Ode to the Tractor

There is just something about an old abandoned farmstead that is sad.  You think about all the blood, sweat and tears that went in to making a living in the Ozark Hills.  My friend and I were talking about the tractors that were used on these farms and then just left to rust down.  All the use and abuse to plow, cultivate, harrow, pull stumps, pull rocks, haul rocks, pull logs and sometimes even used as family transportation.  I'm sure the "Flat-Landers" had their problems too, but somehow it doesn't seem to compare with the "root hog or die" predicament of the Ozark Hill farmer.

Three Old Farmall Tractors (yes...there are three)

Dad's Benches

I was helping my Pastor, Brother Dwain Galiher, haul some material to the church basement and back in a corner I found these two benches.  Now they don't look like much and they have been used and abused but it was a very important "find" for me.  I remember my Dad building these benches and using them on many construction jobs.  We also used them at our shop at the "Homeplace", building all sorts of things.  How they wound up in the church basement is anyone's guess.  One of them has RLR carved in it which could be Ray Lynn Riggs but I think it was my brother Ralph Lee Riggs that did the carving (He always was a cut-up).  The other one has E.R. carved in it which was my Grandpa, Elmer Riggs.  Actually his name was Horace Elmer but he went by Elmer. (On another note, my Grandma Riggs was Ether Alma but she went by Alma) 

 BTW...I did ask the Pastor if I could have the benches...and one of the benches will go to my brother.

St. Paddy's Day Meal

Ever since the Galiher's came to JHPC (Junction Hill Pentecostal Church) they have invited us to celebrate St. Patrick's Day with them.  We have missed a few celebrations over the years because of calender conflicts but it's something we always look forward to.  Sister Brenda fixes awesome corned beef and cabbage...and various other dishes for the Non-Irish among us....  This is a very good situation for me since I LOVE corned beef and cabbage!  We always have a great dessert afterward and of course, the fellowship is outstanding!  Thanks Brother Dwain and Sister Brenda!

Saturday at the Galiher's.

Corned Beef and Cabbage!

An RC Corner

While I was working near Falling Spring in Oregon County, my surveyors heart was blessed to find this old corner.  I have been working in cities and towns so long that I had almost forgot how to do the little dance that surveyors do when a GLO corner is found.  In the foreground is the rockpile with an old pipe stuck in the north side (you are facing north by the way).  The stone setting up cardinal in the rockpile is not the original marker.  In 1821, the original GLO surveyor just set a wooden post which has went the way of all the earth.  There was a stumphole from one of the original GLO witness trees and the witness tree in this picture was taken in a subsequent survey around the turn of the last century, which also made the rockpile.  The location posters on the trees are from various times that USFS personnel visited the corner.

Why is this called an RC corner you ask?  Please do not be offended but RC stands for Ray Charles...and the implication is that you should be able to find this corner in the dark, it is so obvious.