Missouri

Last Thursday my husband reported the farm had considered putting on anhydrous. Prerequisites for applying this liquid fertilizer: ground thawed and dry. At nearly 70 degrees, Thursday was nearly ideal for getting started.

Today the thermometer on my computer screen tells me it is 18 degrees and the sunlight is bouncing off the drifted snow, causing me to squint when I look out the window. Naturally, I could close the curtains-- but that is not the issue here! What happened!

Admittedly the weather man is calling for a warming trend by the end of the week.

But at least the little guy will get to use the snow pants I bought him for Christmas...

January

What exactly is it that farmers do in the winter? I'm often asked this question; I think people expect me to say something like, 'it's our slow season, Brian doesn't do much.' Which shows me that the average American truly is removed from the farm, like statistics tell us.

Yesterday hubby got up at 6:00 AM to haul soybeans to the Processor. He was able to fill the semi from our grain bins (see pic), drive to KC, wait in long lines, unload beans, and drive back again twice. Lots of times he tries to get three loads delivered in a day, but yesterday he had to help haul hay for the cows as well. He got back at 7:00 PM. And that, my friends, is the slow season.

Depending on what grain he is moving, sometimes he gets a Saturday off. Or, at least, a half day. This is the biggest difference in our family between harvest or planting and winter or late summer.

That, and the little guy can ride in the semi-- no problems.

Maybe winter will turn out to be my slow season!