A Picture Post

Last week I decided it was time to get active blogging again (which if you look back at my past blogs,  I make this plan alot)(and fail at it).  The goal I set for myself is a new post once a week.  Well here it is the end of the week and I still have no new blog.  I have one started but it still needs tweaked.  So instead of stressing over not finding the time to get it finished, and staying true to my goal, I've decided to just post a blog of pictures.

I'm happy with that. Simple. Done.  Until next week. 😊

Why Oh Why do we Farm???

This spring has been a long one.  Lots of really yucky weather seems to make one rather "grouchy", especially when you are working out in it.  I was pretty negative in my last writing, which I apologize for, as that is not my intention with my blog.  However, maybe it's good to let you know that I do have bad days.  Days I wonder what I am doing here.  Those miserable days seem to make a person wonder why we do what we do.  The thoughts in my head seem to shout... "I'm sure there are easier jobs out there!....Like inside a building!"
As I was out checking cows again the other day, I once again asked myself why. It had been raining and snowing that morning, again.  It was windy and cold, and my thoughts were heading in that direction.....Why do we farm!?!? It's for sure not for the money! And it is not because its easy!  It's definitely not the glamour job that some people think it is.
I stopped on top of a hill and just sat for a moment.  Pondering this question, I looked around at my surroundings.  Suddenly, the wind became a whisper, the blue sky started to peek out from behind the clouds, the sun shined its warmth across my face and a different view formed within my mind and maybe my soul.

What does make this farming life worth it?

Sitting out in the middle of a field and soaking all in....sights, sounds, smells.

The sound of a cow mooing to her new born calf.

Watching a brand new calf attempt to stand for the first time.  And once he has his legs planted firmly underneath him, he miraculously makes the way to momma's utter for that much anticipated and nutritional first meal.

Watching the hay fields bare up, after being buried underneath layers of snow for 5 months (or is it 10 months), turn green and begin to grow.

The "I'm wakin' up" smell of the pasture grass after it is harrowed.

Watching a fox hunt, sneak up, then pounce on his unsuspected prey.

Listening to 150 black birds (yep...I counted) lined up on the power line and fence line singing joyfully as if saying "Hello Mr. Sunshine!"

Watching an eagle or hawk glide flawlessly in flight over head.

The smell of fresh turned dirt as it boils out from behind the plow.

The sweet fragrant smell of a newly cut hay field.

Watching the pride on my Farmer's face as he looks out across his field of oats that has grown chest high.

The pride we feel watching our calf crop enter into the auction ring.  Knowing that all those sleepless nights during calving season was worth it.

Realizing that someone in my Farmers family, has been in the same spot, doing the same thing, on the same land for over 100 years.

Yep, I AM.......Livin' the Life........The FARM LIFE that is!!!!
And I am truly blessed.

(However, if it frickin' snows again tomorrow.........the why will be back.  😉 )

Evening Walks with My Farmer

My Farmer and I decided to start taking a walk in the evenings after we get done with chores.  With the nights getting longer, we felt this might occupy some of the evening hours and help us get a bit of exercise .  Last night we walked out behind the barn and spooked a couple of deer that were grazing by our willow trees.  It was pretty dark, so it took a bit for me to figure out what they were, but it was kind of cool (after I got over my scared shock) watching them skimper off out across the field into the dark. Tonight we walked across the field from our feedlot to the house.  The air was very crisp and cold, yet so refreshing.  The moon is just at a sliver, and with its small slice shinning below the clouds, just on the brink of settling behind the mountain tops,  it made me feel so blessed to be experiencing that sight at that very moment.   Standing out in the middle of the field, my Farmer started reminiscing of times gone by when he was growing up here.   We stood there looking around at all of the lights from all the houses that have been built since he was a child. He recalled maybe 5 houses that could be seen back then, and maybe only one of them having a yard light.  I stood there trying to imagine it as it was when he was young.  Then imagining it as it was when his grandfather was young.  And being thankful that I am experiencing it now.  There are way more houses with their lights shining into the night these days, yet not to many to distract from the beauty of the new moon as it peeks out from behind the clouds.  What an awesome sight.  I think I could get use to this kind of exercise.  Exersice for the body and soul.   I am looking forward to tomorrow nights adventure.  I really am.....Livin the life, the farm life that is. 

