Milliron Monday: The Journals January - March 1975

 Abbott "Pete" Smith D.V.M.:  

June 16, 1938 - February 22, 2010

Virginia Joyann "Jody" Haley Smith: 

April 2, 1938 - May 9, 2021

Welcome to Milliron Monday where every Monday we celebrate 

the legacy of Milliron Farm and Clinic, 

Dr. Pete and Jody Smith.

A continuation of Jody’s Journals.

1975

January

·        New Year’s Day, Pete bulldozed barn area/lane > played Hearts, popcorn

·        Russ started Citroen, picked up J at sheep camp, took John back > hauled in dead lamb/ewe with Angel

·        Watched sheep, took Bess

·        Canton show, took J, Doug O., Puff Best of Winners > Pete, Pat Church, dinner with Rome Warmke, Oak Room

·        1^st day of work, shepherd Ed Anderson > took Kanga over to get sheep off of Ed Hixon’s lawn/garden

·        John took lambs to sale at Lancaster > helped herd sheep in

·        Drove truck to ATC, ACKC information class, took Puff

·        Took corn to Landmark, shopped

·        Hauled dead ewe out of barn > hauled 2 ewes killed by dogs out of creek with Angel, took Puff > used Kanga, shepherd’s crook, to bring ewe (1202) down from 1^st woods meadow > Daddy surgery

·        Abbott called > J Pony Club > P basketball game w Mike, Bill

·        Church of Good Shepherd > #17 ewe, ram lamb > walked thru woods, pastures, snowstorm, beautiful

·        Fed, took Puff, Pat, Kanga, walked up thru woods, saw 3 deer in bottom > PET, Parkersburg > got stuck on hill

·        John here for breakfast > took Puff to feed, let him run in meadows/woods

·        Used Puff to find my glove > went to Alice Brown’s, Stanley called, sheep trampling

·        J Jones, took J Crall, Jacob, Puff, search, cross track, 3 gloves > Ralph Guthrie swabbed well > picked up Ed at sheep camp > watched sheep while John tried to start camper, took Puff

·        Pete picked corn

·        Church of Good Shepherd > kids, pizza/bowling > picked up Great Pyrenees bitch “Boo” near Shelby > snow covered roads

·        Let dogs run in paddock with Boo > P hit head at school, Pete went after him, my station wagon wouldn’t start

·        Marion Dog Show – took Joyce Nelson, Joann Crawford

·        Pete banded lambs

·        Pete repaired barn door, hay rack, etc. > worked Bess in barn and corral w sheep

·        Up at 4 am, Pete off to Cincinnati for acupuncture course

·        Fed, took Puff, Boo, built pens for sick Hamp ewe, new Hamp ewe and lamb > Tracked Puff, 2 tracks, Jan had flu, didn’t go > took water to shepherd, Jeff, gave him $18 > Doug O’Dell here with map

·        Went to see Grapes of Wrath and Brother of the Wind, ate at Townhouse

 

 

February

·        Pat broke glasses > Lunch at Dairy Queen > cut tails on lambs which had been banded

·        Up at 6 am, rode Cricket, J rode Apple, looked for sheep on Phillips’ place, took Kanga, watched sheep at Spires while John worked Jim to bring more sheep > John got sheep from Hixon’s, drover over to check on sheepherder > Pete home early from Cincinnati

·        Took SW to Russell’s > Jeff, sheepherder, injured arm, left sheep scattered all over Phillips place > gathered sheep with Kanga, Pete watched, used Jim, in snow/ran/all day > watched All Creatures Great and Small

·        Signed deed to Warmke house > 3 dogs into Western sheep in hay meadow, Pete shot ewe with torn face off

·        Put 3 sponges out on fence between hay meadow and blackberry meadow, brought in dead and injured sheep > J Jones took Puff across stream twice, thru woods > stopped at Pat’s basketball game > Pete trustee meeting

·        Fed, took Bess, walked over meadows, closed gate, checked sponges

·        Watched sheep > Pete, Jerry Hartley to Charleston WV > Jessica laid track for Puff across creek twice, got dog trap, stopped at Dottie’s, went to Hunter’s for collar for Book > cut off tails, scrotums on lambs > ran Puff on track after dark

