Thoughts From A Country Hick
November 17th, 2006 by Northern FarmerThings are on the move around here as always. Butchered two steers today, boy them things had some meat on them. I can’t believe how they gained this fall out on the birdsfoot trefoil and orchard grass field. I figure that gain was close to how they’d gain on a heavy corn ration. I stand amazed! Tomorrow we’ll be working calves which is a big job, but I’m looking forward to it because when that’s done, then the fall work is kinda officially done. Then if winter hits, or should I say when winter hits we’re in winter mode so no big deal.
Another plus this week is that the election is over and all the signs have come out of the local ditches. Now a person can see the countryside unobstructed again. May the best liar win I say. Just leave me alone. But they sure don’t like to do that anymore nowadays! Seems like they got to get their long snoot and sticky fingers in everything a person wants to do. But we all manage to outsmart em one way or another. Kind of a game one plays out in the rural areas. Now, allot of people figure the government is there to help, but I beg to differ. They’re out to help themselves is a more appropriate way of saying it. Many city folk figure the government should have their hand in every part of our lives, but allot of country folks are just the opposite. You know, the old American way, freedom and that sort of stuff. I can never figure out why anyone would want the government to control their lives, but there sure are plenty that do.
It’s been a couple of decades since I worked out in the workforce so most of my thinking is far removed from what the average person in society today takes for granted. I never watch the news anymore, never! What for, so I’ll be “informed� I know I’m missing all them commercials for what drug I should tell my doctor that I want because I seen a good commercial about it and was impressed with the mile long list of side effects. Ever notice they’ll all constipate you or cause what we call on the farm, scours. Or many times both. So now politically and medically I’m an uninformed hillbilly country hick, not with it like I should be. Lacking all I need to survive in the modern society.
Makes a person wonder, raising kids up out here, that they sure do have some hick parents. The kids slop hogs, raise butcher chickens, have a sizable laying flock, take care of the garden, feed and water the turkeys. Help with anything else that needs to be done. Them kids go to church the minimum of two days a week, sometimes more for different things. Almost all visiting is with church folks. Tell them kids what tool I need when I’m under a piece of farm equipment and zoom, they run and get the right one. They can string up a barb wire fence, erect, fix and maintain electric fences. They can run a mad cow off with the four wheeler while their pappy is ear tagging a new born calf. Plus they can dodge the mad cow if she feels that she’ll take on the four wheeler. But you ask them about what drug to take for depression or something like that like what’s on them commercials and you’ll get a blank stare. Well, not really a blank stare, they’re just wondering what makes the person asking so dimwitted.
Oh Lord, I’m just glad to be out here! Years ago when I worked out I just dreamt of a life like that. But it seemed so far away. And it was, but it all came in steps and we’ve got a long way to climb yet. In fact I know I’ll never get there, but I’ll sure tote the load as far as I can up them steps. That’s all a person can do, just keep pluggin. And never, never give up on the dream, never! It don’t matter where a person’s at, if they’re young or old, in a dead end job or what, a person got to just keep on. Of course a faith in the Lord makes all the difference. Even if that faith is a tiny little speck, it’ll grow! There is no way that I’d be attempting some of the things we are doing here without that faith that God is with us. No way! To just do so many things upside down compared to modern society takes faith, without it a person would sooner or later run back to the comparative safety of the ways of modern society, for the comfort of the lemming pack, as they are heading for the cliff.
And folks wonder that stumble into this blog on a search or something, they wonder what kind of hick hillbilly is this?? But I’m telling you, I’d never have it any other way.
November 17th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
HI Tom!
Welcome back! Hope you enjoyed your little break from the blog.
What you write about is almost exactly how I remember my childhood on the farm–except for the 4 wheeler. We drove the “Lil A”. I started driving it when I was six.
Yup, you are a hayseed hillbilly and worth your weight in gold because you are such a rare individual. Not many of us ‘free’ men left in this culture of slaves to their debts and their indoctrination.
Sure glad to hear that your children are learning some essential skills. They just may become the teachers and guides to a whole generation of their peers—at least those that are searching for the light.
Hang onto those ‘country bumkin’ ways! Even tho society doesn’t recognize it, they are national teasures!
