StillwatersIowa

  Good morning and welcome to the last Sunday in 2020. I've heard so many folks say they can't wait for 2020 to be over. They will get their wish Thursday night. This past Friday evening was our family Christmas in the cabin. Below are five brothers and a brother-in-law that have kept a positive focus on the events of our year. We continue to haul corn for ourselves and others. 2020 is definitely finishing with strong positive grain markets. Since we market a lot of grain ahead of harvest we are busy looking forward, planning and pricing crops for the 2021 crop year. Jim and I used frozen mornings to spread dry potash and phosphorous for ourselves and others getting ready for next year. No matter what the future holds it takes fertilizer to grow a strong crop. We had an opportunity and Mike, BJ, and John used it to chisel a bottom farm at night we were hoping could go back to corn next year. Last Monday evening Jupiter aligned with Saturn for the first time in 400 years and at ...

Good morning. These little, ordinary people (grandkids) are discovering how a varmint live trap works. The trap sort of smelled. The last thing Kurt had caught in it was a skunk. Last Sunday evening our church had it's annual candlelight service put on by our young people including five of our grandchildren. BJ and Cassia are youth leaders. Mike had to bring his dozer to our shop this week and replace a large hydraulic hose that had blown. Thanks to Ziegler Cat for parts and help. BJ continues to tile. Below he is putting in a dedicated drain line for Kurt and Emily's basement. Thanks for the picture Emily. I'm not sure whether cleaning out soybean bins keeps you young or makes one old. We cleaned up our last ten loads out of  four bins. Thanks to all our crew who willingly jumped in and helped. After getting a semi tire fixed I took the second to last load to ADM in Des Moines. ADM in Burlington on the Mississippi River is about ready to call it winter. Burlington loads ba...

 Good morning friends. The story of our lives is a series of transitions. A transition is a bridge from one stage, or season, or event, or idea to another. I know many of you have felt the transition of the loss of a loved one. Especially on the afternoon or evening after the funeral when the noise and the busyness of the event are over. Contrary to what some folks think, I sometimes just like to busy myself alone for awhile with my thoughts and my Lord. Last Sunday one of my sisters had a great idea to go and see Mom together. Through the window of course. She enjoyed seeing everyone. After visiting Mom we all had supper together at Donna and Roger's home south of Barnes City. Our weather has transitioned. We went from warm and dry here in southern Iowa to cool and wet. I'm guessing our field work days are probably over for this fall. Thanks for the picture Alex. Hopefully we will be able to continue tiling and dirt work for a little while. Mike has been busy building terraces...

 Good morning friends. My purpose in our visit today is to remember my father. To show gratitude for family and friends. To share my heart. And to honor God and show His faithfulness with this story. Dad started farming with Uncle Cornie after returning from serving his country in the military. My first home was a second very small house on a farm east of Lacey rented from Anthony and Harry who I think were brother-in-laws. Uncle Cornie and Aunt Marilyn were raising their family in the "big house" that was built in the 1800s as a stage coach stop. After moving 6 times in about 12 years we returned to this farm after Uncle Cornie moved to town. Brother Doug rents this farm today from the same families. Two things that positively affected our family growing up was having foster children and having a mentally handicapped brother. These additions, because of the examples of our father and mother, taught us to do our best to be helpful, caring, and sharing. My father taught me to ...