Family time

Well farmers today we enjoyed a beautiful thanksgiving meal together with our extended families at Nana's house. We had approxmimately 25 people there. I especially enjoyed the visiting and fellowship. The turkey and green bean casarole wasn't bad either. Neither was the dressing, deviled eggs, pumpkin bread and strawberry surprise. Well to say the least we are a little full. Even the cows looked especially plump this evening on our drive that we took.

Well we are finished as of yesterday with our fall application of herbicide and top dressing of fertilizer. I noticed that it is getting pretty dusty here on the farm. We are in bad need of a rain. I'll post a picture of the sprayer after it made its final pass around the last wheat field yesterday. It is caked in about 1/2 inch of dust. Hopefully it rains soon, but I am reminded that November is one of the driest months we experience here in western Oklahoma. Perhaps we'll have a white Christmas! Because at this point I'ld take moisture in any form. Well, gotta go and wrap my teeth around some more turkey.

Thanksgiving Day everyday

Hello agricultural enthusiasts! This week we will be celebrating our national holiday of Thanksgiving. I was reading in the Oklahoman newspaper that a parent had heard from her little kindergartener that Thanksgiving Day was the day the pilgrams met to give thanks to the Indians for their help. This mama was quick to point out that the pilgrams were meeting to thank the Lord for his blessings and not the Indians. How quickly we forget that the Lord is in ultimate control and deserves the best thanks we have to offer in return. However, we can show our thankfulness to God by being thankful to those around us whom God has placed there to help meet the needs we have in our lives . Thank God our farmers are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to provide a plentiful source of quality food that we all enjoy. This enables all others to pursue adventures and jobs that they otherwise wouldn't be able to seek if they were primarily concerned with finding or growing a good source of food to help feed their family. God bless the American Farmer in this fruitful land of opportunity.

Parker's advice

This is to all you farmers at heart out there. Our 3 year old has been talking a lot here lately. What is unusual at least to me is that he thinks he has a farm plan that we should follow. He suggests that he drive the combine and then follows with all else who would make up the crew to help him harvest the crop. He thinks that I could drive another combine, his brother could drive the grain cart, his other brother could work the ground and the other brother could drive the truck. He thinks that his mama and sister should stay at the house to cook. Basically this little entrepreneur has it all mapped out. All we have to do is follow his plan. He has even allowed that Papa stay in the pickup to be the boss or get a new combine so he can show us where to cut. Well, I guess he thinks we all have our place. Maybe he's on to something bigger than what we think. I know I have found my place, right here on the prairie being a farmer. It takes a little different individual to get up every day with the sole intention to help feed people. Farmers have been doing this for centuries exhibiting much patience and perseverance. This road seems to be really clear cut. Work ground, plant seed, spray crop, harvest crop. But within this scenario is a vast field of enough variables to make my head spin. Maybe Parker will be one of those pioneer farmers of the future who will be feeding others when all of us are worn out from trying. I certainly hope that he will be. May God bless all of our farmers, past, present and future.

taking a breath

Well farmers we have finished planting. Wheat is all up and growing. you would be proud. We are even starting to topdress nitrogen fertlizer and apply chemicals to keep the weeds in check. It took a while to finish up planting because we got a large rain that kept about 300 acres from coming up. We had to completely replant 200 acres in one field and patch around in several fields to make sure we got an adequate stand on them. We have even turned the cows out to graze on the wheat that is closest to our house. They are much appreciative. Our wheat has had a bout with what is known as leafhoppers. Also, we've had many reports about rust getting on the wheat plants. If its not one thing, its another around here. Well, as for me, I've enjoyed my Sunday just about as fully as farmer can enjoy anything. Well gotta go. I'm off to check the weather reports!