Fall 2015, Part 2

With harvest done, we had time to do a few other things. Our friend, Mary, stopped by for a visit and found Laura playing baseball with fallen apples. Not one to pass up a good time, Mary picked up a handful and started pitching. Needless to say, Laura was a mess by the time they got done!

She's not the only one. Mr. Farmer thought he'd get some dirt work done before the ground froze, but 3/4" of rain was enough to slow him down.

Stuck.

Unstuck!

I drove the tractor home a few miles--and was thankful not to fight traffic. This farm wife is a little skittish about driving big equipment on busy roads.

We also picked up leaves and dumped them just inside the pasture gate. What was once a 10'-wide berm has grown into a monstrous leaf pile that builds up year after year!

A couple of weeks later a large wind storm tore through the area and collapsed a hollow tree.

Laura went to investigate and ran back to the house, excited about what was inside it. She grabbed a 5-gallon bucket, which earned us a parade of corn-chasers. We whooped, clapped, hollered, and swung the empty bucket, then turned it upside down and climbed up to take a peek.

This is what we found....

Raccoon remains, perhaps?

And, as I was cleaning out the refrigerator the other day I realized we haven't shared the bane of Pine Ridge Farm: the chicken pile. Since it's the most un-favorite house chore, and I'd never ask you, our guests, to help, I thought a digital introduction might be best. What is it? A simple 6x6' patch that's set aside for organic waste: egg shells, vegetable peelings, the remains of canning, gardening, etc.

It was here, just like this, when we moved in 18 years ago  (almost to the day) and hasn't changed--other than the animals that make their way in and out. Long live the chicken pile!

And, now, on to basketball, Thanksgiving dinner, slow, cold days and hauling grain--each one an opportunity to be thankful and live in gratitude as the good Lord purposes and provides.

Blessings to you and your families from Pine Ridge Farm, Iowa!

Fall I

Harvest was finished in good time this Fall, thanks to help from our friends Larry, Ross and Brad. This farmer's wife filled in a few hours here and there, kept our farmer fed and watered and the household running.

On the family front we enjoyed marching band and cross-country.

The cross-country team runs the football from the opposing school and presents it to the refs the night of the Homecoming Game.

Our Homecoming friends

Our Resident Pirate Co-Drum Major

With harvest cleaned up, we were ready to move into winter preparation.

Washing the combine

Mixing and loading fertilizer

But Fall was not without its challenges. Early on the grain bin that stores soybeans failed to empty properly. Apparently the center drain filled with pods. Our farmer began by running a 20-some-foot metal pole in from the top of the bin.

Because NO ONE should EVER go into a grain bin without proper help and preparation, I got to sit on the platform as the lookout. It was a hard, arduous job--for our farmer, not me. I simply sat on my mittens, watched, prayed, and encouraged.

Inside the top of the grain bin with harness, rope, ladder and equipment.

My view (smile)

After working with a vacuum, drain pig, and lots of prayer, it gave way 5 days later!

It's been an eventful Fall. See part II for a more recent update (coming soon to a farm in Iowa).