Batteries recharged

I was reading my favorite blog yesterday The Deliberate Agrarian. It always helps me when I get depressed and wander If I am doing the right thing by trying to move my family full time to the farm. I always have the same questions is it fair to Kenny Ray? Would I deprive him of opportunities? Am I living in the past?
These things always worry me. Most of the people around me think I am crazy for wanting to give a successful career and lower my standard of living. I always need a pep talk sometimes then all I have to is read The Deliberate Agrarian. It reminds me that I am a slave to a economic system meant to drain me of all my money and hope. The banks and my own Government are in this brainwashing of the middle class working man.In Mr. Kimball posted and essay the new Agrarian movement as well one about the current economic time from a book written in 1952 and how the industrial system is unsustainable. But the one essay that really struck me was about a obituary of a Mennonite man by the name of Mr. Ralph Yutzy. He was a farmer and a cabinet maker he was 86 years old. He left behind a family of 13 children, 152 grandchildren and 438 great grandchildren. What a family I really envy Mr. Yuttzy. I would love for my son to have such a family and the only way he would be able to do so is make is living from the farm and not enslaving himself to a bank. And so with this in mind I am going to double my efforts to get my family and my son on the farm as fast as I can.
All I can do his help him with the farm I am afraid he will have the harder task of finding a good woman that would be willing to have 13 children.

Happy Anniversary Tari

I am very lucky this morning as I have been married for twenty eight years today.
I know everyone is thinking Tari deserves a medal for putting up with me that long.
And you are right as I tend to be a bit moody at times and the more time that I spend at the farm the worse it is. and when I get down her and the Little boy get the brunt of it and for that I am sorry. If it were not for Tari I do not know what would of become of me, as she has always pulled me back to the straight and narrow.
I know she gets aggravated at me at times like birthdays and holidays as to me they are just another day and she is very sentimental about such things and for this I am sorry also. I have been thinking about all the times I have left her alone while gone on a hunting or fishing trips for several days or a week. She does not like being left alone and she worries that something will happen. Like the night I was gone to Arkansas, I had just arrived at a motel for the night and called her like I always do. we had just hung up and her phone rang again and it was the Highway Patrol calling to ask her if her husband was Kenneth R. Brewer , and she said yes.
They said they were sorry but he was killed this evening in a auto accident. She said I do not think so I just got off the phone with him two second a ago. I have often thought if I had not stopped for the night when I did or went to get something to eat what she would have went through.
She once told me that if I ever divorced her she only was going to tell the judge she wanted a couple of things. She said I want your hunting dogs and guns that will hurt more than anything. She was wrong I could not stand to lose her. I have been asked several times how have we made it twenty eight years as we are different as night and day. And I tell everyone it would not of if I was not so flexible. And they begin to laugh and say right. I am a very lucky man even as write this morning She and the Little Boy are in the living room putting up the Christmas tree and bickering about where the tree should go and the lights. Tari and I usually bicker about something everyday just like my Grandpa and Grandma Patton used to do. My mother even calls us Robert and Myrtle.

The blessing of laughter

We had a very nice Thanksgiving dinner yesterday,
Tari fixed an excellent dinner we had a Brewer and son raised twenty pound turkey and a huge pot of chicken and dumplings and all the trimmings.We were blessed with with fifteen friends and family members. And according to sister Lisa even the coffee was better as Tari purchased a different brand than my Maxwell house.She even called me after she got home to let me know how much better the coffee was.After dinner the adults piled into the living room for conversation while the kids played
hide and seek and video games. Kenny Ray hid is cousin Emily Grace in the clothes dryer they had a great time. One of the things that I am truly blessed with is laughter, and the house was full of smiles and laughter.I wish for everyone is laughter with family and friends.

God corrected my plans

It seems my plans for the weekend were not correct or just not in the sequence that God wanted. Now the first part started like my plan Kenny Ray, cousin Lester and I went out to Greene county fish and game for their annual youth pheasant hunt. Kenny Ray killed his limit of two pheasants and we got about eleven thirty, we cleaned them, loaded the truck and picked nephews Dave and Dan up and started toward the farm by twelve thirty.
We arrived at the farm and unloaded and the first thing on my list was to drag some timber out of the woods as I had two big Chestnut Oak’s fall back in the spring and they would make about two truck loads of firewood. Second was to clear a spot of land for my orchard that I want to plant in the spring. And if there was enough time before dark I intended to set a couple of traps with the boys and try and catch the Jester Hill Panther {see other blog Ramblings of a Appalachian American}. And lastly the four of us would go into town and have a pizza for supper. Well so much for my plans, Kenny Ray and Dan jumped in the bed of the truck and Dave rode up front with me. And just as started down the old logging road into my woods I heard a pop and hiss, I just busted a tire and the worst part I had not put the spare back in the truck it was back in the city seventy miles away. So I limped my ole truck out of the woods and back to the cabin driveway. The boys started back into the cabin as they thought the work detail was over.
I sad hey boys grab these tools and trap basket and the chainsaw I have a different job we can do still they moaned a little as they grabbed the tools and began to follow me back the lane toward the pond. We got back to a place I had cleared a couple of years ago that had grown up little with some saplings that had just got a little to big for the bush hog to go over and I cut them down and the boys dragged brush which they dearly love doing {ha ha}. Now this job only took about and hour and we finished about four in the evening. Which left me plenty of time to spend with the boys to set some traps which we did and had fun doing as we discussed why I set them where I did and what we might catch and what to do if we caught something that we did not want to catch. I think this morning that God wanted to spend time with the boys, and not working till dark as which would have probably would of happened had not been for the busted tire on my truck.
One other thing I learned last night was that I need to keep more food here than what I have been doing. Lucky I had brought down some chicken a couple of weeks ago and put in the freezer for deer season. I managed to fix us a good supper of barbeque chicken, corn and macaroni and cheese. Well I am going to get me a cup of coffee and sit out on the porch and wait for my friend Shane to bring me my spare so I can get the old man and old truck home again.

Last of my Tomato's

Well these are the last of my tomatoes for the year, as I will not pay four dollars a pound for them at the store. Kenny Ray pulled them just the other day for before the frost and they finished turning on the counter. So for breakfast this morning I decide to use the green one for my last fried green tomato , spinach, mayo and bacon sandwich see photo below. These tomatoes produced just about all summer they did not get to there full size, which is fine with me as I am the only one to eat them. Tari will eat them as fried green tomatoes and in sauce and Kenny Ray will only eat sauce and ketchup and prefers barbecue sauce for french fries. The tomato plane is Kentucky beefsteak. I will finish the ripe one this week with a baloney sandwich for my dinner at work. It is funny as I was writing this story the mail came and I received a Gurneys seed catalog for spring of 2011. this is the earliest it has ever come, they usually come the first of January. I usually order from several companies as each has a variety that I like best and usually I end up getting free seed or plants from specials that different companies offer. I really enjoy looking thru the catalog during the cold winters days and thinking of next year, so this is going throw me out of my routine.