·        Pete, Jerry Hartley picked corn > banded newborn Hamp ewe lamb > watched sheep, part of afternoon > Jessica, Pony Club movies > brought 3 Suffolk rams to hospital barn from alfalfa field

·        Watched sheep > Pete, John picked corn > men from Producers here to look at sheep > drove/walked 2 wild sheep off hill (hay meadow)

·        Pete, John finished picking corn > watched sheep in small pasture, built “imaginary stick fence”

·        Took grain to town > picked up beef at Corning

·        Pete put grain at barn > rode Cricket, put 8 Western ewes into horse pasture – barn, put 2 Western ewes, 3 rams in with big flock at Jan’s, found 2 dead rams on gas line road hill; several dead ewes, scattered (used Jim)

·        Got 2 rams at Hixson, 15 ewes Dutch Creek, took ewes to Jan’s

·        Dogs killed ewe at Alice Brown’s, caught 1, shot other one > picked up Bill Wright > sorted sheep from red barn

·        Episcopal Church, Dolen’s lunch, worked on cleaning out hay loft (red barn) > looked for injured ewe without success, brought in dead ewe

·        Took J, P, Nathan to Amesville for bus > put 4 more Western ewes in clinic barn

·        Pete sick, flu > put 7 Western ewes, 1 Hamp ram into clinic barn with Jim

·        Put 3 sponges up on gates > took Ben to Hunter’s to try new collar > ATC Maplewood Inn

·        Took 4 lambs to Snaps [meat processor] > took 2 lambs, 2 Hamps, crippled ewe out of large flock > Henry took rams, ewes at clinic down to Jan’s > rode Cricket, found bloodied sheep, killed by dogs at Alice Brown’s > J Jones took Puff through woods, across stream > moonlit night, walked up to look for dogs

·        Pete to Columbus, State Vet Meeting > picked up lamb at Snaps > shoveled snow, path to garage > J babysat at Coen's

·        Episcopal Church > to Little Professor’s bookstore, Frisch’s lunch > Mom’s birthday > Pete’s truck broke down in Columbus

·        Rain, roads flooded, no school > fox hunters on ridge above hay meadow

·        No school, flood > caught dog on bottom, put in hospital > Katherine Foster here > cut Pete’s hair

·        No school, high water at Stewart > Pat helped deworm sheep

·        J Jones took Jan Crall, tracking Puff, went after rabbit, quit tracking

·        Dog in hay meadow, took Kanga, gun to look for it > put doorknob on garage door > read Everyday Miracles

 

March

·        Tracked Puff, saw 3 deer above hay meadow, Jessica’s 2 socks, hat > Frank Johnson shod Apple, Sailor > Pat, me, helped Henry herd sheep across 50A > J riding lessons > Pat, me, lunch at BBF > helped Henry at road crossing, took Pat to Chadwell’s for basketball game > put 4 Wether lambs in pond pasture herded them to shed with Jim > Pete, to McArthur, Dave Smith went on calls

·        Episcopal Church, Dolen’s lunch > P, J, went to Marie Phillips, Wellston, after rabbit cage > piled up chaff, picked up strings, swept out empty part of haymow > Pat, me, helped Henry crossroad, brought 2 week ewes back in car

·        Pete, Don Norman hauled hay > Don Norman here for lunch

·        Don, John, unloaded rest of hay > laid track for Jan > ATC

·        Pete left for Cincinnati > Ray certified Jacob > finished reading Jubilee by Margaret Walker

·        Puff, hookworm shot > boys basketball at Grover Center > district Humane Society meeting, Baker Center > J babysat at Thompsons

·        J Pony Club meeting > church with Pat > stopped at Little Professor’s > lunch DQ > fed, took Puff, John, Pat helped > let dogs run in paddock > laid track in small field by sign for K Foster > worked Puff with whistle, obedience

·        Big snow > helped John sort off 35 ewes, Don Norman took them to sale, brought ewes to hospital

