Monday, July 1, 2013

He Thinks my Tractor's Sexy by Paty Jager

Me and my swather when it first arrived
Or in this case, my swather and I.

My husband has always liked Kenny Chesney's song, "She Thinks my Tractor's Sexy." I've always liked the song. It fits my husband and I. I love riding along on any farm related vehicle my husband is driving and visiting with him. There's something about the slow movement and the lazy feel you get when you're plodding along through a field or down a lane on an open air vehicle that has a rhythmic "put-put-put". Or in the case of the "Poppin' John" an old John Deere we have. "Pop. Pop. Pop."

This is the first year I've had my very own, new-to-me swather for cutting the alfalfa at our Eastern Oregon ranch. When my husband broached the idea of me helping cut the hay, I said, "Sure. As long as I get a cab and air conditioning." He drives a model without a cab. The sun can be blistering on the high desert and the wind can be nasty, too. That's why I requested a cab.

And last fall he came home with a used swather with a cab. It needed some TLC. It had some mice issues. I hate mice! Which made it smell and there were mechanical things that needed fix. But hubby spent the whole winter working on the swather, cleaning it up and making it smell good.

Tink watching out the window.
Last month was my inaugural run for first cutting. With the cab, Tink, my min-pin/chihuahua, could ride along with me. My hubby made some outside rounds with it to make sure everything was working and then I took over with him by my side, making sure I knew how to run it and work all the levers.

Then I was on my own, with Tink, of course, as the co-pilot.
Operating a swather is not like raking or baling. It requires more attention to stay the right distance from the previous row, the steering requires muscles I didn't know I had, and I was in the darn thing for 6 hours straight! I had to stop a couple of times to get out and stretch my legs and inhale fresh air. The stale air conditioning air wasn't very cold and was stuffy, making me sleepy a couple of times. It took the two of us with the two swathers 6 hours to get the field all cut. But it was done.

We drove the swathers back to the barn and climbed out. I was tired, sweaty, and hungry. As I turned to head to the cabin to make dinner, my husband called out, "You're sexy."

Yeah, swathing hay for 6 hours gets me compliments like that! When we've worked hard, side by side, and I'm feeling like I've been run over... that's when he thinks I'm sexy.

How about you? When does your significant other give you compliments? When you are all dolled up or when you've got dirt smudged on your face and holey britches?

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21 comments:

Judith Ashley said...

I don't have a significant other. I do have a granddaughter who will tell me I'm beautiful, usually after I've just had a good hard look in the mirror and bemoaned the reality of a changing face (yes, I look more and more like my Aunt Ruth with a hint of my Mom) as I age.

Paty Jager said...

LOL Judith! I see my mother and my paternal grandmother in me when I look in the mirror! I don't mind my mom but my grandmother... Those who love us see us through love tinted lenses.
Thanks for commenting!

Danita Cahill said...

Anytime I bend over around my hubby I get a compliment. Ha!

When I'm out in the sun he comments about how much gray I'm getting in my hair. Then he says, "It's sexy. I like it." And offers to take me inside to talk about it.

Such a romantic, my husband.

Paty Jager said...

LOL Danita! That sounds like a typical male!

Genene Valleau, writing as Genie Gabriel said...

Had to go listen to this song, Paty! How great that your hubby thinks you're sexy when you've been working!

My significant others all have four paws and they don't care much what I look like as long as meals aren't late. LOL!

Melissa Keir said...

My hubby likes to say it when I wake up with sleepy wild hair and no make-up. I swear he needs new glasses!

Paty Jager said...

Genene, It is a great song! Yes, he likes it best when I'm working. LOL You're lucky you have the unconditional significant others who love you no matter what.

Hi Melissa, LOL My husband says I look best when I don't have any makeup on too. He likes me natural. His words not mine!

Anonymous said...

My husband also gets all lovey after a sweaty day together working the yard, digging, planting, weeding, watering. We grow hops for his homebrew in our small townhouse backyard. He also likes to dance with me in the kitchen while brewing.

I suspect it is more about the feeling of working together toward a common goal that gets those sexy comments coming, rather than any statement about my body. But who knows. Maybe with sweat pouring down his face and his glasses all fogged up I do look like his dream woman.

Paty Jager said...

Hi Maggie,

I like how we're getting all these great statements about what men think is truly sexy.

Kathy Otten said...

When we were dating I used to sit on the fender of my husband's John Deere and plant corn. When that song came out it brought back lots of memories for us. We also had an old John Deere 60 (putt, putt)that he fully restored. The other tractors were bigger more modern and not so much fun.

Paty Jager said...

Kathy, I keep finding more stuff we have in common! Thanks for stopping in.

Diana McCollum said...

June 26, 2013, my husband and I went fishing at Paulina Lake. It was cold, maybe 48 degrees, raining and cloudy. I was wearing 5 layers consisting of coats, clothes, vest and a rain suit. I had mittens on and a scarf over my chapped lips. He thought I looked beautiful and took me picture!! Nothing like fishing to turn my guy on!!!

Paty Jager said...

Diana! It is amazing what makes them hot and bothered. ROFL.

Lynn Lovegreen said...

My husband likes me "natural" too. I think all our makeup, hairstyles, etc. are really to impress other women, not the men! :-)

Caroline Clemmons said...

Paty, you are so right that love sees through tinted lenses. Thank heavens for that!

Paty Jager said...

Hi Lynn, I agree for other women and to make ourselves feel better. Thanks for stopping in!

Hi Caroline. Thanks for stopping in!

Sarah Raplee said...

My husband pays me compliments when I'm cooking (a rare occasion), when we're hiking of fishing, or when we are working on a project together. I think we have a pattern here, ladies!

Laci said...

He tells me when I least expect it. Waking up, after a day of hiking, cleaning house...it's usually when I feel yucky. He makes me smile. I love that man! :)

Paty Jager said...

Hi Sarah! It does look like we have a pattern. So why do we put on makeup and nice clothes??? LOL

Hi Laci! Thanks for stopping in! I think we all have the good guys. The ones who love us for us. Congrats on catching a good one.

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Paty,
Great blog, I take compliments whenever and wherever I can get them from my hubby.

Cheers

Margaret

Paty Jager said...

HI Margaret, So true! Anytime the hubby wants to show the love is good with me.