ELMER'S POST

Well, winter is upon us.  When the light snow came in November, I went out and plowed it under the soil.  I didn't get all the snow under, as after it came the sun came out and melted it faster than I could plow it.  But some of it got under.  Then came that Monday of a large snow, but I didn't go out to plow that under.  I like to plow the first snow under and the last snow under.

We were told we were going to have large storms last weekend, but so far there hasn't been much.  I know a lot of people don't like snow, but we believe it helps the crops grow.  We hope this year we get more than we got last year.

It was either Thomas, Michael or Edward who came over to our house and plowed us out that day.  They got together with my son John, and think that we should have a walk with a railing put in from the house to the barn. If we really get a bad storm or we hear one coming, Anna and I run a cord from the house to the barn, just in case the snow gets deep, we can find out way home.  I guess they think because I am so short, I will get lost in the snow.  Of course the snow could get so keep, that the snow is higher than the railing.

I only had trouble getting from the barn back to the house once, several years ago.  We still lived in Pennsylvania.  The snow was real deep that year and kept coming one storm after the other.  I got out to the barn for milking and when I opened the barn door to come back to the house - all I could see was snow.  The house never looked so far away.  I started to the house and realized, I wasn't going to make it, so I turned and went back to the barn.  Anna realized I hadn't returned and started to shovel the snow toward the barn, but knew she wasn't going to make it.  Without knowing what the other was doing, we both prayed.  Finally, Anna heard the DPW snow truck coming down the road and stood on the porch and screamed.  Our house sat way back from the road, but Anna can yell loud, but I didn't think that loud.  Anyway, the man heard her screaming.  In order to get to our house, he had to plow from the road to the house.  When he reached the house, Anna told him where I was.  At first, I didn't know what happened when I saw this big truck coming toward the barn, but when I got outside I knew.  When I got home, he checked to make sure we both were all right.  That's when we decided to put the cord in from the house to the barn.

When we built the new house, the barn is a little closer to the house than most barns, but still it is a way away.  Anna didn't want it that close, but I reminded her what happened in Pennsylvania, so she agreed.  So, I don't know what the young fellows are thinking, but whatever it is they can't do it until spring.  Of course, having my driveway plowed and my sidewalk shoveled helps a lot.  Also, my sons along with Jean's sons keeps an eye on us when the snow falls.  Which we appreciate.

Even thought winter is here, all the seed places are sending us their catalogs for spring.  Anna is getting hers for flowers, herbs, etc. I am getting the mine for crop planting.  They don't waste time sending them out.

Bishop Eli was telling me something funny.  He went into a store to get a tool he needed.  When he got to the salesman, in conversation, he told the salesman that everyone calls him Eli.  Well, the man kept calling him Elvis.  Eli corrected him politely once, but the fellow kept it up.  Finally, Eli asked him when he was calling him Elvis.  Very seriously, the fellow looked at him and asked if Eli wasn't short for Elvis.  Like Elvis, the singer.  Once Eli stopped laughing he explained to the fellow that his name comes from the Bible and is really Eli not Elvis.

Someone asked about Hannah and Moses store.  It is coming.  I don't know when the closing will be.  They don't want me to announce where the store is - just in case it doesn't go through.  I guess they think I will change their luck or something.  I think the closing is in January.  The owners said something about taxes this year or alike.

Trust God's Wisdom,
Elmer