who would have thought...

well this isn't about me learning, but about something i'm extremly excited about. this weekend, mark and i are going to michigan! not just for something to do, but to go see the nascar race! there was a day i never ever thought i would ever watch, let alone like nascar. yet here i am with a driver i cheer for, denny hamlin #11. and now i'm going to a race, something die hard fans would do anything to be able to do. its going to be marks first time too. and he is excited too. we are making signs, and shirts, and are going camping down there from friday till monday. so i will take lots of pictures, and post some for you to see.

new life

well since i got to the farm, i've wanted to see one thing, more then anything else. some people may think its weird, but i really wanted to experience it. i wanted to see a calf being born. there would be days when i would get home from work, and marks dad would tell me, oh shoot if i knew you were home i would have got you over, we just had a calf. Or, i would show up to his house and sure enough he would just be coming out of the barn, after one was born. it seemed like i was never going to get to see it happen. then one days marks mom donna called the house telling me to get ready doug was on his way to pick me up. a calf was about to be born! so i jumped up and got my barn clothes on, and was waiting in the drive way, thumb up, ready for my drive over to the action. we got there and to my luck the calf still wasn't born. but it was starting, the little calf's hoof was sticking out... so we played the waiting game. unfortunately cows don't like being watched when this is about to happen, and will actually hold off the birth until they feel alone. so me and dougie sat off the the side out of her view and waited for her to lay down and start the process. once they hit a certain point they can't stop. so she layed down, and we waited, then we heard a splash, so we figured it was he water break. we waited another couple minutes, then went to look. unfortunately the splash we heard, was the calf being born... two feet away and i STILL miss it?! well now i am certain i am never going to see this happen. and am a little bummed out.

but the other night i got to give it another try. doug came over and i got ready and headed over. we waited in the distance again, but the old girl could still see doug, and would do nothing but stand there staring at him, so i ordered him out of the barn, i had a hiding spot, where she couldn't see me. so i stood waiting, and then she layed down, and i started to get excited and i was rea.... what the heck was that?! i look over and this rambunctious calf decided he was going to climb out of his pen. and was out into the walk way, so i started calling for doug to come help me, because he was a good size calf, and i couldn't lift him back into his pen. so doug came in and we got the little fella back where he needed to be, but unfortunately this commotion has got momma to be all stirred up again. so i send doug back out and i hide again. and it wasn't before long that she was laying down, and even less time before... i got to see the very thing i'd been waiting to see! it was so amazing! such a cool experience, and if you ever get the change to see it, take it!

the difference between stuck, and STUCK

as you all know, a few weeks ago, went into the ditch, and my wonderful boyfriend saved me, from being stuck. there was no way i was getting out, couldn't move forward, couldn't move backward. i even tried getting rid of the snow from around my car and tires, to no luck. i was stuck. but what i didn't know then is that stuck takes on many forms, and there is definitely a difference between, stuck, and STUCK.

if you live anywhere near me, you'll know its been raining like CRAZY lately. yuck! which makes things soggy. double yuck! and in a farmers world, it can be a great thing, or a very big hindrance. last week, it was a very big hindrance. there is a field over at marks dads house, that has always had a wet spot(or so i'm told, this is the first time i've seen it) and with all this rain, its just gotten really bad. so marks dad, doug, or as i call him, dougie, decided he wanted to tile the spot in the field. now don't you worry i'm gonna explain what it is, and if you already know, then your smarter then i was! tile is plastic pipe with little holes punched into it, that you bury under ground. the purpose is to take the water from the field and direct it away, so in this case its towards the ditch. over at marks he tiled his fields into the stream. they say it takes about 5 years from it to really start working, so that it creates little streams of water underground, to the rows of tile. now, dougie has wanted to tile this spot for a long time, but now finally has the time to do it. so the boys got started. the first row went in good. the second row on the other hand, needed a bit more help. and THIS is where i learned the difference between stuck and STUCK.

i was on my way to marks, when he called my cell phone and asked if i was close by, said they needed and extra hand for something. so i got to marks got dressed up in my overalls, rubber boots, which by the way are pink and black, with hearts and starts and cherries on them. if i'm going to work on the farm, i want to look good! and grabbed some work gloves, not knowing what i was going to help with, i jumped on the four wheeler and headed over to his dads place. jumping on the four wheeler is one of my favorite parts of the day! switching gears driving fast, drifting around the corners, i have a much fun as i can, even if its just a trip to around the corner.

when i pulled into the field, i noticed there were three tractors sitting there. then a long cable, and a chain. one tractor was at the fence row, it was hooked to 150ft of cable, then that was attached to another tractor, which was attached to the chain, which was attached to a third tractor. i was a bit puzzled at first, because there was only mark and dougie in the field, but three tractors, and then it hit me, they are going to make me drive one of them! what i feared, mark taught me once, but i had forgotten everything! but luckfully dougie taught me how to work the third tractor, the first one in the chain, the leader of the pack. now each tractor is different, and this one was nothing like the one i learned on. so the plan was i would pull the second tractor with dougie in it, and that would pull the last tractor with mark on it. and with a little nudge, we were of and running. the second row of tile in! since we felt like we were on a roll, we went in to do the third row, what we didn't know was all three tractors had to drive through the wettest part of the field. we pulled and pulled and sunk, and sunk, and spun our tires, and threw up mud, and dug ourselves deeper and deeper, until we managed to get all three tractors STUCK!