Fried green Tomato , spinach, mayo and bacon sandwich

11 days and 26 halloween days of bliss

I am very sad to see October go, as it as been one of the best Octobers that I can remember. They said on the radio yesterday that we had twenty eight days of sunshine and clear skies with just above average temps. The only thing that was really not good was the fall color as I can remember much more colorful years, but good nonetheless. I was thankful for being able to spend 11 days at the farm including part of this past weekend. In fact I spent this past Sunday morning on the porch drinking coffee and listening to the church bells that where ringing in town. Then took a walk out to the pond and drank another cup. Then went down to Uncle Ken’s to fix his chainsaw and drop off the four wheeler so he could pull the log splitter around, we visited for a while then I headed home around two pm. as I promised the Little Boy I would take him trick or treating.
We went down to Tari’s Aunt Pam’s in Waynesville, where we got together with some of her family. As I was walking with the kids it dawned on me that I have been taking the kids trick or treating for over twenty six years. It started with my nephew and niece Matthew and Monica, he his twenty six and has three boys ages two to seven, Monica has a little one year old girl, in fact she turns one today. Then I had Kenny ray who is thirteen and his cousin Skyra who is ten years old. The kids got a lot of candy and exercise we had fun.
Since I have had no chickens or turkeys to take care of this month I have been spending my dinnertime over at Carriage hill Farms Park. While I am there I usually write or plan some work to do down on the farm. This week I have been planning my orchard to get planted in the spring. I want to plant five-apple trees and two peach trees as well as two cherry trees and a couple of grape vines. I have the new Fedco catalogue and will be placing my order next week if I can choose which variety I want. I want apple s early mid summer and late fall. If you remember I planted two trees back in the spring but my neighbor trying to help this summer bush hogged them down for me I am sure it was an accident though. I like coming here to the farm in some ways as it helps to remind me what I am working for. And in other ways it depress me as it remind me that I am not on my own farm working it. Even here with all the highway noise and being in the city it is very peaceful watching the sheep graze the pasture with one lone red maple in the pasture, and the Dominick hens scratching the fallen leaves and dusting themselves in the dirt road. Well it is time for me to head back to the rat race as I am now late must return to work

Three days on the farm

Well it is only fitting that the today is gray and overcast after spending three sunshine filled October days on the farm with the Little Boy. We did manage to get a little work done, we helped Uncle Ken cut a little wood ,mowed and trimmed for the last time around the cabin and a little around the pond. Yesterday morning we cleaned the cabin and I washed all the bed clothes and towels , opened all the windows and aired the cabin out it was 74 degrees and breezy yesterday, we did all this in between riding 4 wheelers yesterday. At one point yesterday I stopped racing with Kenny Ray and laid back on the 4 wheeler and watched the sky , the clouds speed by and the wind howled thru the woods it was very relaxing, til Kenny Ray found and crashed into me. I did manage to watch the sunrise every morning and write a little over the weekend as well as drink a lot of coffee on the porch. I sat and did some more planning for a root cellar , wood shed , and dog kennel , where to put them and what ground needs cleaned up this winter. If it's a mild winter i hope to get allot done. I also have some things to finish up on the cabin. As Kenny Ray and i finish packing the trailer to come last night he asked Dad why are you mad? Did I do something? No son I told him, Dad just doe's not want to go back to Dayton and back to work tomorrow. He said I know Dad. So the overcast day fits my mood today. I have one more weekend in October to be at the cabin I only hope the the weather continues to cooperate as it all of this month.

Have been under the weather

I have been asked why I have not written anything lately. Well I have been under weather as my sinuses’s have been about to kill me with some bad headaches. I did get down to the farm over the last couple of weeks. On the weekend of the tenth and eleventh I had to go down and put a back glass in my Uncle Kens truck as he busted out another with a block of firewood , he threw it into the bed of his truck and it bounced up and busted out the back glass it is the second time he has done it. Although when I get to be 71 years old I hope I am still able to cut wood as he is, he cut and loaded 11 loads of firewood by himself last week and he needs a cane to walk out to mailbox, as he has a pinched nerve in his low back. Well I got the glass in and he and cousin Lester , Kenny Ray and I went up into the woods and cut me a load of White oak firewood. After we got the wood cut Lester, Kenny Ray and I went over to the Mennonite store and got a sandwich and a bottle of pop for dinner. We had a little picnic out in the parking lot under a big ole Maple tree.
After dinner Lester went home and Kenny Ray and went up on the hill to the farm.
He and I got out our bows and did a little practice. We then got out the tree stand and went and picked out a tree for the Little Boy to hunt out of. We found a tree and the Little boy hooked up the stand and began to climb. After he was setup I proceeded out to the tree house and we began to hunt. A couple of hours passed and the Little Boy called me on the walkie talkie and said he was going to climb down. { he has to call me when he begins his climb and is situated and before he climbs down as well also when he is back on the ground], I try not to worry but I do. The next morning I let him sleep in and I went out to the pond with a cup of coffee and about a pound of fish food. I was not really paying attention I was just enjoying the grandeur of Gods coloring book and the sweet breeze of fall. Just as I came into view of the pond four wild ducks flew off the water..
I was quiet shocked as it was the first time I had seen ducks on my ole place, I was really delighted. I scattered a handful of fish feed on the water and sat down on a stump and waited for the show to begin, in less the five minutes it began the catfish where feeding so fast that if had known better you would have thought they were piranhas. I sat there feeding the fish and drinking coffee under a clear blue sky and the trees changing into there fall coat of many colors.
This past weekend Tari, Kenny Ray, and nephew Dan we went back down to the farm as it was Festival of Leaves weekend. Tari and I dropped off the boys at the Festival on our way thru town for a couple hours as we unloaded the truck and put away groceries, I picked them up about nine thirty pm.On Saturday I got up about 5 am and built my first fire of the year ,as I sat there by the stove with a cup of coffee and writing in my journal.
Waiting on the sun to come up as I love watching the sun coming up over the ridge and the night turn into day, I always remember some days hunting in sub zero weather and how glad I was to see that orange ball of fire in the sky.I am glad to be sitting here by the stove this cool morning. I freshened my coffee and grabbed a cup of fish food and headed to the pond to see if the ducks where there this weekend I was full of hope. As I neared the pond I was quickly disappointed no ducks. I scattered some of the food on the water and after a few minutes the fish began to feed but not with a fury like last weekend as the water was turning cooler. After thirty minutes of quiet solitude Tari had awakened and came down to find me. I finished and we went for a walk down the lane and toward the woods and I showed her where the Little Boy had placed his tree stand and told her how safe he had been so far, but she was still nervous. We got back to the cabin and the boys were up. I fixed breakfast and Kenny Ray said dad what time are we going to the festival. I said son I may not go down til about two o'clock, he frowned, and said dad can we walk down now. I said it is over a mile to town are sure? He said yes and they left for town and the festival.When Tari and I drove down it was a mile and a half. The city shut down the road up the hill to my cabin over the weekend as some downhill luge group gets the use of the hill for there competition. If you go to you tube and type in demons of down hill, Bainbridge Ohio. If you slow down the beginning as they leave the starting line you can glimpse of my cabin in the background. These guys are brave just ask Kenny Ray as he crashed going down the hill on a bike back in the summer and was introduced to his first case of road rash.
On Sunday I slept in late til six am that is late for me. I got up made some coffee and sat out on the porch and watched the sun come up. I love Sunday mornings in Bainbridge as the church bells can be heard up on the hill. After breakfast I went for a walk in the woods by myself with some marker spray paint as I was going to paint the boundary pins of my land. About halfway thru my walk I stopped and looked around and layed down in the leaves and let the warm sunshine on my face. About an hour later I woke up and decided to just mark the south and east boundaries today. As I continued about my task
I thanked God for this beautiful day . When I sprayed the last pin I started back to the cabin, kn owing that I had to get packed and head back to Dayton as I had to go to work.

My 100 item challenge

Well I Promised you all a look at my 100 item challenge list ,and I have been working on it and eliminating some of those possessions that I though at the time I needed. As I was going of my list of essentials I used one rule. If I had not used in it the last 12 months I did not need it. So it went on Craigslist and Ebay. I have been very busy shipping and selling those items I deemed not needed. I found out one thing I can not even give a TV away I listed on Craigslist and Xenia freecycle and not one taker for a 19 inch color TV with no remote. I think that is because there is nothing on it worth watching. Well enough commentary here is the third revision of the list.

