STORMS OF LIFE

As Boyd and I were driving to the valley from the ranch one day last week to take three cow calf pairs up to summer pasture. We had unloaded them at the cattle guard close to the Hell Creek corral, and then headed back to the valley. We noticed black clouds to the west that looked like quite a storm. Boyd had received a “severe storm warning” for our area on his phone, so we weren’t surprised at the clouds. 

            We made it home but within an hour the storm hit, and it was a doozy! There was thunder and lightening, high winds, and pouring rain. The hail that was predicted did not materialize at our place though.  This storm didn’t last more than twenty minutes, I guess all of those elements had to get their job done in a hurry!  The storm then moved on to the east and Boyd and I agreed that it was a good thing we got down from the ranch when we did.

            Shortly after the storm died down, I went outside to check on something. I stopped and looked around. Everything looked greener than it did before the storm, the birds were singing louder, and the air had that wonderful clean fresh smell that follows a rain storm. There was a feeling of peace in the air. It was a wonderful feeling that affected all of my senses, sight, sound, smell, and touch.

            This made me think of some of the challenges and trials we have gone through. How we can see them coming and aren’t always in a position to stop them. How it is good if we make it to shelter before they hit, but if we don’t we seem to make it through with the elements pounding down on us.  Also, what a feeling there is after we have lived through and survived one of these storms/ challenges or whatever they are called. It’s as if a new perspective is revealed to us.  It seems our sight is made clearer, we can see more of what we need to do, where we need to change, and even sometimes how to change. There is a freshness in the air after going through these, a lifting of a burden from off of our shoulders. 

            I realize that often the challenges and storms of life last a lot longer than this storm did, but I think the aftermath can be compared.  Yes, there are a lot of comparison with nature and with ourselves.

MEMORIES FROM AN OLD SCRAP BOOK

     We found one of Boyd's scrapbooks from when he was in grade school and high school. Interesting what he kept. his interest in athletics began when he was just a child and accompanied his dad, Phil Schwieder, when his dad refereed basketball games. Boyd told how he made friends with Joe Louk, the janitor of the Iona School. Boyd agreed to do some of the sweeping and cleaning and Mr. Louk would leave a window in the the gym just a crack so Boyd could slip in on the weekends and play basketball. I'm sure he wouldn't go alone but would take a friend of two with him to do that.  Maybe even enough to have a game of basketball! that agreement with Mr. Louk was a good one for Boyd and probably benefited Mr. Louk.
    Then he had some newspaper clippings in that scrap book. these were articles cut out of the Post Register of an LDS Church basketball tournament held in Iona. a team came in from Canada to this tournament, and the winner of the tournament went on to the All Church Tournament in Provo, Utah. I think the Canadian team one, but not sure.  That was in about 1954 or 1955.  Interesting that two of the Canadian boys, brothers, playing on their team went on to Utah State at the same time we did and they played  on a basketball team with Boyd there. Small World!
    Another thing we found of interest was the Valentine cards that Boyd had in his scrap book. Back then we would buy a box of Valentine cards and give one to each student in our class. the teacher would print off the names of all of the students in the class and give a copy to every one. it was important that no student be forgotten. Interesting and good times.
    I look at what is done now in the grade schools and I don't know that much celebrating occurs for Valentine's Day. Did we just need something fun to do, something to take away the boredom of a regular school day?
     When i was in the 5th grade, my teacher was Mrs. Gladys Southwick. every year she would make a special box to put the valentines in. that year I was in her class I was chosen to have the Valentine's Day box. She had built it to look like a castle, with a slot cut out of the top to slip the valentines in. how  excited I was to get that special box!
    When the valentine box in each class room was opened, someone would pass out the cards. It was fun to look at the cards and see who they were from.  And there was always cookies and punch to go with this special day. Probably room mothers provided the refreshments.
     Oh, we had a good time remembering our younger years as we we looked through Boyd's scrap book. Our daughter, Janna, was with us when we did this and she enjoyed the memories that book brought out of us.

AGRICULTURE - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!

(Boyd and Jon finishing up fall work at ranch)

     As I write this i am looking out the window on the mornings of our first snow of the season. it is cold, as can be expected, and the path to the garage will be slick. i will have to be extra careful walking to the car, I don't want to fall! the snow is beautiful as it clings to the tree branches, as if afraid of falling just like me. right now there are no tracks, vehicle or animal, in the snow. it is almost like being on a new planet ready to be explored.
     Just a couple of mornings ago I enjoyed another beautiful morning with all pastel pinks and blues. a couple of weeks ago we drove to the top of Dan Creek and enjoyed the fall fashion show the aspen and other trees presented. i can't help but be thankful for the opportunity to live where we can enjoy these natural beauties!
     Agriculture and our life involving around it is another thing I am thankful for. Farming and ranching are hard work but they create a good life. do those of us living this life really appreciate it? Are we sharing our feelings with our family and friends? It seems so much of our time is spent complaining about the price of gas and fertilizer, the weather, and anything else we can think o. Do we take the time to really enjoy the simple things that agriculture has to offer us or are we always so busy that these things pass us by?
     Summer days with this good life are long with no such things as an eight-hour day. By necessity we get up early and go to bed late. there is usually a good feeling of accomplishment at the end of each day unless it has been a time of constant breakdowns. Then the feelings might be of frustration. We may not get everything done that we want or need to, but we can always see that we did get something done. And we can sleep well at night because we are tired from the labors of the day.
     We can set our own hours, although the sun seems to have a big control over that. It seems if the sun is up we need to be up and usually are. We do have the privilege of making appointments during the day time to see doctors, dentists, get haircuts, etc., except at harvest time. The knowledge that the work needs to be done and we are the ones responsible to get it done weighs heavy on us.
     Farming and ranching are forms of gambling. Everything we have, from financing to labor, is put into the work that we do with the hope of gaining a reward at harvest time. That reward doesn't always come like we wish it would. Some years with drought, our grain harvest will not be as good. If we have a rainy fall the grain may sprout while still uncut in the field. The calves may not be gain as much weight during a summer of drought, due to less feed, and they may suffer and even die of dust pneumonia because of so much dust in the air. But we seem to make it through those bad years, always praying for a better one to come.
     I always love to see the shorter days this time of the year. We seem to be able to slow down some. Of course having the fall harvest over helps with having less work to do. And, the big plus for me, having the shorter days and it getting dark earlier is that Boyd is in the house for the evening and we can enjoy the evening together. I think maybe I have some chicken blood mixed in with mine as I want to "roost" when the sun goes down, necessarily go to bed but get a good book to read, or some handwork while Boyd watches sports on TV.
     As we are getting older we recognize the fact of restrictions on what we can and can't do with our farming life. But we can always look back on it as a wonderful life, one we were blessed to have, to raise our children in, and to see the changes come in agriculture.
     Even with natural problems such as drought, rain during harvest, early frost, small harvest returns, low-weight calves, this is a good life, a productive life, and a love we love. We are happy to be farmers and ranchers. We have not regrets! We have a lot to be thankful for!

