Tennessee Mountain Stories

Grass String and Duct Tape

For a lot of years – probably my whole life, actually – we’ve joked about the farm being held together with grass string and duct tape.  There was a time that I was certain when I had control, nothing would be tied up, wired together or taped.  Like so many youthful declarations, I have now changed my tune.

With the addition of 3 little goats, a new lot had to be fenced – and goats can get through a mouse hole, so the fencing that held satisfied old cows in had to get an upgrade.  Then, as they found or created escape routes, another panel needed to be added.  A gate was re-purposed and you saw this one coming, it sure was fast and easy to tie that thing up!

I started out securing woven-wire with a spool of aluminum wire but realized I didn’t have the wire pliers handy.  They were just down at the other shed, but that grass string was looped within arms reach right there in the barn. 

Then there was the plastic watering trough which had lost its drain cap.  The every-ready duct tape plugged that right up and it’s still holding water.

My daddy has long said that as he aged, it was amazing how smart Grandpa got – of course nothing was changing in Grandpa, just growing wisdom in Daddy.  I suppose I’m experiencing the same thing as I gain a little wisdom and Daddy’s intelligence quickly rises.

Please comment (and maybe attach a picture) and share how you have recently used grass string, fence wire or duct tape.