A couple of you have asked of late how to get to the older stories I have posted on the blog starting on Feb. 2 when I launched this endeavor. Well it is real simple, as the blog only keeps the last month of stories showing but if you simply tab all the way down past all my pictures I have on the right hand side you will come to a "BLOG ARCHIVE" and under that it currently says April (10) March (9) and February(24). So then just click on say Feb. and it will then show all 24 stories for that month...Some of you were not exposed to this blog back then so if you like you can get at those stories..Some are interesting.
Activity should pick up here now on this site as the crops grow this summer and family events take place and vacation or two I have planned all of which I will try and make into a story of some sort. Probably the most exciting will be "sex in the corn field" of which I will try and tell how all that happens out there that then brings us corn flakes and ethanol, and sweetner for your soda pop....Yes it all starts with sex, so if your ears are tender you may want to turn on your filter along about the first of July when the polen begins to fall....
Hey have a good day out there. I still have not planted a seed yet, but lots of the corn around me is planted. Mine are still warm and cozy in the bag but I know I must send them into the soil soon at a 2 inch depth and allow them to become a new plant and have their season of life this summer of 2008. After that I will just be an observer for the season and will share some of what is happening.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Mulberry Indiana Sesquicentennial
June 2nd to June 8th.............
Have just learned from my brother Joe some info on the Mulberry Sesquicentennial. Will be held in Mulberry of course from June 2 through June 8th...With a Parade and fire works happening on June 7th...The picture at the right was taken of my bro and his now deceased wife just 50 years ago...I am not sure but I think I saw both of them in a western of the ear when John Wayne was hunting down the James brothers, yeal, sure I did they must have just took advantage or growing that beard for that and then a scout was no doubt there from Hollywood maybe...Anyway sure he played the second oldest James brother...The one that Wayne took out of the saddle with a single well aimed shot...
Well anyway that big word just means 150 years so that dates old Smallberry back to 1858 or two years before the civil war....Mulberry has been a thriving small town as like Dayton to the west both were put on the map pretty much permanent after the rail road decided to come right through the edge of town....They even had a car dealership at one time...Big grain elevator no doubt a black smith and I know they had a big dairy on the east side of town...I remember my folks stopping in to buy us a cone there and it was the best ever ice cream...Only problem with it all it did not happen often enough to suite most of us. Our farm was maybe only 5 miles west north west of Mulberry, but it is odd because we only went there a couple times a year maybe on our way to Indy to visit my sister or for something at Mulberry like the annual basketball game between our two small townships. But most our travels were through the little town of Dayton maybe 3 miles west south west of our farm and then on to Lafayette the major city in west central Indiana.
Well sure Joe will be on hand and while not with his sweet wife of a long long time I would guess you could find him knee deep in kids and grandkids at most any given moment. So maybe see you there at least for the fireworks....
Have just learned from my brother Joe some info on the Mulberry Sesquicentennial. Will be held in Mulberry of course from June 2 through June 8th...With a Parade and fire works happening on June 7th...The picture at the right was taken of my bro and his now deceased wife just 50 years ago...I am not sure but I think I saw both of them in a western of the ear when John Wayne was hunting down the James brothers, yeal, sure I did they must have just took advantage or growing that beard for that and then a scout was no doubt there from Hollywood maybe...Anyway sure he played the second oldest James brother...The one that Wayne took out of the saddle with a single well aimed shot...
Well anyway that big word just means 150 years so that dates old Smallberry back to 1858 or two years before the civil war....Mulberry has been a thriving small town as like Dayton to the west both were put on the map pretty much permanent after the rail road decided to come right through the edge of town....They even had a car dealership at one time...Big grain elevator no doubt a black smith and I know they had a big dairy on the east side of town...I remember my folks stopping in to buy us a cone there and it was the best ever ice cream...Only problem with it all it did not happen often enough to suite most of us. Our farm was maybe only 5 miles west north west of Mulberry, but it is odd because we only went there a couple times a year maybe on our way to Indy to visit my sister or for something at Mulberry like the annual basketball game between our two small townships. But most our travels were through the little town of Dayton maybe 3 miles west south west of our farm and then on to Lafayette the major city in west central Indiana.
Well sure Joe will be on hand and while not with his sweet wife of a long long time I would guess you could find him knee deep in kids and grandkids at most any given moment. So maybe see you there at least for the fireworks....
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Return to the Parker Place with Camera
Well this one will be short and mainly of interest to my Sister and two Brothers. But as threatened I did return a couple weeks ago to the Parker Place that is near the new Arnett Hospital going up along I-65.
I did so as a follow up to one of my first stories on this blog on Feb. 10 called "the Parker Place"...As you can see by the pictures all that is now there you can actually see from the interstate driving by. The house is still there and the corn crib. Lots of old foundations from sheds etc. from the past. The house and barn will soon dissappear I would guess and I guess I have my pictures so I am ready when ever it happens. My dad and mom grew up close by and this was the place they farmed when they began thier married farming life. I think they lived here about 20 years maybe and then purchased their own farm on Harding Road...Which I notice the barns are leaning more all the time at that place and probably the subject of my next camera taking outing if I can be granted access to the farm...A time that has passed by and was a time of hard work and faith in yourself, your country and your GOD...
I did so as a follow up to one of my first stories on this blog on Feb. 10 called "the Parker Place"...As you can see by the pictures all that is now there you can actually see from the interstate driving by. The house is still there and the corn crib. Lots of old foundations from sheds etc. from the past. The house and barn will soon dissappear I would guess and I guess I have my pictures so I am ready when ever it happens. My dad and mom grew up close by and this was the place they farmed when they began thier married farming life. I think they lived here about 20 years maybe and then purchased their own farm on Harding Road...Which I notice the barns are leaning more all the time at that place and probably the subject of my next camera taking outing if I can be granted access to the farm...A time that has passed by and was a time of hard work and faith in yourself, your country and your GOD...
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bloggers Note on Buddy....