A WEEK OF RELAXATION AND REST!

Boyd on the lake in a rented kayak

Sitting here at the kitchen table looking out the big window at the lake is most relaxing. ‘I’ve been at this spot since 6 a.m., off and on, and feeling like I could be here forever and still love the peace and serenity I feel. But this is a one week out of the year experience I have the opportunity of indulging in laziness. I love being in the mountains among the pine trees, off the beaten path. We are at Big Sky Montana in a time-share condominium that my father-in-law gave to Boyd and me before he passed away

            Boyd is cooking breakfast, our friend Ken is lounging in the living room waiting to be told it is time to eat.  What an ideal life even if it is only for a week. We have been coming here for probably 15 years and love the time we are able to spend here.

            I have found that it takes me a few days to calm down and relax. Even then I’m up and going early, but I don’t feel the pressure that I have at home. I will admit that most of that is self-imposed pressure but pressure is pressure!

            I can get up early, about 6 in the morning, sit at the computer wearing my pajamas, and put in a good couple of hours writing. I love that. Boyd and Ken have been sleeping in so I don’t have to visit or be nice to anyone, just type away. It’s a good time to do it.

            We only eat twice a day unless you consider the fact that there are cookies, licorice, nuts, and chocolate on the counter to nibble at every time we walk past them. Breakfast is usually about 10 and our evening meal around 5. A few times we go out to eat, other times we fix something simple here at the condo.

Boyd did rent a kayak for an hour and went out on the lake just outside our condo. That is an unusual event for him as he rarely wants to get in the water like that. We have had a bald eagle come every morning and evening on a dead tree branch where we can watch it. We spend a lot of time feeding the ducks and fish in the lake from from off our deck. We haven't seen other wild animals this year, but there is always a chance we will yet.

            It’s a simple life we lead here, no irrigating, no cows bellering, no lawn to mow and water, no garden to water and weed. There are no meetings we have to go to, no appointments, and very few phone calls. And after a day or two we can ignore the nagging reminders that come into our minds that we need to check to make sure those things are taken care of.

            This is a time of renewal and rejuvenating that we look forward to each year. We take road trips during the day, ride the chair lift up and walk around then ride back down. We’ve found a place to buy an ice cream cones.

            I don’t think either Boyd or I could live this kind of a life for very long, but it is relaxing and calming and we always go home feeling rested! Yes, we love doing this one week out of the year and hope we can keep it up for a few more years. We are building memories to sustain us when the time comes that we can no longer do this type of thing.

             

THE RIGHT TO STAND UP FOR ONE BELIEVES

     I've been looking at Facebook and all of the comments about the NFL and kneeling during the presentation of the colors. There are many different postings concerning this so I decided to add my feelings to those others in my blog.
     I believe in standing, having my hand over my heart, and singing "The Stars Spangled Banner" and/or reciting the Pledge of allegiance when the flag of the United States is presented. However, I respect other's rights to not do so.
     The thing that I find so interesting, is that these football players were respectful in their protest. I didn't see any of them swinging posters, using microphones to be able to be heard, using guns to show their strength. I didn't see any fighting  because of a disagreement with those not kneeling. I didn't see policemen being called in, dressed in their combat uniforms, swinging billy clubs and spraying participants with pepper spray, because that wasn't necessary. I didn't see anyone breaking windows on shop windows, turning cars upside down, starting fires on police cars, and being hauled off to jail. From what I could see, there was no shouting or shoving or trying to get anyone else to do what they were doing.
     Are we so enamored in violence that we have to criticize a peaceful demonstration? Do we want to create violence by insisting that all players by fired, that we put up protests outside of the playing field?.
     Maybe we all need to take a step back and think about our reaction to this. Are we being drawn into a crowd mentality wanting more action, more excitement, more deaths, more media coverage? Is social media helping to incite these types of feelings? Are people in authority helping to incite these destructive behaviors?
     I respect everyone's right to their opinion, even if it differs from mine. I respect their right to protest and I especially admire those who protest peacefully.

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS

          Ah, that time again when we make our new year’s resolutions. By this time in January I’m usually breaking most of mine anyway. But it is fun to listen as people talk about what they are going to do. The most common resolution seems to be that of losing weight. Yes, I’ve had it on my list for many years, until I quit making resolutions that is.

