Oh My

Life on the Farm!

By Shar Ann Packard

John and I have been married for 48 years this year. We were high school sweethearts that withstood the test of time. Our life has not always been easy, and it will never be perfect. We raised two children together on a centennial farm (1837) home, around the corner from the home we live in now. We have 10 grandchildren that we adore and hope to see enjoying this land someday as we do. A few years ago, we took over the farm after John’s Dad passed away, leaving us, as well as John’s siblings, the caretakers of this beautiful farm land until the next generation takes over. I try to find humor in everyday things that would bring some folks to their knees. Yes, I pray a lot, but I also laugh a lot. I was raised in a neighborhood of several close families. I didn’t know what a combine was, or how to even start to plant a field of corn or soybeans. I have learned through trial and error that laughter will help you get through the hardest of times. I hope in some way these little “OH MY” stories touch your heart, bring back memories, or just make you laugh, smile...or say “OH MY”!

John bought this “thing” (he now tells me it is a rolling basket) to put on the back of the disk ripper and needed my help...or so he thought!

I might start this by saying that he never reads the directions, and he thinks he can just go out there and start putting things together. This rolling basket was delivered by a semi...it is not a little Lego kit. It came in at least seven huge boxes that looked like caskets, and it had a 50 pound feed bag half full of nuts and bolts. But, in his defense, it came with only 4 pages of simple instructions. It had three pictures, a parts list, and one page that said “how to assemble.” After several calls and me looking on the internet, I (or he) thought we had it figured out. As we started, he said that he would hold up the heavy part, and I would have a steel plate, four bolts, four washers, and four nuts to put on while he would stand there waiting for me to fumble my way through this. There are 8 of these things that have to be assembled on the disk ripper before the baskets have to be put on. A little side note is I hate to get my hands dirty...yes, I know I am a farm wife, but grease under my new acrylic nails is not a pretty thing! I have my beautiful new pink gloves on, and I am ready! Sounds like an easy thing to do, but these darn gloves were meant to just be pretty, and I can’t pick up a darn thing! So I ask him to wait as I take them off and try to pick these greasy items up (yes he is still standing there holding up this heavy bar) while I decide if I can really take the risk. OK, I have it figured out and we get started again.

I think this is going to work and then he thinks he can boss me around and tell me where to put all my “stuff” I need. I had a sweatshirt on with pockets. I loaded up the pockets and when needed, I lined up my four 8-inch bolts, four washers, and four nuts on the frame with the steel plate. It was going along just fine until he started moving my “stuff” around and I had to reach behind him or get more out of my pockets. I said, “Leave my ‘stuff’ alone.” He said, “Do it this way.” I replied, “You can do it yourself.” He then explained to me that he could not hold up the adjusting bar thingy and do the plate and such alone. After he decided to let me be the boss of my “stuff” and be the boss of his own “stuff” it went quite well. We finally started working together very well for several hours. We were gaining ground, and it started taking shape. About sunset the dang mosquitoes started getting vicious and we had to stop for the night with the promise of returning first thing in the morning.

My only thought was I do hope he remembers tomorrow who is the boss, and to leave my stuff alone when we go back out to the shop! As promised, we planned on getting out to the shop bright and early the next day to finish up this project that will make life on the farm (at least after harvest) so much nicer. When I finished up breakfast dishes and made the bed I headed out, and I was so happy!

OH MY!!!...he did remember! He is placing all my U bolts, nuts, and washers where I need them. We worked most of the day. The rolling basket is assembled...nothing broken... nothing to take back...no extra parts and it works!

He was so happy with my organization skills, and my overall knowledge of farm equipment. I am sure I will be his first choice when asking for an extra hand in the shop! Only thing is, he had to pay to get my nails done again, and there was some talk of new “farm gloves.” I do hope they make them in pink! OH MY!