Well just as Buddy asked you not to do he did get a couple rave reveiws suggesting even that he was a "better writer" than the blogger....Buddy appreciated the comments and said to me, "well at least this way I won't be writing a lot here will I"?....I agreed that maybe some day but that it could be a problem.
But I must say he is an impressive well trained little dog. I was sleeping so good this morning that he came woke me and then got down but I lingered to long and fell back asleep. No problem for Buddy, he waits patiently at the back door for quite some time but does not make a mess. He tried again and again I feel asleep. The third time Buddy probably felt nature calling loudly and got on the bed and just licked my ear until I did get up and say, "OH hey buddy lets go outside". He then leads the way to the door. He likes the big lawn alway a new exciting place to "find" for his happy time..He wanders a bit while I observe but soon returns to the door for his treat and maybe a nice snoring nap.
Quite a dog... I find of interest what he wrote about Semper Fi, and it brought to mind my new friend Peter from Naples who is in the Marine League there with us US Marines but he actually servied in the British Royal Marines which if memory serves me well was the model used for our Marines in 1775. But what Buddy said sticks in my mind and I now have to ask Peter, "What the Mascot is for the British Marines"? Maybe the Cavalier King Charles is it, as they were the favored dogs of British Royalty, and as Buddy did say they are lovers and not fighters...that statement may find its way to Peter through the Naples connections and we may have our answer soon maybe but it would be good to know about these matters.
For as sweet as a dog as Buddy is he does have a way of 'stiring the pot', so to speak. But he is correct the term Semper Fidelis meaning "always faithful" sure was not invented by Marines... That term was practiced by great dogs like Buddy for hundreds of years before....But a good model for us all to immitate this day and age.
I just did some google search work and I see that the English Bull dogs the unofficial mascots of the Marine Corps were first donated the article claimed by British Royal Marines. Also Googled Mascots of British Royal Marines but came up with nothing so maybe Peter will shed some light on if they even have one or not...
The fact that the Marine Mascots are unofficial is interesting because I think every major Marine base maintains one for parades etc.
But I must say he is an impressive well trained little dog. I was sleeping so good this morning that he came woke me and then got down but I lingered to long and fell back asleep. No problem for Buddy, he waits patiently at the back door for quite some time but does not make a mess. He tried again and again I feel asleep. The third time Buddy probably felt nature calling loudly and got on the bed and just licked my ear until I did get up and say, "OH hey buddy lets go outside". He then leads the way to the door. He likes the big lawn alway a new exciting place to "find" for his happy time..He wanders a bit while I observe but soon returns to the door for his treat and maybe a nice snoring nap.
Quite a dog... I find of interest what he wrote about Semper Fi, and it brought to mind my new friend Peter from Naples who is in the Marine League there with us US Marines but he actually servied in the British Royal Marines which if memory serves me well was the model used for our Marines in 1775. But what Buddy said sticks in my mind and I now have to ask Peter, "What the Mascot is for the British Marines"? Maybe the Cavalier King Charles is it, as they were the favored dogs of British Royalty, and as Buddy did say they are lovers and not fighters...that statement may find its way to Peter through the Naples connections and we may have our answer soon maybe but it would be good to know about these matters.
For as sweet as a dog as Buddy is he does have a way of 'stiring the pot', so to speak. But he is correct the term Semper Fidelis meaning "always faithful" sure was not invented by Marines... That term was practiced by great dogs like Buddy for hundreds of years before....But a good model for us all to immitate this day and age.
I just did some google search work and I see that the English Bull dogs the unofficial mascots of the Marine Corps were first donated the article claimed by British Royal Marines. Also Googled Mascots of British Royal Marines but came up with nothing so maybe Peter will shed some light on if they even have one or not...
The fact that the Marine Mascots are unofficial is interesting because I think every major Marine base maintains one for parades etc.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Hello. My Name is Buddy
Hi, I am honored to be the first "guest columnist" on this blog to date. My name is Buddy and I am spending 4 days with "farmer jack" a.k.a., Happy Hoosier...My owner is on vacation with her brother an sister in law and since he offered to keep me I took him up on it and am enjoying being a "farm dog". I kind of like it here cause he lets me sleep on his bed and lick his face sometimes. For a dog that ain't too bad especially with almost a stranger that I only met a month ago. As you can see by my picture to the right I am one cute little puppy you might say although I am about 5 years old, maybe 6, time fly's when your having fun. I took him for a walk around the pond early this morning, he was telling something about when he built the pond, yeal right. Then this afternoon we deliverd something to Suzette for tomorrow's garage sale, and I met a new friend Sophie Post. She is going to be a vet someday...She loves animals and who knows maybe some day she will be one and she will be good with cute dogs and cats like me...Met some alpaca's today also, I hope she don't have to work on them as they look like they could maybe bite ya before you even know it...
OH, by the way I am kind of a special breed called "Cavalier, King Charles"..I included a web site here where you can read about my breed..We don't bark much, and were not into this hyper stuff either, we shed just a tad but we make it worth your while with the affection we have for people. When left alone for a bit, we like to tell you about it with a kind of dog chat and then after we unwind we go lay down and relax till bed time. Happy Hoosier says that my shortened slooping cute nose kind of reminds him of a favorite car he likes called a "mini cooper"....at least the side view he said.
I may get to ride in a tractor later this week possibly as we looked at a field today to see how the soil was drying out...We pulled back clumps of corn stalks and although most of the surface is drying nicely we did notice that under those piles of debris, which are numerous, that we could make a mud ball out of the top inch of soil. Jack said that is not good, as when the planter passes through those areas that the slot sometimes does not close and give good seed to soil contact for germinating the soybeans. I suggested that maybe another day or two of wind and sunshine that these could become a very small percentage of the total acreage we were looking at...He agreed and said that "maybe" I would get a tractor ride for a few hours if that happens. That should be fun to do that, as I love riding in cars and trucks so farm tractors could be just another notch in my belt called life. But I noticed on tonights weather that a rain is passing through tomorrow. So that may be the end of my tractor ride for this time out.
