We Don't Do This For Fun !!

sweetwaterbob · #1 05/27/11, 01:44 AM

It's a long road, it's hard; sometimes it's a second job.

The cows don't always behave; the bulls never do. No one said it would ever be easy. We never thought it would. It makes you a better person.

As a kid I used to be amazed, as a strong kid, at how big the hands of farmers were. They were huge. I always had big hands, but nothing like this. They were crushing.

Looking back, my hands have been subjected to more brutality, more guts, more crap...and now I know why people say "jeezus, stop!!"

The wind, the cold, the rain...the blowing snow. Things were broke, stuff happened, equipment got stuck...everybody else ran away.

Well, we'all knew what needed to be done...and we did it.

Now, even as an Engineer, I'm one of those 'dumb ass' farmers with the big hands that will crush someone else's hand.

...I wouldn't have it any other way!!

P.S. I still get humbled by the kids hauling hay bales with no gloves!!!

God Bless!~!

springvalley · #2 05/27/11, 07:03 AM

Amen, brother. > Thanks Marc

Cheryl aka JM · #3 05/27/11, 08:02 AM

I'm having a real hard time making people understand that I don't know how I broke my hip~ it might have happened when a cow kicked me or it could have been something else we are just not sure cuz nothing any more traumatic than is normal for me happened the day it started hurting! Everyone assumes I was hurt in an auto or motorcycle accident~ but when I tell them no and what we think happened I often get "But I thought y'all were doing ok financially" HUH? The assumption is that I must HAVE to work so hard not that I GET to work so hard. I've had at least 50 people from the surgeon who put the pins in my hip to the lady at the grocery store tell me "Well at least now you get to take it easy for a few months" with a smile. Trapped in a wheel chair is my vacation...wow...I'd really much rather be out there with the cows.

Tad · #4 05/27/11, 02:35 PM

Gloves are TOOOOO hot never use them! I am glad we only do 3k bales a year now instead of the 8-10K we used to do. What I can't get over is doctors, they have this stupid notion that a person shouldn't hurt. I can't remember a day in the past 10 years something hasn't hurt. I am 30 have arthritis in my back and knees, a nerve problem in my hip and a bad rotator cuff. Farming is in a person's blood like the rodeo, it kicks your back side day after day but you just can't stop yourself.

MO_cows · #5 05/27/11, 03:52 PM

As tough as it is sometimes, the good days still more than make up for the bad days. People who are connected to the land experience the seasons like nobody else. To the city dwellers, spring is warmer weather and a few flowers; a prelude to summer. But for some of us, it is an explosion of new life and new hope.

janij · #6 05/27/11, 05:53 PM

My Mom keeps saying I shouldn't get more animals since it will tie me to the farm more. Like I would rather sit in a hotel in a big city instead. NO THANKS!!! I will keep my cows, pigs, chickens and goats. I will keep milking twice a day cause I like it! Maybe one of the animals will have to get "sick" the next time they think I should take some time off and hit the city with them. That sounds like work to me!

emeraldcowgirl · #7 05/29/11, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetwaterbob

P.S. I still get humbled by the kids hauling hay bales with no gloves!!!

I don't know how they do it! I tried once when I forgot my work gloves and my hands ended up with all kinds of little cuts. I never forgot my work gloves again! lol

sammyd · #8 05/29/11, 03:39 PM

what are "work gloves"?

DaleK · #9 06/01/11, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sammyd

what are "work gloves"?

Store-bought calluses.

willow_girl · #10 06/01/11, 11:38 PM

Umm, I *do* do this for fun!

God knows there are easier ways to earn a living, but ... I'm not tired of milking cows yet!

farmgirl6 · #11 06/22/11, 10:01 PM

I am a graphics illustrator by profession and spend my days in an office in front of a computer, it saves my sanity to come home to my mini farm and feed and water the animals, fix fences, collect eggs, weed the garden....my days off are spent noodling the farm, best thing in the world

momagoat61 · #12 06/23/11, 10:48 AM

It's saddddddddd but these work gloves on my hands are called callouses, don't much of nothin penetrates them. I would not post a picture of my hands on this forum for no amount of money, It aint pretty.. Got a black and blue bruise and a scrap about big as a quarter on the top of my hand from a barn gate incident yesterday evening, bleed like a stuck hog and scraped the blood vessel plum off the top of my hand. My hand will heel and I'll go on. Oh the joy's of my life are the picture of the twins we had born earlier this week that i posted titled Look What We Found ! Oh by the way, I was at the barn looking at the twins yesterday when i closed the gate on my hand..Made my had not hurt nearly as much...