Summer time was for following grandkids, preventing rodents

Publisher’s Note: Joy McClain’s Joy’s Reflections column returns in the October issue of Indiana Prairie Farmer. Here are her thoughts on restarting this popular column.

It’s good to be back at the rodeo. Even though I didn’t get off my writing saddle, it’s like being a horse girl in the Lama arena. So, let’s each pull up a chair and catch up.

I’ve seen you planting in the field and dodging impatient drivers as you maneuvered to fields for spraying. They went to the fair, enjoyed stock market shows and met old friends.

I caught you sharing the abundance in the garden with your neighbors. You used your time and talent to create worthy organizations while caring for children and grandchildren. I’ve seen you review fields and potential income. And now you’re kicking up dust and dragging long hours in combine harvesters and grain trucks.

I heard you speak of the uncertainty in this crazy world. They have continued to evolve during this strange, turbulent, and eventful time.

Joy mixed with deep sadness as my dear mother-in-law danced with knowledge and gratitude for the great-grandson on his way into the gates of heaven. He weighed almost 10 pounds a week before we welcomed a new son-in-law into the family. We settled in our new home while experiencing the most disastrous garden in 36 years. It consisted mostly of tomatoes and lots of beets. There was sweet corn too, but of course we breed that for raccoons and coyotes.

Last winter, with the help of our eldest son and a son-in-law, we processed two feed pigs. A new level of respect for my ancestors was built up to my elbows in the pig’s gut. Determined to make the most of our “experience,” I made fat that is kept in a mason jar in the refrigerator and reserved for the most delicate pies and pastries. It was a tremendous job, but we were proud of what we did. They know what they are saying: nothing connects a family like the slaughter between Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The ‘force’ strikes back

There were also some victories. After the pointless slaughter of over 40 chickens, the red rooster and 30 chicks, the hideous mink was introduced into the barrel of my lover’s shotgun. The skunk that had settled under our house was driven away, along with a huge spider that I found in our bedroom. We’re still working on the marmot population who decided the wonderful outhouse at our location would make great food. They literally even ate the toilet seats.

Six of our eight grandchildren showed up on a couple of peewee shows – ages 8 to 3 years old. It was chaos. It was exhausting and it was one of the best times. We were able to go back to our annual Camping / Holiday World outing where my lover and I spent our time holding bags, babies, sticky hands and melting ice cream cones.

Three of the older grandchildren spent the summer days hauling goats and sheep under the apple trees, riding the bareback pony, and carefully watching the beehive we added this summer. Between rodent population control and grandchildren, I was working on another book project or saying it was me when I actually took a nap.

Above all, it’s good to be back here with my people every month.

McClain writes from Greenwood, Ind.