Heritage is good for the Soul
Ok, so today was a long, accomplishing, yet somewhat relaxing day for me. In the morning I got up and went to one of the parks to do some volunteer work. I had a good time and the work went by fast because I enjoyed it. I love the park district. My volunteer/internship supervisor was all excited about my hiring. I have to admit, I am too. There is a piece of heritage in the park district for me. I grew up in this area and to be a part of a system that protects preserves and educates about the county's simple treasures, is an honor and joy for me. So after volunteering I came home and worked on some other projects. One of which was something that brought me kind of to the beginning of a full circle with the farm, knowing if I complete these tasks this summer, I can let go of the farm with dignity. My father and I went out and cleaned pens together. It had been a while since I have done that with him because of my job at Kmart, being in college or on the island. I help him with chores but cleaning pens isn't always a daily project because it requires the tractor and you can't always get back to the manure pit. So I was in my old clothes with pitch fork in hand and helping him tear the pens apart, clean them out, re-arrange the cattle in the barn to different pens. I felt alive. I felt free and accomplished! I was working hard and doing something that was labor intensive that I enjoyed. Sure it smells and I'm tossing around crap with a pitchfork, but there is something about it that gets into your blood. Either you enjoy the hard labor and being around the animals or you don't. I do. I very very much do love this work. After we cleaned the pens, Dad and I then put final touches on the electric fence, the grounding rods. He put two grounding rods in the ground and I strung the steel wire out along the metal wire brackets. Once we had the fence grounded, we turned it on and tested it with the fence tester. All four bulbs lit up on the tester like the fourth of July. Dad and I woohooped in delight at our achievement. We then went inside and had supper, bacon and broccoli soup, mom's own recipe.
During supper we talked about a game plan for the summer about the cattle. We hate to do it, but we are going to let them go. However, father and I have our chance at one last hoorah. We are going to work on getting the babies ready for being sold as trained 'Club Claves'.
For anyone who doesn't know the Beef industry, let me enlighten you for a second, 'Club Calves' are young cattle that have been halter trained, have excellent pedigrees, can be registered, have excellent show quality hair because they are constantly groomed, are fat and healthy, and are ready for a young 4-H or FFA showman to purchase for top dollar! 'Club Calves' are animals that are sold at private sales or by the own privately. They are not sent off to the local stockyards like most cattle and sent to a meat packing plant. No, they are considered prime stock and it takes a lot of effort to achieve that. It's not easy to break a baby calf. It takes time, patient, sweat, and man power. It gives me a short term goal but a way to channel my morning for the farm. Goal, to gain the highest bid I can possibly gain with these cattle at a private sale.
Now on the writing front, I'm full of inspiration. I have a million stories going at once and I do plan to work more on them, which I am. However, all this working with the animals and reading Mary H. Herbert's 'Dark Horse' series, has given me ideas for a Dukes crossover. Well not really a crossover but setting the Dukes in another time and in a land called 'Hazzardonia'. The boys on horseback wearing buckskin britches and orange capes over their tunics and animal skinned headdresses. Long broad swords strapped to each Duke boys' hip and ornately decorated with carvings and jewels. Bo riding a yellow stallion with a jet black mane and tail with blackening socks that fade into the bright dust colored hides. His mount is long, lean and strong and is the fastest horse in the valley. Luke's stead is a large tall, sixteen and a half hands high draft, and Quarter horse cross. The dark brown hide with white hair stockings covering his stallion's hooves, Luke's mount is strong yet fast, not as fast as Bo's but stronger and able to do more work than his cousin's. The boys are warriors to their Uncle Lord Jesiah's clan. Then borrowing a term from Herbert's book, Luke is the clan's wer-tain. A wer-tain is the second in charge of the clan and lead's the clan's army of warriors. Yes, I see it clear as day and some of the events that take place. I have even seen created muses in this as well. My own created muses and some of my fellow author friends’ muses. I will only write with my own created muses and the boys right now but if anyone wants to join me once I finish this, I welcome the co-operation. I hope that I can finish this tasty tid-bit along with some of the fics I already am working on. I won't give you any more spoils as to what I see but the muses seem content to play. Writing begets writing.
Well, I must go for I need my rest in order to attend church tomorrow. I need to give thanks for my life and the privileges I have been given.
With Love,
Cowluver80