jdmidwest Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 20 years ago this summer, I started a new career with a company that was 3rd gen family. I was friends with the third gen for several years before. That founding member, Ray was an avid gardener and beekeeper. Had a little gunsmith operation for years also. He was the Grandfather I did not get to enjoy because mine went too quickly. He lived next to the shop, so I would see him most every day until we moved to a new location 4 years ago. Thru the years, I watched the sons take away his ladder when he was trying to prune trees at 85. I watched him cuss when he found out that his new pacemaker prevented him from using gas powered equipment like a chainsaw. He bought an electric one, because you never knew when you need to cut a limb. I started bees with his mentorship. I built hives according to his plans he had drew up for hives. We have been keeping bees together since I started in 2012. We would go to the local club meeting, share our ideas, and work our bees together. The summer of 2022, Ray caught a case of the covid around honey pulling time. He finally agreed for me to take his supers off because of his weak condition. This summer, he has fully recovered, but he was willing to let me assist him in pulling off the heavy honey supers. He keeps 4 hives most of the time, down from 18 before I met him. And, honey robbing season is in the heat of the summer and those suckers are heavy. He runs 10 frame supers and they weigh 45-50 lbs of dead weight. Today was the Hundred Year anniversary of his birth. His day consisted of getting up, pulling the old tomato plants out of his garden. He grows a juice tomato and cans at least 53 quarts each year so he has enough to drink every day. He then run his rear tine tiller up and down the rows tilling in the chicken manure from under his coop that he wheelbarrowed over this morning. Fired up his Kubota, rototilled the rest with it. Then had lunch, a nap, drove his self to the Elks a few miles away. Had his 2 beers, drove home. I met up with him after I got off work, he was eating a fine supper of fried fish and fried fries chasing it down with sweet tea. We visited for over an hour. He is happy that his garden is ready to plant next spring. I think he will be there to do it. BTW, his garden is about a half of an acre. awhuber, Gavin, Hawg and 9 others 11 1 "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawg Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Guess I’m planting juice tomatos next year. My dad finishes concrete at 77 almost every day and likes it. Still sits up in a climber stand for 12hrs when it’s snowing and single digits waiting for the big one. Daryk Campbell Sr 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdmidwest Posted October 19, 2023 Author Share Posted October 19, 2023 22 minutes ago, Hawg said: Guess I’m planting juice tomatos next year. My dad finishes concrete at 77 almost every day and likes it. Still sits up in a climber stand for 12hrs when it’s snowing and single digits waiting for the big one. Not sure if its the tomato juice or all the work put into it. I am 60 and I think he could keep up with me any day. "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneshot 1 Posted October 19, 2023 Share Posted October 19, 2023 Been having people watch me and telling me I can't for last couple years. So I still enjoy my Gardening. I'm only 70. Glad he was enjoying his Gardening and Bees and actually he was doing more than me now. Sounds like he had a full life and he will be missed. oneshot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdmidwest Posted October 20, 2023 Author Share Posted October 20, 2023 10 hours ago, oneshot 1 said: Been having people watch me and telling me I can't for last couple years. So I still enjoy my Gardening. I'm only 70. Glad he was enjoying his Gardening and Bees and actually he was doing more than me now. Sounds like he had a full life and he will be missed. oneshot Not missed yet, still fully alive and well. His garden is ready to plant next spring, and he is planning to be there. Hang in there Oneshot, only 30 more year to go. nomolites, Daryk Campbell Sr and BilletHead 3 "Life has become immeasurably better since I have been forced to stop taking it seriously." — Hunter S. Thompson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch f Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 I think my retirement might consist of bird feeders. I really enjoy watching birds. I think bees are cool too! But I’ll probably stick with birds. Sounds like he’s a cool guy and I’d like to know him. My issue with retirement is that I have a 7 year old and a 14 year old and I’m 62. So maybe my retirement might not start for a while! 😂 the youngest wasn’t planned but we will never tell her that! 😂 they are my whole life! awhuber, BilletHead, T.J. Clarke and 4 others 7 "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BilletHead Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 1 minute ago, Mitch f said: I think my retirement might consist of bird feeders. I really enjoy watching birds. I think bees are cool too! But I’ll probably stick with birds. Sounds like he’s a cool guy and I’d like to know him. My issue with retirement is that I have a 7 year old and a 14 year old and I’m 62. So maybe my retirement might not start for a while! 😂 the youngest wasn’t planned but we will never tell her that! 😂 they are my whole life! You just got a surprise blessing Mitch. 😉 Mitch f and nomolites 2 "We have met the enemy and it is us", Pogo If you compete with your fellow anglers, you become their competitor, If you help them you become their friend" Lefty Kreh " Never display your knowledge, you only share it" Lefty Kreh "Eat more bass and there will be more room for walleye to grow!" BilletHead " One thing in life is for sure. If you are careful you can straddle the barbed wire fence but make one mistake and you will be hurting" BilletHead P.S. "May your fences be short or hope you have long legs" BilletHead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch f Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 3 minutes ago, BilletHead said: You just got a surprise blessing Mitch. 😉 She’s the sweetest little perfect girl! BilletHead 1 "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishinwrench Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 53 minutes ago, Mitch f said: She’s the sweetest little perfect girl! Oh I could just puke !!! 😂 Me and my youngest "surprise blessing" are about to have a come-to-jesus meeting. She'd better start towing the line before one of her sisters come home and knock the snot out of her face ! 😖 Yeah she was precious at 7 too. 🤗 Mitch f, ColdWaterFshr, nomolites and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mitch f Posted October 20, 2023 Share Posted October 20, 2023 4 hours ago, fishinwrench said: Oh I could just puke !!! 😂 Me and my youngest "surprise blessing" are about to have a come-to-jesus meeting. She'd better start towing the line before one of her sisters come home and knock the snot out of her face ! 😖 Yeah she was precious at 7 too. 🤗 My 14 year has gotten into her teenage years…nuff said Daryk Campbell Sr 1 "Honor is a man's gift to himself" Rob Roy McGregor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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