Got back Thursday from a trip to California. Had to see Mama. While there, I saw my brother Buck, and one of my cherished grandsons, Seth. What a joy. He is going to be a fine man.
While i was out there, I visited with a couple of old friends with whom I worked at KRSA in Salinas, Wayne and Audean Woolard. Audean was the one who introduced me to my first wife, Kathy, who was Virginia's mother. We visited most of the afternoon. I sure was glad to see them.
Wayne is one of the most talented radio design engineers that I know. He has designed and built many high power broadcast and shortwave stations all over the world. Most of them are still on the air.
The trip was pretty uneventful. The weather, while relatively cool for central cal. averages 98f. A little warmer than I'm used to here in Montana.
While I was away, there was a big storm in our area. The hail stripped most of the corn crop, and made it pretty useless. I saw one of my neighbors this morning. He told me that it wouldn't even make good silage.
The wind was very strong here. Kathryn said that it was blowing in a circular pattern. If it wasn't a small tornado, it was awfully close. It took the top off the rain gauge, and sent it several yards away. If it hadn't gotten caught in some brush, I would never have found it. It knocked over the little pen I use to raise baby chicks until they're fledged, and then put them in the chicken house.
We lost all of the chickens. They just died. Within a week they were all gone. I have to clean and sterilize the pen and coop before I get another batch. I hated it. I liked to watch them. That of course, is the main reason I keep them. 'Course fresh eggs are a pretty good too.
On the spiritual front, I was honored to baptize a young man in the Name of Jesus before I left. What a joy. Several people have asked me for copies of my messages and teaching. I have begun to send them out via email to some folks. I record them, then make CDs for some of my parishioners. and now have been sending them out. No charge. I don't do The Lord's work for money.
My old pickup was just falling apart. Mostly rust loosely held together by faded paint. The engine and transmission are good though. I was able to buy a three year newer model, for $400, including headers. A friend who rebuilds and repairs Chevy pickups, offered to put the engine and transmission in the new one (It came without them, that's why it was so inexpensive) in trade for my old one. Sweet deal. He sho0uld have it done in a couple of days. I'm stoked!
We had thunderstorms last night and today. Custer County Fire is out putting out lightning caused fires this afternoon. Those guys are amo0ng the best firefighters around. Limited budget, and an all but one volunteer force, and they really take care of business with the best of them. I am proud that I was involved with them. Had to give it up. I don't think a half crippled 73 year old man has any business on a fire line. Their job is to fight fires, not rescue old pharts who should know when to quit.
One of my neighbors came and cut the grass in our field and bailed it in exchange for the hay. He didn't get it all, because I wanted to keep about a half acre in natural condition for the deer this winter. He got four big round bales though.
That's about all that's new around the farm for now. More when I can get off my donkey and write again.
Agape
Lee
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Thursday, June 20, 2013
It's been warm on the farm. High 80s and as much as 90. I have a little trouble with the transition, but I will. I sat out on the deck this morning eating my gluten free corn squares with sliced Bananas and milk. The sky was azure with only a very few puffy clouds. The wind was a hardly noticeable breeze. The neighbor across the canal was loading big round bales of first cutting alfalfa onto a semi, and a Meadowlark was singing. The Meadowlarks here in Montana sing a slightly different song than than they do in California, but beautiful, none the less.
You know? Things just don't get much better than that. Kathryn was out tending her flower garden, and all was well with the world.
A little later, things got sad, when Kathryn found the body of her beloved white cat "Bug" dead on the road. He was a wonderful friend that she bottle fed and raised from a tiny kitten. He loved to cuddle up in her arms like a little baby. Of course she is terribly distraught.
I don't know why, but somebody in the neighborhood likes to run over small animals. Cats especially. I'll bet he'd raise hell if someone ran over one of his dogs.
The Post Office here in Kinsey burned own a few days ago. Well, the house that housed it did. Our excellent Custer County Fire Department saved the Post Office part of the building. I understand that the computer didn't survive, but everything else did. Smokey, smelly, and water stained, but for the most part, intact.
I have to hand it to those guys. The Custer County Fire Department, with which the Custer County Volunteer Fire Company merged a year or so ago, is a great outfit. They are, with the exception of the Chief, who is also County Fire Warden, a totally volunteer department. They are well equipped, and train regularly. They are more than up to NFPA standards.
