StillwatersIowa

I'm guessing our chances for any more fall work are probably over. :)  We had equipment out in the fields yet and worked this past week on getting them rounded up. This tractor gelled up on the way home. That means it's so cold out it's diesel fuel turned to jelly and wouldn't flow. Mike told me he would run to New Sharon and get some conditioner. As I was waiting in the tractor cab watching the snow blow across the road I thought, what if. What if the blowing snow closed the road? How cold would I really get even though I was dressed warm? So I hollered at Mike on the 2 way and told him I'd just ride along to town. We've had a real winter this year. Many folks are calling it just like the old days. Ain't it something how we remember the old days? Weathered means getting worn out by being in the elements. Or to wear away by exposure. This year has weathered folks. However it also has another meaning. To reach the end of a situation without too much ...

Good morning. I'm at a bit of a loss as what to visit about today. It seems if I talk about our week it's a little self focused. On the other hand if I say nothing of our week it's being evasive. You see, our family was given a trip as a thank you for doing business. Since Jan and I have been on this trip before I thought it might not be our turn this year. However our kids were generous and Jan and I spent last week in Grand Cayman resting, visiting, and just enjoying the warm weather and beautiful area. Last week Saturday morning we boarded the plane, backed out of the hanger, and followed the snow plow down the runway. Three hours later we landed, showed our passports, got in our rental car, and drove to Fosters to buy groceries for the week. I snapped a picture of the spice isle where just a year ago we met Dave as we were heading home. Dave told us about how he and Carol had come down for Carol's back disc replacement surgery which is not allowed in th...

Several Sundays ago after our church service in a village in Africa we were hanging around and conversing as well as one could with language barriers. The home folks were happy. They were outgoing. They were selfless. They were content. I was reminded that morning that contentment is an attitude and doesn't come from possessions. It was a Sunday afternoon before the Monday weigh-in of our county fair 50 years ago. In the grove of Ponderosa Pine trees north of our house in Union Mills my Dad was helping me teach my 4-H calf to lead. The cattle show was the following Thursday and we had some catching up to do. My Dad taught me a lot during those growing up years. I'm not even sure he knew he was being a teacher. He just allowed me to be along all the time. I learned to love farming. School took a back seat. As I became more and more help he gave me all the responsibility I could handle. A couple of years ago I started reading in the evenings to put my mind in neutra...