It seems to me though that the week after Christmas would probably be a good time to implement that goal whether as a New Year’s resolution of just a goal. We personally get so many gifts of candy, cookies, cakes, and nuts at Christmas time, that I can’t resist them. I’ve tried to hide them but that doesn’t work because I know where they are hidden. Leaving them out makes them a bigger temptations.  And I love to get them at Christmas time because I’ve never been one to make candy. Tried it a few times and failed.

So I’ve been listening to others as they discuss their resolutions, especially losing weight and thought I would share some thoughts. It seems there are a lot of ideas of how to lose weight from impossible to starvation. These include:

·         Grow taller. This will spread the weight further. Now if we only knew how to do this I think it would work. Just two or three inches for me would definitely diminish the need to cut out chocolate and desserts.

·         Be aware of the foods that you eat. I think this might be one that I can work on. I hereby resolve to not eat any meat from animals that have been given growth stimulating hormones. Because we are ranchers and sell a lot of our calves to feed lots, we are aware that growth stimulating hormones are given often to increase the weight quickly on animals. I wonder if that hormone works with humans when we eat the meat of the animals that have been given it. Sure sounds reasonable to me. We don’t use this hormone with our animals so when we take one to be butchered I know it doesn’t have any residue of growth stimulants in it. I will have to watch labels and do some research for any meat I purchase.

·         Be aware of other products which I use. I listened to a conversation the other day that got me thinking. These women were talking about their favorite shampoo that “adds body.” Now if I didn’t wash my hair when I showered I probably wouldn’t be concerned, but the shampoo runs down my entire body when I wash and rinse my hair that way. AND I certainly don’t need to “add body” to my body. I will definitely read labels more closely when I buy shampoo from now on! And I think I will check lotions and creams too.

·         Calorie counting is supposed to work but it never has for me. I always figured that calories were a measure of heat, so if I eat my food cold there shouldn’t be any calories. Apparently I’m wrong on that assumption.

·         There are always weight loss groups you can join but a few years ago I did join one such group that must have been a fly-by-night bunch because it folded up before I finished the time I had paid for. And of course I didn’t get any money back from them. However, I did get the weight back that I lost. I don’t think that was a real selling point of that group.

There are other resolutions that are just as challenging to me to work on: get organized; keep up with the bookwork for the farm; keep a journal; face each day as a joy not a challenge; and lots more

I know we all go through something similar to this goal setting this time of the year. You know that every morning is a “new beginning.” So I don’t think we need to feel like we fail if we can’t follow through on yearly goals. Daily goals and resolutions are going to be my aim for this New Year. We’ll see how that works.

BEAUTIFUL SNOWY DAY

     We are having a beautiful snowy day. I decided to walk outside and take some pictures before the dogs and birds covered the snow with tracks. It's been a year or two since we have had a storm like this. Everything looks so pretty dressed in white.

The wind is supposed to blow this afternoon, which will probably

cause problems, but I'm enjoying it now.

 Boyd and Jon will have to go out and work with the cows, and I should feel guilty about being in the house, keeping warm and dry. They may end up needing me though to help with gates on this stormy day, and that's ok because I have warm clothes and boots to wear.
     When a storm comes in like this it causes me to be grateful that I canned last summer and that we have a freezer full of meat! W also purchased a generator a year ago so don't have to worry about getting water for the cattle if the electricity goes out. Life is good! It might be cold and things might be inconvenient, but it is still good!

CHRISTMAS LETTER 2016

Christmas letters seem to be the way a lot of people keep in touch, and letters can be more personal than Christmas cards. We always look forward to receiving these Christmas letters from friends and family. They give us news and updates on jobs and new babies, weddings, deaths, and other information that we may not have had a chance to get any other way. However, these letters sometimes seem to be a little “braggy” and I wonder if things are really as rosy as the letters make them look. Because of that I decided to share a letter that I would love to send out to our acquaintances. 

Dear family and friends:

It is that time of year again when we look back and marvel at the things that have gone on in our lives. I know you are interested and I will try to keep it short, but we have had some great experiences:

I noticed in some of the news letters that we have received that many of our friends and families have been on cruises this past year. It’s so fun to read about your trip, all the places you went to, and to see some of the pictures you shared. Boyd and I had the opportunity to go over to Driggs not too long ago. The fall colors were beautiful, but we didn’t stop to take any pictures. The road going up over the Pine Creek Pass is not one you can use the cruise control on, so I guess that wouldn‘t be considered a cruise.  However, it was an enjoyable trip.

Last winter Uncle George got the flu and was really sick. One day, while leaning over the toilet and sending his dinner down to the septic tank, his false teeth popped out and went down with everything else.  Well, he and Aunt Mabel called the plumber. It was a weekend and night time, but the plumber came right out, took pipes apart and was able to find Uncle George’s teeth. Aunt Mabel told Uncle George he couldn’t put those teeth in his mouth until they were sterilized, so she put them in a pan of water and set it to boiling. Uncle George still hasn’t forgiven her for ruining a good pair of false teeth. He wasn’t real happy about the bill he got from the plumber either, but his new teeth look good.

Just about Easter time I was reading a story about rabbits to some of the grandchildren. After the story, Grandpa and I got them in the pickup and took them for a ride. I noticed four-year-old Chantelle really looking Grandpa over, and all of a sudden she gasped and said, “Grandpa! You are turning into a rabbit. You have hair in your nose and in your ears.” We enjoyed that moment as we wondered if this was evolution or just us getting older.

You all are aware of the challenges Fred has faced the last decade. We are pleased to inform you that he was released from jail a few weeks ago. He said the food was a lot better this time than when he spent time there last, which made his stay more tolerable. And he was able to get his GED while there.

