Down Hill Slide
September 3rd, 2006 by Northern FarmerThis weekend marks the end of summer for myself, I don’t know about anyone else, but for me it just seems like this is it. We’ll have some good weather here and there yet, but things are changing as they always have. Another harvest is coming up and this year like the past few, I wonder how we’ll get it all done. It’s a daunting task that requires working almost all the time. Oh, I can’t wait for a few weeks from now when it’s over with.
The work we do requires labor and lots of it. It would wear a person out that’s in their twenties and I’m long past that. Long past. Where did it all go? I remember working out for years and years supplying income for building the farm bigger, buying land when the deals would fall right into our lap, paying them off quick. The twenty some years went by and the thirty some years were building years also, allot of building around here. The forty some years were mostly building livestock herds, two barns, silage pit, and miles and miles of fencing.
It takes time, allot of time to build something of value, a life of value. Now the sun has set on my forties a while back and a person realizes that he’s on the downhill slide, no matter what happens. A person realizes that he can’t do everything that he wanted to do. There’s not enough time in a day or in a lifetime either for doing everything a person wants to do. And there are so many good things a person could do. Oh well, I guess I’m just human, a frail one at that.
But even on the downhill slide in this life there’s plenty to be happy about, in fact so much. I don’t know if it’ll make a difference to future generations what was built here. I cannot control others; I can’t “make†them follow after me. But I do believe that it will go on around here in one form or another. It might be totally different than anything I ever had in mind, but it will more than likely go on. I guess this is reality.
I just pray that as the future generations are brought up around here that their faith in God remains strong. You know, a person gets to the point where they don’t worry about themselves as much as the future family. I’m set in Jesus, I have no worries about that, and I have total faith in that. But when I see others, not my immediate family, but close, who don’t know the Lord at all, oh they go to churches, but that’s about it. Nothing hurts more than that. But my faith is strong that they will be brought to Jesus.
It’s a rainy day here, the end of summer. What a good summer it was. Sure we had a devastating drought, but no big deal, I’ve seen them come and go. We have friends that are so, so special. I Praise the Lord everyday for them all. We have friends on the computer, now that’s something I would have laughed off a few years ago. And so many, wow. Many nights are just spent replying to e-mails. And I ain’t caught up yet. I even have to e-mail about bio diesel yet. Give me time. I almost never forget, key word here is almost.
I’m kinda looking forward to the future after the way it changed this last year. Man, what a change. I was looking over the blog the other day and last year around this time one of my main issues was to escape the modern luke warm church. Escape the mad materialism addiction of it, the worship of me, me. I look back with a smile and gladness in my heart. How my wife could of hit me over the head with a baseball bat when I told her that I trusted the Lord to find us a church that preached the Word and lived it to. I didn’t search; I let God do the legwork. Well, He did! Now it is the center of all activity in our family, second to none. Yup, this down hill slide might just be the best years of my life. Thank You Jesus!
September 3rd, 2006 at 7:55 pm
evening Tom,
things are good here, got some painting done today!
glad to hear that you are getting some rain :), we could use some more,
I very happy that you and your family have a great church family to go to!
take care
and God bless!
September 3rd, 2006 at 8:38 pm
Tom,
I am with you hoping that my children and the following generations remain faithful to the Lord. Unfortunately I started late on building a farm. I think the next generation will finish the task, but I am okay with being a stepping stone to that vision. It does feel strange to look back and wonder where all the years went. May we finish well.
Jim
September 4th, 2006 at 5:39 am
Thanks Jan,
Glad to hear things are going wel with you. By the way, I’ll be sending you a tape sometime this week of our church service. God Bless!
Jim,
Key words here are: “started building a farm”. That’s the big single step. And can take a lifetime. In this way of life we’re all just stepping stones, just a peice in a much bigger picture, but such an important peice. I always shudder when I think what it would be like if we just lived as regular society, just care about ourselves, oh maybe get the kids educated, give em the boot, feel happy that they’re finally gone. But then what? Wait till we can’t do much anymore, then get thrown into a nursing home, alone till the end. Now I know why I shudder at the thought. Thank God for the faith we have and the vision! Thank God for His Grace! I know that so many times I question myself, “am I doing right?” But I know this is right. Just because it ain’t normal doesn’t mean it’s not right.
