性视界APP

And dust? My father grew a lot of red clover and Laredo soybean hay. If either got wet, those dark green leaves turned black. The dust that came with that hay was almost unbearable. Why, I believe I鈥檝e blown a black bale of hay out of my nose a few times! When my brothers and I complained to our father about black leaves and coarse stems, he had two comebacks. 鈥淭hey鈥檒l (the cows) eat every bite of it!鈥� he鈥檇 exclaim, or 鈥淚t鈥檒l beat a snowball!鈥�

Of course, it鈥檚 the time of year for thistles. I hate thistles. Whenever I see a thistle in one of my pastures, I bristle. (That鈥檚 almost poetic.) As in, 鈥淚 bristle at a thistle.

鈥� I know, I know, we are not supposed to hate. When I find myself hating a thistle I take comfort in Ecclesiastes 3:8鈥� 鈥� a time to love and a time to hate鈥︹�� I also take action. I rarely check cows without the company of my trusted hoe. This year my hoe and I have inflicted some serious damage on the thistle crop. Going to battle against thistles is a summer thing. I try to head them off before they head out.

Speaking of checking cows, most of the spring calves have arrived. I love to watch them grow. Shaded pastures and lazy creeks running cool make for a scene right out of paradise. I almost feel sorry for all those city folks who know nothing of country living.

Many years ago, my friend, Johnny Godwin, who grew up in Midland, Texas (where he said they had ONE tree) and his wife, Phyllis flew to Tennessee by commercial airline.

鈥淲hen we looked down from that plane and saw 鈥榯he greenest state in the land of the free鈥� we decided we were never going back to live in Texas!鈥� Johnny said. They have lived here ever since. Summer time showcases the 鈥済reen鈥� of our beloved Tennessee.

And summer speaks of gardens in our part of the world. Soon gardens will be coming 鈥渋n.鈥� My brothers, Tom and John are the garden growers in our family. There is nothing quite like fresh vegetables 鈥渞ight out of the garden.鈥� Hats off to my friend, Jackie Oldham, who will share his sweet corn with 鈥渉alf of Dixon Springs.鈥� If you want to see a great garden, slow down next time you are driving through Dixon Springs in Smith County. You can鈥檛 miss it.

Of course, summer time is a time for cooking out [That is opposed to 鈥渆ating out.鈥� =)] Bring on the grills. And speaking of grills, here鈥檚 a little promo for the beef industry. A few steak houses are now offering a cut called a 鈥渇lat iron鈥� steak. It is a less expensive cut (about 3 to 5 dollars less than a rib eye.) I asked the meat cutter at Kroger the other day about the 鈥渇lat iron.鈥� 鈥淥h, yes, 鈥渉e said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 called the poor man鈥檚 sirloin.鈥� You might want to give it a try. I suggest you marinate it in your favorite marinade with some garlic at home or try the 鈥渇lat iron鈥� wherever it is offered.

And then, there is summertime heat. On one of these hot summer afternoons I suggest you make a tall pitcher of lemonade (with real lemons) or fix yourself a glass of sweet, iced tea, take off your shoes, and go bare-footed. You might even go down to the creek and go wadin鈥�.

There鈥檚 much pleasure to be had in 鈥渢he good ole summer time.鈥