A Job Needs Done and Needs Done NOW

The dreaded (especially when I am suppose to be having a "day off")  phone call from my Farmer.......
"Can you go (whatever it is he needs done) for me? I'm doing (whatever he is doing) and (whatever needs done) needs done now."  
He does usually give me a choice.  
"If you don't want to do that, you can come take over (whatever he is doing) and I'll go do (whatever he needs done)".  
Ummmm....ok.    
I'm thankful for getting a choice, but some of the time neither job is something I am completely comfortable doing.  My first reaction when I get this call is, Sure! I can do that. (yes, I have been diagnosed as a people pleaser). Then as he gives me directions, I am thinking....oh no, I don't think I can do that (yes, also diagnosed as lacking confidence).  Of course I don't say this out loud.  (I have to live up to my "front" that I can do anything).  One thing I am fortunate for, is that my Farmer is pretty good at giving me step by step instructions. (as long as he is in the right mood, otherwise instructions can be pretty brief.)  It does make me feel really good that my Farmer has enough confidence in me to ask me to do (whatever needs done), especially when I don't share his confidence.  I cant let him down (or mess up his illusion that I know what I'm doing) so I take off to do (whatever job that needs done.....now).   As I am doing the needed job, my Farmers words of instructions are running thru my head along with my words of I don't think I can do this, making it take me 10 times longer to get the job done then it should.  When I do finally complete (whatever the job is that needs done), I feel so dang GOOD about myself!  What an AWESOME feeling!  Now I DO have the confidence that I can to do anything!  Well.....until my Farmer shows up and tells me I did it wrong.  Honestly, that really doesn't happen too often.   Otherwise, as he has learned, I will not be available the next time he calls and needs that "job" done "now".  And yes, that is Living the Life.....the Farm Life that is. 

Snow Painting......the Farmer way

My Farmer and I did a little "snow painting" yesterday, the farmer way.  Let me explain.  One of the problems we have when we get a lot of snow around here (note I said one because there are many) is that it can be hard on our wheel lines.  If the snow covers them then crusts, it will pull the lines down as the snow settles.  Believe it or not, the snow can crust so hard that as it pulls the line down it can break the pipe.  One year we had enough snow that it pushed down hard enough to flatten the metal wheels.  Crazy! And wheels do not roll so well not round.  Snow is an interesting object.  Anyways, to prevent this from happening, we remove the snow from the pipes.  In the years past, or lets say when my Farmer was younger and had lots of energy, he would walk the wheel lines and shovel the snow off.  As he became, ummm, lets say "wiser", he started saving the ashes from our fireplace and spreading them on the pipes, which made the snow soften and melt.  It worked pretty darn good, only we never really had enough ashes to do all the lines.  Well....this year we used lime.  This is where the "snow painting" comes to play.  We put lime on our fields every year, something about needing it for the ph in the soil or something, not my expertise so thats all I know.  So my Farmer decided why not use lime instead of the ashes, should work the same.  I like the idea of using the lime.  We have lots of it AND it comes in pretty colors.  Now let me admit something here, I normally do not help my Farmer do this task.  Main reason.....he does it early in the morning, when it is cold out.  I guess that is two reasons, early and cold.  Yesterday, the sun was shinning, it was a beautiful day, I went outside for a little walk and there he was, working, and I had a guilt moment. But he was riding on top of the snow with the atv so I didnt have to walk, it was a gorgeous day, and I did need a little exercise.  Turns out, it was kind of fun painting the snow.  We had purplish lime and a beautiful pink color lime.  I kept wanting to make flowers or something, but I was suppose to be working, it was a job, and the boss was watching.  I did manage to snap a picture or two, when he wasn't watching.  hehe. 

So, if you drive by and see this image, you now know the reason. 
Well, the sun is shinning, there are three more wheel lines to do, and I had so much fun yesterday, I think I will go help my Farmer finish.  Besides, have you ever riding on top on the snow with your ATV?  It is a blast!!!   That's livin' the life.......the Farm life that is!

Lots of Snow keeps a Farmer Hoppin'.

Its been a little crazy around here lately.  We have been getting a lot of snow, which is a good thing,  it just keeps us hoppin'. Plus we have had a lot of wind and power outages.  Besides feeding our 250+ head of cattle,  we also have a snow removal business.  Our daily schedule has been get up way before dawn (which I totally do not like), blow snow for 12 hours, feed cows, eat dinner, sleep, wake-up and start over.  Thankfully we have had a little break in the weather so we could pay a little more, and much needed, attention to the cattle.  We have 100+ weined calves watering off of a well.  Which is a little worrisome when the power goes out.  Or when the power company warns you to be prepared for it being out for a couple days!  The cattle NEED water. Period.  Luckily it has came back on within 5 hours or so.  Thank goodness.   The big cows are in a field with a creek running, so we do not have to worry about their water if the power goes out.  What we do have to worry about is making sure they GO to water. Some of them can be lazy and not want to trudge thru the deep snow to the creek.  (Fyi they do eat snow and get a little water that way)  We also have to make sure they can still get to the creek and that it is not frozen over.  So thats what we did yesterday.   I snapped a picture of my Farmer shoveling the path to the creek for his cows. 

