Watermelon

Today I planted watermelon. Nothing really earth-shattering about that. But, I bet there is an old-farmer up in Heaven looking down with a smile on his face by the name of Andrew C. Askew, my grandfather. You see my grandfather was a watermelon and peanut farmer from Oklahoma.

When I was very young, probably around 6 or 7, we would go out to visit him and my grandmother. I used to hate the trips out there because I had to sit in the back seat between my two sisters who would always get car sick. Not a very fun trip for me! But, once we got out there, it was always a lot of fun. Apparently, my grandfather saw something in me. He would take me out with him to his fields. I remember him pulling up a bush and showing me the roots loaded with peanuts. And when we would leave, each of us would have our own watermelon or two to take back home with us. He had a watermelon that he called a banana melon. It had a yellow skin and the inside was the sweetest tasting watermelon you ever had. Never had one like that since then.

Planting the watermelon today is a tribute to my grandfather. Not that I will ever become a watermelon farmer - far from it! It is interesting, of all the grandchildren (and there are many!), I am the only one who has come close to following in my grandfather's foosteps. I hope he would be proud!

New Baby

Had to actually deliver a baby goat this morning. First time this ever happened. I could tell Mom was having problems. I gave her two hours to deliver but I saw nothing happening so I knew she was in trouble. I've never done this before (nor ever wanted to!). Fortunately I have surgical gloves (I use those when I make soap). So I reluctantly put those on and went over to the goat barn praying all the way that I would find a newborn goat. No such luck! Mom was still have problems.

Upon examination (now doesn't that sound Doctor-like), I could tell the baby was coming butt first - uh oh this is not good. So I decided to call the Vet. Of course, he wasn't available (why would he - it is after all Friday the 13th!!) - but they did tell me what to do. So I tried another big animal Vet only to be told he wasn't available either and suggested maybe I should take the goat to Ohio State (up in Columbus) - sure!!

So reluctantly I went back to the goat pen with a new pair of surgical gloves, praying that God would help me because I sure didn't know what the heck I was going to do. The idea was to push the baby back far enough to pull the legs from under it and into the birth canel - easy enough - HA!! There ain't alot of room to move around in there!! PLUS by that time you have a Mom who is totally freaking out that a human has their hands in places that humans shouldn't have their hands! I did get the baby pushed back and got one leg out. Now trying to find the other leg - not so easy. I was trying to push the baby back, but I didn't want to lose the leg I already had (won't that be great!!). Eventually I did find the other leg. According to the Vet's office, once both legs were exposed, the Mom would push the baby out. The Mom just looked at me. I looked at her and said PUSH! Nothing happened. Oh come on - I did the hard part!! So, I grabbed a towel, pulled on the legs and the baby came out. Of course, it was a boy - only a boy would be this difficult. His name is now Trouble!