Century Farm

One of the ladies we farm for e mailed us this summer and said that her farm would be recognized as a Century Farm at the Iowa State Fair this year.  She is in her 90's and was not going to be able to attend and wondered if we could.  A Century Farm is farm land that has been in a family for 100 or more years.  A Heritage Farm is 150 years.

Bill had not been to the State Fair for many years, and I had not been to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines yet since moving here so we were happy to go.  The night before, we went south of Des Moines to spend the night at Longview Farms Bed & Breakfast so that we'd be close to get there and sign in for the program the next morning.  Will post pictures of the B & B in my next post.

In these pictures, you'll see us accepting the plaque and certificate on stage and then pictures of the plaque installed at the farm which is just west of Rolfe.   These are good fields to farm and close to our home.  
 

Small Helper

Our nephew really likes to help Uncle Bill during Harvest but with already being in sports, he doesn't make it down here much anymore.  Luckily he got here Sat. because we got done combining Sun. around noon!  It doesn't usually happen, but field work (ripping) was done soon after - on Mon. night! 

Now Bill and Bryan are getting the quad trac ready for putting on anhydrous.  The soil temp. has to be consistently 50 degrees or below so it will be a while.  In the meantime, all the equipment has to be cleaned and put away.  

We're still having great Fall weather and actually need rain.  It's been almost a month since we've had any.  The corn crop in our area, with our nice 1" rains this summer, is very plentiful.  Yesterday several area elevators were closed so farmers were bringing theirs to our elevator causing a very long line. Some towns are dumping corn in the streets!  They say that hasn't been done for 15 years.  

Bradgate, IA - the pile is lots bigger since this was taken

 

Bad Day Continued

If you read yesterday's post, this is a continuation of that - my bad day this harvest season.

So after Bill rescued me from the cemetery predicament, he went on his way back up north to his field, and I made it over to mine - whew.  And had a good day ripping.  

Later I moved to another field and that was going well until just before dark.  I was going around the edge of the field which used to be REALLY stressful for me but now it's ok.  Bill likes for us to do a good job in the corners and back up and rip as close as we can to get rid of as many weeds as possible.  Sometimes this is easier than others depending on whether or not there are still fences around the field, a pile of rocks in the corner, etc.  Why we still have fences that used to be there to keep the cattle in I don't know.  Bill says that I can take them out any time I want to work on that.

In the last corner - after going all around a big field with several corners and other issues - there were weeds and appeared to be no fence in the corner!  So I backed up really far, put the ripper down and took off.  I got a little ways forward and all of a sudden it started pulling hard which seemed strange - something had to be wrong.  I looked back and saw a big mess IN the middle of the ripper!  Got out and OMG, there was a huge metal gate stuck in the middle of the ripper along with a lot of dirt and weeds!  Where did that come from?!  So I raised the ripper to see if it would just drop it but no such luck - it was in there bad (along with a lot of dirt that the gate had eventually drug with it).

So I called Bill to come help - again.  While I waited for him to get there I pulled as many weeds out of the way as I could and cut a little wire, etc.  (I have my own wire cutters in the tractor for this very reason!)  It got dark.  It took him quite a while to cut enough wire to get this thing loose.  And turns out it was not one gate but TWO!!  OMG!

But Bill couldn't be mad because they had left these gates, laying flat, there for several years once they weren't needed anymore.  And weeds grew up in and around them.  

He was nice and finished going along the last edge with fence for me, and I think I quit for the night at that point.  Soon after, I got an e mail that there was no meeting - but it would be soon.  Whew - what a day but all turned out ok.  As Tim has said before, as long as nobody got hurt it's ok.  I was amazed and thankful that not even any equipment was bent or headstones knocked over or anything!  My "lucky" day!

  

A Good Harvest Season

We are almost done with 2015 harvest.  It has been a rare one with no rain delays and all beautiful weather to work in.  We should be done combining by tomorrow night or Monday morning and the ripping should be done by Monday night.  Bill's brother, Jim, came home this weekend to rip so I've had a couple days off. 

The elevator closed at 5:00 today and will be closed all day tomorrow but due to this, the guys took a few loads to the elevator today and the rest will fit in the grain bins so with that, we can work as long and late as we want to (Bill would like to work until midnight if the rest of the crew would agree!).