Well it looks like we are thinking about calling it a day and going to bed now. We mulched flower beds today, they look great and Happy Hoosier has a "sniff test" appointment in the morning and then poll worker training in the afternoon but I will have my pottie breaks inbetween, and plenty of time to romp an stomp around this lawn.
OH, lots of rabbits around here, but just never have gotten into chasin those things. Rabbits run fast and jump in the air sometimes. Anyway what would I do if I caught one? Eat it maybe? I don't think so..
Thanks for stopping by to meet me, don't be giving me any rave reveiws now on this site, as he quizzed me quite a bit about any previous writing skills before he ever agreed to letting me "maiden voyage" on his blog. Also one other thing, I see the words "semper fi" used quite a lot on this blog. Well let me tell ya, we doggies invented semper fi, long before there were any U.S. Marines.....probably exactly why they chose a dog as their mascot....The Bulldog was a good choice as we Cavaliers, well were lovers not fighters.
Semper Fi,
Buddy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel
OH, by the way I am kind of a special breed called "Cavalier, King Charles"..I included a web site here where you can read about my breed..We don't bark much, and were not into this hyper stuff either, we shed just a tad but we make it worth your while with the affection we have for people. When left alone for a bit, we like to tell you about it with a kind of dog chat and then after we unwind we go lay down and relax till bed time. Happy Hoosier says that my shortened slooping cute nose kind of reminds him of a favorite car he likes called a "mini cooper"....at least the side view he said.
I may get to ride in a tractor later this week possibly as we looked at a field today to see how the soil was drying out...We pulled back clumps of corn stalks and although most of the surface is drying nicely we did notice that under those piles of debris, which are numerous, that we could make a mud ball out of the top inch of soil. Jack said that is not good, as when the planter passes through those areas that the slot sometimes does not close and give good seed to soil contact for germinating the soybeans. I suggested that maybe another day or two of wind and sunshine that these could become a very small percentage of the total acreage we were looking at...He agreed and said that "maybe" I would get a tractor ride for a few hours if that happens. That should be fun to do that, as I love riding in cars and trucks so farm tractors could be just another notch in my belt called life. But I noticed on tonights weather that a rain is passing through tomorrow. So that may be the end of my tractor ride for this time out.
Well it looks like we are thinking about calling it a day and going to bed now. We mulched flower beds today, they look great and Happy Hoosier has a "sniff test" appointment in the morning and then poll worker training in the afternoon but I will have my pottie breaks inbetween, and plenty of time to romp an stomp around this lawn.
OH, lots of rabbits around here, but just never have gotten into chasin those things. Rabbits run fast and jump in the air sometimes. Anyway what would I do if I caught one? Eat it maybe? I don't think so..
Thanks for stopping by to meet me, don't be giving me any rave reveiws now on this site, as he quizzed me quite a bit about any previous writing skills before he ever agreed to letting me "maiden voyage" on his blog. Also one other thing, I see the words "semper fi" used quite a lot on this blog. Well let me tell ya, we doggies invented semper fi, long before there were any U.S. Marines.....probably exactly why they chose a dog as their mascot....The Bulldog was a good choice as we Cavaliers, well were lovers not fighters.
Semper Fi,
Buddy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavalier_King_Charles_Spaniel
Monday, April 21, 2008
Purple Martins Return
I took the picture of the Martin setting on one of my houses a couple days ago. I knew when I saw him there that others would soon arrive...Some say they are a scout but I kind of doubt that, I think he was just the one to get here first, probably caught a good tail wind that some did not. But today others have arrived and the place is starting to buzz with activity...They are checking out the two twelve unit homes that are available for them. Deciding which home to live in this year at the north end or the south end of the pond and then which unit a lower or an upper. And then sunrise view or sunset, like people they must have a preferrence or if they get here late it could be take what is available.....
After "she" makes the choice they will both turn to bringing in cornstalks and grass from the surrounding fields and mud from the edges of the pond and make a nest out of all of it...She will then lay the eggs, usually 3 or 4 and then set on them and he will bring her bugs to eat during this time. I do enjoy watching out for them each year and putting the houses up maybe a week or so before they are likely to show up. It is always a thrill to walk out to the house when they first arrive and say something like, "hey where you been", "did you have a good winter?"....They make there little clicking or chirping noices as they fly around me as to ask me the same and say they are glad to be back for another season of kid raising.
I believe they winter in South America somewhere. They leave here for that flight as soon as all of the kids are taught to fly well and catch bugs and learn to fend for themselves...Some years it is fun to watch as they maybe get the kids to fly up to the top of the TV antenna and then they seem to freeze there and the parents hover out in front of them churping away coaxing them to take flight again...Sometimes it takes almost all day but before you know it they are all doing the soaring that is so much fun to watch. They are very social depending completely on man for the housing they need. They surely earn thier keep as they eat hundreds of mosquitoes each and every day while they are here. I never recieve a mosquitoe bite while they are present so they are very valuable especially around water sources....
But as soon as they depart for the south within just a few days I do see mosquitoes again but usually it is mid to late August and not far from the fall season when they are not so bad. They sometimes fly through the porch if I am setting out there to almost "buzz" me just for attention. Then they may go high into the sky over the pond and catch the bugs that the wind currents are bringing in....
Lots of fun all of the birds that seem to have learned to live here and glad to have this season underway...
After "she" makes the choice they will both turn to bringing in cornstalks and grass from the surrounding fields and mud from the edges of the pond and make a nest out of all of it...She will then lay the eggs, usually 3 or 4 and then set on them and he will bring her bugs to eat during this time. I do enjoy watching out for them each year and putting the houses up maybe a week or so before they are likely to show up. It is always a thrill to walk out to the house when they first arrive and say something like, "hey where you been", "did you have a good winter?"....They make there little clicking or chirping noices as they fly around me as to ask me the same and say they are glad to be back for another season of kid raising.
