Welcome new life and goodbye to a old friend

I think spring has finally arrived! It was a long hard winter Uncle Ken said it was the hardest in the twenty six years he has lived here in Bainbridge. We had our water freeze up a couple of times and even lost it at one point for seven days, and the wind was brutal which it seemed to have howled everyday. It was so cold that I lost all my honey bees this winter, but with all this the worst thing was we lost one of my dogs. Doc the misfit Beagle, which I did not think at the time I got him would amount to anything other than a floor thumper. He had become a great rabbit running hound, I would listen to him run every morning and evening almost like clock work. Tari and I would watch come up the lane toward the house just at after dawn and he would hit the brush. Kenny Ray had saved him from falling thru the ice on the pond only to caught I believe by a pack of Coyote,s as he never returned from trips to the brush as I searched for days and could find no trace, Tari and I still watch the lane in the mornings, we miss him very much.
                                                          But with spring we are surrounded by new life, as the land comes alive from it,s long slumber. Almost everyday the woods become greener and something else begins to bloom. A Buff Orrpinton hen has become broody this past week and is sitting on her clutch of eggs. All the hens are laying and we get right at two dozen eggs a day. Our California rabbits had there litter about ten days ago and they now are haired over and eye's open. Kenny Ray and I picked up our newest farm member yesterday 'Pork chop' the pig. She is a wonderful addition here she is four months old and weighs about 80 pounds and I am planning on having her bred possibly next December or January. I have purchased two additional pigs for May delivery and one is for the freezer and one for sale. I sat out at the hog lot this afternoon with Belle the wonder Lab,as she said hello to Pork Chop and tried to play tag with her like she doe's Skippy the rooster, but Pork chop paid no attention to her and she moved to the pond for a swim. As I sat there watching the pig root around in the mud I thought back to my childhood, of my Grandpa Patton and how he walked down the lane
with slop bucket in hand toward his pigs. He would be whistling or singing" Ruby don't take your love to town" and it brought a smile to my face. The spring was my dad's favorite time of year as he said you are surrounded by new life, while I still prefer October spring is a close second.

Kenny Ray saves Doc from the pond

                                   We had an interesting evening here tonight. I had gathered the eggs and was on my way out to the mailbox. Kenny Ray had jumped on the four-wheeler to go out to the poop coupe and put the chickens up for the night. When Tari came running out of the house and yelled “Kenny they need you out at the pond now!” I asked what’s wrong she said I do not know but Rob just called and said they need you now! She started running and I jumped in the car. When I got there, I saw my beagle Doc in the middle of the pond; he had fallen thru the ice. And there was my son in his underwear and was in the pond busting ice and going to my dog. Kenny Ray reached him and swam back to the dock and handed Doc out. Rob then helped Kenny Ray out of the pond, both Doc and Kenny Ray both shivering badly. We calmed Tari down and she drove Kenny Ray and Doc to the house. She put both Doc and Kenny Ray in the shower. I came in and took Doc out of the shower and began to dry him off, but he went back to Kenny Ray and snuggled up to him. This is strange because Doc has always kept his distance from him. I finally managed to get Kenny Ray and Doc dried off, and sat them down by the fire to warm up.                                                                                                                                                       As I am writing this tonight I think back a about ten or so years ago. Kenny Ray and I came upon a car accident with a lady trapped in her car and a man and a dog trapped in another car. I managed to pull the man and dog out but could not get the lady out. As I was trying the fire department showed up and took over. My young son looked up and asked me Dad how did you stay so calm and know what to do? Dad I was scared. I told him son I was to but you have to forget that and do what has to be done; when the time comes and you are older you will be fine and able to do what has to be done. And it washed over me here at my desk tonight I was not needed tonight as my wonderful son Kenny Ray was there to do what was needed. A very proud moment and a sad one for me.

Kenny Ray and Doc by the stove

California rabbits

 

Wild Thing

Kenny Ray and I picked up our California rabbit breeding stock yesterday, with help of my cousin Lester. Lester at one time was second in nation showing fuzzy holland rabbits, so he looked the bunnies over to make sure they were healthy as well as showing us how to handle them. two doe's that we named
Wild Thing and Jessica and a buck named Thumper. They are three months old and will be ready to breed in about three months. The bunnies are the first residents in the Poop Coupe which you may see the pics by going to brewerandsonshomegrownpoultry.blogspot.com the Coupe is just about complete, we just need to finish the water collection system. We welcome them home to the farm.

