Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cybercrime strikes the Country Folks!!!

As long as I have been part of the older Country Folk Genre, I have closely observed the way most do business with their fellow men. A hand shake is THEIR WORD.They are bound by their word.  If you don't have enough money in your pocket to pay for what you are buying, just bring the money around next time you are in the neighborhood. When they borrow something, it is in better condition when they return it, than it was when they took it! That is just the way it is!! Most deal in cash, and reluctantly adhere to the modern practice of credit and debit cards. A checking account is complicated enough. The Farmer carries a credit card for farm purchases. Tractor parts, feed, diesel, tools, etc. I must admit, it is convenient for the bookkeeper. Imagine my surprise when I received his last credit card statement, and found airline tickets to London England from Houston, by way of San Francisco. Not only that, but tickets to Univeral Studios in both Florida, and California, as well as a couple of X boxes, whatever they are, and movie tickets from a place called Fandango! Whew, I thought, he certainly covered a lot of ground in 8 hours, which is the amount of free time he would have between morning milking and evening chores. I was flabbergasted that someone had invaded our world with thievery and deception. I was going to demand justice and an explanation of "How could this happen to us?" First of all the credit card company was very complacent about the whole matter, as if it was an every day occurance. Of course we would not have to pay for the excess charges. As I asked the representative to look at our statement, I asked him if he noticed the obvious. Tractor Supply, Lowes, Smith Feed Store, Dennards Farm Store, Home Depot, Red River Farm Co-op,M and S Dairy Supply..... CONTINENTAL AIRLINES? Ding Ding Ding! Hello! Needless to say, I told him that if ever there were any suspicious charges on there, it would be to a fishing resort on the White River in Arkansas, or tickets to the Grand ole Opry in Tennessee! I hope whoever took advantage of us and the credit card company had a miserable time, I have complete faith in Karma, and that what goes around comes around, and hopefully justice will be served, it may be at the pearly gates, but I am sure it will be served. It is such a shame that we have to be on the lookout for the riff raff that makes us have to be on our guard.  From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Visions of Caramel Apples Danced in their heads!!!

As the magical season of Christmas approaches, we prepare for the festivities in a flurry of holiday baking, list making, decorating, and dragging out the tub with all of the VCR tapes of the old traditional Christmas movies. I never get tired of the Grinch or Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Our Granddaughter, who was 4 at the time, memorized " Twas the night before Christmas" complete with sound effects and action, a priceless video, I can watch again and again. Even though we recognize the true reason for the celebration of Christmas, as the introduction of Jesus, the son of God into this world, we enjoy the gift of sharing time with our friends and family, as we take a pause in our hectic farm life. The Farmer and I aren't into fancy gifts, or lots of trappings, as we use this occasion as an opportunity to call together our children, no excuses, for a family get together. For as long as I can remember, the farmer has been called in to the fire station at the last minute for duty on Christmas, as no one else will accept the request for extra time. We understand that there are young firemen, new to the job, that have small children, and as we had our time when Rocky was new to the battalion, he wholeheartedly troops to the fire station.We will quietly celebrate Christmas when he returns home, and I will regale him with family updates as we sit at the table, eating leftovers from the shindig he missed the day before. The family still assembles, and without him, we engage in food and fun, catching up on the goings on of everyones life. The highlight of our festivities is several rousing rounds of BINGO. Each round has a winner, and each winner gets a prize. These prizes are the most sought after of all of the presents of the holiday season. Just ask our Daughter in Law, Amy who waited all year for a Topsy Turban, or our Son in Law Todd, who is still wondering what to do with a pair of gloves that are both left handed! Our sons Chris and Eric and still  begrudging our son Brandon, winning the nose hair sissors. I spend all year long in search of just the right Bingo gifts, in bargain bins everywhere,  it is nice to know they are so appreciated. Our market is open this week , MARKET HOURS: Thurs, fri, and Sat. from noon until 4:00 pm. We still have some holiday treats in the market, honey, preserves, baked goods, and lots of Tomatoes! As I have lots of orders for Holiday gift baskets, tomorrow, Wed. is the last day to order, so that they will be ready by next week. We will be open next week on Thurs. Dec 23, and will close until Jan.6 . The cow milk supply is plenty, the goat milk supply is meager. Call ahead for availability, as we are trying to make sure everyone gets at least, some. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Knee high to a grass....blade!!!

Say hello to Capri, the elder half of our future wagon team! I told the Farmer that the wagon better be not any bigger than a radio flyer, or it won't be moving! Capri, and her daughter Patches have been residents here for several months. If you recall , last Spring they had a dashing suitor visit for a few weeks, a little Spanish Stud, ( and I mean little) and we will soon be able to tell if his visit was "fruitful". Believe you me, if not, it wasn't for lack of his relentless efforts.  Hopefully, by next Spring we will have a new addition or two to the Equine population here on the farm. Needless to say I am still on the lookout for a team of mules! As winter is approaching, the farm is settling down. The days are spent insulating water pipes, patching leaks, bedding the sheds, and storing feed and hay. The tomatoes hanging in the barn are still ripening beautifully, come get some fresh tomatoes. .......and Green Onions...... everyone needs to make green onion dip for the Holidays. The goat milk supply is slowly decreasing, as the girls are further along in their pregnancies. The cow milk supply is holding steady. The market will have some Holiday treats as well as the goat milk soap, honey, bakery items, and dairy products. Plenty of preserves and assorted pickles and relishes to choose from. MARKET HOURS: Thurs. Fri. Sat. from noon until 4:00PM. We will be open Thurs. Dec 23, and will close until Jan. 6 2011. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Kickin' up a stink!

My heart goes all a twitter when I see the Farmer in action, "kicking up a stink" with my birthday present! It is just poetry in motion! Now if the wind just blows from the North, all will be right with the world. This is the time that we plan for the new season. We ponder over the new seed catalogs that are starting to arrive, decide where and what we are going to plant, as we have to be careful not to plant certain plants where others were. We are going to be adventurous and try different fruits and  vegetables, like sun chokes, fennel, pomogranates. We have chosen a new philosophy, if it grows, it grows, if it doesn't, plow it under and try something else. We figure if raspberries and rubharb will grow here, we will give anything a whirl at least once. I am standing on my band box telling all to prepare now for a garden next year. We may have the whole world mad at us for talking behind their backs and saying tacky things, and they all may cut us off! No more produce from China, or wheat from Russia, I am not sure what we get from Viet Nam, but there is probably something. They have cut off most of the water in California so we can scratch them off as a food source, and now the Texas groundwater commission wants all of the farmers to put a meter on their own wells and pay for their own water. It is only a matter of time when they no longer can afford to farm. But we can sure put in a super duper water park that uses thousands of gallons of water, without a moments hesitation. Or build a gas station or parking lot over precious farmland under the guise of free enterprise! Not to mention the government wanting to know what you are growing in your own back yard, and what you are doing with it ! Whew, I got that out of my system, I feel much better, thank you ..... Find a little spot in the corner of your yard that gets some sunshine and start to prepare the soil.  Planting time will be here sooner that you think. As the time gets closer I will give you some pointers as to what has worked for us, concerning what and when to plant. From our farmstead to your table, thank you for all of your support!