Chortling

[Jim Meade / Iowa City]

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  Koreans say autumn is the time when the sky is high and the horse is fat.  When I experience a balmy, clear blue day with a gentle breeze rustling through a field of drying corn, I sometimes chortle.  To chortle is to chuckle or laugh with happiness and exultation.  Sometimes I just can't help expressing my happiness and contentment at a beautiful autumn day.

As a boy, I remember unloading wagons of ear corn and gazing up at airplanes flying to a college football game.  I think that is where I got my fascination with flight.  It's also where I get my satisfaction with a crop that has reached it's potential and is being stored for the winter days ahead.

Go ahead and chortle.  It's good for you.  You can even do it in public, in most places.

[Shaggy98]

Must have been what I was doing for about an hour last week when we got back into the cattle business. I Just drove the ATV amongst the herd chortling.

[perspec]

Go-digging that new corn, windrowing first cutting, seeing that new litter of pigs and a calf up on his feet.

Chortle-Life is good.

[Kay/NC]

It is so good to read about someone enjoying life so much, Jim. You have distilled the joy of a good year -and a good life - into a very clear picture. Thank you.

[sw363535]

Thanks Jim,

We are having some glorious days 

[weedman]

It is not quite as easy to chortle today after 3 in of rain, but I still am. This rain gives us a chance to do some other things that need doing. Haul a little corn and beans etc. 

By the way, in AZ in the winter, one of our good friends was always saying to the women ( cards were always men against the women) when they had a kick butt hand, to stop chortling. What great times playing cards taking turns chortling.

Some of my greatest memories other than family moments, will be great times harvesting on beautiful October days and playing cards in AZ with some of our alltime best friends.

[buckfarmer]

Did I a little yesterday. Started shelling some pretty good corn, on some pretty poor ground. We have had plenty of those great weather days lately also.

[sw363535]

Weedman,

Saw some "chortling" on facebook this week.  Farmers in the southern high plains posting pictures of growing wheat ----- that has got to qualify.  Something we took for granted all those years.