1 Wedding Ring

2 Coon skin hat { hard decision for #one or two}

3 wrist watch

4 work boots

5 hunting boots

6 knee boots

7 dress shoes

8 casual shoes

9 socks [10 pair]

10 Boxer's [10 pair]

11 denim jeans

12 denim jeans

13 denim jeans

14 denim jeans

15 camo pants

16 brush pants

17 sweatshirt

18 t shirt

19 t shirt

20 t shirt

21 long sleeve shirt

22 long sleeve shirt

23 long sleeve shirt

24 short sleeve shirt

25 short sleeve shirt

26 short sleeve shirt

27 camo long sleeve shirt

28 camo short sleeve shirt

29 carhart coat

30 camo coat

31 camo jacket

32 carhart work coat

33 belt

34 suspenders

35 baseball cap

36 computer

37 sleep machine cpap [ so i do not snore]

38 fishing pole

39 fishing pole

40 Tackle box [ basic items bobber, hooks, sinkers]

41Coleman lantern [ bought when I was 16 years old]

42 Filet knife [ a high school graduation present from the Hackathornes]

43 shotgun

44 shotgun

45 shotgun [ gift from Uncle ken]

46 shotgun [ gift from uncle ken]

47 Rifle 22 [ gift from my dad when I was 10]

48 shotgun [ gift from my dad when I was 10, first gun now Kenny Ray's so minus one]

48 Rifle

49 Rifle

50 Muzzle loader rifle [ gift from wife Tari]

51 Muzzle loader rifle

52 Muzzle loader handgun [ gift from wife]

53 handgun

54 handgun

55 deerskin shirt [ made by my mother from skins of deer that I harvested]

56 pocket knife

57 skinning knife

58 skinning knife

59 Crossbow [ gift from my dad] inc a dozen arrows

60 compound bow plus a dozen arrows

61 binoculars

62 range finder

63 camera

64 treestand [ gift from Tom Loxley former boss and friend]

65 headlamp

66 gun cleaning kit

67 set walkie talkies

68 gps handheld

69 flashlight

70 chainsaw [ five extra chains]

71 4 wheeler kawasaki

72 4 wheeler honda

73 enclosed trailer

74 beagle hound [ Ole jack]

75 beagle hound [ still looking for but he needed a spot on the list]

76 box turkey call

77 dog box for truck

78 tritronics dog collar

79 traps [ a dozen]

71 snares [ a dozen]

72 fur stretchers[ a dozen]

73 knife sharpening stone [ gift from my grandmother]

74 lunch box [ gift from grandfather when i was 16 and just starting to work]

75 journal [ a gift for my son and grandchildren]

76 Thermos for coffee

77 thermos for soup

78 bike

79 toolbox[ with basic tools]

80 baseball glove

81 bowling ball

82 bowling shoes

83 sleeping bag

84 cooler

85 work gloves

86 beagle hound [ since i can not come up with a 100 i need another dog]

Well this is where I am tonight on my list , I know I have forgotten something as I have rewritten now 4 times with some things added and some removed . I went thru my clothes this past Sunday and Tari and I got rid of some clothes . They will be given to Amvets. I am still going thru the barn and sorting thru and organizing what a man packs away thinking he will need someday. And at the end of one 's days all those things that took time and money away from quality family time will be picked over by strangers at an estate or garage sale for a quarter

or fifty cents. It reminds me of a book my mother gave called" Your money or your life". I do have one problem as I am told that I am a romantic as I have a story behind almost all of my possessions which makes them priceless to me and they will all find there way to my 100 item list. I am still trying to give away a TV if you need one Email me or it is going to be a target.

FIRE at the turkey pen

FIRE at the turkey pen

Yesterday was a strange day for me. It all started Thursday when I got a call from Dave , he owns the land where I keep my chickens and turkey's. He called to tell me that something had killed one of my turkeys. I went over to check the rest and dispose of the dead one, it looked like maybe a stray dog or coyote had gotten it. I walked the fence and tightened it up and decided to change up my schedule and check them more frequently for a couple days and see if I could catch the culprit. So Friday morning I left the house at daylight with a shotgun just in case I caught it in the act. A beautiful morning in fact I wished I was going squirrel hunting instead. The turkey's were safe and sound and I continued on to work. I went to dinner about 1:30 and decided not to check the turkey then but on my way home. I grabbed a sandwich and drove thru the countryside enjoying the day and thought what a beautiful day it was perfect breezy and warm with the air so fresh, I even commented it back at work. It is strange how things can change so fast. I was paged to the phone and it was Dave he said the field is on Fire I said what he said again the field is on fire , I said I am on my way. When I got there the whole field was a blaze I hustled over to start fighting fire with my feet and a five gallon bucket. I was not getting much out at the upper end as it was to hot to stay very long. I came out and asked Dave have you called the fire department? He said no I said Dave you better call if it gets in that lower big brush pile we could have a major problem. Dave called as I went to the lower end and began to fight the fire. About 15 minutes later the fire department showed up , I had managed to the big brush pile from catching fire. After the fire was out I noticed something strange and if you look at the photo's I took you will see the fire went all around the turkeys but not a blade of the grass burnt inside the pen. I do not know why and neither did the firemen. The turkey's where fine, I destroyed a snow shovel and a bucket from using them to put out the fire. As well as a pair of sneakers. My little toe on my right foot got a small burn from stomping fir and a small burn on my left forearm . And I ended up with a burn on my forehead as well as some singed hair of which I can not stand to lose. In all about an acre burnt we were very lucky that it did not get out of hand. Thank God

Oldman Waterfall Lets take a dip

This is the second in Appalachian American series of limited edition 8x 10 signed and numbered photos.

Butterfly Dinner Time

I am now offering some signed limited edition photos, one of twenty five. The Appalachian American series. Photos of beauty and a way of simple living of which I want to share with others. They are only for sale on this sight and on ebay. If you wish to purchase as a gift or for yourself, you may contact me directly at brewerandsonsfarm@yahoo.com or look for them on ebay seller identification is krbsr64. I can have matted and framed or you have done yourself

which ever you prefer I will try to accommodate any special request.

Do you want to buy a TV ?

I read an article last week that has motivated me into action,it was the 100 item challenge. It is about a group of people who are reducing their personal belongings down to a hundred things, in an effort to reduce their consumerism. One of the rules they do not count family household shared items like dishes and glasses or the stove or couch. The other rule is if you receive a gift

if have to make room for it by getting rid of something. I have thought about these past few days since reading about the challenge and remembering some of the stories that my parents and aunt and uncle have told me about like my mother telling me all the furniture my grandparents owned besides their beds was 4 chairs and a table. No couch or tvs just a table and 4 chairs.

I started by taking a quick inventory of the top of my head and I could not believe all the crap that I had purchased thru the years. The one thing that I could not believe was that I owned five television sets, but there it was on the list 5 tvs. Then I thought of when I was a kid we were lucky to have one TV and it had a wire clothes hanger as an antenna and black and white. Quickly my list went past a hundred items , as I thought about the list a day or two I began to start crossing off things that I had not used in the 8 months, and the list began to shrink. Those items will be on Ebay, craigslist and given away to Amvets. I then began a list of 100 items that I do need I have yet to come with 75 items let alone a 100 and that includes clothes. On the list i have include socks 10 pair as one item and underwear 10 pair as one item but pants, shirts ,shoes are counted individually as is my watch and wedding ring. I have challenged Kenny Ray to a sixty item list , and trying to get Tari to commit to a 100 item list as well, she just looks at me like I have a third eye in the middle of my forehead. I will post my finished list as I complete it. If you need a TV shoot me an Email.

Turkey's and Fetch Wood

We had our first Freedom Ranger chicken dinner this past week, as well as my baby sister's family did also. Both families agree they have a much better taste to them and they had a little more fat under the skin and contributes alot to taste. The one down side however was pin feathers as they do have more than the Cornish cross. Overall though I was very pleased with the Freedom Rangers and will raise them again, they ate less feed and more bugs and grass as well has not having to be penned and moved everyday which are big pluses for a 50 hour a week working man. I never did catch the weasel that was killing my chickens, he got eleven birds total. I have really enjoyed the turkey's this year, it has been my first year raising them. I had always been scared to do so as I was always told how hard it was to raise them. I have only lost one bird and the other five seem to handling all this heat just fine. One of the things I enjoy about them is they come to me when I get there to feed and water them and follow me like puppies. They eat the bugs that I kick up as I walk, so I always walk at least once around the enclosure and I catch a few big grasshoppers and hand feed them. I will be raising them again.

Kenny Ray and I started cutting firewood this past week, it was a hot job but had to get started.

I think we will have another hard winter this year although I do think it will be late in starting.

I have been watching some trees starting to change color and I do not mean from heat, There are to Sugar maples that I pass each morning on my way to work that are turning red already. anyway we cut two of the twenty loads of wood that we need for home, and I need too cut about three maybe four loads for the cabin. We will try to get alot of it over the next few weeks. Kenny Ray is in no hurry as firewood is not his favorite activity. I have nicknamed him Fetch Wood for the fall and winter months, as it is his job to keep the stove going thru the day when I am at work.

