Things to Love About Rural Living

Apart from a few years that I spent as an urban dweller many years ago, I have lived most of my life in the country.

For me, it is the only real choice.

If you’re like me, then you know what I’m talking about.

City living doesn’t have a lot to recommend it.

The noise, the stink, the pollution and the excessive number of people, all of these things are enough to drive me crazy.

My life in the country is different in virtually every way.

Surrounded by the soft sounds of nature, I have plenty of opportunities to contemplate my thoughts or carry on a conversation.

The air is crisp and clear.

When the sun goes down, I feel like I have a front seat in the audience for viewing the entire Milky Way.

I sometimes go for days without seeing another person except those who live with me, yet I’m never lonely.

There’s just so much to see and do.

My garden always needs tending, and I have animals that make for incredibly good company.

Of course, one of the best things about country living is being able to be so close to nature.

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During my years in the city, I felt nearly cut off from nature.

All of my walks involved asphalt and concrete.

Seeing some grass, let alone walking on it, was rare.

The trees I saw tended to be less than impressive, and flowers were nearly unheard of.

Things are incredibly different where I live now. Off-Grid Living: Surviving the Outdoors

For miles around, I can explore pastures, meadows and forests.

The gently rolling landscape is just perfect for enjoying a healthy walk, and you can bet that I’m out there pretty nearly 365 days a year.

I will admit that as I have gotten older, the terrain has become a little more difficult to handle.

It’s only natural that after many years of activity I would experience some joint stiffness and other mild complaints.

Plus, sometimes I feel like I’m just not as surefooted as I used to be.

Now, I have never been accused of being a quitter, and I don’t intend for that kind of mindset to take over at this point.

I started looking around for a solution.

A friend that I regularly run into at a store in town suggested that I look into getting a walking cane, so I started doing some searching on the Internet.

Twisted Sassafras Turned Knob Walking Cane

That’s how I discovered the Brazos Walking Sticks Company.

It’s a US company that’s located in Texas, so I feel like they really understand my fiercely independent lifestyle.

The fact that each of their walking sticks is fashioned by hand, one at a time, was also incredibly appealing.

I mean, who’s heard of that kind of craftsmanship in this day and age?

Most products are turned out by the dozen on mechanized assembly lines located in some other country that isn’t the US.

However, I feel like this is one company that’s really doing it right.

They genuinely care about their products and what people think of them.

I spent quite a bit of time on their website before ultimately deciding on the Twisted Sassafras Turned Knob Walking Cane.

Its appearance is really eye catching.

The shaft is made from sassafras with some of the bark left on for added appeal.

In fact, the bark forms the “twist” around the shaft, and it looks amazing.

As good as the pictures online are, seeing my own walking cane from Brazos Walking Sticks Company was something entirely different.

The piece has a really beautiful sheen, and the orange and red colors are gorgeous.

I’m impressed by how lightweight this stick is, yet it appears to be amazingly durable.

No matter the terrain or the weather, I know that my Twisted Sassafras Turned Knob Walking Cane is up to the task.

The wood that is used to create this stick is incredibly well polished.

It feels so smooth and comfortable in my hand.

Available in two lengths, I was able to get the size that is perfect for my height.

Additionally, it’s possible to add all sorts of personalization and accessories to these walking sticks.

I added my monogram and the combi-spike tip so that my cane would be a true go-anywhere accessory.

If you like, you also can add a cane strap or other embellishments like an American flag medallion or a pewter star.

Brazos even offers a thermometer, so if you’re concerned about the temperature, that might be a sensible addition for you.

One of the things that I find so appealing about this cane is that it has so much personality.

I’ve seen plenty of people walking around with a plain, impersonal cane made from metal or another less-imaginative material, but it’s rare to see someone with such an outstanding and unique accessory in their hand.

I guess what I’m saying is that I appreciate that this cane was made from a material that once was a part of a living tree.

In some ways, I feel like it’s an extension of nature, and that fits in well with my lifestyle.

Plus, anyone can see how sturdy and dependable this cane is in addition to being well made.

This is probably going to end up a family heirloom for my country-loving relatives.

Initially, I had planned to only use my walking cane while going on my long rambles through the countryside.

