Well this week went fast. I was very busy opening up a house for the summer and of course working. Thankfully the home owners are back and I have a few less responsibilities till fall. Yesterday I took the day off from being an organist and spent the day being an organizer. There were numerous tasks to complete in order to catch up for being gone all week and to prepare for our party today. Today I went to church, had the second to last choir practice for the year and then came home and relaxed in my hammock. Then after a walk to pick flowers our guest arrived and the afternoon was full of little kids, good food, more walks, visits to the animals and the rosary. Clean up was a breeze and we discussed plans for tomorrow; Memorial Day.
Growing up on a farm Memorial Day is best known as the spring day when the garden is planted and the odds and end to do list is worked on. Not that we do not spend time remembering those who have served and died for our country. It is hard to forget that with five brothers either ex-military or currently serving in the military. I know a little off military life and can understand the sacrifices made for family and country. But to me parades aren't the way to celebrate (I don't like any type of parade for many reasons) but did our soldiers die so we could sit around watching bands play, cars and trucks drive by and people throw candy around. It just doesn't sit well with me. Rather, spending a day with family, working and enjoying life to its fullest by making things better seems to be more appropriate. I can remember so many memorial days being one of the only days my grandfather and dad would take off from field work and we would spend the day cleaning windows, putting up bird houses, fixing broken furniture..... Just generally making things better. Planting the garden was a family effort and I miss spending the time with my brothers picking out plants and working the ground. That is what memorial days of my past were like; family time.
Tomorrow will be similar since most of us have off from school or work.... But others will have to go to work and this year the garden will not be planted. Memorial Day is a week early so prudence says wait to put plants in that may yet be hurt by a frost. But we will still listen to music, eat picnic food and enjoy each other's company while we share the work and joy of creating a home.
The Farmer's Daughter.
Sunday, May 24, 2015
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Another day
the past few days have not been good for writing. I have been dealing with storms on multiple levels of existence. But today the sun is out and so far the horizon is calm. I have a lot to do, and I must be stressing because I had bad dreams last night about failing to make my obligations. But I wish to write down some observations, maybe they are right, maybe not. Life was not meant to be easy and we all gain strength from adversity, but to much adversity and life can be snuffed out.
Everyone I believe dreams of being the hero of their own story. Even if you try really hard it is close to impossible to imagine or dream from another's point of view. I can think or try to see things through my mom's eyes, but eventually it becomes me opperating on what I know of mother. That being said, I find that a lot of minor trouble, misunderstandings and confusion occur when I or others try to do too much for others based on our own observations and assumptions. Humans are the best at being erratic.
Enough for now, I am off to get some coffee, get my glasses and start my day.
The Farmer's Daughter.
Everyone I believe dreams of being the hero of their own story. Even if you try really hard it is close to impossible to imagine or dream from another's point of view. I can think or try to see things through my mom's eyes, but eventually it becomes me opperating on what I know of mother. That being said, I find that a lot of minor trouble, misunderstandings and confusion occur when I or others try to do too much for others based on our own observations and assumptions. Humans are the best at being erratic.
Enough for now, I am off to get some coffee, get my glasses and start my day.
The Farmer's Daughter.
Monday, May 11, 2015
Day eight or nine.... Depending on how you look at it
Well yesterday was Sunday and was a good day to take off from pretty much everything. So today was a regular say, the usual Monday chores, work and.... Thunderstorms!!! I love thunderstorms as long as they do not surprise me and wake me up in the middle of the night. On the other hand when I was young i didn't particularly like them, but they created a sort of festiveness around the house. And when we were lucky the power would go off and we would have picnics in the living room lit by candles. And sometimes we would be allowed to sleep downstairs where it was cooler. So as I sit here the thunder is rumbling, there is an occasional flash of lightening, it is pouring rain and besides the baby crying, everyone else is carrying as usual.
The farmer's Daughter.
The farmer's Daughter.
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Day seven
Today did not turn out the way I thought it would. I awoke with no plan for the day, my family were alol up and had laid plans for there day..... And then we all sat around watching it rain for twenty minutes. Once the rain stopped, we didn't. My day ended up being a day to get a lot of nothing done. I worked in the garden and cleaned in the garage. Both really fun things to do, but today they were particularly hard.