You can see how deep the snow is......level with the wagon and the belly of the bulls.  I am, of course, sitting in my warm tractor, listening to christmas music.  Hehe.  However, I was a little worried that I might get stuck down there, and I was really hoping I wouldnt drive into the creek, beings how I couldnt SEE IT!  But alls good, I didnt run into the creek, and I didnt get stuck, only almost 3 times.  I could have blown my way out with the snow blower, but that is for the last resort. Its a challenge to see how much snow I can actually drive my tractor through while pulling a wagon.  Makes me feel powerful. Hehe  (Unless I do get stuck,  then I feel pretty stupid, especially if I have to have my Farmer get it unstuck. Never a good situation.) One of the reasons for driving so close to the creek is to make a path for the cows. Also if we feed them closer to water they will more likely go to water.
Well, since today is Christmas Eve, and I am not plowing snow, I best get some packages wrapped before my Farmer calls for my help in whatever comes up.  Haha
But ya know,  thats Livin' the Life......the Farm Life that is.  I am thankful to be living in the most wonderful winter wonderland.
MERRY CHRISTMAS! ! !

Fair Weather Farmer I Am......

Soooo I have been with my Farmer on the farm for 35 years.  I've always considered myself a fair weather farmer.  Meaning....if the weather is really yucky outside I have always found a reason why I could not help that day.  You know, all of a sudden I have to vacuum, do laundry, or do book work.  Things I put off doing cuz I dont want to, unless there is something else that I don't want to do worse.  Haha.  Well....I have decided its time for me to step up to the plate and help my Farmer more....good days and bad.   Today I am really wondering if this is such a good idea.  Once again it is snow/raining, we are moving hay, working with the calves, everything outside, and I am not liking it.   I do have on my flannel lined pants (love these..and the flannel is pink and purple so they are stylin), I have my big heavy ugly boots on (so every step is a total workout), and I have my rabbit fur winter hat (which isnt quite as nifty as my Farmers coyote hat, but its more stylin).  So basicly I am totally bundled up, and can hardly move.  It is a great workout though.  Right now I am sitting in the pickup warming up.  Im really not that cold, just kind of miserable, but its my excuse. Hehe.  I am starting to remember that I have some book work that is due tomorrow.  Oh wait.  Maybe I have company coming tomorrow.  Maybe I better go clean house. I am sure there is something that needs done.
Dang,  I am just not cut out for this working come rain snow sleet or yucky weather. I need sunshine.  I just don't know how farmers do this everyday.  Thankfully our farm doesn't rely on me all the time.  I'm pretty sure we would have gone broke by now. (actually completely sure)  I have so much respect for my Farmer and his work ethic and all other farmers and ranchers for that matter.  Working in what ever the weather brings is what they do.  Come rain or shine the cows have to be feed, or sorted, or checked on.....or put back in.
NEWS FLASH...JUST IN:  Looks like the cows broke down a fence so we have to go put them back in and fix the fence.  Fun.  Ok...I will buck up and do this....at least until lunch time.  Hehe
Thats livin the life,  the farm life that is.

See ya when the sun comes up.

As I am sitting here in my living room, drinking my morning brew, watching the beautiful sunrise, my mind wonders back in time.  Memories of my Farmers grandfather, and one of his many saying  "see ya when the sun comes up".  Sitting here in this house that was once his, looking out the very window he did, looking at the same view he did every morning for over 60 years...this morning I think I get it.  I always wondered why he said that instead of goodbye or see ya tomorrow.  Watching the sun rise is magical, its awe-inspiring.  The feeling of greatfulness, the feeling of thanks for life, the feeling of a new beginning, the feeling of peace....these are all the feelings that awaken in me as I sit here and watch this event. I can Imagine him thinking the same when he looked out.  Only I'm sure he wasn't sitting, still in his pj's.  Nope, he'd be standing, dressed, ready to start the day. He didn't just start his day.....he started it watching the sun rise. 

