Favorite Quote #3

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen"
                                                                                 -Anonymous

Farmall vs. John Deere

I know I said that I'd post this yesterday, but my patient is requiring more help than I thought.  How is my patient you ask?

Well, he's doing better, just really really really really sore.  Did I mention that he was really sore?  All of his bruises are beginning to come through and they are worse than I thought they would be, but he'll get better.  

Ok, so now to my tractor story. 

I received the following sweatshirt from my brother-in-law, the Mechanic, for Christmas last year.  I really like this sweatshirt.  It fits perfectly and is so soft inside.

Well, one chilly spring day a couple months ago I wore this shirt when I went to the farm with LB.  We, ended up needing a couple of parts for one of our tractors.  LB and I had to make a flying trip to the John Deere dealership.  Like I said a few days ago, most of our tractors are Case IH, but we have a couple of small John Deere tractors. 

When we got to the dealership, LB asked me if I was going to take off my sweatshirt.  I said no, why should I.  He said, They'll give you a hard time for wearing the wrong color in here.  It'd be like wearing an OU shirt to an OSU game.  If you notice what the front of my shirt says...

If you'll notice, the sweatshirt says:  Crops are green, tractors are red.

So, I wore the shirt in.  Of course, the guys at the counter gave me a hard time.  LB explained that he and his dad had rebuilt a couple of antique farmalls.  And also that most of their equipment was Case IH, but not to worry because they had some John Deere too; which was the reason for this visit to them.  We finished our business there and the guy kept teasing me.  When we got ready to leave the man looked at me and said:  "Have a good you and your red tractor!" 

I smiled at him and said:  "I'd advertise for you too, if I had a shirt!"

He looked at me and said:  "I can fix that, come with me." 

When we left the store, I was the proud owner of a free brand new John Deere Sweatshirt.

It was so funny.  I told LB that if I'd taken off the sweatshirt I'd never have gotten the free one.  Before we could even get back to the farm, LB had called everyone and told them how I got the free shirt.  He said, all he had ever gotten was a hat!

Farmall Tractors

This is a 1941 IH Farmall M tractor.  LB, his brother, The Mechanic and their dad rebuilt this tractor together.  This is the second one they have rebuilt.  The first one is IH Farmall C, 1950 model.  They do not do field work with them any more they are strictly for show.  They have driven them in lots of parades and entered many tractor pulls with them. 

Farmall is owned by Case Tractors, they consolidated in 1984.  The IH or International Harvester is the name of the company that made Farmall and Case.  The newer tractors are now called Case IH.

 

We prefer these tractors.  We don't have anything against John Deere.  The Mechanic actually went to John Deer Diesel Mechanic School.  Our house would be considered a house divided.  Kinda like those license plates you see that have OSU on one side and OU on the other side.

 

With that being said, this information will help you with the blog that I will be posting later.

 

 

Your Farm Friend,

Amy

Unexpected Change In Plans

Well, I had a really cool post planned for tonight, but my plans got changed due to an unexpected event.  It was just another example of how rough farm life can really be.

LB and I like riding horses.   We both grew up with horses so we aren't gringos. 

We bought a new horse in November.  She is a beautiful, red dun.  We call her Red. 

We decided, since it was such a beautiful afternoon, that we were going to go for a ride.

So, LB was on Red, and she decided to go in a speed faster than a walk.  LB did not want her to go faster than a walk.  He plants his feet in the stirrups and pulls up on the reins; and before he could get her slowed down, the cinch broke!

Now, for those of you who are familiar with riding horses, know that a cinch breaking is never good news.  For those of you who are not familiar with riding horses, just know that the cinch is what holds the saddle on the horse.  The cinch breaking is never good news. 

The saddle goes to the right, the horse goes to the left, and LB goes to the ground. 

I was on the other side of the arena when this happened.  So, I run to him to make sure he's fine.  He wasn't.  The first thing he says to me is:  "I think I broke my hip and some ribs".

My first thought is:  "Great, Just what we need."  Then I think:  "We are 20 Minutes from the hospital and it's just him and I out here."  I have no help. 

Well, my husband is 6 foot 3 inches tall.   Not an easy person to get off the ground by yourself.  But, I get it done and I get him in the pick up.  I also have to get the horse untangled from the saddle and all the proper gates closed.  Then we're off to the emergency room.

After an hour and a half at the hospital.  And no broke bones.  I get one black and blue swelled up person back home. 

We were lucky.  He didn't have anything broken, but his side and hip is swelled to probably twice it's size.  And his bruises are beginning to show.  He also got several grass burns/scratches on his face and arm.  I'm glad that's all that happened.

