KEEPING IT REAL:

Me before farm... Me now...

I rose with the sun today. Rain was expected and I had a million things to do outside so an early start was in order. We have these big, stickery tumble weeds called Russian Thistles that blow in from God knows where, seed themselves and then roll on to someone else's field. Last year I didn't have cows so the thistles grew and grew and grew. Cows don't eat them but their hoofs knock the little ones out of the ground and end their pesky lives.

It's been windy and I noticed yesterday the weeds are anticipating their journey into our neighbors newly planted wheat fields...this is NOT good! So, armed with a couple small propane torches, a lighter, rake, shovel and pitchfork, I set out this morning to attack the enemy before they got too wet to burn.

Starting in acres where equipment is stored, I toured the area and checked out implements I didn't want to burn and noticed how old they are. Plows, packers, weeders, seeders, harrows and disks, some with old metal wheels hunkered here and there. Still usable but rusty and worn!

As I went to work, had to smile as I compared this equipment with our neighbor's tractor set up with a GPS system. I see that rig pulling new, shiny implements across perfectly precise planted hills. Farmer John doesn't even have to steer!

The rain never came and I kept pulling up and burning those blasted tumble weeds and working till I felt like I was going to drop. Finally, it was too dark to see so I gave up and trudged into the house. As I passed the dining room mirror, I caught a glimpse of myself. Stopping to ponder my reflection, I realized that I'm not the same person who came here to take care of Old Pa and this farm years ago. Letting my hair grow out grey isn't the only change, ... still usable but rusty and worn!

THE WINNER IS... :

Laura~peach~

This quiet reflection of her best friend, Bridgette, is beautiful.
"she was murdered 18 years ago. Bridgette was beautiful but all mixed up like the branches of the trees. Her spirit shows through the tangle."

Incredible! Congratulations Laura~peach~!! Please e-mail your address so I can get the $40.00 Charbonneau's Chocolate Co. gift certificate to you. Hugs, Grammie

HONORABLE MENTION:

It was hard for Old Pa to choose a winner in this contest. This one from Deb Dub spoke to him also.
"reminds me of my brother, as he was always a very cut and dry kind of guy, yet he definitely was a shining star. He was strong as this sunset and will always shine eternally in my heart."

Try as I did, I couldn't enlarge this one to do it justice.

Thanks to all that entered my first contest! The next one will be a "what is this?"... something from the attic that even I don't know what it is. Fun!

END OF SUNSET CONTEST:

Results will be in on Monday. I enjoyed viewing the entries...awesome pics! Awesome people!

SUNSET CONTEST:

I believe spectacular sunsets represent the lives of warm, caring and loving people who have passed from earthly life. This was my Uncle (Bear) Joe's spirit saying goodbye, I just knew it...I could feel his love and warmth as I gazed at it. It lasted a long time like he did, 95 yr. when he died and what a huge hole he left behind.

Descended from Lewis and Clark's guide, Sacajawea - Charbonneau bloodline, he was a big, huggable bear of a man. I could sit for hours listening to his stories. What I would give for a Bear hug right now!

Send me your best sunset pic and tell me whom it represents to you. dnh1213@hotmail.com
Old Pa will choose his favorite "quiet reflection" of someone remembered by you.

My cousin Sally (re: GIFTED AND TALENTED: 3-28-08), owns Charbonneau's Chocolate Co. in Stevensville, MT. Check it out at - Charbonneauschocolate.com - You've gotta see Sally's "MT Bunny Noses" and read the history. The winner will receive a gift certificate from there that can be used on-line. Contest ends Fri. night at 10:00 Pac. time. Good luck!

BOBCAT HAT:

Hallie from WWofW, is having a dressed up pet contest on her site. Went thru all my pics but couldn't find one of my cat in a hat, soooooooo... I sent her one of me in my cat.

I rehabilitated wildlife in MT and ended up with some wonderful and unusual friends. One of my favorites was "Flower", a sweet little skunk who kept the yard grass-hopper free and slept in my lap while I watched TV. The kitties were always too busy hunting to get cozy with me!

