Category: Farming

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Down the Beaten Path

This is a green cattle pasture that leads to another pasture across a creek. The pasture is cut by an thin narrow path.

That path is as narrow as it looks. It’s about 8-10 inches wide! It wasn’t made by a tractor or a four-wheeler, it was made by cows! Did you know cattle travel on paths? How in the world do those big girls manage to walk these small, narrow paths? I mean, our girls are some big girls! Yet, you can look at our pastures and in the most traveled places, you will find these skinny trails. This particular path above, leads from one pasture to another and crosses a creek. Sometimes, especially in the winter, the cows will travel this route twice a day. The pasture on the other side of the creek is used as a winter pasture and is full of rich, green grass. The grass is so full of nutrients that we can’t let the cattle stay in there for very long. So every day, they are led across the creek and allowed to stay and graze for 2 hours and then led back out. Summer months are different and they tend to go back and forth as their taste buds or their desire for a particular shade tree catches their fancy. But every time they go from place to place, they travel this route, and no matter the reason they are travelling, they will walk that single path. Why? They follow the leader. Others before them made the path. The path leads them where they want to go. They have learned to trust the path.

Cattle walking in a line across a pasture.

These days we are so determined to do our own thing and make our own way that we have ignored the benefits of the path that is already there. Many of us are only where we are today because of the path that was laid before us. My parents and grandparents lived a certain way and taught me values and beliefs and those things got me to where I am today. I had to walk the path to where I am, but they “blazed the trail.” I hope and pray that I am doing the same things for my kids. Even now, I hope that the life that my husband and I have lived has given our children a path to follow that will make their futures easier.

Cows in a pasture eating hay.

Sometimes, when the moms are traveling from one pasture to the other, we watch the babies. The calves have not yet learned the path and they run along side their mothers or even run ahead with their friends. The cows will call out to the calves, but the moms stay on the path. They know that at the other end of the path there is feed or green grass. The babies run off and get sidetracked and distracted. Often by the time the calves make it to the feed trough, it’s empty or maybe there just isn’t any room to squeeze in. Sometimes the calf leaving the path even affects its mother… when the calf isn’t in line with the rest and is off the path, a good mother will wait for her calf. This causes both the cow and calf to be late to feed and both miss out because of it.

A group of calves in the early morning sun.
Troublemakers!

Aren’t we just the same? We know the way. We know the path. We can see it in front of us. But sometimes we get sidetracked or just want to do our own thing and we end up missing out on what He has for us at the other end of the path. We also end up affecting others along the way because we left the path. Matthew 7:13-14 says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. ”

The narrow path leads to food. The narrow trail leads to best possible place to get water from the pond. That narrow path leads to life. It certainly doesn’t look like the easiest way to get their either. It most certainly couldn’t be the fastest! Who wants to walk in a single file line to get there? Let’s all just run ahead, full tilt, without a care in the world! But the easy way, leads to destruction and that is the way that most will choose.

If you looked at that pasture, you would think that it would be so easy for the cattle to get from one side to the other across that wide open space. But out in the open spaces of the pasture, there could be holes that would cause the cattle to stumble and possibly be injured as they travel to their destination.

A cow drinking water in the morning from the pond.

Today, choose the narrow way. Choose to walk behind those that have gone before you. Choose the path that doesn’t seem obvious and that everyone isn’t on. Maybe you have been following a crowd or making your own path; find a mentor or a trusted friend that can lead you along the path. Find the trail that was blazed with you in mind and stay on it. My prayer today is that you find yourself on the path that God has designed for you, in His perfect will!

This is a green cattle pasture that leads to another pasture across a creek. The pasture is cut by an thin narrow path.

I am also praying that we will blaze the trail for those that are coming behind us. We need to make sure that the path stays open and clear for them. Someone made the path for us. Let us not allow it to grow up and become hidden. May we keep the path worn and visible and show others the way. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord and He will direct your paths.”

