Rain

It started raining last evening around seven. By six-thirty this morning the Lord had blessed us with 2.5 inches. By noon we had another half an inch. I forgot to look at the gauge when I came home but I am guessing we had another half inch or so. This is the first good, soaking rain we have had since June or so....
Thank you Jesus...

Tales From The Attic

This tale revolves around a dead rat, two men, a little boy, and my mother. The details are a tad sketchy because I have no memory of this tale. The facts are based on what I was told by one of the men. I will not divulge any names lest you think less of these men then you should think. Long ago when I was child the farm was owned by five men, a partnership. These men were on the grounds everyday. I was usually out showing the men how to work and trying hard to keep them on the straight and narrow path. I must have reached about the three year mark on my life's timeline when this tale took place. The two men were working in the calf barn, known as the Old Barn, and found a dead rat!!! These fine men placed the dead rat in a bag and told me to Run give this to your mamma! I was a lad who wanted to please so off I dashed. (I was unaware of the bags contents.) The men found strategic windows and doors to peek around while I was racing for the house. I bounded up the steps and kicked the door, I assume, (I have been told this a habit of mine.) Mamma came to the door and I obediently handed her the bag.
She peeked in the bag and did what any woman would do. She flung the bag out into the yard while shrieking wildly. Meanwhile the men, who were still out of sight, were bent over laughing and slapping their knees.
Mamma knew I would not have done such a thing without being told and she scanned the horizon vehemently for the individuals who sent the package but to no avail.
I don't think the identity of these two blokes was ever discovered.

Photos From The Attic

My what fun! I loved a good mud hole and we had plenty of them when I was growing up...

 

I Think I Fell In The Mud...

 

Hard Day

 

Conversation

Today Sierra went with me to feed the cows. She was trying to decide whether she wanted to come home or not and here is how the conversation went, sort of.
Daddy I'm thirsty.
Do you want to go home?
Well, I don't know? Do you want me to go home?
I don't care...
Well, will you miss me?
Well, yeah...
Would you be sad?
hmm not really...
I'm thirsty!!
We can get a drink in the barn.
I don't know, I think I want to go home.
Well, do you?
Well, do you want me to? Will you be sad?
Not really... I don't care if you go home.
Okay, I want to go home!
Okay.
Yeah, I am going to the airconditioned house!!!

Senneca Creek

Jackson dashed right in!

 

Swimmin

Girls loved it...

 

Dirt

but he loved the dirt, gravel, and sand.

 

Jayden

Jayden was a bit more tentative about the water.

 

Stocks

While milking the other morning my mind wandred off into some unknown and strange places. I can't remember what sparked the thought but I began to ponder the stockmarket. The basic question was centered around whether I as a christian should participate in buying and selling stocks. Currently I don't have any stocks or ever have had any stocks. My reason for not having any has nothing to do with religion or what I believe. However, the thought that went through my mind was this. Is their a difference between the New York Stock Exchange and playing the lottery? Would I not be taken a gamble by buying stocks? Or is it okay because one, stocks, would be a buisness venture and could be a wise thing to do. The chances for success would be much greater, I guess...
How many of you have stocks and how does it work? Maybe my ignorance on the subject can explain why I don't see much difference between the two.

33

The calendar tells me I have added another year of wisdom to my life. I am now half way to retirement, whatever that is. Also, what is wisdom? I seem to know less everyday.... Anyway, today is my birthday.

Church Service

How many of you have attended or participated in a black church service? African American brothers have a very invigorating way of worshipping. VOP broke new ground tonight. We were invited to sing at a revival meeting. It was great fun...
If you have never attended one of their services you should try to rectify the situation. I think you would be blessed....

