Hi! My name is Julie and currently I am living in Germany. I'm married to an Army aviator (a Black Hawk pilot), who has served for almost 20 years. That means we've moved around a lot. We've been in Germany for eight years (11 total), but as we near retirement we are looking forward to starting a new life somewhere in the US. We want to settle somewhere on at least 40 acres and try our hand at gardening and farming. That's what we hope for anyway.

I am a mother to five kiddos, two boys and three girls; 14, 11, 8, 7, and 5. I was almost 30 before I had my first child, so I spent many years working at different jobs after college. 

As I read many of the intro.s here, I was struck by the commonalities of many of us here. I've lived in Fayetteville, NC, my middle name is Suzette, I home school most of my children (my oldest is in Middle School), I'm raising military brats, my father-in-law is from West Virginia, and I'm a farmer wannabe. That's just a few of the things that stuck out to me as I scrolled through the introductions.

I've always wanted to own sheep (and a goat or two), so when I found Suzanne's blog, I knew it was a place I'd want to "hang out" and "visit". I'm looking forward to learning much from the forum!

Hi, I'm Patty and I live in southeastern Ohio. I am 57, married and have 4 grown children – 2 girls and 2 boys. All of them live on or around Dover AFB, Deleware. Both my daughters are in the Air Force Reserves and my oldest son is an Air Force Academy graduate  of 2006' and is a 1st Lt. at Dover. He is presently is preparing to go to Afganistan (spelling?) in Aug. My youngest was in the Ohio Air National Guard and served a tour in Iraq. He came through that safely but after being home 6 months he had a serious truck accident and lost a leg and had serious brain trauma. This was in 2007' and he is doing very well. Brain trauma is very tricky though so he still has some problems. Sorry, I didn't mean to get in my "woest me" mode. My husband a I have 5 acres in the country after being in town for 37 years. He raises bees and calls it his "farm".  I have 2 outside dogs and 4 cats and I inherited all of them from my daughters who  moved out of state! No way was I going to let these animals go to the pound!  I also love to read and am still trying to teach myself to knit which is why I enjoy Suzanne's posts about knitting.

Well, after I have written a book, I think I need to get off here. I tend to ramble! I hope I did this correctly.

Patty     

Hi, all. *hesitant wave* I'm Robin G. Been reading the Chickens in the Road blog for a long time, figured it was time to step into the forum.

I'm actually about as far from country-living as possible; I'm an urban chick in her mid-twenties (nearly to late-twenties — ack!). But I'm a nanny (technically the kids come to me, rather than my living in their home, but "nanny" sounds way cooler than "babysitter"), so I'm at home a lot and spend a great deal of time in my kitchen with an infant strapped to my chest and a two-year-old sneaking bites of shortening. I love the recipes around here because, frankly, I'm on a very restricted budget (and just lost my extra-money job — trying not to panic!), and cooking from scratch at home is SO much cheaper than preprepared food or, God forbid, restaurants.

I like gardening (I have a plot at my mother-in-law's, since my husband and I live in an apartment and have no yard), and canning/freezing, and experimenting with recipes, and simple cheese-making. I can get a single 3 pound whole chicken to last through four dinners, not including rendered fat and stock. I make my own baby food. I don't own a microwave. I wish I owned a goat.

I'm looking forward to joining in around here!

Hi! I always think I'm going to sound like a huge dork when I fill out these things, but here goes…My name is Kelley and I live in the Midwest.  I live in the suburbs, about as far away from the country as you can get!  My husband and I have been married for 15 years, and we have a son who will be 10 years old in a few months.

I've been reading this blog for about a month now, can't even remember how I found it, but I'm glad I did!  I get a kick out of Clover, and Little Crooked Hen and her man, Mr. Hyde! 

I love to cook, bake, read, listen, learn, veg out, sew, make cards, scrapbook, sleep and enjoy the occasional margarita.  I like sushi, Mexican food and have developed a deep attachment to my Keurig coffee maker.  That's it, I think!

 Hello, my name is Laura.  I am 43, I

have been a high school  art teacher for 12 years.  I live about 30

miles outside of St. Louis MO in a log home, on 2 1/2 acres.  I am

married to the father of my children, we have three boys, one 11 and 7

year old twins.  My friends call me a hippie, but I am just concerned

about the environment and like to feed my family food that does not have

pesticides or preservatives.  I just heard about this site last night

and was so excited I joined this morning.  I even created a fairy garden

today, and planted my first seeds for my veggie garden.  I have never

blogged, so this is new to me.  I have been trying to get my husband to

agree to chickens – I am hoping I get my way this year.

Moderator note:  Moved this post from a thread called "Hello new obsession" so we would be able to find and greet Laura better! 

Hi, I'm Lisa.  I'm 42 and live in west-central Indiana.  I'm single and would love to be more rual than I am right now, but that's still a dream.  I work in administration in a large children's hospital.  I just started canning and dehydrating and gardening, and love learning all the country crafts.  I plan to try more canning and candle making this summer.