Now I take it pretty much everywhere I go.

When I bring it into town, people are always impressed with it, and I can’t stop myself from telling the story.

I also tell them, only if I’m asked, how much I paid for my stick.

It never fails to astound people that this impressive and functional piece of art costs so little.

I think it just might be the smartest purchase I’ve ever made.

I have no intention of ever giving up my independent country lifestyle.

My walking stick is one more tool that makes that possible.

Oak Wood Derby Walking Cane With Oak Shaft And Brass Embossed Collar

If you are looking for a handsome, durable walking cane, look no further than the Oak Wood Derby Walking Cane With Oak Shaft And Brass Embossed Collar from Fashionable Canes.

This cane is as functional as it is beautiful.

The secret is in the derby style handle, which is both easy to grip and balances like a dream on the edge of any table.

No longer will you have to worry about your cane slipping to the ground and embarrassing you during a fancy dinner out.

You also won’t have to tuck it away and run the risk of forgetting about it!

Your cane will be right where you left it, securely clamped on to the table.

The handle also makes it easy to maneuver around with.

Many canes will slip right out of your hands at the first disturbance or slippery ground, but not the Oak Wood Derby Walking Cane With Oak Shaft And Brass Embossed Collar!

The derby handle keeps it right by your side, no matter what kind of terrain you are up against.

The design also allows you to keep up with others who might be walking briskly without the aid of a cane.

You will never worry about falling behind again!

This cane is also lovingly carved from oak, which gives it a beautiful appearance as well as makes it sturdy and largely immune to many different types of wear and tear.

The oak is honey-colored, but the grain is darker, giving the cane a sophisticated appearance that contrasts the darker grain against the naturally light color of the wood.

The result is striking and sophisticated; the perfect complement to any outfit.

This is a cane that could accompany you to the most prestigious occasion and fit right in perfectly.

Such a fabulous cane needs some incredible ornamentation, which is exactly what this cane gets with a solid brass collar that connects the derby handle to the staff of the cane.

This simple collar is subtly marked with the Royal Canes Company logo.

It is muted and understated sophistication, the last word in class.

This cane can be customized to your weight and height, although some maximum limits to apply.

The cane itself weighs in at just under a pound, which is great for users who need a lightweight cane that can still stand up to the rough and tumble nature of life.

This cane is also reasonably priced as well.

You can get your hands on it for under $40.

It’s a small investment in your overall happiness and mobility, and well worth it!

I would recommend this cane to anyone.

It’s handsome but simple enough to go with any different outfit, and it is able to stand up to different types of terrain and wear and tear.

Best of all, the derby handle will keep the cane right where you need it; by your side at all times.

10 Things to Love About Rural Living

I don’t have to spend 10% of each day commuting.

For years I did it in the morning, and then I did it at night, and I repeated the cycle five days a week.

What a waste of time, energy, and emotional well-being.

Nowadays, my vehicle of choice is a tractor and there’s hardly any traffic!

I am happy when I wake up.

I don’t dread a new day.

Each day is a new one full of adventure, projects and challenges.

The old routine called the “daily grind” is history.

I live in a safe environment.

I leave my keys in my truck.

My house is unlocked.

My dogs are the best doorbell I’ve ever had!

10 things tractor Ten Things to Love About Rural Living

I know the history of much of my food nowadays.

No more worry about food scares and where my food is coming from.

My food doesn’t have unknown additives, hormones, enhancers, and other stuff that just isn’t good for you.

I will live a longer life than if I had stayed in the city.

My food has flavor, too.

Just try one of my tomatoes and compare it to one from a supermarket.

Mine has flavor…

Things are growing all around me.

I am surrounded by real life—living things.

I can look at my garden and watch my own livestock from my kitchen window.

On my way into town one day, I saw literally hundreds of deer and wild turkeys.

I really enjoy watching the eagles soaring above me as I work on my property.

10 things child gardening

My kids are learning about life.

They know where their food is coming from, and they are responsible for some of that.

They are able to follow their desires and passions, whether it is growing food, flowers, or animals.

Their world is unlimited.

They run around and play and I don’t have to worry.

They have become much more self-sufficient and confident.

