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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer January 8, 2007- - No. 82 |
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The farm along Brandy Creek doesn't have any real livestock on the place; animals, that is, of the kinds that show up on the financial statement. There are critters, however; living more like family members than anything else. They all have names that go on endlessly. Each holds a unique place in a hierarchy of significance, according to which human in the family that you talk to.
Jingles is "top dog" in the line up of things. A real canine. As a puppy she was given her full name of Jingles Jones. She rides the tractor often, supervises fall harvest from the cab of the combine each season. She is the only one of the bunch that is allowed into the house, on the rug just inside the back door. Black pony Dickens lives in the pasture along the driveway. He never stops eating (or so it seems); is allowed one ear of corn each morning, another one at night. He shares his small barn with three caged rabbits known as Cottontail, Dutchess and Thunder.
What farm doesn't have Kitties? Marshmallow, the oldest and wisest of them all, is orange and white. He was brought home from the local grain elevator in Nunica several Septembers ago; at winter wheat planting time. He was a she at first, until the dad checked things out a little closer. Marshy, also known as Marshy B, just didn't look like a boy cat as a kitten. Petunia was advertised as a giveaway in the grocery store. The wife and kids went and picked her up, brought her home to stay. She raised up a hyper active family of five and then left home for good, moved in with the neighbor lady across the road! Pushy Squeeky is the only boy from the litter. He is large and tiger stripped, a bit of a bully toward his sisters at times. Cookie spends most of her time hanging out on the porch. Molly rubs up against the legs of visitors, wants as much attention as possible. Jesse up and left home like her mom. Tiger Ti died early on in an accident with an automobile.
Waddles II lives with the chickens. Mostly she goes by the name of Duck, lays a nice big white egg everyday. The chickens names are Curly Q, Mr. Roostie, Mrs. Buffy, Golden Neck, Chloe and a couple of birds each named Percy. Then there is Salty, Licorice, Dandelion and Sugar, along with a few that are nameless. Who knows what additional creatures, along with their repertoire of names, will be added to the farm in the coming year! |