Counting my Blessings

Amy

1936 Fire Truck

Well, I told  you several days ago that I would post pictures of the antique fire truck in our town.  Thank you Linda for reminding me!  I completely forgot!

Me Forget?

No way!  I'd never do something like that!

Well, anyway, I got them out tonight and here they are.

LB was very excited because he got to drive it!

It's 74 years old and will still pump water!

Who is that stud in their bunker gear?

There's just something about a ruggedly strong man in bunker gear.

(Especially if it's LB.  But, don't tell him I said that!)

See Ya, Amy

Chisels

Well, I told you that I'd keep you updated on the work that was going on at the farm in preparation for harvest, and I haven't held up my end of the bargan.  So, I'm going to update you on one of the things we did last week.

We worked on the chisel.  What does a chisel have to do with harvest?  Well, as soon as you get the wheat cut, you are running the chisel across the ground to get it ready to sew next year's crop.

This is a chisel.

Right now, there are sweeps on the chisel.  Sweeps are used to flip the ground over and kill weeds.  They are still on from the last time we used it.

This is a sweep!

We need to take the sweeps off and put on the spikes.

LB gets to do that job. 

Don't worry, we have it blocked up so that it won't fall on anyone.

Sometimes the sweeps are really, really stuck.

 Making a funny face makes it easier to get it off!

Once you take the sweeps off you replace them with spikes.

Spikes rip open the ground.  It rips the ground deep so that the ground will take water.

This is a spike.

We only run the spikes across the ground one time, then we put the sweeps back on.  We use the sweeps the rest of the summer until it's time to sew wheat and start the process all over again.

So, now if you have a piece of ground that needs to be plowed, you'll know the proper way to get the job done!

Happpy Farming

Amy

Post Script:  You also need to check your tires to make sure you don't have any flats!

I'm Here!

I'm here.  I'm just really really busy.  It's the end of the school year and there are lots of awards banquets and graduation ceremonies.  And to top it off it is wedding season.  Boy is my head spinning!

I work at a school.  Have I ever told you that? 

Sadly, Monday the 24th will be my last day.  Since we have moved, there is no reason for me to drive the 30 miles to my job.  I love my job.  I didn't go to college, so I don't have a degree, which means I'm not a teacher.  But, I work in the Library. 

 I started 5 years ago in the Pre-K department.  I was the aide.  I got to do the fun stuff, like work puzzles, play on the playground, color, and read books!  I did that for two years.  Then the enrollment number dropped and they didn't need an aide anymore.  That's when they moved me to the high school to become the Library Aide.  The library aide is responsible for checking in and out books of course, but they are also responsible for the computer lab and the Spanish class.  The Spanish class is my favorite job.  We get Spanish over the distance learning satellite.  So they have a great big TV and microphone that they talk to the teacher with.  I have learned a lot!  Why not.  I never turn down a chance to learn something.  But, Monday is my last day and I'm sad.  I have worked there longer than I have worked at any job I have ever had.   

But, It's ok because I am having some bigger and better doors opening up for me.  Right?

Amy

My Favorite Socks

As I have mentioned before, I don't wear white socks.  I have nothing against the color white, it's just that, if I'm wearing shoes that require socks, no one is going to see the socks.  So, why not have happy feet?

These are my favorite pair of socks.  I received them two years ago for Christmas, from my wonderful cousin Beth.  I don't think she realized how happy she made me by buying me Christmas socks.    But she did; because I love fun socks.  First off, I love holiday socks (Have I mentioned that yet?)  Second, It doesn't have to be Christmas to wear Christmas socks.  Thirdly, they are soft and fit like a glove (even though they are socks). 

I wear this specific pair of socks at least once a week.  (Except for in the summer time, because I am usually in flip-flops.)  I don't hardly ever put them in the drawer.  I wash them and then wear them.  They spend more time in the Hamper waiting to be washed than they do in the drawer.  I even wear them with my beloved boots.  For those of you who wear boots understand that these are not boot socks, because they are not tall enough to keep the boots from rubbing on your calves.  But, I don't care.  I wear these socks anyways because they make my feet so happy!

I encourage every one of you to go out tomorrow and find a pair of outrageously patterned socks.  Then take them home and wear them.  Then let me know if they don't make you smile at least once. 

Then you will know why I love fun socks.

Your Happy Footed Friend

Amy

Tornadoes!

I hate Tornadoes!

I know that hate is a strong word, but it's true.  I get sweaty, my heart races, and I become very anxious anytime there is a tornado anywhere in my state.

