We did it...

...and I had record this for posterity. We are five months into our five year plan, and, well, we're four years and seven months ahead of schedule.

Last January, S and I made a plan to move to a small farm, to bring the horses home. We planned to grow our chicken flock, get some more area for the garden, and start being a little more self sufficient, produce more of our own stuff. We gave ourselves five years to find a place, build the barn, and start our own small farm.

Since April 1, we've:

1. Moved to the new house

2. Deconstructed the property, stripping it down to bare pasture and a shell of a barn

3. Rebuilt the barn

4. Installed a riding arena

5. Put in proper horse paddocks

6. Designed and outfitted a *very* safe and pleasant horse barn, complete with tack room

7. Fenced in the front for the dogs

8. Learned to manage a small pasture

9. Canned and preserved a lot of the neighbor's garden (with consent!)

10. Secured hay for winter

11. Saved enough money to pay our property taxes

At this point, our new place is ready for a winter over. Yes, we still need to do a couple of minor things - buy the neighbor's cow, put up shavings for the winter, get a freezer, buy a snow plow for the ATV, etc. I'm sure the list goes on and on.

But at the moment, we can sit here with our heads above water and look at the results of what happens when you start out on your five year plan.

You just might finish a bit early....

"It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.." - Bilbo Baggins