Farm work was done, the milk hauler had recently picked up the milk and was headed to the cheese plant, we had just finished eating dinner, and my daughter was getting out the ice cream. Ice cream is not only a perfect followup to any meal but this is ice cream month! Not only did President Reagan see fit to make this month the best month, he made this weekend, the 17th, … [Read more...]
I am your father!
I remember the first time I heard those fateful words; “I am your father.” I was a small boy and the intense fighting, sparks flying, and great heights already had me on edge. Then when the “dark lord” proclaimed his identity, Luke’s response fit the feelings well with his excruciating “Noooo!!” No one would want the evil Darth Vader to be their father. What is a father? Did … [Read more...]
Your Flying Farmer
The closest thing to flying Do you ever just want to do nothing? Can you really DO nothing? Doesn’t the word “do” negate the word, “nothing”? I have an idea for you to try. It’s a great summer activity of doing nothing and you just might like it! I’m going to call it, “the ultimate introverts hangout”! Aka, hammocking. Doing something together, by yourself. There’s … [Read more...]
Flying Farmer: The Closest Thing to Flying
The closest thing to flying Do you ever just want to do nothing? Can you really DO nothing? Doesn’t the word “do” negate the word, “nothing”? I have an idea for you to try. It’s a great summer activity of doing nothing and you just might like it! I’m going to call it, “the ultimate introverts hangout”! Aka, hammocking. Doing something together, by yourself. There’s … [Read more...]
Your Flying Farmer – Making ripples
Have you ever thrown a rock into a perfectly clear lake? Well, you’re also probably the one who unnecessarily walks through the yard after a fresh blanket of snow. Hey, stop talking about the snow! That’s a touchy subject this time of year. I’m trying to plant corn! I’m always impressed by the impact of one tiny rock on so much water. If you haven’t done this before, maybe … [Read more...]
Marriage in the dark
I’ve gotten pretty good at stumbling through the darkness. In one of our machine sheds, there’s a door on both ends but a light switch on only one end. If I happen to come from the switchless end of the farm, I will always choose to blind squirrel my way through the tetris-like machinery rather than take the long way around to the light switch. Some days it works better than … [Read more...]
Prepare for Liftoff!
With a big yawn, I exclaimed, “I dreamt I could fly!” I remember the weightless feeling of levitating like Superman into the air. From the time I was young, I have dreamed of flying both nocturnally and in conscious thought. My brother and I would always see how much air we could get. I remember packing snow up over the old stump in the middle of our sledding hill to make a … [Read more...]
Do I love my wife like cheese?
I love you! What am I talking about? What does that mean? Today, the word “love” has been pretty watered down. I LOVE pizza, sunrises, milk, hamburgers, and babies. I also love flying, mountains, indoor plumbing, and my wife. Here’s a problem: Should I say that I love cheese in the same way that I say I love my wife? How do we use the same word for food that we do for a … [Read more...]
My dirty Nativity
They’re still stuck in my head: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing,” “Joy to the World,” “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Is it really over? Christmas 2022 is history and the New Year has dropped. Does that mean all we have left is ice and gloom? It might feel a bit like sailors who reach the stretch of water where they get stuck in the doldrums. There’s nothing to move … [Read more...]
Life in the clouds
Life in the clouds Gasp! “My water broke!” reported my wide-eyed wife. We had been looking forward to this day for 10 months, yet still the surprise took me off guard. After a quick recovery from the drop in my stomach, I got my jaw off the floor. “Alright! Yes! How are you? This is awesome!” Oh, the excitement that comes with a baby! My wife is a rock star! At 2:00 the … [Read more...]