Remember last week when I told you that I was going to start reading some “great” books as soon as I finished reading some fluff?
Last night I finished reading this memoir. I expected the author to be a kind, warm-fuzzy type since she loves to bake pies. Who ever heard of a hateful pie baker?
This gal, however, throws around the f-bomb and seemed rather self-centered and just plain mean in the first two-thirds of the book. I almost didn’t finish it.
But, her whole personality seemed to change when she returned to Iowa, and she hooked me till the end when I read this paragraph.
“There was nothing between Council Bluffs and Des Moines, except for farms-red barns, white wooden farmhouses and field divided by gravel roads exactly one mile apart. There was so much space here, yet every inch of it was filled with life. Each acre of black topsoil hosted tilled rows of plants, nourishment, crops of corn and soybeans, all growing, ripening, flourishing. Each barn was home to stalls of animals, sows and cows, all fattening up, preparing to feed a nation.”
The media often presents farmers as stupid hayseeds, and nothing could be further from the truth. I hope that my blog helps you to see rural life in a more realistic way.
 |
| We are very patriotic around here, so I was so tickled when this semi pulled up to the shed delivering seed. Love it! |
 |
| For the first time EVER, we had corn up on March 31. Some years we aren’t finished planting until July. This year we finished May 12. Crazy Spring! |
 |
| My farmers always wear hats, and they get very dirty. Hat wash day! |
 |
| Farming is a family affair. (Don’t worry. We are very careful around here.) |
 |
| Tilling ground. This is what I help with, but this spring, I only drove the tractor one day. |
 |
 |
| This is the planter all folded up. Brad had just pulled into the field getting ready to start planting beans. |
 |
| My guys eat lunch and dinner in the field during spring and fall. Here Brad is having a ditch-side picnic.
Successful farmers are not hayseeds.
They are not stupid.
They are not farming because it is the only thing they are capable of doing.
They are astute business men who love the land and wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.
|
Hugs!
I grew up on a farm in PA, Susan. My father was a retired professor from Penn State and returned home to farm the rest of his life. Farmers are some of the smartest people I know, to say nothing of how hard they work. Blessings to you- some days I really envy your world. xo Diana
I found your post through Richella's party. I think there's not a more noble profession than farming. I come from a long line of farmers and am quite proud of that. Growing up on a farm taught me the value of hard work. Anyone who makes fun of a farmer doesn't know a think about it!
I hear ya! This is a great and very powerful post…you are speaking up for many many farmers out there. Be proud!
XO,
Jane
Never thought farmers were anything but super smart and hard working! Love your front porch. Looks like a super pretty place to visit.
Love those last strong sentences – and am in total agreement with each one! Where would we be without the farmers who put the precious foods on our table?
I have farmer friends in the UK – dairy and sheep – and know what a hard life they lead….BUT they love it and we are grateful for their efforts just as with all farmers here in this vast land.
Love the ball cap wash day – do you scrub by hand and air dry? I never know how to wash those things with stiff brims.
Love the farm pictures – make sure you show us more later when the corn is "high as an elephant's eye"!
Happy weekend on your beautiful farm.
Mary X
P.S. What kind of beans please? Being vegetarian I love all beans.
You described my life perfectly. We live in rural Kentucky and I could have taken those pictures on my daily drive. We don't have a farm, but we live in a farming community. Thanks for the glimpse of your beautiful neck of the woods 🙂
blessings,
karianne
PS I don't have hat washing day….but I should.
very cool! can't wait to hear more from you. i'm your newest follwer. thanks for stopping by today:)!!!!
I've never heard of a hateful pie baker either but I do hate to bake pies. I've never been able to get the crust right! Loved your photo of hat washing day and learning more about the farming life!
My husband would love nothing more than to be a farmer. Instead he settled for the next best thing and built a successful landscape company. We just talked about it the other day and he still longs to farm. But almost 30 people rely on us for a living, so we aren't going anywhere unless the Lord makes it very clear!
Appreciated your post 🙂
As the daughter of a part-time farmer and the daughter in law of a full time farmer, I so appreciate what you are saying. Great post.
Now if we can just change the perception concerning people from the South (but I guess that will have to be my mission not yours.LOL)
A wonderful post! You're giving people a much-needed glimpse into REAL rural life, not what they may believe from stereotypes. I really appreciate that!