Joan is going to try to get a job at the Youth Training Center as a cook or janitor. She figures if she can do that she will be available when little Johnnie is committed, as she is sure he is working toward commitment.

Arnold was in a fight and knocked a fellow out. The fellow hit Arnold hard in the jaw, knocking two teeth out which Arnold swallowed. At the hospital they gave him something to help him pass those teeth, and sure enough he did. They gave the teeth back to him and he had them implanted. He claims he now has a reason for his language as I’ve always told him he had a dirty mouth. He loves to tell everyone about this, but I don’t think his girlfriend has let him kiss her since the implants were put in.

At church recently a speaker talked about the importance of positive thinking. It made me look back and think of challenges this past year. We are so pleased with the upbeat and positive way each member of our family is facing the challenges they have.

We sure hope all of you have a Merry Christmas and look forward, as we do, to a wonderful New Year and more exciting happenings.

DIVERSITY

What is diversity? I think we probably live around a lot more of it than we realize. This past summer we, as a family, met at the ranch for a Boyd Schwieder family reunion. As I look back on the good time we had, the fun and play we enjoyed and the wonderful meals we ate, I marvel. We are quite a diverse group of people.

            In this group there are:

• ·         Two old fogies, (Boyd and I), then our children, their children, and the great grandchildren. That’s diverse in itself:
•          We all have our own interests and activities we participate in.  Some are sports minded, some love the outdoors with camping, hiking, and hunting. We have seamstresses, those who work with wood, a glass blower, and a few runners. We have those who are active in our church, those who are inactive, those who claim to have no religious affiliation, and those who don’t care.
• ·         We have addicts, recovering and active. There are those who smoke and drink and many who don’t but respect the rights of others to choose. We even have those who have spent time in jail.
•          We have talents such as music, art, glass blowing, photography, computer technology, crafts, yard work, and many others.
• ·         We have a member of the LGBT group,
• ·         We have tattoos, body piercings,
• ·         There’s a big difference in education from one granddaughter who is an attorney to another one who is studying to get her GED. We are as proud of one as of the other. We have college graduates and those who are self-taught. We have two with master’s degrees in psychology and are working as counselors. We have a CNA, a CPA, and a graphic artist. We have Doug who travels to Antarctica to work for six months out of every year and Jon who works with us on the farm. We have farmers, builders, a bar tender, and workers at INL. All of our family are good workers and have no problem finding jobs.
• ·         We also have witnessed members of the family struggle through divorces, seen children torn because of that.
• ·         We have members who have struggled with cancer, some are diabetics. There are those with high-blood pressure, others on antidepressants and anti anxiety medications, some cases of autism and autoimmune diseases. Mental illness is not a stranger to our family. There are those of us who are overweight, and then some who could use a bit more weight. We have had one son die, which affected all of us.
• ·         There are those who have served in the military and one who is still serving in active duty.
• ·         There is one Native American in our group and an African American child and also an African American significant other. But you would never know of this diversity to be in the group who met at the ranch this summer. Our African American child and SO weren’t able to come, but when the child came to a wedding a year ago he was accepted along with everyone else.
• ·         We have Democrats and Republicans and those who don’t like either party.
• ·         We stretch from Boston, Massachusetts to Vancouver, Washington to Antarctica. Right now, our grandson who is in the military is state side, but we don’t know how long that will last.

Not everyone is able to attend, but we get a good group when we have these reunions. When we
get together, we are a family who cares and loves each other. I know that if I ever needed any one of them, they would do what they could to help me. And they would do the same for other members of the family. It is interesting as our family gets together how we blend. No one ever complains when we pray before each meal. No one brings out another’s difference or problem. Nearly everyone sings along when son’s- in-law Asa and Ken get out their guitars in the evening and start to play. There were no restrictions when we had a water fight. Everyone was treated equally and got to be doused with water, except for Boyd and me. There are hugs as people show up to the reunion, and hugs as we leave. There are words of encouragement toward each other, questions about what is going on in other’s lives.

We have been blessed with a good family of hard workers who love us even with our imperfections. We pray for them as they struggle, encourage them as they try, and are proud of them as they succeed.

What would the world be like if we could all accept diversity and love those who are different from us? Maybe looking at the diversity in our own families will help us realize our family is no different than the world we live in. At this time of the year when we are looking for things to be thankful for, I especially appreciate our family and all of our diversities!

RESPECT

RESPECT

           

I remember with fondness some of the adults in my life when I was a child. One of those adults was the janitor at our school, a Mr. Southwick. He was always in the building and available in case he was needed. He was busy cleaning up our messes but had a space in the basement of the school by the furnace that he fixed up with a rug, a rocking chair and a lamp where he could sit when things were slow. I know if any of us ventured down into his private area, he took the time to talk with us. One of the jobs we could do after school was take the erasers used to clean the blackboards down into the basement and run a machine that cleaned them. I always liked to do that job if I could, because that would take me to the janitors special place and I might have a chance to visit with him. He could be gruff at times, but his gruffness didn’t bother me. He was a person I respected, not because my parents told me I had to but because he earned that respect by treating me fairly.

Dad often had Mexicans working for him during harvest. I loved to be around those people and listen to them as they talked. Their language sounded like music to my ears. Very few of these people could speak English but Mom and Dad worked with these laborers, and taught us to respect them.

The same with the sheepherders that Dad hired each summer. Although we were told not to bother them nor go into the sheep camp at any time, we were able to look at them as people doing their job and doing it well. These men lived with the sheep in a sheep camp up in the hills away from other people. They kept Dad’s flock of sheep where they should be, and kept predators away. The sheepherders would look scary to a child, because they didn’t bathe often nor wash their clothes. But they were kind and gentle men. My parents taught, through example, to respect all of these workers for the work they did

As I got older and started working at different jobs, I found there were people who were easy to respect and others that I had to work to do it. I found that often, because of my early experience with our school janitor, I could easily respect the janitors in places where I worked. Not everyone felt the same way and often treated these people as being beneath them. I always enjoyed visiting with them, and many times helped in some of their work as we talked, because that is what I had been taught – by example.

