Wordless Wednesday

We start 'em farmin' young...not even 2!

It's the little things in life

        I learned last Wednesday how things can change quickly. I had such a great day. The day started with getting the oil changed in the car. Who knew I'd considered this great? Then my mother-in-law stayed with the boys and I got my hair cut. That's  more exciting. I took the plunge and got side bangs; I haven't had bangs since I was 8. We took a stroller ride after lunch which I posted about that for Wordless Wednesday last week. (Yes, I'm breaking that trend today.) Big C was working in the fields and rain was in the forecast. He was spreading fertilizer until the rain came.

 

       When it rains we normally go out to eat because when it's pretty Big C is outside working. I had not planned dinner in hopes that rain was coming. It looked promising on the radar but 6pm rolled around and no rain. The little boys were getting hungry. The quickest thing I thought I could fix was hamburgers. This is when the excitement happened. I normally defrost the frozen patties before separating but not last week. I tried to separate the patties with a sharp knife. The knife slipped and when through the burgers into my hand. Ouch! It actually didn't hurt but the amount of blood coming out I knew it was deep. I'll spare you the other details. Little C1 was a big help getting stuff ready to head to the doctor. I called Big C and told him it wasn't necessary for him to leave the field his mom could take me and the boys. While I was getting stitched up the boys ate supper with grandma at Sonic. So in the end we did eat out.
 

        Lesson learned don't use a knife to separate frozen burgers. I knew I shouldn't have but I've done it before and not had problems. Just use the microwave and wait a few minutes. So thanks to my mother-in-law for helping with the boys and helping get them in bed. She came and washed dishes and bathed the boys the next day since I couldn't put my hand in water for 36 hours. These are the little things in life we take for granted. Most of Thursday I couldn't use my right hand it was so sore. Little things like lifting Little C2 out of his crib. Big C was around to help me. Other things like putting my hair in a ponytail, putting socks on Little C2, twisting lids, even clipping a nail I couldn't do for a day or so.  
 

      I became thankful that I didn't cut any nerves or tendons that would permanently alter my hand. It could have been a lot worse. I can deal with a few days of pain. I'll go Friday to have the stitches out. I also am thankful for Big C's help and his mother's help with the boys. Little C1 has been helpful too; I couldn't even open the canned biscuits the first morning. He was more than willing to help pull them out and put on the pan.

 

     This post is a long explanation for why I haven't been around the last week. I couldn't use a keyboard for a few days then I was trying to catch up on housework. Be thankful for little things.

Wordless Wednesday

 Out for a walk. The wheat is growing and turning really green.

 

 

He said he got hot.

Do cat's really have 9 lives?

 

I didn't grow up being a cat person but have become partial to them since being on the farm. When we first married we got our first kittens. We still have one and he's 5 years now. I say we but Big C says they are my cats. Then we had a stray that showed up at the house and just stayed. She went on to "bless" us with 6 girl kittens. When I realized she was pregnant I said if she had a calico I would keep that one and give the others away. What do you know her first was a calico. Being on the farm cats multiply fast so the momma and Sahara the calico got fixed.

 

Born June 26th, 2009

Fast forward to 2013. We moved this summer two miles from the house where Sahara was born. She did great with the transition as well as the other cat.

 

But....this week curiosity almost killed the cat.

Sahara was playing in the barn and got into one of the grain semi trailers. Thursday morning when I went out to feed the cats and dogs I thought I didn't see Sahara on Wednesday. It's not uncommon for farm cats to go off and play all day but they return to eat.
I was going to watch out for her on Thursday.
 

Then....I get a call from Big C about 10am on Thursday saying come to the tractor/truck mechanic quick your calico is here. I put the boys in the car no shoes or jackets and grab the cat box and some food. Big C was taking the trailer to get the tire fixed before filling the trailer with corn to sell. When he got there the mechanic heard meowing they opened the door where the corn unloads and she shot out. The cats don't like Big C so he just left her alone. He said if he had thought it was one of my cats they wouldn't have let it out. We do have a few strays around too. I got there quick and looked all over and whistled for her. Yes, I whistle for my cats 'cause they learned to come when I whistled for the dogs. No such luck. I left the cage and food. Little C1 was worried about where she was. We went on with our day. Thursday night we had strong winds and rain storm with 40+ mile an hour wind gusts. Friday morning I went back and the food was gone but a raccoon or stray could have eaten it. I then went back Friday afternoon too. Still no luck. I was going to go back this morning and put some food out.

