A Farm Girl’s Observations

There’s plenty I didn’t pay attention to as an Iowa farm girl. I can’t give you a lot of specifics about seed corn brands and soil types- though my son Sam is an agronomist and I have several siblings and other relatives who could give you better dirt on dirt and what grows in it. I know I like being outside, and that Nature and growing seasons fascinate me and leave me in awe. I don’t need all the specifics in order to appreciate that.

I also know that corn loves heat and humidity in July . . . so I have been observing this field of corn I run and bike along regularly. It had a growth spurt the last couple of weeks, and now is well over my head. I also noticed the wild raspberries near the trail, a few days from being ripe. It brought back memories of picking one of my favorite delights—the red and black raspberries that Mom had on bushes in a couple of places on the farm, and the wild ones we would pick along the edge of one of the fields in which some of our crops were planted. Fresh raspberries, warm from the sun, sweet delights.

My mom also had a golden raspberry bush not far from the house when they moved to a different farm, near the new shed that was built. My brother still gets some fruit from it.

A farm girl’s observations: Raspberry bushes have thorns. Pick carefully and slowly, and then enjoy the fruits of your labor. Life has thorns and grieving takes time. Don’t rush it and new hope and life emerge in their own time.

We each have growth spurts, in our young lives and also throughout our lives. We don’t control the weather, but we have a significant impact on the attitude we bring to the changing weather patterns that life brings. Cursing today’s clouds won’t help me appreciate tomorrow’s sunshine more.

A farm girl’s observations: give attention to the world around you and the world around you will give you energy back.
Onward!