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Bring back the old…

If you don’t know me, let me tell you, I love antiques. Okay, that may be a bit of an understatement… I absolutely adore all things antique and I am very particular about them. I enjoy keeping them in their natural state and using them everywhere I can. I love watching shows where people find old, antique items and re-purpose them. Some would call me a purist; I love to be able to see the original. I believe there is something to be said for keeping it as close to it’s original state and not losing the item in the process. Now having this sort of fondness for items could be a problem for some, especially now that the current trends in home decor have swung toward the rustic and antique. These days, trendy decor is antique or made to look that way. Fortunately, husband just might love “old, rusty junk” as much as I do, so we don’t have too big of a problem when I buy something! Better yet, he loves to find things! So many of our treasures have been “found” and we have rescued them and put them back to use. We have been antiquing since our honeymoon and what’s popular now has always been “our style.”

We have collected and discovered items over the years and they fill our home, inside and out, with the memories of what those items have been and seen in their lifetime. Some items were found locally and some came from other countries. Some of them belonged to family members and those carry such sentimental value. Some have been found in old, run-down barns or hidden in the woods. Some items were found buried in the dirt and needed a good soak and wash to really determine what they even were. Some were free and some were paid for. Some were gifts from my husband and those might be some of my favorites! I could just about tell you about every single item we have, it’s story and where it came from. Needless to say, I might have a bit of an addiction, but what could be wrong with keeping those “old” things alive and giving them a purpose?

The picture below is a picture of one of my favorite finds though and it tells the story that I feel led to share today. You look at it and see two dented, old salt and pepper shakers. I see something that I bought at a random yard sale while out of town one day. We weren’t in this little town to shop, were were just passing through and those two little cans were something that I had been wanting for a long time. We had looked at several sets before and husband had persuaded me not to buy them because every time we found a set, they were usually reproductions. They weren’t the real thing. You see on this particular day, we found the real thing. The metal is so old and soft that you have to be careful to unscrew the caps to refill them because they will bend and dent even more. I found exactly what I was looking for, the real thing. That’s one of the reasons that they are so special. I am learning that God cares about the little things in my life as much as I do, even when they are silly to others. I found them one day when I least expected it and paid much less, too. He loves me like that, and He loves you that way as well. If we are patient and don’t try to get ahead of Him, His timing and His ways are perfect. (Psalms 18:30 This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true.) He is faithful to give us what we need and sometimes what we want. And when He does it, it’s always the “real” thing.

The other reason they are my favorite is because they are salt and pepper shakers. What a reminder that being the “salt of the earth” never goes out of style! For most people, they would have never given them a second glance. Even the people who were selling them didn’t see their value. I bought them for $2! In our world and culture today, most never give God’s word and “how we used to do things” a second glance either. But salt is still necessary, and in today’s current situation, even more so. The world around us needs our saltiness. We need to be the salt and light that we were designed to be. Matthew 5 says, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. ” At some point, we threw the old out in exchange for the new and in doing so we have become that which is being trampled under people’s feet.

Friends, it is time that we wake up and stir ourselves. It is time that we bring back the “old” values and morals and return to our saltiness. Maybe it is time that we, the people of God, dust off a few of those “old” things and begin to put them back to use. Maybe you too have found yourself busy and your bible untouched. Dust it off and put it back to use! Maybe there are a few “old” songs that haven’t been sung for a while and maybe your children don’t even know them? Sad to say, but it’s the case in my house as well. There’s an old song that I haven’t heard or sung in a long time- “Jesus is the answer for the world today, above Him there’s no other, Jesus is the way!” It’s time for us to offer those around us the “real thing”, the real and only answer for our troubles and problems. It’s time to pull them out from where they’ve been hidden and sing them and teach them to those who may need their words. It’s time for us to dust off our values and morals and shake off the rust of complacency and pull them out for everyone to see! Decorate your homes and social media platforms with those antique values and let’s begin to make Christianity and morals the trend of the day! Just because it’s considered old or old fashioned, doesn’t mean it has lost it’s savor and usefulness. Praying for you and I today, that we will find something “old and rusty” to bring it out and wipe it off and put it back to use!

