Saturated

We finally got into a couple dry fields on May 16 and planted 105 acres of corn. It rained that night.  We started again on the morning of the 18th, but had a small breakdown on the field cultivator that slowed us down.  When I was ready to head to the field with the planter, I looked at the radar before I left the yard.  The storm front was 40 minutes away, and the field was ten minutes away.  We put the planter back in the shed.  The storm dumped another inch on us.  We found a dry field last week and got 48 acres of soybeans planted before the rain came again.  I think the longest stretch we've had without rain is 3 days.  Lately, it rains every other day.  The fields are saturated and there is no end in sight.  Not sure if we will see knee high corn by the fourth of July!

We drove east across the state today to attend a visitation in Indiana and I would estimate that less than 10% of the fields were planted.  My brother and his family were down in the Taylor, MO bottoms today helping evacuate as the levees were breaching.  The markets are finally catching on as to how serious the situation is in much of the Midwest.

. . . Yet one thing secures us whatever betide, this promise assures us: "The Lord will provide!"   Z.H.86
                                                                                                                                         

Despite the excess rain, there is still beauty!

The Saturday before Memorial Day, we took the oldest farmer and my mother to the Morton A.C. Cemetery to place flowers on my grandparents graves.  On Sunday afternoon after attending a graduation party in Roanoke, we went for a drive in the country and spotted an old cemetery down a gravel road.  By the names on the stones, we guess that it was a Mennonite cemetery.  It was a beautiful evening so we continued our drive through the country and ended up at the Deer Creek cemetery. We can see this one several miles south across the fields from our house.  It is always interesting to see the names in old cemeteries (some surprisingly familiar) and imagine the stories that can be told.  The infants, the mothers, the tragedies, the epidemics, and yes, the soldiers: all stories that will probably remain unknown to us.
Some may think it depressing or morbid to stroll through graveyards, but I find it thought provoking and spiritually encouraging.  We are but pilgrims here.

On Memorial Day, we had the kids and grandkids over for burgers and ribs.  We had a nice evening together.

Thou visitest the earth, and waterest it: thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God, which is full of water: thou preparest them corn, when thou hast so provided for it.
Psalm 65:9

Mother's Day

We are still too wet to be in the field.  It rained again over the weekend and it just isn't warm or sunny enough to dry out fast enough.  This will be the latest that I have started planting in my career.

A couple Saturday nights ago we took the oldest farmer and my mom to the Peoria Choir Benefit Dinner.  We generally do not attend choir benefit dinners, especially this time of year, but they needed a ride and we were free.  The food was good and the music uplifting, so we enjoyed the evening.

Gus was barking off and on one night last week.  He was pacing under a tree when I got up in the morning.  This time, he had two raccoons treed and waiting for me!  They were pretty high up, so they dropped with a thud, but Gus was right on them.  He seemed proud of himself!

We had our family Mother's Day meal with my mom on Saturday night, so those of us who weren't busy on Sunday took the oldest farmer and my mom out to eat.  We wanted somewhere kid friendly, so we ended up at the restaurant in Bass Pro.  The food was good, it wasn't crowded, and they gave each mother a box of fudge, so I think it was a good choice.

The old farmer's kids came through with flowers for their mother, which kinda left me off the hook for the day.

She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
Proverbs 31:26,27