The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


The Wisdom Of Barnyard Bruke: "spring is simply wonerful!"

Greetings to everyone in western Illinois. Did anyone notice how bright the moon was last week? It is said that it was as bright as it is gonna be for eighteen years.

Apparently the moon was as close to earth, hence that much brighter, as it will be for the next 18 years. I'm not sure what I would've done without know'n that little fact.

Farm folk are in full swing in various parts of Henderson, Hancock and Warren counties.

They is sow'n oats and grass seed, apply'n anhydrous ammonia fertilizer, spray'n on chemical and fertilizer combinations, dress'n up waterways and fill'n in washouts, burn'n brush pick'n up out of roadside ditch banks beer and pop bottles, pizza boxes and McDonald trash, TV's, mattresses, and much other junk.

Other folk is roll'n their lawns, gett'n their mowers ready and plant'n potatoes.

There's a good many families buy'n seed for garden from the catalogs and check'n stores out of early choice trees, bushes, and flowers. Some are give'n their fruit trees an early spray'n of insecticide with oil and fungicide. Most of the grape vines have been pruned by now along with berry bushes. If not, you had better get with it.

It shore is surprise'n how much ya can get done with only a few good weather days.

It puts a bit of stress on muscles that haven't been used for a while but a liberal dose of "Absorbine Jr." horse liniment helps the sore muscles to recover.

It's that time of year for machinery consignment auctions. Some has already taken place and others like to come.

Some folk would not go to those sales for love nor money, others like to go just for entertainment and socialisn', and other go look'n for bargains.

Draft horse auctions are also come'n up at Gordyville, Illinois, Waverly, Iowa and Kalona, Iowa. Those are fun to watch and it is interest'n see'n a draft horse sell for from $600 to $33,000 apiece.

I even hear's a few die hards proclaim'n they is save'n a heap on diesel fuel by energize'n the work with timothy hay and oats. Well, to each his own in his preference to work style and amount he wants to get done in a day.

Western Kansas and parts of the Plains is bone dry and hurt'n for moisture. Wheat didn't germinate last fall due to dryness. The ground around these parts aren't as saturated as one would suppose, those lay'n tile this spring sez they are surprised how dry it is.

Flood'n remains on everybodys minds and there is a heap of snow up north to melt and come our way yet this spring. The other night a big rain passed us by in that it traveled up north before unload'n. Some of that run off will get to the river and come our way. With a bit of luck maybe it will space itself off with the melt'n snow.

Some of the barge traffic is fear'n a two to three week lay off due to high water.

I heard some traffic was hindered by a barge hitt'n and/or gett'n stuck on a bridge. I'll bet negotiate'n a tow thru some of those tight spots is a mighty tricky job.

I read where some folk is predict'n the rapture sometime in May. I'm not sure how they might know but one thing is for sure-we should be prepared at all times. Then, we don't have to worry about such things as time and date.

Talk'n about be'n ready a lady, Luella, wrote about her job in which she works and she is paid for her work. She pays taxes and the government distributes her taxes as it sees fit.

In order to get her paycheck Luella is required to pass a random urine test. She has no problem with that requirement.

What she does have a problem with is the distribution of her taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test. Luella asks the question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because Luella has to pass one to earn it for them?

Luella makes it quite clear she has no problem with help'n people get back on their feet. She does, on the other hand, have a problem with help'n someone sitt'n on their butt-do'n drugs while she works.

Luella aks, can you imagine how much money each state would save if'n people had to pass a urine test to receive a public assistance check? She sez she would call the program "urine or you're out"!

Luella asked that this thought would be passed along. She feels something has to change in the country-and soon.

Oh, and by the way, Luella feels all politicians should have to pass a urine test too!

Me and the boys is a gonna have to think on that for a spell before we gives our bless'n.

Keep on Smile'n
Catch ya Later
Barnyard Bruke