I had a fairly easy weekend since we had a couple of rain showers on Friday night so didn't get back to cutting until Saturday afternoon and that wasn't much because it was still too wet. Jared was here for the weekend so that gave me time to catch up at home. We did some fencing on Sunday morning and then they started cutting again in the afternoon. Yesterday I had to "get my Bob fix" and go to work at my real job.
I made up for it today. The morning started kind of slow since we had fog and dew. M and I checked fences and gates so we could let cows out into the fields they finished cutting last night. They started cutting on some of the neighbor's wheat since he had a bin with air that they could put it in if it was too wet. The land there is sandy and they think there was some chemical damage to the crop so it wasn't running to good. I had some time to read my book while waiting for the combines to get full.
We had lunch and moved down to Richland where there was better wheat and from then on I didn't have much time to read--what a change! The wheat there was running close to 50 bushels to the acre so it didn't take long for the combines to fill up. I could hardly keep up with the grain cart. By the time I got the cart dumped on the truck the combines were ready to dump again. C had work to do on the grain elevator so was having trouble getting trucks to us as fast as we needed them. I got in trouble because I loaded a truck too heavy and I had a little spillage on another truck. J told me it would cost me a case of beer for every bushel I put on the ground. I didn't take the time to check how bad it was until later and there probably wasn't even a shovel full on the ground so I don't think I need to buy beer. It looked worse to me at the time it happened. One of these days I'll get it all figured out.....I hope!
When we were checking gates this morning I was trying to help M get one open that he had used a tarp strap to close. I pulled on the little bit of rope that was still on the gate post and it was rotten and came off in my hand and I fell over backwards, flat on my back. At first, I felt like I had whiplash but later realized that my back felt better today than it has in weeks. M says he'll knock me on my ass weekly if that's all it takes to make me feel better. What a guy!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Friday, August 26, 2011
Cutting Wheat
We spent most of the day moving from Opheim back to Richland and getting everything ready to cut wheat. We had trucks, augers and the grain cart to bring back and got it all in one trip, thank goodness. They had some cleaning up to do on the combines and M had to switch headers and J changed concaves.
This morning M told me I had to find time to check the cows. I was thinking then he had to gjve me time to check the cows. I found time while they were getting the combines ready. I took salt and mineral and made sure the cows were still in the pasture. Everything was fine. I picked up lunch on the way back and delivered it to the shop.
C's stepson had a day off from his day job so came out to help us. He usually helps his grandpa but their wheat wasn't quite ready. Finally, about 3:30 J pulled in to the first field of wheat. C had a load of lentils to take to Opheim so I rode along. I called my mom to see if she would pick me up there and take me to her house where our service pickup has been sitting for a couple of days. C took a wheat sample to check moisture and protein. M had looked at it and said it looked like 13.3 protein and then said, no, maybe 13.8. I said there was no way he could tell by looking at it. Sure enough, it was 13.3. I think that was just a lucky guess.
When we got there the tire that has been going low was very low so I had to get it to the shop and air it up to get home. Just as I was getting back to Richland the guys needed a flagger to move down the highway a couple of miles. From there I hurried back to Richland so I could get the pickup to the station to get the tire fixed before they closed.
I was going to go ride the combine but then decided I would have lots more chances to do that so came home early, about 6:15. I have gotten a load of laundry done, did dishes, vacuumed, and made a fruit cobbler and spaghetti sauce so we could have a decent supper finally. I think Jared will be here for the weekend so I might get some more time off. That will be okay with me.
This morning M told me I had to find time to check the cows. I was thinking then he had to gjve me time to check the cows. I found time while they were getting the combines ready. I took salt and mineral and made sure the cows were still in the pasture. Everything was fine. I picked up lunch on the way back and delivered it to the shop.
C's stepson had a day off from his day job so came out to help us. He usually helps his grandpa but their wheat wasn't quite ready. Finally, about 3:30 J pulled in to the first field of wheat. C had a load of lentils to take to Opheim so I rode along. I called my mom to see if she would pick me up there and take me to her house where our service pickup has been sitting for a couple of days. C took a wheat sample to check moisture and protein. M had looked at it and said it looked like 13.3 protein and then said, no, maybe 13.8. I said there was no way he could tell by looking at it. Sure enough, it was 13.3. I think that was just a lucky guess.