Eye Ball Update

I was in to see the eye Dr. this morning. He is a very fine Dr. and I like him a great deal. He told me that my eyes had done an amazing amount of healing since Fri. evening. My eye is fairly blood shot and he was so glad. He told me that if the eye is blood shot that means it still has a blood supply. He also told me that when I was in on Fri. their were no lifing surface cells on my right eye. Today only two places had no living cells. I am a little unsure how large those places were. I also asked him what he thought of my vision. He said when the eye has been damaged, metal or something, it takes 21 days before you can make an accurate judgement concerning his or her vision. I am amazed at how the eye works and how God created us.

Another Poll

Since I have had this little expierence with my eyes I had this very interesting thought. How many of you fine people wear something to improve your vision? Contacts, glasses, or have had laser surgery performed on your eyes? I have pair of glasses that I got just before I got married but I have never worn them much. Except for my wedding, Rachel thought I looked so distinguished in glasses. Ugh, I hate them, they are always fogging up and getting in the way. Plus they make my ears hurt.....

Reunions

It seems that every summer everyone is going to family reunions. I attended one reunion this summer and it was with my wifes side of the family. I believe the last reunion I have attended with my blood relatives was several years ago. What I am wondering is this: Do you attend a reunion every summer? How often does your extended family get together? Is it an annual thing? When I was growing up my mother's side of the family got together very often and it was great fun. I am sure it helps to have everyone living in the same community. This weekend the Yoders were getting together for a weekend of camping at SMBI. We were unable to attend due my harvest schedule. Anyway, this is turning into a post that is going round and round....
In short I wonder how many reunions you attend in a years time?

Propionic Acid

This is a picture of the whole rig. The white 55 gallon drum has propionic acid in it. This is a preservative and aids the fermentation process of the silage. By the way, the tractor is a 4520 powershift John Deere. The acid is pumped out of the drum and through a meter before it is piped to the chopper blower using an old air hose. Last evening about four I was finishing the next to last load when this hose wrapped around the chopper tire and broke a fitting at the pump. This pump is located in the cab of the tractor and is turned on and off by toggle switch. Here is the sequence of events. I hear something break and my head autamatically turns to see what is going on. My right eyeball is blasted with a flood of acid. I immediately close my eyes push in the clutch and the break with my feet. I cannot open either eye due to the acid that is swimming in them. I blindly try to locate the toggle switch but this in vain. By now my shirt and pants are acid drenched and my eyes are in sever pain. I decide to exit the tractor and jump up only to have the tractor go lurching forward. I then realize I ahd never put the tractor in park. I sit back down in the acid shower and grope blindly for the gear shift. When this is found I slam it into park and get out of the tractor. By now my chest is begining to burn so I take my shirt off. After a few minuets I am able to see enough to think. I think to myself, self, the Power Take Off (PTO) is still engaged and the acid is still running. Also their is a jug of water in the tractor that I would like to get so I can pour its contents over my burning eyes. I want to be able to see enough to not get caught in the PTO while I am trying to turn off the acid. I step up onto the back of the tractor and reach in and hit the switch. I then grab the water jug before getting off of the tractor. I then Dump all of the water over my face. Immediate relief is felt. By this time the truck driver has arrived and I tell him what happened and that I think a shower would be in order. I tale a shower and then I lay on the couch with my wife by my side. She has a glass of water and a dropper. She faithfully puts water in my eyes for about 30 min. I am still in pain so we decide to call an eye doctor. They want to see me right away. So away we go. He looks deeply into my eyes and says. Good night man you got a bunch of trash under your lids. I have to get that out. This trash turned out to be ash dust. The acid destroyed the thin, clear membrane of my eyelids. He worked on my right eye for almost an hour removing the ash dust. When removed the dust he also removed the protective membrane. He gave me a salve to put in my eyes to ward off infection. Amazingly I have felt little pain allthough the right eye is watery and puffy and swollen. Such is life.....

 

Finished Dumping

How obvious...

Dumping

 

Dump Wagon

I remember when we went to pick this dump wagon up. I must have been 7 or 8 at the time. It was used when we got it and must be getting close to thirty years old. We have spent time over the years replacing certain parts of it and bracing others but it has been a very trustworthy machine.