StillWatersIowa: Close

The definition of close is near to. That relates to space, time, things, and people. This bridge is a close fit for our sprayer. It crosses the North Skunk River and the little plaque on it said it was built in 1920. If you think about it there were probably not many motorized vehicles back then.

This photo is close to my heart. Kurt, Karl, and six of their friends were just ready to leave for a couple of days of Prairie Dog hunting at a rancher friend in Montana. Right after the picture was taken it was suggested that we all pray together for safety. Little did we know that our prayer would be answered just 14 hours later when life was spared after an unfortunate accident. These same 19-22 year old boys stood around their friend's hospital bed and prayed again in South Dakota before they came back home.

As trucks get bigger some yards seem to get smaller. It tests a persons backing skills in close quarters manuvering under the auger. We cleaned out a number of grain bins during those hot weeks.

Another trick is driving down 30 inch rows late in the season with the sprayer. Most beans in southern Iowa are narrower but a few use the same row width as their corn. When the soybeans are waist high or taller you have to watch closely when you spray for bugs and desease.

When you are in the custom work business working for other people sometimes you have to do your own jobs in the off season. Here we are tiling on Karl and Kristin's farm right through the corn crop. Although it initially looks bad, the losses are minimal compared to the results.

Last weekend we had Brian and Becky's kids overnight. Do any of the rest of you remember when you were a kid and you only had a bath on Saturday night? Plus I remember my Mom telling me I had to save water because hot water cost money. Wow, how things have changed.

Sometimes when we are doing dirtwork we will give the little kids a job while the big folks are working on something more important close by. It teaches kids responsibility and helps them feel included. Here John is trying to dig out a stump and keeps pulling himself closer to his work because the stump is stubborn.

One evening Cassia brought us supper to the field while we were tiling across from Karl and Kristin's house. The musical group Rascal Flatts had a song out a while back that talked about things that made you feel close. There have been a number of things over the past couple of weeks that made me feel close to my work, my family, and my God.