We are living in a time when respect of anyone or their property is not visible. We have had vandals at our ranch, we have had people drive pickups and four-wheelers through muddy fields, destroying crops. But the destruction of someone’s reputation or name because of differences in beliefs and opinions is probably the worst form of disrespect that we are witnessing. There is no longer respect shown for people in authority – teachers, police officials, firemen, etc. And there seems to be no respect for parents from the children. No leniency for someone different. This lack of respect is exhibited in both adults and children – possibly the children are learning from the example of the adults they are around.

I am concerned at the lack of respect the people in the United States show elected officials. I remember a cousin of mine telling of going to a gathering in Arizona where the President of the United States was speaking. He was excited to be going. He admitted that he hadn’t voted for this president, but he said, “He is the President of the United States and I respect him because of the office the holds.”

The political scene this past year has deteriorated to the point that I’m embarrassed at the way the candidates speak to and about each other as they are campaigning. There certainly is no respect shown. There seems to be a “no holds barred” attitude as the candidates speak rudely about each other. The fact that they also attack each other’s family is hard for me to understand.

We have a problem with disrespect. We want our children to learn to respect those in authority, but we feel free to criticize those same people. I’m hoping we can see our way out of the mess we have created.

THE FARMING GAME

         Fall grandeur at ranch

         My granddaughter, Kira, has a game called “The Farming Game” that she loves to play. And she is good at it. In this game the participants buy and sell agricultural commodities such as hay, grain, beans, fruit, cows, pigs, sheep, etc. They can get loans from the bank, using some of their farm ground as collateral. They have to pay taxes, pay for equipment, face crop loss due to drought, hail, or other weather problems, and lose livestock because of illness or predators. They can increase their herds and buy more ground if a neighbor decides to down-size or go out of business.

            Kira is always trying to get someone to play this game with her. She has played so often that she seldom loses.  The problem with playing this game with Kira, or anyone else for that matter, is that it is so much like what we do every day that to us it isn’t much of a game.

            You should hear Kira groan when she has to sell some livestock or crop because she has an equipment breakdown, a payment due or an increased tax assessment. That groaning isn’t much different from the groans I hear when Boyd goes through his tax assessment every year, or some equipment breaks down at a crucial time.  If Kira lands on a place on the game board that tells her some of her crop has been destroyed by hail, she is not happy, might even cry. When Boyd looks over his crops after a hail or wind storm, he is not happy. Although he doesn’t cry I’m sure he feels like it.

            Each time a player passes a certain spot on the game board they collect a preset amount of money, kind of like in the Monopoly game. In the real game of farming, there doesn’t seem to be a set amount of money waiting when a cycle has been completed. In fact, many times there are more payments, more repairs, and more ways of draining money from the pocket. More reasons for groaning and crying.

            One thing the board game doesn’t show is the joy of watching the crops grow out in the field. When the first sprouts appear above the soil, it seems like a miracle. The birth of a baby animal is special and not experienced on the board game.

The smells of farming are also missing from this board game. Fresh mown hay is probably my favorite farm scent. Dirt being turned over in the field has its own special odor. Then there are the not so pleasant smells: manure, diesel, oil, and sweat.

            Another thing lacking in the farm game is the sound of farming: the crowing of the rooster at the first light of the morning; the lowing of contented cows; the whinny of the horses as they race each other up and down the pasture; the mooing of the baby calves. There’s also the sound of the equipment as the men are working, plus the sounds of the cussing as the men work to repair something – that is one sound that would make any game X rated if it was used with it.

            I don’t know if a board game could be made to incorporate the sounds and smells of farming; probably would cost a lot of money to do it, but it would make the game more realistic. And aren’t we into “reality” type games anyway?

            So maybe Kira’s idea of getting people to play this board game with her is a way  to introduce people to agriculture. Perhaps that is something we should consider as we are buying gifts for our non-agriculture friends, or entertaining them in our homes. Of course, if we have friends that are highly competitive or emotional, they may get more involved in the game and we may lose them as friends.

WINTER WEATHER

            Looking out the window at the lack of snow this morning I’m transported back to the winter of 1948 - 1949. I must have been in the 4^th grade at the time, going to Ammon Elementary school. My teacher was Mrs. Lavonda Rhodes, my aunt. The snow came hard and heavy and the wind blew a lot that winter. We were in our brick home on Sunnyside Road, had only been there a few years.  The roads became blocked with the drifts, some as high as the bottom pole on the electrical poles. I have pictures of that, so I’m not exaggerating. It seems we were snowed in a lot that year. In order to get to school, runners were put on a hay wagon and a team of horses pulled it through the back fields of all the farm ground. Hay was put on the sled for us to sit on. Dad had to take some of his fences down to enable the sled to get through our place. I don’t know who it was that drove the horses with the sled, but what a fun time. We would be late to school every morning we rode on the sled, get there about 10 a.m. School didn’t start until 9 anyway, so we weren’t too late. Then the sled would be in front of the school at the end of the school day to take us back home. I don’t remember how long that lasted, but when the snow plows finally were able to get through they had a hard time because  the drifts were so high.

            Girls always wore dresses to school back then, and we wore ugly long brown stockings during the winter. Mother even had her girls wear cotton button down the top underwear that the legs reached to our knees. Oh I hated those socks and underwear, but they did help keep me warm. There were times when Mother had us wear a pair of slacks or even some snow pants under our dresses.  I can’t remember hoods on our coats, but we did have scarfs that we tied around our heads, and then knit gloves. Sometimes we had another scarf we would put up over our mouth and nose and tie at the back of our neck, keeping our neck warm too. Our boots went over our shoes.