Green beans and tomato's- chicken update

One of my favorite meals, half runner green beans cooked with fat back, sliced tomato's and cucumbers and cornbread. Fresh sweet corn optional. I just about foundered Friday night on it and we had just a few left overs. Which I plan on warming up here in just a few minute's for dinner. They would of been finished off yesterday but we had a family picnic over at Tari's cousin's in Brookville yesterday. Over the next few weeks Tari and Kenny Ray will be sick of green beans as I could eat them everyday and probably just about will.

I will be taking the next batch of chickens tomorrow to the butcher. I have had my hands full with them this time. Between the heat and the bandit I have lost more birds this batch, than the previous two years combined. I first thought the bandit was a coon, but now I am convinced it is weasel or mink. Which ever it is he tried again last night and must have got shocked pretty bad. Because when I got there this morning about three feet of the lower part of the fence was melted and the grass burnt black, but no dead chickens. The bandit got seven Freedom Ranger chickens in total, one more night to go. I also lost a turkey to heat as well as eight Cornish cross birds. I will not be taking the turkey's tomorrow as I think they have not put on enough weight. I do not think the weasel will try and get the turkey's we'll see.

Picking black berries with mom

Kenny Ray and I did not get home from the cabin until after midnight last night and then ran over to check on the chickens, On Saturday night we had another chicken killed by the masked bandit.

my mother got a hold of me to let me know as my nephew's Dave and Biscuit aka Dan where taking care of them for me as Kenny Ray and I were being Appalachian Americans this holiday weekend. The masked bandit had got a chicken early last week and this one made two , I even spent one night standing guard. Last night I discovered how they were getting thru the electric fence by accident as I touched it and no shock and then I realized I was not hearing the click from the battery but during the day I heard it loud and clear . The battery for the fence has an solar charger on it so during the day it worked but not at night, so today I put a regular fence charger on it. I only have 14 days to go before they all go the butcher, I have lost a total of 5 chickens and that is 5 to many . if this does not solve problem me and little boy may take up a permanent camp at night with chickens.

Anyway being up so late last night I slept late this morning and mom finally called about 7 am looking for me . As we were to go pick black berries this morning before it got up to hot. That is a picture of mom above in the berrie patch, we picked a little over 2 gallons and put these in freezer for winter. Mom wants a Black Berrie cobbler for Thanks giving dinner, and I want Black Berrie dumplings in January after I come in from rabbit hunting. In January I will remember that 90 degree July day as I sit by the fire, trying to thaw out my feet.

We are planning on going back tomorrow evening and picking some for jam. Mom was not to fond of being in the tall grass in the picture as she and I are both afraid of snakes but that is where the biggest and the sweetest berries are.

GONE FISHING

Chicken bandit, and family all home

This past few days have been hard on my chickens I have lost 3 broilers from the heat and 1 Freedom Ranger attacked and killed last night. I think it was a raccoon a magical raccoon that can walk thru electric fence as I can find where the coon came thru or exited the fence. I am going to camp out tonight with the chickens and try to catch the midnight bandit. I am glad to see it cool down it is easier on me and the chickens as they were drinking about 16 gallons of water a day and I was having to visit them twice a day.

I am glad to have my family back home, they came home from summer camp Saturday afternoon, it is great to hear the pitter patter of my little boys feet as he walks across the floor, and even better to hear my wife snore. Ole Jack, Kenny Ray's beagle escaped Monday night right before a thunderstorm hit , Jack is afraid of thunder and lightening. As Kenny Ray was moving him to the barn , he got loose from him and ran away. We searched for him about 45 minutes but could not find him. A lady in Fairborn called the next morning and asked if we had a dog with a cow bell on him. Tari told her yes , and the young lady brought Jack home. Jack had traveled about 5 miles from home during the storm. We are glad Ole Jack is home also.

Good night and I love you

I have been a bachelor for a week,some what anyway. With Kenny Ray and Tari gone to boy scout summer camp for a week , they will come home Saturday. I had Tari fix 3 cans of Salmon into patties for me to eat this week. I like Salmon patties and I have had them for dinner and supper since they left, Breakfast has been muffins and raspberry jam. I can honestly say I am ready for a hamburger tomorrow. It has been a sleepless week last Saturday night Kenny Ray and I was out to about 1am fishing, Sunday did not get home til about 11 pm, Monday and Tuesday I went fishing Til about 10:30 pm and midnight after the fish were filleted and in the freezer. I got home from work last night showered and lied down to read about 7 pm and I took my glasses off to rest my eyes and I woke up at about 11:30 pm when Tari called. I usually like to be in bed about 9 pm, and these late night caught up to me. I remember when I could function good on just a couple hours of sleep a night, but as Tari always reminds me that was a 100 lbs and 20 years ago. I have not been a bachelor very much in my life as I got married right out of high school it is strange sleeping in the bed alone, it's funny all the little things you miss

after being married 28 years . like good night i love you and having my back hugged. The hard part this week as been the lack of communication as her cell phone has no reception there. Tonight I am writing while I do a load of laundry as I just finished cleaning up a little. So goodnight Tari and son I love you.

Sauerkraut Mountain style

The weeds are winning in my garden. I was thankful back in April that it was dry as managed to get most of my garden planted earlier than I ever had in in the 21 years that I have lived here in Beavercreek. But now with April rains in June My garden is soaked and some of the tomato plants are turning yellow. I need to get some more beans in if it will dry up a little this week, if not I will go fishing , and add to the freezer as there is a good catfish bite on now. Kenny Ray , Biscuit {Dan} my nephew , my mom and I picked about a gallon of Black Raspberries last Thursday night after work and mom made some more jam yesterday, while Tari and I made some sauerkraut from 4 nice heads of cabbage out of the garden and she also made me some Cole slaw. I make my sauerkraut like my grandparents did and I assume my great grandparents as well. Here is my recipe.

Brewer family sauerkraut

1 shred cabbage and place in jar, leave 1inch head space

2 pour 1 tablespoon of pickling salt over cabbage in jar

3 add cold well water to cover cabbage { try to avoid city water} and dissolve salt

4 cover with lids DO NOT TIGHTEN leave loose for 2 days then tighten lids and store

The above picture is 6 quarts that Tari and I put up yesterday. Mom and I will be busy for the next couple of weeks picking berries and canning beets as they should be ready this week as well.

Black Raspberries and my little boy

Kenny Ray got home yesterday, he spent the first part of the week with his Grandmother at the farm in Bainbridge. They went down to pick black raspberries for some home made jam. They took some books for reading and did a little fishing. I have written in the past how much I hate it when he is gone the house becomes a tomb. Tari and I always miss him something fierce. While we will enjoy the jam I do not know if it was worth him being gone 2 days, next week he and Tari will be gone for 7 days at boy scout summer camp. I will surely be lost with both gone. I took Kenny Ray to his archery league last night and we had a great conversation as we talked for almost 2 hours as he shot. I got about 5 hugs and I love you daddy. Here is a little Appalachian American poetry

In the body of a man
but still a little boy
my heart swells with joy

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life Matthew 6:27

This morning as I was feeding and watching the chickens as they were devouring the fresh grass and scratching for bugs. I thought of all the grass I was not using and what a waste . God has provided such a bounty of food right in front of me. Now I know I can not eat grass, but God has provided turkeys and chickens and cows that can process grass and the insects that live in the grass. While I was sitting there I thought about what all God has provided in each season for food. In early spring There are fresh greens as Poke Salad and Cresses a wild lettuce , Morel mushrooms or dry land fish as mountain people call them. Summer brings berries to eat Black Raspberries and Blackberries, Mulberries. In the fall you have Hickory nuts , walnuts, Paw paws, Persimmons. these are just a few items that I can think of off the top of my head. Now I can not think of to many none meat items for winter. But winter is the time of year that you need more calories that only meat can provide and winter is a great time to hunt wild game.

Today though people like to call themselves civilized so they buy most of their food and allot

precooked and assembled in a factory. Even God has an answer to this unnatural food it is called

growing a garden and preserving the excess. Raising chickens and a beef , go fishing and learn to fillet fish for the freezer. Food is never a problem if you look to God the answer is already there.

