Bean Blossom Dreams: A City Family's Search for a Simple Country Life

To escape their hectic life in Chicago, former BBC producer Murphey and her husband, Greg, a commercial photographer, moved with their small daughter to a tumbledown 42-acre farm in Brown County, Ind., in 1990. It was on-the-job training for them as they acquired a horse (oversexed), poultry they planned to eat (they couldn't bring themselves to do it) and a dog (feral). They coped with bad weather, a health crises and the depredations of a fox while renovating the farm buildings. Throughout it all they had help from their neighbors. The author, who writes a newspaper column called ``Murphey's Lore'' for the Brown County Democrat , has produced an engaging account of her family's first year on the farm that will appeal strongly to animal- and nature lovers. The book includes sumptuous, high-fat recipes and instructions for making sachets and potpourri. The Murpheys hope to make Bean Blossom Farm productive eventually. (May)