They are no longer addicted to the Social Media, text messaging, or video games.

My family is somewhat protected from potential issues in the future.

All is not well in the economic, political and global environments.

Unemployment, home foreclosures, civil unrest… are things really getting better?

No.

The civil consequences of all of this will be hitting the urban areas much more than the rural areas.

I can be out hunting in five minutes.

I can be catching a fish in thirty minutes.

Couldn’t do that in my suburban neighborhood.

I know my neighbors.

They are ready to help me with a phone call and when we pass on the road, they always make time to stop and say hello.

In my last neighborhood, I barely knew or even saw my neighbors.

My family lives here too!

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And the top reason I love rural living: The Importance of Family Traditions

AA nativity I love rural living: The Importance of Family Traditions

Long, long ago, December 25 was designated as a day to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Over the years, other cultural and personal traditions became a part of Christmas celebrations.

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Our family embraces both the sincere appreciation of Jesus in our lives and the joy of participating in many fun and meaningful aspects of the season.

We stretch our celebration into about six weeks, from the day after American Thanksgiving in late November into the first week of January.

Each year we attend some new events, try some new recipes, and make some new decorations.

But the basis of our celebration of the season is a cornerstone of family traditions.

Sense of belonging

Family traditions give a family a sense of belonging, routine, and anticipation.

They provide a cohesiveness that can bring everyone together no matter what the circumstances.

If a teenager is feeling like an outsider or wondering which planet his parents came from, family traditions can bind everyone together in shared history and memories.

Someone going through a tough time can relax and be reminded that he or she is not alone.

Newcomers to the family can be invited to introduce some of their own traditions as the family melds together.

A new family being formed by remarriage can encourage the family blending by incorporating traditions from each merging family and then creating new traditions together.

With turmoil all around us in the world and even in our communities, there’s something dependable and faithful and even comforting about participating in a family tradition.

It means something to count on, something to anticipate, a feeling that “I’m a part of this family and this family is a part of me.”

Traditions also promote expectations, which can be good or bad.

In our family we try to focus on the positive ones and eliminate or adapt those with heavy strings attached.

We’ve also kept an eye on interests and abilities as years go by and people change.

Some traditions just die of old age or are replaced by more appropriate or comfortable activities.

Family traditions, old and new

In the past decades, as we shaped our own family’s winter holiday traditions, we carried over a few from our own childhoods.

Each of us had always gotten a tangerine at the bottom of our Christmas stockings.

We both had fun memories of annual visits from “Santa” as part of Christmas Eve preparations and Christmas morning surprises.

Holiday music was played in both of our childhood homes; local concerts and Christmas Eve candlelight services were special events.

On the other hand, we dropped with a thud the traditional fruitcakes of our childhood.

We tweaked the typical Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus of our parents and grandparents.

We added activities like our annual trip to a rural tree farm to select and cut down the “perfect” tree.

Family Ice Skating

We made our own set of traditions and our own memories as we raised our children.

Today they do the same in their homes, keeping some of our traditions alive and adding others that fit their families.

The four younger families in our nuclear family have developed their own traditions.

Each family has maintained some of the parents’ childhood traditions and initiated new ones tailored for the family members and the changing times.

And even those traditions are fine-tuned as the children–our grandchildren–grow older, bringing home their own ideas and indicating their favorite traditions and the ones they could do without.

Nowadays, three generations of our family celebrate the season together.

First a flurry of family emails goes around with discussions of when and where to gather together, what food to share, what type of gift exchange to have.

Then we start the “doing.”

We bake cookies and share special holiday food–both old favorites and new recipes.

We have enjoyed making tree ornaments and other decorations like painted plaster Christmas village houses and decorated graham-cracker “candy houses.”

Some of us even watch sappy holiday movies; Jim and Marie’s annual favorites include It’s a Wonderful Life, The Christmas Story, Christmas with the Kranks, The Santa Clause series, and our most recent additions, Mrs. Miracle and Call Me Mrs. Miracle.

It’s never too late to start initiating family traditions.

Any favorite activity, project, or food your family enjoys is a candidate for a tradition.

If you’re short on ideas, ask friends about their traditions or search blogs, magazines, and books for others.

Here are a few of our own special customs.

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