I was driving home from the second day of the Growing Your Farm Profits (GYFP) workshop that I attended in Markdale, and had tears in my eyes from the winter beauty that I was seeing on the Markdale road. This is Grey Road 12 which runs east-west between Highway 10 and Highway 6, and I think driving on it is what partly sold me on buying a farm in this area back in November of 2009.
Those who know me know that I hate driving. At least I do in the GTA. But out in the country, driving is a completely different activity, especially if you’re on a road as beautiful as Grey Road 12. It winds around and up and down the hilly escarpment landscape so you’re constantly being presented with a new vista of trees, fields and hills, all lit differently by the sun as the road twists and turns. And on this day, all the trees had a thick coating of diamond snow from the previous day’s snow storm that perfectly outlined all their branches. The deciduous trees looked especially gorgeous, all flocked with snow, their limbs striking in their clarity. This is why women wear mascara ;P
Every time I drive home to the farm, I feel my soul rejoice. Despite all the responsibilities and costs of owning and caring for this farm (see previous post), I absolutely love being here. I know in my heart that I am where God wants me to be. The landscape reminds me constantly of the beauty and wonder of His creation, in every season. Whenever I start to feel overly burdened by the bills that need paying, or plans that need to be made to ensure bills keep being paid, I just look around me and remember why I’m here. Out here, I am in the midst of life, and the business of life. For me, there can be no higher calling.