Matthew 6:26

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. are you not much more valuable than they?

What a tremendous faith that one would have to have to live by the above verse.

I will pray for you and myself for that faith.

Weeds and wet weather

Tari and I tried weeding the garden some this evening as they are calling for rain tomorrow.

This past week was wet and hot and humid which is good for the vegetable's but the weeds like it better. I was almost weed free until the rains hit and they multiplied like rabbits. I did have to dust my cabbage for the first time this evening as I was starting to get a little insect damage. I caught a white fly under the row cover on one end and that is where i have the most damage. I did thin some of the fruit off the apple and peach trees. I found one Japanese beetle on some flowers here at home but they have not appeared on any fruit yet. I am off tomorrow for Kenny Ray's birthday, so not much extra work will be done tomorrow just feed the chickens and we are going down to cabin to mow grass and the rest of the day will be spent either at the pond or on the river bank.

An old friend, a cousin and garden update

I had a surprise today visitor today Big Ronnie, I wrote about him in January in looking up an old friend. We talked about an hour about old times when we were growing up together. I told him I was writing all those stories down . And that Kenny Ray loved to listen to the stories. When I got home this evening I called my cousin Nova, to see how everyone was doing and to ask her if she would write down some stories or anything that her mom and brothers and sisters would like to add to the book I have been writing about my family. My family has always passed loved to tell stories and I want to write them down for future generations from humble beginnings as share croppers thru the great depression to a small farm that was the garden of Eden for my Grandmother Sarah Belle Brewer. I may post some of it here or on my other blog Ramblings of a Appalachian American after some final editing. I posted a picture of the first tomato of the year here today I took the picture Sunday June 6 just before I popped it in my mouth. we have a lot of heat and rain here last week and the weeds are growing strong I need to get a hoe in the garden maybe tomorrow evening. The rabbits are reaching havoc on my beans I have replanted some spots 3 times now.I think I will replant again and move the ole Jack closer to the garden.

I went over to my mother's house this evening to set a post and tie a tree to it to straighten up.

We walked back to garden and I noticed a Japanese beetle on her sunflower I will check my peach tree in the morning as they always attack it first. I need to spray something on it to try and save as it is loaded with peaches. It looks like it will be a good year for fruit the apples are so loaded down I think the branches will break . I picked some cherries for the first time off one of my trees about a pint and I have about a dozen plums also. Looks like i might get some canning done

next week as the beets and cabbage should be ready. I had my first losses of chickens Saturday

2 of them got caught under the pen as I was moving. I still have 110 on pasture and 6 turkeys.

Chickens are ready

Kenny Ray and I took the first batch of chickens to the butcher shop this evening. I started with 40 and never lost a one , and the 3 turkey's are growing nicely as well. I have started another web site for anyone interested in purchasing a 100% drug free chicken, raised on grass and in sunshine with a buffet of grass and bugs. You will find an order form on the site as well. The site is still under construction. I hope to finish the site this coming weekend as Tari and Kenny Ray

birthday are this week and I have a couple of day's off. There never seems to be enough time to get all the work done. Here is the address for the chickens if you are interested. http://brewerandsonspasturedpoultry.blogspot.com

God bless and goodnight as 5am comes early.

I am against fishing in the rain

Kenny Ray and I hauled down supplies for my mom and sister Friday night down to the farm for their weekend visit. He and I got up Saturday morning and went fishing in the Pond, we caught several fish 2 really nice 4lb Channel catfish. I came home Saturday afternoon but Kenny Ray stayed as Dave and Dan came down and a couple of other boys with them , one with purple hair

and another boy that comes from a anti hunting family. Kenny Ray said dad they would not even fish or swimming in the pond as the water looked dirty, all they wanted to do was watch TV and play video games. It is a shame, what those Boy's are missing. Then their is Kenny Ray who has bad allergies and a touch of asthma, he said to me one day It's not fair I want to be outside all the time Dad but these stupid allergies.

I ended up at Greene county Fish and game club by myself Saturday evening after coming home and feeding the chickens as Tari was at her Aunt Pam's house. I fished til dark catching 2 nice channel catfish I brought these home and filleted them out for my Lunch one day this week.

On Sunday Tari and I went and picked Strawberries, about a gallon and a half. She mad a nice

strawberry pie.That evening she and I went back to Greene county and went fishing for a couple of hours. We did not catch anything it was very hot.

Monday morning went and took care of chickens they are ready to butcher they have gotten so fat they can hardly walk. I have an appointment for Thursday morning for the first 40 chickens. Kenny Ray and I will spend the day in Greenville as it is about an hour and half from here, we will just wait on them. I cleaned out my old and worn truck in the afternoon just waiting on Kenny Ray to get home. He got home around 3pm , we talked and he went in to the refrigerator to get some tea and seen my catfish filet's in a bowl," hey dad come and fry this fish"

there went my lunch. He and I decided to go back out to the club and fish that evening but as pulled into club it started raining, I said son let sit here a few minutes and see if clears up. We just sat there about 15 minutes talking, and then he sang " i am against fishing in the rain". It is from a Hank Jr. song "I am for love". I can not hardly stand it when Kenny Ray is gone somewhere without me the house just seems so empty and quiet. Even as I write this morning I can hear him breathing/snoreing in his room across the hall.When he is gone my home is just a house, he walks in the door it becomes home.

Chicken's , Fishing and a cup of coffee

I sold all my bee keeping supplies Saturday, I had posted the ad on Craigslist last Monday and was contacted by the gentleman that taught me how to keep bee's. I hated to sell them but have not had enough time to take care of them properly. At some point in the future I will keep bee's again.

Kenny Ray and I drove to Germantown to pick up another 60 chickens and 3 turkey's. I have been lucky this spring has I have had no chicks die on me yet , knock on wood.I have 40 chickens scheduled to butcher the 3rd of June, and another 50 that are ready to moved out of the brooder and onto pasture. Yesterday I went and burrowed a cup of coffee from my Aunt Carmie she is 87 years old, I believe. I love to visit and talk about the old days as I always learn something about my family history. I took her some parts of a book that I have started about all the stories that I have been told threw the years and everything that I remember. She is going to read and fill in anything that I may have remembered wrong.

Tari went with Kenny Ray and me down to the farm yesterday afternoon, we had to get the mail and mow the grass. My mother and sisters are going down next weekend for a week to decorate my Dad's grave and relax for a few days. I took down some fishing poles and tackle and left for the kids to use. I mowed around the pond while Kenny Ray and Tari fished, Tari hooked a catfish I believe and it snapped her line into, the fish took bobber and all. For the next hour or so

we watched for the bobber as it would appear and disappear always moving and wandering was at the other end as we never did see what kind of fish it was. They caught several fish a couple of bass and some nice bluegill and one big catfish that Kenny Ray caught. I have started eating out of my garden this week I have some lettuce and radishes the other night as well as some green onions. I think I will have Tari fix some soup beans this week with some wilted lettuce and corn bread. Well it's time for another cup of coffee and the sun is coming up it is time to get another day started and thank God for another day on this side of the grass.

Blackberry winter and blessing's

Friday we got 50 Freedom Ranger chicks in the mail. This is my first time raising this breed of meat chicken but so far they seem to have more personality than the broilers. They are no afraid of us and that is a big plus as I am always afraid that the broilers will smother each other are break a leg when they pile up on each other. Kenny Ray and I mowed grass most of the day yesterday for the chickens yesterday on the ground in New Carlisle where we raise the chickens and then drove down to the farm to mow the grass around the cabin it was starting to look like a widow woman lived there again. Kenny Ray and went for a walk trying to pick a place for his tree house project as well stopping to feed the fish in the pond. On the way down to the farm we stopped to get something to eat in Xenia and ran into a young man that I hired when he was 18 and just out of high school. I say young man but he is 31 and has a family now. That was one of the things I always enjoyed was helping young men get a start in life.

As of this morning no chicken or turkey death's and that is a good thing with the range in temps we have had the past couple weeks. They are putting on weight nicely.

I had to cover Tomatoes again last night as the weathermen where calling for a possible frost.

