Finished?

We finished planting soybeans this morning about 11:30 and it started to rain before I got the planter back into the shed. Talk about cutting it close. It rained about 2-1/2 inches in the next 4 hours, so now we have ponds in the fields. Let's hope it goes down quickly so we don't have to do any replanting. We were late enough the first time.

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
Joel 2:23

Emergence

Last week the corn emerged from the cool damp ground. Because of the cooler than normal spring it took a little longer than usual, but it is starting to grow. With a little more sun and heat, it will turn a lush green and really take off. We need to monitor and scout for insects, weeds, and diseases, but most of our work is done for now. It is up to the Lord to add the increase.

I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.

I Corinthians 3:6

Redhead

I went to an outdoor farm machinery auction on Saturday and I forgot my hat. The sky was overcast, so I thought I could get by. Wrong! I got burnt! My nose and high forehead especially are bright red. It drew a lot of attention in church today. This happens to me about once a year. You'd think I'd learn.

Brush Arbor and Brush Fire

Saturday night we attended the Midwest Gospel Singing in Normal. It is a concert/singing fundraiser for charitable organizations. I had been planting soybeans all day, and left the tractor just in time to get there before it started - missing supper. The groups performing at this years singing were; Brush Arbor ("three grandpas and a young guy" bluegrass gospel band), Leslie, Tricia, and Gary (trio), The Klopfenstein Sisters (classically trained strings and vocalists), The Beer Boys (acappella quartet), and Deer Fry (bluegrass gospel band that started singing/playing together at local machine shed "deer fries"). It was an enjoyable evening of Gospel music by many talented musicians. The charities being supported were the Apostolic Christian Home for the Handicapped and Lifesong for Orphans.

Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
.... praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

Back home later in the evening we were enjoying the cool breezes wafting through our open windows. The wind began to pick up and around 11:00 we started smelling smoke.

We had a large brush pile back behind all of our buildings. On it were several years worth of trees we cut down, brush, prunings, yard waste, used lumber, and other burnable trash. On Friday morning I checked the two day forecast and steady west winds were predicted. Just what we needed to burn the pile. Because of the size of the pile (about 35 feet diameter) and the big logs in it we knew it would be burning for days. I started it and it burned nicely all day and by evening the small stuff was consumed and mostly the large logs and covered coals were left. The wind stayed in the west, and it continued to burn /smoulder Friday night and Saturday.

I slipped on shoes, grabbed a flashlight and went out to check what was happening. When the wind started gusting harder it also shifted to the North-Northeast. This stirred up the fire and sent burning embers and sparks blowing towards our buildings. Not a comfortable or secure sight. So I played fireman with a garden hose trying to quench the burning logs and embers. I found out it is work to subdue a large fire with just a garden hose in a strong wind. But by midnight I succeeded and was finally able to go to bed.

But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
Jeremiah 17:27

Blossoms

Last week our fruit trees were in full blossom. Very beautiful and fragrant. The trees loaded with blossoms make me think we could have a bumper crop, if the strange weather we have been experiencing doesn't cause problems. As soon as the petals fall is a good time to spray the trees with an insecticide to prevent worms in the fruit at harvest. You see, the eggs are laid in the blossom and the fruit grows around them. When you find a worm hole in an apple, it means the egg hatched and the worm has crawled out. A preventative spraying is preferable.

The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the LORD, and the excellency of our God. Isaiah 35:1,2

Mother's Day

Hand That Rocks The Cradle
(Glen Campbell)

He got here red and wrinkled, scared and crying
She took him up and held him to her breast
He sure was glad to get what mama offered
Then he went to sleep and put his fears to rest

It didn't seem to matter what he needed
He could always count on mama to supply (&)
Regardless of the sleep she might be losing
He always found a twinkle in her eye

There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas
Creation's most unique and precious pearl
Heaven help us always to remember
That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

She taught him all the attributes of greatness
That she knew he couldn't learn away from home
And by the time she wore the cover off her Bible
Her hair was gray and her little man was gone

There ought to be a hall of fame for mamas
Creation's most unique and precious pearl
And Heaven help us always to remember
That the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

Yes the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world


When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. John 19:26,27

Poetry

My daughters like to read (perform) poetry to me. This was last nights selection.

The Ploughman's Life
by Robert Burns

As I was a-wand'ring ae morning in spring,
I heard a young ploughman sae sweetly to sing;
And as he was singin', thir words he did say,
There's nae life like the ploughman's in the month o' sweet May.

The lav'rock in the morning she'll rise frae her nest,
And mount i' the air wi' the dew on her breast,
And wi' the merry ploughman she'll whistle and sing,
And at night she'll return to her nest back again.


And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luke 9:62

Cute Chicks

Corn planting is way behind in the Midwest this year, because of the cold, wet spring we are experiencing. The fields did dry out enough this week that we were able to plant two days. We now have about 30% of our corn planted. The rain today will put us out of the field until next week. I think we have the new planter set right and I am getting comfortable operating it, so when we do get a long stretch back in the field we should be able to cover a lot of ground. We have one field that we are still waiting on a contractor to repair some breaks in a large drainage tile. We hope to get them repaired so that we don't have to farm around sink holes all year.

One annual sign of spring here on the farm is the arrival of a new batch of baby chicks. They arrived Thursday morning and seem to have acclimated rather well to our old barn. I counted 32 of them - but it's hard to count them because they don't stand still long enough!