Well, they tell me today’s a holiday, nice to know but almost time to get outside and have at it
Thanks!
September 4th, 2006 at 6:36 am
morning tom ,
have a great day!
look for a e-mail from me later !
September 5th, 2006 at 5:23 am
Jan,
Morning a day late! Got your e-mail!
Have a Blessed Day!
Tom
September 5th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Morning Tom,
But, we cut hay this weekend are are going to rake today and bale tomorrow 
Man, what a weekend. Like you, things are hoppin around here. Picked all my corn. Somehow, this year’s 11 bushel corn is not going to be a crop to remember
Downhill slide huh… Reminds me of the time we had a snowstorm here. The boys were riding an innertube down our driveway. At the end of our driveway is our house. Well, the 80lb boys were sliding and stopping just before they reached the house. Then the old man decided to try it. Well, I realized my 230 lbs was carrying me a bit faster down the hill then the boys were going. I think when I hit the house I was still speeding up. My compassionate wife came out from cooking breakfast, looking at me all crumpled on the ground and said I had better not break the house, or I was in big trouble.
The moral of the story: The downhill slide was fun, it’s the sudden stop at the end that’ll get ya
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
September 5th, 2006 at 4:11 pm
Hi Mr Farmer.
Hope your day went well.
Brad you made me laugh so hard. Reminds me I am not a kid any more. I did something simlar to that years ago on an inner tube.
Tom I wanted you and your family to know that I just finishhed reading your entire blog and I love it. I will be following along withtwo other blogs I am readin on.
I envey you folks and your country life. I very much envy you folks and your relationship with God.
I have tried that route and it failed miserably for me. Or maybe I just never figured it out
But I still want that relationship with God just don’t know what to do when I get it to keep it.
Mary Ann
September 5th, 2006 at 6:15 pm
Tom,
Your comments about us all being stepping stones is right. And your comment about “starting to build a farm” being the biggest single step made me think a lot. From that perspective, I and my family are on the journey. The vision may not be complete in my lifetime, but at least we started moving on my watch, instead of going backward.
When I was at Polyface, Joel was talking about an opportunity to rent a farm that is not exactly close to their home farm. He commented that it was probably important for them to take stewardship over this piece of land. This made me realize that the Lord has mandated that we manage our land according to Biblical principles and that we have an opportunity to properly manage land, rather than have others abuse and destroy it. Hopefully we can be the start of generations that will be proper stewards of the land - for God’s glory.
Jim
September 5th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
Trust in the L-rd with all your heart… and lean not on your own understanding and He shall direct your Path. How fortuitous to read your post since tomorrow ’s my birthday and always a time of introspection, giving thanks and reflection. Geez, if you’d told me 10 years ago, I’d be fulfilling one of my childhood dreams opening up our bed and breakfast and living in the “last best place”, Montana, I probably would have looked at you cross-eyed. But G-d has the plan.
And their is that mixed sadness of the “downhill” slide and the happiness and liberation that come with it as well. Twenty years ago, I would have dreaded a winter when I lived on the east coast. Now with the bed and breakfast, working with my horses and working with G-d’s land, I’m actually looking forward to it. Amen
September 5th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Hey Brad!
I’ll be on the lookouts for any sudden stops!
Eleven bushel corn, egad. Well we have one field that’ll match that, but the rest are way better. In 88 we averaged 10 bushel corn over the whole farm, not pretty!
I’m still laughing at your down hill slide story, sounds familiar too. This winter I’ll have to post more misadventures, kinda show how inteligent I really am, or showing the lack of it
Mary Ann,
WOW! You read the entire blog!!! I haven’t even attemped that! Lets see, hmm, that’s currently 226 posts and 1545 comments, not counting this one. There should be an award that I could come up with, eh!
But really your comments touched me and I’ll be getting in touch with you. Thanks for all your kind words! And God Bless You and Yours!
Jim,
You and your family are definetly well on the way, ahead of most if I might say. Plus it’s in your family’s heart. I thank the Lord for the day I met you folks, it sure keeps me going! I think that’s one thing society really has missed the mark on, I mean thinking we can have it all, when we are in reality stepping stones, taking over from those before us and getting ready to pass it on. It’s not the same as it was years ago and it won’t be the same in the future, a continuous change. Nothing ever stay stagnant. (Except maybe my blogging
I sure do agree with what Joel said and I have the same feelings about it. Very much the same.