When we got there the tire that has been going low was very low so I had to get it to the shop and air it up to get home. Just as I was getting back to Richland the guys needed a flagger to move down the highway a couple of miles. From there I hurried back to Richland so I could get the pickup to the station to get the tire fixed before they closed.
I was going to go ride the combine but then decided I would have lots more chances to do that so came home early, about 6:15. I have gotten a load of laundry done, did dishes, vacuumed, and made a fruit cobbler and spaghetti sauce so we could have a decent supper finally. I think Jared will be here for the weekend so I might get some more time off. That will be okay with me.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Done With Lentils
We finished cutting our lentils today....well, sort of. They ran into some green spots that they had to leave until later. J and C are very ready to be done with the lentils and move on to the wheat--something that stands more than six inches high. M thinks they'll be disappointed when they get into the wheat. He likes the lentils because he calculates in his head how many $$$ he's bringing into the tank every hour.
I had a better day, I guess, since I didn't put any lentils on the ground, but it was still stressful. The fields they were cutting today are wrapped around some hills, plus they were cutting around green spots so it was like a maze for me who didn't know where I was going. I spun out on a hill with a full grain cart so that freaked me out. I was spun down before I even realized what was happening. C admitted that it was probably his fault because he had taken the tractor out of 4WD when we were moving and thought it was funny. J wasn't surprised that I spun out in that spot. I guess it wasn't a big deal to anyone but me.
We made the move back to Richland this evening, and it was pretty dark when we arrived. We took back roads and didn't see one other vehicle in 30+ miles. Sometimes (most of the time) it's a good thing to live where there are no people!
Tomorrow we will be busy getting all the trucks back home and dumped and getting augers set up so we're ready to dive into the wheat. M is pretty sure he will have to pull back on the reins to keep J and C from diving in before we're ready. Happens every year so no one should be surprised.
I had a better day, I guess, since I didn't put any lentils on the ground, but it was still stressful. The fields they were cutting today are wrapped around some hills, plus they were cutting around green spots so it was like a maze for me who didn't know where I was going. I spun out on a hill with a full grain cart so that freaked me out. I was spun down before I even realized what was happening. C admitted that it was probably his fault because he had taken the tractor out of 4WD when we were moving and thought it was funny. J wasn't surprised that I spun out in that spot. I guess it wasn't a big deal to anyone but me.
We made the move back to Richland this evening, and it was pretty dark when we arrived. We took back roads and didn't see one other vehicle in 30+ miles. Sometimes (most of the time) it's a good thing to live where there are no people!
Tomorrow we will be busy getting all the trucks back home and dumped and getting augers set up so we're ready to dive into the wheat. M is pretty sure he will have to pull back on the reins to keep J and C from diving in before we're ready. Happens every year so no one should be surprised.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Grain Cart Operator
Today was my maiden voyage on running the grain cart. The plan was that I would just have to run from the combines to the trucks. C was supposed to be there to dump on the trucks. Well, that didn't happen. He was just barely keeping up with getting the trucks dumped and getting back so was never there when I needed to unload the cart onto the trucks. J helped me the first time since I didn't have a clue where the controls were for the cart auger, etc. Have I mentioned that I'm really not that mechanically inclined? (Nor do I want to be).
It didn't take long for J to be tired of having to stop to dump onto the cart so asked if I thought we could dump on the go. M thought we wouldn't do that until my second day. Never know until you try, right? So, J talked me through it and it was fine--in his immortal words "just don't run over the header". So far, so good.
Of course, I got different instructions from everyone on how to load the trucks. There were three semis with different size trailers so they were all different. I told them they needed to put the instructions on how to load them on the side of the trailers so I could remember. Ok, was that two piles in the front and one in the back, or two in the front and two in the back? J and C kept saying that I had to get close to the trailer, but apparently I got a little too close because I had some spillage over the side on my last load. They don't understand that I'm female and don't judge distance well. Plus, I'm too short-bodied to be able to see well into the trailer when I'm dumping. And, I panic when it starts filling up and I have to move because everything goes too fast! I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and feel more confident as the days go by. I didn't break anything or hit anything so that qualifies as a good day.
