I Had a Farm in Nooksack

Last night, we started watching "Out of Africa".  At the beginning, Meryl Streep says:

I had a farm in Africa.  She said it with such feeling, it embraced everything I felt and the tears began to fall.  She said it two more times, and I was a goner.

I had a farm in Nooksack.

Leaving here was the hardest thing I ever did.

When my husband inherited a half interest in this farm in 1996, it was a derelict former dairy farm.

We maintained it for two years, with occasional visits, but it sat vacant during that time.

 Then we discovered alpacas.  We bought our first alpacas in 1998 and proceeded to convert the dairy farm to an alpaca friendly environment.  I moved to the farm in 2001 with 21 alpacas while my husband continued to work in Seattle and visit on the weekends to do the remodeling and heavy work.  I was there mostly by myself for 7 years before he retired.

I converted the grounds to a showcase, and created a business and store.

 The farm became a destination for tourists, including busloads from Seattle, Bellingham, and Canada.

Then my husband died in 2010, right before Christmas and my life was changed.

Leaving the farm was hard enough, but leaving the community was the worst.  The life I had in Nooksack was idyllic in many ways.  I had so many friends, and my church was the best.

More than anything, though, I needed to be closer to my family.

I was gratified the other day in talking with my son about it all, and he told me how relieved he and his brother were that I moved.  They worried so much about me there, and it was so difficult for them to come for a visit.

There were many factors involved in my halving to leave.

But I have found new happiness in my life with my new husband and my new community.

And I am happy to be closer to my family.

The Village of Nooksack

 

Yesterday, the Cities of Everson and Nooksack lost a great man.  Police Chief Erik Ramstead was a kind and generous man and will be missed by all.

I read about the news on facebook in the morning, and while driving north to an appointment, it got me to thinking; thinking back to the day when my husband died, and how a Village came to my aid.

I've never told this entire story here, and if you need to, leave now.  I am not going to leave any details out.

I slept in late, the morning of December 21, 2010.  I NEVER slept past 6:30, but there it was, 7:20am.

All was dark in the house, and I jumped out of bed proclaiming "Alan, Gordon will be here in 40 minutes".  Gordon was our vet.  I went to the bathroom first, and looked out the window to see if the lights were on in the barn.  No.  Oh, no.  That's when I knew.  I turned around and saw the shadow of Alan in his recliner.  I turned on the lights and my worst fears were realized.  He was gone.  He had left me.  I was devastated.

I called my neighbors first.  My fingers were so conditioned to dial Judy's number, that even though I had intended 911, I got her.

Then I managed 911.

I was going in circles, wondering what to do, when I saw Gordon drive in.  Gordon is never early.  In fact, he is rarely on time.  Everyone knows this.  But here he was, 20 minutes early.

I ran outside screaming, "Gordon, Alan is dead".  He got out of the truck, wrapped me in his arms and held me while I screamed and cried and sobbed.  He never let go until my neighbors arrived.

I didn't know it at the time, but after surrendering me to Judy and Tom, Gordon called my friends in the alpaca community and the other vets.

Tom and Judy went in the house with me, and then the EMTs arrived.  I knew two of them personally, one of them being a school friend of Alan's.  A police officer also came, and he stayed at the house until Alan's body was removed quite a bit later by the mortuary.

As soon as the aid cars left, there began a stream of friends and neighbors arriving.  One came with her daughter, carrying two large trays covered with cookies, breads and other foods.  Kathleen, from my knitting group came and vacuumed my house and washed the kitchen floors.  She knew I would be having company.

The first neighbor, Kelly, organized about a dozen kids to come clean up my yard, which was covered with tree boughs from the last northeaster.  I didn't know she had done this, but at one point I looked out the window, and there they were along with a City employee who was loading the waste into a City vehicle and hauling it away.

The day went on like that with Alan's school friends coming and staying for hours, telling stories and reminiscing.  Esther, a young lady who had volunteered with me during the summers and being my friend, came and silently worked in my kitchen all day.  I did not remember that until this last summer when I was at her bridal shower and we were asked to relate how we knew her and to share a story.

 

Where am I going with this?

It Takes a Village.

The people of Nooksack and Everson embraced me in a manner I never anticipated.  People I did not even know came by with cards and goodies for weeks.

This is why it was so hard for me to leave my wonderful town of Nooksack.  It took me two years to make the decision, and I am not sorry.  But my heart remains with all my dear friends in Whatcom County, Washington.

Know that you are loved and will not be forgotten.



NOOKSACK CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

Plans for the Nooksack Centennial Celebration are moving right along.  It is only about 7 weeks away, being held on September 8th.

I wound up handling publicity and entertainment, but I'm thrilled at how it is all falling together.

Above is one of the banners we have along Highway 9.

Here is the BIG banner, being carried by some kids I recruited the day before the parade for the Everson Nooksack Festival.

We will be serving hot dogs, ice cream and cake.  Afterall, it is a birthday party!!!  What else would you serve?

The entertainment includes two barbershop choruses, an Elvis impersonator, the Nooksack Indian Tribe with a drum ceremonial and dancing, and hopefully a Latina rock band.

Several businesses are having open house that day.

I'm hoping that Country Partners 4-H group decides to provide a petting zoo.

AND, we have a carriage drawn by draft horses that will give free rides through town and on my farm, past the homestead house of Mary Harkness and the 120 year old barn.  I'm really excited about sharing my farm for this purpose.  It is the only piece of agricultural zoned property left here in town, and it will provide a living history lesson to those who take the ride.

The Celebration will be held in Nooksack City Park on Saturday, September 8th from noon to 3pm.

Oh, I forgot to mention that my church, Nooksack Christian Fellowship, will be holding open house from 11am until 5pm.  Their building is also 100 years old this year, and they will be featuring on display the vintage quilt that I researched and traced back to this church.

Now, let's all pray for a bright sunny day!