The weather made me do it
Wow, January 18th and its the first time its really looked like winter. We had a few light snows but nothing that stayed. And from the sounds of it it will stay a week or two.
So my plans have changed. Today for mental health and relaxation I have been forced into looking at the seed catalog I am ordering from, mainly fruit trees and other native trees or shrubs. After emptying my bank account I plan to sort seeds for what can be started by milk jug, stratification or early greenhouse. This could take a day or two.
When you weather takes a turn for the worse what do you do?
The creek behind the house. 100 foot wide and 35 foot deep. (we found out how deep it was when my dads truck ended up in it)
Comments
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I'd be doing that too if it snowed that much. And reading a book in front of the fireplace with my favorite hot beverage or even a homemade hot chocolate if I'm feeling indulgent. But here in South Carolina we're lucking to have snow that stays for a day if we get any at all.
And from the looks of it that's not a creek behind your house but a river. I've got to ask, how did the truck end up in it in the first place?😄
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Yes, in my opinion our creek is a river. It has a fascinating history. I just love history, especially if its about the property you live on
So you want to hear another boring country living story?
I was home from college and sleeping in. I heard my dad come home after leaving from work so I looked out the window. He had parked in the lower drive, was heading for the barn and left the truck running. The truck had been popping out of gear lately and chose this time to pop. Well the truck started moving downhill towards the creek. It hit our picnic grill and that changed the direction so it would miss any trees that could stop it. And it was picking up speed for the creek. There was no way dad could catch it
I was on the third floor of the house and ran down two stairs passing my mom saying "truck heading for the creek". She though dad and the truck were in the creek. I made it the the creek bank, 500 feet away, just in time to see it sail off the bank airborn for 20 feet, then skim the water for another 20 feet before going nose up and sinking. I can still hear the glug glug sounds. It stirred up the water so you could not even guess where the truck might be. We found out it was 35 foot deep and few feet away from where it went in, about half way across the creek.
My dad got down there about when it started sinking, Looked at me and said "Oh shit" What could I say to that?
Yes, it was going to be one of those boring days. Dads one tool box was floating down the creek but we could not get it so I imagine is sunk half a mile or so down the creek. Expensive loss. Dad called where he worked and told them the story and went back up to get a flat bed. My brother was called to get his flat bed. I got on the phone to find scuba divers. The police take big interest when you ask for names of scuba divers to get a truck out of a creek.
Well, friends of ours came up to find the truck. It took about an hour. They attached chains and the two flat beds started to pull on it.
During this time our one neighbor called from work, in another town, and said he heard our car was in the creek. I said, "Of course not, its in the drive. " He started to say something but I cut him off and said it was the truck in the creek. " WWWWhat?"
Oh, we also had a wedding to go to that night at 6 and it was 4 pm and the truck is still in the creek. About 5 pm we got the truck out. It took another half an hour to load it up on the one flatbed. The flatbed and truck, gushing water everywhere was on its way to where dad worked two miles away, to see what could be done.
As the flatbed and truck drove through the local small town a group of 15 to 20 people were on the local grocery store porch, probably all gossiping about the truck. Imagine the looks on all of their faces when a muddy truck sloshing watering drove by on a flatbed.
My dad worked until 3 am with some of his friends to flush the motor and get the truck running. The truck had a broken windshield and dented front fender but it was running.
I guess if you get water out of a engine as fast as possible you can get them to run again. I heard water shot out of the engine and all over ther garage when they were running it to clear it out.
About a week later a friend of dads wanted the truck and would repair the window and just use it as a farm truck. He drove it for 10 years and just loved that truck.
Where my dad worked they gave him a different truck, Unfortunately there ended up being a story tied to that one too - but not as good as the truck in the creek.
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@JennyT A follow up to the story. the following morning someone had put a sign up by the road saying "Car Wash - 5 Dollars." My dad did not think that was funny but this story has entertained people for years.
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@Denise Grant What a story. That was very entertaining. 😃 I'm really enjoying your "boring country living stories." Makes me a little jealous and anxious to get my own property. So I too can have some really great tales to tell one day.😉
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Your story sounds like typical farm life!! As far as your original question: when the weather turns, we put puzzles together, read, or go out and play in the snow with our dogs!
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While it snowed here a couple days ago, I was editing our CSA share agreement and typing up a list of what we'll be growing this season. It made spring seem a lot closer.
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Since in a normal year we can and have had snow on the ground from early Oct till May. In the last few years it hasn't laid all winter
We can get really cold -28+
So here when the weather turns bad life goes on, it maybe harder, take longer to do chores, but animals need feed/watered/hayed. Babies are born/die. You work with it, dress in more layers till you can almost not move. Pray those babies will not come when it's -28'. Thank God for another day and for watching over you today!
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@bcabrobin When its cold or we have had a wether change the first thing I do is check the health of my animals. They are my extended family and add so much laughter and sometimes sadness to out lives.
We have not had much snow this year, I think more mud and ice. And the wind has not been too bad. That is what will drive out temps down around here.
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@lewis.mary.e Whta will you be growing in your CSA this year?
I am thinking of doing a very small one this year
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The usual suspects - leafy greens, carrots, beets, radishes, brussels sprouts, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, potatoes, summer squash, winter squash, herbs, and possibly strawberries. We'll also offer an egg share since our chickens seem to be over achievers.
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That truck story reminded me of what happened here a long time ago. I live on a rural country road where the legal speed limit was 55 mph and some folks go faster. One day I was heading down my driveway in the SUV and I stopped and got out of my vehicle. As I took a few steps away it started to move, I had forgotten to put it in park. I panicked and ran after it because my littles were strapped in their car seats inside. I could picture a full speed collision from a car coming down our road! I caught up with it, but in the second it took to get the door open I was getting so close to the road. It seemed to pick up speed and I couldn't jump inside. Then it was at the road so I grabbed the steering wheel and turned it as best I could hoping to avoid the far lane. Luckily there was no vehicle coming down the road. It slowed a little at the slight incline of the road and I was able to jump inside and stop it before it went in the ditch across the road. Whew!
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@marcy_northlightsfarm that story had my heart pounding imagining your fright, glad to hear of the safe ending!
Reminded me of a similar thing happened to our neighbor. Her little boys were in her car too. Our properties were at the edge of a high cliff with a big river at the bottom. The car was headed in that direction! Luckily the door was open in this case. It caught on our maple tree enough to slow it down. Momma was able to jump in and stop a disaster. The next day she could hardly move from the exertion. Our broken deformed maple was a constant reminder of how adrenaline can kick in when needed.
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@marcy_northlightsfarm @soeasytocraft Glad you both had good ending to you story. Hugs to you both
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@Denise Grant I think you need to write a book!
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@water2world I have thought about writing a book but wondered if they would lock me up ;)
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@Denise Grant No, they wouldn't lock you up! lol You might be surprised how many would read it! So many ways to present it!
I'll buy the first copy!!!!!
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I'd buy the second.😁
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@Denise Grant See, you need to get started on that book----2 copies needed before you have even written the first word!
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