I believe they winter in South America somewhere. They leave here for that flight as soon as all of the kids are taught to fly well and catch bugs and learn to fend for themselves...Some years it is fun to watch as they maybe get the kids to fly up to the top of the TV antenna and then they seem to freeze there and the parents hover out in front of them churping away coaxing them to take flight again...Sometimes it takes almost all day but before you know it they are all doing the soaring that is so much fun to watch. They are very social depending completely on man for the housing they need. They surely earn thier keep as they eat hundreds of mosquitoes each and every day while they are here. I never recieve a mosquitoe bite while they are present so they are very valuable especially around water sources....
But as soon as they depart for the south within just a few days I do see mosquitoes again but usually it is mid to late August and not far from the fall season when they are not so bad. They sometimes fly through the porch if I am setting out there to almost "buzz" me just for attention. Then they may go high into the sky over the pond and catch the bugs that the wind currents are bringing in....
Lots of fun all of the birds that seem to have learned to live here and glad to have this season underway...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
UPDATE on LUCAS COLE
Update on my Grandson Lucas B. Cole Sgt. US Army in Iraq.....
Lucas is probably not real happy about this, but it looks like his brains and knowledge of mine detecting equipment is pulling him off of direct contact with the enemy. Other than the incoming mortors that could blow you to smithereens in a mega second, it seems Lucas's safety percentage has went way up. Maybe not his choice but surely good news for his Grandpa and others....
My daughter Sherry's update below......
Suzette asked me today to send an update on Lucas. I don’t have much to tell you as he has very little access to the internet or satellite phones and I have only been able to catch him online one time since he arrived in Iraq.
He was able to call Mindy about a week ago and talked for 8 minutes before the phone went dead. He told her that he has been moved back into the technology and electronics area and will not be doing the conveys as first planned. He said they didn’t have enough soldiers there working on the warfare equipment so he got pulled. He also told her that he is working 16 hour days without a day off. He said his workload is enough for 3-4 people, so I guess he is very busy. He told her that Camp Anaconda is a very big place, that they ride buses to get from one side to the other. They have incoming activity daily.
This week he was traveling to Baghdad to a school. He was concerned about traveling as the US had several casualties in this area last week.
We thank you for your prayers for his safety. We hope that Lucas is feeling protected and safe as we are certainly showering him with prayers from many families and our churches. Mindy and Monica pay visits to his house and pick up the mail almost daily. I am the chief bill payer and manager of his finances. We will be going over for a spring outside spruce up at his house in a few weeks and putting down some mulch and so on. If anyone would like to help out with that you are certainly invited. It would be fun to send him some pictures of a group of relatives at his house taking care of what he is so proud of. Let us know if you are available on a Saturday or Sunday.
His two motorcycles might need a spin around the block too.
Well, I am sorry I don’t have more to say. I hope once he gets settled into a shop where he will be working he will be able to communicate more with us. Until then, we patiently wait and hope to hear something from him.
Snail mail is the greatest to a soldier away from home. If you have time to drop him a card or letter, please send it to:
SGT Cole, Lucas B.
TF 1-293 INF TMC
OIF 08-10
APO AE 09391
The Mom
Lucas is probably not real happy about this, but it looks like his brains and knowledge of mine detecting equipment is pulling him off of direct contact with the enemy. Other than the incoming mortors that could blow you to smithereens in a mega second, it seems Lucas's safety percentage has went way up. Maybe not his choice but surely good news for his Grandpa and others....
My daughter Sherry's update below......
Suzette asked me today to send an update on Lucas. I don’t have much to tell you as he has very little access to the internet or satellite phones and I have only been able to catch him online one time since he arrived in Iraq.
He was able to call Mindy about a week ago and talked for 8 minutes before the phone went dead. He told her that he has been moved back into the technology and electronics area and will not be doing the conveys as first planned. He said they didn’t have enough soldiers there working on the warfare equipment so he got pulled. He also told her that he is working 16 hour days without a day off. He said his workload is enough for 3-4 people, so I guess he is very busy. He told her that Camp Anaconda is a very big place, that they ride buses to get from one side to the other. They have incoming activity daily.
This week he was traveling to Baghdad to a school. He was concerned about traveling as the US had several casualties in this area last week.
We thank you for your prayers for his safety. We hope that Lucas is feeling protected and safe as we are certainly showering him with prayers from many families and our churches. Mindy and Monica pay visits to his house and pick up the mail almost daily. I am the chief bill payer and manager of his finances. We will be going over for a spring outside spruce up at his house in a few weeks and putting down some mulch and so on. If anyone would like to help out with that you are certainly invited. It would be fun to send him some pictures of a group of relatives at his house taking care of what he is so proud of. Let us know if you are available on a Saturday or Sunday.
His two motorcycles might need a spin around the block too.
Well, I am sorry I don’t have more to say. I hope once he gets settled into a shop where he will be working he will be able to communicate more with us. Until then, we patiently wait and hope to hear something from him.
Snail mail is the greatest to a soldier away from home. If you have time to drop him a card or letter, please send it to:
SGT Cole, Lucas B.
TF 1-293 INF TMC
OIF 08-10
APO AE 09391
The Mom
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Today April 12, 2008 I Remember
At 6:20 this evening on this date one year ago my sweetie Linda L. Lahrman left this earth, and passed through the gate to eternity with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
I miss her, but her memory lives on with all of us who knew her. I met her on another 12th of the month in January 1979, and we flew together in a plane to Chicago.
But during that flight we planted seeds of interest for both of us, and after our seperate trips we did see those seeds sprout into a courtship. And then on another 12th of January a year later at 3:45, exactly one year to the minute we were married and she was my dear wife for 28 years and 3 months until another 12th of the month in April last year took her away.
I remember her finding an old log book in our attic of the old house were we enjoyed so many years together. It was the book of a blacksmith who had lived in that house a hundred years before. It had a page for each his clients and what he had done for them and what date and what he charged them for his work. But on a empty page she found a date only that said January 12 1879. That was all it said but she said isn't that odd that date was exactly 100 years from the day we met.
I mention it because maybe it just says time does march on. And I guess it does and now she has logged one year which means but a micro second when eternity is your calendar. Even the 29 years and 3 months we knew was a micro second and even the 130 years and three months since that date was written in that book for what ever reason.
