Martin Bird House
I took a friend to a farm and was waiting on him the other day. While waiting, I noticed from the looks of the double Martin bird house that this farmer was really into birds. There was a peacock running around and a Martin bird house that was loaded with Martins. The noise of the peacock and the Martins was all that you heard on this quiet farm. It was beautiful to set in this relaxing setting and listen and watch.
Peacock struts around on the farm
The Martins were hunting insects. The birds would all perch for a few minutes, then suddenly, bolt all at once. A few minutes later they would all return in an orderly fashion. Those that had found food, would feed it to the young Martins inside the bird houses. This scene just kept repeating over and over. It leaves me curious as to why they all return, even if they had found no food. I’m wondering if they didn’t regroup to allow for the insects to gather back up or decide on where they would hunt unsuspecting insects next. I would guess that all of the chirping was communication over the landing pattern. There’s many things about the Martins that I could only guess about with my limited bird knowledge.
The Martins have their purpose, but they fail in their reputation for a method of mosquito control. They fly to high to eat mosquitos and live off of a diet of high flying insects like moths, wasps, flies, butterflies, dragon flies, beetles, and other higher flying insects. Companies that make Martin bird houses like to make the claim about mosquito control, but their is no evidence or study to prove it. They’re still great for farms to have for fly control and other pest insects.
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J.B. Hunt Flatbed Division Truck
I found this old picture from when I drove for J.B. Hunt‘s Flatbed Division. I made good money, but just about everything else about that job and this truck was bad. In this photo, I stopped at my cousin’s house just off of the interstate. I was probably looking for someone to feel sorry for me driving this cabover.
J.B. Hunt Flatbed Division Truck. Click to make bigger.
For those, not into trucking, a cab-over beats you to death, but they were much easier to get in and out of tight spots. This cab-over had a stretched out frame to make room for really long pieces on the trailer. This made the truck good for almost nothing, except occasionally hauling long stuff.
J.B. Hunt’s flatbed division has long disappeared, and rightfully so. This job ended when a driver came right out of their school with no experience and backed into the cab so hard it knocked the cab off of the frame, with me in the sleeper! Somehow the company decided his accident was my fault. They said I should have woke up and guided him in and that I should not have did some other things to him after he hit the truck and nearly killed me. Things were just never right with me and this company after that and I moved on. Ahh, the good ole’ days.
A Hot Summer Day on the Farm
I shouldn’t complain, it’s July, but it was hot. Only a fool would expect different in Ohio.
I took some friends up to Charm, Ohio to take care of some business and had the time to wonder around on the farm while I waited on them. The Amish were out in the heat working without missing a beat. I was sweating and swatting the flies. I had a good time and with some good hard-working folks today. A day on the farm brings back some great memories and puts things in perspective.
Hay Field
Signs of the Times at the Horse Auction
Friends of mine wanted to buy a horse, so I borrowed a horse trailer and went to Sugarcreek, Ohio to a livestock auction with them. There were some sad folks there selling their horses. More than a few times, the auctioneer would say,
Young lady sells her horse due to financial situation.
“This is a good sold horse used for trail riding. The people just can’t afford to keep it anymore.”.
I don’t know much about horses. In fact, they scare the crap out of me because they’re 1500 pounds of animal with a mind of their own. I’m sure lack of knowledge is the problem here. The people here did know and love everything about horses. Equestrian pursuits are expensive, but I can see where people would fall in love with these noble beasts. Seeing these good people losing their horses was like watching someone parting with a loved one. I seen beautiful horses selling for $500.
On a less emotional level, this is where where start to see the effects of long term unemployment and a down economy hits everyone. They’ll sell the horses and no longer buy feed, riding gear and clothing, trailers and trucks to haul them, riding lessons for the kids, excursions to other places where they would buy lodging and food, and everything else that goes with the horses.
How many other worthwhile enjoyable pursuits are being foregone and the same effects further crippling the economy? Is this just an adjustment from a previous time when people were to lavish with their spending on things like this?
Here is a picture I found humorous. A pony and cart next to Amish buggies.
Pony with cart next to Amish buggies.