Seems like every season I have one bad day.  And I know you like reading about my (dumb) mistakes so I will share this year's bad day.  It started off in the morning.  I had a phone calendar reminder of a 9:00 meeting but no details about where.  I didn't remember getting details about this meeting but was in a panic because it was an important one.  So I sent an e mail to the woman in charge and waited to hear if I had missed this meeting.

I warmed up the tractor and pulled out of the driveway headed to my field for the morning thankful that nothing else big was on the road with me (yet anyway).  I got to the cemetery corner and a combine was coming from the direction that I needed to go.  Hmmm, don't know which way they're going to need to go but thought if I cut through the Catholic Cemetery he could go on by and I could turn and go west like I needed to.  Only problem was there was not enough room to turn the corner in the cemetery.  I was awfully close to a headstone that had statues on both sides of it and Mrs. Wagner buried on the other side of the driveway.  I was "stuck".  I knew if I tried to pull forward and back up much I'd tear up grass or knock over statues or worse.  So I called Bill who was headed way north to where he was working.  I said "I'm stuck in the cemetery, I haven't hit anything, come back fast".   He said "but I'm 10 miles north".  I said "I know, hurry!"  Only a few people stopped or drove by and waved while I was waiting . . . and he did hurry I think!

The neighbor that had been in the combine, came by (with his wife and son) and stopped and asked if I wanted him to try to get it out, but about that time Bill got there and backed it out the way I had come in.  And he didn't hit anything.  I owe him.  He and Tim told me to stay out of the cemeteries from now on.

I'll continue with that day on the next post.  

Spraying the Beans

We had overnight company last night.  Jay and Heidi from S. Dakota were visiting family in the area.  Jay is the guy that takes Bill & friends out to the prairie dog towns when they go on their annual hunting trip in S. Dakota.  Heidi grew up here.

This morning we had a good breakfast before they headed out.  Overnight French Toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, juicy Missouri peaches and orange juice.  The Overnight French Toast was a big hit (recipe from Bill's sister - thanks Karen!)  I will share that recipe here soon.

Bill and Tim are spraying the beans fields.  Aphids have been found.  They got about 400 acres sprayed this afternoon.  We didn't have lunch due to the big breakfast so when Bill was broke down needing new fuel filters, he called for a snack and I took these pictures. 

On the way home I saw the rotten tree - looks like a good home for woodpeckers!  In the last picture, see what the last big branch left will hit when it falls!

 

Busy!

It's been a long time since my last blog post I know.  We got done planting maybe two weeks ago at midnight before we started getting quite a bit of rain at 12:05 am.   With several days of rainy, cool weather ahead, everybody was contemplating whether they should try to get all of the beans in the ground or wait until warmer, drier weather or get them in quick in case it was going to be one of those springs when it keeps raining every couple of days with not enough time in between for the ground to get dry enough to plant again.

Turns out that is what is happening so we're very glad to be done.  Some here still aren't.  Now all of the fields have to be sprayed when it gets dry enough.  Bill says that may be tricky.  

My mom left today after being here for a week.  We kept busy while she was here.  I was finally able to take her to Carnegie Cafe in Lake City.  It's a very nice restaurant in an old Carnegie Library.  Diane and her girls, Diane's friend, Mom & I went to Storm Lake for pedicures or manicures and ate at the girls' favorite place, BozzWellz.  The little girls spent the night with us - Camry for 3 nights straight.  We made cards with my friend Deb and Bill's mom.  Mom got a lot done on her Christmas cards (lucky her!).  Trip to West Bend to the meat locker for Butter Braids (only $7 since they are made in that town and you can buy seconds at the grocery or meat locker), bacon, and steak & roast seasoning that's also good on asparagus.  Cookout here along with shooting practice for the guys and a Gator ride for the girls.  Church on Sun.  Supper and bowling at the bowling alley.  Mom was able to go to the last day of school for the talent show before she headed southeast.   

I have a P.E.O. convention to go to Fri.-Sun. in Des Moines.  Seems like we have lots of fun things on the calendar for the summer already.  

Trees are Blooming!

The crabapple trees have been blooming in our area the past week or so.  I think they are so pretty.  We've now planted three of them in our yard.  Unfortunately, the little red bud tree seems to have died over the winter.  This was the second winter for it.  The leaves of all the trees are just coming out.  We have cut the grass once so far, and it's really growing fast.

Yesterday we got just enough rain to stop field work before noon, but then the sun came out and we were able to get going again by late afternoon.  The weather looks good now until Sun. night and then rain for several days.  They're saying 1.6" for us. 

Happy May Day!

