July's Man Blog

Another month like June has been here, and we are going to start building an ark here at the farm. We have had some wet springs, but that was once typical of the spring season. A patent on some boat with a lawn mower attachment would make an overnight millionaire. It is better than having to worry about watering animals and the state of our well, I suppose.

It has been a particularly tough month for outdoor shows. Since we spend every Saturday at Ligonier Country Market, and aside from two Saturdays, we have been blessed with rain every single Saturday. We could use some dry days, at least on the weekends. I feel like a grown-up when we go to the market. I have to remember what day of the week it is three days a week. Tuesday is a new special and garbage day. Thursday, Goat Video Thursday. Saturday, go to the market. Every other day is a bit like the movie Groundhog Day. Get up, milk goats, shower, pack orders, make soap, back to the barn, eat, go to bed, and repeat. I even have a once-a-week leave-the-farm event that I participate in. Life is good. I was built more for the hermit lifestyle of Groundhog Day, but I suppose if I went for it completely, it would just be a matter of time before I was talking to random objects and answering for them.

The best part of visiting our favorite country market is seeing the community's support for the farmers. We are like everyone else affected by the weather. The folks raising produce are entirely at the mercy of Mother Nature from start to finish. From the cultivation of their goods to the size of the crowd they attract at the market. They might as well sit at a roulette table and bet on yellow. But even on the worst rainy days, folks had their umbrellas and muck boots and managed to get the produce for the week. It is the die-hards that make any outdoor market a success. There are only so many times the tomato cart can go home still loaded with tomatoes before it quits going to markets.

Another part of getting out and about is seeing our market family. The children who were just bumps in a belly when we gave mom a bar of baby soap when we started are now in second grade. When they start driving themselves to the market, we will officially be old. It's great to be able to chat with all our vendor friends, who, like us, would love to get together but have schedules that make it impossible to do so anytime except at the market.

So, I'm cutting my monthly rant short because I need to deal with the support team for our website. Upper Management declares that there is no reason except death not to finish my once-a-month blog post. Since I am still breathing, I am finishing it, but I am keeping it short and sweet. My first wife had high expectations for me and made demands. She lived a long life of disappointment. Break out your canoe and meet us at Ligonier. Thanks for supporting us and the many area farmers; we couldn't do this without you. Oh, also, it's the Fourth of July weekend, don't blow off your fingers. No Ha-Ha, men get dumb when playing with explosives. It's been almost twenty years and my first wife won't allow me to play with fireworks because I may or may not have spent too much time with my friend Jack Daniels, placed fireworks upside down in the the holding tube, accidently fired it off at the chicken coop, and the chickens didn't lay eggs for three months. It's all under speculation, but that's what my first wife gets for having high expectations. Happy Fourth of July! Stay safe and wash on.