Ok....done dreaming......back to reality.  To be honest, I am not a morning person. My Farmer gets up early and has always told me that morning is the best part of the day.  I argued that night was better.  I am trying to change my ways.  But I am starting to think that I could start to like this morning thing. As long as I can sit here by the window, stay in my pajamas, drink my morning brew and not talk to anyone until I'm ready.  Yep, just maybe I can get use to it.  With that said.....See ya when the sun comes up.

  After all, tomorrow never comes, but the sun does rise.

Shop Talk with Brew

I think I am really enjoying having the shop at my house.  It use to be at my in-laws house but when we put the pivot in, as those that had been following me know, we had to tear down the old shop, which actually was an old potato cellar before that.  So then my garage became the shop.....kind of.  The garage is a lot smaller so not everything out of the shop got moved here.  There is a lot of cussing sometimes when my Farmer is looking for something that use to be in the old shop.  Because now if it is not in the "new" shop, there is only like 5 other places it could be stashed.  Some times it takes all day or even months to find it.  Well, there is still one item we are still trying to find that he knows exactly where it was in the old shop and remembers taking it off the wall and moving it to a place where he could find it.  A safe place....evidently...... in a very secret place.  Haha.  It'll turn up some day.  And I know this from experience.  After we buy a new one.  HA!  So anyways, back to why I am liking it here at my house.  Even though my car has to sit outside 60 percent of the time,  the driveway is always full of equipment, and my yard under the shade tree becomes the work area, it does have its perks.  I can just step out my door (in my pajamas if i want) and visit with my Farmer when hes working, while drinking my morning brew or in the evenings having my cocktail.  That I am liking.  Yep...one more good thing about Livin' the life......the Farm life that is.

We are now Bonding in a Two Seater

I learned a long time ago that if I wanted to be with my Farmer, or rather see very much of him, I had to go where he was.  Whether it was working on equipment, irrigating, or planting or harvesting a crop, I learned to just "hang out" with him while he did whatever it was he was doing.  I turned it into "bonding" time, which is very important for a marriage.  We have spent many hours "bonding" in a tractor.  And for those of you that have ever ridin with someone in a tractor, there is not a whole lot of room.  In our younger years, it was no big deal....I just kind of sat on the edge of the seat and it was fun.  As we have gotten older, it has become a lot more "less appealing" to ride with my Farmer in the tractor.  It could be because we are both a tab bit wider, or maybe "bonding time" is not quite as important in our older years.....I think the latter.  Haha.  A couple of times I took a stool to sit on, but then it would be in the way when my Farmer had to get out of the tractor and that seemed to make the "bonding" not so good. (Anger does not help bonding time)  So the tractor "bonding" time was becoming less and less.  BUT..... Low and behold......We purchased a new tractor and guess what!  It has an extra seat!! It is so cool!!  I now have my own seat and we are back to enjoying the "bonding" tractor time.  Now our "date night" of baling hay under a full moon is way more enjoyable.
FYI....for those tractor manufacturing people.....that safety sticker that I stare at as I am riding along..... I realize that it does state that the seat is not intended for passengers, it is for training personal only.  Well, believe me, I am in training.  Always.  Cuz that's what happens when you are "Livin' the life.......the Farm Life that is".  

And you do WHAT in the winter??

The #1 question this time of year is....."What do you guys do during the winter?"  As I think about it, what do we do.  We always start out with a list of things to do, mostly mechanic, maintenance, that sort of stuff,  but as spring comes along, there is very few items checked off.   So I sat down to figure out what my Farmer really does with his time in the winter and why he gets less done in the winter verses the summer.  I know why I don't get as much done.......cuz I don't like the cold, but this isn't about me it's about him...hehe.

His day starts as the sun comes up, in the summer time that's about 6, in the winter its 9. ( Now remember, this is my Farmers schedule, not mine......i DO NOT get up early.)  The day ends as the sun is setting low in the sky, summer days around 8, winter days around 5 (or earlier).  At this point, my Farmers work day has gone from a 14 hour day in the summer to, approximately 8 hours in the winter.   His main chore in the winter is tending to the cattle.   Between morning and night, this usually takes about 3 hours a day.  Except every 4th day it takes an extra hour or so to load up the wagons with hay.  So that takes us down to 5 hours of daylight, except every fourth day its 4 hours left.  Then there's lunch.  Since he doesn't always get much of a lunch break in the summer, he makes sure he takes at least an hour for lunch in the winter.  I think something about hibernation comes into play.  So now let's say we are down to 3 to 4 hours of the work day left, let's say 3 cuz hibernation happens more often then not theses days.  Then there's the "honey do" stuff.  Keeping me, I mean the house, stocked with firewood.  A very important job and we will give it a half hour.   Now I have never timed him, but I am sure it takes him at least 1\2 hour every day just to put on and take off his winter gear.  I know it takes me twice that long.....because he tells me!   Evidently he has timed me.  So by my calculation, he has 2 hours left in the day to do mechanicing.  Oh wait, I didn't take into account his daily "meetings" or "conference calls" with his Farmer Friends.  Ok, so that takes the rest of the daylight hours that were left!  No wonder by the time spring comes there isn't anything on the "to do list" marked off!  Oh well, there's always next winter.