            As I look back, I can’t remember suffering much from the cold dressed as we were. We didn’t have the insulated underwear they have now, nor down filled coats. I do remember snow pants. They were usually made of wool and were itchy, even though they were over ugly, brown, long stockings and yucky white underwear.

            The days we were snowed in were fun days for us. We would dress up warm, take our sled out and coast off the drifts into the yard. Sometimes we could get Dad to saddle the horse. Them we would take our skis out to the field, strap them on, grab a rope that was tied onto the horse and ski up and down the field. The skis we had just had one leather strap that went around the ski and up over the toe of our boots. Sometimes we could get Dad to pull us on the toboggan with the pickup.

            When we were in the house, I read. Usually we would borrow and trade Nancy Drew books with our cousins and friends, so we had plenty of reading material. I think this is the time when I gained my love for reading and the written word. I could read all day until Mother needed help with something.

            We don’t seem to have the snow storms now that we did then, and when we do the road clearing equipment is so much better than it was, so being snowed in isn’t a common winter event. But those snowed in days were fun-filled memory-making days.

ANIMALS HAVE FEELINGS!

Cattle resting in their winter pasture.

           

            I have heard the comment that “animals are people too.” In my mind that is ridiculous. But I will admit that animals do have feelings and personalities just as humans do.  As we have an opportunity to watch and work with animals every day, we see those things.

            The calves run and jump and play. If they could smile and laugh you know they would when they are doing this. They seem to be playing a game of tag as they run around each other and then race off to the end of the pasture. It's like watching kids out on the school playground.

            A cow that has just lost her calf, though she doesn’t have tears running down her face, will moo in a mournful way. She will stand around the area where the dead calf was last alive; she will sniff the ground around it; she will lay down there, and she will mourn in her bovine way.

            A group of older calves will walk the fence looking for a way to get out. They remind me of teenagers trying to break out of the binding rules and regulations of life. And when a hole or a break in the fence is found, they will all go through. But, unless they are weaned, when mama calls they will run back to her.

            Most cows will become very protective of their new calf as soon as it is born. Some, especially first time mothers, have to be taught to take care of their calves. Maternal love and nurturing does not come natural to every animal nor does it to every human mother. But with care and patience, it can be taught.

            My dad raised sheep and I remember him skinning a dead lamb, putting that hide over an orphan or “bum” lamb that he wanted the distraught mother to adopt. When she smelled the skin of her own baby, she would be more willing to accept the new one.

            Dogs learn to understand what their owner wants them to do, and they develop the ability to communicate with them. Our dog, Spotty, almost seems to talk to us. This time of the year Boyd doesn’t spend the day in the field like he does when he can busy farming. If Spotty thinks it’s time for Boyd to go out, she will start whining as if to say, “Come on, we need to check the cows.” Then when he does go out, she gets in his way of putting his coveralls and boots on because she is so anxious to go out with him. If I have been gone in the car and she has been outside quite a while in the cold, she will meet the car and start whining as soon as I open the door. If I tell her she has to stay outside, she quits the whining and slinks off to pout. If I tell her to be patient and I’ll let her in, she sticks close to me and beats me in the door as soon as I open it.

            Boyd often will refer to the cows according to their personality: that’s the one you have to watch as she will be looking for a way through the fence; there’s one that doesn’t like anyone near her and her baby so you can’t  get an ear tag in the new born very easily; that one has always been a good mother; don’t turn your back on that one or she may plow you down, (she will be sold as soon as possible); there’s the one that likes you to scratch her head. He keeps good records of all of the cows and calves and if he has a question about any of them, he can check his notes in his records.

Being taught by his dad, Boyd has shown his sons how to be gentle and patient in working with cows. Not long ago we loaded some cows to ship and the driver said he had never had such an easy job of loading a herd of cows. I attribute that to the way they are treated here in the corrals and pastures. Yes, there are times they need to be prodded and sometimes smacked on the rear end, but usually patience will get things done faster than force.

            It’s recognizing the human traits in these animals and working with them that make life on the ranch interesting and worthwhile, but those traits don’t make them “people.”

IT TAKES A FARM

         

Grandkids at ranch, learning to rope.

          We’ve all heard the statement “it takes a village to raise a child”. I once attended a meeting where a young man received an award. The person presenting the award asked all those related to the young man to stand and remain standing. Then he asked anyone that had been a teacher in any form for this young man to stand and remain standing. Last he asked everyone who knew the young man to stand. The entire audience had stood by that time. The speaker then pointed out that we all have an influence, whether good or bad, on those around us. I think of  life on the farm/ranch and how it affects children raised there is similar to this. For example:

