Christmas on the Farm

Down on the farm in my Xtra Tufs

I love the holidays. Snowfall, Christmas lights, discovering the perfect gift for that special person, snuggling up, drinking hot chocolate and peppermint coffee, even Christmas carols. I love them. I love that this time of year is when we really focus on those who are important in our lives and I love sending Christmas cards and special wishes to those who are near and dear to my heart. Then there's that little thrill when I receive them in return. Those little notes of what the year has served up, the snapshots of smiling faces as reminders of life moving and growing and expanding. For a brief moment, I reconnect with those that I love. And then time swirls on, the holidays pass, winter turns to spring and we all get back to business dancing along the pathways we've chosen for our life.

We've been on the road two years now. Two years! It's so hard to believe but there you have it. Last Christmas, we got to spend it on the golden beaches and cozy setting of Ventura, CA. And it was lovely, really a wonderful place to spend that special time. But, I have to admit that one of the things that I really love about the holidays is that impromptu gathering of friends and family, cozied up, laughing, teasing and storytelling on a cold winter's night. It's been one of the hardest transitions to life on the road, that isolation you feel, the never really being part of the group. Most of the time I enjoy being the bystander and getting a glimpse into other people's realities but at the holidays I really yearn for that connection, that feeling of being part of the tribe, knowing that the people around you really care about who you are and where you're going when you step out the door.

Well, this year we got all that and a bag of chips...literally. Last month we moved from the beautiful Queen City of North Carolina to the edge of the windswept plains of West Texas. Technically, we're perched in New Mexico but Texas is a mere 8 miles up the road. And this means that family is not far away. A few years back, my dad married his high school sweetheart and returned to the farming life of his youth so, lucky for us, Christmas Eve was spent down on the farm.

Hubby striking a pose

Cold enough for snow but that's actually cotton on the ground.

Lovely glow of the Christmas tree

Erik, me and Alice...and the bag of chips

Christmas Day found us tucked up snug as a bug in a rug back in our motorhome. That doesn't mean that Santa doesn't make an appearance! And after 9 (Chloe and Daisy) and 10 (Riley) years of Christmas extravaganza, receiving everything from bison bones to flying frisbees, the dogs have learned that when the sparkly lights and crackly paper make an appearance, good times and good eating are sure to follow. I think they were more excited on Christmas Day than Erik and me!

Christmas loot

Chloe, guarding the Christmas loot

Riley, hoarding the Christmas loot

As the last rays of sun spilled out across the landscape, Erik and I took a moment to reflect on the many blessings life presents and how darn lucky we are to be on this great adventure with friends and family willing to come along for the ride.

Hope your holidays were as special as ours and you were lucky enough to be surrounded by those who love you.

Littlefield, Texas

I've been asked by numerous friends, "What was it like?" so, for all of you who asked, here's my little synopsis of Littlefield, TX and a few things I learned along the way. A farming community of about 6500 residents located in the panhandle of Texas, it's a little town with a big heart. The closest city is Lubbock and this, my friends, is Texas Tech territory. God help you if you're an Aggie from A&M and you wander unaware into this little corner of the world (for all of you Griz fans, it would be similar to having a Cat fan stroll on in to town). This piece of information was drilled into me before I ever set foot on Texas soil as our flight attendant and a passenger got into a heated debate on this very subject before we had even landed. Tip #1 - if you know nothing about sports or competing schools, keep your trap shut or run the risk of being escorted out of town.







The town of Littlefield still retains alot of the charm of a by-gone era. The courthouse still has a bomb shelter and the main street looks as if Elvis will come driving by at any minute. The people are very friendly but certainly notice when there are strangers in the mix. Tip #2 - when taking a picture of main street, do not use a camera with a telephoto lens and STAY ON THE SIDEWALK. Waving a camera around while standing on the edge of the road will apparently cause a traffic jam for the 2 cars that happen to be driving on the street.




One of Littlefield's claim to fame is that country great, Waylon Jennings, was born here, a fact they proudly display on water towers and murals around town. They even have a Waylon Jennings Avenue. It's the street that runs East to West and bisects Main St. You can't miss it as every other business has incorporated some portion of "Waylon" or "Jennings" into their name. This brings us to Tip #3 - do NOT diss Waylon! We won't even go into what can happen to you if you disregard that one. Let's just say "tar" and "feathers" will be in your immediate future.


Last, friendly though they are, these people love their meat, a fact that's a bit disconcerting to a tried-and-true vegetarian. This leads me to Tip# 4 (you veges better pay attention) - do NOT go to the local McDonalds and try to order an Egg McMuffin without the meat. It can lead to hysteria and mayhem. As one old-timer noted as we stood at the counter watching the drama playing out in front of us, "That looks like a Chinese fire drill". Hmm, and indeed it did.




So, if you happen to find yourself in need of wide, open spaces, friendly faces, red dirt and cotton aplenty, you couldn't go wrong in moseying on over to Littlefield. Just make sure to pack your Red Raiders t-shirt before you go.