Now after doing this, I realize that that leaves way more down time, or in the house time, or together time.   No wonder we feel lucky when we both survive the winter.  But ya know, that's livin' the life......the Farm Life that it. 

Always be prepared..........

The other day I was reminded why I never leave the house with out my extra gear.  It was warm, (well that is relative to where you are I guess), but here it was 36 degrees and the sun was shinning and to me it was warm.  When it was time to go feed cows, it felt so nice outside that I headed out without my coat, my warm hat, or my snow boots.  My reasoning was.....it only takes about 45 minutes to feed the cows.......I drive the tractor....which has a cab........so I will be warm.  Well, at the last minute, a voice inside my head said "grab your coat" so I did.  However, I should have listened to it a little more, because I'm sure it was saying, "and your hat and boots".   It was well over 4 hours and after dark before we made it back to the house.  My feet and ears were so cold when we got home.  I totally know better!  Normally I do not leave with out extra everything, gloves, hats, etc.   I always have 2 or 3 pairs of gloves, my light ones I use for liners, my nice leather mittens, and my lined leather gloves (you never know when you might need fingers).  Sometimes I also have my unlined leather gloves, (just cuz I like how they fit me).  Then for hats, I have a stocking cap and my baseball cap so I am prepared for cold or sunshine ( if it's really cold I also carry my rabbit fur hat).  And my coats, I have a quilted flannel jacket that I wear inside my big  outside coat, so I can shed a layer when its warm or bundle up if it's cold.  The pockets in my coats are big enough to hold all of these things, along with my phone, my camera, my glasses, and my little Leathermen tool.  Yes, it is a little bulky, but as I have been reminded by My Farmer, this isn't a fashion show.  And as I was reminded the other day, it's best to be prepared!  The only thing I haven't figured out how to easily carry with me is an extra pair of foot wear.  I like to wear just my sneakers or work boots most of the time if I can, and only wear my winter boots if it is cold or the snow is deep.  I don't like to always wear my boots because they are sooo heavy, and it is really difficult to run in them plus I look really funny running in them.  But I have yet figured out how to carry my extra footwear, cuz my pockets are already full with other stuff and besides shoes or boots would totally add weight that I really do not need, not to mention being a little awkward.  I was thinking that I could tie them on a string around my neck like my mom did with my gloves when I was little but I'm not thinking that would work real well.  So for now, I'll carry everything extra, but the footwear.  Oh, and by the way, if you are wondering what happened and why we were so much longer feeding that night then expected?  It's because the bulls, evidently, visited the cows a month before they were suppose to and we have unexpected baby calves.  But that's livin' the life....the Farm live that it...............

Lessons Learned from working with Cattle.....

When someone yells at you, don't take it personally........A lot of yelling takes place when working cattle, sometimes at the animal, sometimes at the people.  It's important to remember that the person raising their voice is probably just frustrated at the cattle and not me you.  Remember the old saying, sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.  (But I highly recommend not saying this to the person in the corral, it does not go over well......(teehee))

It's OK to get mad, but then get over it.........Working cattle can be very trying.  You will not always see eye to eye with the other people on where they  you should be standing or pushing the cattle.  I've learned it's OK to get mad, but once the moment is over and the job is done, get over it and move on.  Life is to short, plus it takes way more muscles to frown than it does to smile.

Stay Focused on your goal; when going from point A to point B, have your planned route, be prepared for unexpected bumps and turns, stay focused, but do not give up .........When herding cattle, most of the time they are not going to go the direction you want them to go.  They have a mind of their own and do not follow directions at all.  Some will try their darnedest to go in the opposite direction of the way you want them to go (and some will succeed), but stick with them no matter what, let them know who really is in charge, and do not give up until they are where you want them to be.  Accomplishment is a good feeling.