Some of my kids are coming by this evening for Ham and Beans that have been cooking in the crock pot all day. And some are bringing corn bread and some deserts and we will pause for a little remembrance at 6:20 this evening as they were all here a year ago when she died. It will be tough, but soon then the first year will have passed and I will try and move ahead with the life that I now have. There will always be a tomorrow and I feel that I have properly grieved her loss and am now ready to see what tomorrow will bring and what may lie ahead....
Tomorrow I may talk about tomorrow....but first I must face today....
I miss her, but her memory lives on with all of us who knew her. I met her on another 12th of the month in January 1979, and we flew together in a plane to Chicago.
But during that flight we planted seeds of interest for both of us, and after our seperate trips we did see those seeds sprout into a courtship. And then on another 12th of January a year later at 3:45, exactly one year to the minute we were married and she was my dear wife for 28 years and 3 months until another 12th of the month in April last year took her away.
I remember her finding an old log book in our attic of the old house were we enjoyed so many years together. It was the book of a blacksmith who had lived in that house a hundred years before. It had a page for each his clients and what he had done for them and what date and what he charged them for his work. But on a empty page she found a date only that said January 12 1879. That was all it said but she said isn't that odd that date was exactly 100 years from the day we met.
I mention it because maybe it just says time does march on. And I guess it does and now she has logged one year which means but a micro second when eternity is your calendar. Even the 29 years and 3 months we knew was a micro second and even the 130 years and three months since that date was written in that book for what ever reason.
Some of my kids are coming by this evening for Ham and Beans that have been cooking in the crock pot all day. And some are bringing corn bread and some deserts and we will pause for a little remembrance at 6:20 this evening as they were all here a year ago when she died. It will be tough, but soon then the first year will have passed and I will try and move ahead with the life that I now have. There will always be a tomorrow and I feel that I have properly grieved her loss and am now ready to see what tomorrow will bring and what may lie ahead....
Tomorrow I may talk about tomorrow....but first I must face today....
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Fair Oaks Farm Dairy
A couple weeks ago visiting my son and family after returning from Florida, they told me they were on vacation this week and were going to visit a dairy farm for a little day trip the next day. Well I have missed so many trips to that dairy farm in the past couple years always hearing about it the day after a group visited that I kind of invited myself along and they said that would be great and let me tag along the next morning....
It is open to the public all day every day and located at Fair Oaks Indiana about an hour north of Lafayette on I-65 leading to Chicago at exit 220, it is the only thing at the exit so its hard to miss it...
But what a stop it is you need at least 3 hours to do it justice...Great stop with the kids or grand kids. There are 10 diary farms there within just a few miles but the one close to the interchange is the one open for viewing. There is a birthing barn off to the side where about 6 to 8 times a day a new calf is born. They alert you while you are there that it is about to happen and then everyone goes over and takes it all in. You set on a seating balcony kind of like sea world and watch the show live as it happens. There are always two cows there about to have calves. As soon as she does they give them an hour to bond and out they go to the real cow world and in comes another expecting momma moo.
And unlike see world she does not splash you but it is a nice thing to watch as the calf is being born and how she then stands up and licks the baby and then the calf gets to its feet and drinks its first milk...Then they load you on a bus and take you on a tour of the other barns the most spectacular of which is the milking parlor turnstyle. I am still seaching my files for my photo of the turn style that holds maybe 100 cows at a time. It is amazing it is a huge wheel turn style that the cows all by themselves are trained to get on it and be milked three times a day in the time it takes it to make one revolution. Then they back out and head on back to the barn where they eat more feed drink lots of water and make us more milk....
I tell you God did have an imagination when he designed us and all these things of this world.. And I will tell you also that only a fool would even consider for a moment that all of this crawled up out of the slime and just happened...Just a little wisdom for you today now back to the story.
They have shows to watch, they have a gift shop, they have a restaurant and an ice cream parlor all of which you will enjoy with your family or by yourself. I passed out a few of my blog addresses to some employees and told them I would make them famous and to them sorry I was so long in getting this story posted...The phone number for the dairy is 877 536 1194 if you have any questions about anything.
Gosh I wish I had written this story the next day as I did not take notes but I think this one farm maybe milks a couple thousand cows maybe three times a day. Every hour the turn style produces 2000 gallons of milk. It goes through a big pipe into a big holding tank is then loaded on semi trailers that within 24 hours of leaving the cow delivers it to far away places like Atlanta or even Miami...Which reminds me I need to go get a half gallon today sometime. The milks leaves the cow at 101 degrees and then is chilled to 34.5 in just minutes..they said the tankers that transport it are insulated so well that it only rises to 35 degrees when it arrives at a processor plant maybe 1000 miles away. There it is pasturized and processed into the cartons that you grab to wet down your cereal each day...or make that milk shake...
OK wish my memory was better but anyway you have a taste of the diary to savor. Oh they have a cheese factory there also and first hand my friend and I can attest it is 'good'........
It is open to the public all day every day and located at Fair Oaks Indiana about an hour north of Lafayette on I-65 leading to Chicago at exit 220, it is the only thing at the exit so its hard to miss it...
But what a stop it is you need at least 3 hours to do it justice...Great stop with the kids or grand kids. There are 10 diary farms there within just a few miles but the one close to the interchange is the one open for viewing. There is a birthing barn off to the side where about 6 to 8 times a day a new calf is born. They alert you while you are there that it is about to happen and then everyone goes over and takes it all in. You set on a seating balcony kind of like sea world and watch the show live as it happens. There are always two cows there about to have calves. As soon as she does they give them an hour to bond and out they go to the real cow world and in comes another expecting momma moo.
And unlike see world she does not splash you but it is a nice thing to watch as the calf is being born and how she then stands up and licks the baby and then the calf gets to its feet and drinks its first milk...Then they load you on a bus and take you on a tour of the other barns the most spectacular of which is the milking parlor turnstyle. I am still seaching my files for my photo of the turn style that holds maybe 100 cows at a time. It is amazing it is a huge wheel turn style that the cows all by themselves are trained to get on it and be milked three times a day in the time it takes it to make one revolution. Then they back out and head on back to the barn where they eat more feed drink lots of water and make us more milk....
