Storiesfromthefarm. The Cow.

It was a beautiful early spring morning, the sky was such a deep brilliant blue with not a cloud to be seen anywhere. The air was still and fresh, as it always is shortly after sunrise. Drops of dew where glistening on the now greening grass as I made my way to the calving pen to check on any new overnight arrivals.

 I could see a couple new calves wobbling around on newly found legs nosing around looking for a drink of fresh milk from mommy. Ah, I thought to myself " what a beautiful start to the morning" and just then I heard the song of my favorite bird, the meadowlark, piercing the early morning quiet. I stopped to listen and then smiled, life was good.

I opened the gate and then carefully closed it as I entered the pen with my new carrharrt coveralls and my knee high muck boots. The pen was muddy from the near torrential rains we had all spring. Oh well, I thought, at least we'll have good grass for the cows this summer. I made sure to check behind the calf shelter to see if there were any more newborns. Ah yes, there was another one, still wet from birth. The first time momma cow was licking it and making impatient mooing sounds. Uh, uh, I thought "looks like an overprotective mommy" but that's usually the case with heifers. Seeing that the calf was alive and moving around, I turned away, pleased with the arrival of 3 more healthy additions to the herd.

Still smiling and feeling quite good with myself and the world I started towards the now faraway gate. All of a sudden from right behind me I heard the sound of pounding hooves and an enraged, almost unearthly sounding loud bellowing bawl that only a mother can make while protecting her young. I quickly glanced over my shoulder and seen that bovine weapon of mass destruction heading straight for me at full speed. I saw every bit of that furious 2000 lb female in great detail, eyes wide open mean and red, nostrils flared wide and quivering, saliva streaming out of her gapin mouth in long streams. She was a mad cow. In fact she was the mother of all mad cows. And was closing fast.

And I was scared. I was really scared. I snapped my head back and I started hoofing it for the safety of the gate. Time seemed to slow down to a crawl as I started high pumping my arms and legs. I ran. Hard. My muck boots were touching my carharrts I was moving so fast. Mud was flying. From me and from that crazy cow. She was bawling so hard and loud from right behind me I was sure the incensed noise was pushing me.

I could now feel her expel her hot methane filled breath on my backside, so I expelled some right back at her, involuntarily of course, but that didn't seem to speed me up or slow her down at all. The muck started pulling at my boots till I lost first one then the other one. That seemed to speed me up a bit. My heart was pumping furiously as I was racing towards the waiting gate. I could feel her nose pushing me about every three steps, as I was know skimming the earth as a flat rock skipping on water. I was sure I was approaching warp speed and very close to breaking the sound barrier. I had never run so fast in my life. And talking about life, it was flashing before my very eyes and I started feeling sorry for every one I ever troubled or harmed.

But here now was the gate, I leapt high, grabbing frantically at the gate bars and started climbing, the crazy cow caught up to me and planted her head under my carrharrts and heaved, hard. It hurt. I flew. I was now over the gate to safety and horizontal with the earth. Hands and feet spread wide. I was flying! Before I got to enjoy my flight I crashed. Time sped up and was current again as I plunged straight down into a puddle of stale watery cow byproduct and mud. I slowly sat up spewing mud and water out of my mouth and wiped my eyes so I could see. I was a mess. But I was alive and safe.

And there you have it folks, life on the farm. And I  wouldn't have it any other way. louie.

For Jordan And Delilah.

Two young children.
At the phone.
Waiting for
Their daddy's call home.
But it never comes.

It never will.

Cause daddy and mommy
Have passed on by.
Have left this earth
Without goodbye.
And that's what hurts
So deep inside.

They left this world
Without their will.
A terrible crash
And time stood still.
They left you two
Without goodbye.
They never had a chance
And we all cry.

Now all our hearts break
And our tears start to flow.
It hurts so much
It's so raw you know.
It was just too sudden
It was just too fast.
And all too final
And too soon past.

We ache to do something to help.
We ache to have something to say.
But alas, it's bigger than us.
All we can do is pray.

For there's a God up above.
With healing hands.
To help us through.
When nothing else can.
He salves our hearts
Helps us through the day.
There is help from the Source.
So let us all pray.

louie.

The Decision.

Ummmmmm ya, you guessed it. Monday morning I went and got a new phone.

Life Without The 'Berry.

OK, so here I was without a phone.

Without my blackberry messenger, without my daily farm business emails, without my funny emails, without text, without my weather forecast and radar to show which way the storm systems were moving, which is oh so important for us farmers especially at spraying time, without twitter, without access to my favorite forums and discussions, sports and news.

