Just Another Day in Paradise

Finally! We have all of our crops in...well we still need to cut hay, but corn is in and soybeans are in!

Talk about a huge relief. 

However, it was no easy feat...

You know how you dislike the rain driving into work? Ya, farmers hate this much of it too. 

Saturday was spent cleaning up our field that is at the end of the Cannon River. If you know where the Welch Ski Village is, our field is at the bottom. Needless to say it has flooded 4 times in the last 2 years. So, Saturday I was down helping Dad pick up the last of the junk that floated into our field. Luckily they had already cleared out the full size trees last week..with a log chain! 

On the bright side, the flood brought so much sand in I could go barefoot. On the downside, sand is really bad to grow crops in and I ended up getting something in my foot (I think I might soon have to visit the doc, duck tape didn't fix this one, and I did try!)

While we were picking up tree branches (these are not stick size hunks of wood!)..my cousin was tilling and smoothing out the clean areas. As you can see...it didn't go very well to begin with. He learned pretty quick to stay away from the edges...Luckily after ONLY about 4 attempts of backing up and pulling, shortening the chain and repeating, we got him out! 

We finished picking up branches and sandals and picnic tables...ya floods do a lot of damage..he finished digging, then our other neighbor came and planted soybeans. And ya know what? It rained that night and hasn't quit since! We got it all done just in time. 

My favorite part of the whole day (besides walking around barefoot like I was 5) neighbors kept stopping by to ask for favors and see how it was coming. They would help us pick up a few things and then be on their way after a short visit. That's what I love about growing up in this lifestyle. We were on a mission that day to get all of it done. Working as fast and hard as we could. Efficiency was our middle name. But, that didn't stop us from enjoying the time spent together and catching up on our neighbor's lives, asking how their elderly parents are or whatever else it may be. Just another reminder to enjoy every moment in life, and you will never work a day in your life.