The Farm Paparazzi

We finished up our corn harvest on Oct. 31. I proceeded to celebrate by going quilting. Tyler kept working at other projects. See how I am.

Overall, our harvest was successful. Good yields, few breakdowns and relatively good spirits throughout. Praise God for all the bounty and for allowing us to farm for a living!

When my Farmer Husband took the last pass in the combine and unloaded the last dump onto my grain cart, I literally did a happy dance in my seat. I love harvest, but once all the crop was out, I felt a huge sense of relief. No more worrying about corn blowing down or early snow making it hard to get in the field.

The very last pass of T&L Farms 2014 corn harvest.

The very last dump from the combine into the grain cart for corn harvest 2014.

We filled our grain bins up, so my Farmer Husband and Damon (our cousin and farm-team member), used some of the barley straw bales to create a temporary bunk for the rest of the corn. Part of the winter will be spent marketing the crop and delivering it to buyers.

Now that we’re done with harvest, my Farmer Husband will plan and prepare for next year. This includes wrapping up 2014 office work, settling up with landlords, purchasing seed and other inputs for the operation, maintaining equipment and fall/winter field work. My father-in-law also custom feeds cattle through the winter, so Tyler helps with that operation as needed.

“Playing with Diamonds.” The quilt I started right after harvest during the 2014 Wheatwater Quilting Retreat.

As for me, I think I’ll just put my feet up for a few months. That is, after all the housework is done, all my public relations projects are wrapped up, I check off the long list of tasks I put off during the busy farming season, I don’t have any more volunteer projects left and I paint the house and replace the baseboards. Then I’ll just lay around, eat chocolate bon-bons and watch HGTV and the Food Network.

We hope your harvest was successful and you’re able to take time to spend with family and friends during the holiday season.

God Bless You & American Agriculture,

Liz

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. – Philippians 4:6-8 (NIV)

Tags: corn harvest, diamond quilt, farming, john deere, Philippians 4:6-8, quilting, storing corn, winter farming