M was impressed that I had listened to preach through the years to other grain cart operators that they didn't need to let the tractor run all day. I would shut it off and open the door so that I didn't roast. We had some wind, though, so I had to park just right so that the wind wasn't a problem. Just glad it wasn't any hotter today......or any windier!
R called to let me know he needed more money for his fire fighting gear and was surprised to hear that I was on the grain cart. He's getting a taste of the real world--had to shave off his goatee and has to be in uniform for school. He was made a squad leader temporarily--I think it changes weekly. So far he's liking what he's doing so that makes me happy.
Better get to my chores and get to bed. We'll be making another move first thing in the morning.
It didn't take long for J to be tired of having to stop to dump onto the cart so asked if I thought we could dump on the go. M thought we wouldn't do that until my second day. Never know until you try, right? So, J talked me through it and it was fine--in his immortal words "just don't run over the header". So far, so good.
Of course, I got different instructions from everyone on how to load the trucks. There were three semis with different size trailers so they were all different. I told them they needed to put the instructions on how to load them on the side of the trailers so I could remember. Ok, was that two piles in the front and one in the back, or two in the front and two in the back? J and C kept saying that I had to get close to the trailer, but apparently I got a little too close because I had some spillage over the side on my last load. They don't understand that I'm female and don't judge distance well. Plus, I'm too short-bodied to be able to see well into the trailer when I'm dumping. And, I panic when it starts filling up and I have to move because everything goes too fast! I'm sure I'll get the hang of it and feel more confident as the days go by. I didn't break anything or hit anything so that qualifies as a good day.
M was impressed that I had listened to preach through the years to other grain cart operators that they didn't need to let the tractor run all day. I would shut it off and open the door so that I didn't roast. We had some wind, though, so I had to park just right so that the wind wasn't a problem. Just glad it wasn't any hotter today......or any windier!
R called to let me know he needed more money for his fire fighting gear and was surprised to hear that I was on the grain cart. He's getting a taste of the real world--had to shave off his goatee and has to be in uniform for school. He was made a squad leader temporarily--I think it changes weekly. So far he's liking what he's doing so that makes me happy.
Better get to my chores and get to bed. We'll be making another move first thing in the morning.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Lazy Sunday.....well, almost!
The guys had made the move from Glentana to Opheim and cut lentils there on Friday and Saturday but ran into some that weren't quite ready. So, yesterday afternoon we made the move back to Glentana where the combines are sitting until Monday morning.
That meant a day off today, sort of. We hung around the house and watched the NASCAR race. We had talked about going golfing but neither of us were very excited about making the drive to town. Instead, we took the 4-wheelers and went to check cows and take them mineral and salt. When we got there all the cows were right by the gate so M decided to move them to the next pasture. I asked if the fence had been checked. M was pretty sure it had been because the original intention this spring had been to put them in that pasture first.
The cows immediately headed south toward the water hole so M tried to beat them there with on the 4-wheeler to make sure the gate there was closed. I think they beat him there. I went to make sure there weren't any strays hiding anywhere. By the time I got to the water hole M was busy fixing some fence through a coulee. We had to scrounge around through the fencing box to find any clips or splicers so he could tighten the wires. We were going to check a couple more gates on our way home so headed west. Before we could get to the end of the coulee there were a cow and a calf out. More fence to fix while wading through grass up to our armpits and rapidly running out of clips and splicers. Could have used a post pounder, too, which we didn't have along.
We stopped at his parent's house for a cold drink on our way home. When we got home I suggested that we should go check on the heifers so we headed north. There we found a bunch of calves on the road. We ran them back into the pasture and proceeded to fix more fence. The whole pasture is fenced with old sheep fence that's getting pretty old and brittle and needs to be replaced. M says we need to move that fence tot the top of our priority list. That list is getting so long that I don't think we'll get to the bottom of it in our lifetime. M's dad used to spend his summers fixing fence, but he can't do it anymore and we are really missing his help. We can't move the cows out of there either because the alternative pasture has winter fence damage that we haven't had time to fix either. Are you seeing a pattern here? Too much to do and never enough time.
