Seasons of Cropping

This past year was the first year we did our own cropping (instead of renting it out) and we enjoyed it even with the few frustrations we experienced.  Obviously harvest is the most exciting time of year and we experienced God's rich blessings by harvesting a bountiful crop. Much to humbly give thanks for.

Here is a little "story" I cut and paste from something I found on the internet this past summer.  I read it then, and I've read it several times since.  To me, it sums up my life, even though I was raised on a farm.  💗 It sums up all the emotions for me, and why I am so grateful for the lifestyle we get to enjoy.  

    "I didn’t understand it, this love that farmers have for their work. The way they pour their hearts and souls into it. Why they would put in the hours, sweat, and heartbreak, just to have another crop succumb to drought or hail. It made no sense. This passion I witnessed seemed almost foolish.

Then I married a farmer, and he took my hand and brought me along on this journey of stewardship of God's land and animals. Of being thankful for every drop of rain, being humbled after the loss of a crop, and the feeling of joy and satisfaction as you watch the hard work be augured into the bin. Gratefulness for every bushel of grain God has granted you.
What these farmers do, it doesn’t make sense. It doesn’t make sense to pour so much into something with no guarantee. It doesn’t make sense to people who don’t live it. But once you're in this life, I don’t think it could ever leave your blood.
You’ll never forget the feeling of learning to really work with your hands, the exhaustion at the end of harvest and planting, and the smell of rain on freshly turned dirt. It’s something that can’t be explained, it can only be lived."

Spring started late this year, and large areas of the fields were flooded.

We had to pump water off the low land for days.

Finally manure could be spread and seeds planted.

Pivots were primed and ready to run - always exciting!

Replanting alfalfa for a thicker crop.

Our alfalfa had a tough start but with much nurturing we ended up with a good crop. 👍

First cut!

Custom workers harvesting silage

Andy went halves with a friend for a small baler and we put it to good use right away as we needed hay for the steers.

A perfect job for Seth.

😃

Break time!

What a life this chickie has.  😊💕

The back 75 acres had wheat this year. (notice our barns way in the distance - thus the "back" field).

Ripening in the golden glow of sunshine 💓

Ready to swath.

We are building a feed mill on the property for the chickens so we utilized the small granaries and kept the wheat. We used this old Chevy grain truck to haul the wheat and it was epic. 😆 Bouncy and rustic, it got the job done!!

A family that hays together stays together - so I've been told 😄 .

Waiting to be told where to go pick up bales - I got my jollies out of these rednecks who were along for the ride.

Done. Field harvested. What a wonderful end to that chapter.  Thanks be to God!

Chief Mountain

Alas, it's December.
 Blogging has fallen to the wayside as things like lessons / school work and child rearing / house cleaning take more and more of my time but here's to trying to catch up a bit as I feel like we've done some fun things this past summer!

Andy and Ewoud did another climb this past summer. The mountain on their radar was Chief Mountain in Montana. It has an impressive face and interesting history and folk lore.  It can easily be seen from Canada and we "go by" it on a regular basis while driving thru the south-west corner of the province.   It is in the Blackfoot reservation. Chief Mountain has been a sacred mountain for hundreds of years. The first nations people have an oral tradition that near the end of days a great white god would appear from the top of chief Mountain and upon his departure, the mountain would crumble and be destroyed.  Because of this, they had to get a permit to be allowed to climb here.
The black foot legend is here! Enjoy:)

Beautiful days of normal

One of the goals of my heart is to enjoy the small things in life and appreciate the beauty in everyday.
And this past July was a beautiful month.  My heart could sing everyday for the normal we could enjoy.   Home and family is a beautiful thing when loved and appreciated as God intended it. To His glory and to see His goodness.

Here are a few pictures from small events that I enjoyed watching during our daily grind.  I'll admit more are of the girls this year than the boys as they were usually further from the house building forts and "barns" or drilling in the shop on the newest/greatest invention. They also enjoyed alot of biking, making their own "Tour de Purple" (instead of Tour de France).  

Marla reading to herself.  She takes the time to very quietly sit and enjoy books.  I wonder what her little brain is thinking.

One day I happened upon Abby trying her hand at drinking like our puppy.  :) She was totally in her own little world.

Coffee every morning with the best man of the house.  Marla gets right in there.

I get to garden daily with these little helpers.  I love watching their little faces as they seriously pick raspberries or peas while I weed.  Sometimes they shovel and dirt gets flung all over the place but the mud between their toes is a sign of health and happiness. 

Enjoying an after supper walk around the canal loop.

Water table refreshment on a hot Sunday.

And sometimes, you just gotta sit and eat as much popcorn as you can before the big boys join in :)

I think most of the month of July was spent in bathing suits and the kids got pretty brown! Our days went like this: swim, eat freezies to stay hydrated, swim again, work a bit, swim and find dad who condones ice cream at any time and then possibly swim again.  Pretty great life. 

<above>  Kittens never get old.  Having something to love is important for a child. 

<below> Bedtime shenanigans.  I like the kids to be washed up after supper so they can go clean to bed. A few times going to bed felt like such a waste of a gorgeous day so often we went back out to play some bocce ball or have coffee on the deck while the lawn irrigation did it's thing.  Little girls in matching pjs with happy faces bring smiles all around.  Princess 1 and Princess 2. 

😄 someone thought getting wet yet would be a blast before bed. 

And finally ending the day with a story or four.  💕

 Every day is a gift and everyday we give thanks for the warm little people that bless our life.