I tell you God did have an imagination when he designed us and all these things of this world.. And I will tell you also that only a fool would even consider for a moment that all of this crawled up out of the slime and just happened...Just a little wisdom for you today now back to the story.
They have shows to watch, they have a gift shop, they have a restaurant and an ice cream parlor all of which you will enjoy with your family or by yourself. I passed out a few of my blog addresses to some employees and told them I would make them famous and to them sorry I was so long in getting this story posted...The phone number for the dairy is 877 536 1194 if you have any questions about anything.
Gosh I wish I had written this story the next day as I did not take notes but I think this one farm maybe milks a couple thousand cows maybe three times a day. Every hour the turn style produces 2000 gallons of milk. It goes through a big pipe into a big holding tank is then loaded on semi trailers that within 24 hours of leaving the cow delivers it to far away places like Atlanta or even Miami...Which reminds me I need to go get a half gallon today sometime. The milks leaves the cow at 101 degrees and then is chilled to 34.5 in just minutes..they said the tankers that transport it are insulated so well that it only rises to 35 degrees when it arrives at a processor plant maybe 1000 miles away. There it is pasturized and processed into the cartons that you grab to wet down your cereal each day...or make that milk shake...
OK wish my memory was better but anyway you have a taste of the diary to savor. Oh they have a cheese factory there also and first hand my friend and I can attest it is 'good'........
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Florence Patton *farm wife, mother of five*
My folks had 4 boys and 4 girls...The oldest is this sweet heart featured here today, the youngest is the author, her "baby brother" she likes to introduce me as to the residents of Mulberry Lutheran assisted living center in Mulberry Indiana. I think I know why I am the 'baby brother' as she was 22 when I was born and soon made me an uncle 5 times with 5 great sons Bill, Ed, Denny Jim and Tom....Meet my oldest sibling but surely not ready to even think about calling it quits, Florence Lahrman Patton, one great mom to five sons and like the hat says in the shadow box in the hall outside her room, "This is no ordinary Farm Wife you are dealing with".....
They farmed about 3 miles from us if you took the road but only a mile if you went through the woods which we kids usually did to get into trouble every chance we got.
It was an interesting trip, the short cut, as we had a small stream running through our farm that you jumped across and then a maybe 3 acre swampy shallow ponded area about half way in the woods, and then an area of large oak, maple and ash trees on their farm before dumping out into the quarter mile lane headed to their barn.
They had a steep hillside area caused by the glacier melt which formed wildcat creek eons ago but afforded us the greatest wildest sled rides you would ever want if you could avoid the gully's, the trees, and with high speed snow the fence along the road.
Florence is new at the Mulberry home as she spent a few years at Rose Walk Home where she had a great room and her own car for a while and if a bus was going anywhere this lady was on it....now she needs a little more help and her family wisely chose the best place for that, mainly because her brother Joe lives very close and sure there will not be many days that he does not stick his head in the door and make sure his sis is OK.....
All her other sibs are in Florida this week for the annual wine tasting Sarasota event and also a memorial tree planting this afternnon on the beach (where they all spent many spring breaks), for my sister Pegs husband Charles Ritchie who passed this winter... So the not so great at visiting baby brother, had to be activated, and told to get up there and check on her by my sister Peg.
So yesterday I did that as requested, and I am so glad to report to them and to you that I may have elevated my standing with my sis from maybe the basement to the roof top in one single day. Maybe not but I did score some points and I had so much fun doing it that it will be hard to not try and keep my image maintained in the future.
Joe will eventually regain the #1 spot living that close...Larry probably #2 because he is the oldest and most considerate and concerned bro you could ever want. But I could maybe take advantage of sliding into the 3rd spot ahead of my sis Peg solely because she lives in Anderson and won't have the opportunity to visit that often.
But if I end up in the basement again which I could I admit, as farming lies ahead for a few weeks and I will have the pleasure of cultivation of corn, beans, and Sweet Pea, preferably in reverse order.
My visit went so well. I arrived just afer noon and she was so glad to see her brother. She did get a really big smile, I guess absense does truly make the heart grow fonder, not a good excuse but maybe a fact of life. She told me she had went to lunch and not stayed in her room for lunch that day as she said she had the day before. I looked around her room and noticed she was a little short on shoes, and knowing most gals can not have too many shoes I ask her if maybe she had a couple pairs of brand new shoes if she would be more willing to put them on and feel better about making those meal time appointments. She smiled and said you know that is a good idea. I laughed and said well good deal lets take a look at your shoe size which she knew and I said JC Penny's here I come. I will be back before dinner and we will be doing that together in the cafeteria...She said, "oh good that will be so much fun"....I got to the store and the gentlemen and ladies after being told what I was up to all got into the act, it was slow in the shoe department, so we all got into the effort... I left there with 10 pairs and a promise to take them all back if need be and they were all on sale, how could I lose....
Well as a clincher for the number 1 slot that day in my sister life I had noticed a shadow box with shelves outside each room and hers was empty..I went by the house on my way back and got some "stuff", pictures, a chick fil a cow, a bed bug, a hat that my sweetie had owned that said "this is no ordinary farm wife you are dealing with" and a toy tractor a picture of Dayton school and her parents and others of her siblings...all 8 of us in the days gone by...
Anyway with all that I was confident I'd be number 1 for at least a week till the competition returns from spring break with their families on the beach....
I got there early and she was already setting in the cafeteria waiting on me. I put the sacks of stuff in her room and joined her. She said this is so much fun, I sure like having company. Maybe since your a pretty big guy you could just take me home with you. I said no but I will come see you and after we eat we have shoes to try on. She said well maybe you can stay all night I have an extra bed...She has it pretty much together except for she does not remember her parents dying and ask about how they are...Then wanted to know who died first...other than that she has it pretty well together and should not be in that locked down area and hopefully will be evaluated soon and into an area where friends can better be made with other residents.