We did have a relaxing evening with burgers on the grill and a movie. Back to harvest tomorrow.
That meant a day off today, sort of. We hung around the house and watched the NASCAR race. We had talked about going golfing but neither of us were very excited about making the drive to town. Instead, we took the 4-wheelers and went to check cows and take them mineral and salt. When we got there all the cows were right by the gate so M decided to move them to the next pasture. I asked if the fence had been checked. M was pretty sure it had been because the original intention this spring had been to put them in that pasture first.
The cows immediately headed south toward the water hole so M tried to beat them there with on the 4-wheeler to make sure the gate there was closed. I think they beat him there. I went to make sure there weren't any strays hiding anywhere. By the time I got to the water hole M was busy fixing some fence through a coulee. We had to scrounge around through the fencing box to find any clips or splicers so he could tighten the wires. We were going to check a couple more gates on our way home so headed west. Before we could get to the end of the coulee there were a cow and a calf out. More fence to fix while wading through grass up to our armpits and rapidly running out of clips and splicers. Could have used a post pounder, too, which we didn't have along.
We stopped at his parent's house for a cold drink on our way home. When we got home I suggested that we should go check on the heifers so we headed north. There we found a bunch of calves on the road. We ran them back into the pasture and proceeded to fix more fence. The whole pasture is fenced with old sheep fence that's getting pretty old and brittle and needs to be replaced. M says we need to move that fence tot the top of our priority list. That list is getting so long that I don't think we'll get to the bottom of it in our lifetime. M's dad used to spend his summers fixing fence, but he can't do it anymore and we are really missing his help. We can't move the cows out of there either because the alternative pasture has winter fence damage that we haven't had time to fix either. Are you seeing a pattern here? Too much to do and never enough time.
We did have a relaxing evening with burgers on the grill and a movie. Back to harvest tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
6 for 7
I've had a busy day being the cow person while everyone else is farming. First thing this morning (after my walk) I went to check the cows in the pasture we kicked the bulls out of the other day. We knew there was some fence work to do there. I thought a wire was broken, M thought it was just stretched. Either way, it needed some attention. When I got there two cows in the neighbor's pasture came toward me. That was my first clue that they were ours and not the neighbor's. Sure enough they were ours. I thought they might try to come through the hole in the fence, but they couldn't figure that out. So, I fixed the broken wire and replaced some missing clips. By then, the nosy rest of the herd had to come see what I was doing. I went into the neighbor's pasture to try to push our cows up to the gate. They weren't really wanting to go and leave the herd, but we were slowly making progress. We were almost to the gate when they tried to veer off. I tried to cut them off and then Pete jumped off the 4-wheeler and got in their faces. Not good! Back to the herd they went. I circled around and tried again and one cow went OVER the fence taking a clip or two with her. I made one attempt to get the other cow to the gate and saw that it wasn't going to happen so I gave up, reluctantly. I knew it was getting close to lunchtime and I needed to get lunch to the guys so I went home.
The guys were near Glentana cutting lentils. J had sprayed off a load of desiccant so was just getting ready to get in his combine. As I was on my way there, I saw the calf that I couldn't get in on Monday. It was standing right by the gate with it's mom on the other side. I opened the gate and it ran right in. I half expected it to head in the wrong direction--I don't think it's very smart.
I went home and took salt and mineral up to the pasture where our heifers are along with some cow-calf pairs. M said that some calves have been getting out. He fixed one spot in the fence yesterday but wanted me to check and see where they might be getting out. How about the open gate?!?! Not sure if the cows rubbed the rope off the post or what but the gate was wide open and four calves were up in a corner in the fields. I let the fence down and coaxed the calves through. Took a lot of patience and a tight hold on Pete who, again, was NOT helpful!