Never lose faith............We have had many calves that would not suckle their moms for one reason or another.  Some times it takes only once helping them, and other times it takes way more. When it takes longer, you start to lose faith.  But when you get to that point and think they are never going to get it, something will seem to just click in their little heads and boom just like that they start suckling on their own.  When this happens, there is usually a lot of  hip hip hooraying, hand fist pumping the air, smiling, and really fast tail wagging (from the calf of course). And once again, life is good.

They're not as stupid as you think.......Or is it that we are not as smart as we think we are?  Nope that's not it.  Don't think I will expand on that.

The more fun you can put into work, the less work it is.......I find this true when we have family and friends help us with working the cattle.  My Farmer and I are always a little stressed and uptight trying to get everything done.  When someone from the "outside" shows up to help, they always seem happy to be there, thrilled to be helping out, and this cheerful attitude just seems to radiate around to us, and it is no longer a work we dread, but a work we look forward to.  Enjoy life, you will live longer (I'm sure someone did a study on that).

And no matter how hard you try, sometimes you just end up getting the shitty end of the deal.  And that's OK because it does wash off......and believe me, that IS Livin' the life, the Farm life that is........

It's All About Making Choices..........

My Farmer has started plowing our fields and as he does every year, he asks me, "Are you going to plow for me?".  And as always my answer is "No".  (Well, actually in my head it's "Hell NO!")  It's not that I couldn't do it (after all I am a women, therefore I can) (tehe), it's just that I choose not to.   This is one piece of farm machinery that I have refused to learn how to use.  I have learned to combine the oats, swath and bale hay, disk, cultivate, or rip the fields, but I do not plow.  My Farmer informs me that it is one of the simpler implements to operate, but I do not care.  I have watched (and rode) with him as he plows and it is pretty simple.  The plow goes in the ground on one end of the field and when you get to the other end, you lift it up out of the ground, turn around and repeat.

But it's the turning around on the ends that I have an issue with.  When My Farmer turns around on the ends of the field with the plow, he makes a figure 8 using the tractors speed to get the momentum to flip the plow over.  When I turn around on the end of a field, I prefer to slow down and gently turn around.  It's just to darn scary to me to go fast and I choose not to be scared.  I have learned that life is all about choices.  I choose not to be scared and I choose not to plow.  The other reason that I do not plow, is also the reason I do not plant.  I can not drive a straight row.  I know, those people reading this that have plowed say that it's easy to go straight plowing, cuz one tire is in the furrow or something like that.  But, believe me, I would make it crooked.  There would be parts gone over twice, which is a waste of fuel, and other parts not touched at all.  Not good I'm sure.  And I have heard My Farmer complain about unplowed parts (when someone else plowed, not me).  I find it ironic that no matter what he is doing in the field, he knows where the spot is that did not get plowed.  It's like he is actually a part of the field.  It's weird.  And finally, maybe the biggest reason that I have refused to plow, is that the tractor we hook the plow on to is an open cab tractor.  Meaning no windows or doors (or radio).  And it is usually a little chilly this time of year, to say the least.  SO once again I am choosing.  Choosing to stay warm, inside, by the fire. 

One more reason I like my life.  Choices.  And I choose livin' the life, the farm life that is......

Burning of the Mortgage

This year marks the end of a long journey for my in-laws.  They paid off their mortgage on the farm!  This is something they really never thought would happen in their life time.  Hoped, but reality said it probably wouldn't happen.  They went through the era when so many farms were going broke and farmers were losing their land.  The FHA did write off a lot of farmers debt, but my in-laws debt was not one.  But they had the will power (or stubbornness not sure which....hehe) to fight and work hard to not lose their land.  So for the note to actually get paid off, is a wonderful feeling for them (for me and My Farmer too, since we are also involved and helped make the payment!).  And they always said "If we ever get this paid off, we are going to burn the mortgage and have a party!"  So that's what we did.  We had a mortgage burning party!  We held the "burning party" on one night of our family reunion.   A lot of sweat, blood, and tears (along with a lot of swear words, yelling, feet stomping, and ass chewings) went into this farm.  And not just my in-laws.  Over the years family and friends were always around (still are for that matter) to help out when needed.  Their unselfish (and sometimes free) labor is one reason this farm is still operating.   So it was very fitting to "burn the mortgage" and be surrounded by so many of these people.  Their long time best friends and old business partner, nephews and grand-kids that spent their summers here working, the family members who spent their weekends helping with harvests and brandings, to the kids and grand-kids raised here that had to work, all gathered around to watch.  Here is my mother-in-law ready to "toss" the "mortgage" into the fire....

