MIA

Let's see. I did talk to my husband on the phone yesterday. And I watched him run out the door on Tuesday morning. So I know he's still out there. But I'm pretty sure our toddler thinks Daddy is Missing In Action.

We were supposed to get rain yesterday, but didn't. (!!!) The forecast predicts more rain for today. So even though it is not actually dry enough to be doing some of these jobs, the guys have been working round the clock trying to beat the storm.

I think they have sprayed several fields; I think this because the weeds in the field around the house are turning yellow and drooping in a way most becoming to weeds. I also think they may have accomplished some dirt work and various other "mostly-dry" tasks.

But, in fact, I really do not know.

Because I haven't seen my husband in a couple of days...

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It certainly does not feel like spring. Spring should be warm (or at least not snowing) with cheerful tulips and magnolia trees in blossom. Instead we have frost advisories and rain, rain, and more rain. Which, naturally, puts a bit of a damper on the farm's plans.

Brian would like to be done with anhydrous by now, in reality he has hardly started. Corn could be going in the ground within a week or two; I count us blessed if the ground dries out by the end of the month!

They are hauling a lot of grain to town on a somewhat miraculous contract. The Chicago Board of Trade is not paying much of anything for commodities, but the local markets still need corn and beans. Brian and his Dad worked a deal with a local plant to deliver corn now at a great price! It meant locking in prices for next year-- which is an uncertain business-- but for the moment it appears to be a great deal, both now and next year. The other plus, the little guy can ride in the semi as Brian hauls the grain. Provided he doesn't scream in his car seat for pancakes all the way to Kansas City and back that is!

So if you are reading this from some sun drenched plain or scorching desert, please. Share.

Happiness

We love movies.

For Christmas a few years ago we bought one of those DVD holders and we chose a big one so we could "grow into it." Well, we also got each other enough DVDs that the shelves were nearly full by New Year's.

But I have no idea about any movie filmed within the last four years. No clue. At all.

We don't have any TV channels; cable is expensive and mind numbing and none of the public channels reach our rural home without an extensive antenna system. So we rarely see commericals. And to see previews you'd have to go to the theater. I think we see the inside of the AMC 12 about once a year. So like I said-- I have no idea about any movie filmed after 2004.

BUT! There were plenty of great movies filmed before
then :-). And while the average person could rent one at the local Movie Gallery or grocery store, us country bumpkins don't like to drive all the way into town to pick one out only to have to drive all the way in again to return it. The solution? Buy movies at Wal-Mart. From the $5.00 bin. Which means the selection is limited, but hey.

Last night we enjoyed our raining holiday by dropping by one of our farm landlord's with a check and stopping at Wal-Mart to check out the amazing array of cheap films.

And honestly, I can't tell you how much fun it was.

See, for $5. 27 money really can buy happiness after all.

More of the Same... Weather

.04 inches of rain. That is what the digital gauge is reading, but it is apparently enough to bring harvest to a grinding halt. And within just a few hours of finishing the beans. Aargh. NOAA has big predictions for rain tonight (90%), so I doubt it'll be back to the fields for a while.

On the bright side it is not snow! Some forecaster was predicting just such weather. After I hunt him down and let him know exactly what I think about bringing THAT word into our vocabulary, I plan on being glad of it.

And as I read back it seems a lot of my posts are about the weather. Funny enough it seems as if my life might revolve around rainfall, temperature, and wind. For my next blog I'll just link ya'll directly to the day's forecast...

Undecided

Do you ever find yourself in a position where you don't know what to think? Not, unable to think, which does seem to vex me more often than it should considering I'm still in my 20s. But pulled in two directions, feeling that to root for either side would be okay-- but should you?

No, this is not about the election.

Its about the weather.

Ironically, no matter what I think, I have very little (okay, no) control over the weather. So why the worry? Well, I guess its just the life of a farm family. Brian has been in the combine for almost two weeks straight.

Which is good. We are getting near the finish line for harvesting soybeans. Just a few more days and we could have them all in the bin. Then we'll start back on corn. And there is a lot of that to harvest. And it needs to be in the bins before a storm can knock it over or the deer eat it or snow stops our progress in the field. And all of these are very good reasons for wanting the weather be fair and sunny.

On the other hand-- I miss my husband. Its amazing how many things I need to tell him, but I feel as if I've hardly seen him. A quick phone call here or there to discuss the most important stuff. A few rides around the field to talk about how harvest is going. A speedy kiss before he runs out the door in the morning. I miss my husband.

So... what to wish for? Rain, sun, sleet, hail-- oops, not hail. Just get the harvest over with as quickly as possible and then he can come home, or a small break in the chaos to spend an evening with us? Ugh. I just don't know.

God knew what he was doing when He did not bequeath me power over the weather. Wth my whirling thoughts we'd probably have a tornado.

The Perfect Nursery Rhyme

Rain, rain, go away

Come again another day.

Little Johnny wants to play.