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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Such A Fine Memory


The other night, one of the first of the (now many) super cold nights, I bundled up, pulled on my tall boots and headed to the barn for a late night check.  The snow had stopped and the winds calmed.  A few stars winked above and the only sound, the shoosh, crunch, shoosh crunch of my boots through the snow.

Everyone was fine, and I could have just returned to the house, but I stayed.  I set out some extra hay and walked over to stand with Hank.  Some sheep came out for the hay, some came over to visit with me, curious as to why I was there in the middle of the night.  I could have should have stayed forever. A fine memory.

As I turned to go, I saw a truck pull into Stella's driveway.  The snow was deep, but no match for a good four wheel drive.  The driver crept up the long hill, past her house, disappearing around the bend.  It was 11:30, but no reason for concern.  I knew the truck well.  It was the neighbor leasing her farm, headed back to check his cattle.

He is a good farmer.   I see him every morning.  We feed at nearly the same time every day.   As I'm setting out hay for the horses, he's rumbling up the hill in his tractor with a load of silage for his cows (or back down empty depending on how many emails I answered before walking out the door ;-).  He's too far away to see such a greeting, but I give him a nod.   

I like seeing him.  I like the sense of community, the feeling that I am keeping up.  Hoping maybe he looks down the hill and thinks I, too, am a good farmer.  Not everyone makes those late night treks.  I don't always and neither does he.  It meant something special to me on that crystal clear cold night, while the rest of the neighborhood slept, that a good farmer was still out.  And I was there, too.   

Such a fine memory.


23 comments:

Tyche's Minder said...

What a great post.

I need orange said...

Thank you for being a good farmer. Thank you for sharing all these glimpses of your life with us. I feel very privileged to be able to see them.

Susan said...

That sense of community is very comforting. I do bet he notices you and what a fine and thoughtful farmer you are. It's not an easy job, and many times it sure is stressful and weighs heavily, but it is a wonderful profession.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Yes a perfect memory to share of two good farmers:)

Alice said...

Very poignant commentary. I hope he has the opportunity to read your posting.

toastyyak said...

love (1)

Janice Grinyer said...

Your storytelling reminds me of that beautiful poem you sent me; feeding our "friends" xoxo

fjord girl said...

...and fine farmers you are - both.

Lori Skoog said...

You are a good farmer. So is he.

MarmePurl said...

A good farmer indeed. Both of you.

Marcy said...

So poignant....it brought tears to my eyes. Glad all is well.

Amy Dingmann said...

Very, very beautiful. :)

Michelle said...

What a sweet post. Good farmers are hard to come by :)

Sheepmom said...

Love this. Yes, the fraternity of farmers. If you go by a house at 2 AM and the lights are on you shrug. Go by a barn at 2 AM and you immediately think "uh-oh" and imagine a bad calving, sick animal, frozen pipes getting fixed, etc. This is just a nice happy feeling of camaraderie.. Nice!

Henny Penny said...

You wrote that so beautifully! I could feel the cold and quietness and hear the crunch of your boots.

Tombstone Livestock said...

And as Paul Harvey said "And God made a farmer"

Anchor Cottage said...

Such a fine story told! Thank you.

thecrazysheeplady said...

Exactly! You said it exactly.

Michelle said...

Most excellent essay!

Lisa Smith said...

Such a poignant piece. . . . you have such a gift.
I so appreciate your sharing it with us.

Susan said...

'And God made a farmer' and SHE was GOOD!!~!

T.L. Merrybard said...

Ahhh, I love the idea that there are still good farmers in the world. :)

LannieK said...

Excellent piece :-) So heart warming.

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