StillwatersIowa

Reform is to change and improve what is wrong, corrupt, or unsatisfactory. Folks can see things are broken in our country and world. Folks can feel we are at a critical crossroads. Folks aren't sure what to think about wars, weather, prices, and politics. However, in this boring first picture this morning, in the dark clouds, in the horizon, is a rainbow, a promise; "I will never leave you or forsake you". We continue to harvest here in southern Iowa in-between the rains. We continue to be blessed with an excellent, positive, hard-working crew. We continue to be thankful for family that loves us, covers for us during long harvest hours, and gives us a short break with evening meals. This past week we had the option of farm storage during the times the corn processing plant was closed. My job on this particular night was to watch the auger and make sure the bin didn't run over. Thank you Lane, for the phone charger and the flashlight. We were down a combine this past w...

At the beginning of a day, a job, a season, a life, I'll take unity over accuracy. Both are important. And often, both can be accomplished with planning, communication, and utilizing the abilities of all involved. This past week was a big week for soybeans in southern Iowa with bins, elevators, and processors full. In our operation, the further north we went, the less damage showed up in soybean samples. Soybean moisture stayed in that 11-13% range which helps harvest loss. It was also a big week for corn harvest. Most fields have firmed up, although there are still wet areas. Most full season corn moisture is now down to safe storage levels. Corn piles are starting to show up in many elevators.    Involving grandkids in harvest responsibilities is a good example of unity over accuracy. There must be boundaries for staying safe. There must be patience and understanding. There must be encouragement and affirmation. But like the rest of us, accuracy comes with practice and on th...

Starting young, our culture tells us to applaud our own successes and accomplishments. Getting joy and satisfaction from others' success and good fortune brings character to a whole new level. Kurt and Emily's, Jackson, and Karl and Kristin's, Malaki, chased combines with grain carts yesterday and loaded semis late into the evening hours. Thanks for bringing us supper Emily. Our crew had a long but good week of harvest, on both soybeans and corn, delivering to both the processor and finding bin storage while our semis were in line. pp   Don't be selfish; don't try and impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interest, but take an interest in others, too." Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)  A good week of harvest doesn't happen without repairs. Kudos to our crew for keeping down time to a minimum.  A couple of weeks ago I stopped in for a visit with Larry. We traded trucking stories. We talked about ...

Do you have a device that sometimes shows the fist few words of a text message? I wear a Fitbit watch on my wrist that keeps track of sleep, heart rate, steps, etc. Often I'll see the start of a text on my watch. One message in particular starts, "You seem to have had a poor night's rest. Learn to listen...." I can't remember what it recommends listening to or for.  Kudos to the gals for again bringing us supper in the field. Listening is the act of paying attention. It doesn't mean not engaging in a conversation. It could mean listening without watching a screen at the same time. It could also mean not being the expert on every subject discussed. Kurt, Matt, Roger, and Dean are helping move machinery to the next farm. We started the week harvesting corn. Monday afternoon Harris and I took our smaller combine out to try soybeans and by the end of the afternoon we were all cutting soybeans. Damaged soybeans in southern Iowa are an issue due to too much rain aft...

Jason lives a life full of wealth and privilege. When his grandfather dies, Jason expects to receive a large inheritance. Instead his grandfather's will has him set out on a journey of the real meaning of life in order to earn the gift his grandfather meant him to have. Jan and I watched "The Ultimate Gift" one rainy night  on TV. We harvested corn on a sunny Monday and a no rain cloudy Tuesday, delivering to both the processor and the bin. Then we spent Wednesday-Friday hauling corn to Eddyville in the rain. A farm shop with good help is a gift. And many rainy day projects help good weather become more efficient. I've seen more zero turn lawn mowers stuck this past week than all my previous summers combined. It's been a challenge keeping yards under control. After another 3 inches of rain this past week the gift of sunshine came out on Friday. BJ found some advice given 3000 years ago by King Solomon. Apparently he experienced weather problems back then as well. ...

It's raining in southern Iowa this morning. It has rained 6 days a week for most of the month of September. I'm recuperating. My staying power isn't much yet. My goal is helping with one or two jobs/day. Thanks friends for all your prayers. With 10 inches of rain already this month the fields are soft. Karl brought over our horse and he and Alex hooked it up to one of our grain carts. You might ask why we are fighting it? Wouldn't it be better to just wait?   Mature grain in the fields are not designed for extra wet falls. The tips of ears rot. The butts grow where water collects. Stalk quality is weakening. Soybeans are turning black. Is this a crisis? I'm not sure. But we are going to do everything possible to bring in a crop we spent all year in time and resources growing.  Many others are thinking the same. Our community's corn processor plant is busy with mostly new crop loads. Over the past couple of years I'm learning to take a day at a time, and enjo...