Labor Day. Typically known as a three-day weekend to hang out at the lake, have a get-together with friends in the backyard and grill up some burgers and brats and celebrate, well, doing nothing.
Hmm.
I imagine most of you know enough about me to know that I'm a farmer. A milk maid. A chicken whisperer. A farm girl.
I think the whole celebration of Labor Day has taken quite a toll for change in the last several years. At the onset of the day becoming a holiday, it was actually "to exhibit to the public 'the strength and
esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations',
[2]
followed by a festival for the workers and their families." Maybe not
so much has changed, but I know there hasn't been a parade or a festival
in our rural towns.
I wrote in this week's
email newsletter about how I thought it was a bit ironic how many folks actually wanted to know what our plans were for the three-day Labor Day weekend. As if I had a day off. Apparently those asking don't know to what extent being a farm girl means for me.
Mind you, I'm not complaining or harping on those asking about our plans. But, for farmers, who make their complete living on their farms, we generally aren't able to afford a holiday because the calendar says it's so. And, not that we really require one, anyhow. If you ask Cody, every day's a holiday. Or is that a honeymoon, as he says?
Regardless, we do have daily chores and responsibilities that must be done, calendar holiday or not. In fact, most every day is the same for us here on the ranch as far as what must be done, excluding Sundays, when we only do the necessary chores and devote the rest of the day to family, worship and rest. But, the cows must be milked, chickens must be let out of their coops, all the GP guard dogs really like to be fed, eggs should be collected, herds need to be moved to fresh pasture, gardens and mushrooms must be watered and harvested or weeded... you get the idea. And, yes, these are all things that are just in a day's chores, not the actual daily workload of running a farm.
There are many ways it saddens me that as a society we have lost so much of our connection with the family farm. It truly makes me feel blessed to be able to share what we do with so many folks who are our loyal customers,
Facebook fans and friends.
Anyhow. A few of my thoughts on celebrating Labor Day from the farm. I've spent enough time here at the computer now. The water tanks need filling.
I hope everyone has enjoyed their weekend and if it was a three-day weekend with friends and family, that it was a good time of fellowship and memory making.
By the way, if you have a farmer, be sure to thank them today! :)
