Jim's Memories on the Farm

Well I am not the best at story telling but here it goes.

First of all let me tell the rest of the story. When the silo unloader incident happened, I remember Mom was doing dishes in the house. She could hear my blood curdling scream from the Barn where I had just had my Arm ripped open by the Hand crank on the winch used to lower the Silo unloader. I remember vividly jumping to my feet running for the house. To my dismay Mom met me half way under the Light pole and tackled me to the ground, there was nothing nice about it, needless to say from that day forward I would never mess with MOM. Then I remember being put into the station wagon and dad speeding as fast as it would go to the hospital in Moose Lake, Kayleen was stroking my face and trying to keep me calm the whole way. I remember while at the Hospital one of our relatives was in as well I think from the Gordon McVey clan. I guess he had gotten attacked by the bull. Needless to say I remember that he came in to see me and gave me some peanut brittle. That was awesome!

Now for the Dad loosing his Toe incident. What they didn’t tell you was that When I was on the tractor. Dad immediately put the cultivator back down, I am horrified looking at Dads Cowboy boot with a big hole in it. He managed to take his boot off and then I just remember him starting to laugh. Needless to say, he laughed all the way back to the house as I drove him on the tractor. I think that was the last time I have ever seen Dad where Cowboy boots.
A story I still tell to this day is the time Blaine didn’t turn on the Bulk Tank after we were done milking. The next day father brought me in and explained that the milk was ruined. I pleaded with him it was Blaine who had finished up in the Milk house and that it was his fault. Dad gave me an important lesson that day by informing me I was the oldest and I was the one who was in charge. At that point he made me dump out the milk and clean the bulk tank explaining that the mistake would put financial burden on our family now. WOW I will never forget that lesson in responsibility.

I remember going to the house with two one gallon buckets of milk. Mom was half way to the house and had just turned to yell at me to hurry. I was at that moment walking under the grain elevator we had in the silo house, when Boom lightning hit the elevator. All I remember is dropping both buckets of milk and running like crazy to the house.

I remember chasing the cows from the barn to the feed bunk area when I was attacked by the bull we had on loan at the time. All I remember is Blaine grabbing a pitch fork and attacking the bull immediately without hesitation. I got out from underneath the bull and remember jumping the barbwire fence and collapsing on the other side. I knew from that day forward I could always count on my brother Blaine to have my back no matter what the adversary, even a one ton bull, without regards for his own safety.

I remember going fishing with Grandpa Ober to the lake next to Uncle Albert’s place. All the grand kids were catching fish faster than we could real them in. What an awesome experience, I have never had that much success since when it comes to fishing.

I remember the snow being so deep that Mom had to go out and dig a tunnel for the heifers to be able to get to the water. This was next to the chicken coop.

I remember that Dad was always there as a protector. Whether it be Lauren Granda beating me up on the bus or the kids at swimming lessons snapping me with towels. He went in and confronted the adversary head on and was truly my HERO. As I get older I realize it takes a lot of initiative to stand up for our children and wow what a great DAD.

I remember cousin BUZZY coming to the farm and helping out when he was thirteen. All of us kids loved him and he was the notorious TICKLE CLAW. I also remember when we got news that he had been killed in a car accident and how much that really hurt.
I remember when grandpa and grandma Silvestri got mom her first Dish washer on the farm what a cool memory.

I remember Sister Earl, our seminary teacher, “the big O leads to the big E”
Obedience = Eternal Life.

I remember after haying during the summer Dad and Mom would let us take the Blue Ford down to Sandy Lake so we could swim. We always looked forward to that.

I remember staying with uncle Les and Aunt Delores when Mom and Dad went to conference. Aunt Delores always had Smuckers grape Jelly for our Toast that was an awesome treat.

I remember Mom going to California and Dad having to feed us kids and we thought it was really great when he made us Chocolate Oatmeal for breakfast.

I remember Grandpa and Grandma Reed Staying with us when Mom and Dad went to conference. Grandma Reed made awesome homemade applesauce.

I remember Grandpa Silvestri coming to the farm and we would all sit on his lap as he told us stories making us the main characters, that was so cool.

Well if anyone wants to edit this that would be great.