Posted By FarmerJ on February 22, 2011

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I posted about the ten things I miss about Arizona?  Well, to be fair, I’m following up with the second question people ask me when they find out I’m a transplant from Arizona.  “How do you like it here?”  I just had another of these conversations last week.  I was talking to a fellow military wife who is originally from Nebraska, moved to Arizona just about the time we moved here, and has just recently returned.  Her question went like this, “Now that you’ve lived here for a while, how do you like it?”  My answer, “I like it just fine.”

Here’s a few of the reasons why ~ again, in no particular order…

1.  That mid-western mentality and demeanor.  I am pleased to report there are still courteous and friendly people out there.  Straight up.  You can even shop in Walmart on Christmas Eve and get a smile and an ‘excuse me’ if you accidentally try to occupy the same space as a stranger.  We’ve tested it two years in a row now.

First snowfall ~ October, 2009

2.  A true change in the seasons.  There is actually a defined spring, summer, fall and winter.  It’s rather refreshing.

3.  The month of September.  It’s absolutely the most beautiful month of the year.  The days are still warm; the nights are cool; the big twisty clouds have passed; and, most of the bugs are gone.

First alfalfa cut of the season ~ 05 May 2010

4.  My Darling Husbie on his tractors.  There is something strangely soothing about watching your man operate farm equipment.

5.  Undying and faithful patriotism.  I cannot describe how it warms my heart to be as far out on the open prairie as possible, only to come across a lone farmhouse…with a flagpole prominently displaying  our nation’s great colors.  It’s a common scene.

One of our 6,000 sf plots ~ September, 2010

6.  Chocolate angel food dirt.  That perfectly rich black dirt that everything just loves to grow in.  Granted, I’d be happy with a few less weeds, but I’m thrilled with all the lush greenery ~ and produce ~ nonetheless.

7.  You can take pills from strangers.  Seriously.  A stranger announces they have a headache.  The other stranger reaches into her bag and extends a couple of Excedrin Migraine tablets.  The stranger with the headache graciously accepts these pills without a blink or a second thought.  You can’t tell me you can do that just anywhere these days.

Onset of a thunderstorm ~ May, 2009

8.  Taking long walks with Darling Husbie without ever leaving the farmstead ~ at least until those infamous storms build up and chase you in.  I know you’re thinking the color is really bad in this photo, but it’s not.  It’s just how dark that black, black cloud above our heads made everything look.

9.  My Darling Husbie on his tractors.  Did I already say that?  I really like watching my husband play work with his tractors.

After an amazing storm ~ 03 June 2010

10.  The summer sunsets that follow those infamous storms that create the big twisty clouds.  The Arizona desert sunsets are hard to beat ~ even the girl just returning from Arizona, the one I mentioned above, said she misses those sunsets ~ but Nebraska can create some good runners up!

11.  And, yes, I once again have more than ten things, but I can’t possibly leave out this one.  All of our new-found friends who have managed to wedge their way into our hearts, and have accepted us into theirs.  I couldn’t do Nebraska without you!

Perhaps Nebraska is home away from home…♥

Categories: Plainly Ponderings
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