I remember the days of old;
    I meditate on all that you have done;
    I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
    my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalms 143:5-6

I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
    yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
 I will ponder all your work,
    and meditate on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is great like our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
    you have made known your might among the peoples. Psalms 77:11-14

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An Apple a Day….

Circle E Ellie in the sale ring!

We have been away from the farm a lot here lately and we are slowly trying to get back into a routine. We were in Starkville, MS recently for our friends-who-are-family’s big cattle sale. We took some time to be with them for a few days and attempt to help! We had a great time and yes, we sold some cattle; but we bought a few too, of course! We came away from the weekend with lots of leftovers, plenty of memories, a ton of laughs, and a few too many apples! Apples at a cattle sale? Yes! One thing that they do traditionally for this sale is to give away fresh-picked apples from West Virginia. Several different types are brought in and everyone goes away with apples. We just happened to have come home with a lot!

What do you do with more apples than you can eat? Well, I love to can and so naturally, I made plans to can apple pie filling! I had great plans in my mind until I stood at the sink to begin coring and peeling apples. What I had thought would be a big job turned into a monumental one! Fortunately, my daughter was home from college and had pity on her mother and helped me out. We cored, sliced, and peeled apples until we just couldn’t do anymore. (We had also eaten quite a few!) I got the pie filling ingredients cooking on the stove and added the apples to the mixture as she finished prepping. We had enough for several batches and it had the house smelling divine! After several turns in the canner, they all sealed and found themselves settled in the canning pantry. I was definitely a happy momma when we were done, except for my aching back and legs!

When I am canning, I always love thinking about God’s protection. I know that’s not what would come as a natural thought to anyone else!! When the jars are in the canner, they are experiencing extreme pressure and intense heat. The jars need the heat and pressure in order to seal the lid. The contents of the jar need the heat and pressure in order to kill bacteria and further cook the ingredients. The air comes out of the jars and the lid forms a seal that allows the jar to sit on the shelf and not need refrigeration. The contents of that jar are protected from the air, bacteria, and decay. Although canning recommendations tend to be a year or so, I know of one person who found jars that had been canned for 10+ years and opened them and found the contents to be just as if they were freshly preserved! ( Don’t freak out! They didn’t eat them!) The heat and pressure had done their job so well that the contents had withstood weather and the elements of time. Lots of times in life we find ourselves with the heat and/or pressure applied. It is uncomfortable and it usually isn’t any fun at all. But once the heat and pressure are applied the contents (that’s you and me) are preserved. Psalms 121 says, “The Lord is your keeper…The Lord will preserve you from all evil; He will preserve your soul. The Lord will preserve your going out and coming in from this time forth…” We come out of the canner preserved and kept for the future and for our appointed purpose. We are protected from all that rages around us. We still go through things, but we are protected and preserved through them.

I have often thought of canning and God’s protection, but this time I thought about something else. You know, all of those apples and the mixture of water, sugar, and spices go into those jars a combination of ingredients and come out something different. What went in is changed into a wonderful new formula. I love apples and who doesn’t love cinnamon and sugar; but cooked and cooled after the heat and pressure have been applied gives you something delightful. The thick pie filling can be used for all sorts of things that raw apples and the slurry of other ingredients could never accomplish. Friend, aren’t we happy that we aren’t what we once were? We have hope that once we come out of the pressure cooker of life that we will be changed into something totally different than what went in. Job 23:10, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” I am reminding myself as I gaze at those beautiful jars of hard work and apples, that I too am going to come out of the canner not as the dust and rocks that went; but I am coming out as pure gold. Endure the heat and the pressures of life! We will find ourselves kept and preserved by the Master and changed into the delightful recipe He designed us to be.

Hiding them in the canning pantry so I don’t just eat them straight out of the jar!!

  2. Amen, Alleluia! What a powerful message, Heather, for both young and old! We need to believe even more today than…

  3. Thank you. I love that He uses all of us to speak to others. I pray to continue to be…

  4. Heather, whether you know it or not, your words really do make a difference in my life. Your messages come…

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