Last Tree Down

The ground last week was still too wet for spraying so finally late Fri. afternoon Bill decided if that's the case, it's a good time to take down a tree. We had picked up the rough draft landscaping plans from Del's that morning. This tree was in the way of being able to make our driveways connect. People have a hard time backing out of our new driveway since it's angled (so we could keep a tree) so we thought we'd do a circle type thing. This tree was also leaning toward the old garage and drops dead limbs too often.

When these guys decide to drop a tree, they do it fast! Here Tim is up in the bucket to put a cable around the tree.

Bill making the cuts.

It fell right where they wanted it to!









We asked a couple of people if they wanted the wood but it's elm so they didn't. Bill hauled it all back to our burn hole and had it all cleaned up by Sun. afternoon.

Bill's brother was here for the weekend - to get some fresh asparagus while we have it. His sister & family came down Sat. evening. His mom fixed supper for all of us. The kids had fun learning about finding and picking asparagus. They about blew away though - it was so windy.

Yesterday Diane was having some contractions while doing her mail route. She got the mail delivered and she and I went to the hospital in E'Burg so she could get checked out. They monitored her for a few hours and sent her home. Her due date is June 25th.

The wind had finally quit today and Bill was spraying - until it rained about 3:00 . . .

Baby Chicks

Todd and his dad have been experimenting with having chickens for the past year. They recently put some fresh chicken eggs in a warmer type thing. It took a few days for these babies to crack their way out of the eggs. These are just a week old! There are 19 of them. Watch the video at the bottom to see them running around and best of all HEAR them!




They got chicks in the mail last year about this time and have had 13 chickens for a year. (mail carriers don't deliver boxes of chicks - the people have to pick them up at the post office! )

They get big enough to lay eggs pretty quick really. They lay from 9-12 eggs a day in these 6 boxes.


In Bill's Iowa Farmer Today that we got today, the cooking article is all about eggs! It says that eggs contain 13 vitamins and minerals, fiber and high-quality protein at only 70 calories each.





















I had been hearing for years from mom & my uncles that roosters are mean. I hadn't experienced that until yesterday. This one came running into the chicken house when I was getting eggs and flew up at me for no reason! Diane says they try to "spur" you with their feet. I kicked it when it flew up a couple of times but it didn't seem to help - as I backed up to the door! Then when I was taking this picture outside the fence, he was still wanting to get me! I guess when kicking didn't work, mom and her brothers resorted to a baseball bat. They talk of one time knocking a rooster out and they thought it was dead! They were happy! But not sure if they'd be in trouble.

A Public Service

I've been taking pictures to blog about the past few days but haven't taken the time to post them. Have various subjects coming up: making sugar cream pie (the Indiana state pie - a Hoosier thing), baby chicks including video and corn coming up. Check back if interested. :)

You'll have to click on this first picture to see it bigger, but it was a successful burn of the house where there was a fire last July 4th (there was a blog post with pictures when it burned the first time). Tuesday the firemen went and finished the job. This house is right across from the golf course so I'm sure many will be glad it's down. Picture was taken from our house.

We had Glenn & family including Diane & Lacey over last night for a cookout. Diane also did haircuts for all of us. This was the sunset as they were leaving.

This morning I went to Diane & Todd's house. They were having some carpet installed in the baby's room and kind of needed someone to be there. That's when I took pictures of their new baby chicks and had my first encounter with a rooster! I had heard so much about how bad roosters are from my mom, uncles and now Lacey! Anybody have an extra baseball bat I can borrow?

Bill and Tim finished planting yesterday and replanted a few spots here and there today. I got to "help" this afternoon which was just driving the pickup from field to field as Bill replanted. The truck had some bags of seed in case he needed it. I read a magazine while waiting. Tough job. :) Tonight we're getting some light rain - perfect timing!

Great Weather & Bill's Truck

The weather has been great yesterday and today with more of the same to come so farmers are starting to get back to work in the fields. Bill is spraying beans today and hopes to plant too. This first picture of spraying was taken last year.

This is Bill's new truck - a 2005 Ford. I think he likes it! He does have to get a new hitch for it and some touch up paint.












My tooth is not very sore today from the root canal. The endodonist's office even called this morning to check on how I was doing. Now to the appointment with the dentist for a crown in about a week.

Monday

Today I'm headed to Ft. Dodge for a root canal. Not fun! My dentist is sending me to the specialist who has lots of years' experience since my roots are curved so I'm glad of that. I've not had real good luck with dentists since I moved here.

Bill is hoping to plant. It was still too wet yesterday.

Easier Seed Handling (part 2)

These are all pictures of the seed tender pulled next to the planter. The seed tender has a conveyor belt (the arm type thing that swings out). The seed is gravity fed from the boxes and goes through chutes to the belt which is driven by a small motor.

They have to shake some white talc (like powder) in with the seed. Then they stir it/mix it in with a boat oar! The talc keeps the seed from sticking. Bill tells me you only have to do that with John Deere planters!

Today is another nice day. Hope the fields dry. A few guys were able to work in theirs yesterday, but Bill found mud where he needs to go.

We had a good lunch of homemade chicken pot pie, fresh fruit salad, deviled eggs, Dutch apple pie and ice cream.