Did you get a May Day basket today?  I saw a friend post on Facebook today that it's too bad we don't still give May Day baskets.  Why not do it if you like that tradition?!  

Stampin' Up! came out with a berry basket die this year so I immediately got it knowing that I'd use it for various things for years to come.  All you do is put two sheets of card stock on the die and run it through the Big Shot and all the pieces (6) to make the basket, trim and handle are cut out in less than a minute.  (if you'd like to have one too, go to my web site - top right) Let me know if you have any questions. 

This first green one I dropped off on our neighbors' door this morning.  They have a daughter so want her to have memories of receiving May Day baskets.  The pink one is for Diane and girls.  I hope I can get it to their door before they get home from school, but if not, I'll do the ring the doorbell and go delivery.

We got a tenth of an inch of rain late morning which stopped our operation but the wind has been blowing and Bill and Tim think we can get going again now.  So I'll have to do the quick basket delivery and get back to the tractor.  We're close to being done planting corn.  Then we'll start beans but lots of rain in next week's forecast.

These are so quick and fun to do that I need to make up about 10 to have ready to give to several people next year!

sorry, blurry picture

 

Green Already

Remember back in March when we burned the CRP ground at Bill's Mom's?   It took only around two weeks to grow back nice and green!

We have been waiting for nine days for the fields to be dry enough to work again after getting about 2 1/4" inches total of rain and cold weather.  Finally yesterday we were able to get started again after planting about 500 acres of corn before that rain.  Bill hopes to be able to get back to planting today.

I'm waiting this morning for my work orders. 

Here we go!

The weather is good so all of a sudden the past couple of days the tractors and planters are going and things are hoppin'!  It's fun to be back out there!

We have friends visiting for a couple of days staying at Peggy's.  John has been wanting to drive the quad trac so he did my job and I made lunch for everybody yesterday.  Then Peggy, Mary Jeanne and I made cards all afternoon!  I now have 16 cards for various occasions ready to mail!  

We copied these ideas from cards I found on Pinterest.  I don't enjoy designing - I just like to make them.  Mary Jeanne's family is Irish so she really liked this card I had made so she made herself a sample.

We had a field cultivator break down so parts are being picked up and the guys will get them installed.  In the meantime, I'm catching up our laundry, etc.

My favorite flowers are daffodils and I want to have LOTS of them here around our house, but I'm having trouble getting them going.  I had only 3 blooms in one spot.  Last Fall I planted a few more trying another location and yesterday saw that 2 of them are blooming.  Will plant more this Fall!

I've mentioned several times that I love Our Iowa magazine.  There is a column called From the Mouths . . . - always funny things that kids say.  Here's a couple good ones:

We were attending the funeral of an aunt who had lived a long, fulfilling life.  As the minister began, our 3 year old grandson stood up in the front pew and asked, "What's in the box?"  At that moment, the solemn service became a celebration of life.  (hahaha!!)

While watching her dad grilling the meat for dinner, our 7 year old granddaughter exclaimed, "I love my steaks.  I could never be a veterinarian."
 

Lots of Smoke

Peggy's barn

Bill

Yesterday the wind and weather was right to burn about 85 acres of CRP ground (Conservation Reserve Program) of Peggy's just south of her house.  Bill lined up firemen that were available.  

I was going to say here what the CRP program is, but it's too long so you can read about it HERE it you'd like to.   These acres are totally black now but will grow back nicely in time for the pheasants to nest.  Burning is supposed to be done by early spring.

They had fire trucks, 4 wheelers, a Gator.   They started lighting it around 2:45 and were finished around 5:30.   Everything went well.  Smoke was seen and smelled for many miles!

looking north toward Peggy's house

looking south from Peggy's house

  

You can see in this last picture a big chunk of the ground after it was burned and the smoke had cleared.

Parts Everywhere

Bill's second cousin, Bryan, arrived to start working with us yesterday.  He has been in college getting a degree in agronomy.  He thinks he might like to move here (from Colorado) and make farming with us his career.  We're excited about it and hope it works out.  He'll be working with us this whole year in all of the seasons of farming.  He's been here the past few summers.

In these pictures, he and Bill are working on the planter and field cultivator.  It's less than a month until we'll be planting, weather permitting.  They're also planning to haul corn from the grain bins to the elevator this week.  

Bill working on the planter

Bryan working on the field cultivator

the field cultivator getting new sweeps

The shed seems big when it's built and when paying for it, but you can see that with the big equipment unfolded in it for working, it is full.

