__, MiwnMtM ■ ■<» j*tin uiy, june Jf I9M
Ida’s
Notebook
Ida Risser
Our farm has its ups and downs
the same as most other farms. For
a while everything seems to be
going along fine and then we lose
several calves or even several
cows. At times like these, one
almost feels like quitting who
needs so much trouble?
Other times the problems will be
with machinery. It will seem as
though not a day goes by that we
are not on the road hunting a
dealer with just the right sprocket,
gear or belt. And, of course, these
breakdowns happen when the sun
shines and not on a rainy day when
we’d have time for repairs.
At one time our cat population
was so high that we were overrun
with them. Then they got a
respiratory disease and I was
continually digging holes in the
field to bury them. Now we are
gradually building up our cat
family. Our one old mother cat had
a litter under the wood pile. At
least I think that’s where she was
before she moved them under the
front porch.
The trouble started when she
moved them again to the back
porch. They broke off the lily
leaves, the peony stalks and chew
ed up the potted plants. However,
the four of them became a bit wary
of the area when the orange one,
Spending time together strengthens family ties
DELAWARE COUNTY - Take
a walk in the country; look for
wildflowers in the woods, or watch
the squirrels and rabbits in the
fields. It almost doesn’t matter
.what you do as long as you do it
together. Greta C. Vairo, extension
home economist with the Penn
bom without a tail, got it’s paw
caught on a fish hook. I don’t know
if it hurt the kitten any more than it
hurt Cindy and I to finally get it
loose.
Our small gaggle of geese are
finally allowed in the meadow by
the wild geese. The reason being
that they have hatched three
goslings and are not as belligerent
as previously. Even though they
are pretty birds, I’ll be glad to see
them float away down the
Conestoga River. But if all goes
according to their plans, we’ll see
them next spring when they come
back to nest on our island again.
State Extensm Service says that
one of the hallmarks of strong
families is doing things together.
Now that warm weather is
finally here, life has returned to
the Pennsylvania countryside. So,
take your family on an outing. You
don’t have to go far. You don’t
have to spend money. Just take the
time to talk and listen and look
together. Sharing is an important
part of building your family
strengths.
There’s lots to do in the country.
If you have young children, help
them explore nature by touching,
watching, smelling, and listening.
This area has parks, arboretums
and other areas to explore.
Streams are always fun you can
try a little fishing, wading, or re
arranging the stones. To a small
child, even a slight hill can be
turned into an adventurous
mountain climb
No matter what your age or
condition, be sure to dress for the
occasion. Wear comfortable shoes
for walking in the woods.
Remember, there is something
about the clear country air that
makes people hungry, so take
some food something simple like
crackers or an apple will do. If you
have a field guide or can borrow
one from your library, it's always
fun to look up birds, rocks, and
wildflowers on the spot. You and
your family will be sharing a
discovery.
When you get home, talk about
what you’ve done, where you’ve
been, and remember the little
things that happen. You will be
building a pattern of enjoying each
other. Enjoying your family is one
of the secrets of keeping it strong.
Penn State is an affirmative ac
tion, equal opportunity university.