We didn't burn the actual mortgage paper, we just made a pretend mortgage (a piece of paper that said MORTGAGE, PAID IN FULL).  (My mother-in-law decided that she wanted to keep the original one that is stamped "PAID".  She probably won't frame it though.)  Then the best part of the evening started: Everyone shared their stories of their adventures on the farm.  So AWESOME!!  I believe that is the best part of being involved on the farm, the adventures and memories that are made.  I would love it if you would leave a comment and share a memory of your farm life, whether it's from growing up on a farm or ranch, or working and helping out, I would love to hear about it.  Cuz nothings better than Livin' the life, the Farm life that is..................

Helping out the local hunters......

My job today was swathing hay.  I really enjoy this job, mostly because the unit has a cab, (unlike my tractor when I turn hay), it has air conditioning (that actually works), AND it has a radio (that actually picks up a station),  totally a plus.  So I just sat there all afternoon, going back and forth, rockin' out to the radio, enjoying the beautiful scenery in my comfy cab, cutting hay.   Besides making hay,  I decided today that I was also the animal food bank.  Explanation:  There are mice that live in the field.  With the hay so tall, the mice can easily run around,  hiding from their predators making the hunting a little more challenging.   Once the hay is cut into windrows, the mice have less area to hide.  This makes it a little more "easy pickings" for the "hunting".  There is always a hawk or two flying around ready to dive after that mouse that is scurrying around trying to find a new hiding spot after I swathed over him.  Then there's the fox that is sneaking around looking for his next meal.  And today I had a coyote following me.   I never seen him actually catching anything,  but he was definitely checking things out.  And he was totally not afraid of me.  Usually the foxes will hang around until you come close and then they will leave.  But this coyote was there the whole time I was cutting.  I would get close to him, then he would put a little more distance between us, (actually enough so I couldn't get a good picture) (which really is difficult to do when you are trying to drive straight) and then he would move back to where I just swathed.  It really was kind of odd but very entertaining to watch him.  If you look real hard, you can see him in the picture. 

And he didn't distract me too much.  My swathes weren't too crooked..........

Celebrating our Anniversary in farmers style..............

My Farmer and I are celebrating our 32 wedding anniversary today.  That seems like a long time.  My Farmers favorite new saying comes to mind, something to do with "it's not a life time, but it feels like holding your breath for 10 minutes under water."  (Nice huh?!  He did steal the saying from our wonderful friend, the inventor of Burgie.)   This is a busy time of year for us so we really never do a whole lot for our anniversary.  I think a couple of times we have gone camping.  If we do go camping, it's usually some place close so my Farmer can come back to the farm and irrigate in the mornings.  Which I am usually just grateful that we are getting away no matter how long.  Last week our friends were camping, we were suppose to join them, however things came up so we were only able to spend one night.  We left here at 5 o'clock in the evening and were back home by 6:30 the next morning to change pipe.  Just barely over 12 hours.  But oh well, we got away.  One year on our anniversary, actually it was our 10th anniversary,  we were putting in a buried pipeline, and I spent the day helping put pipe in the ditch.  He did take me out to a nice dinner at the end of the day, so that kind of made up for it.  But it was memorable, and I still remind him of it, quite often.  And since that year, he does try to make sure not to have a big project going on the exact day.  This year, today, we are running away, taking a trip to the big city.  We might even spend the night, as long as we are back tomorrow morning by 7:00.  Yep, you guessed it, we have supplies to pick up.  But that's ok.  After 32 years, I know the way it works when you are married to a farmer (read this).  Well, I better get going,  we've got a big day planned........breakfast out, stopping at the scrap metal place, lunch, picking up baler twine, buying some oil, Walmart shopping, parts chasing, dinner........should be fun!!

Them boots are made for .......working

Here is a picture of my Farmer trenching the ditch that the cable will be put in for the pivot.  (and in the back ground is the stuff that has to be moved.)

Here is a picture of me watching my Farmer trench the ditch.   Such a glamorous picture of me.  I was freezing my ass off.  My top part was OK (plenty of layers), just the bottom half was dressed wrong.   The boots I'm wearing are my muck boots,  which are wonderful and I dearly love, but they get cold after a while when it is below freezing.  So the next day I went to town and bought some new warmer boots.  I picked out a really pretty pair, but then my Farmer informed me that I needed practical boots for working in, not boots to make a fashion statement.  OK, Fine!  So I bought the practical pair.  They feel really warm, are all rubber, insulated, and come clear up to my knees.  They will work really well for walking in the deep snow this winter when I go out to start my tractor.  And I have since learned that they are water proof, and maybe the reason behind my Farmers reasoning for my getting them.
We were finishing up with the trench and got into a sloppy mucking water situation.  Well, with him being on the tractor, someone had to get in the slop and do the dirty work.  (This is one reason I learned to work the tractors, but there are times that doing the dirty work is a lot less stressful than running the tractor.)  So since I had on my new non-fashion statement boots, and he just happened to be wearing plain (non water proof) work shoes, I was elected to enter the slop.  And I must say, my new shinny boots worked just fine.  My feet did not get wet and stayed warm.