I find that weeding is very therapeutic, particularly when it comes to digging up dandelions!! These simple common flowers cause so much happiness, for example when a child picks a handful for his mom or aunt. And they cause so much angst because they tend to grow everywhere you wish they wouldn't and can be difficult to eradicate. Which brings to mind two memories of my childhood. The first is of a lawn covered in dandelions, so thick that the grass wasn't visible. And how I loved to lay on my back amongst the flowers and stare at the white clouds, blue sky and green tree branches overhead. Ah!! The days of being able to lay around and not be filled with worries. The second memory has to do with weeding, which when you are young is not enjoyable. My family used to put in a huge garden every year and it was the job of my brothers and I to assist with the weeding, the watering, the picking, the canning and eventually the eating. Particularly green beans. I can remember several summer mornings spent weeding in the garden as soon as the sun was up and the dew was off the grass. The rows were long, the ground was hard, the sun was hot and if you missed any weeds you had to go back and check the whole row. And siblings rarely offer to help once they finished their rows. You get the picture..... It wasn't fun. And yet I miss those days, and the time spent chatting with my brothers. Who would have thought then that I would ever miss any of them???
The farmer's Daughter
I find that weeding is very therapeutic, particularly when it comes to digging up dandelions!! These simple common flowers cause so much happiness, for example when a child picks a handful for his mom or aunt. And they cause so much angst because they tend to grow everywhere you wish they wouldn't and can be difficult to eradicate. Which brings to mind two memories of my childhood. The first is of a lawn covered in dandelions, so thick that the grass wasn't visible. And how I loved to lay on my back amongst the flowers and stare at the white clouds, blue sky and green tree branches overhead. Ah!! The days of being able to lay around and not be filled with worries. The second memory has to do with weeding, which when you are young is not enjoyable. My family used to put in a huge garden every year and it was the job of my brothers and I to assist with the weeding, the watering, the picking, the canning and eventually the eating. Particularly green beans. I can remember several summer mornings spent weeding in the garden as soon as the sun was up and the dew was off the grass. The rows were long, the ground was hard, the sun was hot and if you missed any weeds you had to go back and check the whole row. And siblings rarely offer to help once they finished their rows. You get the picture..... It wasn't fun. And yet I miss those days, and the time spent chatting with my brothers. Who would have thought then that I would ever miss any of them???
The farmer's Daughter
Friday, May 8, 2015
Day six
I am sitting here relaxing, watching chugging on with my three young charges and thinking about today and the past. Today I spent several hours sewing. I finished putting strips on a quilt top, I made a hammock and then I worked on a little girl dress. The quilt and hammock were simple and fun, but the dress, which was supposed to be easy, took a long time and had a lot of issues. I had so much trouble putting in button holes, but I loved sewing on the buttons by hand. Hand sewing is relaxing and made me remember my first sewing project. I made a small quilt all by hand, and I remember getting in trouble for leaving my pins in my dad's chair. I still have the little quilt in a box, and I love to get it out and marvel at how i used to sew compared with now.
The farmer's daughter
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Day five
I love springtime!!! The birds, the warm ground, pulling weeds, cleaning things up.... The list goes on and on. What I dislike is the heat! 'Nuf said, I am not blogging in order to complain. But why am I blogging? So far my posts all read like diary entries and probably boring. I guess I am blogging to figure out how to write, to talk to people and share with them stories about my days as a farmer's daughter. And as I like rules, I am going to set some. Besides writing everyday I plan on sharing a memory and a current experience.
To begin; bikes, biking, and training wheels.
I can remember my first "bike": it was a red tricycle with a strawberry seat and I was very upset when my brothers rode it and broke it. After that I remeber getting a big girl bike, a pink two wheeler with white tassels on the ends of the handlebars. I loved it and would race all over the farm, up and down the barn floors, under electric fences and across the bumpy lane ways. Somewhere in between those two memories I must have had another bike, a medium two wheeler: and that is where the training wheels come in. I remember being given the little wheels, and I vaguely remember using them.... But I cannot remember to what bike they were attached.
Now fast forwarded some twenty years. I now have two bikes; a red one speed and a purple 10 speed. The one speed I was given a year before I left for college and other then a few family bike rides I rarely used it. On the other hand once I started college that bike got me all over campus for the greater part of two years. Shortly after graduating I was given the 10'speed in order to keep up with my friends on their bike rides. Using it I have grown to have a new appreciation for the term "I went for a bike ride". Miles and miles I have gone, and love spending time with friends yet.... The other day I pulled out my one speed, fixed it up and went for a quick two mile ride. And boy have I missed the simple joy of biking around the farm, bumping over wheel ruts and coasting around the barns. Not only that, but my eldest nephew just inherited my training wheels and has gone from walking beside his bike to actually riding it. I look forward to zooming around the farm with him.