The neighbor's fencer called M today to let him know he was just about finished with his latest project. It is a fence between the neighbor and us so we agreed to pay for half. He wants to be paid tomorrow since he's leaving for a few days. Just one problem--he put in a ridiculous six-wire fence without consulting the neighbor (who hired him) or us and a fence like that isn't needed in that area. M told him he'd better refigure his price because he wasn't paying for half of a six-wire fence that no one told him to build. M said he could hear my voice in his head and knew he didn't want to hear me for a month if he paid the full bill. I told him to hold tough. I was a bit afraid that I'd have to handle it myself. I don't think the stubborn old Minnesotan would take to kindly to a woman telling him what he did was stupid. Our neighbor is too nice to let him have it when he does something stupid--everyone knows I'm not!
This afternoon I mowed the yard and now I need to work on the inside of my house and fold laundry. I'd really like to just take a shower and call it a day.
The guys were near Glentana cutting lentils. J had sprayed off a load of desiccant so was just getting ready to get in his combine. As I was on my way there, I saw the calf that I couldn't get in on Monday. It was standing right by the gate with it's mom on the other side. I opened the gate and it ran right in. I half expected it to head in the wrong direction--I don't think it's very smart.
I went home and took salt and mineral up to the pasture where our heifers are along with some cow-calf pairs. M said that some calves have been getting out. He fixed one spot in the fence yesterday but wanted me to check and see where they might be getting out. How about the open gate?!?! Not sure if the cows rubbed the rope off the post or what but the gate was wide open and four calves were up in a corner in the fields. I let the fence down and coaxed the calves through. Took a lot of patience and a tight hold on Pete who, again, was NOT helpful!
The neighbor's fencer called M today to let him know he was just about finished with his latest project. It is a fence between the neighbor and us so we agreed to pay for half. He wants to be paid tomorrow since he's leaving for a few days. Just one problem--he put in a ridiculous six-wire fence without consulting the neighbor (who hired him) or us and a fence like that isn't needed in that area. M told him he'd better refigure his price because he wasn't paying for half of a six-wire fence that no one told him to build. M said he could hear my voice in his head and knew he didn't want to hear me for a month if he paid the full bill. I told him to hold tough. I was a bit afraid that I'd have to handle it myself. I don't think the stubborn old Minnesotan would take to kindly to a woman telling him what he did was stupid. Our neighbor is too nice to let him have it when he does something stupid--everyone knows I'm not!
This afternoon I mowed the yard and now I need to work on the inside of my house and fold laundry. I'd really like to just take a shower and call it a day.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Busy!
It's been a busy few days. I took off on Friday for a road trip with my mom, brother and his wife to my other brother's ranch near Pray, MT for his daughter's wedding. I hadn't been there for five years and every time I go there I think I need to go there more often. It's a beautiful place and my brother and his wife are some of my favorite people!
My sister and her husband from Arizona were there also and the six of us stayed at a bed and breakfast cabin (no breakfast, though, unfortunately). We had a great supper that night. Our sister-in-law (and mother of the bride) seemed a bit hesitant to ask us to help get everything ready saying, "you need to have some fun while you're here." We assured her that helping with the festivities was fun and that was what we had come for.
We were all busy on Saturday, some helping in the kitchen and some with setting up chairs and stringing lights. I told my husband I was pretty sure I was better at manual labor than in the kitchen so stuck with setting up and decorating. It's good to know your strengths and weaknesses.
The weather was perfect, the setting was awesome and the bride was beautiful. It was so much fun to have four of my siblings and seven nieces and nephews (along with their significant others and kids) all in one place for such a festive occasion, and we partied well into the night--even our 85-year old mom!
Sadly, the trip was too short and we had to head home on Sunday. I arrived home just in time for a hail storm and a tornado warning. I didn't want to go home and be by myself but didn't have much choice. M and J were trying to combine lentils. We were on the edge of the storm with most of the bad stuff to our north. They got rained out and headed south and kept cutting. The lightning was incredible and sparked a few fires--one near where they were combining, one just to the southwest of our house and a hay bale in the neighbor's hay field. Luckily, the rain took care of most of those.