The thing about them is, that they put fires OUT. Quickly, efficiently, and safely. Plus, they are a great bunch of guys, who take public service seriously. o them, their duty is SERVICE to the public.
Last night we had a community meeting to see what to do about the Post Office. We are in the process of getting either a mobile office from the PO, or building one. Our thought is, we want the local Post Office, and if it is within our power, we will.
The real good news... I baptized another man in our church last Sunday. What a blessing.
Not much more. Well, in fact a lot, but I'll save the rest for another time
Agape
Lee
You know? Things just don't get much better than that. Kathryn was out tending her flower garden, and all was well with the world.
A little later, things got sad, when Kathryn found the body of her beloved white cat "Bug" dead on the road. He was a wonderful friend that she bottle fed and raised from a tiny kitten. He loved to cuddle up in her arms like a little baby. Of course she is terribly distraught.
I don't know why, but somebody in the neighborhood likes to run over small animals. Cats especially. I'll bet he'd raise hell if someone ran over one of his dogs.
The Post Office here in Kinsey burned own a few days ago. Well, the house that housed it did. Our excellent Custer County Fire Department saved the Post Office part of the building. I understand that the computer didn't survive, but everything else did. Smokey, smelly, and water stained, but for the most part, intact.
I have to hand it to those guys. The Custer County Fire Department, with which the Custer County Volunteer Fire Company merged a year or so ago, is a great outfit. They are, with the exception of the Chief, who is also County Fire Warden, a totally volunteer department. They are well equipped, and train regularly. They are more than up to NFPA standards.
The thing about them is, that they put fires OUT. Quickly, efficiently, and safely. Plus, they are a great bunch of guys, who take public service seriously. o them, their duty is SERVICE to the public.
Last night we had a community meeting to see what to do about the Post Office. We are in the process of getting either a mobile office from the PO, or building one. Our thought is, we want the local Post Office, and if it is within our power, we will.
The real good news... I baptized another man in our church last Sunday. What a blessing.
Not much more. Well, in fact a lot, but I'll save the rest for another time
Agape
Lee
Monday, February 25, 2013
Some Thoughts On Repairing The Economy
Friends:
Our nation is in terrible financial trouble. Our dollar is de-valued, and the President is urging cuts to spending that will seriously affect our infrastructure.
I have an idea on how to keep from doing this, get America back on an even financial keel, and keep us from bankruptcy and insolvency.
#1. Cut foreign aid.
Here is the amount we are spending in direct payments to foreign countries.
Rank Countries Amount
# 1 United States: $23,530,000,000.00
# 2 United Kingdom: $12,460,000,000.00
# 3 France: $10,600,000,000.00
# 4 Germany: $10,440,000,000.00
# 5 Japan: $7,500,000,000.00
# 6 Netherlands: $5,452,000,000.00
# 7 Sweden: $3,955,000,000.00
# 8 Canada: $3,900,000,000.00
# 9 Spain: $3,814,000,000.00
# 10 Italy: $3,641,000,000.00
# 11 Norway: $2,954,000,000.00
# 12 Denmark: $2,236,000,000.00
# 13 Australia: $2,123,000,000.00
# 14 Belgium: $1,978,000,000.00
# 15 Switzerland: $1,646,000,000.00
# 16 Austria: $1,498,000,000.00
# 17 Finland: $1,023,000,000.00
# 18 Ireland: $1,022,000,000.00
# 19 Korea, South: $455,300,000.00
# 20 Greece: $424,000,000.00
# 21 Portugal: $396,000,000.00
# 22 Luxembourg: $291,000,000.00
# 23 New Zealand: $259,000,000.00
# 24 Cyprus: $25,900,000.00
# 25 Iceland: $6,700,000.00
# 26 Lesotho: $4,400,000.00
#2. Bring our troops home from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places that we have invaded, and caused untold amount of death and destruction.
The war in Afghanistan has cost the United States $443 billion from 2001 through 2011, according to the Congressional Research Office.
There are a number of other things that can be done, but it is my considered opinion that if we start by eliminating those enormous drains on our economy, we will be well on our way t financial solvency.
