On being a farm wife -And other hazards Joyce Bnpp Our four-leafed clovers are dor mant. Rabbits’ feet are in semi hibernation with the rabbits. The last of the salt fot throwing over my shoulder was sprinkled on the ice coating the front walk some days ago. And the IRS has my lucky penny. It began with silence. Dead silence. Broken by the sound of pounding. At 6 a.m.? The silence came from the base ment, where the perpetual hum of the water pump usually sounds. So did the intermittent pounding. It took a few seconds for a sleepy brain to piece the puzzle and signal the feet to get movin’. Pump trouble. I split for the barn to help with milking, while the Farmer set about installing the back-up water pump we always have on standby. Two hours and a bamful of empty udders later, the cows were still nosing at dry water fountains. Usually he can switch the pumps and have the system back up in short order. Split pipes created more unusual problems this time. No use to cancel my optometrist appointment for that morning; I couldn’t get water to • Winter’s froze-1 ground conditions reduce soil compaction Hi-Calcium rtin LHMCSTONE finish chores anyway. Plans for the day were to leave late afternoon for the mountain hunting camp, with friends joining us. But their small son, already undergoing leukemia chemother apy, had developed a troublesome fever. That was the scary news shared when I called to beg the use of their shower. We rarely have pump trouble; the few times it’s happened we’ve usually been away, or ate about to leave. This was par for the course. Back home, concerned about little Andy’s fever and still bdne dry at the spigots, I set out to vent frustration by lugging water from the springhouse to heat for calf bottles. Fortunately, disturbed by plumping efforts, she had moved. She, we think. The liumongous dark-gray water snake that stands, ’er coils, guard over our water supply and the plentiful frogs on the nearby pond. Dipping water from the spring meant leaning directly over her snoozing spot; I was just as happy she had disappeared. Calves Anally fed, makeshift lunch put together using a little of the water borrowed from Andy’s Profit from winter lime application Hi-Magnesiunv house, our pump system was still filled with only rust and air bubbles. Andy and his mom stopped by on the way home from his blood test. The sun was bringing out the lucky four-leafed clovers Andy’s fever was a treatable ear infection. Mid-afternoon brought the plumber. Still all air and rust. The cows had been turned out earlier around the pond for water, giddily circling its bright reflection to drink deeply for about 10 minutes until they began wander ing off hunting trouble. Back in the bam, they persis tently nudged the dry fountains. Snake still absent, I dipped and heated more water for washing cows at evening milking. A half hour into milking chores, the bam filled with the sound of kids suck ing milk-cartons with straws. Water! The lucky rabbits’ feet had come out of hibernation and hopped to the plumber. Six hours later, the pump finally got a rest. One week and one day later, we awoke to no water. No electricity. Iced-up electric lines, resulting in a bam full of thirsty, full-uddered, cussing (really!) cows. I sprinkled salt over my shoulder for luck and all over the walks for safety. Even tually, power was restored. . To wake up and hear the pump, turn on the lights, and—best of all —have no one sick, makes me feel very, very fortunate. What the heck. IRS, you can just keep that lucky penny. For prompt delivery contact your local Martin Limestone dealer or call Blue Ball, Pa. (800) 233-0205 (717) 354-1370 rj-:- x¥am SSomeii S gL Societies Lancaster Lancaster Farm Women Society IS met at the home of Betty Kreid er, Quarryville, with assisting hos tesses Shirley Ann Kleckler and Charlotte Stoner. Devotions were given by Char lotte Stoner. Twenty-two members responded to roll call by naming their favorite dairy product. Ice cream was chosen by the majority. Louise Wenger introduced Lan caster County Dairy Princess Jill Hamish who said that there is no substitute for milk. She told of the 1,900 farms in the county of which Lancaster Lancaster County Farm Women Society #lB met February 20 at Kreider’s Restaurant, Man heim with 21 members attending. President Ruth Rohrer was in charge. Suie Wissler had devo tions. Roll call was answered by showing and telling aobut a favor ite basket The speaker was Phoebe Good. Phoebe demonstrated basket mak- Lancaster The February 13 th meeting of Lancaster Farm Women’s Society #l9 was held at the home of June Bare. Devotions were led by Phyl lis Newcomer and members answered the roll call to “I wish I had learned to Suggestions were taken for the County Project. The group will sew at the Lancaster General Hos pital March 4 and will go to the' County Home May 20 to entertain the guests. Y U W JVT j KxT i.HJ!L 1 1JCES I SERVICE s s LAPP’S BARN EQUIPMENT 5935 OLD PHILADELPHIA PIKE > GAP, p * 17527 PHONE: 717-442-8134 — Radio Dispatched Trucks Uncaitef Farming, Saturday, February 27, 1993-B3 Society 15 she and her family own one on which they milk 54 Holsteins. The secretary report was given by Trudy Bard and the treasurer’s report by Charlotte Stoner. Society 15 will be celebrating their 55th anniversary this year. Nancy Shoemaker, Emily Reath, and Joan Whiteside were appointed to plan for the celebration. Farm Women 15 are invited to be guests of Society 33 on March 4 for 6:30 supper at the Farm and Home Center. Society 18 ing and showed the many different kinds of baskets she makes. Members will sew at the Lan caster General Hospital on Wed nesday, March 17. Mildred Greider will be the hostess for the March meeting. The meeting adjourned by sing ing the theme song “Brighten the Comer.” Society 19 Reports of the State Convention were given by Eva Myers and Mildred Eshleman. Naomi Spahr, board member on the Pennsylvania Agriculture Safety Council, gave an interest ing talk on the work the Council docs to make life on the farm more safe. The next meeting will be held March 13th at the home of Mildred Hoffman. i • 9. s r, K' »
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers