You plan, plot and line up what you’re going to do for the week or day. You quickly learn, living on the farm, that they are only suggestions.

For we all know the weather, the vegetation and, oh yes, the animals all dictate the day. Some days they make you long for a normal 9 a.m.-5 p.m. job. You go in, you do your job and you go home. Some say it’s boring. These last few weeks has me longing for just that — knowing what you have to do that day, going shopping when you want and your plan doesn’t change much. For my friends who don’t know farming, let me explain.

I had planned with to go with the hubby to Lynchburg this weekend. I got my list, coupons and store ads all lined up. But, I should have known what was to come. I planned this on Monday, too far in advance. But it’s Friday night, so we were looking good to go.

And then the phone rings … It’s the shearer and he is coming tomorrow. I said, “No, we have an appointment next week.” He says, “No ma’am, this appointment is for tomorrow.” After much fussing, I say “OK.” He’s going to Sharon’s early and will be here right after that. Well, I wasn’t going to argue with him any longer because as I’m talking with him I see the cow has bent down the fence by jumping over it.

So, I know we aren’t going anywhere until we fix that. We have Sunday and Monday anyway. Saturday comes and the hubby tightens the fencing and gets everything ready for the shearer, who is now running late. But, that’s OK because the cow jumped over the fence again. But, this time she takes out the post. So, now we really have to do the whole line of fencing.

It got too late for the shearer, and he was not coming at all. On Sunday, the hubby replaced the whole line of fencing and everything looking good. On Monday, we put the cows back in that area and, wow, we can still go up to Lynchburg.

The cow looks over at the new fencing and looks at us. As soon as we turn our back go in the house, up and over she goes. There is nothing like deciding and changing plans early in the morning. I look at my hubby and say once a fence-jumper … and, besides, we are running low on hay. The cow’s mother is named Mazie, and we bottle feed her. She’s been a sweetheart, but we decided to sell them. So, I say a little prayer. “Dear God, please let me sell them fast and to a family that would treat them like pets.”   

At six in the morning I put them on Glist and by 6:01 a.m. I got an email of someone wanting them. So, after a few phone calls I feel like they were the right people and I said, “Thank you, God, for that.”

They were supposed to be here by 11 a.m. to get the cows. Now, it is 7 a.m. and the phone rings. It’s the shearer. He will be in the area and can come today. Now you think I’m going to say no? You know how hard it is to get the shearer to your house.

Maybe next weekend I can go up to shop in Lynchburg … maybe.

Jane Capon is a guest columnist who resides in Keysville. She can be reached at southerndragel@aol.com.