Our old four wheeler died and we sure missed it a lot. No, it wasn’t a “toy.” We used it on the homestead for everything from hauling in firewood to seeding our pastures. We hauled in our harvest, brought home deer from successful hunts, strung fence, carried lumber, used it for transportation when we were in the camping stage on our new land (our more-than-a-mile that used to be pretty bad), ran back and forth from various places on our homestead for tools and other supplies, and much more. So when the old Big Bear died, we sorely missed it.
Luckily for us, my oldest son, Bill, told us he was going to sell his ATV because with four in his family, he seldom used it any more. I asked him how much he would want for it and the deal was made. He even let us take it home before we could pay. (I guess he trusts us.) Even though my bad knee has been feeling much better lately, I was SO happy to have “wheels” again. And it’s an automatic so I don’t have to shift with that bad leg! I’m in heaven!
Today Will’s over at our friend’s place running a big excavator Darryl borrowed from work. They’re tearing out a lot of brush which had grown onto the hayfield from years of renters of the hay ground only taking the “best” hay, not clipping off the young shoots of brush at each cutting. Now there’s acres of brush crowding the hayfield. Will has already removed a whole lot of it and the excavator will be a big help. It may seem that because we live way back in the woods we’re hermits. Not so. We’re a part of the community and try to do our share to help out friends where help is needed. It makes the world a better place. And the old saying “what comes around goes around” is sure true!
Meanwhile, I’m still harvesting squash, pumpkin, and watermelon seeds. I finished up the very last tomatoes yesterday and I can’t say that I’m sorry. Whew! Oh, by the way, I’ve been updating our Seed Treasures website (see box at top of blog), adding a whole lot of new varieties we’ve grown, and are offering for the next growing season. So if you’re already thinking about what you’d like to grow next year, browse through the seed listing. We are putting together a better seed listing in catalog format but that’s not done yet. — Jackie
gen,
I know what you mean. I often stop to look around our pantry when I go down to retrieve something for dinner. Sigh…. Life is good.
I understand about the lack of neighborliness; when new city people buy land around here the first thing to go up is a big gate and the second is a rash of NO TRESPASSING signs. (Like anyone would go in there anyway.) It sure takes away the neighbor feeling right off the bat.
I dream of having a small ‘mule’, for gas economy, ease of getting around the farm, or getting to a hunting area; they can’t be beat. I’m so very very happy you were able to find a replacement for the one that broke beyond Will’s considerable abilities to keep it going. Congratulations! Thank God for folks like you and Will that are still willing to help their neighbors. Where I live, it’s more a dog eat dog area, with nothing but NO Trespassing signs, and dogs chained up that terrify the dickens out of me. I guess because we’re between a couple of large urban areas, but I don’t find that a good excuse. Dad and I have gone from canning produce back to canning meat and beans, beans, beans! I love all the recipes for them. It isn’t like having to eat the same thing over and over again. I absolutely love looking at my new pantry, and knowing “I DID THAT.” What a feeling, thanks for all the years of encouragement you have given!
Miss Jackie, So glad to see New Blue on your homestead!!!! It will be a blessing!
In a recent post you spoke of crab apples….I had been looking at them in the Fedco catalog. ( I purchased a number of their heirloom apples over the past several years, and I think I see fruiting spurs on one of them!!!)….I recall crab apples from my growing up years. We had one tree on our farm. We picked its 2 inch dark red fruit to eat on the way to school in the fall. Mom made spiced crab apples to compliment holiday meals. Our neighbor had a crab that was prolific but tasted nasty. What varieties do you like for juice, eating, jelly, etc.? I don’t even know where there is a crab apple tree today, other than flowering crabs in lawns in town. Rick
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