 Pretty nice huh?!  These were only 2 hours old when I took this picture, see the tags are still on them.  But they served their purpose, I was still toasty warm and I was able to just stick them under the facet and wash them off.  So I guess my Farmer knew what he was talking about when he said I needed practical boots to work in.  I just think I might get lots of funny looks when I run to town to do my shopping this winter.  But ya know, that's livin' the life, the farm life that is....................

Spud Harvest

We dug potatoes last week.  It took us a whole 2 hours to harvest our potato crop.  It took longer to hook up to the digger then it did to dig them.  Yep, that's me picking up the spuds.  I finally got my Farmer to snap a picture of me working so I could post it.

 Here is my Farmer in the tractor starting down the potato rows.  He is pulling the cross-over digger.  This machine digs 2 rows at a time.  

 As the blades go down in the ground under the potatoes, the dirt and potatoes go up a chain that has a slight bounce to it.  As it all travels up the chain, the dirt sifts out, leaving the potatoes on the chain.

Then the potatoes fall onto another chain that is crossing over in another direction.  This chain then drops the potatoes on the ground.  Typically, the spuds would drop between 2 un-dug rows and then another digger would come along and pick up the two un-dug rows along with the dug potatoes, so 4 rows total.  The spuds then travel up the chains on that machine and eventually travel up a conveyor that dumps them into a truck.  Since we only have a few to dig, we skip this last part.  No big digger and no spud truck.  We just pick them up by hand and put them in sacks to store in the potato cellars.  And now instead of filling the cellars with 30+ semi-loads of potatoes, we put a pickup load in.  It also seems pretty crazy to use the one machine for such a small amount of spuds, but we have it so we use it.  And it does go faster than just using a shovel.   

This is me admiring a nice baker.  This is something my Farmer's grandpa did.  I can still picture him standing beside the sorting table, watching the potatoes go by, and when he spotted that perfect baker he would pick it up, and start gently rubbing the dirt off, almost as if he was petting it.  He knew how hard it was to grow a nice crop of spuds, so he would take the time to admire a nice looking potato.  He took a lot of pride in our potato crops.  I think he is the reason we still grown the large garden spot of potatoes that we do.  I believe it's my Farmers way (and mine too) of staying connected to his family heritage.

The Pipe Is In!!!

Well, we went from getting sunburned and dying of heat on the first day of installing the pipe to being wet and cold on the last day.  It's amazing how the weather can change so quickly.  I am just thankful that we only had one day of rain the whole time we were installing the pipe.  Here are some pictures of the pipe installation.

The first scope of dirt

view looking from the pivot center towards my house

this view is from half way to the canal looking back towards my house

Padded pipe

A very large rock that was in the path.  Now it will be yard decor at my house

 This pipe line is approximately 6200 ft.  It has enough of a drop in elevation to run on gravity, which will be wonderful.  The digging went really well.  There was enough help that I didn't have to get in the trench once to pad pipe. (I have padded pipe in the past.  In fact, that's what I was doing on the day of our 10th wedding anniversary, which I often remind my Farmer.  But that's another blog story)  I just stayed up on top and pushed the pipe closer or handed the guys things so they didn't have to get in and out of the trench to much.  Plus, I took pictures.  I also made the crew lunch everyday.  I usually choose to be involved with the field work and have never really been one to stay at home and make the meals.  But I've really been enjoying making lunch for everyone.  And then in the afternoons, my sister-in-law would bring treats out to the crew.  (and she makes wonderful treats!)  When we were digging potatoes, she would brings us goodies every day.  It became something the crew would really look forward to, and it really helped get through those long days.  So it was great to have this little ritual again.  Now that we are done with the pipe, my Farmer is really going to miss those goodies (and I'm sure the other guys will too).  And I guarantee that I will not be making treats for him like that everyday!   So the pipe is in, except for hooking it up to the canal.  And then the next step is removing things that are in the way of the pivot going around in a complete circle.  Like some trees, old machinery, the shop, power poles, you know just stuff.   This step might take a little while, but heck, we have all winter to get it done.........