Going-To-The-Sun Road and Logan's Pass - August 2018

 Going-to-the-Sun Road, Glacier National Park, Montana. 
This was one of the things we wanted to do since we moved here, and finally, the time was right! 
In case you don't know what this special road is, in short, it's a spectacular pass that cuts through Glacier National Park from east to west crossing the continental divide. It was finished in 1932 and has wide and varied scenery on either side of a well kept highway that is 50 miles long.   It was an exceedingly beautiful, drive. 
At the crest of the pass there is a stop which is called Logan's Pass. We had lunch there and did the hike, which was a nice boardwalk path much of the way.  According to the boys in this family it was "Mom's kind of walk" and it absolutely was my kind of hike 😝.  Enough people on the path to scare away any kind of bears, also enough people to make it interesting (and a little social) and flat enough to keep it exhaustion free. Perfection. 

 On the way back to the campsite we stopped at a random campground with a beach for a dip.  It was in the national park.  Beautifully clear water.

Whitefish Montana - August 2018

All these beautiful, hot, summer days feel like a lifetime ago!  All the warm sun tans are long faded and the ground is cold and hard now, but this little trip warms my cold January heart;)
We were blessed to be able to use our dear {and generous} friends camper trailer this past summer and try it out with our one tonne to see how it went. We took it down to Montana for three nights. It was a great experience and the van proved her worth plus some! Needless to say, we felt pretty cool driving around like this 😍

A little bathroom break in Milk River AB.

Another little break to feel the mountain water across the border.

Whitefish had a beautiful beach!

We stayed at the Whitefish KOA which was a deluxe campground. Honestly, if you've gotta camp, may as well do it well.  The kids loved the place, it came with free breakfasts, skelters, a petting zoo, mini golf, pool and so much more.  Highly recommend!

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!