We had so much fun with the wonderful guests who came to tour our farm yesterday! The rain might interfere with our tours this afternoon, but we aren’t about to complain. It means that our pastures will stay green with thick, healthy grass for our sheep, and the ponds will be filled with sweet, fresh rain water. When you live close to (and depend on) the land, you notice weather patterns and we are grateful that we haven’t had an early summer drought, as we have in some past years.

Here are some happy memories from Saturday:

 

 

Visitors to our farm have been such a happy mixture of folks from all over the world. They often tell me stories of their native countries, and I’m always interested in learning about how and why they moved to the good old United States of America, which is Farmer Bob’s and my home country. On this day, we made new friends who migrated here and became naturalized citizens. They had all come here because of the tremendous opportunity offered  in our country, and followed other family members here who had preceded them in years past. For most, their extended families continue to make the journey to America, and we are so happy to welcome them here.

Some of the most fascinating accounts from yesterday were the stories a woman told me of her childhood on a farm in Russia. Even as a child, she worked very hard on the family farm, digging potatoes and helping process animals for food. She said her family was very poor, but they always ate well because of their farm. She said it was a matter of survival for them, since well-paying jobs were far away in the city of Moscow. I sure don’t know of anyone in America who lives that way. Even the poorest here have the safety nets of our public welfare system that we have provided.

It’s always good to learn about other countries and talk with new American citizens and visitors from other lands. It sure makes Farmer Bob and I grateful for all the sacrifices that Americans have made in the past so that we may enjoy together with new citizens and visitors the many freedoms and opportunities we have today in the good old USA!