one door closes, to another door open.

most people spend easter weekend, having family dinners, and hiding and finding eggs, and goodies. but this year i spent it in the bush. it was only a short time ago, when i was hauled out to the bush for the first time, to start up the maple syrup season. with a drill in one hand and a bucket of hot water in the other, and a look on my face that screamed, help me! this was something i've never done, and i was clueless. and for good reason, who knew there was so much involved with tapping trees. i was surprised to see the sap start dripping out of the tree right after i pulled the drill out, and when i said to mark "it happens that quick?" he laughed. and apparently when to work and told the guys about it, and joked as if i expected there to be a switch to turn on after i drilled the hole. haha. but as the day went on and i was left on my own to tap whole lines and whole sections of the bush, i started to really enjoy it. its very satisfying to drill the hole and then see the sap run out, makes you know you picked the right spot! after that day was done, i got to see and learn and do the rest of the steps to make that wonderful treat we all love. i did everything from filling the sap tanks, to fueling the fire, to taking off a batch, to finishing a batch, to bottleing it. which i thought was the end.... untill easter weekend. when we set out into the bush with hammers, and tape and string and buckets of water, to pull and flush the lines, and close it up for another season. which isn't near as fun as tapping the trees. although there was still good times, like linnett singing away at the top of her lungs, because she had her ipod turned up and couldn't hear herself.... we all could though, haha. or the trips slips and falls we all took, or nearly missed. linnett, my boyfriends sister, wasn't so lucky, she slipped and landed with her elbow right in her bucket of water. i wasn't as graceful, i just spent the weekend accedentally kicking my bucket over and dumping out all my water, so i would have to take a trip over to the water bucket. lines were broke, and fingers were frozen, but laughs were shared, and memories were made. and i look forward to next year when it all happens again.



but just because syrup is done, doesn't mean there is rest for the wicked. nope its straight from one thing to the next. and the next this time, is baby time. no no not me! the cows! yep its time for the little calfs to pop out and explore the world. and it started with a healthy set of twins. one boy one girl. and they just keep coming. its amazing how they all have personalities. and i can't wait till they get let outside and are aloud to run around and play with each other. i'm sure it will make for some good laughs, and hopfully some stories...

home grown

there is something about people from the country or small towns. a sense of friendliness, and hospitality, you just don't find everywhere. they look out for thier neighbours, are there when you need a halping hand, or a shoulder to lean on. now i know not all people from the country or a small town, are like this, and that not every person from the city is the opposite. but its always seemed like i could count on a good home grown country guy, or girl. today proved it once again. as some of you know today we got a freak snow storm that dropped over 7inches on us. and yes its april 6th!! and on my way from my parents house, to my boyfriends house, my car and i managed to make ourself into the ditch, so far in that i could touch the corn stalks from the field from my car. so since this is the second time my car and i have managed to make our way into the ditch i was much calmer this time. i didn't scream "NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO!!" with hopes it would fix the situation and keep me from the ditch. nope this time, i just said "aww fuck" and i slid sideways into the ditch on the opposite side of the road facing the opposite direction i was heading. once i came to a stop, instead of sitting there shaking and crying and hitting the stearing wheel in anger like last time. i got out and did a walk around of my car to make sure nothing was broken. then got back in my car and called mark. who knew right away something was up. and right away asked where are you? haha so i told him, and he right away said i'm on my way. a minute later he called back to ask if he should bring the tractor instead of his truck. which we decided was a better idea. but i thought it was a better idea because he has two tractors, one with a cab and a heater, and one without. so when i saw him pulling up behind me 45mins later, on the tractor without the heated cab, it hit me. i have an amazing boyfriend. he drove 45mins in a snow storm on a tractor with no cab to pull me out of a corn field. and i felt guilty, and extremely lucky. i knew since i started dating him that i had found a great guy. and every day he proves it more and more. so i'd like to thank the good home grown men and women out there who will do anything for a friend, or neighbour.

clueless...

