MEMORIAL DAY

Every Memorial Day, a group from one of the Veterans Clubs, performs a ceremony, in the Church cemetery, across the road from us. I, usually, don't think about it until I hear the gun salute and then taps playing. I, always, enjoy hearing taps.

This Morning, I was sitting out in the sheep pasture meditating. I heard voices and I remembered the ceremony. I heard some singing, then the fusillade, accompanied by the usual barked orders, and then the soothing tones of the taps. I enjoy the ceremony and I like ritual, but I have had mixed feelings about Memorial Day celebrations for several years. There must have always been the specter, of glorifying war, haunting these holidays. Is it worse? In recent years, it has troubled me more.

When I was a child, I remember going to a large cemetery, with members of the extended family. We had a picnic and visited the graves of family members. Hawkinses, Burkards, Warrens, I don't know that part; I just remember it was a picnic and a joyous time.

Well war will be thing of the past soon; meanwhile, things are growing apace here on Laughing Water Farm. The apple trees are in full bloom now and unbelievably beautiful. There doesn't seem to be the number of pollinators buzzing around the trees, as there usually is. Part of the reason is that it has been either cloudy or chilly; not good bee weather. I hope we are not suffering from the paucity of bees and other pollinators due to the use of chemicals. I suppose we can't escape the problem here, as it appears to be nation wide.

I haven't mowed the lawn yet and it is getting long, long, long. Most days it has been wet and the few dry days I have been busy with other things. We are way behind in our gardening, We need some warm dry weather and a spurt of energy to go with it.

We have two new baby goats, both males. We, may be, phasing out of goats, for milking, as we are getting cows milk from the Amish. We need to keep some animals on the pasture, though, or it will turn into forest. Perhaps, more sheep. I would like to try hair sheep. We don't get a decent price for the wool. It cost more to shear the sheep than the wool is worth; of course, that could change in the blink of an eye.

 Have a wonderful Memorial Day! Celebrate Peace and Love and the end of all war.

Love and Peace,  Gregg