Church of the Good Earth 1963 and Beyond

As the Dawn breaaks and the moring light apeares, I step out on the porch and look to the horizon. The smoke resembles clouds as it engulfs the countryside. 500 homes destroyed and thousands of achers burn, what trees were left from the drought has/is being consumed rapidly.

The smell of burning wood is thick in the air as the wildfires rage. The local ponds and small lake had long dried up from the drought and there is little to fill the volenteer fire depts tanks to get the fires under control. The lack of firefighters are not helping the situation and there is a plea out nation wide for firefighter to help texas. 300,000 achers burned so far and still raging

Most of the devastation is ag, the food we all eat. Everyone will feel it in their supermarkets in the next few weeks.. better stock up. It's kinda funny/sad that folks dont want to help the hand that feeds them.

A list
Milk and all milk products
Chicken and all chicken products
Beef and all beef products
Pork and all pork products

Corn
Cotten
Beans
Sweet Potatoes

well the list goes on. I know all of this stuff is not exclusive to texas but texas is so huge that it produces more than the average smaller state and everyone will see a difference at the store.

It seems like it's one thing after another all around the world. The floods in neighboring states and extream drought in the next. The earthquakes, the hurricanes, the fires, the wars. It's all gone Mad, compleatly Mad I say.

 

Kenny,
To relocate it would take thousands of $ and to go where, things are out of control everywhere finacially. The economy is failing in every state. To start over at our age with our disabilities. To pack up and leave our families. To sell the only thing we have, our home, for 1/3 of what it's worth. If, that is if we could find a buyer.
It's better the devil you do know then the devil you dont know. There are no guarnties that it would be better elsewhere.
It's not as easy when you own a home and property, ya just dont pack up and go. My hubilicious would die in the city. I would never take him from what he loves and who he is. He is the trees, he's the barn he built with his bare hands, he's the land he tills and tends, He is the heart and soul of what our country was built from. He would not thrive out of his element. He knows no other way to be.
Reguardless of what befalls us we will go in a blaze of glory. We will stand and fight for what is ours with honor and intent. Texans dont run

whatever will be will be

lovins
cakes

 

Don't worry. Be happy.

Oh, BTW. I just posted over where you posted earlier.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?p=6987990&posted=1#post6987990

Take a look.

Man, We're taking Texas, here. I have a solution. Don't know why no one hasn't though of it before.

We get every Texan into trucks and go to the fire. Every body buys kegs of beer. When they all get to the fire they have one big barbecue and drink all of the beer and all piss on the fire at the same time. Fire's over. Done. I mean Hell, it's Texas. If they all pissed on Santa Anna at the Alamo they would have won.

Texans and beer. Why did a California guy have to think of it first. And where is your Governor, during this emergency?

My real question is, if you can see the smoke from your place, which way is the wind blowing?

 

Nobody said to sell the place. Paid for is paid for.

If I lived in Detroit and the place had 50% unemployment. I'd go elsewhere. Any place would be better. That's all.

P.S. I'd rather not know any Devil. Thank you very much.

 

if your talking about us getting jobs...lol.. hub cant work due to disibilities same for my, there are no jobs for the young let alone retirees. I will draw SS next yr then we wont have to struggle so hard and hubilicious can take a break trying to make a living off this farm.

I dont think that we are in danger of the fire reaching us. If it does we are insured and will have time to get out cuz you can see a fire coming.

The wind has finally died down from the 30mph it was blowing so the fire is not traveling as fast as it was. It is still not contained but it's not as fast moving as it was lastnight and earily this morning.

 

Yeah, I'm just hoping that the wind is blowing in some other DIRECTION. I mean, this IS Lyn's family farm here. Right ?

Anyhow, if the wind does come your way and, if you can't talk to Maria, then I certainly can. Call me very early on so that I can fly over there and talk to my friend. She does like me.

Call early. I'm for real.

 

UPDATE ON TEXAS FIRES

The Wind has settled down but the fires contenue. My yard is filled with smoke and the sky looks like LA smog.

Lynn says we're not in any danger, that we can keep it off us if it get this far bc we dont have a lot of woods, we are mostly pasture all around us.. cattle country. It's 20 miles from us.

The warn air in the afternoons is keeping the smoke in so it is spreading across texas, instead of disapating. New fire are starting, one yesterday from some fool BBQing.. are ppl nuts.. must be a yankey...lol.. I just hope we get some rain SOON. That would help.

