Happy Anniversary To Me and Glenn

Today is my Wedding Anniversary…number 38 to be exact.

 

Nothing celebratory was planned, so Glenn and I decided to jump on the motorcycle and take a short ride through the beautiful Shenandoah countryside.

 

The air temperature was very warm and the sun shone brightly, but the swirling open air of the bike ride provided a cooling breeze and made the hot situation not only bearable, but perfectly comfortable.

 

We set out for Middlebrook specifically to have a small lunch at the General Store.  Middlebrook is a very small town.  The main street is flanked with very old and close residences, the library, and the General Store.  We had planned to make this stop for years but we were always on the wrong schedule.  Most of our bike rides are on Sunday afternoons or evenings and the decision to drive through Middlebrook was occasional. Besides, the General Store is closed on Sundays.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, today, the OPEN sign was lit.  Upon entering the store, we were somewhat transported to a past era. Worn, wood floors drew us further inside. Antiques peppered the establishment.  Two of the four tables were occupied by local farmers enjoying a lunch off tractor.  The store was quiet and mellow.  Overhearing how bad the hay crop is, I could completely relate.  We, too, have been under drought conditions most of the summer.  Our pastures dry and grass not growing.  I felt welcomed and at home and hungry.

 

Glenn and I both decided on the roast beef sandwich with chips - the special for the day.  This was our Anniversary fête.  I was satisfied both in spirit and in stomach. Not only am I a cheap date, but small things make me happy.  Lunch in this little General Store made me happy.

Check out the table cloth...repurposed plastic feed sacks...ain't they cute? I reuse our old feedsacks for garbage bags.  I guess I should rethink my recycling efforts. 

 

Anniversary festivity was over. The day was gorgeous. We headed back home.

 

Once we were home, it was back to work. First, we drove over to Becky’s to load our oldest bull and bring him back to the main farm.

 

Our newest bull, recently purchased in Missouri and trailered back by Glenn, tore a ligament in his rear leg.  The vet called it ‘blowing his knee out’ and ending his usefulness.  The bull, too recent a farm addition to even name,  had only been with the cows, for breeding purposes, for three weeks time and probably not long enough to have bred them all.  We quickly delivered the bull to the stockyard while he was still able to walk; thus, we were still able to sell him.  We recouped a bit of the purchase price, but not all and certainly not the cost of the trip to drive out and back to Missouri.  I have said it before and I will say it again…ain’t farming grand! 

 

We had a young and inexperienced bull as back-up.  Now, this youngster became top bull for a bit.

 

But, feeling that the youngster might be a bit inadequate for the job at hand, we brought ‘son of Little Red’ back to finish the breeding of the main herd.

 

Before unloading ‘son of Little Red’ off the trailer, we had to move the herd into a fresh pasture with the sheep.  Once that task was accomplished, the door to the trailer was opened and ‘son’ slowly stepped out of the trailer.  He ate some grass and strolled around before catching the scent of the herd.  He let out several long and loud bellows as he raced down the hill, trampling several small trees in his path, to meet up with the cattle.  Within seconds, he was checking out the cows and preparing himself for his job.  He was feeling happy, too!

 

Now, we are off to find Avalanche, our sheep guard dog, and feed her dinner.  She seems to have vanished when she saw the big guy arrive.