Brewer and sons homegrown poultry

Please visit our other blog brewerandsonshomegrownpoulrty.blogspot.com or just click the photo on the right buy homegrown food.

Wild bees, rabbit's and chickens

Bee tree

Guineas, chickens and coyote's

We have some new guest here on the farm, two guineas which were given to us from a friend of my nephew's , Joe had spent a weekend here on the farm last summer and loved the farm. I have always wanted guinea's as my grandpa Robert Patton had some when I was kid and they take me back. It was kind of weird though , as I received these two birds I lost two laying hens this morning to coyote's, right out of the driveway. I heard the holler and I went to them and even seen one coyote trying to catch another and I ran him off. I spent the better part of two hours tracking the scoundrels and when I caught up to them I squeezed off one shot and missed by about an inch the small tree next to the coyote's head took the round. I will spend the next few evenings reducing the coyote population here around the farm.
On other news, has of yesterday I have thirty two truck loads of firewood now cut, just about ready for winter. The state of Ohio bee inspector was here two weeks ago and went thru my bee's I only had two Varroe mites in his samples that he took which was very good. They are restoring their honey supplies for winter and look like they are in good shape, we will continue to monitor their progress.
We are now sold out of our honey for the year. What is now a flock of just ten Buff Orpington hens are due to start laying this week we are excited about finding the first egg.
All of our frying chickens have been spoke for and we will have more available October sixteen and the week of the November six.
  Our garden is just about done we took our last load of tomatoes to the Bainbridge produce auction last week a one hundred and forty pounds. While our garden did very well we will no longer sell at auction as we are to small of a operation and can not and will not sacrifice quality for production sake. Tari, Kenny Ray and I are now looking at attending one or two farm markets for next year or possibly a CSA if their is enough interest. We will be offering vegetables, honey, maple syrup and pastured chicken's ,eggs as well as turkey's
On this week's agenda we will be cutting more firewood, mowing around the farm and cleaning off one of the gardens as well as root cellar work, digging potatoes and chicken coop work.
  If you are interested in joining a CSA or eggs or chickens or just stooping by the farm to visit, to picnic by the pond or just a tour of the place and listen to my stories or offer an opinion shoot me and email brewerandsonsfarm@yahoo.com.

God help a blind farmer see

How many know what the above picture is, this was a common scene when I was a child. Beans strung and hanging on the porch to dry, for a mountain delight Shuckey beans. I love them cooked with ham and cornbread and a slice of two candy bar onion{ see Appalachian American story two candy bar onion} with a cold glass of milk. It has been a very busy spring and early summer here on the mountain farm, Tari and I extracted the honey yesterday from two hives about seventy five pounds it will be bottled in the morning, it put both of to bed early last night even to tired to fix supper. Beans and tomatoes are ready to start canning this week which is about right as they are calling for ninety degree days this week, we will be starting that between cutting firewood in the mornings , and finishing the nest boxes in the chicken coop for the hens should start laying in the next couple of weeks. Kenny Ray will start picking blackberries tomorrow they are big as nickel this year and are plentiful. We had a storm here last Tuesday and the wind blew my sweet corn down and the heavy rain beat it down even further, I though it was a lost cause but Kenny Ray and I spent Wednesday evening trying to stand it back up, and as of today it looks great, sweet corn will bless the table by the end of the week. We had our last fire the first week of May and Uncle Ken, Kenny Ray and I have been cutting wood in are spare time  ever since trying to get ready for winter.  Kenny Ray and I have also cleared some ground around the house for more garden and pasture for the chickens , the whole farm has been carved out of the wilderness a little at a time from Uncle Ken ,Dad and I to Kenny Ray and I now. Kenny Ray got a case of poison Ivy after clearing around the driveway area for the farm sign. Next week we have chickens to slaughter as the broilers will be seven weeks old Kenny Ray has done a fine job taking care of them, hopefully he will be able to help with the process of cleaning them. I have had some doubts over the last couple of weeks about life here on the farm but every time I get down God and my family bring me back. Last week when the corn was blown down for the second time this spring I was down on myself and Kenny Ray asked me, Dad do you know the story of Job from the bible and I said no , he then begin to tell about Job and how he lost is wealth his children and his wife but his faith in God remained after all his problems. I got out my bible and read Job and my sweet corn was no problem at all. I then also remembered the sermon from church that pas Sunday Luke 16: 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much , and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. I have to learn to take care of what I already have before I can take on more I have always thought if had more pasture or more garden space the farm would produce better , what I have learned is I most meet the problems that I think I have without losing faith and thank God everyday for the weeds the corn that blew down and is now standing once gain the blight on my tomatoes for all of these he has taken away except for the weeds I am still battleing them, as I have attempted to be faithful in the least of things and being rewarded with a bountiful harvest.

