July 2011!

Well another three weeks has passed and this family has been very busy keeping up with all the summer work and also the activities! Chris has been very busy getting the corn and beans prepared to be able to irrigate, and now that we are just about there, we've had some very timely rain to get a few more days worth of pipe laid. The wheat is finishing up nicely. Here's a picture of what it looked like Saturday the 3rd.

the same field from 3 weeks ago

some of the wheat berries we shelled out to check moisture

(these are the part of the plant that is ground up to make flour)

close up-getting dryer but still a little green-another week or 10 days until harvest

We also went to the cornfield to update growth and show what the field looks like after it has been ridged. This is the same corn form three weeks ago as well-noticably taller thanks to some great sunny hot weather and a few rainshowers along the way.

corn ready for water

 From the top-last chance I will get to take this picture.

Amazing how much it looks like our very own fireworks this way!!

 Chris in the corn-just for a height comparison-looks about 4 feet tall now-he is 6 feet tall.

I also got to take an up close look at the alfalfa-its ready to be cut again and the neighbors just happened to have some cut that day.

Just about ready-doesn't it just look gorgeous!

The neighbors just cut this earlier that day

Up close to the alfalfa plant and its bright purple flowers.

We were also very blessed to have my Aunt and cousin volunteer to take our children to Sioux Falls, SD for the weekend to visit my Uncle and his family (for those who haven't made this trip-it is eight hours by car!). It was strange-our kids have never been away from home that long without us but I am very happy to report they did well and are already ready to go back again!! We were able to spend some time with both sides of our family over the weekend and for that we are truly thankful and very much blessed to live our life in the heartland!!

Happy Independence Day!!

We are off to another busy week, the guys got the combine ready for wheat harvest today and more pipe will be strung tomorrow. Never a dull moment here!!