But....when I went out about 10pm last night to feed the 1 lone cat and dogs; there was Sahara on the porch. She was there like nothing was wrong. I had to do a double take and was a little confused. She was alive and well. 

 

So....36 hours and a 3 mile walk somehow she made it home. I'm not sure a dog could do that.

Little C1 said "wow" this morning when he saw her. He was so happy she found her way home; I am too. He then gave her a huge pile of food said she was really hungry from that long walk.

I did think there could be a small chance she could make it home but there are a lot of houses, fields, dogs, cows, and woods between here and there. I'm impressed.

Maybe cats do have 9 lives.

 


  Here she is happy in the shed on this cold and rainy day.
 

Getting a picture of a cat may be harder than a child.

Fun facts about farming

Today is National Agriculture Day;

so I thought I would share some fun facts about farming and our farm.

 

Farming is in the blood of my boys. They are the 10th generation of a farming family. They have roots established in our community. Their ancestors deeded land in 1808. I knew when I married into this family I wasn't leaving this area. ha! We grow corn, soybeans, and wheat on our farm as well as raise pigs.

 

Americans spend 10% of their income on food and the average farmer feeds 155 people. In 1960 they only fed 25 people and 17% of income was spent on food.

Modern technology and better equipment has allowed for a better food supply. We have the safest food supply in the world. 

 

There are 24 million people employed by agriculture in America; that's more than the population of Australia.

About 2% of our population and in 1900 38% were farming. 

 

The average farmer gets 584 hours less sleep than the average American; they are up early and out late. Then they get home have paperwork and planning.

 

Today on this National Agriculture Day I hope you will take the time to think about where your food was grown before it was sent to the grocery store. If you are farming; great. If not, thank a farmer for your food and your opportunity to have an off farm job.

Food is something we take for granted in America. I know I did before I married into this lifestyle. Hopefully you will think about who grew your food and know they are thinking of you and your family. I can now say; we are doing the best at our job to keep your food safe and healthy. Little C1 now asks me who grew the grapes we bought from the grocery.



Snow this morning on our wheat.

The busy season is coming.

I'm sure we are all tired of this winter as much as we are tired of people complaining about it. We did have the First Day of Spring this past week; even though it doesn't feel like it. The snow is gone for the moment even though there is some in tonight forecast. :( It can't last forever I keep telling myself. I will get to wear shorts and flip flops again soon.

 

This weekend we had some pretty spring weather. The ground wasn't too soft and some field work could be done in preparation for planting. When Big C left out Friday morning he said he would need some help moving tractors around after we finished breakfast. He went on to check the baby pigs; which is a first every morning. I then loaded the boys up and we went to help. The boys were eager to go because they had hopes of riding in the tractors. Little C2 got his first ride with just Daddy. He was eager to go and climbed the steps himself. I snapped this picture which is quickly becoming a favorite of mine.

 

 

 

 He is more excited than he looks here; it was a really bright day.

 



 

Little C1 rode too. In the above picture fertilizer is being loaded in the buggy that will spread it onto the field.

Spreading in process

 

 

 

 Big C was spreading dry fertilizer for adding nutrients to the soil to feed the corn crop that will  be planted in a few weeks. We take care of the soil the best we can and do everything we can to produce a good crop. Each acre is soil tested to see what nutrients are lacking from the soil. These tests are then put into a GPS map system to use in the tractor to regulate how much fertilizer is spread on this acre. This map is transferred to a monitor in the tractor with a USB drive. We can do all this preparation for a good year but it's ultimately up to God controlling the rain and weather.

 

 

 

Wordless Wednesday

Boys and Dogs