HORSE FIT FOR A KING:

This is Katy being ridden by King Henry VIII at a Renaissance Fair in WA and in her pasture when we had a ranch in MT. Mighty nice horse but has a nasty habit of squishing fences! Since I live in the middle of nowhere, I finally just let her "free-range".

Our neighbors 2 miles north of us were driving home one night and Katy decided to race them home. Their children heard her coming and when she passed them, they thought the Headless Horseman was after them and screamed all the way home.

YOUR GONNA DO WHAT WITH MY HOME?:

Preparation of the garden soil is officially underway, much to the dismay of Pesky Tim. He was downright rude to me this morning, barked some pretty offensive remarks. After last Spring when he was evicted, I didn't think he's have the nerve to move back in!

Run away Tim, run far, far away!!

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A farm is an island. The house and yard are surrounded with acres and acres of fields that have been sprayed with every kind of bug killer available. Insects of all kinds take refuge here.

Last year I brought in a bushel of fresh picked corn. It was late so I dumped it out on the hammered stainless steel kitchen counter and went to bed. In the morning, I found an army of earwigs in and under everything, YECK!. Grabbed the Lysol and started scrubbing then relaxed with a cup of coffee. The java, in the electric coffee maker was left over from the day before, no problem, nuked it. While enjoying the hot beverage, I noticed a slight unusual flavor which didn't bother me till I saw the remains of 100 troopers floating in the bottom of the carafe, YECK, YECK, and YECK!!

IDIOSYNCRASIES OF FARMLIFE II:

The ground is mostly thawed, it's been raining every other day though. Gets a might chilly getting wet in 42 deg. weather so I've been spending my "springtime energy" going through "stuff" in the attic. So much junk (and some interesting things), you can hardly move around. My goal is, before the hot weather comes, to insulate the entire attic with 6" of pink stuff.
These old farmhouses were built when heating was cheap and it was OK for the house to "breath". Trouble is, when field work is going on, a fine silt makes it's way through every little crack and seam. It is impossible to NOT have a layer of dust everywhere and in everything! Some used newspaper to insulate which makes for an interesting read of what was going on in the late 1800's.

I keep finding bags and bags of old clothing. Nothing usable, most of the time it's cut up into tiny little pieces. These pieces were used as quilt stuffing, the larger pieces of warn clothing were cut up to make the quilt top. Nothing was thrown out, just recycled.

I had a flash-back to my own Grandma Alice. She was raised on a farm in the south. Her mother died while giving birth to her in 1903, guess that happened a lot back then. Her father remarried and that women died giving birth to her first child also. Later, the father married a girl two years older than Alice, who was twelve and proceeded to have a multitude of off-spring. Alice and Becky were best friends, they raised the brood together but sad to say, neither of them EVER had a childhood.

So I grew up with a child-like granny who was oh-so-much fun! Stories I can and will tell! The one that came to mind while sorting through dusty "use every little part - don't throw anything away - farm mentality" scrapes, bits and pieces of cloth, was this:

While in high school, my granddad passed away and I moved in with Grandma Alice to help her past the pangs of grief. She knew me well. After walking four miles home from school, I would be ravenous so the kitchen would be my first stop. One day I came home to the most wonderful, mouth watering, pork roast aroma. The house was quiet so I assumed Grandma was taking an afternoon nap. Nothing was in the oven but her humongous stainless steel soup pot was simmering on the stove. Grabbing a pot holder off the ceramic tile counter I opened the lid. Much to my HORROR, when the foam cleared, a one droopy eyed pig head was staring back at me!! As I screamed, the lid flew out of my hand, hit the ceiling and clanked around on the counter and ended in the sink. Frozen in place, I heard a familiar cackle coming from behind the kitchen door...I had been set up!!

The worst part about the whole episode was, as she continued to cackle, Grandma bounced the once protruding eyeball on the floor for her beloved collie, Tippy. This was my first and last experience with homemade "head-cheese". She let it simmer for a couple more hours till all the secretions rose to the top and gelled as it cooled, GAG! Like I said, farm wives use every little part, nothing goes to waste.

IT WAS SUNNY TODAY:

Finally felt like spring today. Spent hours mentally plotting and planning this years garden while soaking up the sun. The ground will be broken tomorrow...shovel is sharpened, gloves are oiled and sun-tea jar is in waiting...