·        Pete to Charleston > went down to help John, sort rams, Pete decided not to ship them

·        Heavy rain > Angel’s left eye swollen > ATC

·        Rosemary laid tracks for Puff, Jacob; Jan, Jacob walked cross tracks > started using 100# dog food > Pat dug out back door of sheep shed

·        More rain > worked on road ditch

·        Ralph Guthrie here, swabbed well > turned dogs out in paddock, worked Puff > fed, John, Pat helped, took Bess > out looking for dogs at 2 am

·        To church, Kemmerle, excellent sermon > stopped at Little Professor’s, Frisch’s lunch > brought sheep in with Kanga, put 3 sponges on drift fence > worked Puff > Fed, moved Bess up to barn, rabbit area > Pete went to Marietta after horse trailer

·        Nathan Driggs here overnight > Don Whitlatch wildlife paintings > PET gradation, Puff 2^nd, Irish Setter 1^st

·        J and I got polio booster, J DT booster > caught ducks, got goose egg for cooking > took 7 drakes, 1 dilly to stock sale > dropped watch, storm windows off for repairs > redwing blackbirds staking out territory, walked Puff thru woods, checked fence line for sponges > met Gary/Aggie at Ramada Inn 71S enroute to Florida > Puff got out of crate, crawled thru front seats

·        J’s buck rabbit loose > J Jones tracking, took J Cruxford, Jan, Jacob

·        Nick shot 9 Muscovy ducks > let Puff, Kanga, run in bottom

·        Herded sheep out of Jan’s pasture, put 3 sponges beyond drift fence > Pete worked on sheep feeder/corral at Jan’s > Puff found 2 gloves, ram paddock, let him run in creek bottom > Pete put guard on storm door

·        Church, Little Professor’s, Baskin Robbins > Pete fed sheep, worked on fence, let dogs run in paddock > put 4 sponges up on fence line, took Puff, shooed sheep out of hay meadow, attempted to fix fences > Pete cleaned clinic barn

·        Pete feed sheep grain, walked to drift fence, brought 30 or so down, saw 20 or 30 over in woods, waited while sheep finished grain, put them back in pasture > birthday box from Mom > Pete brought corn to barn, got tractor stuck > let Puff, Kanga, run up to white gate, jogged some

·        Put dozen sheep in loading shed, herded sheep in, new lamb/Western ewe > K Foster here, brought Clarion [dog] in for socializing

·        Walked pasture, more new lambs > found another goose egg > 1^st ATC

·        New boy here for lunch (David Crippen) > J Jones, Puff, tracked Ray (poorly) over by peacocks, etc., J Croxford drove, took Debbie

·        Herded sheep in > Stations of the Cross service, Episcopal Church

·        Herded sheep in > went to bed early

·        To Church, trumpets > buffet at Baker Center > herded sheep in, scattered all over pasture, fed up at red barn, let dogs run in paddock, picked up yard > Went to drive-in, snowstorm – 2 corny Woody Allen movies, sleepover, etc.

·        Garage door frozen to mud > Jim in playful, nipping mood, herded Western sheep in, all within sight of corral, feedlot > fed at red barn, put 2 yellow sponges at fence, used Jim to bring some of my ewes out of hay meadow, tried to patch hole with sticks, let dogs run in paddock, picked up yard > picked up J, P, at Ramada Inn I 71 – 270

Please forgive typos, name or place misspellings; transcription from

vintage handwriting sometimes requires a magnifying glass and random

interpretation.

Enjoy the journey!

Connect with Gina

Amazon Author Page

Milliron: The Biography

www.gmcknight.com

www.mondaycreekpublishing.com

Through captivating, powerful, and emotional anecdotes, we celebrate the life of Dr. Abbott P. Smith. His biography takes the reader from smiles to laughter to empathy and tears. Dr. Smith gave us compelling lessons learned from animals; the role animals play in the human condition, the joy of loving an animal, and the awe of their spirituality. A tender and profound look into the life of a skilled veterinarian. 

