Ohiofarmgirl's Adventures in The Good Land is largely a fish out of water tale about how I eventually found my footing on a small farm in an Amish town. We are a mostly organic, somewhat self sufficient, sustainable farm in Ohio. There's action and adventure and I'll always tell you the truth about farming.


Thursday, January 27, 2011

Ohiofarmgirl Bloodaxe Varmint Killer

Alright friends, since we're all climbing the walls from being stuck inside and I've got my drink on... I'm finally gonna tell the greatest story never told. But lean in close and whatever you do, don't share it with your city friends. I figure if you've been reading this long, you're farm enough for this tale of wrath.  But it ain't fittin' for decent folks. Read on... if you dare. Just consider yourself duly warned.

A rare self portrait of a varmint killer, her beatin' stick, and her dog

Here's the deal. I can't hardly believe this one and I was there.  So its taken me since earlier this summer to get the story together.  And the courage to share it.  So I'm just gonna blurt it out. But if the Fish and Game boys show up I'm gonna deny any involvment and call all y'all liars and malcontents.

Besides who would believe me? My only witness was Dog #1. My only proof was a garbled message to the Good Neighbors and a hurriedly written Sunday morning email to my pal and Farm Master, Bourbon Red. He knows I'm "just that crazy" so I'm pretty sure he believes me (and he gave me an “A+” for bloodlust). But the rest of you will have to judge for yourselves.

So.

One weekend late this summer was supposed to be The Big Man's All Man, No Girls Allowed Weekend. Nothing but beer, testosterone, and motor oil. So on an unsuspecting Saturday morning he drove off on his motorcycle to the Indy Speedway to watch some race. “Bye, Honey!” and away he went. Me and the dogs were just gonna sit around the whole time and do nothing but grumble about having to do double chores. So we went about it. Saturday passed without incident.

Sunday morning started out badly. Both of the dogs were naughty and landed themselves sitting inside on their beds thinking about their bad behavior. Being alone on farm is pretty unusual. Me outside without the dogs is highly unusual. But what could happen? Right? Right.

So I was ambling along and all of a sudden the Rooster Crew started screaming and came racing up from the pond. I figured they finally saw the snake down there.  But the hubub continued so I moseyed down to see what the flap was about.

And there she was.

You know who. If you've been reading long enough you know that nasty varmint who had been plaguing us the whole summer...that vile, duck killin' she-b*tch...oh... I hates that gal. But since the Fish & Game boys may be looking over my shoulder, for legality's sake, lets say it was a....ahem... “coyote” which are always in season.  A small, reddish “coyote.” She killed my favorite duck, Mollee. I. Hate. Her.

She was low in the grass giving me that smarmy look. My blood boiled. I was crazed with hate and I took off running. Me. Alone. Running thru the woods. Chasing a varmint. No dog. No beatin' stick.

I did have some sense tho so I grabbed a shovel as I ran past the burn pile. The chase was on and I lit off after her. She was gaining ground so I heaved the shovel like a javelin and I knocked her down. “That's for Mollee!” I screamed at that filthy varmint as she lay in a heap. 

Then realized I was standing there, unarmed, cursing a mangy cur. So I turned and ran away. Fast.

I needed reinforcements and to be armed.

So I got the dog. And then looked around for small arms. Of course, if you don't have kids you can kinda leave guns laying around anywhere so they are rarely in the magical place called “away.” So the ONE time I really needed it I couldn't find any of the firearms! So I grabbed what I could out of the garage and my beatin' stick.  Titan took his position behind me and we charged down the hill.

To be sure,  I would have had my big axe but since SOMEONE won't put my tools away I ended up with the smaller chicken, killin' axe. More like a hatchet. But I felt mighty fierce. I felt ready for battle since I'd been reading a book series on soldiers in the ancient Roman army. As I ran down the hill I mentally prepared for hand to hand combat.  I reviewed what I'd learned about being a Roman legionary headed for battle:

Block, perry, thrust – check!
Throw your opponent off balance – check!
Stay out of your opponent's range – check!
War cry – oh forgot about that.

So I yelled my war cry, “AAGHGHGHGHGHGH”... except on me, bein' as short as I am, it was kinda like “eeeeeeeeeek!”

The dog thought that was great and stayed at my six.

We caught up with that evil varmint down by the pond. She was still down and apparently wasn't afraid of my war cry.  The dog started to lurch at our foe but I commanded him to “Hold the line” so he stayed behind me.

She screamed at me.

I screamed back.

