Hi all -

I am Stephanie a SAH and homeschool mom of 2 daughters. I live in Central Florida. We raise a few chickens, garden year round, preserve the majority of our food by canning and freeze a little. My DH hunts and provides us with meat for the freezer.

We are trying to be as self suffient as possible.

I have actually read every post from the beginning. I came over the 1st day when Melissa posted on Countryside. So I feel like I know you all very well.

I hope I can add some to your discussions.

Stephanie/FL

-- stephanie johnson (s.tephj10@verizon.net), January 15, 2002

Answers

Glad to meet you Stephanie!

Sounds like you know all about us, and still like us anyways, now there's a miracle for you!!!

I hope you continue to enjoy the forum, and we will all look forward to getting to know you better.

-- Melissa (me@home.net), January 15, 2002.

Hi Stephanie

Glad to meet you, and welcome. Ann was a SAH mom until the kids were 8 and 5, and then ahe worked 12 midnite to 8 am, so the kids never felt that she was gone. About 5 years later she went to work full time for about 5 years.

We only home schooled the oldest (the boy) for 1 year- 11th grade as he was wasting the teachers' time by not putting forth effort, so we pulled him out of school. He returned to public high for 12th grade, but was soon back to old tricks.

He got his GED a couple of years ago, and has just regestered for community college- he wants to be a Respiratory Therapist.

We recently bought a farm in West Virginia, but we won't be able to move there permanently for at least a year.

See you around the boards!

-- Rick (Rick_122@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

What part of Central Florida are we talking about here? I am from St. Cloud, last lived in Winter Garden.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 15, 2002.

Mitch -

We are in Polk County. About 40 minutes outside of Orlando.

My Dh and I are both natives believe it or not. Still live in the same small town we were both born in.

Stephanie/FL

-- stephanie johnson (s.tephj10@verizon.net), January 15, 2002.

Glad to "meet" you Stephanie! I'm a Grandma. I have a son in Deltona and he is a native too. Yes, I used to live in Fl. but Ky. is my home now and has been since 1970. I also have family in Deland and Daytona. I used to live in Orlando and have lived in Daytona also but I sure prefer the beautiful bluegrass state but I try to make it down to the sunshine state at least once a year to see those grandkids! Florida has it's own unique set of problems growing things, doesn't it? I remember when I was still at home and my dad always had a big garden and he had to fight turtles! They loved to eat his tomatoes!

-- Barb in Ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), January 16, 2002.

Welcome, Stephanie! I am a stay-at-home and part-time substitute teacher. My husband Lance is a firefighter, we own a small lawn care service also. We have two boys, 5 and 3. We also have one dalmation, six hens, and one hermit crab. Oh, and a cow, I forget about her sometimes since she's at my brother's (he keeps her for us in exchange for lease land)

We live in the suburbs, in a secluded (for around here) area on 2 1/2 acres, and own 80 acres with pecans, blackberries, and a fishing pond. The boys love to fish, even in January when you KNOW there won't be anything biting!

Look forward to seeing you around here!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), January 16, 2002.

Hello Stephanie, We live in the big city of Jacksonville,Fl. I have a friend who lives in Wildwood. Nice to hear from someone else in Florida, with all the Florida bashing going on countryside forum!!

-- Sandy(N.E.FL.) (REDNECKGIRL32@prodigy.net), January 16, 2002.