Agape
Lee
Our nation is in terrible financial trouble. Our dollar is de-valued, and the President is urging cuts to spending that will seriously affect our infrastructure.
I have an idea on how to keep from doing this, get America back on an even financial keel, and keep us from bankruptcy and insolvency.
#1. Cut foreign aid.
Here is the amount we are spending in direct payments to foreign countries.
Rank Countries Amount
# 1 United States: $23,530,000,000.00
# 2 United Kingdom: $12,460,000,000.00
# 3 France: $10,600,000,000.00
# 4 Germany: $10,440,000,000.00
# 5 Japan: $7,500,000,000.00
# 6 Netherlands: $5,452,000,000.00
# 7 Sweden: $3,955,000,000.00
# 8 Canada: $3,900,000,000.00
# 9 Spain: $3,814,000,000.00
# 10 Italy: $3,641,000,000.00
# 11 Norway: $2,954,000,000.00
# 12 Denmark: $2,236,000,000.00
# 13 Australia: $2,123,000,000.00
# 14 Belgium: $1,978,000,000.00
# 15 Switzerland: $1,646,000,000.00
# 16 Austria: $1,498,000,000.00
# 17 Finland: $1,023,000,000.00
# 18 Ireland: $1,022,000,000.00
# 19 Korea, South: $455,300,000.00
# 20 Greece: $424,000,000.00
# 21 Portugal: $396,000,000.00
# 22 Luxembourg: $291,000,000.00
# 23 New Zealand: $259,000,000.00
# 24 Cyprus: $25,900,000.00
# 25 Iceland: $6,700,000.00
# 26 Lesotho: $4,400,000.00
#2. Bring our troops home from Afghanistan, Iraq, and other places that we have invaded, and caused untold amount of death and destruction.
The war in Afghanistan has cost the United States $443 billion from 2001 through 2011, according to the Congressional Research Office.
There are a number of other things that can be done, but it is my considered opinion that if we start by eliminating those enormous drains on our economy, we will be well on our way t financial solvency.
Agape
Lee
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
November 7, 2012
A friend wrote to me this morning, expressing concern over the re-election of The President. I wrote back saying:
"I am very distressed that Obama appears to have won reelection. I fear for our country. I fear for the world. But, I know that in God's sight, these things must come to pass. In Matthew 24:8, Jesus says "All these things are the beginning of sorrows. I am firmly convinced that we are living in the end times, and that the things that preclude the end of the world as we know it are upon us. We have done what we can to stave off the day, but it is now at hand. Turn your heart to God through Jesus Christ, and though the body may perish, our soul will survive."
I thought that I would share that with my readers. There is not much else I can say about yesterday's elections. The people have spoken. Whether they are guided by the hand of God, or the hand of the devil, I do not know.
All I do know, is that I have done my political duty. I supported the candidates that I thought would best serve us. In the end, it will matter little. My human will continue through good, or evil , and when the time will come, it will cease to breath in. Then my soul will be free from this world, and as a little child, I will sleep safe in the arms of Jesus.
Agape
Lee
A friend wrote to me this morning, expressing concern over the re-election of The President. I wrote back saying:
"I am very distressed that Obama appears to have won reelection. I fear for our country. I fear for the world. But, I know that in God's sight, these things must come to pass. In Matthew 24:8, Jesus says "All these things are the beginning of sorrows. I am firmly convinced that we are living in the end times, and that the things that preclude the end of the world as we know it are upon us. We have done what we can to stave off the day, but it is now at hand. Turn your heart to God through Jesus Christ, and though the body may perish, our soul will survive."
I thought that I would share that with my readers. There is not much else I can say about yesterday's elections. The people have spoken. Whether they are guided by the hand of God, or the hand of the devil, I do not know.
All I do know, is that I have done my political duty. I supported the candidates that I thought would best serve us. In the end, it will matter little. My human will continue through good, or evil , and when the time will come, it will cease to breath in. Then my soul will be free from this world, and as a little child, I will sleep safe in the arms of Jesus.
Agape
Lee
Monday, October 29, 2012
Update From The Farm
So I get this message from my beaucoc son saying something like why haven’t you written on your blog? I miss reading it. So, I figured I’d better get off my duff, and write. Or, I suppose, more accurately, I’d better get ON my duff, in front of the computer, and write. So here’s the latest from Fringe Benefit Farm.
