Most of you (Except for you newcomers! Hi!) know that we live “in the sticks“. You can read Part One here, and Part Duex here.
Here is a bit of background for those who don’t have time to read those posts. The sticks that we live in are really far out of “town”. People often shake their heads sadly when we tell them where we live. It must be awful, having to drive an entire ten minutes to get to school/church/the grocery store.
When we moved here in 2001 we decided to live out here because we got a 3-acre parcel (That’s a lot of land!) for dirt cheap. Plus, we had just moved from Vancouver where ten minutes was nothing. If we were to spend now what we spent then to purchase a home? We could not even buy a two-bedroom condo. I feel horrible for people who are trying to get into the market.
Even though we are a mere ten minutes from our small town’s core, you would be surprised at the comments we receive. People tell us that when our kids are older we will want to move to “town”. I find this humorous as our community is a farming community and many people live even further from “town” than we do.
I can somewhat see their point, however.
I went for a walk with the boys today while Emily was napping and Daddy was working.
We left home and three minutes later were walking down this beautiful boring trail.
On one side of it runs an abandoned railroad track.
We saw an old mile marker.
And on the other side of the trail? Is The Creek.
I saw a cool hinge on an abandoned shed.
See? Nothing too exciting.
As for the drive into “town”? That ten-minute drive is horrendously long. Absolutely excruciating.
The first five minutes of our drive is spent driving out of the hills where our part of the sticks is located. The forest and horses and the creek (seen above) are hard to take.
As we come down the last big hill, this is the sight we are greeted with. We spend the remaining five minutes driving through this valley.
It is awful.
Really.
We have it rough living in the sticks. I can see their point.
What on Earth am I thinking, living out here?
29 Comments
I sort of got the same reation upon moving from Los Angeles, CA to Houston, TX….why would you want to move to TEXAS…lol
People never realize that Houston is the 4th largest city in the US….its not that different just a WHOLE lot cheaper.
Comment by Cndy on November 6th, 2007 @ 7:08 amOh, that’s horrible. I’m crying as I read this. You guys are so strong, toughing it out like that!
Comment by nabbalicious on November 6th, 2007 @ 7:42 amHey….is that Mt. Boucherie??…..I am feeling stirrings from my youth, I used to live in good ole Ktown, and this is reminding me of where I lived…..Hope you have a great day Angella!!!
Always
Heidi
Awesome pictures and beautiful scenery!
Some people are just nuts! I am a NOT referring to you living in “the sicks”. I want to live in “the sicks” too!
Comment by Kristin on November 6th, 2007 @ 8:42 amgreat pics, and I really do feel sorry for you.
really.
Comment by Karen on November 6th, 2007 @ 9:03 amhaha when we were first married, my husband lived on a farm and it took 20 min to get to town..growing up i lived 10 minutes out. My mom would do 2 trips to town in a day, but my friends parents would never drive them over “it was just too long” stupid
Comment by Chelsey on November 6th, 2007 @ 8:10 amI’m so conflicted… I like that we have so many options here in Vegas, but there are times that it feels way too big. Your pictures make me want to live in a place like that and I think that environment looks like it would be more fun for kids. I think back to all the open hills my brother and I had to roam and those are some of my best memories from growing up.
Comment by Jill - GlossyVeneer on November 6th, 2007 @ 8:27 amYeah, Justin and I are talking about getting out, though I really enjoy being able to walk to where I want to go!!
Comment by Elizabeth on November 6th, 2007 @ 8:57 amAs you know we’ve felt terribly for you for a long time. So much so that we’ve tried to move and be your neighbours to console you. But, thus far you’ve still had to endure this injustice on your own. I feel for you, I really do.
Comment by christy on November 6th, 2007 @ 9:04 amYea, I’m feelin REAL sorry for you. Actually, I am completely jealous of you Canadians. You guys live in such beautiful country. I hope to visit Canada someday!
Love the hinge picture.
Comment by Dana on November 6th, 2007 @ 9:07 amI agree with everyone. You need to move. Quickly. But I would hate for you to go through the hassle of selling and cleaning, so Mike, Molly and I will be there to hold down the place for a while. I would do that for YOU. No thanks needed.
