A long ago column

Sunnybook Farm Revisited

By Susan Manzke

 

            This particular column was written in 1981, very early in my column writing career. We’ve changed, our weather varies from year to year, but farmer’s heavenly requests continue. We keep on praying to get sun and rain in just the right amount and try to live with what we’re allotted. This past spring, many farmers were in their fields early. Some got rain when needed, others did not but no matter what, we seem to be always asking God for something.

 

Farmer’s Prayer

 

It’s always silent. Not a word is ever heard. It’s the heart of every man or woman concerned with crops out in the field. It’s the farmer’s prayer.

 

My heavenly requests started in mid winter. I was trapped indoors with three children and a man crazed with cabin fever. The one who could end our imprisonment was reached only through prayer.

 

“Oh God, let the sun warm the hills and the valleys. Let green spring come. And let my nervous husband sit once more on his tractor to till the soil…. His winter pacing has a ten-foot path worn across the living room run. … Amen.”

 

My prayer was answered … finally spring arrived. A little late, in my opinion, but it arrived. Was it my fault it came as a wet, rainy spring? Did I forget to say I wanted a dry spring?

 

“P.S. God, thank you for the glorious spring. I appreciated it very much. But I do have to ask you to hold back the rain. My husband’s still in the house. Now that living room path is 15 feet long…. Amen.”

 

Well, He heard my prayer again and our crops found their way to the ground and there they sat high and dry…. I must have forgotten something again.

 

“It’s me again…. I’m sorry to bother you, but remember that rain you so graciously turned off?  Well it would be greatly appreciated if you could turn it back on again…. Please?”

 

This year my prayers were answered tenfold. The rain came and gave life to failing fields. But again it didn’t want to stop. So I humbly approached the Almighty once more … and after awhile, the weather changed. The clouds remained, but they were dry. Only trouble now is the slight shiver threatening an early, killing frost.

 

“God, I know winter has to come. I’ll even welcome its white beauty, in time. But would you mind holding the cold off until we get our crops out of the fields…. I promise not to complain… much … about a long, cold winter. If only you let fall continue warm and dry a little longer…. Amen.”

 

I’m not sure what the answer will be to this last prayer, yet. But I know it won’t be my last request.

Cold winter

Too many days of cold. Too many days at home. Bob and I started out going to Fleet Farm this morning only having to stop and charge up the car. The new battery was too low to start. Guess it would help if we started it more often, but we've been staying home a lot with the cold. Soon we will be off to Green Bay for some needed items. Spring can't come soon enough for me.

Dewey: the small-town library cat

Soon I will be deep in my books for my final semester at UWGB. Before I jump into those textbooks, I'm doing some fun reading.

I just finished Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World. The story by Vicki Myron, Dewey's mom, was touching. It was a lot about Vicki and the people of Spencer, Iowa along with stories about Dewey.

When reading about the life of an animal, be prepared for the end. It's a no-brainer what happens to all living things after a long life. Like the book and now movie about the dog, Marley and me, when reading about Dewey be prepared for a sad ending. I thought I was, but as with Marley, I cried.... both are still good stories. If you want to take in the fun about animals, quit reading before the last episode/chapter or walk out of the movie. You know what happens. My advice for sentimental readers is to take the best part of the stories, the fillet as it were, and leave the rest. Either that or get out a box of tissues. 

Day off
Now Playing: What flower are you?

Bob and I went to the movies today. We're cheap, so we went to the Budget theater and saw the new Narnia movie. We actually enjoyed it better then the first one. I liked that the children all worked together. In the first one, Edward was a trator to his family.

We got a tiny shower this morning. Looking for more rain. Soy beans in the sandy soil are showing the lack of moisture.

What flower are you?  I'm an Echinacea

Thursday

Farm Technology Days are over. It didn't last long enough, only half the allotted time. Rain swamped the event halfway through day two. Too bad.

Tuesday I spoke in the Family Living tent about saving family stories. I followed the UW-Madison band, or at least a small portion of the band. They were good and loud.

The audience seemed to enjoy my stories and many came up to Bob and me afterwards. So very nice people.

I had been so nervous I didn't sleep the night before, but after I got up on stage I didn't feel nervous at all. I was looking forward to day two and my second talk.

On Wednesday clouds followed us to the event. I carried an umbrella to ward off rain, but that didn't help. About an hour before I was to go on, the announcement came that Farm Technology Days was closing because of bad weather.

Bob and I were near the exit so we left right away. We were out of the vender parking lot before most people even started for their cars. ... I felt bad that I wouldn't get to speak and then meet people afterwards. Hopefully my next event will not be interrupted by thunderstorms.

Now Playing: Me and Bob

Since I'm learning about posting to this blog, I thought I'd try adding a photo.

Here we are,  Bob and me at Rachel's and Dave's home this summer.

Just enjoying time with our family and each other.

 

Now Playing: Today

Today I can't think about much of anything except talking at Farm Technology Days later this week. I plan on giving it my all, telling family stories while encouraging others to save their own stories. It is my idea to entertain more then I educate, but mostly to have a lot of fun.

I must be thinking about this event a lot because it has even entered my dreams. Most of the time I'm lost or stuck in traffic and can not get to the Family Living tent. But there is one other dream; I'm being run over by the UW-Madison marching band.

On Tuesday, The UW-Marching band opens the programs with a BANG! I then take the stage, little ole me, all by my lonely and I wonder if there will be any stage left.

No matter what happens, my part will be over Wednesday evening and life will return to normal...quiet like most days on Sunnybook Farm.

winter storm

Today I'm at home watching the snow swirl around the house.

Most of the day Bob was in the basement fighting with the furnace.--Boy did we get a lemon there.

This is my first blog and it is a trial one at that. I may be able to write a lot more if the storm keeps blowing.

Spring, where are you?