The Sugarbeet harvest is over here in the Lower Yellowstone Valley. As you know, I drive a truck in the harvest, hauling beets from the field to a receiving station, where they are piled and then transferred to Billings to be processed into sugar.
It’s really a good job. Sort of a vacation for me, whose life now that I’m retired is pretty much a vacation anyway. For a few weeks, I get to go to work driving a semi again. This year I got upgraded fro the International that I had been driving for several years to a Kenworth. Say... Bigtime!
The harvest went well. We had a little rain, and couldn’t get into the field for a couple of days, and then had to be towed through the field for several days in order to load the beets. Ytrying, and sometimes frustrating, but, all in a day’s work.
The beets are planted in rows, and irrigated by enormous sprinklers. When they are ready to harvest, a worker drives a tractor pulling a defoliator, which cuts the green leafy tops off, and flails the greens into virtually nothing. Then a worker, in this case, my boss, Steve Lachman, who owns the farm, drives a tractor pulling a beet digger. The digger cuts them out of the ground, cleans most of the dirt off, and deposits the beets into a semi trailer pulled by a big truck tractor. The beets are transferred to the piler, where they are weighed, graded, and tested for sugar content. They are then transferred to Billings to the Western Sugar Co-op refinery to be turned into the delicious stuff that makes your tea sweeter, and your crumpets tasty.
It is October 29th, as I write this. The elections are getting close, and I have been busy campaigning for the Libertarian Party candidates.
I am terribly worried about the direction the United States is taking under the leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties. I am among a large number of people who think that the government is not following constitutional guidelines, and as the horsey set says, is about to come a cropper.
I have been a follower of Ron Paul for a number of years, and not that he is no longer in the running, have switched my allegiance to Gary Johnson, the candidate of the Libertarian Party.
I have been a member of the Libertarian Party for a number of years, and believe that they have the right approach to the governance of our nation. That approach is pretty much summed up as “Leave us alone, we can do it better by ourselves without outside, and especially government interference, thank you very much.”
I could go on for hours, but I won’t. (I can see the readers all saying, “Whew! he’s finally off of that political stuff”.)
The Lord has been blessing me recently as a preacher. I have been delivering some (I think,) particularly good messages lately. I record all my sermons, and in listening to the playback, sometimes say, “Wow! That guy really is a preacher!”
If you want a CD containing some messages, I have them available for free. I would ask that you kick in a couple of bucks for postage, and supplies, though. If you can’t afford it, I’ll send them out anyway, but it does rather put a strain on my income, which is largely Social Security. (What!?!, a Libertarian on Social Security?!?) Yep. I paid. I draw, but I don’t abuse.
The blank CDs cost something, The labels, and the ink to print them cost something. I DO NOT want to maker a profit, as mine is pretty much a self supported missionary effort. Kinda ,my way of paying back some of the goodness that has been given me by God’s wonderful grace, and the atoning blood of Jesus.
I thought about transcribing one of my sermons here, but I’m not all that good a typist, and it takes hours to do a sound to writing transcription. But if you are deaf, I will. Hey! Gotta get the message out about Jesus any way I can.
I am still doing freelance radio commercials from mky little studio here at home. - See my website - leethevoice.com
I am currently doing commercials for The Marks Group. It is a combine of eight or ten radio stations, and four or five TV stations. I mostly do spots for our local outlets here in Montana and North Dakota, but have done several for the entire chain.
I have done a couple of ads running nationwide for Betty Kilbride who is an author and friend. I also recorded one of her books for an audio book, but don’t know when it will be released. I’m pretty proud of the fact that I did it though. Not many people get to do that.
One of my ambitions is to do voice-overs and narrations for TV and films. I’d like to do stuff like narrating National Geographic videos and the like. I have a friend in California who does, or did, the voice over for Disney documentaries. That looks like a pretty good gig. I’d like to do cartoon voices too. May not happen, but I can dream.
We had a little bit of snow a couple of nights ago, but not enough to measure. It’s Deer season in Montana, and My friend Ron and I plan to go out and pursue the wiley stag. If things go as they uysually do, we’ll have a cold snap and a heavy snow driven into a blizzard on the day we plan to go out. It won’t stop us though. That way the hunting stories are better.
