Yellow

Some friends brought us a lost/abandoned kitten a few weeks ago.  We were unsure how our other farm cats would treat a newcomer, so we decided to put it in the shop.  It would help eliminate any mice problems come winter.

Recent text exchange with Daughter #2:

Me:  shop kitty has yellow face
D2:  weird why?
Me:  grandpa painting, cat curious
D2:  hahaha :)  aw kitty

At the time I didn't think to take a picture.  It has rubbed most of it off.

Then the priest shall look on him: and, behold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair; he is unclean.
Leviticus 13:36

Lombardi

Harvest was slow this week.  The corn isn't drying down very fast, so we mostly just opened up fields.  We tried at least 5 fields looking for harvestable corn (under 29%), but didn't stay too long in any of them.  We also had dryer problems which kept us from filling bins at home.  The fact that the corn is still wet should be a good sign; it didn't die prematurely, and perhaps will yield well.  We have no soybeans ready yet either.

Our society has elevated sports above religion.  It seems Sunday is no longer the Lord's Day, it is Sports Day.  Especially in the fall during football season.  I think it is a shame the importance placed on grown men (who get paid millions) playing games.  The amount of time and resources wasted by our society watching sporting events is nothing short of hedonism.

I don't dislike sports or football, after all, I am an American male.
When I was in grade school, Bart Starr, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers was one of my heroes.  He, along with legendary coach Vince Lombardi led the Packers to victory in the first two Superbowls.  In an article this week in the paper about the new NFL season starting, I was reminded of some of Coach Lombardi's famous quotes.  Most apply to many areas of life (even spiritual life) other than football.  Here are some of my favorites.

I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.

Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.

The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.

The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor.

Winners never quit and quitters never win.

Football is like life - it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication and respect for authority.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Exodus 20:8

Grand anticipation

The corn is not drying down very fast, so we have just been opening up fields and taking off the endrows.  We did put some corn in our bins that was 25% moisture and we are waiting for the dryers to catch up.  Our first day in the field, we had a flat tire on the combine from some fence wire that made its way into the field.  The good folks at Midwest Repair had us fixed quickly the next morning.  Wednesday night/Thursday morning the temperature dropped to 38 degrees.  I did see a small patch of frost on the boat tarp in the morning, but nowhere else.  Hopefully harvest will speed up this coming week.

I finished reading Brideshead Revisited this week.  I didn't know what to expect from it and it didn't follow any formula, but I can see why it is considered Evelyn Waugh's magnum opus.  I had a little difficulty following the British "English", and the names, places, and references, but I really enjoyed it.  There is a lot of underlying theology and I believe one of its messages is that reconciliation and grace win in the end.

This week is the Grand Opening for the new East Peoria Bass Pro Shops (and there was much rejoicing).  A long anticipated event by all the sportsman in the area.  I usually prefer Cabela's merchandise, but Bass Pro is "The great American Outdoor Store", and I look forward to my first visit.

 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7

Ready

We spent Wednesday evening in the hospital with my dad (the older farmer).  Fortunately it was a false alarm.  It was a lingering effect of dehydration from the heat the previous week (including the FPS).  Ironically my uncle was in the hospital at the same time for the same reason.

The old farmer's wife made him a fresh apple pie this week with apples from our own tree.  The Jonathon tree is loaded this year, so there will be a lot of applesauce made in the coming weeks.

The combine is ready for the harvest to begin.  We are getting low on feed corn so we will be starting harvest early this coming week.  The millwrights were here to finish up a few things on our grain system that were not finished last fall, so it should be ready also.

And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
Revelation 14:15

"Farm swag"

I spent the day Wednesday at the Grandaddy of all farm shows; the Farm Progress Show.  It was in Decatur this year which is just an hour and a half away.  I went with Son #1, my Father, and my Uncle.  It was a cool morning followed by a very warm afternoon, but it was a good day to be there.  I was able to walk the entire show, but I could have spent much more time at some of the companies exhibits.  You spend a lot of time running into and visiting with people you know from all over the Midwest, and that tends to slow you down.  I was hoping to get to see the KSI drive-over conveyor that Son #2 helped design this summer, but it must not have been ready for the show yet.  Lots of new equipment and technologies were being displayed and promoted.  Its a great opportunity to learn and ask questions directly to the manufacturers  This old farmer is having a hard time keeping up with the pace of change though.  The price tags on new equipment seem to grow exponentially also.

I always manage to bring home a bag of gifts from the exhibitors and this year was no exception.  It helps to know lots of dealers, reps, and DSM's.  I got 4 new caps, 2 flashlights, 2 multi-tools, a pocket knife, aluminum water bottle, a collapsible water bottle, safety glasses, sun glasses, night light, soft cooler, 2 pair of leather gloves, a tire pressure gauge, quart of flower fertilizer, 2 sample bottles of Ignite Herbicide, can coolers, basting brush, rain poncho, and other misc. items.  And cloth shopping bags to carry it all in.  Along with free popcorn, peanuts, candy, snow cone, ribs, lemonade, and bottled water.  The problem with all of this is that its a real pain to carry so much stuff around all day.  You start looking like a pack mule.

We made it home in time for chores and church.

Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts.
Proverbs 19:6