Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Life Down Our Country Road


Well, it’s officially spring at the Johnson farm.  I look forward to this time of year because it means I have the privilege of following my sweet husband around.

Yesterday our project was to start planting CRP (Crop Reduction Program) ground.  That means that my job is to help move equipment from one field to another, usually driving the pickup and following Terry, who is on the tractor and no-till drill.  When we get to a field, I wait until that acreage is planted and repeat the process.

This entails lots of windshield time, listening to the radio and having a good book to read while waiting at the field.  I might slip a nap in there someplace too. 

Every now and again, if we’re close to town, I might get to slip away for a few minutes and go to the grocery store and procure refreshments for my hubby and myself.  Of course, for females this takes some strategic planning.  We don’t want to eat or drink anything that might require us to have to find a tree or bush more frequently than absolutely necessary. 

Men being less modest than us girls don’t see the problem.  They don’t understand that ladies prefer not to be surprised by the occasional passer-by.  It takes careful planning to get the pickup parked just right to optimize privacy. There may not have been any traffic down that road for months, but it sure seems like when nature calls, the area turns into a tourist hot spot. 

But, I digress. 

This time of year means I get to do more with my husband and I love it.  I don’t know if Terry loves it, but I do know he’s glad I’m there to help him.  If my helping saves him extra steps, I’m happy to do it.   It’s the small, seemingly unimportant and sometimes boring things to me that mean the most to him.  It reminds me of the scripture in Genesis that talks about Eve being a help-mate for Adam. 

I take pleasure in doing what I can to assist my husband as he goes about his day, earning a living for his family.  Few people are blessed to have the honor of working side-by-side with their life-mate. 

I know some women think it's degrading and beneath them to help their husband with anything or that their time is much more valuable than their husband's.  When I talk about helping my husband or following him around, I usually get raised eyebrows and the question, "Can't he do anything for himself?" or "I guess if something has to be done, get a woman to do it right."  

Frankly, I find those kinds of comments unnecessary. My husband does so much on his own and if he wants it done right, he will do it himself. He isn't helpless and he is more than capable on his own.  It's just kind of nice that he knows he can call on me to help him out now and again.

So, until the end of harvest, many times you’ll see me following my best friend around the country.  Window down, listening to the radio and loving every minute of it.  That’s just part of life down our country road.

Blessings!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Spring!

Even though we’ve had a very mild winter this year, I am so ready to get out in the garden and flower beds.  I’ve ordered strawberry and asparagus starts and seeds for some other first-time tries for this year’s garden.

Like most, I’ve been combing the magazines that promise that if I take some pot found in junk pile and put flowers in it, my garden will be the envy of my neighbors.  I think about such attempts and don’t see why I can’t do that and have my garden look trendy and relaxing and rival the likes of Martha Stewart’s garden.

You know how some people just have the touch? That ‘something’ that comes out in whatever they do? My challenge is that when I add a unique element to my garden spaces, it looks like I tried to add something to my garden and doesn’t end up looking anything like the magazine picture perfect garden I long to have. 

There is a sweet gal that lives not too far from me that has that touch, that something I long for.  She can pick up a bucket that looks like it lost a fight with a bulldozer, put nothing in it at all, set it in one of her numerous flower beds, with no intention of leaving it there and it just looks like it’s at home.  What is that all about?  My stuff doesn’t look that cool even when I don’t try. 

So, this year I’m on a quest to improve my gardening and outdoor space decorating skills.  I decide at the end of last summer, the existing mulch in the flower beds has got to go.  I need to re-lay soaker hose and just give my beds a face lift.  The birdbath has a decidedly southward lean, the maiden grass looks too clumpy and well, it all looks . . . really bad. 

I have grand visions of a beautiful vegetable garden with perfect rows of spinach, lettuce, peas and green beans and beautiful tomato plants loaded with plenty of fruit for fresh eating, canning and sharing.  My beloved zucchini is a must because it seems when I can’t grow much else zucchini pulls through for me.  Of course there will be cucumbers, some of which will be made into relish and home canned pickles. 

New on the agenda for this year is an herb garden.  I have been researching exactly what one does with an herb garden.  I’ve come across several articles that stress the importance of laying out your herb garden to get the most Zen for your buck.  It seems some herbs do better if they are planted next to other herbs.  There are herbs I could plant in my flower beds and herbs that only want garden space.  Who woulda thought an herb garden could be so complicated?