A spring update from Paradise

It is starting to get very busy here over the last couple of weeks and Kenny Ray and I have been busy.
The garden is partly in the ground as we got it prepped and the weekend of March 30th , Mom and my nephew Biscuit { Danny} came down and Uncle Ken came up , Mom Ken and I planted potatoes onions , peas and radish's as well as 62 strawberry plants that mom and give me for my birthday. Mom also cooked us a great dinner. I have since planted cabbage ,spinach, lettuce and more onions and another seventy five strawberry plants as well. Kenny Ray and I have also been planting flowers around the house for Tari. Our baby twenty five Buff Orpinton chicks arrived April fourth and we bought some baby ducks this past weekend at a swap meet two Indian Runners and two Mallards. I am still feeding my bees trying to bring along the week hives and will be checking on them today as well.
               I got to meet the Bainbridge fire department two weeks ago as I set my woods on fire. I had been burning brush for a week and Kenny Ray and I even burnt one of my gardens off , as my grandfather's did their Tobacco beds to sterilize the ground. We had no problems but I start a fire in the trash barrels and the wind carried off a spark and ignited the leaves Kenny Ray and I fought it for about half an hour til I gave up and him go to the house and call 911. They arrived and put it out in less than five minutes, very nice guys. They had just finished putting out another fire in the woods when they got our call, Wade one of the firemen told me they had been busy the last three days with brush fire's getting away from people. Kenny ray joked with me as my dad had set the same area on fire about ten years ago , you know dad like father like son. I said yea you had better remember that.
                                        We have also been busy catching fish we have we managed to squeeze in some fishing it was hard Kenny Ray had to twist my arm{ha ha}to go. Kenny Ray gets angry at Belle the wonder Lab as she runs the bank and goes for an occasional swim but the funny part is that I taught her to retrieve a bobber that I lost and now some times she will go after a bobber when you cast and I have to stop her.
Well I need to get my day day started I have fifteen fruit trees to plant today and one very important thing to do today put up my hammock.

God's blessing work and laughter

Such a good day here on the farm, Uncle Ken and Kenny Ray and I  cut and split three loads of firewood today ,  two on Uncle Kens porch and one on mine. We should have enough to last now,  hope spring will show up and stay , we had clear skies and fifty degrees today but a big snow storm is expected tomorrow I have heard any where from one to ten inches, crazy weather. After we finished the firewood, Kenny Ray and I went over to the Mennonite bakery and picked up some donuts for tomorrow morning and some birthday brownies as it is my birthday tomorrow. On our way back home we drove past the home of a Mennonite friend of Mine, and his son was plowing one of his fields with a big team of Morgan horse's. I thought the ground was still to wet and when we got back
the our little farm I decided to try and plow one of my gardens. I did manage to get one plowed but the other one was still to wet. I had spent Friday working on my old IH tractor and it started on the first try which I was very surprised as it has always been very temperamental, I got on my knees and thanked God and has caused me to lose my temper thru the years, but it was Uncle Ken's so I have an attachment. I am hoping it warms up enough and all the snow misses us as I would like to get the garden disced and potatoes and peas planted this week, and mom should have some cabbage plants about ready and she is expecting some strawberry plants in that she is giving me for my birthday.
                       Uncle Ken tried to buy Kenny Ray's dog Belle This afternoon for two dollar's after he watched her retrieve a duck decoy from the pond. Kenny Ray said two dollars was to much and a dollar was more fitting. Uncle Ken laughed and said that two dollars was about a dollar and half to much. Well I think there is hot water now for my shower Kenny Ray has had his and gave the Belle
one and she is past out by the wood stove. My body is aching but my soul is very satisfied , as I sat out by the freshly plowed garden with my pipe and thanked God for bringing me to this point in my life as I have never been happier all that is missing is my lovely bride and she will be here soon.

