you know you live in a small town when ...

Yesterday was our irrigating day. We get to irrigate (flood our fields, lawns, trees, plants, and gardens) twice a week. In order to do this, I have to go back to the water box and stop the water by putting a long board down inside which covers the pipe. The water level then rises enough to come out of the box and into our pipes. The girls love this day. They get their swimsuits on to play in the water that puddles up on the back lawn. It usually takes about an hour to water the back lawn and then we water the rest of the yard. About two years ago, when we had just moved here, we decided to flood the area on the side of the house where all of the fruit trees are. Later that evening, we learned that we had made a great mistake. The fruit trees are planted next to the leach field (septic) and we flooded the leach field at the same time. The leach field filled up to its capacity and backed up into our unfinished basement. Not a good idea. Our house smelled rotten and we pretty much had to evacuate it and then we had a nasty problem on our hands. Or Brad did, I was about a week out from having Madelyn at the time. I grew up in the city and being a country girl has taken some time to get used to. I now love it and wouldn't want it any other way. But, there are a few things you have to get used to. Yesterday when I started the water on the back lawn, I decided to take the kids to the park. I planned on staying until Olivia got out of school. I could then pick her up and come home to change the water. I had friends at the park, the kids were being great, and my friend offered to pick up Livvy when she got her kids and bring her back to the park. I remembered that the water was on about an hour and a half too late. My mind filled with dread of coming home to a poo filled basement. I was greatly relieved when I got home and the only thing that had flooded was the wood shed. I can handle that! These things are some of the trade offs I take for living in the country.

This morning I drove an hour to get to the "city" where our closest airport is. I parked closer to the airport than most people get who drive through the terminal drop off area. We were running a little late, about 45 minutes before the flight was scheduled to take off. I worried a little bit about Brad getting his bags checked in and through security. There was no need to worry. There were about fifteen people in the entire airport. Madelyn stood in front of the escalators mesmerized as if she had never seen one before (which she probably hasn't). She kept saying wow over and over again. I could barely pull her eyes away from it in order to say good bye to Brad. The passengers who use this airport have to walk out on the tarmac in order to board the plane. I was thinking of all this as I was walking the girls out to the car when I scared a bunny rabbit out from underneath it. Only in the country!