Sunday, September 13, 2009

An Old Farmer's Advice

● Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong.
● Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.
● Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
● A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
● Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
● Meanness don't jes' happen overnight.
● Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
● Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you.
● It don't take a very big person to carry a grudge.
● You cannot unsay a cruel word.
● Every path has a few puddles.
● When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
● The best sermons are lived, not preached.
● Most of the stuff people worry about ain't never gonna happen anyway.
● Don't judge folks by their relatives.
● Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
● Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll enjoy it a second time.
● Don't interfere with somethin' that ain't botherin' you none.
● Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
● If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.
● Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
● The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.
● Always drink upstream from the herd.
● Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.
● Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin' it back in.
● If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.
● Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.

My personal favorite is from my good friend Russell over there in Iowa farm country, "You can't unring a bell".

20 comments:

KathyB. said...

"The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'", YUP, that's me!

All of these sayings are so true and I have lived long enough to know it, and I am still enjoying life! Ain't life just wonderful Jo?

PhilipH said...

Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a distance.

How appropriate at this period in history! I'd sooner not insult a skunk by linking it to a banker!

Great list Jo!

Russell said...

Well, looks like PhilipH and I sort of think the same way. I was going to say putting skunks and lawyers together seems somehow appropriate...!! Heh!

All of these expressions are good. I think I especially like the one that says "the best sermons are lived, not preached."

Take care.

Carl said...

Wonderful and true stuff. Great homespun wisdom.

TomCat said...

Love it, Josie, especially Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment.

larkspur said...

Thanks, Jo. A nice way to start off my day.

the walking man said...

Every path has a few puddles.


Even the ones through drought prone areas.

Loved the list Jo.

Charles Gramlich said...

Now that is some good advice. I especially like "Meanness don't happen overnight."

DUTA said...

The last line in the list is the Mother of all advice. Love it.

JaSar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
heartinsanfrancisco said...

I absolutely love this!! Every one rings loud and clear, like the bell that can't be unrung.

Thank you for sharing this priceless wisdom, Jo.

Maureen said...

Great advice, I especially like the one about forgiving your enemies because it messes with their heads.

Swetha said...

"You cannot unsay a cruel word."
i have experienced this lots of time!
You are right Jo!! Thanks for tips!!

Kimberly said...

So much can be said in few simple words. Thanks for sharing!

robert said...

Knowlege - ploughing our lifes.

Very interesting, impressive entry of yours !

Anonymous said...

words to live by even if you are not a farmer.

Nancy said...

"Good judgment comes from experience, and a lotta that comes from bad judgment."

They were all good - a blueprint to live a life well-lived, but I really resonated with this one!

Anonymous said...

Farmers, when faced with an apparently insoluble problem, usually come out with a trio of propositions.

1) Cut out the bullshit
2) Dehorn the cattle
3) ?
(... I forget what the third one is. Do any of you bucolic types out there know?

I simply have to know, since I had been cuckolded by two women, have beaten up two boyfriends over it, therefore cutting out the bullshit and rendering, at least in my own head, the ladies dehorned-- but it was all to no effect.
I also didn't have the corollary, the third thing.

Lovelorn? No, I go to Farmer's Almanac.
Durn. And lose.
What was that third thing I was supposed to do to get my love (loves) back?

Pear tree cottage! said...

Jo, I loved the sayings and feel I know many to be true! (smiles)

My gosh your followers of your blog page have reached dizzy numbers I am truly impressed dear friend, truly!!

Good wishes Always Lee-ann

Meggie said...

Very sage words!