Growing Up In The Country

Growing Up As A Child In The Country

I loved watching our livestock, and I liked to help take care of their livestock. I had two little runt pigs that I took care of until we took them to market. My Father let me keep the money for my runt pigs that grew up to be strong and healthy. I put the money from my pigs in my savings acct. I loved to follow my grandfather around as he did the daily chores on the farm. I would watch him feed and water the livestock and anything else that needed to be done on the farm. I would protect my Father and grandfather, repair farm machinery and do repairs on our rental homes. After my grandfather died, I followed my Father around the farm. I would help him lay out shingles on the small portable hog buildings. We moved a sow to another facility, which was quite a process. We put her piglets in front of her to make the task easier. I would watch my grandmother planting flowers, and as she grew them, she would tell me the names of the flowers. I remember everyone gardening and putting up sweet corn for the long winter months ahead. I would watch our neighbor and my Father tears down farm machinery and walk behind lawnmowers. My mother worked as a librarian at our local library in town. My mother would drive the 560 tractors when we put up hay. As I grew older, I would help stack the hay bails and unload the grain wagons. I would watch the grain dryer to ensure no misfunctions could start a grain fire. I am so blessed that I grew up in the country, as there is so much for a child to see and learn while enjoying the great outdoors.

Living As An Adult In The Country

I love mowing lawns and weed-whacking and maintaining farm buildings. I want to keep up the farm like my parents did, as I feel it is an honor to them. I love the fact that I can have 14 cats in the country. I have three house cats. I have 11 cats in another heated building. I love walking around the country without neighbors right next to me who may be bored and have nothing better to do than watch my outdoor activities. I have a garden, and I freeze vegetables I have picked or harvested. I see an occasional deer, wild turkey, fox, and other animals that drink out of my birdbath or eat the dropped bird seed from the bird feeders. I love watching cardinals, goldfinch, blue jay, morning Dove, woodpeckers, indigo buntings, and other birds. I like to lay in my hammock and read a good history book. Living and working in the country rejuvenates the soul. I helped my Father harvest corn years ago as I ran the 815 International combine. I enjoyed running that combine, filling the hopper, and unloading it into the grain wagons or trucks. My life on the farm has many happy and everlasting memories that I would never trade for anything in the World. God bless all the dedicated and hard-working farmers who help put food on our table every day.