I’d like to take my Kids and grandkids out hunting with me, but they all live a thousand miles away in the east and the west. There is not a lot better place to live than Montana, but I do miss spoiling grandkids, and being a pest to my kids.
We are having some friend in for Thanksgiving this year. Mom, Buck and Mary were up last year. That was one of the better things that happened in a long time. I miss my family. We are a pretty tight knit bunch, and our numbers are starting to diminish more rapidly than I would like. We lost Judy and Virginia this year, and the older generation is looking pretty shakey. Hmm. Guess Im pretty close to that age myself. Oh, well. I’ve enjoyed the trip so far, and am looking forward to the destination. I can see it now. “Lee, wipe your feet. I don’t want you tracking gold dust all over the floor.”
That’s about all for now from Fringe Benefit Farm. Hope to be a little more faithful in writing in future, but no promises.
Agape
Lee
The Sugarbeet harvest is over here in the Lower Yellowstone Valley. As you know, I drive a truck in the harvest, hauling beets from the field to a receiving station, where they are piled and then transferred to Billings to be processed into sugar.
It’s really a good job. Sort of a vacation for me, whose life now that I’m retired is pretty much a vacation anyway. For a few weeks, I get to go to work driving a semi again. This year I got upgraded fro the International that I had been driving for several years to a Kenworth. Say... Bigtime!
The harvest went well. We had a little rain, and couldn’t get into the field for a couple of days, and then had to be towed through the field for several days in order to load the beets. Ytrying, and sometimes frustrating, but, all in a day’s work.
The beets are planted in rows, and irrigated by enormous sprinklers. When they are ready to harvest, a worker drives a tractor pulling a defoliator, which cuts the green leafy tops off, and flails the greens into virtually nothing. Then a worker, in this case, my boss, Steve Lachman, who owns the farm, drives a tractor pulling a beet digger. The digger cuts them out of the ground, cleans most of the dirt off, and deposits the beets into a semi trailer pulled by a big truck tractor. The beets are transferred to the piler, where they are weighed, graded, and tested for sugar content. They are then transferred to Billings to the Western Sugar Co-op refinery to be turned into the delicious stuff that makes your tea sweeter, and your crumpets tasty.
It is October 29th, as I write this. The elections are getting close, and I have been busy campaigning for the Libertarian Party candidates.
I am terribly worried about the direction the United States is taking under the leadership of the Republican and Democratic parties. I am among a large number of people who think that the government is not following constitutional guidelines, and as the horsey set says, is about to come a cropper.
I have been a follower of Ron Paul for a number of years, and not that he is no longer in the running, have switched my allegiance to Gary Johnson, the candidate of the Libertarian Party.
I have been a member of the Libertarian Party for a number of years, and believe that they have the right approach to the governance of our nation. That approach is pretty much summed up as “Leave us alone, we can do it better by ourselves without outside, and especially government interference, thank you very much.”
I could go on for hours, but I won’t. (I can see the readers all saying, “Whew! he’s finally off of that political stuff”.)
The Lord has been blessing me recently as a preacher. I have been delivering some (I think,) particularly good messages lately. I record all my sermons, and in listening to the playback, sometimes say, “Wow! That guy really is a preacher!”
If you want a CD containing some messages, I have them available for free. I would ask that you kick in a couple of bucks for postage, and supplies, though. If you can’t afford it, I’ll send them out anyway, but it does rather put a strain on my income, which is largely Social Security. (What!?!, a Libertarian on Social Security?!?) Yep. I paid. I draw, but I don’t abuse.
The blank CDs cost something, The labels, and the ink to print them cost something. I DO NOT want to maker a profit, as mine is pretty much a self supported missionary effort. Kinda ,my way of paying back some of the goodness that has been given me by God’s wonderful grace, and the atoning blood of Jesus.
I thought about transcribing one of my sermons here, but I’m not all that good a typist, and it takes hours to do a sound to writing transcription. But if you are deaf, I will. Hey! Gotta get the message out about Jesus any way I can.
