Wet, Wet, Wet

Sunday was Clayton and Jessica's wedding.  We enjoyed their special day and wish them the Lord's blessings on this new journey.  We had not been to Peoria church on a Sunday in years, so it was good to fellowship with many we rarely see.  A little sobering though, to see how some have aged.  We spent a fair amount of time with Peoria folks back in the YG days. We are also excited as Trent and Tiffany announced their engagement the same day!

The cool, wet spring continues.  The ground just won't warm up and dry out.  We were able to get a little tillage done, and had some fertilizer and chemicals applied, but that's about it.  We had about a day and a half last week when we could have planted one farm, but the cold, wet forecast kept us conservative.  It looks like nothing will happen this week.

I like it when I run across quotes like this.

"We sit silently and watch the world around us. This has taken us a lifetime to learn.  It seems only the old are able sit next to one another and not say anything and still feel content.  The young, brash, and impatient, must always break the silence.  It is a waste, for silence is pure.  Silence is holy.  It draws people together because only those who are comfortable with each other can sit without speaking.  This is the great paradox."
                                                             From The Notebook                             


And the barbarous people shewed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.
Acts 28:2

Palm Snow

Over the last ten years, we have often been in Florida the last part of February.  This is when Sarasota usually has their communion exhortation.  We've probably heard Bro. Jeff more than Bro. Ron. So it was good this year to have Bro. Jeff in Washington to help serve communion.  It was a blessed evening.

The weather forecasters were calling for a dusting of snow (1 to 2 inches) turning to rain by afternoon.  We ended up with a Palm Sunday snowstorm.  It started snowing early morning and snowed heavy mid morning, and pretty much snowed off and on all day.  We ended up with 5 plus inches of wet, heavy snow.  State, County, Townships, and Municipalities all had their plows put away for the year, so no roads were cleared until afternoon.  The roads and parking lots were covered with 4 to 5 inches of slush, and it made for dangerous driving conditions.  We headed to T-town for our granddaughters Easter Program in the evening.  The roads were clear by then.  Monday was warm, so most of the snow was gone by evening.

Gus out snooping around in the yard early in the morning.

We've had another wet, cool spring, so we have done zero field work except to haul a little manure.  It doesn't even get close to dry enough, and it will rain (or snow) again.  The toads and frogs are enjoying the puddles of water and making quite a racket in the process.

(This is where there is supposed to be a video of a large toad/frog choir in one of our puddles practicing for their X Factor audition (or maybe it's just their breeding season).  But since I couldn't get it to load, you will have to imagine the cacophony of sounds coming from 20 or 40 loud,out of tune amphibians.)

Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.
John 12:13

Honey Creek

I checked my two hives on about the only sunny 40 degree day in late February.  Both hives still had live bees in them, although one hive was very weak.  I checked again in the middle of March on one of the few sunny warm days.  They both still had bees, so I cleaned them out, did some maintenance, and gave them each a pollen patty and sugar water to jump start them.  I'm still not sure if the weak hive will make it, but I hope it will rebound.  It would really help if the weather would warm up and stay warm!

Somehow I made it all the way through winter without a cold, then the middle of March I get one.  I was able to get all of my work done, but I sure took a lot of naps in between work sessions.  I skipped two farm meetings, and missed a Sunday and two Wednesday nights of church also.  The cold hung on for a second week, but I was much more functional than the previous week.  I actually feel better outside when I have a cold.  My head clears up, my nose isn't stuffed up, and although it runs like a hose, it doesn't matter outside.  I just don't feel very motivated!

Last weekend, we took our kids and grandkids on a little getaway to Honey Creek Resort on Lake Rathbun in very rural Iowa.  We stopped in Roseville on our way out at the Farmers Grain Company and visited with Eric for a while.  At the resort, we had two nice side by side cabins that fit our group and we spent our time eating, playing games, singing, reading, and babysitting.  The weather was not very cooperative, so the little kids were limited to how much time they spent outside or on the playground.  Fortunately, the resort has an indoor water-park, so that was a hit with the little ones.  We did have one late night run to buy super glue to fix a head wound from a bunk bed incident, but despite that, I think everyone enjoyed the time.  Sunday morning we checked out and drove the 45 minute drive to Bloomfield for church.  It was a nice scenic drive through the hills of Southern Iowa and Amish country; farmland mixed with timber and lakes.  We had a nice day there in church and it was good to meet and fellowship with many friends and relatives that we don't get to see regularly.

And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
I Samuel 14:25