His was, by all accounts, an ordinary life. I first met him when he was nearly 70, and I was not yet 30.
He was a quiet, Mennonite man who enjoyed reading — and writing — poetry in his spare time.
I was an newlywed expecting my first baby. I wrote nothing remotely close to poetry.
Serve
[…]
An amazing thing happened last week while you were busy milking, feeding, repairing, resting or doing whatever other chores keep farmers busy in bleak midwinter.
An army of “agvocates” — farm advocates — were on their computers creating a ruckus on your behalf. And it was an online vocal maelstrom that spread like wildlife, finding allies, […]
In January, I did most of my wildlife watching through my office windows. Though the bird feeders were always busy, I also noticed a frenzy of activity among the gray and fox squirrels that inhabit the nearby woods.
Chase begins
On all but the coldest and snowiest days, I could count on seeing two squirrels chasing a […]
Each week Farm and Dairy challenges readers to identify a small tool or gadget (or at least ‘hazard a guess’ as to its use).
Hi, Again!
It is that time of year again to update everyone with some old information. The following are some reminders that will help you stay in compliance with program regulations throughout the year.
Payment limitation requirements. USDA payments are subject to producer eligibility and payment limitation provisions. After applicable forms have been filed to determine […]
If you are not a “dog person” you might as well turn the page.
But if you are one of those who consider your dog, be he or she a purebred or mixed breed, an important member of your family, you’ll understand the ongoing heartache of Tom Brugnaux of Poland/Boardman and Cindi Hamrock of Austintown who […]
This past fall, Oct. 23-24, to be exact, Aumann Auctions were in charge of dispersing the large collection of antique tractors and paper ephemera belonging to Gary Parker of Churubusco, Ind. It was a large sale and, although I wasn’t there, it’s interesting to review the prices realized for some of this “Rusty Iron.”
What […]
Like Henny “Take my wife — please” Youngman, Steven Wright has built a comedy career on one-line jokes.
A classic Wright one-liner unblinkingly and unsmilingly asks: “Twenty-four hours in a day, 24 beers in a case — coincidence?” The question is clever and rhetorical; laughter is its only answer.
Lots of coincidences
January seemed to brim […]
On Feb. 12-15, birders all across the country will participate in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), a joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society.
This popular citizen science project is an opportunity for families, students, and people of all ages to discover the world of wild […]
“Sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you.”
I have always hated that fable. Words do hurt.
Words can kill.
Fifteen-year-old Phoebe Prince chose to take her own life rather than deal with what has been characterized as “relentless physical and cyber bullying.”
Prince was besieged in school, via text […]