The first days of spring, here on the farm

One thing about Ohio if you do not like the weather wait five minutes and it will change. Yesterday was a beautiful first day of spring, clear blue skies and forty seven degree's. Today looks more like February, gray skies twenty eight degree's and snowing.
                Yesterday morning I got to burn some brush, which for some strange reason I always enjoy.
It brings back memories of days past when Uncle Ken , dad and I first cleared the ground here and burnt brush for two days. It never seemed like work when we spent time together burning brush , or cutting firewood for winter, or putting in a garden. We laughed and joked as we went, Kenny Ray at times all he understands is the work. I say son it is not work to me, when you are improving your land and taking care of your family, at the end of the day you can see what all your efforts did. When you work in a office or factory you see no fruits of your labor at the end of the day. In Ten years no one will say Hey remember the day I typed that report or The day I built that washing machine, but they will remember the day you planted that apple tree or cleared that piece of ground for the garden.
       I finished burning brush about noon Yesterday and came in for dinner, Kenny Ray had just finished his math we ate and discussed what we were going to do that afternnon. I said son we need some more firewood, we need to drag some out of the woods I will cut it up while you haul some top soil and leaves from the bottom of the hill to fill some of our raised beds, we finished around four thirty, a truck load of firewood and two raised beds filled, and after supper I went out and planted onions, lettuce , as well as set some cabbage, brocclie plants that my mother had gave , and covered the boxe's with some row cover. The job of placing the row cover was made more difficult as Belle { our six month old Lab pup} wanted to help I covered and she pulled it off. I finished the day as it began Belle and I walking the farm together thanking God.

GOD has a plan for me

Once again GOD has stepped into my life and altered my plans, he has humbled me and my ego. I feel he has been working on me for the last couple of months, as I look back over some of my writings I see he was preparing me now for what lies ahead. Those people that know me , know that I have always planned on trying to retire from the body shop business at age fifty, well I did not make it to fifty as my employer let me go on January 28, I would have been in the shop thirty one years come April eighteenth. I have worked a job everyday  since I was sixteen years old. It was kind of weird as I was relived, it was like a great burden had been lifted off my back.
I have spent the last month working on getting my affairs in order, and reworking the cabin as my families new home. Kenny Ray and I have been moving our family belongings a pickup truck at a time. My wife Tari is taking care of things in our city home and is still working until the end of May or til the that house sells. I have ordered our chickens as well as some more fruit trees which should all be here by the end of the month, and in the process of planning the garden for the year.
While I have had some sleepless nights I have not been all that nervous about what lays ahead.
I walk and talk to GOD every morning as I walk over this little piece of mountain land, and wonder what he has planned for me next. I will take things one day at a time and enjoy each day and prepare the farm for my wife's home coming.

A busy April, and a walk with God

I am sorry that I have been gone a while but my ego sidetracked me a little while, but I have got my life back on the correct path once again thanks for your prayers. April has been a very busy month between work and trying to build a farm for my family. I will try to catch everyone up. April 1
Kenny ray and I drove to Chilicothe to meet the fish truck where we bought some Channel Catfish and Hybrid Bluegills to restock our pond. We also put up a automatic fish food dispenser to feed them thru the week.
April 7: Mom, Kenny Ray and I planted six new apple trees for my orchard, and I plowed under my cover crop on one garden spot which measure's 200 ft by 25 ft.
the trees we planted are from a company call Fedco Trees they handle heirloom varieties , I slected the following. 1 Baldwin a all purpose winter apple
2 Grimes Golden a all pupose winter apple
3 Belle de Boskoop a cooking winter apple
4 Cox Orange Pippin, a fall dessert apple
5 Ashmeads Kernel a winter desert apple
6 Black Oxford , a all purpose winter apple
These apples will begin to ripen from September thru November, if the deer do not get them and with Gods blessing.
April 21 Kenny Ray and I installed two, three pound packages of Italian honey bees into thier new homes as well got some of the garden planted, spinach and sweet corn and we  squezzed in some bass fishing and a picnic.
April 28 Kenny Ray checked on the bees to make sure the queens were released and we replinished their sugar syrup. It was Kenny Ray's first time in the bees by himself , I just supervised.
We also got some garden out , cabbage and onions and beets, we also weeded the garlic bed as well as his Chives. We also planted three grape vines, which we still have to build the arbor for. I then gave him some lessons on pitching horse shoes.
That was our weekend chore's plus we started garden plants and built hony bee foundation frames , mowed grass and cut firewood.
It has been rewarding, I thank God for everything.
I just finished a book this past week which I realy enjoyed,Born Again Dirt is the title.
One of the things in the book that I found that moved me was the author's suggestion that you walk your farm with God and talk with him. Show him what you have done to improve the land which is his as we only borrow it for a short time. Pray to God on these walks for the wisdom to see what the land is telling you, pray for his blessing for all that we do is for him. I have always walked the farm that he has entrusted me with  every morning that I am lucky enough to be there.  During this time I have always talked with God about what is going on with my life, to help me make wise decisions.
On my walk yesterday morning at the farm I strolled down the lane toward the pond with a cup of coffee and as I was thanking God for the beautiful sunrise to my surprise I heard a wild Turkey gobble to my left back in my neibors place, and then another gobble out further from the first about two hundred yards. and the another out the point and then another from my woods to my left maybe fifty yards from me, And just when I thought it was perfect i neared the pond a pair of Mallard ducks
rose from the water and flew heaven bound. I listened to turkeys for another hour before heading back to the cabin and another cup of coffee. In closing I would like to thank God for everthing that he has blessed me with.

