Summers past, the kindness of strangers, and battling beetles
It seems to me that the month of June has zipped by pretty fast. I'm writing this on the last day of June, and the 4th of July will be here before we know it.
It always brings back memories of my uncle having Roman candles to ignite on the farm, and my cousins and me having sparklers to wave in the dark and "snakes" to watch curl around after lighting them. Pretty tame, eh?
It was a day when the men played croquet, the women visited, and there was always a huge potluck meal or meals on that day. In the evening the adults played cards, we kids stood and watched them argue over whose turn it was to deal, and then we disappeared into the night with sparklers in hand. Great memories.
Today, the 30th, USDA will be issuing a grain stocks report and acres planted. I didn't realize that so many acres were not able to be planted because of weather in the Minnesota and Dakotas area.
Locally, I believe the proposed wind farm in the Industry area is doing environmental studies.
I'd like to do an environmental study on our front and back yard. Why? Because I can't imagine how many coons it takes to search the grass for grubs, eat mulberries and "deposit" them wherever they feel they need to, and pull out plants.
Then, yesterday I was trimming a bush early in the morning with no beetles flying at me like planes, but the afternoon was a different story. They were thick on the bush, and had already cannibalized a lot of leaves. I gave up trying to trim the bush, and decided to wait for morning.
In this old world, we have to remember there are so many good folks around. Do you remember the song (I think it was Alabama's) about angels around us. Well, one evening we had a complete stranger stop and tell us we had a calf out on the road, then as we headed out the door a neighbor and his wife pulled in and helped us get it back into the pasture where it belonged. Not only tried but went the extra mile and after the calf jumped through a fence and was in the pasture beside where it belonged, the fella helped get it through the gate and back with the other cattle.
Well, I'm headed out to battle the beetles. I am thankful every day that I live in a country where we can vote, work, earn money, pay bills, go where we choose BUT we are going to have to constantly work at it to keep it. Enjoy the 4th of July and celebrate.
I leave you with this: Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting and playing cards. One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, "Now don't get mad at me. I know we've been friends for a long time, but I just can't think of your name! Please tell me what your name is." Her friend glared at her, and for at least three minutes she just stared and glared at ther. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know?"
This article originally appeared on The McDonough County Voice: 4th of july and USDA report