With the passing of Blackberry winter this weekend. I am going to get the rest of the garden in. The old folks always told me to expect a cold spell when the Blackberry's are in bloom and it always seems to happen, even Dad believed in Blackberry winter. The weather is funny the weathermen where calling for heavy rains this past week here. My house in the city we did not get a quarter of inch of rain. My farm is about and hour's drive and they got a good 2 inches of rain and my pond came up a good 4 inches and is at the brink over going over the spillway. I used to worry the pond would never hold water and now I worry that it will run over and wash out the dam. I am truly blessed and like the pond my cup run'th over. Not with money just simple pleasure of life.

If you love something set it free

Kenny Ray came to me this evening and said "Dad I think I would like to go to college" and maybe learn to be an architect. I said son if that's what you think you want to do dad will help you do what ever you want. I then told him to look up on the Internet for information on it, and that I took a year of drafting in high school and have some of the drawing tools here in the house somewhere that he could have. I also gave him a set of blueprints that I have for a house to look at. I then told him that if he wanted to design him a small house that we would build it down on the farm. He then asked me "what about a tree house" can we build that. I said ok as long as you draw it all out and you keep the frame work in a 16 x 16 floor plan. He asked how he was to do that.

so I showed him a video on you tube about a man that lives in a 14 x 14 solar powered cabin, and it showed his water and waste systems, He was impressed but thought the house was a little rough in finish work, but the man built it for $2000.00 dollars. We continued to talk and he drew some rough sketches for me. While he was drawing and talking , I started thinking I was losing my best friend and my dream. I have written of my dream of him and his family living on the farm with Tari and me. The two of us working the land. But I love my son and I want him to be happy even if it means letting him go to chase the false industrial dream of possession's. As a parent it is my responsibility to be able to provide him the tools to succeed in life even if it means

an end to my dream. He has the right to follow his, just as my mother aloud me to follow mine. I always think of that saying " if you love something set it free, if it comes back it is yours if not it never was. So I will have my sister start prepping him with a more college directed curriculum.

I know he is only 12 but I feel it best for him to be ready for college if he decides to go than to decide at 18 to go and not be ready at least he might be eligible for a scholarship or grant and not have to start borrowing money from an industrial system that it's intent is to keep him in a never ending cycle of debt.

A date with my wife

Went down to the farm this past Saturday with my bride. Kenny Ray away with Boy scouts this weekend it is the 100th year of scouts and they had a council camp out. We took my mother out to the opening ceremony as Kenny Ray was voted into Order of the Arrow . A special honor as you have to be voted in by your fellow scouts. After the ceremony took my mom back home as she has not been feeling well. Tari decide to ride down to the farm and spend the day just the two of us. We got down To Bainbridge about 12:30 and had dinner at the Timbers. After dinner

stopped and got 2 weeks of mail from the post office, we then stopped by the cemetery and visited Dad for a few minutes. At the cabin we sat on the couch and read" the Taddler" the Wolfe County news my home town newspaper. When a knock at the door startled us, when I got to the door it was Uncle Ken . We talked about 20 minutes when Tari's cell phone rang which was strange as it hardly ever works at the farm. It was Kenny Ray it seems the Boy scouts were canceling the last night of the camp out as they were expecting severe weather that night and early morning. He said they needed me back about 8 pm to haul the trailer back. Tari was nervous about getting back on time, I assured her we had plenty of time and asked her if she wanted to walk back and

check on my apple tree's that I planted a few weeks ago and feed the fish. My Dad feed the fish every morning after the water warmed up and now they only get fed when I get down. It just takes a couple of minutes for the fun to start after you throw some of the floating fish food in the water. The bluegills start first and the commotion brings the big channel cat's up to feed . They hold their mouths open and suck several pieces at a time and the slap their tail's on the water. We spent about half an hour feeding the fish and Tari kept telling me she wanted a fishing pole.

As we walked back to the cabin listening to the frogs croak and watched the blue birds settle on the fence between the bird house and us. The smell of the honeysuckle and rain filled the air. It was a much needed day for the 2 of us as I can not remember the last time we just held hands and talked and laughed. It seems that I all ways have some chore that has to be done.

Chickens frost and a recyclable row cover

I put of moving the chickens Sunday due to weather. I did not want to put them down on soaked grass and the cooler night time temps. So I waited till this evening the grass was dry but they are calling for frost again tonight and I always worry about how they will handle the first night without a heat lamp. Kenny ray and I laid in the grass and watched them for about 30 minutes,they are

interesting to watch especially when they fight over a bug or a blade of grass. We have 3 Bronze turkey's in the pen with them as of tonight I have had no losses, knock on wood. This is the first year I tried to raise turkey's. My dad always told me they hard, so I am anxious to try. I had to cover my tomato plants last night as it came a frost and Kenny ray covered for me tonight I am glad I only had 3 out right now. I cabbage is looking good I have it under a row cover this and so far the rabbits have not ate it. I read on the deliberate agrarian a blog that I really like about growing cabbage and squash completely under the row cover, as it is suppose to keep the bugs away also. So I scrounged thru my collection of saved recyclable materials { my junk according Tari} and came up with everything I needed to put the system together. I will post photo in a day or two depending on time. Kenny Ray has a big Boyscout camp this weekend and I volunteered My enclosed trailer and agreed to tow all the gear.

On your mark get set go

I rushed home Friday night from work trying to beat the rain that was forecast to begin. I broke down and bought some tomato plants and some more cabbage plants and I wanted to get them in the ground. I know it is early and there is still a chance of frost for another good 3 weeks , the cabbage will be OK but I might have to cover the tomatoes but they are 3 nice plants about 30 inches tall and one is blooming if it does not frost I will have tomatoes in mid June to eat, as I refuse to pay 4 dollars for a flavorless foreign tomato. I can not believe how comfortable it has been this spring for garden work I have most of my garden in here at the house, usually I do not get nothing planted until end of May as my ground lays to wet to till. Here it is April 25 I have beets, turnips lettuce, onions carrots , spinach , radishes, Green beans cabbage and now tomatoes. I still plan for about 100 tomato plants yet as well as sweet corn, cucumbers , squash and with more beans. Most of it will be over in New Carlisle , me and my crew Kenny Ray and my nephews will start all that this week unless the weatherman is right, he hasn't yet this week been right the amount or time of rain. We plan of moving the chickens to grass Sunday after church all 40 looking good and starting to pick it up a notch in eating, all 3 turkeys gaining weight also still 0 losses.

Tari started helping me with my book this week I have done a lot of writing the last month , she is transferring my chicken scratch to the computer and editing what I have already typed myself.

I do have to keep reminding her not to take out all the briar out of the stories as it changes the feel of the story to much in my opinion. I have enjoyed her help this week.

I am what I am, the Appalachian American man

I want to apologize to the readers of my blogs for incorrect use of the literary word. I would also like to assure you that I am not the one teaching English and grammar to Kenny Ray, that job is done by my wife and sister, God help them both as he tends to be a bit stubborn { just like his mother}. When I start writing my fingers some time write faster than I think or I think faster than I type. I am not sure which it is, as I type the hunt and peck method with two fingers though not one. I would like to tell you that I will improve but I can not. One of the biggest complements I have received, is that I write like I talk and I like that. I am very flattered

at the number of people that have told me how much they enjoy reading what I have to say. I have spent more time writing this little entry than I have any other trying to be correct. I have concluded this is not me. I am not a correct person, politically or personally. So in closing I take back the above apology and will go back to being just an old Appalachian American. As Popeye

would say " I am what I am"

Sore muscles and dry weather

Kenny Ray woke up very sore in his arms and legs this morning. He tried to run the rototiller thru the rest of my garden area at home, he has never been able to handle in the past. He did give it a good effort. My ground has a lot of clay in it and it can be a chore it will even wear me out. I will have to go over again as he did not get it deep enough. The weather here in Dayton as been very dry for this time of year and I am about a month ahead on getting the garden in. Although I fear this summer is going to be hot and dry. I have been avoiding the temptation of setting some tomato plants, I might take a chance on 1 or 2 this weekend. I have been trying to work out away to get my tractor from the farm up to the ground I use in New Carlisle. The trailer I have used in the past belonged to a friend of mine, He sold it as he was having some finance problems. I hate to buy one as I only need 2 or 3 times a year and I already have storage problems for my equipment.
chicken update - all still happy and getting fat

