting around with farmers who value living sustainably and leaving the earth a better place than they found it. There is a lot we can all learn from those who went before us.

There is one other thing that has been in the planning that happened the week before the market opened. Our sweet friend Elissa was married and the Buckaroo's were in the wedding. I was a nervous wreck that they would pick their nose or some other obnoxious thing to interrupt the wedding, but they were fantastic, perfect little gentlemen. And, oh my, they are handsome!

Nothing like seeing your guys in tuxedos in a wedding to think about their future weddings. Time is flying by so fast with these guys and I continue to pray for their future wives. What I do know is that no matter what I will be a fantastic mother-in-law, even if the woman they choose is not who I would have chosen for them. I will be accepting, loving and go out of my way to be kind to her, no matter what because my relationship with our boys is important enough to me to nourish and sacrifice for that relationship. Oh, but I am still praying for the perfect girl who will be one of my best friends. Yea, PLEASE God!

Market is open again today so I better go pick squash, zucchini and cucumbers!
The Park Wife