ELMER AND ANNA ARE HOME

We arrived back home - safe and sound.  Our winter vacation is over and it's time to get back to work.  When we got home, several of our children and grandchildren were waiting to welcome us.  The house was all cleaned, I think we have enough meals already made for us for a month.  We were happy to see them and they us.

Before you ask, yes, we did return John's cell phone to him.  It really helped in getting the posts to Marilyn while we were at Pinecraft.  His leaving it with us when he left, was really appreciated.  So, even though, we don't approve young folks having them, they do come in handy sometimes.

The first thing I did on Saturday morning was to plow what little snow we had left into the ground.  Seeing we had a lot of snow last night, I guess I will be plowing more under.  It goes back a long way, that if the snow is plowed under in March, it helps the soil produce a better crop.  To be honest, I doubt that is true, only God knows what will be the best crop, but my Father plows it, my Grandfather plowed it, so I do too. I know my son John, thinks it is silly, but I keep one tradition.

Anna always finds clothes to wash especially John's since he didn't wash much while he was here and we weren't.  One of our daughters came over and did it for him, a couple of times.  Also, his sisters saw that he had some delicious meals.  Still, he was glad to see Anna back.  I guess there's no cooking like Mother's cooking.

I also believe that John was glad that I was back to help with the milking.  He was doing it with the help of various friends and relatives while we were gone.  Someone was here to help every morning and evening, which we greatly appreciate.  It may sound unusual, but I was glad to see the cows and horses again.

Speaking of animals, our dog was glad to see us, too.  You would have thought we had been gone for years instead of two months.  He jumped on us and went around in circles, so happy to see us.  We also have cats in the barn.  I guess they were happy that we were at feeding time.

So, like I said, it is back to work.  John and I have to go over all our tools and farm equipment to make sure it is in top condition for plowing season, that we hope will be soon, if the weather goes along.  We also go over the milking equipment to make sure that is in top condition.  Milking equipment we use every day and don't take the time to check it all out.

I looked around the property and the house and barn could use a paint coat this year.  Also want to go over them to make sure everything is all right - that no work has to be done on them before painting.

Anna is already planning on what she wants to plant in her garden.  Also, what flowers she wants to put where.  She feels our clothes line needs to be replaced with a new one, so I will have to get on that job.

We hope spring gets here soon.  We look forward to it every year.  It's like a new beginning.  We plow the land, plant the seeds, and they grow into beautiful crops that we can eat and sell.

John gave us some surprising news.  There is an Englisher lady down the road, her husband passed several years ago and her fields have never been farmed.  So John and her worked out a deal.  He will plow, plant and take care of her fields.  Once the crops are sold, they will split the money.  As she is raising some children, it will help her. She says she wants to sell the farm and John said he would consider buying it.  It needs a lot of work on the house and the barn would have to be torn down and replaced.  Anna thought that would be to much work, but I reminded her of the first farm we had when we got married.  It took Anna, I and several other people to remodel that first farmhouse.  Ours didn't have a barn so we had to have a barn raising.  But we were young then as John is now.  I think it will also give some space between John and I.  John is in his 20's and doesn't need his Father standing over him while he is working.  We some times disagree, strongly, on how something should be done.  John will still help on our farm, but he will have a place to go where I am not standing over him or telling him what to do.  Fields he can work the way he wants.

Well, I am going to close now.  I note that there are questions you would like answered so I will do some of them in my next post.  I thank Martha for filling in when needed and for Jean.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer