What's Going On In Our Fields Right Now?

Claire helping get the combine ready to go to the field.

A little over a week ago we finished up wheat harvest.  Usually our wheat is ready to harvest around the beginning of July, but this year it took a little longer to mature, so we weren’t able to start harvesting until mid-July. 

The wheat that was just harvested was planted last fall, was dormant during the winter months, and then grew and matured during this spring and summer.  In my opinion wheat is the prettiest crop!  I love the golden color it takes on right before harvest, and this year I was lucky enough to have the field directly behind me planted to wheat so I got to see it all the time J 



Combining wheat on a pretty summer day.

As the combine harvests the wheat the grain is separated from the stalk.  The stalk can be chopped up by the combine and spread on the field, or can be put into windrows to be baled as straw.  Usually we don’t bale any straw, but this year we baled the field right behind our house.  Claire was very concerned noting that the large bales in the field didn’t belong there, ha-ha.  Straw can be used for a variety of things including animal bedding, or to increase fiber in cattle feed.

 

The wheat grain that the combine collects is hauled to grain elevators by semis and trailers.  The grain elevators then sell the grain to be used for a wide array of products found in our grocery stores such as bread, cereal, and beer, just to name a few.

It’s a great feeling getting the wheat finished!  The weather made wheat harvest go as smooth as possible.  In order to have a productive harvest the weather has to be dry and warm, and that’s just what we got…thanks mother nature! J

Thanks to the great weather we were even able to combine into
the early night.  Something typically abnormal due to the
humidity during summer nights.

Now that wheat harvest is done it’s a nice idea to think we have some down time or free time until soybean and corn harvest starts in the fall.  But, we have lots of “non- field work” to get done before that time….stay tuned J

I "Loved" Panera Bread.....

I love the Panera Bread Company restaurants!  Or, should I say “loved them” until just recently.  My mom, my sister, and I enjoy them almost every time we go out shopping and the food is always so delicious.  But, I came across this blog post and it left me with a horrible taste in my mouth and I guarantee if this marketing continues you won’t find me in a Panera restaurant!

No- my family doesn’t raise chickens, but as an advocate for agriculture we all stick together and what Panera is trying to do with this marketing is truly upsetting!

Please take some time to read this blog post:

http://dairycarrie.com/2013/07/23/dear-panera-bread-company/

Field Snapshot: Corn

Take a look at this picture of corn I took yesterday.  This corn was planted in May and is growing along nicely. 

But, can you tell what the corn is trying to tell us?  

 

This corn is in need of some rain! 

Take a closer look at the tips of the leaves….see how the leaves are starting to get twisted up?  That means that the corn is thirsty and in need of some moisture. 

Typically corn does not have the “twisted” look; the leaves are relaxed with tips pointing to the ground.  Next time you are out for a drive take a look at the corn and you will notice the difference.

Even though we could use the moisture we still have some wheat harvesting to finish up so you won’t find me out doing a rain dance just yet J

Good Times, Great Friends!

Usually we don’t do anything special for the 4^th of July because we are harvesting wheat.  But, this year the wheat matured a little later than most years so we decided to get out of town!  We headed to the Upper Peninsula to spend some quality time with a great group of friends. 

Brad has had the same group of friends since elementary school.  I think it is remarkable that they have remained so close after all these years.  There are even a few of the guys who live out of state now and they still make an effort to get together whenever possible.  As we get older and have more responsibilities and families it gets harder and harder to make time, but somehow they manage.  And when the guys all get together it’s like no time has passed at all.  They are really great to be around!

While we were up north we saw some amazing scenery and got to enjoy some true peace and quiet.  No running water, no electricity, no cell phone service, and no other people for at least a 15 minute truck ride.  But, it’s just what we needed!  Time to really see the stars again rather than the glow of city lights.   Time to enjoy company of great people without the distraction of the TV, internet or cell phones.  And, time to just catch up laughing about the small stuff.

I find myself constantly being reminded that the small things in life are some of the most important.  And spending quiet time with this great group of people is just another example of that.  Brad and I returned home refreshed, missing Claire, and thankful for great people in our lives.

For The Love Of The Sandbox

I’ve heard stories that as a youngster Brad preferred to either spend his time helping on the farm, or pretending to farm in his sandbox.  His best friend told me that as they played together as kids Brad would section off the sandbox claiming “ground” to farm.  Brad’s farm was always the majority of the sandbox, leaving his friend only a small parcel to farm.  Then Brad would supervise his friend making sure he was properly farming the small section of the sandbox J

Ever since Claire has been mobile, Brad has talked about how excited he was to build her a sandbox to play in.  Last summer she was still too young, but this year we knew she was ready!