We sat at the table for quite some time because of our early arrival. Another woman in a picture at the right showed up and looked at us. I said, "would you like to set with us"? She said, "well if I set anywhere its gonna be right on your lap".. I absolutely became a little embarrassed but laughed like I have not laughed maybe in months as did the whole cafeteria. My sis then turned around and told Janice was her name, "I think not if anyone is going to set on his lap it will be me"......so Janice smiled and went to her normally assigned table next to us. I could not resist having my picture taken with her when my daughter Sharla and son in law Jeffrey arrived with my camera that I had went off without as per my request...When a nice looking woman offers to set on your lap and then another one says no way its gonna be me if anyone, will the ego kind of hits the top of the scale and maybe even over the top...Janice is married to a "big guy" some of the nurses advised me so we will just be friends passing in the halls or smiling in the cafeteria...but I have learned that as early as last Christmas, that nursing homes do offer potential for relationships. Yesterday visit to see my Sis and others reinforced that discovery.
One funny encounter in the hall way with a gentleman walking the halls, was his asking, "are you going to use all of those"? pointing to the floor behind me. I turned and looked at the bare tile behind me and said, "no there all yours if you want them", he said, "ok thanks"...
It was a good day she tried on all 10 pairs of shoes and kept telling me this was crazy that she did not need these shoes but I finally talked her into two pair but there was a third pair that was kind of catching her eye and I said, "I think you need a pair for all three meals each day...She finally agreed and thus the pic at the right showing her holding two and wearing one...she said, "now if I can just remember I got all of these shoes"...I put them in a drawer under her TV and left the drawer open, she should be good to go...
To her family that will be seeing her often I want to say change anything you want in her shadow box but don't you mess with my sister new shoes...It was my great pleasure to see her this happy that day....
They farmed about 3 miles from us if you took the road but only a mile if you went through the woods which we kids usually did to get into trouble every chance we got.
It was an interesting trip, the short cut, as we had a small stream running through our farm that you jumped across and then a maybe 3 acre swampy shallow ponded area about half way in the woods, and then an area of large oak, maple and ash trees on their farm before dumping out into the quarter mile lane headed to their barn.
They had a steep hillside area caused by the glacier melt which formed wildcat creek eons ago but afforded us the greatest wildest sled rides you would ever want if you could avoid the gully's, the trees, and with high speed snow the fence along the road.
Florence is new at the Mulberry home as she spent a few years at Rose Walk Home where she had a great room and her own car for a while and if a bus was going anywhere this lady was on it....now she needs a little more help and her family wisely chose the best place for that, mainly because her brother Joe lives very close and sure there will not be many days that he does not stick his head in the door and make sure his sis is OK.....
All her other sibs are in Florida this week for the annual wine tasting Sarasota event and also a memorial tree planting this afternnon on the beach (where they all spent many spring breaks), for my sister Pegs husband Charles Ritchie who passed this winter... So the not so great at visiting baby brother, had to be activated, and told to get up there and check on her by my sister Peg.
So yesterday I did that as requested, and I am so glad to report to them and to you that I may have elevated my standing with my sis from maybe the basement to the roof top in one single day. Maybe not but I did score some points and I had so much fun doing it that it will be hard to not try and keep my image maintained in the future.
Joe will eventually regain the #1 spot living that close...Larry probably #2 because he is the oldest and most considerate and concerned bro you could ever want. But I could maybe take advantage of sliding into the 3rd spot ahead of my sis Peg solely because she lives in Anderson and won't have the opportunity to visit that often.
But if I end up in the basement again which I could I admit, as farming lies ahead for a few weeks and I will have the pleasure of cultivation of corn, beans, and Sweet Pea, preferably in reverse order.
My visit went so well. I arrived just afer noon and she was so glad to see her brother. She did get a really big smile, I guess absense does truly make the heart grow fonder, not a good excuse but maybe a fact of life. She told me she had went to lunch and not stayed in her room for lunch that day as she said she had the day before. I looked around her room and noticed she was a little short on shoes, and knowing most gals can not have too many shoes I ask her if maybe she had a couple pairs of brand new shoes if she would be more willing to put them on and feel better about making those meal time appointments. She smiled and said you know that is a good idea. I laughed and said well good deal lets take a look at your shoe size which she knew and I said JC Penny's here I come. I will be back before dinner and we will be doing that together in the cafeteria...She said, "oh good that will be so much fun"....I got to the store and the gentlemen and ladies after being told what I was up to all got into the act, it was slow in the shoe department, so we all got into the effort... I left there with 10 pairs and a promise to take them all back if need be and they were all on sale, how could I lose....
Well as a clincher for the number 1 slot that day in my sister life I had noticed a shadow box with shelves outside each room and hers was empty..I went by the house on my way back and got some "stuff", pictures, a chick fil a cow, a bed bug, a hat that my sweetie had owned that said "this is no ordinary farm wife you are dealing with" and a toy tractor a picture of Dayton school and her parents and others of her siblings...all 8 of us in the days gone by...
Anyway with all that I was confident I'd be number 1 for at least a week till the competition returns from spring break with their families on the beach....
I got there early and she was already setting in the cafeteria waiting on me. I put the sacks of stuff in her room and joined her. She said this is so much fun, I sure like having company. Maybe since your a pretty big guy you could just take me home with you. I said no but I will come see you and after we eat we have shoes to try on. She said well maybe you can stay all night I have an extra bed...She has it pretty much together except for she does not remember her parents dying and ask about how they are...Then wanted to know who died first...other than that she has it pretty well together and should not be in that locked down area and hopefully will be evaluated soon and into an area where friends can better be made with other residents.