(Remember when I told you my “dream” and you were living it, ha.)
Comment by She Likes Purple on November 6th, 2007 @ 10:09 amThose are the greatest pictures! You are a great photographer. Those pictures remind me of where I was born (in the sticks of West Virginia) and I love them! You are lucky to live in such a magical place. See ya.
Comment by Kellan on November 6th, 2007 @ 11:07 amWow~ yeah how do you EVER even wake up in the morning??
Nice pictures 
Wow, that is beautiful! Love the rusted door hinge.
It really is odd how time is perceived in different cities. When i moved from Dallas, TX to Portland, OR and then had a 30 min. commute to school (now work) – people are like how do you do it?! Um, because to get to anything good from the burbs of dallas you drive 30 min. minimum, I’m use to it.
Cndy the question is not why Texas the question is why HOUSTON?! There are better cities in Texas and it doesn’t have to be Dallas =)
Comment by violetkey on November 6th, 2007 @ 11:47 amhahahaha … having just come from Vancouver, 10 minutes is NOTHING! Your place is gorgeous!
Comment by Jen on November 6th, 2007 @ 12:31 pmYeah, I can see why you would hate it.
It’s beautiful as are your fantastic pictures of it!
Comment by Kami on November 6th, 2007 @ 12:32 pmIt’s definitely beautiful! But I am a city girl. I would like visiting, but I wouldn’t wanna live there. It’s not the ten minutes, it’s the lack of post offices, stores, libraries, etc. within walking distance that I would miss.
Looks like a beautiful place!! I think I will do a post like this – take photos of our neighbourhood and what we see as we drive around. Cool idea!
Comment by Hannah on November 6th, 2007 @ 2:05 pmUhhh so I went off and made my own mini-blog on blogspot…nothing near as nice…but maybe I won’t be such a stalker anymore. HA HA HA!
Comment by Cndy on November 6th, 2007 @ 2:13 pmI’m in some need of some sticks.
beautiful!
Comment by little miss mel on November 6th, 2007 @ 2:22 pmIt actually looks a lot like where I live. Except you have a ton more rain.
Purdy pics. Sigh.
Comment by Loralee on November 6th, 2007 @ 3:51 pm10 minutes is nothing. I can’t wait to be out there. They are breaking ground early next week. I think the driving would be hard if you weren’t organized and if your kids were in a lot of activities. I know that our kids won’t be, and they have to pick from what will work best for our family. I can’t wait for our kids to play out there, and for us to have our house. Yeah!!!
Comment by Jolanda on November 6th, 2007 @ 7:42 pmThose pictures you took are so beautiful! I’m so impressed with your photography skills! What a wonderful place to live!
Comment by Michele on November 6th, 2007 @ 8:29 pmIt doesn’t appeal to me so much. The old signs creep me out and the grass trees make me think of all the little critters in them. But that’s just me and I don’t get why people feel the need to tell you, you shouldn’t live there? I find usually people offer advice when they are jealous.I wish I could appreciate nature more.
Comment by Robyn on November 7th, 2007 @ 7:52 amWait…so do you call them mile markers even though you use kilometers?
(That last show blows my mind.)
Comment by Leah on November 9th, 2007 @ 12:56 pmWe’ve got friends living near your sticks, and their place has been a refuge for us for years. It’s gorgeous and mellow and always worth the drive. Before we moved to Summerland, we’d drive out from Kelowna for the day to visit them…and eventually realized we needed to move out here too. Wish we could afford to buy out there, but we missed the window of opportunity. You’re super lucky — glad to hear you’re thankful.
Comment by Jeremy on November 13th, 2007 @ 9:10 pm[...] guys? Remember this photo that I posted in October showing the valley I drive through to get into [...]
Comment by Dutch Blitz » It’s A Beautiful Day on November 29th, 2007 @ 12:53 am
I can see what hardships you endure. It’s a shame you don’t have those ever inspiring crackheads spreading their joy through your hood. Oh, well, if you start early, you can teach the kids how to steal so they will be prepared for life in the city later. You know, to support the drug habit that they will want to acquire to fit in with their homies.
Comment by witchypoo on November 6th, 2007 @ 4:40 am