New Planter

We traded planters this winter and the new one (slightly used) is now tucked into our heated shop awaiting some no-till attachments. Our old one was about 25 years old and showing it's age. It served us well, but it was time to update and take advantage of a newer design and technologies. We expect more precise population and placement of seed. It is a John Deere 1760, 12 row-30 inch. We look forward to spring, so we can again sow the seed.




Spiritually, we should be continually upgrading our hearts thru the Word, so that we can sow the seed with our whole conversation as we walk thru the field of life.

Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land
Genesis 47:23

Video

I ran across a video on youtube that is touching and inspiring. A radio talk-show host who is a Christian father had his two year old son drown in the family swimming pool. The father was away speaking at a conference at the time. The video is a talk (sermon) he gave to his church the day after the funeral. It is long and has several segments, so I won't post it here. Do a search for "Rick Burgess - A Father's Heart" and you should find it.

But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Mark 10:14

Cold

It was 5 degrees yesterday morning when I woke up, and -3 degrees this morning. Winter is back. Except for doing chores, I don't spend very much time outdoors in these temperatures. If the sun is shining and the wind is calm, the cold is tolerable. If there are problems like frozen waterers or tractors that don't start, then it gets rough.

Farming is the most dangerous profession in the state of Illinois. As farmers, we are aware of that, but despite our respect for the dangers around us, accidents still happen occasionally.
This week a neighboring farmer (who also is a double 2nd cousin, friend, and brother in Christ), got his foot caught in a grain auger. I won't share the painful and gruesome details, but he lost all of his toes and part of the foot. He remained conscious, was able to call 911, and get himself out of the auger or it could have been much worse. We are all thankful and hope and pray for a quick recovery. It was another reminder how quickly accidents can happen and how dependant we are on the grace and mercy of God.

New Uncle Bill joke.

Question: Which do you think is more courageous, a stump or a rock?

Answer: The rock - because he is a little boulder!

He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? Psalm 147:17

It was a quiet week . . .

in Lake Wobegon, my hometown.
Well, not actually my hometown or was it necessarily a quiet week. Actually we had a lot of lakes this week around here. After a 3 inch rain on frozen ground and lots of melting snow, we had ponds everywhere for a few days. There was water over roads in some spots and some flooded basements. The rain helped take the frost out of the ground and now it's back to mud driveways and lots. By now everyone knows how much I love mud (not!).

The deluge must have driven the mice from their homes, because one showed up in our attic. He must have been slowed by the poison we have out for them, because he didn't run away when the old farmer's wife came face to face with him. She certainly reacted (she went ballistic) at the meeting, but he was still there when her knight in shining armor arrived to dispose of the offending creature.

I drove to C-U on Tues. for a crop insurance/marketing seminar. The prices for corn, soybeans, and wheat are all at or near all time highs. Will they stay up? When do we sell? Ah, the gambles and risks of the farmer.

We got new sidewall curtains on our hog houses this week, thanks to the crew from Consolidated Building Center. The old ones were so weather worn that they weren't keeping much weather out anymore. With the price of feed so high (grain), and the price of hogs so low right now, it will be hard to cash flow. But they were necessary so we bite the bullet.

Sounds like winter might come back this week. Hopefully that will bring back hard ground.

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalm 69:2

New Year

We had a beautiful snow on New Year's eve to start the new year. After Church services, we returned home and had guests in for the evening and enjoyed good food and fellowship. They stayed until 1:00 - pretty late for us old folks!

Winter made its presence felt midweek when the temperature dropped to 0 degrees two nights in a row. Our feed mill decided to quit working on one of the coldest days (of course), so it was a challenge working on it. Not as big of a challenge as the serviceman from Sauder Well Drillers had who was fixing a leaking underground water pipe for our neighbor across the road. He cut thru an underground electric line with his backhoe while trying to find the water leak, so he had an extra repair job to do. We got our mill running again without really knowing what was wrong with it.

On Wednesday we met with one of our landlords that we have been farming for as long as I can remember. We've always had a good relationship with him, but this year he was very upset with us over a cash rent proposal I sent him in November. His reaction caught me totally off guard. I think we got things worked out, but it left me with a bad taste in my mouth and some questions about the future.

Friday night, Son II and I went to the big city to spend some of our gift card money. Gander Mountain, Best Buy, and Barnes and Noble; need I say more?

By today, the temperature had climbed to a balmy 50 degrees and the snow and ice is melting fast.

So starts 2008.

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. Revelation 21:5