A Windmill in my Garden

@JudyEv (326054)
Rockingham, Australia
February 15, 2016 2:05am CST
@Gillygirl has suggested we share with readers garden ornaments or decorations that we might have. Windmills were part and parcel of my life as a young child growing up on a farm. We depended on the windmill to pump water from the dam into a tank from where it gravity-fed to the house. If the wind didn't blow, we'd have no water. When they brought out these miniature windmills I had to have one. Over the years he rusted away but I did enjoy having him in my garden for some years.
24 people like this
26 responses
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
15 Feb 16
Interesting that a windmill is a 'he' for you!
5 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458591)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 16
For a moment I thought "it's masculine gender also in Italian", yes of course, but it's not a "person" brain fog this morning.
3 people like this
M.-L.
@MALUSE (69413)
• Germany
15 Feb 16
@Auntylou In English ships, locomotives and other powerful engines are 'she'. We learn that at school. The powerful engine is the common trait. Why English speaking people feel that a powerful engine should be female is beyond me. Same with countries. I haven't got the foggiest what makes a country female.
5 people like this
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
I am not aware of gendering windmills in the UK , but they are not common here. We call ships "she", perhaps because they sustain and protect. And windmills are strong and powerful?
1 person likes this
Kewkumber
@Ladypeace (2028)
• Singapore
15 Feb 16
That windmill is probably older than I am. He looks like he's been through time and is still sturdy.
3 people like this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
15 Feb 16
@Ladypeacen You are so funny my dear. I am so sure from its look.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
It lasted quite a few years. Anything left in the open eventually gives way under the sun and rain.
2 people like this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
16 Feb 16
That is a very pretty little windmill. I have nothing so exciting in my garden.
2 people like this
Belle Starr (Iz)
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
17 Feb 16
@JudyEv Here in Florida I have no garden!!
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Feb 16
@BelleStarr Well, in that case....
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb 16
Some people's gardens are full of quaint little ornaments. We don't have anything at the moment.
2 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458591)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 16
It is very cute, a had an old style windmill, but it has broken, it was cute. I am going to see if I have a photo of it.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458591)
• Switzerland
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv Yes, mine was a Dutch windmill, I should try to repair it.
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
I love the old Dutch windmills too. They are a bit different from ours. The sails are different.
2 people like this
paigea
@paigea (35714)
• Canada
15 Feb 16
That is a cute piece of nostalgia in the garden. Those windmills were common around here. There are many old ones still sitting by dugouts.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
What's a dugout please? A dwelling place?
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb 16
@paigea That's interesting. Thanks for that. We would call it a 'dam' in that the water is 'dammed up'. Most farms have dams of different sizes. They are mostly built where groundwater can be caught as it runs down a hillside, or they might be built over a creek bed. So very similar but named differently. My great grandfather used bullock teams to build dams. Now it's mostly graders.
1 person likes this
paigea
@paigea (35714)
• Canada
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv I guess I would describe a dugout as a man made pond. They are usually rectangular in shape, and made with a backhoe. They can be any size but are at least 9 X 15 metres. They are to collect rain water and hold ground water for the farm. Do you have those and use another word?
Quality Farm Dugouts
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca
Guide to help plan, design, construct and maintain the dugout water system, and improve the supply and water quality, including worksheets
2 people like this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Feb 16
I love your windmill, several homes in my town have them as decorations too.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb 16
I think they look very nice. I loved mine.
2 people like this
fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29823)
• Momence, Illinois
16 Feb 16
@JudyEv I do too, sometimes I can hear the one down the street spinning. Love that.
2 people like this
louievill
@louievill (28851)
• Philippines
15 Feb 16
Beautiful, although it's none of my business, please don't leave it to rust, why not try restoring it back to original as near as possible, these things could be worth a fortune in the future, it could be vintage already and would make for a great family heirloom piece
2 people like this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19702)
• India
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv Good to see the photo of a miniature.windmill.Some 70 KMs away from my place there are huge windmills.When there is strong wind,it is a beautiful sight.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
I like watching them. There is something majestic about them.
2 people like this
Silvermist
@silvermist (19702)
• India
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv Whenever we pass that way we stop and look at them.As you said there is something majestic about them.
2 people like this
Jabo
@jaboUK (64361)
• United Kingdom
15 Feb 16
That looks an interesting ornament. I don't have any myself.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
I thought perhaps you might have had some but your garden easily stands alone. :)
2 people like this
Sheilamarie78
@Sheilamarie78 (2586)
• Canada
15 Feb 16
A windmill can be a good thing to have. Your miniature one is cute.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
You could buy them in several different sizes. Glad you like it.
1 person likes this
susan
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
15 Feb 16
OOhhh I like that.... a nice memory from your childhood .. and it looks lovely in the garden.....
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
When my mother shifted into town from the farm we bought her one too.
2 people like this
Lenore Plassman
@sallypup (58008)
• Centralia, Washington
16 Feb 16
Prettily done. My hubby would love to have a real windmill. At times we do get horrendous gales.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Feb 16
Do you have wind farms near you?
1 person likes this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
15 Feb 16
Nice, but there is nobody to construct a windmill.It looks so cool , we can monitor the movement of the wind.
2 people like this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
16 Feb 16
@JudyEv wow, so nice.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
It came as a flatpack and we had to put it together.
2 people like this
Deborah-Diane
@DeborahDiane (40059)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Feb 16
I will have to look at my yard ornaments and pick something to feature here, too. Perhaps a project for tomorrow!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
I do hope you're not procrastinating!!
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sofs
@sofssu (23662)
•
15 Feb 16
I have only seen those huge, monster windmills when I travel . They always seem formidable.. nice to see a miniature version of it here.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
Some are very big. I remember watching the adult members of the family putting one up once. I was very frightened. I thought it was going to fall on them.
1 person likes this
GreatMartin
@GreatMartin (23676)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
16 Feb 16
I've always loved windmills--maybe it is the Don Quixote thing of being romantic. :O)
1 person likes this
Joanie
@Freelanzer (10745)
• Canada
15 Feb 16
I have a similar one in my backyard and I really love that I can tell how windy or not it is without stepping out
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
We don't get a lot of wind here - by some standards, virtually no wind at all.
Janet Anderson
@Auntylou (4264)
• Oxford, England
15 Feb 16
You could probably get some free power if you got a new one. i know some green councillors who have a small windmill on their garden wall here in town. Power goes to a battery and is used for patio lights
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
That's a good idea but we probably won't bother.
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Susan
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
15 Feb 16
@JuddyEv that's a nice garden accessory. I like the look of it.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
Thanks. I liked to watch it whizzing round when it was windy.
1 person likes this
Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
15 Feb 16
When I lived in Ohio I bought a windmill for my garden just like this one you have. I did have to keep replacing the blades, regluing them in. I loved the windmill but we didn't have room to bring it to Florida.
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (326054)
• Rockingham, Australia
15 Feb 16
@Jeanniemaries It's a shame you had to leave it behind. And welcome to MyLot. I think it was GardenGerty said you'd joined.
1 person likes this
Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
15 Feb 16
@JudyEv Thanks for the welcome! It's so nice to see everyone here! Yes, I was sorry to leave it. It was so cute in the garden. I'll have to go look up GardenGerty!
1 person likes this
Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
15 Feb 16
I should say mine was wooden, not a metal one.
1 person likes this