A Spring Planting Picnic
As winter turns into spring, there is a certain "rush" I feel. It begins in late March as the calving begins. With each calf that is born you're reminded how precious life is. Most calves are born into this world with good health and a good mama to take care of them. But, just like in the human world, some calves are born with challenges. Jeff spends many hours working with mama's to take good care of their babies. Sometimes he is successful, sometimes he isn't. Jeff often brings calves home to warm up on our heated garage floor. One day I arrived home to a calf trying to figure out how to get out of the garage and back to the farm! Of course, we'd much rather have that problem than the opposite.
As April arrives and the snow begins to melt, we're left with fields that are shades of brown and looking for some attention. This particular April has been especially wet with snow and rain, therefore flooding, too. So the feeling of being late for planting corn is beginning to turn into reality.
Finally this past weekend the weather seemed to warm up and dry out some of the fields. By Monday, Jeff was ready to plant oats. When I picked the kids up Monday afternoon Henry asked to go see his dad. I said sure, we'll pack a picnic supper for the girls and head to the field. As we turned into the driveway I explained to Henry that I would run in the house and hurry really fast. He was satisfied with that and said he would entertain his sisters.
I jumped out of the car making mental notes of what I needed and in what order I could get it done the fastest. I do love multi-tasking you know. Changed my clothes. Grabbed a cooler. The girls need fruit. Drained that and put it in a container. Vegetables--opened a can of green beans, heated in microwave, drained, and put in container. Main dish--spinach and cheese ravioli, heated in microwave, and put the container in the cooler. Two sippy cups of milk. Some Teddy Grahms for dessert. Two diet Pepsi's (Jeff and I). Bibs. Juice for Henry. Crackers for a snack for Henry and me. The mama bag (already packed with wipes, diapers, toys). I keep a heavy picnic blanket in the car, so got that covered. Stroller--my life line with the girls. Have I forgotten anything? I believe that was 12 minutes flat and I was back in the car. Henry asked what took me so long. Hmm...not sure. I thought I was moving pretty fast!
Off to the field we go. Henry has always asked about directions when we're driving, so as we head North through Union he asks if we'll be go by the big diggers. Yes, we turn at the quarry to go to the North Ranch, as we call it. We can see Jeff toward the back of the field planting oats as we arrive at the gate and work our way across the undisced portion of last year's bean field. We park next to Jeff's truck and some other parked equipment. Henry couldn't be more excited. I get him out first, then load the girls into the stroller and get their supper started. It really is a beautiful evening and finally I have a minute to lean against the bumper and relax. Ahh, my diet Pepsi tastes so good!
As Henry was enjoying running around and the girls were enjoying their supper I remembered my camera. So enjoy just a few of the photos I took during our picnic.
Mom, check it out. I can stand on one leg.
I'm getting so big I can't stand up in here anymore.
Hey, that's Dad coming across the field.
I'm going to help Dad plant oats.
What is this?
This is serious stuff.
Don't forget us back here!
Hope you enjoyed our picnic as much as we did. We repeated it again Tuesday night. We finished just in time to get home before the rain and storms came. No field work today.
As April arrives and the snow begins to melt, we're left with fields that are shades of brown and looking for some attention. This particular April has been especially wet with snow and rain, therefore flooding, too. So the feeling of being late for planting corn is beginning to turn into reality.
Finally this past weekend the weather seemed to warm up and dry out some of the fields. By Monday, Jeff was ready to plant oats. When I picked the kids up Monday afternoon Henry asked to go see his dad. I said sure, we'll pack a picnic supper for the girls and head to the field. As we turned into the driveway I explained to Henry that I would run in the house and hurry really fast. He was satisfied with that and said he would entertain his sisters.
I jumped out of the car making mental notes of what I needed and in what order I could get it done the fastest. I do love multi-tasking you know. Changed my clothes. Grabbed a cooler. The girls need fruit. Drained that and put it in a container. Vegetables--opened a can of green beans, heated in microwave, drained, and put in container. Main dish--spinach and cheese ravioli, heated in microwave, and put the container in the cooler. Two sippy cups of milk. Some Teddy Grahms for dessert. Two diet Pepsi's (Jeff and I). Bibs. Juice for Henry. Crackers for a snack for Henry and me. The mama bag (already packed with wipes, diapers, toys). I keep a heavy picnic blanket in the car, so got that covered. Stroller--my life line with the girls. Have I forgotten anything? I believe that was 12 minutes flat and I was back in the car. Henry asked what took me so long. Hmm...not sure. I thought I was moving pretty fast!
Off to the field we go. Henry has always asked about directions when we're driving, so as we head North through Union he asks if we'll be go by the big diggers. Yes, we turn at the quarry to go to the North Ranch, as we call it. We can see Jeff toward the back of the field planting oats as we arrive at the gate and work our way across the undisced portion of last year's bean field. We park next to Jeff's truck and some other parked equipment. Henry couldn't be more excited. I get him out first, then load the girls into the stroller and get their supper started. It really is a beautiful evening and finally I have a minute to lean against the bumper and relax. Ahh, my diet Pepsi tastes so good!
As Henry was enjoying running around and the girls were enjoying their supper I remembered my camera. So enjoy just a few of the photos I took during our picnic.
Mom, check it out. I can stand on one leg. I'm getting so big I can't stand up in here anymore. Hey, that's Dad coming across the field. I'm going to help Dad plant oats. What is this? This is serious stuff. Don't forget us back here!Hope you enjoyed our picnic as much as we did. We repeated it again Tuesday night. We finished just in time to get home before the rain and storms came. No field work today.
I feel like I'm in Iowa with you ... enjoying the fresh air and those kids!!
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You come join us anytime!
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Oh my goodness the girls are precious and Henry is darling! I really enjoyed tagging along via cyberspace on your picnic! Hoping to see you next week!
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