Times And Seasons

Autumn is a season of beauty and abundance. Autumn is harvest time. It is contrast and colors. You can feel changes coming this time of year. Heat starts to feel good in our cabs, vehicles, and homes. Because of the feelings of changes coming, autumn has a sense of urgency with it.

My favorite time of year is Indian summer. This late fall season, between autumn and winter, is a gift. Indian summer is a time given, to get things done. It isn't dictated by a calendar. Indian summer is a warm, tranquil, productive time in late fall after a killing frost. Thanks to someone. I borrowed this picture.

Yes, we are still picking corn. We're not starting quite as early in the mornings as we wait for daylight, however we are still running into the night hours. We're running a little behind, however it's still enjoyable. We've visited about a slow start in September and equipment letting us down. Another reason is there is just a lot of bushels this year.

Loren and Jean, thanks for designing and building the Thunder Creek portable fuel tanks for hauling diesel and DEF. We use it every day.

Speaking of lots of bushels, I want to try and thank those owner/operator folks who are alongside our own trucks helping us haul grain. Below is Russ and Ryan who usually haul ingredients over the road.

Good ole Eugene has helped us for years and is just about part of the family. Eugene is a widower and lives southwest of Oskaloosa. He always has a story to tell and is a walking history book.

Layton helps in between his own farming operation responsibilities. Andy's truck, which his brother Clayton drives, is in the shop this week. Brent and Jim are hauling fertilizer. Ken is helping Greg. I'm forgetting folks. I'll add them when my family reminds me. Just a huge thank you to all our help.

Indian summer is a gift because it means winter is very close. I don't consider winter a time of dying. Winter has it's own beauty in a time of hardship. Winter needs to be used for a time of slowing down and respite, at least mentally. Yes, plants have lost their blooms, and trees have lost their leaves, but they are still very much alive and have an inner strength in their sap. A live tree branch will bend but not break when storms come.

We had light snow one day while we were combining in Poewshiek County.

Just an update. We visited earlier about planting some late soybeans after a crop of rye. Those July 8 planted beans yielded 46 bpa thanks to extra growing degree heat units this summer, and a warm October. The alfalfa below them was interseeded into standing rye this spring and also looks very good.

We pulled Alex off the harvest crew and had him apply NH3 this past week for next years crop when it wasn't raining. We also had part time help running tillage with a high speed disk on our corn on corn acres. Thanks Alex and John.

Spring is a time of beginnings and early growth. Plants take rain and sunshine. Little folks take instruction and care as they rapidly grow and relationships as they develop and bloom into their own personalities.

You've all seen plenty of grandkid photos. This is Lyndie, part time helper and friend, Andy and Amara's daughter. Thanks for the picture Andy.

Summer is warm and a time of intense growth. A time when things are happening. A fun time. A time of strength and energy. In my opinion, in life, summer starts as kids start making their own decisions, and last until middle age. The autumn part of life is from middle age until about retirement age. A time of a touch less energy and strength. Yet a little more wisdom and experience. Working smarter where we used to just work harder.

Below grandson John, who is a sophomore, is in the summer part of his life. Lots of strength and energy. Still needs a little direction once in a while. John helped run a grain cart yesterday along side of Papa John, Kurt's father-in-law. Both are very good at it. Thanks guys.

I am in the Indian summer time of life. I'm on the back side of autumn. However good health and circumstances have blessed me to still be very active. As I said earlier, Indian summer is a gift. From God. Just like the Indian summer season isn't dictated by the calendar, the Indian summer of life isn't dictated by age. Yes, winter is coming. Maybe soon. In the meantime I intend take advantage of this gift as I seek to honor God, the Creator of seasons, and not miss opportunities to bless others.

I talked to my friend Rick this week. He has started helping out this conservative news channel. It has been enjoyable to watch his children get married and he is even a Grandfather now. Little Bella is still doing well. Blessings to you and Karen and family. Rick and his family stayed at our cabin for 10 days when he was running for president in 2012.

 

Many of us are at or approaching the winter time of life. Like I mentioned earlier, winter in my opinion is not a dying time. Yes, you may have blooms falling off. And you also may be losing your leaves. But you have an inner strength. This God given strength protects you from the storms more prevalent during the winter season. And just like trees, this strength helps you protect others that choose to use you for help during snowy and cold times. You may bend, but your branches will not break until your days are finished on earth. 

This little old house is on the Mahaska/Poweshiek county line.

Solomon says in the Bible that for everything there is a season. And a time for every activity. A time to be born.- And a time to die. In between being born and dying is the dash we have often talked about. Don't live for a career, feel superior to others, create a large bank account, have security in piles of stuff, and die. Let's use the seasons of our lives to live fully and relationaly like it depends on us (I know that's not doctrinaly sound). And pray like it all depends on God (because it does). Below Dale and Kevin talk about living and dying. Great job guys. Have a good week folks and thanks for stopping by.