We sat at the table for quite some time because of our early arrival. Another woman in a picture at the right showed up and looked at us. I said, "would you like to set with us"? She said, "well if I set anywhere its gonna be right on your lap".. I absolutely became a little embarrassed but laughed like I have not laughed maybe in months as did the whole cafeteria. My sis then turned around and told Janice was her name, "I think not if anyone is going to set on his lap it will be me"......so Janice smiled and went to her normally assigned table next to us. I could not resist having my picture taken with her when my daughter Sharla and son in law Jeffrey arrived with my camera that I had went off without as per my request...When a nice looking woman offers to set on your lap and then another one says no way its gonna be me if anyone, will the ego kind of hits the top of the scale and maybe even over the top...Janice is married to a "big guy" some of the nurses advised me so we will just be friends passing in the halls or smiling in the cafeteria...but I have learned that as early as last Christmas, that nursing homes do offer potential for relationships. Yesterday visit to see my Sis and others reinforced that discovery.
One funny encounter in the hall way with a gentleman walking the halls, was his asking, "are you going to use all of those"? pointing to the floor behind me. I turned and looked at the bare tile behind me and said, "no there all yours if you want them", he said, "ok thanks"...
It was a good day she tried on all 10 pairs of shoes and kept telling me this was crazy that she did not need these shoes but I finally talked her into two pair but there was a third pair that was kind of catching her eye and I said, "I think you need a pair for all three meals each day...She finally agreed and thus the pic at the right showing her holding two and wearing one...she said, "now if I can just remember I got all of these shoes"...I put them in a drawer under her TV and left the drawer open, she should be good to go...
To her family that will be seeing her often I want to say change anything you want in her shadow box but don't you mess with my sister new shoes...It was my great pleasure to see her this happy that day....
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Baby Fish Day/ No April Fool
Sorry Mandy, Gunny Conner and Randy Kington but time moves on and your pictures slip farther down the line with each post. Two or three days of fame is all that is allowed here on the corn and bean blog....Spring is on the way and there are things to be done before we get into planting crops. One of those things happened today and thus the pics to the right of the pond. Its April fools day but this is not a joke this really happened, I got into the pond with the fish. Well you might have known I would get caught up in the excitement of it all..
You see twice a year Farleys Fish Farm from Arkansas sends a semi up through this area and they park it for two hours at Buckles feed store on 4th street and we pond keepers show up. I ordered 100 black crappie a week ago but when I got there lots of guys were ordering 50 of this and 50 of that, and well I kinda got caught up in the fish shopping mode and did a little extra. I got my Crappie Ok and then I got 50Red Eared Bream and 50 Channel cats along with 1000 fat head minnows for something for the bigger fish to chase and eat until my new little buddies get acclamated into their new home and find the really good hiding places until they are big enough to eat someone, grow up, and get caught, and then as my fishing buddy said, "we eatem".
Well they put them in large plastic bags and I had 5 of them to deal with. Now the Arkasas water in the tanks was warmer than the April Fools day water in the Pond, so the drill is to place the bags in the water for a half hour and let the water temp change gradually. So I did that and I thought coffee would be good while I wait, so went in for that. The wind had other ideas for my large inflated plasic bags which were kind of like sail boats you might say. And I noticed from my kitchen windows some bags had left the edge of the pond. I ran out there and saw one about 10 feet out sailing away, and just went in after it...Got wet to the knees or above a little...It was chilly and then I noticed a couple bags in 10 feet of water and I used my head a little not wanting to get in that deep...All I had to do was wait until the sailing vessels went across the pond to the spot where maybe God wanted me to turn them loose and that is what I did. Nothing like an April wind and God's help with the release of baby fish.
The top picture to the right is the dam end of the pond where the Channels and 50 crappie got their freedom. The second pic is the middle where the three sailing ships left the bank,and sailed to the other side. Carrying the "pilgrims" to the other shore and thus the new home for the rest of the crappie, the bream, and the fathead minnows. Also you will see in this pic a new device that some of us mature kids installed last fall there on the dock. It is a swing of sorts that we will hang knotted ropes from and kids of all ages will then swing in pairs if they like as there are two of them out over the water and drop down feet or head first depending on how acrobatic they feel that day. It should be a fun summer for 19 grand kids and maybe even the author......and others....
You see twice a year Farleys Fish Farm from Arkansas sends a semi up through this area and they park it for two hours at Buckles feed store on 4th street and we pond keepers show up. I ordered 100 black crappie a week ago but when I got there lots of guys were ordering 50 of this and 50 of that, and well I kinda got caught up in the fish shopping mode and did a little extra. I got my Crappie Ok and then I got 50Red Eared Bream and 50 Channel cats along with 1000 fat head minnows for something for the bigger fish to chase and eat until my new little buddies get acclamated into their new home and find the really good hiding places until they are big enough to eat someone, grow up, and get caught, and then as my fishing buddy said, "we eatem".
Well they put them in large plastic bags and I had 5 of them to deal with. Now the Arkasas water in the tanks was warmer than the April Fools day water in the Pond, so the drill is to place the bags in the water for a half hour and let the water temp change gradually. So I did that and I thought coffee would be good while I wait, so went in for that. The wind had other ideas for my large inflated plasic bags which were kind of like sail boats you might say. And I noticed from my kitchen windows some bags had left the edge of the pond. I ran out there and saw one about 10 feet out sailing away, and just went in after it...Got wet to the knees or above a little...It was chilly and then I noticed a couple bags in 10 feet of water and I used my head a little not wanting to get in that deep...All I had to do was wait until the sailing vessels went across the pond to the spot where maybe God wanted me to turn them loose and that is what I did. Nothing like an April wind and God's help with the release of baby fish.
The top picture to the right is the dam end of the pond where the Channels and 50 crappie got their freedom. The second pic is the middle where the three sailing ships left the bank,and sailed to the other side. Carrying the "pilgrims" to the other shore and thus the new home for the rest of the crappie, the bream, and the fathead minnows. Also you will see in this pic a new device that some of us mature kids installed last fall there on the dock. It is a swing of sorts that we will hang knotted ropes from and kids of all ages will then swing in pairs if they like as there are two of them out over the water and drop down feet or head first depending on how acrobatic they feel that day. It should be a fun summer for 19 grand kids and maybe even the author......and others....
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