Thanks!
Cyd,
I know the area your located at! Was through there a while back, in fact quite a while back, Good area! Sometimes I just wish…….., oh well.
This downhill slide is just becoming more and more interesting daily. I can still work like a bear, but feel like hibernating a bit too. But, you know, everyday is a gift from God and I love gifts. I’m in reality looking forward to winter, work slows down, putz around with firewood, gets dark at four thirty in the afternoon, catch up on reading. Don’t get sweated up. Yup, bring it on!
Thanks!
September 5th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
I did the innertube in the snow thing when I was 8 months expecting. We were at a fairly popular tubing/sleding hill. The kids were zipping down the hill and stopping in a ditch a ways before they came to pretty busy road… but not me..OHH NOOO I went zooming through the ditch(Whee-HAAA) across the busy road and ended up face to door with a Ford Pinto. The innertube cushioned the impact. The best part was turning around and looking at all the shocked/ horified faces up on the hill….:)
September 6th, 2006 at 6:09 am
One more thing on this downhill slide thing. Your right about spending more time tinkering. It about drives the boys crazy!! I’ll spend time checking or rechecking the machinery, and the boys are looking at me yelling “Come on Dad!! Lets get this over with!!”.
It all comes around though. Last year, my 70 y/o dad was helping me with the rough wiring on the old house. After about the 4th time of him measuring a run, we finally got around to cutting the wire. I’m thinking “Lets go Dad!!” Then I was thinking “Thats probably me, a little further down the hill”.
Happy Putzing,
Brad
September 6th, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Checking in here again after my “birthday ride” on my show horse Allelujiah, (her real name is Etched by Stone) but so nicknamed since she was born 9 years ago on Easter. She’s done lots of English and Western classes, so the trails are a new territory for her so we’re working our way thru it. Very different energy than my TBMare who’s done the racetrack thing. But I laugh, G-d has brought me these horses to teach me the lessons I need to learn. Great Picken, the Thoroughbred, I’ll be riding this winter alot out on the trails to leg her up for Endurance Riding, and Alle, indoor arena for dressage. Between my girls, and the bed and breakfast, methinks I’m going to enjoy the downhill slide thing
Happy trails all
September 7th, 2006 at 5:59 am
morning Tom,
hope all is well
blessings
September 7th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
Hi Tom! About that downhill slide, I’m right there with you, and as the journey progresses, I’ve noticed that it certainly does speed up. How come time passes more swiftly even though my body is slowing down? Hm. Must be something to do with physics.
I was thinking about how with degeneration of the body, for those of us who are in Christ, the regeneration of our minds and spirits more than makes up for it. As we become more sanctified in Him, our knowledge increases and our wisdom grows. We have eternity to look forward to even as day to day we diminish physically. We are simple earthen vessels, but the One who crafted us can still make use of us as His will dictates. I know how frustrating it can be to have ambitious thoughts and a body that won’t cooperate but we can still teach and counsel the younger generations. Nothing that the Lord builds is in vain. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. - 2 Cor. 4:16″ May you continue to live a life that is bold and passionate for His sake!
September 7th, 2006 at 8:40 pm
Patti,
Mmmm hmmm, funny how grown ups can get in so much trouble, eh.
Brad,
Another word for tinkering is “smart”. Allot of work goes a heck of allot smoother when us older folks tinker with the equiptment a bit. Beats those in field breakdowns from tearing out there in a rush. Plus life seems to go smoother when a person takes his time and does things with care. Of course all those things fly out the window working cattle, then it’s a free for all
Cyd,
I know we’re not supposed to covet our neighbor, even if he’s in Montana, but I’m ah coveting a little bit! Thanks!
Are you trying to drive me nuts or what
Hey Jan,
I must have already been out this morning when you commented, but the day was good, we’re chopping silage and I just got in. It was a little to warm for my taste today in that hot tractor cab, but tomorrow it’s supposed to be allot cooler, and I’ll take it. Better for the silage too, if it’s a bit cooler.
I hope your day was blessed!