• ·         The farm/ranch offers the opportunity to learn about life from conception to birth to death. Animals become such a part of the life on the farm, that we don’t often see the lessons they teach us. The motherly instincts kick in at the birth of her newborn. She becomes protective if anything comes within range of her baby that might harm it. She gently nudges it to eat and to go out on its own with the other newborns. She is forever watching and listening. If her baby is sick or dies, she mourns – loud. As her baby gets older, she encourages its independence. Still being protective and watching, she lets it wander further away from her, finding its way in life.
• ·         Owners and their children become attached to their animals. We learn on the farm that animals are animals. Whether it is a horse, a dog, a calf, a cat, a bird, a turtle, or any other animal, they must be taken care of. They are to be fed and watered and medicated and loved. And they die whether from an accident, a disease or old age. That teaches a child about responsibility and about death. On the farm/ranch we learn that sickness and death is unavoidable. We learn that there are joys and sadness, and, so we learn to deal with it.
• ·         The seasons of the year become our friends as we learn from them. Right now, winter, when it is cold and snow covers the ground, we learn the importance of the ground resting and replenishing its water supply. We learn the importance of patience and rest for our own bodies to replenish its strength for when the days are longer and the work harder.
• ·         Spring brings the promise of new life not only for animals but within the soil. It is the time for preparing the soil and sowing the seeds. It’s the time for mending fences in preparation for moving cattle. We realize that mending fences is also important in our association with others
• ·         Summers are busy with irrigating, weeding, mowing lawns, and working to make things beautiful and create a crop. We learn hard work, getting up early in the morning and working until late at night, setting priorities over activities away from the farm versus responsibilities on the farm.
• ·         Fall brings harvest and the results of the spring and summer work. Sometimes it is a disaster because of weather or disease, other times it is like hitting the jackpot with beautiful crops, cows and calves that have had enough to eat and drink and thus look good. It is a time for being thankful for blessings, for storing food for animals and humans. For taking stock and looking forward to another year.

Yes, the farm/ranch life is about setting goals and working toward fulfilling them. It’s about budgeting, or at least knowing what money you have to work with to pay bills and wages to workers. It’s about using time wisely knowing there is only so much time to get the spring crop in, only so much time to harvest, only so much time in a day. It’s about treating animals kindly, watching for problems before they become too big to handle. It’s about helping neighbors when they need help and accepting help from neighbors when necessary. It’s about watching the sun rise and appreciating the beauty of it. It’s about watching the sunset and, though worn out from physical labor, appreciating that beauty. It’s about treating everyone as you want to be treated.

These are just some of the things the farm/ranch can teach a child. These things can be learned away from the farm, but it seems to come more natural on the farm. At least they did for this farm girl.

A CHRISTMAS I NEVER FORGOT

When I was in the fourth grade at Ammon Elementary, we would draw names in our classes and exchange presents the day school let out for the Christmas holidays. I can’t remember there being a monetary limit on what we were to spend, but I’m sure there was.

            In our class was  a boy whose family struggled financially. This boy was shunned by most of the class members including me. He wore bibbed overalls that were always baggy, probably hand-me-downs from an older brother, but was always clean and patched. His shirts were often patched and too big for him also. When the boys played marbles at recess time and he would be kneeling down with his marbles, we could see his socks poking through the holes in the soles of his shoes. As winter came we noticed the holes would be covered with cardboard put inside of the shoes. Most of us experienced that cardboard in the shoe experience back then, but we still would make fun of this boy. Especially when we could see his socks. And often there were holes in his socks too.

When it came time to draw names, no one wanted this boy to draw our name as we knew he couldn’t afford to buy anything. The big items those years were the Lifesaver books and Blue Waltz perfume. Any girl would be excited to get either one of those items. 

            As we would draw the name, our teacher would write down our name plus the name we drew. She kept a secret as to the names drawn, and told us to do the same. That was hard and of course in our little groups at recess we often shared the name we had drawn and the worry that he would draw our name.

            We were told not to bring the gifts to school until the day before we would open them, but as usual many brought their gifts early. Mom took my siblings and me to town, usually to Kress’s to shop for our school gift. We were encouraged to use our own money if we had any. No one had allowances back then, but Dad would sometimes pay us a little when we helped around the farm.

            Each day before the Christmas vacation, everyone came with their gift. We were not supposed to look at the wrapped gifts under the tree, but whenever the teacher was out of the room there would be a group going through the presents trying to find out who had their name. So two days before Christmas vacation, there, under the tree, was a box wrapped neatly with my name on it on the “To” category and our shunned boy’s name under the “From” category.

            Everyone was so relieved to finally find that gift, everyone but me that is. I tried not to show my disappointment because I loved receiving gifts like everyone else, but I knew this was not the year I’d receive Lifesavers or perfume.

            The time came for us to open our gifts. We didn’t get to do that until after our lunch. Then our teacher had the nerve to have us sing a few songs and she read a Christmas story before the gift giving began. Those activities seemed to take forever. Finally she had us go one person at a time, row by row. The first person in the row would get the gift he/she was giving and take it to the person to whom it was for. Then he/she unwrapped the gift and everyone could see what it was. The teacher made sure the recipient thanked the giver. Next person in the row did the same until everyone had received and opened a gift.

            My present was handed to me about half way through the gift-giving period. The shunned boy didn’t take his eyes off the floor as he gave me the gift but every eye in the room was on me as I opened it. Inside the box was a pen and a hand embroidered handkerchief.

            I knew better than to express disappointment, and I sensed the shunned boy expected me to laugh. My mother’s words just the night before as I expressed concern about the gift – “Always be a gracious receiver,” rang loud in my head. I looked at the boy and softly said, “Thank you. The handkerchief is beautiful and I can always use a pen.”

            He actually looked up at me and smiled, then walked back to his desk looking forward and not at the floor.

That is the only gift I remember receiving in my eight years in elementary school, but I have remembered the circumstances surrounding this experience every year at Christmas time. That day long ago I learned how important it was to accept and be appreciative of even the smallest of gifts. His smile taught me that!

NON-TRADITIONAL GIFTS FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS

Sunset at the valley farm.

Now that Thanksgiving is over with and I’m still feeling stuffed and full, I am going to make my Christmas list. Farmers and ranchers are not the easiest people to shop for. Coveralls, boots, and gloves are not especially exciting gifts to give or receive. So I think I’ll look for some unusual and non-traditional type of things to give my men.

