lesbians, tractors and AIDS
I've spent the first day of 2008 ~ a year I know is going to be a good one ~ at home cooking chicken mole enchiladas and tomato florentine soup. And I've read from start to finish a marvelous book by this woman, Catherine Friend, a writer who fell in love with Melissa and turned into a farmer.
The book ~ Hit By a Farm ~ was a delicious treat. I laughed out loud and cried just enough. I love the way Catherine writes about her relationship with Melissa, with honesty and frankness and love. It's a book I randomly picked up off the library shelf because a glance at the cover reminded me of my old dream of living in the country.
I sometimes think I've missed my calling and really belong out in the hinterlands raising chickens and milking goats. When I bought this city house, I fully intended to keep a couple of goats and chickens in the back yard, with the plan of making cheese and building a chicken tractor to keep the bugs out of the garden beds.
After reading Catherine's account of life and death on the farm, I'm rethinking that for the 100th time, but the book was a delight and it was an extra treat to find that the farmers are a couple of gay girls with a bigass tractor. In my dream, the tractor's a spiffy little Kubota, but these women have got a honkin' big red monster and I've now got a bad case of tractor envy.
And then there's this Post of the Year thing for which I was unknowingly nominated and, surprisingly, won along with another blogger called Little Red Boat. It was quite a surprise to drop by Joe's and see my name practically in lights. Sweet. The post was an old one from April called piano music. I mention it again only because it honors my friend Wayne, who loved and lost his Ronnie to that fucking disease. So now I've confessed and that is that and a big thank you to the Post of the Week folks. Thank you.
And the last good thing is this: I know we are going to prevail against these thugs who have seized control of our government. It is not hopeless, it will be frustrating and frightening but I am certain that this will be the year things change for the better and we will rid ourselves of the likes of George Bush and his band of zealots.
The book ~ Hit By a Farm ~ was a delicious treat. I laughed out loud and cried just enough. I love the way Catherine writes about her relationship with Melissa, with honesty and frankness and love. It's a book I randomly picked up off the library shelf because a glance at the cover reminded me of my old dream of living in the country.
I sometimes think I've missed my calling and really belong out in the hinterlands raising chickens and milking goats. When I bought this city house, I fully intended to keep a couple of goats and chickens in the back yard, with the plan of making cheese and building a chicken tractor to keep the bugs out of the garden beds.
After reading Catherine's account of life and death on the farm, I'm rethinking that for the 100th time, but the book was a delight and it was an extra treat to find that the farmers are a couple of gay girls with a bigass tractor. In my dream, the tractor's a spiffy little Kubota, but these women have got a honkin' big red monster and I've now got a bad case of tractor envy.
And then there's this Post of the Year thing for which I was unknowingly nominated and, surprisingly, won along with another blogger called Little Red Boat. It was quite a surprise to drop by Joe's and see my name practically in lights. Sweet. The post was an old one from April called piano music. I mention it again only because it honors my friend Wayne, who loved and lost his Ronnie to that fucking disease. So now I've confessed and that is that and a big thank you to the Post of the Week folks. Thank you.
And the last good thing is this: I know we are going to prevail against these thugs who have seized control of our government. It is not hopeless, it will be frustrating and frightening but I am certain that this will be the year things change for the better and we will rid ourselves of the likes of George Bush and his band of zealots.
Labels: bush crime family, cooking, farming, good things, lesbians, tractors
posted by BigAssBelle at 10:14 PM
12 Comments:
Thanks for the book recommendation. it sounds charming and i've been looking for something to read.
congrats on post of the year! And YAY! Whatever else happens in 2008, we will get rid of Bush and co.
happy new year to that!
I am ordering that book now.
I love a good book...specially if it involves lesbians...true to my heart.
Yes, it is 2008 and I hope everyone feels the same, out with the old nasty jerks in the white house. I hope everyone that is dabbling about voting independent takes a leap of faith and gives the democrats a vote. I truly believe if you vote independent you are giving the republicans a vote. just saying...