This morning I went with M on the 4-wheeler to check on the cows and check for crop damage. We found our three bulls pushing on the fence separating them from the neighbor's cows so ran them out of the pasture until we could get them moved home. From there we headed north to check crop and found hail damage in the neighbor's wheat and in some of ours. Another storm was brewing and M was taking us toward the lightning until I made him head west instead of north. Getting struck by lightning was not in my plans for the day! We also got rained on but not too much.
I had to get to R's house to help him pack for his move to Rapid City. I have to say his pickup is stuffed to the rafters. I feel like I'll be bringing as much stuff home to store as he'll be taking when he leaves. I will have to go over later as I have time and finish cleaning out his house. It was a bit of a stressful day for me trying not to cry every minute. I know he needs to go and that it's the right thing for him, but I am going to miss him SO much!
While I was packing M and Pete went back and moved those three bulls home without too much trouble and then went to combining lentils. I stopped to see how things were going on my way home. As I headed up the road I noticed two of our calves out of the pasture and in the ditch. I managed to run one to the gate and get it back in, but the other one was stubborn (or stupid?) and is probably still out because I couldn't get it in by myself. I did notice the fence needed some work so I had to go back to Richland to get the fencing box and replace some missing clips and staples.
It seemed like I was gone a lot longer than I was since I don't like traveling without M. The best thing about being gone was that the circus had moved out of my backyard by the time I got back--hooray!
My sister and her husband from Arizona were there also and the six of us stayed at a bed and breakfast cabin (no breakfast, though, unfortunately). We had a great supper that night. Our sister-in-law (and mother of the bride) seemed a bit hesitant to ask us to help get everything ready saying, "you need to have some fun while you're here." We assured her that helping with the festivities was fun and that was what we had come for.
We were all busy on Saturday, some helping in the kitchen and some with setting up chairs and stringing lights. I told my husband I was pretty sure I was better at manual labor than in the kitchen so stuck with setting up and decorating. It's good to know your strengths and weaknesses.
The weather was perfect, the setting was awesome and the bride was beautiful. It was so much fun to have four of my siblings and seven nieces and nephews (along with their significant others and kids) all in one place for such a festive occasion, and we partied well into the night--even our 85-year old mom!
Sadly, the trip was too short and we had to head home on Sunday. I arrived home just in time for a hail storm and a tornado warning. I didn't want to go home and be by myself but didn't have much choice. M and J were trying to combine lentils. We were on the edge of the storm with most of the bad stuff to our north. They got rained out and headed south and kept cutting. The lightning was incredible and sparked a few fires--one near where they were combining, one just to the southwest of our house and a hay bale in the neighbor's hay field. Luckily, the rain took care of most of those.
This morning I went with M on the 4-wheeler to check on the cows and check for crop damage. We found our three bulls pushing on the fence separating them from the neighbor's cows so ran them out of the pasture until we could get them moved home. From there we headed north to check crop and found hail damage in the neighbor's wheat and in some of ours. Another storm was brewing and M was taking us toward the lightning until I made him head west instead of north. Getting struck by lightning was not in my plans for the day! We also got rained on but not too much.
I had to get to R's house to help him pack for his move to Rapid City. I have to say his pickup is stuffed to the rafters. I feel like I'll be bringing as much stuff home to store as he'll be taking when he leaves. I will have to go over later as I have time and finish cleaning out his house. It was a bit of a stressful day for me trying not to cry every minute. I know he needs to go and that it's the right thing for him, but I am going to miss him SO much!
While I was packing M and Pete went back and moved those three bulls home without too much trouble and then went to combining lentils. I stopped to see how things were going on my way home. As I headed up the road I noticed two of our calves out of the pasture and in the ditch. I managed to run one to the gate and get it back in, but the other one was stubborn (or stupid?) and is probably still out because I couldn't get it in by myself. I did notice the fence needed some work so I had to go back to Richland to get the fencing box and replace some missing clips and staples.
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| Cutting lentils |
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| The new combine--that header looks huge! |
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| The new bins |
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Harvest Begins
And we're off......like a herd of turtles! J started cutting peas on Saturday evening. We had planned his birthday party for Sunday evening which was not really ideal since he was cutting again on Sunday. We just pushed the party back a couple of hours. I can't believe I ever had a baby in August. Poor planning on our part! We had 15 people and 5 dogs at the house in town and had a barbecue. It was a good time. K spoiled J by getting him an IPad and a cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory (no, there isn't a local one--it was shipped in). Cheesecake is one of his favorite things ever.
