StillwatersIowa

Why do we do what we do? Maybe because it's what we've always done? Maybe to make a living? Maybe because we enjoy it? Karl is checking a three day old plant, hopefully the beginning of a soybean crop. There are always details behind accomplishing a successful result. Below Laremy is picking up some soybean seed. He and Nicole have a daughter baptized this morning. Congratulations. Matt and BJ are having a visit with Karl who got home late and is fueling up his sprayer for the next day. One night someone suggested since the McDonalds driveup was open all night we go get some ice cream in between loading bean seed for the planters.     We must be almost to the finish of the planting season. The seed shed is empty. Thanks for the picture Alex.  Karl spent all week spraying ground planted to soybeans.   Kurt spent all week spraying planted corn. His week was interrupted several times by breakdowns. Kurt ended the week put...

Fieldwork this spring has happened in spurts in between rainy spells. Fortunately folks have been productive during the dry spells. Last Monday we received two inches of rain. It has also been cooler than normal. So we had a slower week.   Mike was able to build a terrace on pasture land. We worked on keeping machinery in tip top shape. A number of farmers came to pick up their soybean seed in preparation for the next round of planting. This has been a week of graduation parties. Congratulations to Lucas, Aaron, and Cory. Thanks for the picture Sue. High School graduation is a transition between living at home and being on your own heading in a certain career direction.   Since it has been a slower week Brad and Julie got the camper out and enjoyed a weekend camping with their girls and friends. We have a tradition at our church on Mothers Day where the men sing a special number for the gals.   Folks...

It happens every year. About mid week folks came for a few bags of seed corn to finish up and by Friday the seed beans were rolling out by the tender fulls. Our countries farmers have an amazing ability to get the crop in when given the opportunity. Many went day and night anticipating a break mid week due to the 80% chance of rain that was coming. By Wednesday midnight it was clear it wasn't going to rain in our area. So Thursday morning everyone kind of regrouped and went back to work. It's not just the guys that work extra hard and have long days this time of year. Today is Mothers Day and I'd like you to remember and honor all the gals that support and keep their men going by holding down the fort back home. Mom's make supper and give baths only to notice later that her crew has put their gum boots on and are riding through a mudhole in their pajamas. Mom's let their little guys race motorcycles even though they're not totally crazy...

It was one of those enjoyable warm Sunday afternoons. Jan and I often go for a ride. We were looking at the results of a tiling project. After Jan had picked some wild flowers and we were returning home we noticed a storm building to our southwest. I don't have a picture of the rain and wind. I do remember how unusually green the pond looked as I put a couple of pickups inside just before the storm came. As we watched the storm from our porch things came flying by and I started worrying about our guests celebrating a birthday in the cabin. Minutes later we got a call from Karl and Kristin. They had lost two buildings and several trees. Kristin's pickup also got beat up. Across the road from our house the wind had taken one of our small machine sheds and dropped it in a planted corn field. Several firemen were out tracking the storm and taking pictures of the damage. They pulled off the soft road too far and got stuck. 90% of Mid American Energy customer...