Why do you home school

I am often asked why we home school Kenny Ray. And I tell them that we teach from a christian point of view, as well as wanting to be in control of what he is taught. When we first decided to do so was apprehensive, it was not about the quality of education that I was concerned about it was his development socially that concerned me. As I looked into it I was shocked to learn how many families were doing it. It has been one of the best decisions Tari and I ever made. It has been difficult at times and the thing that I feared most has never been a problem. In fact I think his social skills are better for it as his self esteem is very good. A couple of the parents in his boy scout troop could not believe that he was home schooled as he his very out going and confident as are his cousins. Tari has done a good job and when we need help my sister Lisa has a teaching degree is always there. It's kind of weird as I listen to other parents complain I hope my child doe's not get Mr. or Mrs. so and so next year they are a mean teacher or they complain that their child is failing this or that class. When Kenny Ray has a problem understanding a concept we can spend a day or week until he doe's understand. It is amazing at some of the answer's that I hear from other parents, but the one that really stands out in my mind was a parent said I could not stand to be with my child all day I felt really sorry for that person. It is always on my mind as how can I spend more time with my son.I cherish every moment, and I am sad to think

that my time with him is almost over it has gone by so fast. As a parent we owe it to our children to teach them to take care of themselves and their families and be kind to others.

Dad have you read your Bible?

In the last couple of weeks I been a little down and irritable and when I get this way my family
tries to tip toe around me. At times I feel like the hole world is on my shoulder's and that I have so much to do that it will never get done. I had some problems with my old truck the other night while Kenny Ray was helping me put my tools away he asked me a question now I am use to him asking questions, but this question hit me like a bullet between the eyes. He said Dad " have you read your bible in the last couple days? And the answer was no son I have not had time. He said dad you will feel better if you read it and he went and got it for me. He broke my heart with his words.
I told a friend that I work with about it and how hard it was trying to change and doing everything right. And he told me that I was not going to do everything right and that it was the adversary telling me I was not good enough and to why bother living the way God wants it, that its to hard. That I need to listen To Kenny Ray and just read the word. It just that simple. So I put the bible back in my truck to read while I am at dinner.

Kenny Ray the man child

Our next door neighbor stopped Tari yesterday to tell her a great a boy we had. They always have Kenny Ray get their mail and newspaper when they go out of town. Well she has noticed that he also puts the trash out for the widow across the street and puts her trash can after it has been picked up. That he always cuts the grass and works with me in the garden and is responsible for keeping firewood in the house and he tries to split sometimes. I do have to admit that he is a good boy but not everything he does is always without effort from his mother and me. My mother tells me that sometimes I expect to much from him as he is only 12 years old,
And I know she is right. But I know what he is capable of since he was 3 years old he has helped me , when I was building the cabin he drove nails, got tools and was an extra set of hands.We spent so much time together just me and him working that when he was 8 I taught him to drive my truck just in case I got hurt he could go for help. This past spring he learned to drive the tractor and he plowed and disced the garden for me. So you see he is very capable and yet at time he drives me crazy he has to be reminded to take out the trash and to brush his teeth. I know these are typical teenage traits it just annoys me sometimes. And I have to step back and remember even though he is as tall and as strong as a man he is still my little boy. I think every father wants his son to be a better man than he is.

School lessons and onion plants

I was finally able to get some of my garden in the ground last night. Although the weather has been good most of my ground has a lot of clay in it and tends to hold a lot of moisture, which is good when it's dry but it makes spring planting tough. Usually I plant some the early stuff down at the farm but this year I am just going to be planting in the backyard and over at the ground I
use over by the shop where I work and keep my chickens. It is much easier for me to take care
of and requires much less fuel there by reducing my cost. They are calling for thunder storms
here this afternoon so I decided to try and till last , it was a little wet but I was able to do enough
to plant a 100 onions plants and plant some lettuce radish's and turnips. If it's not raining tonight
I will set some cabbage plants and plant some spinach. I should say Kenny Ray planted the onion's and will set the cabbage , as he will do more of the work this year as I plan on being the supervisor as he has to learn how to do it all. He has always helped me but real school begins this year, he can take care of the chickens as good or better than me. But he enjoys that and he loves driving the tractor and the plowing and discing part not so much the planting and weeding part.
This is one of the things I like about homeschooling I get to teach science, math in a practical real
life setting and it is year round school. He learns one of life's most needed skills responsibility and the ability to take care of himself and family and dependent on no one but God.
As of this morning we have lost no chicks or turkey poults.

First batch of chickens and turkeys and no bees

Friday night Kenny Ray and I went to Germantown Ohio, about 45 minutes from the house to pick up our first batch of broilers for the year 40 of them. I like to get them there as they are .98

cents cheaper per bird plus no shipping. While we were there the man had also just received some turkey poults so I told Kenny Ray to pick him out 3 turkey's. Will see what happens my Dad always said they were hard to raise. It frosted here Friday night and they all came thru ok.

I usually do not start them this early but the weather has been so nice and warm, although a little wet I thought I might get an extra batch in this year. I do have an order placed for some Freedom Rangers for May 12. I am a little nervous this year as I have some new neighbors, I hope they do not complain even though I move the chicks in about 15 days to another piece of ground,

It could be a problem. I checked my other bee hives today at the farm and it's now official i lost all 3 hives that I had left. it was a hard winter. Have not made up mind if I will replace or not.

A spring work and play day

What a beautiful day! Kenny Ray and I went down to the farm for the day. The grass needed cut

as it was starting to look like a widow woman lived there as my dad used to say. My apple trees that I ordered came in last Wednesday and had to be planted. I got them from Fedco Seeds out of Maine. We planted a Fireside and a Macintosh right where dad wanted to but we never seem to get it done, so me and the little boy got it done today. About 3 years ago Kenny Ray and dad

planted 4 Cleveland pears in front of the cabin they are still alive and looking good despite an attempt by a Buck this past fall who used one as a rubbing post for his antlers. I went for a walk in the woods and along the fence, kind of a combination walk as I was also looking for Morels mushrooms, no mushrooms but did find plenty of May apple and startle a big ole Gobbler.Every time I find May apple in the spring I get a chuckle I always kidded Dad and Uncle Ken about getting back in the May apple business, they used to dig the root as kids and sell it to My great Grandfather on my mom's side for a little pocket money. They would sell the root after it dried, you would have to dig a truck load for a dollar today.My farm is about an hour and 10 minutes southeast of my home in the city amazes me how much farther along spring is there. The apple and peach trees on the farm are in full bloom and leafed out and in my city home the same type trees are just in bud stage at least a week or a week and a half behind. Kenny Ray and I went to visit my Uncle Ken this afternoon, he will be 71 in May. He still cuts firewood, although he does not garden or hunt much anymore as he doe's not see very well, I miss all those day's that we hunted together, for almost 20 years we hunted every Saturday through squirrel , rabbit and deer season. My farm I got from him and he bought it in 1968 I believe. Kenny ray and I got a sandwich and started back up the hill to the farm , we swung by the graveyard to visit my Dad

for a few minutes as I always stop and talk for a couple of minutes every trip down. This was his favorite time of year, life springing up everywhere and every thing turning green. Kenny Ray and I finally got back up to the farm and we sat down at the picnic table and had dinner, our conversation was about things that had to be done around the farm , but mostly he kept telling how he was going to kick my butt fishing. We finished dinner and went fishing and as he predicted he beat me 4 fish to 3 he caught one nice channel cat about 4lbs. It was a great day

for work and play, and as usual it ended much to soon and we had to head home

Spring Time work has begun

Spring is finally here, now I wait for ground to dry out with all the February snow and the heavy rains in March . I was not able to get the potatoes in the ground , as my dad always taught me to try to have in the ground by St Pattys, day. My mother started the tomato plants and I will start some tonight. It does look like I might get some onions and lettuce as well as those potatoes
in the ground this weekend they are calling for 70 degrees the rest of the week. My nephews Dave and Dan helped Kenny Ray and I this past weekend clear some ground and pile up some brush for burning. My grape vines arrived Monday and mom hilled them in for me till I can go down to the farm to plant as I am still waiting on some Apple trees to come in also . It looks like we will have to start mowing the grass this week as well . Kenny Ray cleaned up the brooder
yesterday and said that I was going to have to repair the door as it broke off. The chickens are ordered for May 12 , but I am going to try to get some earlier now as it appears the weather may cooperate. I love this time of year because there is so much to do sometimes to much to do that I fall back into some old routines and not trusting God and to give him thanks. I tend to depend on myself and forget that I can not control anything, and that anything good in my life is because of Him. My biggest hurdle in life is my own ego.