 

That's what he said.

 

I've decided to have a garage sale this weekend. Tenets have not paid rent in two months and we have to cover the payment each month. There goes our food money. They are evicted but are not out yet.
\Wedding in two months and a baby on the way, christmas around the corner... Calgon Take me away..lol

I would not know how to act if things just went smoothly

I'm selling everything that aint nailed down. I have things stuffed in every closet that some I have not seen it 20 yrs. If I havent needed it in 20 yrs I guess it's time to recycle it.

It's not gonna be pretty as I am turning the house insideout and I pity the one that has to clean it up.. ohh, that would be me. Pity me..lol

Life has it's ups and downs and what a dull life it would be without them. We just get by the best we can and hope for better times to come along.

We still have eachother and we manage to survive every yr. Come hell or high water we stand strong in our faith that if we hit bottom then there is only up to go from there.

I would just like to be able to help Lynn more so he doesnt have to kill himself trying to provide. I feel like dead weight when I have nothing to contribute.

Ohhh, I do my chores but that dont pay the bills or put food on the table. Man, It's tuff getting old. The Farm has been our heart and soul for so many yrs., it has kept us afloat. If we couldnt sell any live stock we could always eat them.

We've slowly had to sell off the livestock little by little, what the Coyotes, Hawks and Owls didnt get. We had to shut down our chicken buisness which was putting out 4,000 chicks a season. We were getting 3$ per chick and making money hand over fist, then all of a sudden the price went down to .50 a chick and with the feed bill and the electric bill for the incubaters we were losing money big time, so we dont do the chicks no more. BAMM.. 12,000$ loss a yr.

The same thing happened with the Cows, the Hog farm then the Goats and the Turkeys. WTH.. Now it's the fruit and vegetables.

Now I aint complaining nor am I asking for help. I am just talking to my friends about how things are changing.

When you live so close to nature and most of what you do depends on nature, you notice every little change. The hotter it gets the smaller the fruit is on the trees, if you get any fruit on them at all.

The March Wind usually takes about half the blooms that would be fruit as it blows by. The veggies burn up before they have a chance to make. We hit 101 on June 1st and it just got hotter from there, triple digits till this week with only two days of rain in 3 months, that didnt even settle the dust, we're down in the 90s now.

I used to sit on my front porch and drink my coffee in the mornings and watch as the parade of butterflys would come drink the necter of my garden flowers. There would be dozens of them. Now there are very few butterflys that come visit. I dont sit on my porch much any more, the thrill is gone.

It was the spactaculer visions that would inspire me as I would watch the grass grow. The energy that pulsed through my hands as they cultivated the soil and set seed to floursh has ceased to yield it's bounty. I cry for the earth and texas in her thirst.

Whatever is in store for us is, our row to hoe and hoe we will, till the wheels fall off

I wouldnt suggest anyone buying a farm to expect to make a living off it. If you have funds to pay for the high cost of feed or grow your own, it still all revolves around nature and there is no prediction nor is there any control over the weather, which gets stranger and stranger every yr.

It's not just here, it's all over the place. Something has gotta give.

lovins
cakes

 

Life is about change. We don't always like it. I just got rid of many books last night. I have a room full of memories -I do mean full too!. It is next to go. I don't want to leave it for my son he won't want it. I will never get rid of somethings like Jimmies art and the leather jacket he made me for my b'day. He always said "till the wheels fall off too" Maybe things will look better in the spring!
I don't go out like I used to either. There are even warnings about it. We have yeaRS LIKE YOU DO SOME SURVIVE and thrive. Some don't some years we have many fox some any rabbitts. One can either embrace it like in our long winters we can go ice fishing for example or we can go away to a warmer climate. Just do what you can. The sale sounds fun enjoy it. Maybe find a new crop that will thrive. I know of a woman neededa baby bunting, made one for herself and turned it into a great biz. Maybe auction off your items on line

 

Hey ! Yankees don't know how to do BBQ's Clam bakes yes. Sure do miss those BBQ's tho.

 

now on to yet another funeral/wake! I'm sick of this shit! just went to one for a 40 year old two weeks ago,,50 yr. old week before. This one was 88years old and wonderful warm man Was a French fiddler. Traveled and on Prarie Home companion many times w/Garrison Keiller. Lucian Mathieu you are missed. RIP dear friend

 

Hey Elon I am saddened to hear that the French Fiddler has passed.

