Floyd Trammell

Texas Czech in his prime.

Hello Ms. Gem, this is Floyd Trammell PhD (post hole digger). I really enjoyed your post. I am a retired 65 year old native Texan with extra, extra large hands and I'm not afraid to use them.
I own 32 unimproved acres about 6 miles north of Emory, TX. It's not a forest but, it does have a bunch of trees. It's not secluded but, it is off the beaten path. There's not much there right now but, I plan to begin establishing a wonderful homestead in the near future after I recover from knee replacement surgery next month.
If you can tolerate the age and location, the rest is just compromise.
I'd love to hear your thoughts. If nothing else, at least maybe we can swap a recipe or two.
FT

Hello Ashley, happy early birthday. This is  Floyd. You did a great job on your hat and costume. I would like to learn more about your thoughts and visions. What part of Texas are you in and where do you hope to make your dream come true?

Hello Ms. Heather,
This is Floyd in Northeast Texas. I want to thank you for such a wonderful and informative post. Now, if I run into you down at the camel sheds, I'll know who you are.
Now back to the matter at hand. Oh, speaking of hand, I am a very handy guy ( double entendre). I wear jumbo gloves and sport a size 16 ring. I also may not be tall per se but, I am tall enough that you and I can see eye to eye.
I am a high mileage unit with a good working drive train but, I still can't qualify for an extended warranty.
I, like yourself, saw my personal relationship crash and burn a couple of years ago.
I am healthier and happier now and venture a little further from the barn each day.
I encourage you to be cautious toward any rebound relationships. Don't lift your bag for the first car that stops to offer you a ride.
While I think that I could make you a good partner, it just won't work between us. I just don't see myself leaving my little spread here in Texas and I'm afraid that it is just too far for me to drive up and cook you supper every evening and still get home in time to kill a chicken and churn.
I do wish you would explain your definition of
"not religious". Does that mean no God or no church or what exactly ? I know it's important to you because you mentioned it three times in your post. I mean no disrespect but, I ask for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I'd just like to know. Secondly, if the little cutie down at the feedstore brings it up, I won't be standing there with a dumb look on my face.
Your little homeplace looks beautiful and full of potential. May you continue to learn and enjoy the homesteading experience.
I wish you well and wish you luck in your quest for a life long companion.
Best regards, Floyd.
ps. I was always taught to dig sweet taters after a frost, it's supposed to make 'em sweeter.

Hello Ms. Hartwell,
Greetings from northeast Texas. This is Floyd and this is my second attempt to respond to your post. I spent about 45 minutes on Wednesday evening composing what probably would have been the eigth wonder of the literary world but it disappeared after I hit the submit button. Probably pilot error.
In the previous record of my musings, I stated that shortly after we discovered that the world did not come to an end after Y2K my darling bride of three years and myself decided to become more self sufficient and we bought 32 acres near Emory, Texas.
It was to be our family home, a place to raise our children and enjoy our retirement all while living the country dream.
Soon the bubble burst and the dream was gone. Turns out she didn't eat eggs from the yard, cared nothing for gardening and thought canning was unsafe and took too much work. The land has laid dormant for over 20 years. I did not give up and have amassed nearly everything needed to build and operate an off grid homestead. I have finally reached the point in my life that I can begin my quest this fall. We eventually divorced 3 years ago and she died 7 months later with pancreatic cancer. As I move forward I am excited for the days ahead.
 As for myself, I am 5-10 and tend to carry a few pounds too many. I used to be as stout as a bull, now I'm just full of bull. I am not too serious and tend to be funny, friendly and outgoing. I am a proud native Texan of Czech descent. I am a carpenter by trade and can fix or build nearly anything. I spent a number of years in the fire service as a paid firefighter paramagic. I am fairly intelligent and what I don't know how to do I can learn. I like learning to do things as they were done before electricity. I do not use tobacco or alcohol, except on bug bites.

In your post you mentioned a term that I was not familiar with so I did the research and discovered that mindful intimacy is what I have been missing. I am a passionate and sentimental man who enjoys my part in mindful intimacy but, it takes two and evidently I have been unequally yoked, dang it !!
The whole caveat here is that I turn 65 next month. That may be too old for you and that's ok. I am still open to friendly conversation and profound discussions or just some questions and answer sessions.
I wish you well and appreciate your desire for a more harmonious existence.
Warmest regards,
Floyd

Howdy Ms. Lee, unless you are into men old enough to be your granddad, then I am not your man. But, as a fellow north Texan, I wanted to let you know that I thought about you several times this past weekend. I attended the Mother Earth News Fair down at the Belton County Expo Center and I wondered if you were there? Or if you even knew about it?
It was a wonderful gathering full of homesteading classes, products and books. This was my first time to attend and I learned a number of new things. Apparently they have been doing this every year for the past few years. I think you would like it, if you haven't been. They even had some classes and activities for the kids too.
I don't currently consider myself a homesteader or a permie but, I am a country boy with lots of country wisdom and talents. My short term goal is to divorce the grid and start reducing my footprint. Long term I want to work on improving my health, naturally and by reaping the benefits of being a better steward of the land.
I wish you well in your endeavors.