We started on the road to making our marriage richer (in experience) - broadening our horizons beyond the farm and family. Jarrod and I camped together for the first time last night. We decided finally to just do it, packed up a few things, picked up a few things, and headed for one of our pastures. The cows have kept the grass mowed close to the ground near the pond and it's a quiet, secluded location. We worked together to set up our tent for the first time and couldn't quite figure out what we had wrong...the poles kept wanting to warp sideways. We thought maybe we had it stretched too tight, so we adjusted the stakes, but ended up with one pole that was still wapperjawed come morning.
Since we got a bit of of a late start, we didn't do much but sit around and watch a storm, talk and drink beer, and go to bed. Thankfully the bulk of the storm didn't hit our area, but we did get to enjoy the lightning show from a distance and listen to the gentle rain as we tried to sleep. Neither of us slept very well (we'll have to find a pad or mattress of some sort next time), but it was nice to wake up to the birds talking, evidence that the cows had been over investigating at some point in the morning (fresh tracks in the mud nearby) and a cool morning. We had some poptarts and sunnyd for breakfast, tore down, checked the cows and went home. But I woke up feeling much more at peace and much less stressed and we both had smiles on our faces all day.
Next time we'll have to try for a weekend of camping instead of just an overnight. :) And hopefully this is just a start to experiencing more of the world and more of life - together. Here are a few pictures:
I just love the hurry-up-and-wait game (do you feel the sarcasm dripping off my words)?!! The whole harvest felt like a lot of rushing out somewhere and then twiddling our thumbs for one reason or another. Harvest finished up on Monday the 16th. We cut a bit on Saturday, and got rained out. Sunday we had another storm brew up. Monday we finally finished up the last little bit. Wednesday the machines were parked and the paperwork is all caught up. The bills have all come in and just as much or more is going out than came in. Be doing good to break even on the wheat harvest this year.
The good news is that the cows are still alive and healthy. About one month away from calving! yeah baby calves. Jarrod has been able to get some field work done and the rains have helped the milo and sowed feed grow well. The weeds like the rain too. Guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. The house is clean again, we have groceries again and we have clean clothes to wear. Should be thankful for all that we have. Is the constant need for better situations something that ever ends? Do you ever just happily, contentedly appreciate what you have, or do you strive for better until the day you die? I guess moderation or balance is the key. Appreciate what you have but still keep trying to improve. Everything in moderation. One of the giant important lessons/keys to life. I think. Not 100% sure.
Well we've got about 150 acres to cut yet, but it's been raining all week, so we're on hold for awhile. Sunday night it rained out at Bob's place, so Monday we moved the combine up the East place - no more than pulled in the driveway and some storms came through. Tuesday they gave it a try, but it was way too wet. Wednesday it rained again. Today we're having intermittent sunshine...but I doubt it'll go today. Sure would be nice to get harvest over with - I want a haircut! And you can't cut your hair during harvest - it's bad luck. Guess you could argue we're already having bad luck, so what could it hurt. You just don't break tradition - that's all I got to say. :)
So in the meantime, we've been enjoying a little down time, getting caught up on other projects and enjoying the cooler weather. I kinda miss the hot sunshiny summer day though - we haven't had too many this year. Maybe next weekend I can get the fuel barrels painted up in their reflective silver coating. That's a project that hasn't worked out too well so far either because of the cool and wet weather we've had so far this year. My rig needs washed and shined up too - and I suppose it's about time to mow the yard again. We're just ready to have some party time - bbq, rodeos, camping at the lake, but we gotta get the workin' done first!
We squeezed in another 2 full days of cutting over the weekend. It was dry enough to start cutting early in the morning and those still cutting were doing just that. The crew leaders decided to split the combines over the weekend (and therefore the trucks as well) and it caused a bit of a upheaval for awhile. Everyone was generally bitey and growly on Friday and Saturday because of the decision to split. Saturday night Jarrod and I decided to adjust our attitudes, quit pushing so hard and just let it flow. So Sunday we tried to joke around and have fun. We drank some beer Friday night and again on Saturday night. I don't know if that helped lighten the mood too.