Jeepers, I felt like I was a primate back in the stone age. Well, that'll be a good for me to go unconnected, I was free! I told myself, as I squared my shoulders. I was going to prove to myself that there is life after blackberry.

So to start things of my hands felt kinda empty and my thumbs restless. Sort of like reverse carpal tunnel. But, being Sunday and all with the morning church sermon and a good roast duck coming up for lunch, I had no time to contemplate these early withdrawal symptoms. After lunch I was feeling drowsy and decided to go have a nap. So far so good I told myself.

After I woke up from my Sunday afternoon nap feeling refreshed and ready to go, I brewed myself a good strong cup of coffee, picked out my favorite chocolate bar and that's when the withdrawal symptoms started to kick in.

What will my 50+ BB messenger buddies and groups think when I won't return their messages? They know that I'm always on and really like to socialize and chat about everything and anything. Plus I've always got my two bits to add and am very opinionated.

Thinking (albeit foolishly) about how I was starving the world with my wit and knowledge I walked over to the window and looked out and seen some nasty storm clouds brewing on the horizon, without thinking I reached over for my blackberry to see which way the storm was tracking. Then I realized I was doing without and threw it back on the couch. "Darn it, anyways" I said.

I was missing my phone!

"Oh well, to bad so sad" I consoled myself. I was made of sterner stuff than that. I was not gonna let a bitty phone control my life.

I went outside to do some yard work, pruned a few trees, pulled a few weeds from the flower garden which was really coming into its own after the beautiful rain we had had a few days before, also pounded in a few stakes and made some supports for my two grape plants/vines which had started to take over the side of the house, they were looking really good this year and I could see that I was going to have a nice crop of grapes. That done, I started to feel better. "Who needs a phone anyways?" I asked myself "Sure not me".

That night I took louie l'amour and a cup of my favorite tea (chamomile with honey) with me for my soak in the tub. "AHH, this is the life" I told myself. "This is the way it used to be, simple and uncomplicated, who needs to be bombarded with information that may or may not be useful. Is it really that important to read and and respond to all those social updates? Does it really matter if I know what goes on in the middle east with all the uprisings? Do I really need to know what is going on outside my comfortable little world? Am I actually happier with all that information at my fingertips, than my forefathers were just a scant 50/100 years ago, or even myself just a decade or two ago? Do I need my head spinning with information overload when I go to sleep at night?

24 hours without a phone. Yes (fist pump). With these and other thoughts I went to bed.

-thoughtsfromlouieville-

Coming soon and up next.

"The decision". To be or not to be, connected that is.

Wetberry Bold.

Saturday evening relaxing in my favorite spot I was going through emails on my brand new blackberry , checking the weather radar, and just generally admiring this highly sophisticated piece of modern engineering when all of a sudden it just fell out my hands. Now that may not seem as too big a deal and most of the time it isn't but given that my favorite Saturday evening relaxing spot is the bathtub the fall had some dire consequences.
 I watched in horror as my blackberry slipped out of my hands and in slow motion gracefully dived into the lavender scented bath bubbles.
Memories of the hard earned 700 dollars I had paid for it a short month ago ripped through my brain. I frantically dove in after the elusive berry. Desperately grasping I found it right away only to have it squirt out immediately. With both hands I finally corralled it and threw it out unto the waiting towels. I was out right after it and tore open the back cover to extract the battery but not before I glimpsed at the dripping face to see the last light fading from the screen.
 Oh no, I thought, how stupid could I possibly be to take a sub-thousand dollar phone into the bathtub!
 Well, I immediately  took some toilet paper and started to dab off the dripping water from the battery cavity and the front face and keyboard all the while with a sinking feeling in my stomach.
 With the greatest of care I took the various pieces of my now disassembled phone and laid them gently out top of the fan part of my dehumidifier which I had going down in my basement to dry out all the spring moisture which had abundantly taken over my downstairs.
 Oh well I thought, I'll let it dry out overnight and then in the morning see if I'm lucky or not.
 Sunday morning I go check on the phone where I placed it in front of the fan, feel it and by gum it looks and feels dry. So holding my breath I slowly insert the battery and then turn it over to see if it'll start up. The  power light comes on, yes siree, "come on baby, please start up" I say. The screen lights up and the progress bar starts to move, "Ah", I say, while slowly releasing my breath, when all of a sudden the screen starts to flicker, "Oh No" I cry, but to no avail. The screen flashed twice as if to say goodbye and then it died. No Sunday morning resurrection was in the cards for my beloved blackberry.
Mentally kicking myself for even taking my phone close to the bathroom I put the battery cover back on and gently and sadly laid my berry on the end table beside my lazy boy where it had laid so many times before.

To be continued...coming soon..... "Phone withdrawal syndrome. "

The Perils Of Uncle Jack.

