Change of Seasons
September 16th, 2006 by Northern FarmerWe just got back from a ride in the hills, some of the trees are just beginning to turn colors so fall is in the air. A beautiful drive for sure with lakes and hills, also plenty of wildlife. One time we even had to almost stop because of three deer on the road, another, a flock of wild turkeys right on the road. There’s just something about fall that I like. Now if winter wasn’t following it I’d figure that fall is the best. The summer heat is leaving and it’s down right comfortable. For the last year I’ve been planning on purchasing a flintlock Kentucky Long Rifle just to have fun hunting with around the farm. Well, so far I haven’t gotten it so I guess I’ll just hunt around here with 22 or 12 gauge. They’ll get the job done and that old double barrel twelve gauge is over a hundred years old so that’s oldtimer enough for me. I’m the third generation to have my hands on that gun and it’s a beauty, but admittedly a heavy beauty.
On the trip we stopped out to eat around thirty miles northwest of here at a café and I had to test the chili. It’s an old habit of mine from years ago when I worked in South Dakota and Iowa. I always tried the local chili with the regular meal that I ordered. Makes life interesting and sometimes you can come across some darn good stuff. Tonight’s was good, but far from some of the really good ones. But I sure ain’t complaining with a full gut. Ahhh!
Tomorrow’s Sunday, thank the Lord, and we can slow down for the day. Today was a combination of jobs, just catching up after stretching allot of jobs pretty thin because of shingling the house and then immediately starting the silage chopping. Wasn’t much rest lately but things are falling back into order. Got things back to a shade below emergency stage and decided to go out to eat for the wife’s birthday plus silage being done. A double whammy type deal.
There’s allot of local political stuff coming up this fall but I ain’t to worried about which liar to vote for. I’m pretty well decided on whom lies the least so that should take care of that. I do hate all the phone calls though. Then soon to come, all the junk mail from them folks. My favorite are when they say they are for education. That translates to “taxes are never too highâ€. Public education, what can I say, the bottomless pit! No amount of money would ever satisfy them, no amount. And the job just gets poorer every year.
But, back to tomorrow, Sunday, get them chores done and head for church. You never know what the day will bring on Sunday but it’s always looked forward to. Yee Haw! There’s enough worries in the world, might just as well forget them and Praise the Lord on His day! Not that we don’t Praise the Lord everyday, but there’s something special about a Sunday! I’ll probably grab that old double barrel and see if I can rustle up so food from the back forty. Digs some taters, have some watermelon and cantaloupe, pick some Huckleberries, slice some tomatoes, man this is my favorite time of the year!
September 16th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
happy Birthday! to your Wife
September 16th, 2006 at 11:14 pm
Public education, what can I say, the bottomless pit! No amount of money would ever satisfy them, no amount. And the job just gets poorer every year.
You’d have thunk wid’ all that edumacation they could do tha math! Perhaps I shouldn’t poke fun of the lot, but my wife and I were just remarking at all the neighbors who ‘rejoiced’ at the idea of this September and “getting rid of their kids’ again. What!?!? Don’t people love their children anymore? Every time I see one of those ‘banana buses’ go by in the morning I think, off goes the youth to the government internment camps for reeducation in global values, clarifying their position in corporate doctrine and roles as future world citizens. Reminds me of Nazi Germany in many ways…………so sad.
September 17th, 2006 at 8:27 pm
Public school…there is a soap box issue!!!!!! Did you know most elementary teachers today can’t pass the test 8th graders in 1870ish had to pass to compleate grade school?? I could mention how many graduated in the early 1970’s who COULD NOT READ!!! Today is no better. We have to have armed gaurds, slap downs, metal detectors in our schools. We lived in a rural area with a good small school when my children were of school age but I still had to mostly homeschool the oldest and the youngest (he had ADD). I homeschooled my middle son for 4th grade to TEACH HIM TO READ. I am a firm believer in homeschooling and it is so much easier if they never attend public schools……. puttin away my soap box…primise
September 18th, 2006 at 5:41 am
Getting to be hunting season here too. As the years go by, I’m getting less and less interest in it. I usually go out only if the boys want to go and they can’t find anyone else. I’m finding I’m enjoying just sitting there as day breaks more than stalking animals. In fact, my son now uses my slug gun and tree stand and I sit on the ground with my ol 20 gauge short barreled single shot camp gun with the slugs still in my pocket. There is something peaceful and relaxing about a sunrise with no chores due until the afternoon.
