Life on the Farm

Every Sunday, (except when they are traveling) Andy and Pat visit her parents on the farm in Parsons, KS(population 12,000) for dinner and a afternoon of playing cards and conversation. Tom and Fern have worked this farm of 80 acres for over 65 years – at one time growing alfalfa hay – and other crops I can’t remember. Once, too they had milking cows, pigs, chickens and a large vegetable garden. Now the garden is still there, tending lovingly by Tom but the fields have been put to pasture and there are still cows but only 35 of them and they are beef cows not dairy ones. Pat gave me a tour of the barns, wells, ponds (man made for drinking water for the cows), the root cellar, electrical fence and old milking stalls. Her brother, Roy, also lives on a farm and his is 160 acres. Over the years both Roy and Tom have had “off the land” odd jobs – sometimes full time; sometimes part time – depending upon the growing season and the prices received at market. Fern is a master quilter; at 82 she has recently quit making bed size quilts and has resigned herself to baby quilts and wall quilts. She is also a wonderful cook, making fresh yeast rolls and full course dinners for any of the family members who drop by on Sunday afternoons. This past Sunday it was a full pot roast dinner with cloverleaf rolls, jello salad, homemade pickles, fried okra, green beans and bacon and of course, several desserts. Tom has been having some challenges with mobility for the past few years, and now relies on a cane to steady himself and make his way to the garden. But traditions die hard and I imagine Tom and Fern will be still hosting Sunday dinners and card games for longer than they are able…..