Then I cocked my arm back and threw the hatchet, hard...and I got her. Me and the dog looked at each other. “That was so cool, Momma.” Said the dog, kinda shocked. “Yeah I know.” I said, also kinda shocked.

We looked back at that varmint. I was pretty sure she was dead. Her head was flopped over and her tongue was hanging out. I wanted to make sure but I wasn't going any closer. We had to be sure.

So we ran back up the hill. I figured I'd call over to the neighbors to see if the husband could come over, bring his gun, and blast that varmint to kingdom come.

When I got their answering machine my plan was to say “Hey Bob. I just saw the family drive off but I'm hoping you might still be around. I kinda have a situation here and could really use your help.”  But all hopped up on adrenaline as I was, what I actually said was:

“BOB!!! I HOPE YOU DIDNT GO TO CHURCH WITH YOUR FAMILY BECAUSE I NEED A MAN!!!”

And then hung up. Dang! That did not go right.

Well, I'd fix that later - back to the problem at hand. I still had to figure out a way to see if that varmint was dead. So me and the dog headed back down the hill. This time with a pitchfork.

Gingerly we approached the spot where I threw down my enemy and smote her ruin upon the pondside.

But she was GONE!  And so was the axe.

Now, this is the part in Scooby Doo when the villian is hiding behind the tree with the axe in hand waiting for our heroes to get just a little closer.....

As I was frozen with fear the dog took off snarling. Oh whew! She had just scooted off. I called him back so I could get a clean line of sight on her and I raised the pitchfork and sited it for a final volley... but then she gave one last scream and scooted into the bramble.

So she got away....I didn't think she'd last long tho. I'm pretty sure she was mortally wounded.

But either way I didn't think she'll come back because she knows this place is guarded by an axe wielding crazy person.

Shaken and battle-weary, the dog and I trudged back up the hill. But then I kinda picked up the pace because I had to go and re-call the neighbors before they got home and explain the message on their machine. Yikes!

Next, I tried to call The Big Man but he couldn't hear a word I said at the thundering track. Well. He heard “that b*tch”, “axe”, and “got her.”  All day long he thought that one of them pigz got on my last good nerve and one of them was hangin' in the garage. He was about to get a group of bikers together to ride with him to the hog roast.

Later when he got back to the motel, where he could hear me, he got the full story. Initially it was met with stunned silence. Then he said that he was coming home. That minute. Even tho he was supposed to stay another nite. Then he said that nothing I do surprises him anymore and that I was “something else.” It should have taken him about 4 hours to get home... but he made it in just about 3.

I ended up going over to the neighbors that night and we all had a good laugh. Actually my tale was initially met with stunned silence. The husband just shook his head and said that nothing I do surprises him anymore.

The youngest boy thought about it and said, “So Auntie OFG, when you went running down that hill... it was kinda like the dwarf with his axe in that Lord of the Rings movie, huh?”

“Yes, honey,  I imagine it was just like that.”

So that's what happened. We haven't seen hide nor hair of that mangy cur since. The dog thinks I'm “wicked cool” and The Big Man spent the next month out there patrolling with the gun.

As for the rest of you, you may now call me by my new Viking name, “Ohiofarmgirl Bloodaxe Varmint Killer," and sings songs of my fell deeds around the campfires. And for me, I put my big axe in a convenient spot. Just in case.

I swear I don't make this stuff up. 

23 comments:

IanH said...

I would hate to be around when you really got mad! Great story!

Chai Chai said...

The world was young, the mountains green,
No stain yet on the Moon was seen,
No words were laid on stream or stone
When OFG woke and walked alone.

She named the nameless hills and dells;
She drank from yet untasted wells;
She stooped and looked in the pond so near,
And saw a crown of stars appear,
As gems upon a silver thread,
Above the shadow of her head.

A queen she was on carven throne
In many-pillared halls of stone
With golden roof and silver floor,
And runes of power upon the door.

The light of sun and star and moon
In shining lamps of crystal hewn
Undimmed by cloud or shade of night
There shone for ever fair and bright.

There hammer on the anvil smote,
There chisel clove, and graver wrote;
There forged was blade, and bound was hilt;
The delver mined, the mason built.
There beryl, pearl, and opal pale,
And metal wrought like fishes' mail,
Buckler and corslet, axe and sword,
And shining spears were laid in hoard.

Unwearied then were OFG's folk;
A great shambling dog she awoke:
The harpers harped, the minstrels sang,
And at the pond geese trumpets rang.

The world is grey, the mountains old,
The forge's fire is ashen-cold;
The foe was beaten its neck wrung, so the axe falls;
The darkness dwells in the critters halls;

The "coyote" lies upon her tomb
In Ohio, in Khazad-dum.
But still the sunken stars appear
In dark and windless pond so near;
There lies his axe in water deep,
Till OFG wakes again from sleep.

