by Texas Homesteader ~
Several years ago we decided we wanted something more than the day-to-day concrete jungle we felt stifled within. We both longed to be in more control of our lives but we didn’t know where to start.
Then we found this little piece of paradise in Texas and decided to call it our own. Dreams of a different future for us began to form in our minds.
Shortly thereafter we met a wonderful man that took us under his wing and became our trusted mentor. He helped us buy our first cows and taught us how to care for them.
He even worked those first few for us in his chute, delivering them to our own fledgling ranch afterward. His adult son has also been a great mentor, selflessly helping us in many ways at all hours of the day or night as we felt our way through those first unsteady years. We’re happy to say both men are still cherished friends of ours today.
Improving Our Future
We were fortunate in those early years that we still held corporate jobs in that dreaded concrete jungle we desperately desired to escape. Because the salaries earned during those early days helped us go through the sometimes emotionally and financially painful learning curve.
We needed to repair that poor old 1880’s barn. It needed lots of repairs (thank goodness we still had corporate salaries for that!)
Step by step we discovered how to properly care for our livestock and property. We updated fences and outbuildings. There were ponds to be dug and pastures to be planted. One step at a time we drew closer and closer to the life we dreamed we could live.
Making The Leap
But then came the time to make that leap from the corporate world to our long-awaited dream world. We knew this was where our hearts were, but were we ready to pull that plug on guaranteed salary, annual bonuses and retirement funds?
YES!
We came to the mutual decision together several years ago. It was scary to jump hand-in-hand into the unknown future. But what a blissful ride it’s been!
Learning As We Go
Together we’ve dealt with the uncertainties that are to be expected when you’re self employed. We discovered – many times to our dismay – that although the weather is out of our control it has a huge impact when your livelihood revolves around the health of your animals as well as your grass.
We’ve learned about pasture rotation and A.I., about gentle cows and difficult calf births. There have been both good and bad over the years. But we are pursuing our dream and it’s a beautiful thing.
Are you ready start taking those first baby steps toward the future you desire?
A dream without action is simply a dream – take those steps today!
~TxH~
Other Homesteading Posts
- Tour Our 1880’s Barn
- Evidence of A Past Homestead
- Evidence of (Yet ANOTHER) Old Homestead
- Top 10 Homesteading Posts Each Year
- Why Bother With This Homesteading Thing??!
- Teaching Free-Range Hens To Come HOME
- What I’ve Learned About Free-Range Eggs
- 3 Water-Catchment Systems We Use On The Homestead
- Soap Grows On TREES: Using Natural Soapberry Shampoo
Love Our 1880’s Barn? See More!
- Tour Our 1880’s Barn
- We Now Have TWO 1880’s Barns
- Refurbishing An Old Barn’s Chicken Coop
- Repurposing Old Barn Wood For Rustic Mirror
- Customized Reclaimed Barn Wood For Country Headboard
See ALL Our Barn Posts
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I live in a part of Texas that is all small towns comprised of ranchers and farmers. I’m going to share this on my FB page because I know they’ll also enjoy your story.
Awesome Shelley – thanks. Couldn’t we all use to see a little kindness in our FB newsfeeds to push aside the rampant ugliness crowding it these days? ~TxH~
Thanks for sharing on the Homestead Blog Hop. I recently did a YouTube video on just this: To just go for it! 🙂
That first step can be scary Alicia, but every dream begins with that step. ~TxH~
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Love your story. Thanks for sharing it at Motivation Monday on Mom Home Guide — it was picked as a feature this week!
How exciting Lauren, THANKS! ~TxH~
Simplifying my life to continue my dream ! Inspirational thanks again
One step at a time Tru and you’ll be on the path to your dream future! ~TxH~
I love that you just “went for it!” My husband and I keep dreaming about making a huge change, but right now it is just a dream — mainly because we can’t agree on what that change should be, haha. I would love to open a bed and breakfast, but that is so far off of his “dream radar” that he can’t even fathom it. Oh, well, one day… 🙂
I know what you mean Wendy – both partners have to be on the same page to make the leap successful. RancherMan & I spent many months/years discussing what each of us wanted, what was important and what was not. When our desires for the future finally aligned, we knew it was time to leap. It’s been every bit as blissful as I hoped it would be. 🙂 ~TxH~
It is so easy to feel paralyzed with fear at trying something new, especially something you’ve had your heart set on for such a long time! I’m really trying to step outside my comfort zone and meet the life goals and dreams that I have so I don’t have regrets later. It’s tough, but worth it!
Good for you Jamie! I like my comfort zone, but I’m also stretching out of it to be able to accomplish my goals. It’s been wonderful! ~TxH~
How wonderful! You make me want to get in the car and drive to the land we just bought to start move some rocks around… Sometimes I think that maybe we are just crazy to hope for a dream like this one, but then I read a post like this one and I just know that if you are willing to get dirty and believe, your dreams can come true.
Beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing. It is good to hear from someone in the same boat.
Thanks Jenny. Sometimes it’s just comforting to know that someone else has had the same hopes & fears you are experiencing. Dreams do come true! ~TxH~
Thanks Lisa, and thanks for the offer to be included on your hop! ~TxH~
What a great story! It’s great that you made this change in your lives and are sharing your experiences with us! I would love to have you share this on The HomeAcre Hop tonight!
http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-homeacre-hop-7.html
Thanks Gary, we love to share the story! 🙂 ~TxH~
Wow what a great story. Love to hear of the history of your ranch.