Meet Ohio Author & Outdoorsman, Chip Gross

Meet Ohio Author & Outdoorsman, Chip Gross

“..outdoors writing is a vocation, not a vacation.” Chip Gross

 It is a pleasure to connect with Chip and announce the release of his new book titled How To Become a Freelance Outdoors & Nature Writer: Getting Paid To Go Fishing, Birding, and Other Myths (Your Guide To Getting Published). I am confident that many of my colleagues will find Chip's book to be insightful, informative, and engaging.

Graduating from Ohio State University in Wildlife Management, Chip has extensive experience as an outdoorsman, freelance writer, novelist, photographer, and speaker. He has worked as a Lake Ranger and State Wildlife Office. In his new book, Chip shares with us what it takes to be a successful writer.

Welcome, Chip!

GM: What inspired you to write this book and share your journey into freelance outdoor and nature writing?

CG: I’ve been a professional freelance outdoors writer for more than 40 years, but I didn’t do it alone. I had the good fortune of having several mentors who helped me get started. One of those people was my high-school English teacher, Doug Pugh, and two were professional writers living in Ohio: Allan Eckert and George Laycock. All three of those people are now deceased, and my thought was to honor them by “paying forward” to other would-be outdoors writers the knowledge I have accumulated through the years.

GM: Allan Eckert was your mentor? Lucky. He's a favorite of mine, and I've read all his books. Can you share a moment in nature that greatly influenced your writing?

CG: I can remember having the urge to write about the out-of-doors even as a young kid. I would take a pad of paper and a pencil into the woods, sit down on a log, and try to somehow capture all that I was seeing, hearing, and feeling. But I found that experience frustrating, as I didn’t yet have the writing skills or vocabulary to accomplish what I wanted to do. As a result, I put writing off until the urge resurfaced strongly again many years later, about midlife.

GM: Many people think about getting paid to write about nature, but don’t know how. What are some common misconceptions about this career path?

CG: As with all types of professional writing, outdoors writing is a vocation, not a vacation. In other words, it’s a demanding profession that is certainly not for everyone and is a difficult career to break into. But if a person has a sincere interest in the outdoors, and also a sincere interest in learning to write well, then maybe this career might be for them.

GM: How do you balance the demands of writing with the need to be present and immersed in nature?

CG: When I have a magazine story assignment and I’m gathering story material, I don’t write much while I’m in the field. Instead, I try to immerse myself in the outdoor experience just as anyone else would. But at the end of the day, I will make notes of the highlights of the experience, items that I want to be sure to include in the story. I also wait a day or two before beginning the actual writing so that the story has time to roll around in my head a bit. That time between the experience and the writing often gives me a perspective that I might not have otherwise. It’s also important for me to have an idea for a lead paragraph in mind before I sit down to write, because the body of the story will flow out of that first paragraph. But not all writers work alike, I’m just describing the approach that works for me.

GM: Could you share some of the most unusual or unexpected challenges you've faced while working as a freelance outdoor writer?

CG: One of the most challenging issues any new writer often faces while attempting to turn pro is how to handle no-pay or slow-pay situations. In other words, you pitched a solid story idea to an editor, they gave you the go ahead, you knocked yourself out writing the best story you could, you submitted your story on or before deadline, the story was published…but the payment check didn’t arrive when promised. That sometimes happens, especially in lower-paying magazine markets with tight budgets. But how do you get your hard-earned money? My new book addresses that specific question, as well as many others, and offers several solutions.

GM: What role does creativity play in your writing, and how do you keep your content fresh and engaging?

CG: For a prospective outdoors writer, I’d suggest simply spending time in nature pursuing your outdoor interests. If a certain activity is interesting to you (hiking, camping, birding, fishing, nature photography, etc.) it likely will be interesting to others, as well. And in addition, always have your story “antenna” working so that you know what a saleable story looks like when it appears.

GM: What advice would you give aspiring writers who are passionate about the outdoors but unsure where to start?

CG: This suggestion has been around a long time, but it’s sound advice: begin by writing about what you know and love. Because if you have a passion for what you write about, that enthusiasm will come through in your writing.

GM: In your opinion, how has the field of outdoor and nature writing evolved over the years, especially with the rise of digital media?