Needless to say, I have my hands full trying to figure out what to do next.  In the land of Google, I’m finding some answers.  As with most things, I need to get my plan and work the plan.  I’ve been accumulating stuff for the flower beds and garden.  Going through out buildings and retrieving forgotten items that may or may not make the cut.  Sooner or later, I’ll have to make some decisions and maybe I’ll have some Zen – whatever that is supposed to be. 

I’ll keep y’all posted.  Oh look!  There’s a bucket!!

Blessings!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

My Small Town


The best thing about my small town is that everyone knows pretty much everything about me.  The worst thing about my small town is that everyone knows pretty much everything about me.  Anyone from a rural community will understand what I mean.

I’m a little late getting my post out this week because I’ve been getting a lot of phone calls and emails from my small town people.  They found out I had surgery last week and are concerned about my recovery, which is going very well, by the way.

What I love about my small town is this very thing.  People care.  They are genuinely concerned and want to encourage each other.  If one of our neighbors hits a down turn, is ill or just got a promotion at work, people care.  Yes, some can be nosy and no, not everyone is concerned or cares, but by and large, small town people aren’t nosy and are concerned and care about what is going on with their neighbors.

Small towns can be clannish and cliquish and it takes work to guard against becoming that kind of place.  People who weren’t raised here or marry into the community can be put off by all the questions asked.  

“Where did you come from?”

“Why did you move here?”

“How many kids/grandkids do you have?”

“Where do you work?”

“When did you retire?”

“What are your hobbies?”

“What size shoe do you wear?”

“Do you brush your teeth at least twice a day?”

These aren’t nosy questions.  They are just requests for information and an attempt to get to know the newest members of the community.  For people from larger cities, it could be viewed as an invasion of privacy.  They aren’t accustomed to complete strangers talking to them or showing interest in them.  Our curiosity is strange to new comers to our little burg.  We mean well and keep in mind, we treat everyone this way, it isn’t just you.

Before too long, we know your dog’s name, who to call if the wayward animal roams too far from home and let you now that Fido is on a leash at the back door of city clerk’s home with plenty of food, water and shade until you return home. 

Yes, I love my small town and I usually brush my teeth at least three times a day.

Blessings!

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

An Adventure Down Every Road


I have a good friend that I love to go explore with.  We have the greatest time finding the quirky, weird and unusual things that most people may not even notice.  If they do notice, they will usually dismiss what they have seen and not give it another thought.  Not Maude and I.  We photograph, discuss, contemplate and admire our findings – and obviously now at least I’m blogging about some of them.

The middle of last week Maude emailed asking if I wanted to go explore on Sunday. She also wondered what the weather was going to be like, specifically if we were going to have rain which might make the roads messy.  Now, you must understand that we don’t let a little bit of mud on the road stop us, but Maude just purchased a new 4 wheel drive vehicle a few weeks ago and I knew if she drove, she wouldn’t want to get her new buggy messed up. 

I responded to her email, “Sure let’s go.  No rain between now and then is predicted.  Let’s go for it!” 

You guessed it.  We had a shower go through a day or two later.   Not a big rain, but just enough to get the roads messy again.  We were not deterred in our quest (we’re both Kansas Explorers by the way) to drive down every road in Pottawatomie County Kansas.  So off we went, Maude driving.

We had a great time talking about the old farmsteads and what life must have been like for the early settlers to the area.  Maude’s family came here in the 1850’s, so of course we had to go by their original farm.  Such a quaint and pretty place.  One could just imagine chickens in that yard, clothes drying on a clothes line and great-great-grandpa applying a firm hand to the reins of the horse while plowing the field.

On we drove past the mostly grass covered entrance to what looked like unchartered territory that Maude assured me was “not too far from the highway”.  We got through the first stretch of mud without a hitch.  After all, the road would get better.  We weren’t too far from the highway and we had on-demand 4 wheel drive.  Around a curve we went and up a naturally graveled hill.

That was the last gravel we saw.  But it’s okay.  We weren’t too far from the highway.  The road got muddier.  The ruts got deeper.  So obviously at least a couple of vehicles had been down the road ahead of us. How bad could it be?  I began praying.  Hard.

At this point there isn’t any place to turn around.  We were committed.  We slid to what was supposed to be a ditch and Maude was saying, “Oh my!”  That wasn’t my thought.  I was thinking, “So where is that highway?” 

