Happenings on the Farm summer 2008

I'm outside taking pictures of items to list on Etsy~ but earlier I'd ventured into the machine shed, never know what treasures you'll find in that building. Tucked n wrapped laying on a flat bed trailer were mini birdhouses on a stick, hmmmm. What are they doing there? Mr Pete, these are to cute to be hidden, was my thought so up to the house they came, layed them on the brick ledge and resumed by picture taking, looked up and there was a baby bird sitting on these mini birdhouses. What a site not seen often, he was so cute. Lucky I had my camera so I could catch this moment. Looked away and it was gone, poof~ another baby bird had left the nest.
















We tiled out a mud hole this summer~ this is a big deal~ With heavy rain water sits in the lowest area, thus drowning out the soybeans or corn, hence you loose yields.

Yes we have city water too, even in the boonies~ years ago a rural tower was erected 20 miles away to serve the farming community and a few smaller towns around the area. Ours sprang a leak, the two of us were using between 40 to 50 thousand gallons a month...ouch~! I took pics of the machine~ so these are a few glimpses from the summer of 2008 on the farm.

The corn is growing rapidly, very lush and green, perfect amount of rain. I loved to sit and listen to the old farmers talk at the coffee shop in the mornings. One man would say: " you can hear the corn growing at night, if you listen to those ears ". The dog days of summer, helps produce dew, for the corn and soybeans, there leaves soak up the moisture to survive the heat of the day.

Taking a few pictures of the corn drying down I noticed an ear of corn with a few kernals laying beside it. Mr squirrel is dining today on corn and stashing it away for the winter.

Come back again as I'll show pictures of the harvest.

Farmhouse Story Continued

Can you hear the sounds of kids playing in the yard? Baseball or volleyball games, hide n seek, kick the can, and many more~!

Oh by the way, this is Pete's childhood home, oh the stories he could tell being the middle child of 12~ 7 boys and 5 girls. Shhhh~ Don't tell him I told you all this story, ok lol~!

The old saying boys will be boys is true~ Pete and his brother found a book of matches, a bunch of sticks--rags and built a fire under the front porch~ his mom could smell the smoke and came running out of the house to investigate.


They heard her coming and knew there gooses were cooked. In major trouble. Trying to put out the fire, as best they could, choking from the smoke as well. I asked Pete why he and his brother started the fire, his reply, facination with fire and flames~ bet alot of us feel the same way~ When we all gather his mom still tells that story.

When Pete and I were married we removed the old porch, sad to see her go since many a child played hide n seek beneath there, great napping place for the family dog as well~ Well nuff said about some of the farm stories. Don't want to bore anyone.

The Old Farmhouse circa 1915

She's a grand old farmhouse resting atop a slight hill~ built with lumber that was transported by train from the east coast. Imagine one of the 1st farm homes in our area, the prairie, with electricity and a bathroom, complete with claw foot tub. How wonderful was that.

Pete's dad told him this house cost a little over $6000.00 dollars in 1915 to build. These folks almost lost everything, the land and livestock, they had a good banker. There only son died of a pneumonia as a young man, this is why Pete's father was able to purchase the farm place.

Remembered another story~ a plague struck just after the turn of the century, many people died, they were buried immediately to help control the disease. In the deed records you can read the history of the land, purchased from the railroad. 2 children are buried in the large grove of trees on the east of the house. Neighbors to the northwest of us have children buried in there barn. Life was harsh on the prairie.

Enough of my ramblings~