The Farmer and I are alike in that we like to keep busy. We
don’t bore easily, and we appreciate quiet time, but we seem to enjoy always
having at least two jobs going at once. Now that he is retired from teaching he
is quite busy as a real estate agent, and then of course we do have a beef cattle
farm. But apparently that isn’t enough. He likes having somewhere to go every
morning, so now he has a new project. He is going to build a log cabin.
It all started when I invited some friends over for dinner.
The discussion came around to a surplus of cedar logs that our friend had on
his property. I could see the wheels in my husband’s head beginning to turn.
This man loves to build things. We have four-foot tall dollhouses in our
basement that he built with his own hands. They were big enough for Sarah and
Amy to sit inside when they were younger. They have proper wooden shingles and
one of them is covered in artificial stone.
We also have a miniature playhouse outside that is quickly
becoming an art installation, as it disintegrates into the earth. I have
pointed out that a more urgent project might be repairing the floor on that
structure so that our grandchild doesn’t injure herself in it. His reply was,
“She’s small. I have a few years before I need to worry about that.” (So if you
bring small children over to visit, beware the broken-down playhouse. I don’t
think the staircase inside is safe either.)
My husband has built four houses, restored an old farmhouse
and he has also built a couple of birch-bark canoes by hand. He is happiest
when he is covered in sawdust, breathing in the smell of fresh-cut wood. He has
a bunch of wood-working equipment but I just saw the Lee Valley
The Farmer went out to survey the log collection. A deal was
struck, and plans were made to trailer the wood to our house. Now he spends his
evening studying a book on how to build a log cabin. I may pull up YouTube on
the big screen and find him some DIY videos but I’m pretty sure he prefers to
learn the old-fashioned way, by trial and error. He never follows the recipe
when he cooks, either, and his meals always taste amazing.
I asked him where he was going to install his new cabin. I
imagined he might want to use it as a cabin in the woods. A getaway man-cave
for when I’ve got the house over-run with children and grandchildren.
“I can’t put it in the field with the cattle,” he explained.
“They will poop all over it.”
I laughed, and then I remembered the year we had the cattle
stuck in the log barn beside the chicken coop. They loved it in there. It was
small enough that if they wedged themselves inside, it was cool and the bugs
actually left them alone. We couldn’t keep them out of there and they kept
pushing on the walls, threatening to heave the heritage building off its
foundation. Eventually we had to nail a door on the outside to keep the out.
They were most disappointed when they discovered it. Much mooing ensued.
No, the Farmer says he is going to build a log cabin on the
front lawn. Well that sounds nice. Our grandchildren can use it as a play
house. Or maybe I can put a bar and stereo and lounge in there and call it a
party shack. I haven’t told him my plans yet. I will let him happily build it
before I give him my suggestions. I’m sure they will be well received.
As we say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016, take a moment
to reflect on how much has changed in the past twelve months, and brace
yourself for the next. We can’t choose our future but we can choose how we are
going to react to it. Enjoy every moment and try to slow life down a bit. All
the best, from me and the Farmer.
Order your copy of “The Accidental Farmwife” book by Email: Dianafisher1@gmail.com
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