Farmers Rock!

Five years ago today my family found out how dangerous farming could be. My dad was involved in a horrible accident resulting in losing his right arm. Two days later he had a heart attack and had to have 4 stints put in. He is doing well and has adjusted very well to his handicap, and still farming!

Farmers are amazing! No matter the obstacles that may stand in their way they find a way around them.  My dad is no exception. We are in awe. The first spring after the accident dad was still a little leary on being out by himself but he did. He was spraying and the hoses came off the sprayer. They are usually held in place with zip ties. Try using zip ties with one hand. Dad used duct tape, a lot of duct tape. Red Green has nothing on my family (he has shows and books on usages for duct tape).

At a times like this you find out who your friends are, who steps up to help without being asked. You hear about it all the time on the local news when farmers pitch in and help. It was no different in the Woodward-Granger area. Dad had finished getting the harvest in just the day before the accident but the fall prep work still needed to be done and the local farmers came to the aid. I let Andy stay home from school so he could take pictures and video it. I then made the photos into a slideshow for dad a couple of years ago. He is very proud of it, he has the pictures in a photo album by his chair and every once in awhile he will ask me to reprint a picture so he can give it to someone who was probably there to help.

Full time farmers like my dad are a generation that is dying out.  I attended a wake tonight for a farmer who passed away this week he was 88. He was my Dad's neighbor while he was growing up and later became his landlord and friend. About six or seven years ago Joe wanted to sell his pickup, he wasn't driving anymore and had no use for it. He asked my dad if he wanted to buy it under one condition. The condition being that the hampshire pig sticker stay on the doors of the truck. Dad still has it pig sticker and all.  Tim helped Dad fix the tire tonight and get it started, we are going to place it in Joe's field.  Tomorrow when the funeral procession goes past it to the cemetery Joe's will have one last salute the farmers way.

I am getting away from my point here but I just wanted to share how I see a farmer. There is just something about a farmer that when it comes right down to it they are there for their fellow farmers. I can't really put it into words but I am proud my dad is a farmer, that my husband would love to be a full time farmer and that my son wants to be somewhat a farmer.

I am sharing Dad's video. Thanks to all the farmers and friends that helped that day it meant more than any of you will every know.

Sounds of the Farm

I wish I knew how to tape sounds, or to even have the device to tape sounds. I probably do but just don't know it. I was outside yesterday afternoon enjoying probably our last 70 degree day, and just started laughing. If I had neighbors they would have thought I had gone mad, but if I had neighbors they would think we are mad.

This past weekend Tim moved all of the cows and calves back home. We have 13 cows with 12 calves, 1 bull and then 9 calves that will be going to the locker in February, plus Lucky and Lucy the two calves we have bottle fed and will be friends for life. So there is a lot of mooing going on especially from Lucky who has been the only one around since May and getting all the attention. As soon as she sees Tim or I she really starts the mooing. I think she is telling us she is not happy with all the new animals.

We also have Cocoa my new mini donkey we added in September. I am not sure about donkey's mating ritual but it seems like he makes a lot of noise when Punkin is in heat. Cocoa's voice is not like you would think a donkey's would be and definitely not like Donkey's in Shrek. Part of it comes out and then it gets horse (no pun intended). It is funny especially when you hear it at 3 in the morning.

Then add the 1 guinea, three peacocks, 4 roosters and two barking dogs. Yesterday while I was outside it was like they were all trying to get my attention!

Our closet neighbors are about two miles away by road but two fields away the old fashion way. So I am sure if the winds blows right or maybe if there is no wind they can hear this and bet they are glad they are not right next door. Some day I will have to go to the neighbors and just listen to hear what they hear. Maybe that is why they do not come visit!