Handing nails to Daddy

So last week he picked up supplies and got the sandbox project complete.  Claire helped every step of the way; always anxious to be a big helper!  She supervised; making sure Brad was laying out the sandbox the way she wanted it.  Then helped by handing him nails when necessary.  I could see that she was proud of herself as she assisted J

Since the sandbox has been done we haven’t spent much time indoors.  At 8am immediately after she finishes breakfast she is banging on the back door ready to go out and play.  And she does just that; she keeps herself content in the sandbox for a really long time, which is something extraordinary since she typically is moving all the time!

It is so cute to watch them play together in the sandbox!  Claire doesn’t have any farm equipment to play in the sand with yet, but I know when she does her daddy will be teaching her how to be a little farmer…and I cannot wait to watch them! J

Pretty Wheat

A few nights ago shortly after Claire went to bed I noticed there was an absolutely beautiful sunset outside!  I grabbed my camera and hurried out to take a few quick snapshots of the wheat in the sunset.  Wheat is my favorite crop that we grow.  Brad laughs at me because it’s my favorite just because I think it is pretty.  I love that this year wheat is planted around our house.  I get to look at it anytime I look out my back windows J

All of our wheat is red wheat.  White wheat is also grown in our area which is just a different variety of wheat.  We planted wheat last fall after soybeans were harvested.  The wheat started to grow before winter, and then lay dormant through the winter months.  It finishes growing in the spring and summer and then is harvested mid-summer; usually around the 4^th of July.

The wheat is pretty to look at any time, but especially with the sun setting behind it! 

Whirlwind Catch Up!

Wow, what a whirlwind couple of weeks!  All of the normal structure and organization usually in my life has been nonexistent, but now things are feeling a little better and I think I can breathe again, ha-ha.

The last post talked about finishing up soybean planting, and that is done now which is a nice relief.  We have been getting a lot of rain lately.  A little too much rain for our liking, but there is nothing that can be done about that.  Several fields have standing water in them, and we just hope the warm weather dries the standing water up sooner rather than later!



Brad and I all dressed up for the wedding

Just as soybean planting was finishing up 2 weekends ago Brad and I were in a wedding for some friends.  The rehearsal and wedding were great!  They had a beautiful day and everything went perfectly.  One of my favorite things about their wedding was during the reception.  The DJ had every married couple come out to dance and he would ask couples to leave according to how long they had been married.  The last couple on the dance floor had been married 63 years!  I thought that was such a neat idea and hope that Brad and I make it there someday J 

That same weekend my Grandpa who just had open heart surgery and quite a hospital stay got to come home.  What a huge relief for all the family!  At home he is gaining strength every day and in better spirits.

Last week was a busy week at the veterinary clinic and I was busy at home getting last minute things ready for my cousin’s baby shower.  It was so nice to see her and her husband since they live out of state and haven’t been home since Christmas.  My mom and I were in charge of fruit for the shower, so I tried a cute idea that I found on Pinterest, and it turned out great!  Here is how we did it:

Baby Carriage Fruit Bowl:

·         Simply cut the watermelon in a baby carriage shape, and hollow out all of the watermelon.

·         For the baby’s head- cut a cantaloupe in half, then with a knife take off the rind.  Be careful when shopping for a cantaloupe that it is small enough to fit in your watermelon...I didn’t think of this until I was making it, but thankfully everything fit J

·         Shape ears and a nose with cantaloupe and attach to baby’s head with toothpicks.

·         Attach blueberry eyes with toothpicks.

·         Cut a small hole for baby’s mouth to fit pacifier in.

·         Fill the “carriage” with some fruit before laying the baby’s head in place.

·         Attach the wheels (orange slices and grapes) to the “carriage” with toothpicks.

·         Enjoy!

*** The cutest thing about this baby carriage fruit bowl was that later in the day Claire took the baby’s pacifier out and tried feeding it some fruit.... it was so funny; she is such a sweetheart!

The weekend finished out with a quarterly birthday party for my mom’s family, a cookout with some good friends and all the kids, and a nice dinner with my dad for father’s day.

Now that all that excitement is over I feel like I can return to my mundane routine where everything is planned out just the way I like it; without any rushing or hurrying J