Monday, June 27, 2016

The Hazards of Farm Life

The Old Farmer enjoyed life, everything had a joke in it.
I previously referenced the tipping of the manure sled, aka the Stone Boat.
While it could have had serious consequences, it was a great joke in the retelling. 
 

In its former incarnation as a Stone Boat.
it was used to go around the fields picking up stones.
One day a stone wall appeared between two large trees in the back yard.
 
In the spring the tractor was hooked up to the plow, then the drag to get out the
weeds, followed by the disc to smooth it for the vegetable garden. Over the top
of the sharp discs was a square rack of angle iron that could hold stones to weigh
it down and more effectively dig into the soil.
The Old Framer's Daughters and any other kids that were around were sometimes
loaded up on the rack to ride around the garden, note that this rack was open,

and our feet dangled and the discs were inches below!
It is a wonder anyone survived childhood in those days.
 
 
Then there was the time they set the telephone pole on fire.
Poles were coated on the bottom half with creosote (coal tar)
back then to keep them from rotting.
 After a day of planting field corn the Old Farmer and his son
went to burn the paper fertilizer sacks at the bottom of the field where they were piled.
Need I say more? Fortunately there were burlap bags too and a creek nearby.
They were able to beat out the flames. After these minutes of panic
 this also became a funny story.
The Old Farmer could laugh at himself.






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Monday, June 20, 2016

The Swamp

The swamp was a bit of a wonderland for children.
 
 
Little streamlets running this way and that.
Intermingling with hummocks in between.
Theoretically offering safe passage!
 
It was a mystical place, quiet, eerie, peaceful by turns...and scarrrry!
But if you were quiet the abundant life would reveal itself to you.
And sometimes the noise of children swinging on the Yahoo Rope
would interrupt the peace!

 
The yahoo rope swung out over the swamp
from a huge old tree of some fame locally.
It was the largest tulip tree anyone had seen.
4-H clubs would come look at the tree on a yearly basis.
 
 
 
While there they would combine the trip with the opportunity to scour the fields for insects.
Entymology (the study of insects) was a 4-H project most members did.
And most farm children were members. 
The luna moth, the large graceful green one was the prize of a collection.
I personally do not like to get to close to hymenoptera (bees, I remember that  term from...uhm...a long time ago!)
 and I found one for my collection along the roadside, 
(a long overdue confession-are they going to take away my blue ribbon?).
  
 
YaaaaaHooooooooooooooooooooo
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Monday, June 13, 2016

The Old Farmer's Memories


 
The Old Farmer lived a long life and loved to share his stories.
He and his brothers grew up in Niagara Falls, NY.
 
They ran wild around the gorge below the falls.
They would climb up and down the steep cliffs and found Milky Cave,
I think this cave was filled in for some reason, there are many other caves that are still there.
 
 
On hot summer days they would hang onto rocks in the river below the whirlpool! 
 
In the winter they would ice skate on Love Canal,
do you all remember that from the news!? Look it up, worth the read.
The Old Farmer said it would freeze, then the water level might drop
and the ice would become "hilly".
I wouldn't be surprised if he fell through a time or two.

I suspect he got in trouble more than once for leading his younger
brothers on these dangerous escapades!

 
Their mother died while they were young and a neighbor lady
who lived across the road would come in to take care of the cleaning
and cooking and take care of the boys when they got home from school.
When the father got home from work he would go in the back door
with his lunch pail and she would go out the front door and walk home.
It was all very proper. 
 
 
One day the boys were told to get on their Sunday clothes,
then a preacher came in and married their father and the lady
across the street became their stepmother!
The were not consulted or advised about this and it came as a total surprise.
 
We have strayed from the farm a bit, but I hope this
glimpse of life long ago was interesting.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Monday, June 6, 2016

Its Strawberry Time

All too short is strawberry picking season!
 
 
The Old Farmer's wife had a strawberry patch.
Early days on the farm these were picked and sorted and the
prettiest ones were sold for 50c a box.

This was a bad job for the Old Farmer's daughters, for it would take "forEVer".
I think I would eat more than I picked.


Geese were let in the strawberry patch to eat the weeds.
 

We would all enjoy a month of eating strawberries!
Strawberries for breakfast, straight or on cereal.Strawberries on ice cream.
Strawberry shortcake for dessert. With lots of homemade whipped cream.
Or that great new invention-Dream Whip!
And strawberries frozen for the future...
 
 
EASY STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE
Unfrosted Angel Food Cake or Pound Cake
Fresh Cut and Lightly Smooshed Strawberries, sugared to taste
Whipped Cream, (Highly recommend real whipped cream)

Assemble in order given