Sissies

From Utahna:

The earliest thing I remember (besides running from deadly roosters--do you guys remember those?!?) was when  Jami and I were in charge of feeding the pigs.  It was not uncommon for dad to come in after dark and ask if we had fed the pigs.  A few,  OK, lots of times we had to answer  "no".  So, we would have to go feed the pigs in the dark.  No, it couldn't wait 'til morning because that was our responsibility to feed them every day.  We got to eat today and the pigs needed food too.  So Jami and I would walk hand in hand shaking from fear of the dark (at least mine was) to feed the pigs.  That was a long walk too I assure you. But you better believe we didn't forget to feed our pigs again... for a while... you know at least a day or two :) No, I really am grateful for this simple lesson taught at a young age of being dependable.  The other lesson learned is sisters are always there for you!

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I only remember being sent out to feed the pigs after dark once, it was quite frightening.  It was dark and there was just enough of a breeze to make the extension piece wired to the auger make an eerie squeaking noise... you know the noise that interrupts the silence right before the bad guy jumps out in a horror flick?!?  I remember holding hands as well (let's not figure out how old we might have been).  And the shaking... a mix of fear and anger. I'm sure Dad took some undeserved verbal hits that night.  But I too am grateful for the lesson I was taught this night (and apparently on other occasions this is just the one that stuck in my mind) to be dependable and do the job you agreed to do.  And I am SOOOO grateful for Utahna.  Once we decided we didn't want to kill each other I had the best, most loyal friend for life a girl could ever ask for.  Love you sis!

And yes, yes, I remember running from deadly roosters!  It was the only way to get to Kristen and Catie's!

I Didn't Know

From Utahna:

I don’t know how many rows of bales I rolled for only 50 cents a row.  The whole time complaining to my siblings that we were just their slaves. I pretty much had this attitude, the worst attitude, most of growing up.  I hated the farm work and would much rather be home cooking or cleaning with mom.  One day I think I must have been whining (odd I know). And Dad, nice as could be, told me how much he appreciated my hard work. But, told me if I didn't want to, I didn't have to continue hauling hay with them.  If I would rather, I could just stay home and help Mom. It made me feel really bad for having such a bad attitude. But, just having Dad give me the option, silly as it is, made a big difference.  And no, I didn't quit.  I didn't have to be out their working after that, but I had chosen to.  It was a blessing to be able to work hard, to spend time with my family, and as a bonus get a little spending money.  I must admit, I didn't know how good I really had it.

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Utahna and I were quite different growing up.  While she enjoyed helping Mom in the house, I despised the cooking, the cleaning, and endless canning.  I would beg Dad to find me some chores... it would go something like this... "Dad, Mom wants me to help can peaches, isn't there something you need me to on the farm?"  Sometimes it was as boring as strawing the pile or moving hay, but, it was outside! :) And now... Utahna has the cutest little family.  She is an amazing mother, keeps an organized house, cans, and makes delicious meals for her family.  Yesterday I spent the day cleaning out the pond... my house is a disaster and Jeremy got scrambled eggs for dinner (what?!? they were homemade ;))  When Jeremy feels the food around here is under par, he asks "Do you need to go to Tuna's for a week and find some inspiration?"  She does inspire me.  I am so thankful Heavenly Father blessed us all with different personalities and strengths!  Also so thankful she chose to work with us, it wouldn't have been the same, right Doug?

Your Mother Doesn't Need to Know About This

So, I'm not really sure if this is my story to tell, but it is a story I'm quite sure Dad would not tell, so you are going to get my version...  If it is too controversial maybe it will be a two part post: Part I She Says, Part II He Says, type deal.  Anyway, on to my story.

Utahna and I were hanging out at the house one evening and Dad came in and grabbed us letting us know that he needed our help with something.  Like obedient daughters do, we followed Dad to the barn where he explained the predicament he was in and what we were to do to help reverse the situation.