It was nice to have the entire Heinze family around to help with food and with the cuttin. Becca and John were around the whole weekend and Matt drove truck all weekend while Sheila made sure we all ate since Tina had to work this weekend. Everyone kinda chips in when needed and the meals are definitely appreciated. We got some more seed wheat binned over the weekend since we had the extra help around. It was a good weekend over all. It just would have been nice to get finished over the weekend...since...
it rained in places last night. We've basically got about 150 acres yet to cut...and it sure would be nice if the showers would miss us for a few more days. After that - it can do whatever it wants. A drink for the milo would be good - a break in the heat would also be good for the cows. But we need just a few more days of sunshine to get the rest of the wheat to town. Our vacation time away from our day jobs is running out.
Thursday and Friday were work days. Saved a load of seed off the river on Thursday afternoon - finished it up and moved up to the 80 at Denmark fairly late. Cut about half of it off working a little later than we had been - the wheat and straw is starting to dry out and stay dry with all the sunshine we've had the last few days. Got a good early start again on Friday - finished the 80 and moved back down to the Creek. Saved another load of seed there. But John had a fairly serious breakdown last night - luckily the guys were able to tear it apart before sundown, figure what was needed and this morning they've almost got it put back together. Looks like most everybody got an early start this morning - lotsa sun and the winds a blowin'. I stayed home this morning, got some groceries, some cash, did a couple loads of laundry - much needed things to keep us rollin. Bout time for dinner and hopefully a full weekend of cuttin and truckin. Things started slowing down at all the elevators yesterday - not nearly the traffic coming and going.
Yesterday was like normal harvest again! We had the whole family out to the field at some point in the day. We had a family dinner after a full morning's worth of work and before going out to start cutting for the day. We got 2 loads of seed wheat binned with all the extra help around to keep the cutting going as well. The sun shone - it was humid, hot, storms brewed up in the afternoon (but luckily they blew right on by us). Matthew ran out of gas (luckily in the driveway, rather than on the way to town with a load!). Everything was just normal again. Maybe today we can keep right on rollin!
Wow I don't know what to think...we got to start cutting at lunch time today and cut the full day like a normal harvest. I was in a good mood all day - no more frustrations like I had yesterday. I drove trucks by myself all afternoon - Jarrod ran the grain cart. We got John's place finished finally today - I've never seen so much bindweed. Really slowed the combines down. We got one truckload of seed wheat saved off Ernie's at the end of the night - I hope that it tests out in the morning and we get to put her in the bin.
Today was a great start to a short vacation. I got to sit in my camp chair between runs for just a few minutes and feast my eyes on summertime scenery. I did get some good photos between runs to town. I tried to stop the action today in the full sunlight. I'd like to try purposely flowing the action in full sunlight soon as well.Tomorrow should be exciting - we'll have a full crew available to help and hopefully everyone will be in good spirits.
I cannot remember being as frustrated and angry as I was today. My work computer gave me fits all day and got me all twitterpated before I went to help with harvest after work. Helping with harvest requires patience, a calm demeanor, no rushing - I had not an ounce of patience left when I got to the field. My first trip to town was bouncy and jerky - I couldn't calm down enough to run the clutch smoothly. It got better as the night went on. Partly because of my work frustrations, partly because of my harvest frustations and probably partly because of PMS - Jarrod got an earful from me at the beginning of the night and then Matthew told everyone I was bitchy. So I guess that'll teach me not to argue with my husband when there's an audience around.
Jarrod and I were fine - we had it all worked out in short order - but by then the rest of the crew was being cautious with me thinking I was going to bite their heads off. And I did let them know I wasn't happy with the communication side of things - but without being completely nasty. And the women in the family have finally decided to start communicating. I got two calls today telling me I didn't need to worry about bringing snacks to the field, because they were taking care of it. I just hope they touched base themselves so they aren't stepping on each other's toes. I'll be happy to relinquish that part of my harvest duties.
So I had a lot of thoughts cross my mind tonight about the way I handled my frustration, and the future farming picture and my marriage and what I could do better with all of that. Trying to balance different viewpoints on things can be hard. Especially when you care deeply about what you are working on and so does everyone else involved.
