Romancing the Tractor

 

 

RIding on the Grealou Road with friends on our way to Figeac; this yard of colorful tractors always caught my eye.

 

 

I'd always think how much fun it would be to have one and how pretty it would look at the Chatette. I have this tendency to romanticize the past, and find things unique and outside of my experience, interesting. I'd bet the farmers in my village don't have quite the same feelings.

 

 

Imagine my surprise in discovering this beautiful, old, red tractor at Mahogany Oaks. What a tease, peeking out from behind the storage shed. (Probably hiding from me and my camera!) Of course, it wasn't safe! 

 

 

Although we were all in our overalls that weekend; I can tell you that there is not one farmer in the bunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living among the farmers in my village as I do in Cadrieu; I've gleaned a whole new appreciation for the farming life. I'd often doze off to sleep to the sound of Monsieur Farnet's irrigators across the Lot in Saujac, and would wake the next morning to hear their conversations from across the river. Some days on my bike rides, I'd get irrigated right along with their corn and tobacco crops. On my way to catch the bus, I'd be waving and screaming "Bonjour" across the roadside fields to my neighbors who were usually bending over beautiful, geometric rows of asparagus, pumpkin, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, and, on and on. It doesn't take much to understand that this is not an easy life. Even with new equipment and techniques; it is still back-breaking work often 24 hours a day seven days a week; whose success is dependent on whimsical weather. Our farmers make my simple life in Cadrieu interesting and more possible. I'll always love these colorful tractors, but today a huge MERCI from me to farmers-especially our farmers in Cadrieu!

 

Comments

[Laury Bourgeois]

A tractor ballet sounds incredible! I so want to come visit. At the moment though, I'm even wondering if the $ will be in place to get myself back to France this summer. We shall see. Happy Tractors to you and Bodil-Love you both-Laury

[Niels]

next time, you must come to Denmark, here we have tractors and farmers and overalls :) we even once had a tractor ballet !:)