I am still doing freelance radio commercials from mky little studio here at home. - See my website - leethevoice.com
I am currently doing commercials for The Marks Group. It is a combine of eight or ten radio stations, and four or five TV stations. I mostly do spots for our local outlets here in Montana and North Dakota, but have done several for the entire chain.
I have done a couple of ads running nationwide for Betty Kilbride who is an author and friend. I also recorded one of her books for an audio book, but don’t know when it will be released. I’m pretty proud of the fact that I did it though. Not many people get to do that.
One of my ambitions is to do voice-overs and narrations for TV and films. I’d like to do stuff like narrating National Geographic videos and the like. I have a friend in California who does, or did, the voice over for Disney documentaries. That looks like a pretty good gig. I’d like to do cartoon voices too. May not happen, but I can dream.
We had a little bit of snow a couple of nights ago, but not enough to measure. It’s Deer season in Montana, and My friend Ron and I plan to go out and pursue the wiley stag. If things go as they uysually do, we’ll have a cold snap and a heavy snow driven into a blizzard on the day we plan to go out. It won’t stop us though. That way the hunting stories are better.
I’d like to take my Kids and grandkids out hunting with me, but they all live a thousand miles away in the east and the west. There is not a lot better place to live than Montana, but I do miss spoiling grandkids, and being a pest to my kids.
We are having some friend in for Thanksgiving this year. Mom, Buck and Mary were up last year. That was one of the better things that happened in a long time. I miss my family. We are a pretty tight knit bunch, and our numbers are starting to diminish more rapidly than I would like. We lost Judy and Virginia this year, and the older generation is looking pretty shakey. Hmm. Guess Im pretty close to that age myself. Oh, well. I’ve enjoyed the trip so far, and am looking forward to the destination. I can see it now. “Lee, wipe your feet. I don’t want you tracking gold dust all over the floor.”
That’s about all for now from Fringe Benefit Farm. Hope to be a little more faithful in writing in future, but no promises.
Agape
Lee
Monday, April 2, 2012
Losses
I really want to write something, but I don't know where to start. I am grieving. Last December, I lost our sister Judy. It was expected, because she had been fighting cancer for years. Surgery, radiation, chemo, and some wonderful experimental treatment in Missouri that prolonged her life for years. But it got her.
I remember her as a tiny little thing that Mama brought home from the hospital in 1944. She cried a lot. I was four years old, and was learning to tie my shoes. I didn't understand that babies cry a lot.
She grew up to be a pretty girl, and right out of high school, married the love of her life, Ron. He was a Forest Service guy, and is a brilliant man, who absolutely adored her. But she's gone, and there is a hole in the heart of Ron, her kids, our mom, my brother, and me. How can you replace someone like that.
Then, last month, I got a phone call late at night from Mama. I knew that it was bad, because she would never call at that time of night, unless it was. And it was. My oldest daughter, Virginia was in a coma, and not expected to make it. I readied myself for the trip to California, and in the morning, just before I left, I got the message. She was gone.
I went out anyway. I tried my best to comfort her husband, Pat, my son-in-law. No, my son. He became part of my life, and always will be part of my life as a son. The same for Virginia's former husband, Dann. He is one of my sons too.
But a light has gone out in my life. My little Grinnie girl is gone. How I loved her. She had a hell of a life. More like a life of hell. Her Daddy, and her mom are both addicts of one kind an another. She was reared by a succession of step dads who did not always treat her well. I don't want to go into that right now, because this is a time for tears, and not a time for getting all pissed off. Besides, those guys are dead. One may still be around, but he's dead to me.
Virginia loved the sunshine. She loved to play out in the sun. She would spend most of her “Daddy Day” with me when I lived at the beach, picking up sand dollars, pretty shells and pretty rocks. Virginia loved pretty things.
And she loved to dance. If we had been rich, and could have afforded dancing lessons, she might have been a ballerina. But she wasn't. She was a beautiful, outgoing woman with an infectious smile that could charm anybody who ever saw it.
She loved animals. She got a wild mustang, and tamed it, and gentled it, and rode it all the time.
There was a down side. Alcohol. I am sorry to say that she inherited the family disease. She fought it, and struggled with it, and, like her dad, it cost her everything dear to her. One of my most cherished memories is being invited to speak at a major 12 step organization convention. (She wrangled it for me. Her and that grin.) My two girls were on the platform with me. Both sober and in their right minds. What a joy that was.