Boys Cleaning Their Toys

While we've been having cold, sunny days, Bill and Uncle Tim have been working on cleaning equipment to get it done and put away before snow - which is in the forecast for Mon. as I listen to the news tonight.  We are all done, but there are farmers still getting their field work done.  

Tomorrow and Sat. I'll be working in the kitchen at church.  We're having an all day Women's Conference on Sat. with 530 women coming!   I don't know what the menu is yet, but there is always a nicely decorated table of mini cinnamon rolls and muffins with coffee when everyone arrives, a very nice lunch and then snacks done creatively in the afternoon. On Fri., we chop veggies and cut up fruit, etc. The decorating team was getting started tonight.  Lots of work to be done!

Happy Halloween!!!

Where did October go???

We got completely done with harvest yesterday.  Just in time before the weather turned colder.  We had 50's yesterday and today it's sunny but with a high of only about 38. 

Tim has been traveling back and forth to West Bend to get tanks of anhydrous this week.  He brought them to the fields for Bill to apply them.  That took about three days.  I thought I was done ripping the corn fields and the bean field end rows Wed. night, but Bill called yesterday morning and needed me to do some more here at our house which didn't take long.  The only thing left now is getting the equipment power washed and put away before the snow flies.  The guys hate that job and always hope for a non-windy, slightly warmer day to get that done.

anhydrous rig

We're tired and getting caught up on sleep, laundry, mail, bill paying, etc.    

Harvest Time Activities

Friday was a busy day around here.  A water pump belt broke on my tractor so I ran to West Bend for a new belt and Bill put that on, and I got that 75 acre field done that night.  One of the semis had a problem that they were able to take care of too.  We have about a week of combining left Bill says and the weather looks good.

As I was ripping the field, I got to see this pretty little tree at the farm house there.  The leaves here have probably been at their peak this past week.  Many have lost their leaves already.

 


Peggy had picked up the twins (our niece & nephew) Thurs. so Matthew was riding with everybody and had lunch with us.   Bill's sister and niece, Ryanne, came Fri. night.  We were finally able to give birthday gifts to all 3 kids.

We had guys here at our machine shed putting new doors up.  I did a blog post last winter about the doors on our new shed having a delamination problem right away.  We've been on the list to get new ones for a long time since they had installed many doors with this problem.  They replaced one on Fri. and will do the other one tomorrow.  It'll be good to get this done.

Bill's brother arrived Fri. night so he has been doing my job since yesterday so yesterday I got to babysit our great nieces and took them to Community Orchard in Ft. Dodge - great fun!  I'll have several more pictures of our day in my next post.  

 www.CindyKCreations.com
 

Harvest Has Slowly Begun

Crops around here are just barely getting ready and some fields are still a little squishy from recent rain even though we're having nice days now.  We were able to get started yesterday around 4:00 and combined only about 40 acres of beans.  We got a loaded semi stuck in the field at elevator closing time, but it was able to be pulled out by a tractor and made it to town just at 6:00.

In the mornings, the ground is usually wet so today we had to wait for the sun and breeze to dry things off enough to get started after lunch.  The quad trac's air conditioning went out on an 80+ degree day.  Waiting for parts for that.  At about 5:00 I was riding in the combine with Bill waiting for him to get the cart full and something started making a bad noise.  A big part had broken.  So I headed to West Bend for the part.  Luckily they had the part and we were able to get it before they closed.

Bill and Tim are out finishing up the field - behind our house.

Tomorrow they hope to combine a field of seed beans.  They require special handling and go into a grain bin.  I won't be needed - probably - since they hope to dump from the combine directly into the semis.    

I've been making some things for quick meals that I can freeze like spaghetti sauce and this morning I made chocolate chip cookies.  Next will be a batch of ham balls - they freeze well.   This afternoon I was able to get some things in our landscaping cleaned up for winter.

Beaver Dams Can Be a Problem

Our crops are not quite ready so this is what Bill and Tim were doing this morning.  There was a small and a large beaver dam blocking a drainage ditch to two of our farms.   This first video shows blasting the smaller "practice" dam.
 
Then they mixed a larger amount for the big dam and waterproofed the container which was originally a cheese puffs plastic container that we had saved.  

This the big dam.

SUCCESS!!  The water is flowing through now!  This will help drain the fields when we have rain.  The County is supposed to come out and clear these out the rest of the way - whenever they get to it.