The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Greetings ta ever one in western Illinois and all readers of "The Quill."
Rain
The rain shower I talked about need'n last week came but not in my neighborhood. Some folks East and North of us got dumped on in short order. There are reports of 6" to 9" inches of rain come'n outa the sky like water outa a pitcher. It put some crops under water and caused a great deal of erosion.
Those fellers that planted into "cover crops" reported limited erosion from the downpour and were quite satisfied with the results.
There are areas in Deep Southern Illinois that are yet too wet ta be planted. Probably too late, I would suppose fer them fields.
Crops around these parts look good fer the most part and they are a call'n fer rain this week. Hope it happens.
If'n ya are ever gonna have dry weather some folk feel now is a good time fer it causes plant roots ta chase deep fer moisture. That should help come July and August if'n its gonna be a summer of heat and less than desirable moisture.
I come across the follow'n poem a while back, by Helen Coon, and maybe you've seen it before. It's worth share'n, see here it is:
Just A Farmer
Just a Farmer," you said
And I laughed' cause I knew
All the things that farmers
Must be able to do.
They must study the land,
Then watch the sky
And figure just what
Is the right time and why.
To sow and to plant
To buy and to sell
To go to the market
With cattle, as well.
You know all the books
That farmers must keep
To pay all those taxes
And be able to sleep.
And you know the fixin'
That farmers must do
When machines like mad monsters
Blow a gasket or two.
I guess when God needed
Folks to care for His earth,
He chose "just farmers"
Cause he knew their true worth.
Grandparent's Home
I recently visited the house that my Grandfather built dure'n the depression after his earlier house was lost to a chimney fire. He and Grandma raised their six children in that home and thirty six grandchildren visited it regularly.
It's strange how in your youth ever thing looks bigger. It was a two story box style home with noth'in fancy. But it was good enough fer all concerned and held many a gather'ins of friend and relative alike.
Now it is about ta succumb ta the wreck'n ball. It remains even yet solid and sturdy but it is no longer needed as a farm home and ta save on taxes it will be torn down.
Sad circumstance, ta say the least, but such is the reality of life's cycle and today's tax code.
Visit'n my Grandparents old homestead reminded me of the follow'n poem entitled
"The Old House"
by Thomas Pender:
Cracked ceilings stare at blank damp walls
Patterns of plaster...shrivelled ...hanging limp by dusty silken cobweb threads discoloured and dried
In time to fall...at odd moments
Patchworks on the floorboards
A sound shatters the stillness
Startling the silence of it's gaunt tomb where in unused hallways hang chandeliers that once coruscated light but now... glitter no more
Desolate and empty space pervading the shadows of age...uninhibited
The old house...cradle of love and life decays to ruin
Falling to death through traverse of years
Many winter moons have waned since life stalked these rooms
The last denizen...an aged widow ran her course of life here
She...the last soul
Alone and lonely...awaiting the cloak of eternity
Friends called in her younger days
Days passing in a whirl of life
Laughter and talk...the food of love
Fires ablaze through the darkened times beacons to the family core
Flame shadows on papered walls danced to the musics of life
In lighted days the sunlight sheened and breezes with the scents of wildness flowed through airy rooms
Then time the master of all left a mark
Age claiming happiness
Grandchildren who came on holidays growing to stifled adulthood
Other pleasures borrowed time
The old woman...and a once proud house left behind to die
That was a time of long ago
Forgotten now even memories have departed
Nature by it's stealth of life aiding decay
The heart now laid to deathly peace
This once proud and regal house slowly dies it's death
With a sad tear I took pictures of the old home along with the surrounding out buildings-barn, crib, machine shed, etc.
Those pictures will serve as a reminder of many good times, that involved work as well as fun, times that included livestock, poultry, hay'n, etc. and were accomplished with the help of family and friends.
Those folk are all gone now, have'n passed on ta their just reward.
Have a good rest of the week and take time ta visit other folk-friends and relatives alike.
Hope'n ta see ya in church this week.
Remember, wherever ya are, whatever ya be a do'n "BE A GOOD ONE!"
Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya later
BARNYARD BRUKE