I actualy met him WAY back in the early 90's when an old friend of mine Tom Hoskins (nicknamed Fang some knew him as Doc or Frog) made me go with him to a fiddlers Convention up on Lake George I think it was and Mr. Mitheau was HOT HOT HOT and OLD back then!! Fang set him up with a banjo player named "Jerard" who was from BELGIUM Banjo (5 string) player and knew all about the old man! It was an incrediable weekend.

Fang also was the person who re-discovered Mississippi John Hurt on one of his travels looking for old Delta Blues records and things in the OLD SOUTH! Fang was a DEAR DEAR friend of mine who nicknamed Sheila Pioneer Woman back in the day upon a visit to see us in Tiller when he came back from Africa where he was looking for the BEGININGS or where some of that style originated from. It was called Jacomba music!

So sorry that this old fiddler has past BUT HE lead a long and a distinguished life and many cult and caguns from Louisianna Bayou Country from down south knew him and his Acaidian Fiddling style!!!! If you knew him I am happy for you, If you ever play music with him, I salute you!! Now go eat some Clams and lobsters as you r correct the Maine folk do not do good Bar-b-tu! Oh yes terrance Simion a Zydico player played with him also up in Kittery I think. Terrance came back and said that it was way to cold up dare in dat Main Place!! lol

Peace and love to all

ww/

 

so sorry Ellen to hear of your friend's passing. It's never the right time.

 

Well we have Power back..It was a night of life without POWER here in San Diego/Encinitas all so Cal from Sourthern Orange into Mexico! SHADEs of the future. We fed about 10 folks as we had the BBQ up and food that I had in a solor fridge here, plenty of H2O. Also had a lot of fun meeting folks who NEVER come out of their houses. It was a very peaceful event...BUT 90% of the people are not ready for when the chit will all crash! I will be booking out of here when that happens so no food for the folks who we meet last night when it really hits

This event made me even more convinced that If I do not have a place on the river and cannot get to Molokai when it all comes down then I need to get in the revcon and head north IMMEDIATLY as within 2-3 days there will be folks without water, food, and just not know what to do.

This event was a one time thing they say as the Power?Electricty loss to Southern Cal was due to some dudes error in the AZ part of the grid??????

The BIGGEST bummer for me was that I did not get to watch my old Company (still consult on the shows) do most of the production for the NFL kickoff evening in Green Bay. I have already been told it was a great show wish I could have seen it will have to watch a video of it I suppose. LIGHTS CAMERA VIDEO WALLS Action and UNREAL that the NFL can put on such a HUGE event while some things are just crumbling. BUT I suppose since CWP and Chaos were to of the largest vendors and supplyed equipment the progarmmers etc, my Brother and other operators are very stoked' Here is the really Scarry part tho...The NFL can pull off that huge sporting events, employed over 250 folks even if just for 10 days, AND can do more than the Government can to get folks working!

Like in Rome I suppose when the emporer before Nero decided to do the gladiator games when the Roman Republic began to fall apart. KEEP the masses entertained!! BEFORE it burns down!!

and yes
Peace and love
wickwah/Chris

 

AND when you think that the folks back east are STILL without power and are flooded still! It is a tough go I think for a lot of them and I pray for them!!

peace and love
ww/chris

 

AND Texas too I also have you in the prayers Cakes

P and L
ww

 

:seeya:Hi Mouseman, Hi Ellen,
How's things with you guys

 

Yes he was a dear friend. I have played with him at many bluegrass fests/parties. His son Lou has been a member of our bands too. Lucian loved Paul my partner and always had a hug and kiss for me.
We are friends with cajuns from Lafayette La. The
basin Bros. Shared the stage many times. They come here to cool down in the summer. So fun. First thing out of the van is turtle traps, then cajun microwave-coleman stove. They bring there own cornmeal, wild boar. Anything walks thru the yard goes in the gumbo. They set traps for squirrel and try to catch our chipmonks no luck so far tho.
Do you play? A group from here that are going to be big soon called "Trickey Britches" are so good. We are hooking them up with the Bros. Look them up think you'd like them.

 

Queen Ida and the Bon Ton zydeco . Are they still around? My favorites.