The farm across the road from us.

We live in the country, in the middle of nowhere – Podunk. Moreover, they don’t call it Podunk for nothing. Even though we are only four miles outside of town, when we first moved here in 2010, there was no cable TV or internet service. Most people have satellite TV in our neighborhood. Until 2014, the only way we could get online was from our handy MiFi device that provided internet service off cellular towers. At least we had a 3G tower less than a mile away. We have never been a big fan of cable TV and we’re so behind on the up-to-date shows, it is no big deal to borrow videos from the library. Therefore, we rarely ever miss “regular” cable TV.

Our block is one mile long with less than 10 houses on it. We live on the “populated” side of Podunk; the other side has only three houses. As a result, we are surrounded by farms. This time of year, it becomes very evident with the spreading of fertilizer – a.k.a. manure.

Even though this will be our 6th season here, I seem to forget where I am and get fooled every time. There is a moment every spring when I start smelling the manure and know the farmers are taking care of the land. But then out of nowhere I forget and think I have stepped in it. I check my shoes, Mathew’s, and then ask Mike to check his shoes. Every time he needs to remind me that it’s just the farm across the street that has recently spread manure. Of course it is!