Harvest Epic

 We have completed harvest. I think this may have been the hardest yet most blessed one yet. These two cuties were so game for any farm time we felt was safe for them. 

We were gifted a large pack of high visibility vests and gave the kids strict instructions they were to wear them whenever on the farm- with the exception of when they were working in the weeds. Weeds love polyester. They don't adhere as much to cotton but man anything plastic based is garbage after the water weeds. The kids had to remove the handlines from the corn rows and at the ends the weeds are tall.

After school we had the full crew on deck. It is such a relief when they come home. School was a major trial this season. From kids falling behind to the new administration interpretations of whats important it was frustrating. 

Andrea asked me to sing to her. This is what my grandmother did for me. So I obliged I have about 20 minutes of songs to work through then we are quiet, or we talk, or we sing some more. Singing is such a magical reliable anti depressant. The days get long the market fell to pieces and the breakdowns are disheartening but singing silly songs with this little one was helpful to brighten the days and remind me life will be ok. 

The corn looked nice. We were handshelling it to take in samples to test the moisture content of the kernels. Wet corn is harder to shell. This corn was wet. 

Andrea was especially vigilant about her safety vest. I modified it a bit to make it smaller. They were helpful in noticing where kids were at. 

We bought a combine this year. A long held dream for Greg and I both is complete. It took some significant repairs but nothing major. It was particularly helpful to be able to get parts we needed from the old combine but we also were able to gather parts as needed quicker than years past. We weren't sure about the new 4 tires in the front but they really reduced tracks in the field leaving more to graze so that's a win. 

I drove grain cart occasionally, I mostly drive my truck back and forth. Lloyd combines, Greg does the grain cart, and I drive up and down the dirty roads. The dirt was worse than usual I have great empathy for early settlers that dust is just choking, blinding, demoralizing messy. I like that part of modern life that we can  be clean. 

Jake loved the tractor. He did so well riding. 

We work so hard to grow the crop we don't want to leave it on the ground. I was walking back to the grain cart after a problem. Up hill farmer carry for the workout that day. 

At the feedlot the corn is ground and piled up then smooshed down with a large tractor this compaction removes the oxygen and the corn ferments into a quicker digestable protein for the cows. 

The last planted corn was too wet to process through our combine thus we called the choppers to come cut it. It was such a relief to see the corn disappear. And when we go to the end and needed to be done, after cleaning out a plug up due to wet corn for two days it was even better to not have to face that hardship. 

The corn was tall and abundant. We have a large lady bug population. I'm thankful for natural predators. We work to support the different micro and macro biology cycles trying to work with nature.

I don't ride often but figured I should once to see what we had both in the machine and the crop. I was happy to get out it made me claustrophobic and slightly sick to watch all the wiggly plants come at you continuously. I prefer the road and the breeze. 

We were able to catch problems before they were catastrophes. We were safe, we were healthy, we survived, and we made it to the nearby feedlot. And we have been partially paid. All great feelings of accomplishment. It is hard. I question every year if the hard is worth it. I give up and then keep going. And I'm so proud of my family for making this happen. 

I am tired and emotionally drained. I am humble walking into parent teacher conferences knowing I am part of my children's problem not meeting all the teacher expectations. I have different goals and objectives. I am playing the long game and constantly question if we are moving correctly day by day to get the results we want most. I hope so. I can look to the older 6 and think they are pretty great, things will work out for the younger 9. 

So I work on different projects now and say prayers of thanks for a farming opportunity that fuels other dreams and goals. That teach my children to keep going, the reality of the life cycle, working together, responsibility and accountability, and so much more. We have been very blessed life is good.