On another note, after a summer of work and the use of several redneck house moving tools (car jacks) The barn is now straight!! Now to either keep those pesky termites out, or get them eating all the wood evenly so the barn stays straight!!
Have a GREAT one,
Brad
September 18th, 2006 at 7:19 am
It is my favorite time of year too. Everything seems different. The air is cooler and crisper, the lighting is different. I see such contrasting lights and darks in the fall.
The meal you spoke of sounds wonderful. Nothing like one that you and God provided!!!
September 18th, 2006 at 5:25 pm
Jan,
I think she had a good one! At least I hope so!
Scott,
I couldn’t agree more! And about the parents so happy to get rid of the kids, well, nothing makes a statement louder about our me, me, society than that. You know, barn yard animals have more morals than normal society today. Or at least about the same.
Patti,
You can get up on your soapbox anytime you want about this! Your more than welcome too. Good comments!
Brad,
I’m just going to have to find time and get out more often in the woods. There’s so many wild critters here compared to years ago. Time to start bringing in some meat. And yup, good old building straightening, that does build character doing that job. Had my share of it. Take care down there!
Marci,
Good point on the contrasting lights and darks. I was almost overwhelmed yesterday early evening back out in the family corn, bean, squash and pumpkin patch by the beauty of it on a rather dark and gloomy day. It was one of them moments that I’ll never forget, beautiful! Thanks!
September 20th, 2006 at 4:58 am
morning Tom!
have a great day!
September 20th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Morning Jan!
I hope all is well with you over your way!
We just keep on plugging here, a tad bit nippy out, I’ll have to see in a few moments if we had our first frost or what. Wood furnace is burning and the house is nice and warm though.
God Bless!
September 20th, 2006 at 5:45 am
I forgot your up there in prime bird country. Our dove season started here. The only thing I do during dove season is make the shell manufacturers richer, so I usually wait for deer season.
Cool mornings here too. I do like this time of year. It signals change. The only thing I don’t like is losing two hours of sunlight in the evening. Still about a month and a half from firing up the woodstove though.
Your right about straightening a barn building character. Every creak and groan, I was looking for a path to escape. The ol bugger held together though.
Have a GREAT one,
Brad
September 20th, 2006 at 5:55 am
Brad,
Pheasants are thicker than I’ve seen em in years, turkeys are everywhere, ducks and geese galore! Plus deer thicker than ticks on our dog in June. Yup, a person can have allot of fun this time of year coming up.
A character building job is sometimes defined here as one where you’d better be running for your life in a split second! And there’s plenty of them! Come to think of it, there’s barely a day gone by where a person ain’t in some super dangerous situation, just have to trust God to give a person enough common sense to stay out of trouble!
Take Care!
September 21st, 2006 at 5:41 am
Good Morning,
It’s in the 40’s here this morning. Y’all ought to be up to your knees in snow.
Well I found out two wrongs do make a right. I tried to lift my pull behind bush hog by the pto shaft a couple of weeks ago after cutting stalks. Bent the fire out of it. I was wondering how I was going to straighten it, and a buddy told me to just do the same thing except turn the shaft 180 degrees. After ferrying equipment from farm to farm (man I either need land together, or a free gas card), I finally tried it. Worked like a charm. The ol shaft has a slight wobble, but I think it’ll be alright.
Mowing the 10 with the ol’ B tonight. I hate doing that pasture with the older tractor, its pretty rough and I’ll feel like a fighter who lost tomorrow. I sure do like those newer seats with a suspension in em.
Anyway, hope everything is well.
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
September 21st, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Forties down there!! At this time of year, wow! Well, we had our first official frost here this morning, no big deal. I see some of the pumpkin leaves were burned but never checked anything else, it’s been a tad bit on the busy side here lately. Now this evening it’s raining and I can say it doesn’t affect me one way or another. Silage being done and all that.
Is that a narrow front “B”. If it is doing the pasture work is a bugger and a possible arm buster. But that sound them old two bangers make covers all the other faults!
Take care!