The farmer's daughter
To begin; bikes, biking, and training wheels.
I can remember my first "bike": it was a red tricycle with a strawberry seat and I was very upset when my brothers rode it and broke it. After that I remeber getting a big girl bike, a pink two wheeler with white tassels on the ends of the handlebars. I loved it and would race all over the farm, up and down the barn floors, under electric fences and across the bumpy lane ways. Somewhere in between those two memories I must have had another bike, a medium two wheeler: and that is where the training wheels come in. I remember being given the little wheels, and I vaguely remember using them.... But I cannot remember to what bike they were attached.
Now fast forwarded some twenty years. I now have two bikes; a red one speed and a purple 10 speed. The one speed I was given a year before I left for college and other then a few family bike rides I rarely used it. On the other hand once I started college that bike got me all over campus for the greater part of two years. Shortly after graduating I was given the 10'speed in order to keep up with my friends on their bike rides. Using it I have grown to have a new appreciation for the term "I went for a bike ride". Miles and miles I have gone, and love spending time with friends yet.... The other day I pulled out my one speed, fixed it up and went for a quick two mile ride. And boy have I missed the simple joy of biking around the farm, bumping over wheel ruts and coasting around the barns. Not only that, but my eldest nephew just inherited my training wheels and has gone from walking beside his bike to actually riding it. I look forward to zooming around the farm with him.
The farmer's daughter
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Day three
eventually I will figure out how to upload photos, but for now words will have to suffice!!
Today was a good and long day.... Work went well, I didn't have to yell at any kids and the hours were short!!! I finally planted the gladiolus and also some marigolds, and I finished the last of the spring raking. After tinkering with it I managed to remove the pump from our fountain, cleaned it and was able to get it running. Then with my dad's help I reassembled the fountain, filled it and got it started!!! Oh I love the sound of water!!!!
I also spent an hour sewing; which makes me feel confident that I can finish these two dresses by the weekend.
I had a long chat with a friend and realized once again that I love being busy doing things for other's. And vice versa hate myself when I spend to much time vegging by myself.
Today was a good and long day.... Work went well, I didn't have to yell at any kids and the hours were short!!! I finally planted the gladiolus and also some marigolds, and I finished the last of the spring raking. After tinkering with it I managed to remove the pump from our fountain, cleaned it and was able to get it running. Then with my dad's help I reassembled the fountain, filled it and got it started!!! Oh I love the sound of water!!!!
I also spent an hour sewing; which makes me feel confident that I can finish these two dresses by the weekend.
I had a long chat with a friend and realized once again that I love being busy doing things for other's. And vice versa hate myself when I spend to much time vegging by myself.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Day two
as with all writing projects I have lots to say but don't always get it written down. And eventually the ideas or excitement peters out and I stop. That said...
Today was a work and drive day. I had several errands to run in the Utica/New Hartford area, and after making some wrong turns and wasting some time I got done what I needed to!!! The result.... Bags of things needed, money spent, and a lots of hours spent in my hot car.
Now, after spending three hours in the cool but stuffy library, I cannot wait to get home and get dirty!!!! My garden calls to me...."plant me, dig in me, make me new"!!!
Today was a work and drive day. I had several errands to run in the Utica/New Hartford area, and after making some wrong turns and wasting some time I got done what I needed to!!! The result.... Bags of things needed, money spent, and a lots of hours spent in my hot car.
Now, after spending three hours in the cool but stuffy library, I cannot wait to get home and get dirty!!!! My garden calls to me...."plant me, dig in me, make me new"!!!
Monday, May 4, 2015
Later
I discovered today that it can be very hard to cut bamboo particularly if you are using a dull hacksaw... 😀 but that didn't put an end to my fence building.... No I just changed my plans a little. It is also difficult to hammer dull pieces of wood into clay soil. I am waiting for the trees to leaf out and provide shade. Then maybe it will be possible to stop sunburning!!!!
Day one
Monday..... The best and worst day of the week!!!! Today the plan is to plant the gladioli bulbs, and clean some things out of the garage. I also get to spend the morning with my youngest nephew Christopher. The cutest little terror to currently traverse the farm!!!! The farm..... A great place to grow up.... New things to experience all the time, a birds' eye view of God's power and plan, and you can grow up with a deep understanding of the ebb and flow of life.
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