I need outside for me and my writing

I have not been motivated to write too much this winter. With my shoulder broke it has kept me in the house allot more than normal. I have missed rabbit hunting ,but have been more afraid of falling before my shoulder healed, I did not want to break it a third time. I am motivated by being in Gods outside world not so much his indoor world. I was planning on going to the farm this weekend to cut some firewood and clear some ground for the apple trees on order. But they are now calling for bad weather again tonight and tomorrow. I hope the weatherman is wrong as I need to also work on the tractor and get ready for planting potatoes. I have been flipping back and forth on where to plant my garden this year here in the city or on the farm. Oil prices are trying to tell me here in town but I my heart say 's on the farm.
Tari fixed my last quart of green beans last week for supper and I am already thinking of some fresh beans , tomatoes and corn bread. Tari , Kenny Ray and I have been trying to change the way we eat as Tari was diagnosed as a diabetic and it has hit pretty hard and are trying to learn how to cook. I also know we need to plant more vegetables and store more as well.
I have been doing some editing on some of the stories that I have written and if you read this blog you know that might writing is rough at times. I have had a couple of things published in the past, I am hopeing to get paid for one. I am always afraid that proper english takes away from my story telling. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

A little bit of summer

Well the end of January is upon me now and I made it threw another one. This one has especially tough due to my shoulder it has kept me in the house. I am getting my strength back slowly in it, at least I can hold my gun up now. So come next Saturday me and ole Jack will it the fields in pursuit of Bugs bunny. Anyway I decided to bring some better weather here at the house yesterday as I fired up the grille after cleaning several inches of snow off of it .

I pulled out the backstraps of the deer I killed a month ago and put along some mushrooms and peppers and onions and wrapped in foil and one the grill it went some baked potatoes. And Tari pulled out a bag of Black Raspberries that mom and I picked last summer as well as a bag of sliced apple's that came from my trees. She put together two cobblers as Kenny Ray does not like the seeds in the raspberry pie. After supper Tari and I returned to winter we sat down by the fire in the living room with a cup of coffee and a dish of summer berries and vanilla ice cream.

Dreaded month of January

Well it is almost over, this dreaded month of January. This year has been one of my worst as I have been house bound with my fractured left shoulder. I tried to rabbit hunt one time but was unable to hold my shotgun steady from the pain but I get a little better each day. I am looking to forward to February as I hope to get every weekend even if it is just to run ole Jack some.I think Tari is looking forward too
as I have been aggravating her just pacing the house.
I did get down to the farm last weekend for the day to check the propane tank and I was going to do some cleanup. All I really got done was take a walk out to the pond and take a nap on the couch.The cabin seems more like home every trip I make down whether it is to hunt or fish or set on the porch or by the heating stove, it is home. I am trying to decide whether to have my garden at the farm or here in Dayton, I keep changing my mind,but right now with the of gasoline going up it might be Dayton. I am looking forward to planting season as I am tired of the cold and snow of January.

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.