·                    How about a hat with a wide brim, one that will keep his face from being sunburned but won’t keep the sunshine out of his life. It should give him protection from the storms of life as they come, but, again as with the sunshine, not take those storms away as they are the rungs on the ladder to success.

·                 Maybe a suit of armor should go with the wide brimmed hat, so the entire body receives protection. Of course that would be dangerous when they are out irrigating or if an angry cow decides to chase them, so I guess I’ll cross that one off my list.

·                        A pair of rose-colored glasses with a special prescription for better foresight and an option to disregard hindsight. These glasses could be treated with a temperance coating that makes it possible to see the good in all people.

·                   A hearing aid specifically geared to enable him to hear good comments about agriculture and appreciation from the people who eat the food we produce. These could also have a special attachment that recognizes the different drum-beats individuals march to. Another good addition to these hearing aids would be a special setting to be able to hear his wife when she’s talking to him.

·                    How about a watch that will add or subtract an hour, depending on the need: add an hour when there just isn’t time to do everything; subtract an hour or speed up the mechanism on the watch when time is going too slow. But it does need to correlate with the watch that his wife has or there could be trouble with this gift!

·                      Specially treated gloves that convert sweat, grease, manure, and dirt into moisturizing cream, thus softening the hands as a reminder to treat those he meets with softness, gentleness, and kindness. These gloves need to be warm in the winter but have a cooling affect during the summer.

·                         Pants and coveralls with built-in knee pads that automatically kneel down at least once a day so the wearer can give thanks for the opportunity to work the land and with his animals. These knee pads will also help when he is kneeling by a sick cow or calf.

·                      A pair of boots with an occasional pebble or nail inside of them, so the owner will remember that not everyone goes the same speed as he does. Also, the boots need a good sole and heel to make firm footprints and an accurate path for those who will follow him.

·                   Perhaps a flashlight with a special heater to keep the hands warm in the cold of winter. The beam of this light would be formulated to give guidance on the darkest nights and in the darkest moments of the owner’s life. And it might even be able to guide and help those close to the owner using the light.

·                  Rainbows. He needs these periodically, not for the pot of gold at the end of it but for the moisture in front thus making it possible for him to create his own pot of gold. A rainbow also adds beauty to his life. And it usually means there has been some needed moisture to help in his life.

·                  A song in his heart so when things look bleak and gloomy, he has a reserve to draw on.

·              Beautiful sunrises to give him a positive start to the day and help him accomplish what needs to be done.

·                   Beautiful sunsets to encourage him to welcome in the night and help him to rest, free from worry.

I          I realize the last few are things that can’t be purchased. They are things that are free for all of us to enjoy. Now, if I could just find a place to buy some of the other items I’d have my Christmas shopping done. 

PREPARING THE RANCH FOR WINTER

Winter scene at our valley home

            This year we’ve had rain storms at unusual times, causing concerns about whether we would have enough feed for the cattle to see them through the winter. So in late September and early October my men were at the ranch cutting grass for hay and getting it baled. I can’t remember a time when we were cutting, raking, baling and hauling hay this late in the season. But this enabled us to have more feed for the cows, and that’s what we needed. Boyd always likes to have extra in case we have a heavy snow fall during the winter or early spring and are unable to get the cows to summer pasture as soon as we like to.

            The calves have been moved down from the ranch and weaned and the cows will be brought down between Thanksgiving and Christmas, depending on the weather. The sheds here in the valley have been scraped clean and lime spread on them, preparing for calving that starts mid-December at our place. New canvas has been put up and when it gets closer to the time we use them, straw will be spread out in the sheds.

Preparing and storing feed and getting sheds ready for winter use for the animals is not the only chores we need to do to get the ranch ready for winter. There is equipment to winterize and put up. The combine with its header is already in the shed at the ranch. After we are through cutting wheat, Doug, our oldest son, often leaves a list in the combine of things that need to be fixed the next spring. However, Doug had already left for Antarctica to work by the time we cut the wheat this year, so I don’t know if anyone else recorded things to do. That always helps come summer when no one can remember what needs to be done to get the combine running good.

We had the swather and baler in the shed at the ranch also, but the guys brought them back to the valley so we could get another cutting of hay off one of our fields. Boyd said we may store them down here this year instead of moving them back up – guess it will depend on when we are through with them and the condition of the roads. Bad roads are hard on equipment as we move it from the ranch to the valley farm and then back.

The fields have been disked and ready to work for spring planting. The plow shears have been painted black to keep them from rusting through the winter.

The waterers are checked for any problems even though it seems that cold weather always brings problems with the waterers whether they are checked or not. The panels have been put into the empty canals to keep the cows from going into the neighbors fields via of the empty water ways. The fences and gates have been checked and fixed if they need it. It won’t matter to some of the cows if the fences are tight and seem to be secure. But for the majority of our bovine friends, the fences are fixed to hold them in.

We’ve moved the camp trailer down, parked it by the garden for the winter. All of the water has been drained out of it and it has been winterized.

There are also things around the house and yard that needs pre-winter care. The garden plot has been cleared, sprayed, and tilled ready for spring. The tillers and lawn mower have been stored in the bully barn and the snow blower has been moved out into the garage. The flower beds have been weeded, spring bulbs planted, and roses covered. The dogs dug down in a spot where my washing machine drains, and so that hole was filled to prevent the drain from freezing. I’ve got all of the hoses hanging up behind the bully barn, except those needed to fill one of the water troughs that isn’t automatic.  The heater has been moved to the porch ready to turn on as the nights get colder. That keeps boots and coveralls warm as the guys spend so much time out in the cold during the winter.

There's much to be done in preparation for Mother Nature's most challenging season, but we're pretty well ready to face it and deal with whatever she throws at us. Now maybe we can all relax and enjoy the long nights and short days.