Man, it sure was dusty, hot and dry that day.
I just had to make that stop along the way.
For a stiff shot of rye and a six of beer.
So handy to have the bar that near.
It felt like having booze was the way to go.
And the last few years it seemed I needed more.
Well, It sure felt good when I poured it down.
Started warming up my belly then I headed outta town.
It was all going good till I was nearly home.
Then I hit loose gravel and I started to roll.
Got thrown out the window by the very first turn.
And when I came to, this world was a blur.
Checked for cuts and breaks but none to be found.
My truck I found wrecked and sitting upside down.
I was chuck full of luck just to walk away.
From the twisted hunk of metal that forlornly lay.
Made a promise to myself which I keep to this day.
Stay away from that drink, it just don't pay.

Now I'm the kinda guy who don't say much.
But have a few too many and I'll sure to be in touch.
I'll tell you just how easy it is to get the bug.
Before you even know it you'll be hooked on that drug.
I know all the symptoms and I know all the signs.
For I've been through them all, many a time.
I know all too well what waits down that road.
It gets worse and worse and its just no good.
The worst of it is when we sit behind a wheel.
The innocents suffer, the consequences real.
So if we can't stop at a glass or two.
That's a warning sign to quit and to say adieu.

Cuz when you sit down with Uncle Jack.
Captain Bacardi or Johnny Black.
Sure good friends for a little while.
They make you talk and make you smile.
Before you know it they own your soul.
They drag you down in a deepening hole.
And all the while you think that you're in command.
Its something you can handle and that you're a man.
But to that fiery liquid its just a game.
Its bent on your destruction and total shame.
Till you're sitting with nothing left in the bag.
A failing liver and shaky hands.
A life that has somehow passed you by.
Your wife and kids, a blur gone by.
What started out as a social thing.
Has ruined your life and.... everything.

Farming.

I love the smell of freshly turned earth made by the drill on the first pass of the year. Going down on my knees and checking if the seed and fertilizer is placed just right, sifting the moist soil through my fingers and yes deeply inhaling that smell of spring. There's something about that smell that makes me feel young and good and proud all at the same time.

I love seeing the GPS straight crop emerge in perfect rows and progress leaf stage by leaf stage.

I love walking through the early crop checking for weeds and insects, feeling the warm sun on my back and the early summer breeze in my face.

I love scanning the skies in summertime, from the perfect blue early morning sky with nary a cloud, to the late afternoon when the clouds and towering thunderheads develop with the promise of rain.

I love to drive the countryside 'checking' crops, noticing the change in color in the countryside as the crop goes through its stages of growth.

I love standing in the middle of the field with crop gently waving in the breeze, reminding me of the ocean with waves passing through the entire field.

I love the change in color in fall in the crops and trees, seeing the long lines of swaths winding around sloughs and bushes.

I love harvesttime when its go go go, dust flying, fuel stops, meal stops, moving from field to field, moving augers from bin to bin, go go go, gotta get that crop in the bin.

I love the first chill of late fall, the honking of the geese as they migrate south, the first fall of snow blanketing the resting earth.

I love the power of the sun in spring making the creeks and rivers run merrily, and awakening the budding trees and the waiting fields.

I love the continuing cycle of the seasons, every year so much the same, and yet so different.

And O Ya, did I mention; I love farming.
- louie-

Information Overload.

Way back in the good old days.
We worked so hard from day to day.
Nighttime would come we'd roll into bed.
Exhausted and tired we slept like the dead.
Body was tired but not the head.
Those were the days.

How times have changed from those simple days.
And not for better in so many ways.
So much stuff we don't need to know.
Apple iPhone and Blackberry bold.
How much data can we hold.
Information overload.

Everybody's tweeting like a bird gone mad.
Social skills disappearing and that's so sad.
What's a heart to heart or a face to face.
Internet insulation is now in place.
Worlds moving on at a dizzying pace.
What'll happen to the race?

We're being controlled by Internets power.
No time stopping or smelling the flowers.
Trading in nature for words and strife.
Missing the very essentials of life.
Caught in a web that's not so nice
And we don't even realize.

Kids everywhere got a phone in their hand.
Texting and tweeting in facebook land.
Held captive to a power they don't know.
Filling their heads with junk as they go.
As further away from God they grow.


How I pine for the days that have passed on by.
Content with the simple things in life.
Like sitting and watching the end of the day.
The sun coming up and then going away.
Acknowledging Gods Works and to Him pray.
Going to sleep with a smiling face.
Its all about Amazing Grace.
And that's what'll save this human race.

But while we're moving at this blistering pace.
Have we time for His saving Grace?