[karibear]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I hope she does, too. The reason I was wondering was because of her name. Sometimes when we get a bit older, some things just don't seem to be worth it anymore. Maybe something to do with our bodies slowing down or something.

You don't get a choice about the number of years piling up, but you do have a choice when it comes to acting old. I may be structurally disintegrating, but I won't give up until the day it stops being fun to learn new things. Actually, I won't be giving up, I'll just be one of the walking dead if that happens. A friend told me once that 'old' is a state of mind, and if one acts old, it's just slow suicide - and I believe it. Besides, she's older than I am, so she ought to know.

[_redbird_]

Very sad to hear your losses, but very respectful of your spirit. You rock, Old Hippie Lady.

Originally Posted by Old Hippie Lady

The fire in my area started about 1/2 mile west of me, and moved horribly quickly over the hill. I was working out in the back yard and smelled smoke, and by the time I called 911 and went back outside, it was in my yard. My entire 20 wooded acres burned black, except exactly in the middle where my house sits. I had just watered and raked leaves away from everything the two days prior to the fires. My house was spared, but lost my workshop/shed and all my chickens and their houses and my garden shed. I "started over" by myself just 4 years ago, late in life, with hardly anything, and was so proud to be here. All my homebuilding saws, sanders, weedeater, lawn mowers, all my electrical and plumbing supplies went up in smoke with the workshop. I had an older home moved into my property, set up on a real foundation and was remodeling my house, wiring and all. New sinks, lighting fixtures and wiring...everything....was in the workshop.

Now, I look out the windows and see all around the house is nothing but black, burned trees. But, the drive into the property is Oklahoma Red Dirt, and it looks beautiful now, with patches of green remaining!

My home was spared, but just down the road, within a mile's length, are at least 16 homes that we drove past that are no longer there. They lost everything. Nothing has been mentioned on TV that I heard, about our area, so I'm sure there's even more homes out there that are still yet to be counted. Anyway, I still love my red dirt acreage, and I've been assured that by the time the half burned trees fall, that things will be green again. Thank God for the blessing of the Easter Rains today!

No squirrels, deer or bunny rabbits have been seen yet, but the red birds have returned. My dogs and cats are calming back down, so life is good. Just lots of hard work ahead, but very grateful for what is left!

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by karibear

You don't get a choice about the number of years piling up, but you do have a choice when it comes to acting old. I may be structurally disintegrating, but I won't give up until the day it stops being fun to learn new things. Actually, I won't be giving up, I'll just be one of the walking dead if that happens. A friend told me once that 'old' is a state of mind, and if one acts old, it's just slow suicide - and I believe it. Besides, she's older than I am, so she ought to know.

Oh, that's right. You're an oldie, but a goodie, too. OOPS, I mean you're mature and so am I. I think it's your name~I always think you're a young gal until I see your posts on the "Retirement" forum.

But I love your attitude about staying young!

[karibear]

Originally Posted by Jammie

Oh, that's right. You're an oldie, but a goodie, too. OOPS, I mean you're mature and so am I. I think it's your name~I always think you're a young gal until I see your posts on the "Retirement" forum.

But I love your attitude about staying young!

Hah. Old enough to know better, and young enough to do it anyway!

[EarthBound?]

Originally Posted by karibear

Hah. Old enough to know better, and young enough to do it anyway!

The wife is always telling me that Senility and I will have an easy transition , see what I have to look forward too .

[J double R]

will, or did?

[EarthBound?]

Originally Posted by J double R

will, or did?

DID!: Go to my happy place, go to my happy place, theres no place like home click click click, theres no place like home click click clcik. Oh no Totoe, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore .

[Old Hippie Lady]

Just got back to the computer. All is well here on this acreage. The woods are still black, but I've been told they will turn green again in a couple of years. The grass is greening. Some flowers survived the fire, and the partially burned ones were moved to a "healing spot" to see if they will survive.

No deer or squirrels yet, but a hummingbird did come by close to me while sitting on the porch after a hard days work today. That was encouraging! I've seen one rabbit so far (there were tons of them before!). Lots of birds, even the old owl has returned. I actuall have heard the coyotes again. It's amazing how much I missed these things while they were away. I even saw a frog for the first time today, since the fires. The woods once were so loud with the tree frogs. It's eerie not hearing them now.

I have really learned a lot from this event. Safety, first. Protecting property is not a simple thing, but is learned very quickly. All of us new-comers around here are making changes to reduce the losses in case of another fire.

I am so grateful to be here, still yet. This place is still a refuge to me. I don't mind the hard work. Clean-up will continue for a while, but things are really getting greener by the day.

The sunsets are now visible from my back yard (they were not before), so I am going to clear the land behind me since I love to see the sun set. Oklahoma has the most beautiful sunsets in the entire nation!

[mkfarnam]

Welccome back.......I'm glad to hear that "the best in life is still free".

[Old Hippie Lady]

Thank you for your thoughts. Life is getting good again out here, just a lot of raking and cleaning debris, etc. Woods all around are still black, and will be for a while. The burned smell is almost gone, too.

I can't imagine ever leaving here. If my house had burned, I would build a small "garage" like building and start over again....and again....and again!

This is home to me. I've moved so many times in my life, that when I bought this place I swore I would never move again. I grew up working hard on a small farm, where if you did not grow your own food, you did not eat! Everyone learned how to work.

When I get old and am confined to a recliner or bed, I do belive I will figure out something to do. Being able to "work" is a gift from God. I love watching the newly planted flower and shrubs grow. I am still going to have a small garden this year.

I really miss my chickens and their fresh eggs. I had to buy a carton of eggs at the grocery store and when I cracked them open, they made me sick! There's no comparison to natural food vs. the "hot-house" ones. Getting the chicken pen rebuilt will be one of my first priorities!

I use the name "Old Hippie Lady" because of something I heard one time. I'm not a "spring chicken", but I'm not old. I just love the old ideals from that period of time. I wasn't a crazy hippie, no drugs, etc, and certainly nothing illegal! I love the artwork, the freedom of spirit and hope for a brighter future, and all things are possible attitude, from that period of time.