We came to a crossroads and Maude very confidently said, “I’m going to turn here.  The highway isn’t too far.”  Yeah, we’ve heard that before.  I was beginning to think there was no highway.  I was also thinking about how I was going to explain to my husband why I didn’t make it home that night and if we got stuck, who in their right mind would come down this road to pull us out. I was still praying.  Really hard.

About that time we reached, not the highway, but a less muddy patch with a little gravel.  I breathed.  I just heard Maude say, you guessed it, “Oh my!”  Up another hill we went and then we were back in the mucky mud.  However we were assured that someone could get to where ever we were to pull us out, because there where tractor tire tracks all over the road ahead.  Someone before us had gotten stuck and the good news was they weren’t there anymore so if they were able to get help, then we could too. I was praying harder now.

Maude asked, “What do I do?”  My advice was “Put your foot in it and don’t stop. Just keep the wheels turning.”  To that I heard, “Oh my!”  In retrospect, I probably should have told her to breathe, but I was reminding myself to do the same. 

We made it through that stretch and just beyond the last hill we saw a fast moving car.  That must be the highway I’ve heard so much about!  I could swear I heard the Hallelujah Chorus.  The highway isn’t a myth!  It does exist!!

We reached the stop sign and Maude put the vehicle in park and said just one more time for good measure, “Oh my!!”  Neither one of us was brave enough to get out and take a look at her buggy.  We were admiring the globs of mud that found a new home atop the outside mirror and on the windshield.  Frankly, I don’t think either one of us was capable of standing up or walking at that point. 

Next we started laughing and chattering about our adventure.  After Maude regained her composure, we drove on down another, much less muddy country road.  The two of us agreed on one thing.  No more roads like that unless it’s dry as a bone. 

When we did look at the vehicle, there was mud within an inch and a half or so of the rims on the tires and the wheel wells were packed with mud.  Everything else was in good shape.  I’m sure there are some angels that were breathing a sigh of relief and no one will convince me that prayer doesn’t work.  We could have easily been stranded, but God was faithful and helped out two women when they needed help the most.

Maude and I are excited about the memory we made together and how we could brag that we’d been muddin’.   Isn’t making memories with friends and family what life’s all about?  What fun my good friend and I had!  There will be many more adventures to come, but Maude won’t be driving.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Welcome to Down County Roads



Welcome to Down Country Roads!  I've been encouraged to begin a blog which shares what day to day life is like on a small family farm in Kansas.  So here goes!

My husband, Terry and I live on roughly 365 acres in the northern flint hills area of Kansas.  Our farm was purchased in 1927 by Terry’s granddad and has been farmed, tended and loved by each generation since. 

Our family research tells us that Terry's family located west of Olsburg, Kansas in the mid 1800's.  His great-grandparents came from Sweden and decided this area was suitable for farming, raising cattle and raising a family. 
In 1927 Terry's grandfather and grandmother, Ernest and Edith, purchased the farm we live on today, from the original owners family. Terry's Dad, Marvin, was born and raised on the farm along with one brother and two sisters. 
In 1950, Terry’s folks married and moved to the home place while farming with Marvin’s brother. When the time came, Pat and Marvin began raising their family here and instilled a strong work ethic and respect for the land in their children.
Terry is the third generation to live on the farm.  We carried on the family dairy operation until 1983 when we focused more on raising beef cattle in addition to the farm work. 
Our older son, Adam, and his wife Tawnya (whose family are also farmers) are close by.  They stay in touch with the farm as much as they can.
Luke, our younger son, is the fourth generation to work on the family farm. When hay season rolls around, you'll usually find Luke in the hayfield or tending to his cattle.
We are so proud to have been blessed with the opportunity to raise our family here on the farm and instill the same values of honesty, character and integrity that have been passed down to us.
Living in the country has given us a deep appreciation for all God has blessed us with.  We have the tallgrass prairie and flint hills all around us, wide open sky that is usually a brilliant blue during the day and crowded with stars at night.  There are deer, turkey, birds and other wildlife we enjoy watching.  Occasionally we catch a glimpse of a bald eagle family and the water in the creek is kinda fun to go splash around in now and then.
Our roots go deep in the prairie of Kansas.  We love to share our way of life with others and help them learn about how farming impacts their way of life. 
There is a great deal of history in our area which is of special interest to me. Our way of life is the basis for our agritourism business, Kansas Flint Hills Tours.  I’ll share more with you about how that ties in with our love of rural Kansas in my next post.
Thanks for stopping by to see what’s happening Down Country Roads!
Blessings,
Jeannie