Congrats on the honor, and a better 2008 for all of us.
I'm always buying books on self-sufficiency and vegetable growing. I wish I could find time now to read them, never mind actually plant something! I got one for Christmas called "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver. Thanks for the tip, though. I might just check that one out.
Tractor envy? We gotta take care of that. You get yourself up to southern Minnesota, and Melissa will give you a ride on her tractor, and maybe even let you drive it!
Thanks for the kind words about my book. Your blog is wonderful, and I will be back!
Catherine Friend
I have got a HUGE pile of books waiting to be read, but I just finished ordering 'Hit by a Farm' online based on your recommendation -- sounds right up my alley. Cool to see the author commenting here too. Your fame is really taking off, Lynette! Ha!
Not many know this, but I very seriously harbor a secret fantasy of finding a strapping gay farmer and setting up life on the range. I'm not sure how I'd be with gutting chickens or slaughtering pigs (honey, your comment about your grandmother cleaning out the pigs' heads almost sent me over the edge!), but I think I'd be an excellent "farm wife" in most other ways. And I could also throw in a bit of Eva Gabor to liven up some hunk's Green Acres. All the better if he's some kind of eco-conscious organic farmer in a blue state. Note to all readers: All propositions and referrals will be considered. Just sayin'.
Once again, Happy New Year and congrats on the kudos.
elizabeth ~ i hope you like it. i rented this one at the library, but will be picking up a copy for my permanent collection of books i just have to keep forever.
sage ~ i am ready to whip up on anybody telling me they're voting independent. this is NOT the year. NOT. it's not an option.
david ~ thanks pumpkin. this year will be better, i know it.
greg ~ animal, vegetable, miracle is fabulous. but this book is fabulous too and it's got lesbians in it! yay!! :-)
catherine ~ what a treat that you dropped by. i've found myself working all day and thinking of random stories in your book. the effort to get the goats to mate is one that keeps popping into my mind. so much sex in your book ;-) thanks for visiting.
joe, i've got a stack too, but when you add this, move it to the top. yeah, fame, ha! is right.
do you really? the strapping gay farmer? when i was still a single girl, a group here in town started up called "singles in agriculture." it wasn't necessary to be an actual farmer, but only to have a farming background. i actually thought about going there because a strapping farmer, haylofts, verdant fields, well . . . farming is kind of hot, ya know?
i'm sure with proper training from your strapping farmer you'd manage to gut those chickens and slaughter those pigs.
my man is not a farming kind of boy. alas.
Yay for hope in 2008! Lo' knows we could all use some...
And yay for lesbians and goats! I'm not sure I have a dream of having a whole farm, since the little one my stepfather had (sans animals, besides a crazed Siberian Husky) was trouble enough, as I recall from weeding, picking and chopping... but having goats would be awesome. I love them critters!
So, I'll definitely have to get that book, when I get some spare change. Thanks for the recommendation. And let me recommend "Water for Elephants" to you, if you haven't read it. It was one of those books I couldn't sleep until I finished.
oh, I'll check out the book. And I second the recommendation of Water for Elephants -- it's a great read.
I loved your Post of the Year the first time around - I'm glad more people got to read about your friends.
I just had that discussion about independents/greens/socialists with my idealistic college age daughter. AAAAGGGHHHH!
Lynette, I've known you from your comments at J.M.G., and I linked here from there when he posted your award. That post was riveting. I lost my brother to that "fucking disease" 11 years ago, and the ache never goes away.
Your writing is fresh, poignant, hilarious and addictive. I've bookmarked your blog and jumped around on some of your links. You've got another fan.
Birdie
For the love of god and all that is holy, I hope you are right about the bush regime, lynette.
I suppose this statement would have more meaning if I weren't an atheist.... oh well.
Hmm...to each his own. I grew up on a farm, and knew that I wanted to get out of there as soon as I could!
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