Soaked

Yesterday I spent two hours outside in a cold drizzle moving, sorting, and shipping hogs. We got soaked to the skin. You would think that I was old enough to know when to come in out of the rain! Except it is part of my job description - neither rain, snow, sleet, or hail will prevent the U.S. Farmer from doing his job. Or something like that. Today wasn't any better, except I didn't have to spend as much time out in the rain. Now I think I'm coming down with a cold.
I came in the house today to see my daughter wearing "Mother Gledhill" (a family heirloom apron), and in the process of making three pies from scratch.
Dutch Apple, Cherry, and Pecan!
Let the festivities begin!
A Blessed Christmas to all!

Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgement, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

Isaiah 56:1

Finished

We finally finished harvest on the 15th. The latest in my career. Now it is time to start the work that we normally do in late October and in November! Because winter has arrived, it is doubtful that we will get any tillage work done this fall. The machinery all needs to be power washed, but that's not a cold weather job either.

I've gone Christmas shopping 3 times now in the past week. I think one more time should be all I need to finish what I need to buy. Sunday night we had our first family Christmas. Such an odd feeling to go immediately from harvest to Christmas. But it is here and I need to mentally shift gears and get in the spirit of the season. It is time to focus on the greatest gift the world has ever received, Jesus Christ, our Savior. And to pray for the world, the majority of whom still refuse to accept and embrace the gift.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23

Almost

Wednesday we harvested corn in a raging wind with flurries off and on all day to make it interesting. With bitter cold temperatures, we are finding out winter harvest is a challenge! Thursday we finished up the last field around home. That left the two "away" fields.
The wind on Wednesday flattened portions of the 40 acres left near Goodfield, so we put the downed corn reel on the combine. Whoever invented the downed corn reel should have received a Nobel prize. In my opinion they produced something far better to help mankind than a certain someone else who recently received a Nobel!

Friday was a very good day. The sun was shining, the sky was clear, and we moved machines 30 miles to our farthest away farm. My brother's in-laws showed up to help us, along with a neighbor, and we harvested 102 acres of corn in 8 hours! We had 2 combines, 2 grain carts, 4 semi trucks, and 2 straight trucks in the field and on the road. We are very thankful for all the help, and it was fun working together. Our wives brought us chili and Subway sandwiches for our field lunch, and pizza for supper.

Saturday morning we moved to Goodfield and started in on the downed corn, our last field. On the very first round, one of the outside snouts crumpled for some unknown reason on the frozen ground. After removing it and sending my father to try to find a replacement, I was able to keep running taking 5 rows one direction and 6 rows the other direction (where the corn was leaning away from the missing snout). My cousin showed up with his machine and helped us for a couple hours, until he felt conditions were right for his downed corn to go. Alas, late afternoon a freezing drizzle started falling, and the sieves in the combine started plugging up with wet, icy chaff. After climbing inside the back of the combine every couple of rounds with a hoe and stiff bristle brush to clean the gunk out, we finally forfeited to the elements.

We trudged the machinery home on icy roads with a mere 5 acres left.
Harvest 2009 continues for us.

And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.
Genesis 41:5-7

Harvest Pics

We spent most of the fall cutting ruts in fields.

Cutting ruts at night.

Got a little mud on the tires!

Corn, where corn wasn't supposed to be!



Steam from high moisture corn coming from the dryers at the local elevator.

Trying to harvest in the snow. It didn't work very well.

So we continue to patiently wait for cooperative weather to finish harest.


I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

Psalm 40:1