See, Dad had pulled up to the barn in our classy white Oldsmobile Eighty-Eight, the one with the awesome red plush interior.  He was just going to run inside, so he put the car in park (or so he thought... who put neutral right next to park anyway?!?).  You are all familiar with the landscape of the dairy, from the barn you go down a slight incline and at the bottom you can go right toward Sanford's place, or left toward the Rushton's farm.
OR....

You can go straight.

Straight into the ravine.

Oops.

That's embarrassing!  

So when we got there, there was our beautiful car, nose first in the ravine.  We hooked our car to the tractor (can't remember which one) and I hiked down the ravine to steer the car as Dad pulled it out.  I remember wondering how safe the car was to be in, but I trusted Dad and we retrieved the car safely.  

Following the expedition, Dad says to us.  "Your mother doesn't need to know about this."

I guess he was serious too, cuz a few days later Tuna and I were laughing about it while we were working in the garden with mom and her response was one of shock "WHAT HAPPENED???"  I really thought he would have told her...

Sorry Dad... haha, but not that sorry, or I probably wouldn't have posted it here for all of Juniper to discover!

Think Again!

Here's a good one from Utahna... I'm sure none of us can relate!

From Utahna:

While at the flat one day I was driving the utility tractor picking up pipe.  We finished one row and Uncle Ross sent me out the gate onto the road and gave me instructions to go in the next gate where the pipe would be set up.  Before taking off he said “Don’t run over the fence”!  

I'm sure you can imagine what was going on in my teenage head. “Ughh yeah!  Did you really have to tell me that?  I'm not that dumb!” 

So I took off…I'm sure singing at the top of my lungs (cause no one would be able to hear me over the tractor). Or maybe I was carrying out a conversation with a boy... you know, me being both sides... out loud. Yeah embarrassing, I probably shouldn't admit that kind of thing. But when you are stuck behind the wheel of a truck or tractor all day, you gotta find something to entertain yourself.  

Anywho back to the story.  

Just be-boppin' along and you guessed it.   Thump. “DOUEEE!”  I had forgotten to watch my trailer, and yup, I had run over the fence.  And YES, he did need to tell me not to run over the fence! 

He was nice and didn't even get mad at me.  And somehow, I even got out of fixing  the fence! ;) 

Lesson learned: if you think you're smarter than that… Think again. 

Do you miss it?

About a year after I left home, I received a letter from Utahna and Crystal containing pictures of them in their pipe moving garb with sarcastic notes attached.  I put them in my scrapbook and wrote my response to my sisters:

Written Summer 2003:

Do I miss it?  A few years ago the answer may have even surprised me... YES!  I miss most everything about it.  I miss getting out in the open and working, I miss getting on the back of a hay truck and throwing bales around, I miss the thinking time I had while milking the cows, I even miss moving lines once in a while (I know my biceps do anyway).  I don't think there is any work that gives more satisfaction than farming... there is a definite sense of satisfaction in this career.

Yes, I miss farming, but not nearly as badly as I miss farming with my Dad.  I miss that every day contact with my hero.  I miss talking to my best friend each day as we worked in the barn or the field.

Dad taught me so much on the farm.  He taught me to work hard and take pride in working hard.  One day I was particularly upset as we were hauling hay, it seemed everyone else was on the back of the trailer just riding around as Dad and I picked up all the bales.  I expressed my frustration to Dad and he turned to me and said, "Jami, take pride in kicking someone else's butt!"  Of course as I approached dating age he changed his story, "Jami, if you want to date any of these boys, you're going to have to stop out working them!"

I learned many gospel principle's while working on the farm.  Who knew the barn could be such a spiritual place?

I am so proud to be a "farm girl."  I am surprised every day at what those two little words mean to people.  It means I come from a good family; it means I know the value of a dollar; it means I am not afraid of working hard; it means I know how to be part of a team.

I miss it... and I know the two of you will too!