Anyway, they planned to hit it hard on Monday (J's actual 25th birthday) but it was cool and damp in the morning so the combine wasn't going until the afternoon. Our rental combine was delivered, too, so today they were both going. It's taken M some time to get used to all the computer gadgetry in the new machine. Our Vice President in charge of Technology (J) is always on duty! They have been desiccating lentils in the mornings so that they will be ready as soon as we're done with the peas.
R has been swathing CRP for the neighbor and thought he'd be finished with that tonight, but this afternoon he broke the sickle so I think he's done. No one has time to fix it now that both combines are going.
Now we have the sketchy bin erection crew camping in our yard. They finished the bin at Opheim and are going to put two in our yard. I'm not sure how high the IQs are since they drove by our place three times before they figured out where we were. Didn't think we were that hard to find. I had to send Pete to the grandparents for a few days so that they don't drive him crazy or vice versa. I hope they work fast and move on soon!
I've been thinking lately how nice it would be to ever have everything ready to go when it's time to harvest. I'm not sure that's ever happened. Too much to do and never enough bodies.
Anyway, they planned to hit it hard on Monday (J's actual 25th birthday) but it was cool and damp in the morning so the combine wasn't going until the afternoon. Our rental combine was delivered, too, so today they were both going. It's taken M some time to get used to all the computer gadgetry in the new machine. Our Vice President in charge of Technology (J) is always on duty! They have been desiccating lentils in the mornings so that they will be ready as soon as we're done with the peas.
R has been swathing CRP for the neighbor and thought he'd be finished with that tonight, but this afternoon he broke the sickle so I think he's done. No one has time to fix it now that both combines are going.
Now we have the sketchy bin erection crew camping in our yard. They finished the bin at Opheim and are going to put two in our yard. I'm not sure how high the IQs are since they drove by our place three times before they figured out where we were. Didn't think we were that hard to find. I had to send Pete to the grandparents for a few days so that they don't drive him crazy or vice versa. I hope they work fast and move on soon!
I've been thinking lately how nice it would be to ever have everything ready to go when it's time to harvest. I'm not sure that's ever happened. Too much to do and never enough bodies.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Heating Up
Things are heating up around here, literally and figuratively. We were hoping for a couple of days away since the haying is FINALLY done! (well, except for the hauling, ugh!). M went to check crops yesterday morning and our slim hope of a day away went up in smoke. He was pretty sure we had some peas that were ready to cut. He and J worked on getting the new combine ready to go and took it to the field in the afternoon and cut 77 bushels, but they weren't quite ready. Maybe in a couple of days.
In the meantime, they will be running around like chickens with their heads cut off getting everything ready to go. The stress is starting to show already as M had words with a salesman who sold him an auger months ago but we hadn't picked up yet and then it got sold again......to someone else. Not happy! Then, he had to have words with the guy who is supposed to be building our new grain bins and hasn't shown up yet. He was in the area but then headed back to the Saco area because that guy "was yelling more" than M was. That's because the office wouldn't give him the guy's cell number. Seriously! They are supposed to be here Monday. It's getting to be crunch time.
The CRP has opened up so we've had lots of calls to do some swathing. Like we have time for that. Actually, R did take on a job to make some money for school.
So it begins.......
In the meantime, they will be running around like chickens with their heads cut off getting everything ready to go. The stress is starting to show already as M had words with a salesman who sold him an auger months ago but we hadn't picked up yet and then it got sold again......to someone else. Not happy! Then, he had to have words with the guy who is supposed to be building our new grain bins and hasn't shown up yet. He was in the area but then headed back to the Saco area because that guy "was yelling more" than M was. That's because the office wouldn't give him the guy's cell number. Seriously! They are supposed to be here Monday. It's getting to be crunch time.
The CRP has opened up so we've had lots of calls to do some swathing. Like we have time for that. Actually, R did take on a job to make some money for school.
So it begins.......
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