Emily,
There’s a few of us blogging that are just about the same age, kinda nice really. And thanks for the really good comments! This downhill slide thing is really just a grand adventure, heck, in reality I’m looking forward to every day. I’ll never forget when I started teaching Children’s Church, I though this will never work out, the age differences you know, but boy was I wrong. Now I look forward to it every week. As a person gets older there’s so much more a person understands, also a person can see so much in life that’s just a bunch of bunk. Even teaching the younger folks is done at a more relaxed pace, that includes family and others. When I was younger I used to admire some of the oldtimers around here for how they would take the time and teach a person, and they’d teach in such a relaxed manner. I hope that’s how I turn out, I’ll work on it
September 8th, 2006 at 4:36 am
Morning Tom ,
hope it will be cooler for you to day!
I would say that you are a good teacher
you have a great day!
God bless
September 8th, 2006 at 5:35 am
Morning Jan!
You caught me this morning! An early bird eh! Well, it looks like it’ll be about 20 degrees cooler and that’s fine by me.
Man oh man, you ever wake up with something in your head going over and over? Well this ain’t some big heavenly revelation or anything like that. For some reason I have an old line going over and over in my head from Hee Haw. “Hey Grandpa, what’s for supper??” I must have thought of that cookin up a little breakfast so it’s “hey grandpa, what’s for breakfast?” I just finished up cookin some sausages, cuttin up some red potatoes, onions, peppers, okra, frying it all up in some real butter with lots of salt and pepper. Throw in three pullet eggs over easy, some whole wheat toast. Half a dozen cups of black coffee. Mmmmmm, I like food!
Hmm, must be in a good mood today. Have a blessed day Jan!
September 8th, 2006 at 5:39 am
Morning,
Busy day today here. One of the ol nannies had triplets two days ago. I was too busy haying and didn’t notice them. When we finally got around to seein them, two had about had it. Started bottle feeding them last night and its starting to look like they might be coming around.
Sorry to say another farmer quit farming last night. My wife’s dad was 89. Died where he wanted to. In his house, next to the land he farmed for pretty near 60 years. Funeral could be interesting if we have to bring up two little goats to bottle feed. Heck, the car ride from Bama to Michigan will be interesting enough. 4 near adults and two animals…..
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
September 8th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Morning Brad,
Have a safe and blessed trip!
Sorry to hear about your wife’s dad, but am glad to hear he lived out his days where he wanted to, Amen! I pray we all can.
That should be intersting heading north with them little fellers, eh. You have more nerve than me attempting that
September 8th, 2006 at 5:52 am
Tom ,
you just reminded me of my Dad , just now. he would make breakfast , those were great times , and loved Hee Haw
and here I just had bead and jam. take care !
Brad B,
sorry to hear about your father-in-law!
September 9th, 2006 at 12:55 am
Ah, shucks. I am trying to read blogs with a feed thingy. I thought maybe I didn’t do it right when no posts have come up. I need to figure out how to subscribe to the comments now. All the farmers have been fairly quiet lately in ole bloggerville. There is one thing for sure, I don’t ever get quiet. I even yak in my sleep. Really you should figure out how to do a virtual feed shop type thing for this. It has got to be the coolest thing.
September 9th, 2006 at 2:59 am
Morning Tom,
have a blessing of a weekend!
September 9th, 2006 at 5:29 am
Christina,
One thing I would like and will look into it is to have a thingy on the side of the blog with “most recent comments”. Then folks could see when I’m having at it on some old posts, as I am now on an old one called Weasel Attack.
Sorry about not feeding your thingy! I barely have time to feed myself. Tis the season you know, harvesting. But I’ll be back to posting any day now, at least will try and post something this weekend. At the rate the silage harvest is going I figure we’ll be done around Wednesday or Thursday, then……yee haw!
Me try to figure out a virtual feed shop type thing?????? I barely know how to turn the computer on and off
Well, toodle do and God Bless!
Morning Jan!
You and your take care down there and have a Blessed one too!
September 11th, 2006 at 1:34 pm
RE: “Hey Granpa, What’s fer supper?” Did you watch Hee Haw too?
September 11th, 2006 at 7:57 pm
Patti,
You dern betcha I watched Hee Haw. Now that was TV!