David P. Offutt - The Gastronomic Gardener said...

Laughing! DARN ENTERTAINING! Methinks you done rid yerslef if that "evil cur". Going to bed chuckling. Thank you.

Anonymous said...

So, where did that axe hit the animal? Leg? Head? Back? It is amazing that she got up and walked away.

Maybe it is better that she got away, so she will tell others not to go near you...

Kristin @ Going Country said...

So wait . . . did you ever get your ax back?

Tracy P said...

That was one of the funniest reads I've had in a long time! I'm actually going to make my husband read it too... It was laugh out loud, tears in eyes kind of funny! Thank you for posting this, brave warrior!

Sara said...

It shouldn't be funny! But, oh man! is it ever! I laughed and laughed. Good for you!

Our latest was a possum in the garage that got whacked by a sledge hammer on Christmas Eve.

Mr. H. said...

Ohiofarmgirl Bloodaxe Varmint Killer you are quite the frightening warrior, thank you for sharing that chilling tale of high adventure.

katiegirl said...

Oh my gosh!!! The "I need a man!" line had me cracking up at my desk!" Hilarious!

Tammy said...

I can't believe you were able to chase that critter down!! Good for you. I especially like the msg you left for your neighbor. That's totally something I would do!

David said...

Great story! Keep your axe sharp...

crowson2000 said...

Did you find the axe you hit it with? Nice shot btw. :D

Grandpa said...

You are somethin else indeed OFG!

I admire your courage to confront and give a good whack at the varmint, and to actually tell the story.

I guess you somewhat retain the corporate world diligence when come to legal matters, as I notice caveats and disclaimers here and there to make sure you are covered!

The 'need a man' message was funny but could have also turned your friend into a foe, if you didn't explain it fast enough.

That's stimulating, if a bit scary. I'm still reeling from your adventure. Better go get myself a double G&T to calm down this old nerves...

Mama Mess said...

LOL! Ahhh we've all been there, simple country women turned into blood thirsty killers in defense of our animal children. I've got some stories too, but mine all involve disgusting rat tailed varmits that burrow in holes and carry deadly diseases. Score several for me and one for the dogs and the hunt continues.........

Ps...I totally understand that you have to keep yourself incognito.......it's all good! ;0) Hugs and love to you OhKillerOfRedVarmits!

pss........you are going to be so disappointed in me....stay tuned on Monday!

Heiko said...

I won't be able to sleep after reading about your chilling adventures! Now I only need to know what a varmint is. Is it a bit like sable toothed tiger? A rhino..?

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Ha ha, Ian! You can say that again!

CC - (adjust mithril vest) Ain't that right. I can't wait to get back to enjoy the fabled hospitality of the my people, the dwarves.

Thanks David! Glad to share some grins.

VRT, I think my fame proceeds me. We havent had any further trouble... my aim was true and whacked her on the back of the neck.

Yep, Kristen. Dog#1 found it in the underbrush.

Thanks, Tracy. My life is but to serve and protect my charges.

Sara, thats my girl! Truth be told, I'd rather have a war hammer like Ajax.. but its too heavy for me
;-)

Mr. H, I'll tell you what - nothing but action and adventure.

Katie - its a good thing the Good Neighbors arent surprised anymore by the things that come out of my mouth.

Tammy, I can't believe it either! And it was me!

Hu-rah David, you know it!

Thanks Jason, and yep. I think she drug it with her, but I got it.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Thats what I hear, Grandpa. And good thing the Good Neighbor Mom is such a good sport!

You said it GW! Its amazing the things you do once you 'go country."

Sorry to give you the chills, Heiko! A 'varmint' (pronounced: vaarm-it) is midwest slang for any critter found in the wild that you'd like to blast to kingdom come.
;-)

Heiko said...

so it was a sabre toothed tiger!

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Indeed, Heiko!

Anonymous said...

Nope. Nothing you do surprises me, either! This is so amazing. You are gifted. But you also know that I love "varmints" too. I will mourn for him. Someone must.

Ohiofarmgirl said...

hey WJ! Somebody has to miss that varmint, baby so go right on ahead. Some farm boys I know asked if it got the hide to make a hat. Ha! That would be a sight.
;-)

Unknown said...

LMAO! OFG I am so glad I found you, we a kindred killers! Someday I'll share my Mt. Lion story...

Ohiofarmgirl said...

hey Wendy! We've GOT to hear about the mountain lion! Whoot!

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