Spending a bit of time online this morning catching up on emails related to the farm.  I wrote yesterday evening about a fear I’m overcoming in my life to mail letters.  This morning I’ve got a much bigger fear of writing about my fear about writing letters.  No matter I’m excited to be jumping into this new writing style of basically documenting the thoughts and moments that happen during the day that I’m able to capture long enough to write down.  The idea came to me while we were on a recent overnight at William Sypert Station bed and breakfast in Lebanon, TN.  There was a book on the bookshelf title Pioneer Woman and it was so intriguing.  It was more about the everyday happenings of life and I found myself yearning to know what those that I’m able to capture in my mind long enough.  And as a special treat our hostess wrote a poem about it and sent it to us after we returned.

From Kentucky, we got lucky (an hour up the road)
Bowling Green gave us a team (we’re mighty glad to know!) 
They stayed 2 days and ate & played, Then took the train to town
Where guitars hurled and people swirled, from every place around
As they go home, let it be known, that new friends we have found 
They farm the dirt (they love their work) Kentucky was in town!

For whatever reason that poem reminds me of the directions Nathan gave me to find the amish home I’m visiting this afternoon to pick up an order.

At the top of the hill turn left.
Drive six miles to the stop sign.
Go about 100 feet and turn right.
Cross the creek and go up the hill on left.
Turn back and then left at the Y in the road.

Wish me luck.

After posting the photo yesterday of the civil war soldier that is buried here on this farm and asking the question, “wonder how he ended up back on this farm when the homeowners were Dodson’s.”  Several people helped me dig a bit deeper to find out that Joseph W. Richards grandfather had previously owned the farm and he was listed as a farmer.  So maybe he was still living and working this farm after the Dodsons moved to town?  Still more research to do on that because of the uniqueness of the location of the burial-which is very close to the home.  Another document described Richards in a bit more detail.  I’m amazed at how much little information we have of many from the past compared to today-their lives summed up like this.

Final Statements:
Born: Allen Co., KY; Age: 21; Height: 5’7.5”; Complexion: Dark; Eyes: Blue; Hair: Black; Occupation: Farmer; Enlisted 15 Sep., 1861 at Allen Co., KY for term of 3 years; Mustered-In 26 Nov., 1861 at Columbia, KY.
Served Until: “He was Killed in the Battle of Stones River on the 2 day of Jan 1863”
Last Paid: 31 Aug., 1862
Clothing Account Advanced: $62.52
Report Dated: 26 Sep., 1864 at Atlanta, GA