This is a picture of the field that adjoins our garden. It is neglected and bramble ridden and has no useful purpose other than providing us with blackberries in the autumn. It’s potential is great, and I have many romantic ideas of how I would use it to raise livestock and grow vegetables.
Finally after gazing over the wall at it for about a year I overcame my natural inertia and found out who owned it. I promptly wrote them a letter asking them how much they would want to sell it for, and for a while my dreams were full of vistas that looked a little like this:
Unfortunately the owners wrote back informing me they were not interested is selling as they had “plans” for the land. The cynical part of me can’t help thinking their plans have little to do with agriculture:
It’s probably for the best really. I can barely look after myself never mind about a field full of livestock. I imagine getting up at 5am to feed them would get pretty old very quickly. And who would care for them when we went on holiday? And would I really be able to send an animal I had raised off to slaughter? Probably not.
But when have dreams ever taken any notice of the petty problems of reality? So despite myself I often still find my gaze wandering over my property line and imagining a field full of chickens, goats and pigs. And my heart fills with longing and a sad whispered song sneaks from beneath my breath:
“Old McDaniel had a farm. Ee-aye-ee-aye-oh”
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 3:52 am
Avitable’s last blog post..Manna from heaven. Or Kyra.
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 3:35 am
dan leone’s last blog post..The Son of His Father – Chapter 1 (once again)
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 5:01 am
BusyDad’s last blog post..We Were Doing So Well…
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 5:46 am
But yeah, during the non-snow months (both of them), our yard is as wild as hubby will let it. I have to get that guy a riding mower.
Maureen
Blog Hoppin’
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 6:35 am
“Dreams can come true
Look at me babe I’m with you
You know you gotta have hope
You know you gotta be strong”
Don’t let go of your dreams, Dan. Maybe some day it will all come true for you and you’ll be shoveling manure with a smile on your face.
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 7:40 am
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 8:08 am
You should raise ducks, only ducks, always ducks…
Xbox4NappyRash’s last blog post..Dan ‘da man
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 11:28 am
Sam’s last blog post..Biarro Alto
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on Mar 9th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Speaking of that, I left you a little surprise over at my place today.
Jeff’s last blog post..The city that didn’t sleep
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 5:50 am
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
In practice he raised stock for other farmers, especially twin lambs where the mother wouldn’t feed one of them, he’d raise about 50 lambs a year and get to keep about ten of them for his troubles – that was the total extent of his income.
It lasted a mere few years before the Inland Revenue caught up with him and demanded a tax return for all of those years and despite living on the poverty line for those few years they found that yes, he owed them some money – he offered the tax office half of a lamb he’d had slaughtered – they were not amused.
Gary’s last blog post..Goodbye, goodbye, we’re leaving you goodbye…
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Dan Leone – It’s tempting. What’s the milk output on one of those feral cats?
BusyDad – I don’t think Joni Mitchell would be too pleased about that.
Maureen – If I had a ride on mower I don’t think I’d ever get off it. They look fun.
Phil – Didn’t she also say:
I don’t want to see a ghost,
It’s a sight that I fear most
I’d rather have a piece of toast
And watch the evening news
Wise words we can all live by.
Whit – We certainly are. Despite his protests I still suspect Jeff.
Xbox4NappyRash – Problem with ducks is you need a pond. Plus once you’ve seen the Uberduck all others pale in comparison.
Sam – That’s lucky, as you look a bit like one (only around the bill).
Jeff – Denial is often the first sign of guilt.
CamiKaos – I have a secret pig cloning facility in my attic.
Gary – I love the idea of living the good life, but I would never be dedicated enough for it. No, my plan involves Kerry working herself to the bone in order to keep both me and my toy farm.
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Arjan’s last blog post..Inquisitorial Icon
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on Mar 10th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Pleasant view you have. Let’s hope they really don’t build a tall building.
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on Mar 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am
The Chick’s last blog post..Spring Time on The Farm
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