PEACE ON THE ROAD
Peace Farm
April 27, 2005
Being down here in Texas has been a surprise to say the least. We have been driving out in the country and have been taken by the similarity to the areas that we grew up in. There is good farmland, with black soil fields and tree-lined streams running throughout. I would never have dreamed that either of us would have felt the nostalgic emotions that we did. I guess that when you have been born with your feet touching the soil the need to be in contact with it never leaves.
We met a couple of fellows down here that made us an offer. Richard James Templemyer and his cousin Edward James Sullivan IV have to leave Texas and go back to their ancestral home in England. It seems that their common Uncle, The Duke Of Whistleton, is in a terminal health situation. His death is expected within a short time and being as they are the last surviving kin, they will be expected to take and manage the vast English estates. Once they have arrived in England they will receive an English Knighthood. At any rate we made a deal to buy a farm with a house, barn, outbuildings, farm equipment, and livestock.
Peace Farm
April 27, 2005
Being down here in Texas has been a surprise to say the least. We have been driving out in the country and have been taken by the similarity to the areas that we grew up in. There is good farmland, with black soil fields and tree-lined streams running throughout. I would never have dreamed that either of us would have felt the nostalgic emotions that we did. I guess that when you have been born with your feet touching the soil the need to be in contact with it never leaves.
We met a couple of fellows down here that made us an offer. Richard James Templemyer and his cousin Edward James Sullivan IV have to leave Texas and go back to their ancestral home in England. It seems that their common Uncle, The Duke Of Whistleton, is in a terminal health situation. His death is expected within a short time and being as they are the last surviving kin, they will be expected to take and manage the vast English estates. Once they have arrived in England they will receive an English Knighthood. At any rate we made a deal to buy a farm with a house, barn, outbuildings, farm equipment, and livestock.
PREPARING THE CROP LAND
We were in town at the courthouse and mentioned that we were dealing with these two men that were going to receive their knighthood. The clerk said, “You must mean Tricky Dick and Fast Eddie. Those two are already hoods. Did you write a check or did you pay cash?” We said that we paid cash and he replied, “Those two boys don’t dream of girls at night. They dream of somebody like you.”
The farm is a little overgrown, but it is in the process of being cleared and can be finished in time to get crops in yet this spring. The picture above shows how little clearing is left to be done before we start spring planting. We also plan to harvest any mesquite to sell to the barbeque restaurants to smoke their briskets and sausage. As you can imagine we should be able to get all the land cleared for free and even make a tidy profit.
VINE COVERED HOUSE
We have always loved the vine-covered buildings that we have seen on the East Coast. I think we have a little jealous of the people that owned them. That is no longer necessary because the house on the farm has even more vines growing on and over it than the ones in the East. In the summer time the foliage will shade the house and there will be no need for air conditioning and in the winter the vines will be good insulation.
There is a tractor and farm equipment included. The tractor is steel wheeled and that is not normally available any more. There will be not problem with traction. Those wheels will dig in and it will be impossible to get it stuck. It needs a little work, but I have already started the repairs with the new tools I found. The work on the farm will require a lot of time in the fields so any farmer needs a trusty tractor that he can depend on. I will really have good stuff to work with in a short time. I may need to get a bit more, but I think I can get an excellent price on anything like this that I need. The planter is just sitting there waiting for an opportunistic person to put it to work.
FIRST CLASS TRACTOR
A ROW CROP DRILL
NEW TOOL
STARTING THE REPAIRS
There is a herd of swine on the farm. They are not the type that the farmers in Kansas raised. These are hogs that are adapted to Texas. They are called Javelinas. They are well adapted to protect their young from predators like coyotes. The Javelinas are very well adapted to living in areas that are not normally occupied by the breeds of swine that the Kansas farmers raised. I guess that they never had the opportunity to obtain these fine animals. The Javelina also have the ability to be able to live on acorns and other native feed therefore being very cheap to raise. This should be a very lucrative endeavor. They are very productive and could have several litters of young each year. We have seen the adults with young of several different litters, so apparently they are very devoted parents. It has been hinted that there are hunters that like to hunt the Javelina. I never heard of anyone hunting the Poland China or the Duroc. I suppose if the Kansas farmer had allowed the hogs to run free in Kansas there would have been hunters that would have wanted to hunt them there also.
There is a herd of swine on the farm. They are not the type that the farmers in Kansas raised. These are hogs that are adapted to Texas. They are called Javelinas. They are well adapted to protect their young from predators like coyotes. The Javelinas are very well adapted to living in areas that are not normally occupied by the breeds of swine that the Kansas farmers raised. I guess that they never had the opportunity to obtain these fine animals. The Javelina also have the ability to be able to live on acorns and other native feed therefore being very cheap to raise. This should be a very lucrative endeavor. They are very productive and could have several litters of young each year. We have seen the adults with young of several different litters, so apparently they are very devoted parents. It has been hinted that there are hunters that like to hunt the Javelina. I never heard of anyone hunting the Poland China or the Duroc. I suppose if the Kansas farmer had allowed the hogs to run free in Kansas there would have been hunters that would have wanted to hunt them there also.
THE ADULTS AND PIGLETS
CLOSE-UP OF A SOW
I hope that this letter does not make too many people jealous of the opportunity that has been presented to us. I would imagine that there are other farms like this one available. The house is something else; I have not seen another like it. If there is anyone that would like to snatch up a find like this I would be more than happy to make inquires as to any similar to it.
Later on this year when I have a bit more time I hope to invite all of you all down to share a few nights in the guest house. It is really neat, with an open breezeway right through the middle of the house.
Till Later This Is Doug Of
PEACE ON THE ROAD
or perhaps
PEACE NOT ON THE ROAD
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