November 17th, 2006 at 9:56 pm
Hey Steven!
Well, I figure I’ll post here and there. I’m really thankful for Jim helping out, and it sure does help allot, man, there’s hardly no pressure anymore and that’s worth mucho. Also in watching farm animals for years and years I got a few things in life figured out. Ever see how hogs act? I mean you put one hog at the trough and he’s not all that interested in his slop, gets bored with it and all. Now you throw another hog or two in the pen and watch out. They’ll have at that slop like there’s no tomorrow. Kinda works the same with the human mind, put somebody else posting and my interest level goes up, all of a sudden that blog slop looks a whole lot better. But enough of this hayseed hillbilly logic
One thing about around here, there’s folks hanging around this blog that are at all different levels of getting away from the slavery of the culture of death, but they’re getting away and that’s what is important. The Bible don’t use the word hillbilly or country bumkins, but it sure would be easy to insert them in place of other words, you know, how the wise think we talk foolishness. But one thing is for sure, a bunch of Bible believing hillbilly bumkins don’t need the wisdom of the world. We got something a whole lot better than that!
November 17th, 2006 at 10:15 pm
John the Baptist was a Hillbilly Hick… :o)
November 18th, 2006 at 6:42 am
Matt,
Your right!! Hmmm, a new train of thought starting here. Come to think of it there were allot of hillbilly hicks doing some mighty big things with God all through the BIble. Old Moses, he got away from it all and was a happy hillbilly out there taking care of them sheep, had it made out in the middle of nowhere. Young David, that was one good hillbillly kid, ruff and tumble, praising the Lord all day and night out in the countryside, killing bears and lions and gradually a heathen bigshot. And the list could go on and on. It seems like most of the trouble that came about in the Bible is when they got away from their hillbilly roots. Got citified. There’s many, many more but I’d better get ready to get the work done early here and work them calves today.
God Bless!
November 18th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
Hey how bout ya strap a side o that beef on the next moose heading south?? I think I probably might kinda could find a use fer it:)
November 18th, 2006 at 5:51 pm
Patti,
Just got in from a long day starting at six this morning, working calves. I’d better head for the shower after this comment
Next time there’s a moose running around here I’ll try and arrange for him to carry a side down your way. We’ll be butchering again Monday so you never know!
God Bless!!
November 18th, 2006 at 7:25 pm
Hey Tom,
I’m glad to see you’ll still be posting from time to time. I’m sporadic at best with my posts and with getting around to say howdy. I know what it’s like to have writers block after a long day of hard work. Plus family time is important too and that should come first.
By the way, my middle daughter just got engaged yesterday! We’re all flying high around here today.
Russ
November 18th, 2006 at 7:34 pm
Hi Russ!
Well, I tell you, I’m so tired tonight that I can barely stay awake at the old computer, but it’s a good kind of tired. I ain’t doing nothing else tonight except catch up in blogdom and read the Good Book a bit later and hit the hay. One of these days I’ll have to catch up on writing folks back that send me real letters, which includes you. In fact I’ll have to make it a habit. There ain’t nothing I like better than a letter coming from the table or desk of a friend! And congradulations on your daughter’s engagement! If your flying high, I am too!! Good news is always a welcome thing! Thanks and God Bless You All!!
November 18th, 2006 at 10:20 pm
Tom,
Last week they were talking about sighting a moose in the western Twin Cities. Maybe that moose is on its the way to Patti. As long as he doesn’t take out my fences, I’ll be okay.
Jim V
November 19th, 2006 at 6:26 am
Jim,
Hmm, a moose down there, eh. Maybe I should consider packing a bit more beef on the next one for some Twin Cities deliveries
That’s my biggest worry the last time there was one around here during pasture season, I was just imagining one tearing out the fences and a whole herd of cattle running off into the sunset, egad! Now I don’t care as much.
God Bless!
November 24th, 2006 at 6:47 pm
Tom,
Very encouraging post, thanks
all good here,
JM
November 24th, 2006 at 8:24 pm
JM,
Glad to hear all is well your way. Things are still the same here. Pluggin along. Looks like all our good weather is coming to an abrupt end! Hunker down! Thanks and God Bless!