CG: Yes, the field of outdoors and nature writing has changed considerably during the decades I’ve been involved in the business. And yes, it is a business. For instance, essays and humor stories were once staples in most magazines, but those types of stories have now largely disappeared. Most magazines today want a more practical approach to their stories: how-to, where-to, personality profile, etc. In my opinion that’s unfortunate, because I enjoyed both writing and reading humor and essays.

During the decades, I also adapted from using a manual typewriter to writing on a computer, and from using film cameras to digital cameras. Those changes were difficult to make at the time (both financially and technically) but were beneficial in the long run, as they allowed me to become more productive. Today, we’re now in the blog, podcast, social-media era, and those changes have brought their own unique challenges.

GM: Through the years, have you had a memorable encounter with wildlife that found its way into one of your pieces?

CG: I enjoy wild turkey hunting and have been doing so each spring for more than 40 years, about the same length of time that I’ve been writing professionally. In 1986, I was involved in a hunting accident where I was unintentionally shot by another hunter, permanently losing the sight in my left eye as a result. I was able to take that unfortunate event and make it part of a novel I wrote titled Home, At Last, Is the Hunter. I self-published that book more than 30 years ago, and it is still selling well yet today. 

GM: What tools or resources do you consider essential for a freelance outdoor writer?

CG: One of the attractions of outdoors writing—any type of freelance writing, for that matter—is the low cost of getting started. If you own a computer (with internet access), a printer, desk, chair, and a cell phone, you’re in business! I also do my own photography to illustrate my magazine stories and books, so if you choose to do the same, a digital camera or two is essential, as well.

GM: How do you handle writer’s block when you're expected to create compelling content regularly?

CG: If possible, write every day, and do so at the same time each day. Keeping a writing schedule trains your brain to know that when you sit down at your desk it’s time to write. One of the best quotes I ever read about the benefit of maintaining a rigid writing schedule came from the famous British author Somerset Maugham (1874-1965). He was once asked if he wrote on a regular schedule or only when inspiration moved him. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he said. “Fortunately, it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.” 

GM: What’s one piece of advice you wish you had received when you first started out?

CG: It’s not necessarily the best writers and photographers who regularly get their stories and photographs published. Rather, it’s the best writers and photographers who are also the best marketers that regularly get their stories and photographs published. My new book will show you how it’s done.   

GM: Do you have any rituals or routines that help you get into the right mindset for writing?

CG: Many writers, including me, are great procrastinators. I’ll do anything to avoid beginning a new writing project, particularly a large project such as a book. I’ll straighten up the items on my desk, return emails, sort through snail-mail, anything to avoid starting. There is certainly nothing wrong with taking a well-deserved break after completing a successful writing project. That down time allows the creative juices to once again fill your writing tank. But you will know when that tank is full and it’s time once again to begin the next project. And when that time comes, jump right in, don’t hesitate. Inertia becomes more difficult to overcome the longer you wait. Been there, done that.

GM: Your new book cover is intriguing. Tell us about the artist, concept, and who is portrayed on the cover?

CG: The cover artist is Cyndi Bishop, a professional artist (now retired) and friend who worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife, when I worked there years ago. I asked her to create a cover including two people (male and female) enjoying the outdoors, the man fishing and the woman birding, but to do so in a humorous way. That’s why there is a bird perched atop the woman’s hat and the man has hooked his shirt with a fishing lure. The idea was to illustrate the middle part of my book’s three-part title: Getting Paid to Go Fishing, Birding, and Other Myths.      

GM: What are you currently reading?

CG: I enjoy reading history, particularly Ohio history, and my favorite time period to read about is pre-settlement, that era when Ohio was a wilderness, indigenous Indian tribes lived here and Anglo settlers were moving in. I read in the evenings for pleasure, but while doing so I often come across stories that I can turn into magazine articles. Again, as a writer, if you find something interesting, others likely will, too; and that includes magazine editors.

Connect with Chip…

http://www.chipgross.com/

http://www.countryliving.coop/department/woods-waters-wildlife/

Chip’s2015 Interview