The bright spot in my story, is the booze didn't get her. An overdose of Tylenol did. Seems it accumulates in the system. Everything is fine until one day you take the recommended dose, and your grandmother calls your dad with bad news.
I don't know where to go with this. As an inventory step, I know that I am not at fault, but I am still walking around with a hole in me... Two holes. Both of them caused by the loss of two of my most cherished people.
My life will go on, and I will survive another 24 hours, and another 24 hours until one day I get the chance to see them again. And I will, because I know that they were both committed, born again Christians, and we will meet again in heaven. My soul rejoices in that. But right now, my human is very lonely.
Agape
Lee
Saturday, January 28, 2012
A Nice Morning
Good morning!
At 7:00am, I could see well enough to not have to feed the chickens in total darkness. The sky is lightening nicely with just the remainder of a few clouds moving off to the east. It is still pretty cool, at 17f above, but at least it's above. I think it is going to be a very nice day.
It has been a very dry winter here at Fringe Benefit Farm. We have received less than 6" of snow, and a total of around 2" of rain. That is not going to be good for the grass. I hope to be able to buy a couple of wiener calves this spring. We plan to sell one in the fall, and eat the other. Hoping for enough soil moisture to be able to provide enough grass to feed them without supplementing. So, like every other cattleman, - Hey, a herd is a herd, no matter the size- I'm hoping for enough rainfall, or snowfall to provide the soil moisture to grow the grass that will grow my stock.
One of the neighbors has put cattle in on the the harvested corn field across the ditch. He asked if he could put up a fence along my side of the ditch. I was delighted. I really didn't have enough money to build the fence to keep my cattle in, so it was a good thing for all concerned. He put up the posts, and strung one wire, which he electrified. All I have to do is buy enough wire to string four more, and Tadaa! a fence. Ain't God good?Barbed wire is expensive, but fence posts are really expensive, and while calves are not too bad, they still cost. Hopefully, God will provide so that I can provide.
That's what farmers do. We provide. We provide for our families, and provide food for a hungry world. In the end, there's not a lot of monetary profit in it, but the satisfaction index is very high. We know when that truck leaves with the last load of cattle, or sugar beets, or grain, or vegetable produce, we have done our part. Hopefully there will be enough to satisfy the banker too. But we all survive.
Not much else, Still busy making commercials here and there, and preaching the word of God. All is well on Fringe Benefit Farm.
Agape
Lee
At 7:00am, I could see well enough to not have to feed the chickens in total darkness. The sky is lightening nicely with just the remainder of a few clouds moving off to the east. It is still pretty cool, at 17f above, but at least it's above. I think it is going to be a very nice day.
It has been a very dry winter here at Fringe Benefit Farm. We have received less than 6" of snow, and a total of around 2" of rain. That is not going to be good for the grass. I hope to be able to buy a couple of wiener calves this spring. We plan to sell one in the fall, and eat the other. Hoping for enough soil moisture to be able to provide enough grass to feed them without supplementing. So, like every other cattleman, - Hey, a herd is a herd, no matter the size- I'm hoping for enough rainfall, or snowfall to provide the soil moisture to grow the grass that will grow my stock.
One of the neighbors has put cattle in on the the harvested corn field across the ditch. He asked if he could put up a fence along my side of the ditch. I was delighted. I really didn't have enough money to build the fence to keep my cattle in, so it was a good thing for all concerned. He put up the posts, and strung one wire, which he electrified. All I have to do is buy enough wire to string four more, and Tadaa! a fence. Ain't God good?Barbed wire is expensive, but fence posts are really expensive, and while calves are not too bad, they still cost. Hopefully, God will provide so that I can provide.
That's what farmers do. We provide. We provide for our families, and provide food for a hungry world. In the end, there's not a lot of monetary profit in it, but the satisfaction index is very high. We know when that truck leaves with the last load of cattle, or sugar beets, or grain, or vegetable produce, we have done our part. Hopefully there will be enough to satisfy the banker too. But we all survive.
Not much else, Still busy making commercials here and there, and preaching the word of God. All is well on Fringe Benefit Farm.
Agape
Lee
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