since my first post i've been trying to think about what to write about next. i thought about getting mark to tell me one of his stories again and have him write a post with me, but finding that kind of time is near impossible while dating a guy who manages his own farm, helps out at his dad's farm, has a plastic welding business, works nights sun-thursday, is on the fair board, AND makes maple syrup on top of all that... and knowing me i'm prolly forgetting something.. oh like play hockey! it never ends, but its a life i've come to love. so since finding time to do that is hard to come by, i was left wondering what to write, untill i read the comment left by one of my newest friends jackie. she talked about being lost in this world of tractors and augers, and something else i didn't understand.... and well it hit me... i'm lost too. i've never been the type to not understand something, i pick things up very quickly. untill now... the other day mark was talking about something, and i was trying so hard to understand, and then i realized, i know nothing about farming. he was saying something about seading, and sowing, and well i just didn't have a clue. i know one day i'll figure it out, once that time of year comes around, but untill then i'll just listen and nod, and smile ever so sweetly. and hope to god, he dosn't ask me to go start the combine... ok ok i know what a combine is.... now. but thats only because mark took me to the rockwood santa clause parade, which is made up completely of farm equipment. you don't believe me? i don't blame you, i didn't believe him when he asked me to go. luckfully, everything had a sign on the side of it saying what it was, and who owned it. which i thought was extremely helpful, and kind of them, untill a lady standing near us noticed the signs halfway through the parade, nudged her friend, pointed to the signs, and said "hey look, its signs for the stupid city folk"... well i'm sorry missy, i am no city folk, but i just hung my head in shame. too scared/embarrssed to tell her that not all counrty kids know farm equipment.

and so it begins...

I've decided to bring you along on my journey, of becoming a true country girl. I've always been a country girl, grew up in a small town, listened to country music, and still do. But there is so much more, then just where you live. Three months ago, i started dating an amazing guy, and when i met him over 10 months ago, i never thought he would change my life so much. He was a story telling joker, with a cute hick accent, and great smile.... that i never pictured myself dating, yet here we are, and i'm happier then i've ever been. funny how life works out eh? since i knew him long before we started dating, i had already heard many stories about his farm, or his dads farm, and the crazy messes they got into with the cows, or sam, the white and orange tom cat who walks around like he owns the place... and most of the time, he does. but most of the story's seemed too good, or far fetched, to be true. that was, untill i got to see it first hand. so now, three months later i look back, and think to myself, i've got so much more learning to do before i can ever call myself a true country girl. So i thought i would bring you along on my adventures, of learning to become a farm girl. and since its already been 3 months, i'll try and fill you in on what you've missed.

The first time i went out to the barn was an experiance, i had been to barns before, but i had never been up close and personal with that many cows. Which, are alot bigger then they seem when you pass by them in your car. It was time to bring in hay for them, so we had to get them out of the barn, so mark(my wonderful boyfriend, and teacher) could bring the tractor into the barn. this being my first time around the BIG cows(which ran freely around the barn) i was nervous. But lucky me, i met a great guy, who gave me a bright pink cane, and said here have this, it will help you, the cows respect it. and i believed him, and as silly as it sounds, it gave me the confidence to walk closer to them, and help mark walk them out of the barn. so while mark brought in the hay i stood in the doorway, with my bright pink cane, and tried to keep the cows out. but everytime i turned my back to watch what mark was doing, those sneaky cows would creep up on me. and i would turn around and shake my cane at them and they would back off. once we we back into the house, i was very proud of myself, and mark just had this silly grin on his face. it wasn't untill a few weeks later i found out why he had that grin. when he was telling his dad the story of my first time in the barn, and about my bright pink cane. it was then i realized, the cane is just the hit them with when he's alone, and that they don't respect it at all. boy was my face red. but none the less we all shared a laugh over it.

There was one time when i got brave, and i was at his house alone, and the grain stove went out, so i decided i would go to the barn, like mark does, and get more grain for him... so i got all dressed up, in his rubber boots, and overalls, and headed to the barn with my two buckets. i went inside, and filled up my buckets with "grain" went over the the door to the cows, opened it and peaked in, to say hello, which was big, cause i didn't even take my "magical" cane with me. and then headed back to the house, filled the stove up and then wrote him a note, about my good doings, and went home with a smile on my face. the next day he called me and was so proud. except what i thought was grain, was really his rolled oats, that is for the cows to eat... but said it still burned, and he was still proud of me. all i could say, was that i tried so hard.

There was also the time mark wanted me to drive the tractor back to his place from his parents house. which i wasn't ready to do yet. but mark kept asking, and i kept saying no, untill... mark, threw himself one the ground, moved himself to be under the great big back tire, and said, "what if i'm stuck under the tractor! what if your the only other person around, and YOU have to move the tractor to save me?! what about then?" and i said, "but you wont be under the tractor" which he replied to with "oh you might be surprised, but if you don't learn how to drive it now, while i'm not under the tire, then it will be REALLY hard to teach you how, when i am under it." and well how do you look at him after all that and still say no... so there i was up on the tractor seat... learning to drive it. which wasn't so bad. although i'm not sure i'd remeber how to do it now.

I tried my hand at tagging a cows ear.... that ended with me screaming no no no no, because i didn't squeeze hard enough, and the cow was throwing her head around cause i was hurting her. i met sam, the tom cat. who keeps himself very white, which is surprising coming from a barn cat. he is a sneaky guy too, if you don't watch out he will be in your car before you get out. or in the house before you are.

it's taking me a while, but i am really enjoying this whole learning thing. i even went out and bought myself some rubber boots of my own. mark wasn't so impressed when he saw that the were hot pink with hearts and stars and cherries on them, but i told him, atleast i'm trying dear. and he just smiled. but i know there is going to be more to learn, and stories to share, so i hope you'll enjoy reading them.