Coe Creek Farm and Product News
Changing my barn clothes for a clean set--a not so often occurrence during lambing time--entails more than just exchanging one pair of jeans and one shirt for freshly washed ones. Emptying pockets is an important part of the procedure. The contents vary from day to day and season to season, but today's assortment of items was pretty average. From my right front pocket I removed my jackknife, a red handled Swiss army knife my mother gave me many years ago. I have lost the knife twice, but both times, I knew generally the area in which it might be located, but winter snow had covered it so thoroughly that I knew I had to wait for either a mid winter thaw or spring. In both cases, we were feeding baled hay to sheep when I lost the knife. The first time, I was cutting the twine on bales and flaking them off to the sheep who were following the tractor and hay carrier. The knife fell into deep snow and sheep soon obscured whatever I might have discerned through the white blanket. I knew that there was virtually no hope of finding the knife until the snow disappeared. That time, there was no thaw between the occasion of my loss and spring, but, eventually, the snow did melt, and I thought I knew exactly where I had dropped the knife. I walked the field and, indeed, did locate my treasure easily. It was not in the best of shape, though. Rust had discolored the steel blades and other parts of the knife, as well. But, I shined it up the best I could, used plenty of WD-40 and some steel wool, and the knife became perfectly usable again. In time, the residue from the rust was worn away, and the knife was pretty much its old self again. The second time I lost the knife I knew the general area where it must lie, but I was not as certain of the exact place. But, when we had a thaw later that winter, I made a thorough search of the area and did find the knife. So, I am relieved every time I reach into my pocket and find that it is still where it belongs. Out of the same pocket I pulled three hypodermic needles in their plastic cases. Two of them were 1/2 inch long 20 gauge needles that we use in giving shots to little lambs. We had just given the lambs injections of a selenium compound at docking time, and I always carry extra needles in my pocket. It is not necessary to use sterile procedures for these shots, so a new needle is not needed for every lamb, but they become dull and need replacing every so often. Four heavy shiny snaps were in my pocket. We use them for securing chains around cows' necks, for fastening the chains that hold a gate closed, and for other purposes. It is handy to have a few on hand. I had one maple sap spile in my pocket, too. We had tapped trees, and this spile was not used, and I have not gotten around to putting it back into the container yet. From my other front pocket I pulled several pieces of wool yarn of different colors. When I am working on a felt project, sewing or embellishing an item, I stick the ends of yarn that accumulate into my pocket instead of gathering them up and putting them into the cookstove or the wastepaper basket. I don't know why I do this, but I persist in the habit. I had a big handkerchief in this pocket, too, a dark blue bandanna type perfect for controlling a drippy winter nose. And I had a piece of baler twine in the pocket, as well. There is always a need for that somewhere along the way. Runo's pockets reveal even more variety. There are always bolts screws, nails, and other small pieces of metal. There is usually some hay or straw chaff picked up while feeding or bedding livestock. Once in a while there are a few coins, usually pennies or nickels. He might have a kitchen match or two if he has been lighting the propane cooker to heat water for melting beeswax. Often, a sheep identification tag will find its way into his pocket. The chain saw screwdriver is likely to be there, too. And sometimes, a grease fitting or other small item that did not get used. There is usually not a jackknife, though. He has bad luck in keeping a knife, so he usually borrows mine. I always make sure I get it back when the job is done. The contents of a person's pockets probably tells a good deal about the individual herself or himself. I suppose it corresponds to some women's purses, but pockets have the advantage of being firmly attached to one's clothing. There is no chance I will leave my pocket somewhere by mistake.
FARM PRODUCTS FOR SALE BY MAIL SOCKS! SOCKS! SOCKS! HANDMADE FELTED MITTENS FROM THE FLEECE OF OUR FLOCK $35 POSTAGE PAID HANDMADE FELTED BABY SHOES FROM THE FLEECE OF OUR FLOCK $20 POSTAGE PAID HAND DIPPED BEESWAX CANDLES $5 PER PAIR POSTAGE PAID SOCKS FROM THE FLOCK ARE NOW HERE! WE HAVE THESE SOCKS MADE FROM OUR OWN WOOL IN A CANADIAN MILL. WE SELL SOME OF THEM IN A NATURAL SHEEP'S WHITE, AND SOME WE DYE IN BEAUTIFUL COLORS. SIZES SMALL AND MEDIUM-LARGE FIT MOST MEN AND WOMEN. $15 FOR WHITE, $18 FOR COLORS, POSTAGE PAID. CALL US AT (231) 829-3328 OR CONTACT US THROUGH THIS WEB SITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ANY OF THESE PRODUCTS. TRANSLATIONS OF DOCUMENTS OR LETTERS FROM SWEDISH TO ENGLISH ALSO AVAILABLE. CALL OR E-MAIL FOR DETAILS.
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