Boy scouts and a fat old man

Have been busy last week putting on the finishing touches to a 5 mile hike and camp out that I ran for Kenny Ray's boy scout troop. Everything went well would make a couple of small changes as there was not enough time to do everything I wanted to, but some times things go better when you fly by the seat of your pants and just let things happen. There was 45 boys and 15 parents

attend the event and we split into 2 groups for the hike , the waterfalls I think was the biggest hits and the tunnels that we hiked thru. Some of the boys took off their shoes and sock's and waded in the stream. Shane a friend of mine helped with the cooking for the adults and led one of the group of boy's around the trail. we did have one problem. had to call for paramedic's as one boy got hypothermia and we were unable to revive him Sunday morning it gave everyone a scare but he is fine.When Kenny Ray and I got home we cleaned up and took a nap. I love to go camping but it wears me out and I am sore even my toe's hurt. I love to see all those boy's have a good time. I know not all those scout's will make eagle, but I think they should have fun and make memories and someday think of that fat old man that took them hiking at Old Man's cave.

Sleep over at uncle Kenny's

We had sleep over guest's last night my niece's Kelsey and Emily as well as nephew's David and Danny aka Biscuit. I ordered pizza for dinner and we went out for ice cream. The weather was warm but a thunder storm was coming in, we sat outside and talked as we ate our ice cream.The kids are very close and they play well together even their age's range from 6 to sixteen. Kenny Ray and Biscuit started the evening with a jam session, Kenny Ray on the electric guitar and Biscuit on the saxophone. Kelsey sat in the living room and played the box guitar for me an instrumental of her own called" uncle Ken is afraid of snakes". They played Scrabble and played chess, Dave watched the Kingdom of Heaven with me. They fell a sleep on the couch and the floor kids everywhere. I would of loved to of had 7 or 8 children. Kenny Ray gets upset sometimes because he is an only child. I now believe it is wrong to have only one child as they get older they have no to share good times as well as sad ones with a sibling. I do not understand some people who do not want to see or even talk to their brother's or sister's. I enjoy talking to both my sister's even though I am better looking and smarter than both of them.

Give mother my crown

It's sad how people take for granted those they love the most. My father and I had a strange relationship almost all of my life. He and my mother divorced when I was about 12 year's old. He was a violent alcoholic and I had to break up many fights between him and my mother, she had to divorce him for safety as well as my sister's and mine. My mother ended up raising us 3 kids alone with no help from him or the government, at times she worked 2 jobs just to pay the mortgage and keep food on the table. She got us all through high school and both my sister's went to college. As i think about now I regret some many things that i did in my youth things that I should have been more of help to her. When I started drinking with my cousin at 15, I can only imagine the things that went through her mind. But she battled with me until she won, I quit and stop running around with my cousin I left those things behind.That was just one of many things she battled with me over, she always hung in against me until she won. I asked her one time after getting in trouble at school, I said mom why are you always right? Her answer was simple she said I have been down that road before. She and my sister continued to battle with me over my salvation until she won as always. When my father came back into our lives over the past 15 years she accepted it. And when my father was dying

she accepted him into her home where her and my sister took care of him. I can not tell my mother how much of I love her as there are not enough words. there is an old song that Flatt and Scruggs sang "give mother my crown" and these words say,The best way I know how"If I have a crown coming when rewards come around please blessed Jesus give mother my crown

God's grand world and a ham sandwich

Kenny Ray and I went down to the farm Friday night, and my friend Shane and his son's Justin and Matt came down to spend the night with us. Shane help me with some plumbing I had to finish up and helped me cut some firewood for the cabin and for the house. I almost made a mistake by putting my truck over the hill in the woods as everything here his finally starting to thaw out. I thought I got my truck stuck, I did finally get out but I did manage to add some dents to my truck, steel does not hold up well to Chestnut oak trees. For dinner we went over to the Mennonite store and got some sandwich's, as usual the store was packed and it took about 20 minute's to get the sandwich. We outside on the porch it was about 45 degrees but was nice to be outside. When we got back to the cabin everybody helped me give the cabin a good cleaning as I am letting a couple spend next weekend there . They are the daughter and son in law of a man I work with. They went down a day last summer to fish in the pond and liked my place. They are also expecting a baby and kind of thought they would like to have a little vacation before their life change for ever,it is there first child.As me and Kenny Ray started home last night I told Kenny Ray to look up at the sky and all the star's. It was a clear night and they were endless . Even now at my age it amazes me that when you get away from the city and street lights how dark it gets at night when there is no moon and nothing but millions of star's and how small it makes one feel in God's grand world. It was a short trip this weekend has we had to be home for Sunday as it is the first Sunday of the month and we have a family dinner,with my mother and sister's and their families and it is at our house this month. The weekend was short but very fulfilling . With simple pleasure's , of friends , family, a ham sandwich, sunshine and star's. As always I thank God

Jesus is our savior

Last night Kenny Ray and I attended The "Gods Great Outdoors" dinner and expo in West Milton. The keynote speaker was Hank Parker a christian as well as an outdoorsman. His message was very moving for my son as well as myself. It was as if he had been living my life going thru the alcoholic father as well as thinking that I can do it all myself. I went to the show thinking it was just an outdoor show like so many I have attended in the past, but Hank's Testimony changed our lives, At the end of the evening my son was in tears, we both prayed asking Jesus into our lives and accepting him as our savior.I am no longer at struggle with myself.

Philippians 3;13 brothers , I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it , but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead 14: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Jesus Christ

Keeping a journal for future generations

I have kept a journal off and on for over 20 years. I have written down hunting and fishing trips,

and about what I have done to my land and events in my life as well as my dreams. They have included such things as weather conditions , number of fish or animals harvested ,as well as which tomato did best, to which type of feed the chickens did better on. I love to sit by the fire with a cup of coffee and read thru them. I am thankful for my blessings that I have been given.

In my journal i also draw sketches of where trees were planted and even vegetables for rotation.Here is an entry
Saturday March 9 2002
Mom and David, Dan, Kenny Ray and I went down to cabin today and planted some white pine seedlings that I ordered from the state. We got 83 planted of the 150 planted. It was 50 degrees and pouring of rain. Still have not got roof on cabin yet. Received word from Midwest Outdoors
today , my article:"Kenny Ray's day" will be in the April issue.
I wished my grandparents had kept a journal I would have loved to read it. I can only think what my journal and now my blog writings might mean to my future generations

Spring on the way

Got down to the cabin Saturday, was going to go down Friday night after work but It started snowing again and it took me an hour to get home that is about 35 minutes longer than normal,

so I decided against it. I fixed some frozen water pipes that cracked and replaced the kitchen and shower faucets that froze and started leaking. Kenny Ray went with me to help and clean up a little, to get the cabin ready for more regular use. There is still about a foot of snow on the ground and the lane to the cabin is just barely passable even with 4 wheel drive. The woods and the fields around the pond are beautiful with all the snow and few deer and rabbit tracks are the

only sign of life around right now. I have enjoyed the snow this winter, the weatherman said this February snow fall is the second largest on record 23" for the month and only one day above freezing, and just 2 days of sunshine.About the only thing I did was rabbit hunt , and read the Bible. I am starting to get cabin fever. I always try to plant potatoes by March 17, they may be late this year, looks like it will take that long for the snow to melt. They are calling for 40 degrees this weekend so I am planning on checking my honey bees and place an order for 3 more packages. we had planned on doing some fencing and burn some brush this past month but now it looks like March is going to be a busy month.