a tale of tails, tenacity, and tedium, as told by me, usually barefoot and bellowing

Saturday, July 26, 2014

I Am Not Just The Photos

I wondered today what my attitude was the first July I posted.  I have republished the exact post from that date. Funny, how not much has changed and yet much has changed.

Thank you for reading my 2045 posts since September '08.  I have reached 503 followers.  I am embarrassed by not having time to read each post of yours every day.  Know my thoughts are with you when my words are not.  I promise I will improve soon.

Without further adieu my July 25th post from 2009.  Thanks every one.

...placed here carefully with a few words. When I have lots of photos, I have fewer words, so tonight I shall ramble, photoless. My picture may become clearer that way.

It is always hard to talk about yourself, truthfully, but I shall try. I am a housewife of thirty-seven years, a mother and a postal employee for almost as long. I have two grown daughters and three grandsons, the eldest, Andrew, lives with us. So at a time when we are supposed to be preparing for retirement, we are treading in the dangerous waters of puberty, this time with a boy.

Also, my husband is the emergency manager of our county, we both work outside the home and afternoons and weekends we try to farm, if there are no disasters going on. Now, you who farm know this does not work. There is always a fence down, a cow out, armadillos in the garden, Copperheads in the yard, roosters crowing, horses running and no time to get it all done. There are posts to cut, hay to stack, cows to feed, horses to groom (my pleasure), rocks to pick up, washes to fill, wood to cut, brush to burn, plus all the normal maintenance.

We are on the family farm, after traveling full circle. I was raised on a farm, my husband was not and his dream was to have a farm. Here we are, one following his dream of farming or cattle production and one following the dream of owning horses. We never dreamed of all the stuff in between. I knew, but hubby was not so clear on it since he had never actually lived it.

I was raised by Depression Era parents and was taught to make do, hubby goes to the store. I can make lye soap, hubby goes to the store. If I had a piece of material and the girls needed clothes I made them. Hubby went to the store. Hubby has learned, now, we make do and recycle things and has become quite good at it.

I had early visions of being a veterinarian but did not want to have my parents pay for all those years in school so I married the man I love. Shortly after I began my career and made a big circle and have landed back home again.

I love horses, I paint, I read, I write, I live, I photograph, and I cook and clean and do laundry and, whew! I am tired already!

Farming is a good life yet farming is a hard life. You learn about life and death up close and personal each day you help deliver a calf or foal. You worry when the dogs are a little off or a cow is overdue, or a horse stepped funny on that last walk by you. You know you're gonna butcher that calf but you name it anyway. I have cried with a dead animal in my arms.

I really don't know what I intended to say when I started this, so I'll stop. I think I wanted to say life is good, even when it is difficult, it is good.

20 comments:

Silliyak said...

Very nice. You make nice pictures with words also.

Irene said...

Hi Gail, there's an award for you over at my place, please come and get it.

Grammy said...

You painted a wonderful picture with your words. I am so glad you are happy even though over worked. It is awesome. Our chicky is here finally. I never get enough of new life.

Rudee said...

Much like I prefer books to movies, I prefer words to photographs. Although they say a picture paints a thousand words, I would say that your words depict a much clearer picture of what life on a farm is really like. Thanks for sharing.

And that picture of the horse's behinds? I like it.

Patricia said...

armadillos in the garden?...love it...sounds like a gag line because the most I know about armadillos I learned from jokes...here in Oregon we don't see them.....I've never seen one.
And copperheads? yikes...I can't even coax a benign little garden snake in to lie on a rock by my fishpond. We have rattlers in eastern Oregon but nothing in my immediate area. Good luck with your second time around parenting.

Carolina Trekker said...

Beautifully written. Many thanks.

Tina said...

It was nice to read your thoughts..busy days, but a life full of love and family...many people search for that all their life, I think!

Pyatshaw said...

Sounds very like my own life, right down to the idea of being a vet but never did. We made do and mended all our young lives and lived in home made clothes.... only difference is my husband was a farmer.. and has no hobbies so is a bit lost in retirement.

LindaG said...

You and your hubby are like me and my hubby. Just reversed.
But you know that. ;o)

Congratulations on your up-coming (?) 40th!
We're a year behind you. ;o)

*hugs* ♥
Hope you have a fantastic day, Gail.

TexWisGirl said...

i loved this look back - and still present. and i could relate to a lot of it. keep sharing, dearie.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Loved your flash back- and it just sounds so YOU, the Gail I have come to know through your posts. And I do know all about those durn armadillos!

LilliStJohn said...

When you read a post and you "get the picture", it really is a lovely, soulful thought. I remember most of this background and thanks for the armadillos - forgot about them. lol to you all

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Gail, that was wonderful. You painted a very clear picture of your life in few words.
And I admit - I go to the store.

Empty Nester said...

What a great idea to re-post! For those of us who haven't known you from the beginning, it was good to get to 'know' you even better! Tells me I should go back and read other's early posts too.

MadSnapper said...

i am glad you did the repost, i knew a lot of this but not all of it and 5 years makes a big difference.. i went back to my post on this day and OMG i had enough photos in there to choke a mule... so i guess that means nothing has changed for me either... i either bury people in photos or words and sometimes both... hugs

OmaLindasOldeBaggsandStuftShirts said...

So it is (life) still good albeit different and yet the same. How wonderful that you reposted this. Linda

Lynne said...

I am always learning new things about you, yours and the farming . . .

Josie Two Shoes said...

I was not around in the earlier years of your blogging, and I haven't had much time to go back through your archives, so I particularly loved reading this. Some things in your life have changed a little, but really not so much. You are both still working hard, making do, and raising a grandson that you can be proud of. I think your final statement sums it all up perfectly. It isn't an easy life, it comes with it's share of struggles and sadness, but it IS a good life, and I believe that you are right where you belong, caretakers of the earth.

DesertHen said...

I loved this look back post!

Donna Smith said...

Finger counting up from 2009, you must be coming up or at year 42? Our is 42 this September. Used to have a horse farm in Wisconsin. Husband was raised on a potato farm. Life is good. Glad to meet you.
Donna
mainelywrite.blogspot.com

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