Grooming the Farmstead

This week had become devoted to preening and primping around the farmstead, trying to clean up the rough edges. Lawn mowing, of course, is a major part of that. As on many farms, our yard is very large, almost like a city park. The task of mowing falls to me, as Husband and Son keep busy all day doing livestock chores and Daughter has summer employment off the farm.

Lawn mowing has always been a part of my life. While growing up, I spent countless summer hours pushing droning green Lawn Boys. My parents didn't consent to buying a riding mower until my brother was old enough to mow. Figure that one out! Push mowing was fine for us girls, but somehow was below what a son should have to do. Actually though, all that walking and pushing the mower was a good thing......it built muscles and kept us in shape.

Anyway, long-gone are my days of push-mowing. Since moving here to the home place twenty-one years ago, I have had access to a riding mower, thank goodness. There's been many frustrations, however, since Husband had inherited his father's tendency to buy cheap mowers which often broke down or just plain wouldn't start. That was usually the main problem......I would get all set to spend an afternoon mowing, and then the mower wouldn't start. Husband would get grouchy because he had to drop what he was doing to work on the mower. This went on for years, and I learned to just keep my mouth shut about it. Finally, this spring, Husband came up with the brilliant idea that we should invest in a higher-quality mower. Can you believe it?! So now when I mow I almost feel like I've died and gone to lawnmower's heaven. The mower starts nicely for me, and has plenty of power to handle all the rough and tough terrain around our farmstead.

Over the years, I've tried to expand the areas that we mow, because it makes the place look neater, plus really helps to control the nuisance of mosquitos, who like long grass and weeds to hang out in. If I mow everything at once, it takes about four hours. Sometimes I dread the thought, but once I get started, its OK......I can zone out on the mower and think and pray. Round and round, mower and I go, circling countless trees, avoiding rusty old farm machinery lurking in the weeds, outlining bins and buildings, and dodging pine tree limbs. By finish time, I'm covered in dust and dirt, with pine needles and tree bark pricking inside my clothing. It's great fun, and people ask me how I get that wonderful tan!

This morning after chores, while it was still fairly cool, I trundled about with my big yard cart, pulling stray weeds here and there by trees and buildings. By the house, I've been trying to establish a perennial flower garden, partly using native flowering plants. Right now most of the native ones are not blooming yet, so they look like weeds. Coneflowers, evening primrose, mullein, catnip, and black-eyed susans are the weedy-looking ones. I planted a patch of black-eyed susan by the barn door, too, and last week when the dairy inspector was here he wrote on his report that we need to "cut the weeds" in front of the milkhouse. That would be my black-eyed susans plus another area of bee balm! In a couple weeks, both will be in bloom......if only the inspector would see them then!

The main reason for all this farmstead clean-up is that this weekend my daughter's fiance's family is coming to visit for the first time. Even though they are long-time town people, I'm not too worried. Both parents grew up on farms, so they should remember what its like, and won't be too shocked by weeds and old stuff sitting here and there.

Remembering the Planters

On Monday I made a trip to town to buy garden seeds and plants. Last year I didn't get a garden put in because we were caught up in a house remodeling project. Actually, for the past many years I've really been lacking in enthusiasm for gardening. It seemed that the springtime months would get so busy that I just didn't have time for yardwork other than lawn mowing. Through eighth grade our kids all attended a Lutheran dayschool which had sports starting in fifth grade. We played against schools in our Lutheran district, but many of those events were over an hour away, so most Saturdays would be spent driving to and sitting at games. At the time, I thought I enjoyed all that running around, but now, I'm relieved to have those years behind me. Also, our school had lots of tasks for volunteers to do, so I spent time doing that, too. Twenty years were spent focused on that school......that is enough. And I retired from the church ladies group, too. It seemed pointless to go sit at meetings and yack about what we could do next to raise money. I had enough of that! I'm so happy to just stay home most of the time......and there is plenty to do here. Never a dull moment, and if nothing else, I can always find a quiet spot to relax and enjoy my favorite pastime, reading.

Anyway, its with pleasant surprise that I find myself in the mood for gardening. In a shady flower bed area I planted pansies (my favorite), violas, and lobelia. Hopefully, the dogs and cats won't traipse around in there and break off the flowers. My perennials are shooting up now that the days are sunny and warm. Coneflowers, black-eyed susans, bleeding hearts, hostas, asters, phlox. Perennials are great.....they grow themselves!

After hoeing the garden up good, I planted eight tomato plants. Four Early Girl and four Better Boy. Those varieties have been around forever......I remember my mom planting them. Also, I put in four hills of pumpkins for fall decorating. For the past few years I've purchased pumpkins, so hopefully this year I won't have to do that. I planted one hill of cucumber, called "armenian". Its supposed to be crispy and not bitter. We'll see. Also, I put in gladiolas, marigolds and zinnias.

As I hoed and planted and watered, my mind wandered back through the years, to the memories of people who were "planters" of many types. My long-gone great-uncle, who never had the privilege of being a parent, but always had a huge, gorgeous garden. There are lovely lilac bushes in my yard, thanks to him. He had emigrated from Germany along with his parents when he was three years old. When I was a little kid, with big ears, like kids usually have, I heard my mom say that Uncle didn't "believe in miracles". I pondered a long time about that, and wasn't sure what to make of it. He didn't go to church.....maybe he was an atheist.....I don't know. He sure had nice gardens, though.

My grandpa showed me how to plant garden seeds and plants. Flower seeds and tiny, fine seeds (like lettuce) in wide shallow rows. Peas and green bean seeds one by one in deeper rows since they are bigger seeds. The holes for the tomato, cabbage, and pepper plants need to have some water put in them first, then the plant can go in. Press the dirt firmly around them and make a circle around them. There would be our handprints in the dirt. Grampy died when I was nine and I still miss him. He planted not only garden plants, but also love.

May we all take time to remember and appreciate those who have planted seeds of faith, hope, and love in our lives.