Unfortunately today there were tornadoes here in Oklahoma.  We here in Wheat country are praying for rain, but not bad weather.  Our wheat needs a drink, but if we were to get a tornado or hail, it could wipe out our crop.  We were fortunate enough that the tornadoes  missed Western Oklahoma.  BUT, the rest of Oklahoma was not as lucky as us.  I think after watching the news we all need to say a prayer for those families who lost their homes, or maybe even a loved one.  Tornadoes can be very devastating and scary.

I am very very very terrified of tornadoes.  We didn't have any stormy weather here, at my house.  We didn't even have any rain.  We did have some STRONG winds.  Winds that were reaching 60 MPH!  But that was it.  No devastation.  No scare, and I still became very anxious.

When I got home from work, I turned on the TV so that I could see what was going on.  That's when it all started.  My heart races.  I get worried.  I can't take my eyes off the TV.  I keep checking to make sure that the tornadoes are NOT anywhere near my house.  I also check the counties where my family is and give them calls to make sure they are paying attention to the weather.  I become filled with anxiety.  I can even worry myself into an upset stomach during times like this.  LB finally told me to turn off the TV so that I'd feel better.  So I did and all my anxiety went away.

I have decided that I have an unexplained obsession with making sure I know what is going on when there is bad weather.  I become all consumed with it.  I can't even think or do anything else.  I don't know why bad weather bothers me so much.  I haven't been through anything traumatizing.  So who knows what's wrong with me!  Is there such thing as a  bad weather phobia?  Because if there is, I think I have it!

Well, We are all safe and well.  Let's not forget the ones less fortunate.

Amy

Hay, Fire Trucks, and Holes!

I had originally planned to show you pictures of our fields after the hay had been bailed, but unfortunately that's not gonna happen.

On Friday, after I got off work, LB and I were supposed to haul the hay out of the field so that we could get it plowed as soon as it rains.  Which, keep your fingers crossed, is in the forecast for Monday.  But, I got a phone call from LB telling me that I needed to grab my camera and come down to the fire station as quick as I could get there. 

So, I grab Moose and the camera and head for the fire station.  Much to my surprise, when I get there, LB has somehow convinced the fire chief that they need to go for a drive in their 1936 Fire truck!  This fire truck was so cool, it had the original seat, tires, ladders, hoses, fire extinguisher, paint and pretty much everything else it came with.  It had never been taken out of commission, but was kept stored so that they could use it in parades and other special events. 

I'll have to post those photos on here sometime next week.

The guys even hooked it up to a fire hydrant and pumped water through it!  Who knows how long it's been since that truck has had water through it.

Well, since LB was playing down at the fire station, we didn't get to the field to move the hay until late.  I had planned to take pictures of the bailed hay for you guys.  So, when we get to the field, I jump out of the pick up to get in position to take some pics before the sun gets to low.  LB goes ahead and starts moving the hay, and I take off in a nice jog across the field.

Now, before I go on, I just want to let you know that I am a graceful person, I have just never learned how to use it.  So you should never be suprised at what kinds of messes I get myself into.

All of a sudden, I step in a hole.  Fortunately, I don't fall all the way down, but it definitely didn't feel good.  If someone had of had a video camera, they probably could have won a million dollars. 

 So, then, I was mad.  Mad because I should have known better than to run across a wheat field in flip flops.  Especially a dry wheat field where the ground is cracked and holey!

Needless to say I didn't get any pictures.  By the time I had recovered from my fall it was to dark to get any good pictures so I got back in the pick up with LB and we hauled the rest of the hay.

The End

P.S. This probably won't be the last post with a story about me falling down.  Just to fore warn you.

Hay, Hay, Hay!

Well, I told you that tonight it was going to be all about hay, so that's what your gonna get!

The kind of hay we have is wheat hay.  We cut the wheat when it is still green, then we let it lay until it reaches the right moisture content.

I love the way these fields look in the summer. 

This is what my 30 minute drive to work looks like in the morning.  All winter it's green because of the wheat.  You can't help but be happy by the time you get to work with views like this.  The yellow lines in the front of the picture are windrows.  They will bail those for hay.  The green in the back of the picture is wheat.  We will leave that to  mature and will later harvest for the grain.

LB and Moose waited very patiently.  So after I took my 100th picture, I got back in the pickup and we went to check the cattle.

The End

Your shutterbug friend

Loading Cattle to be Taken To The Feed Lots

This is the story of my rainy Saturday morning.

First:  Pen all the Calves into the lots.

"Who is that person with that weird thing on her face?"

(That's what those calves are thinking!)

Next:  Count the calves that are going on the trailer.

Then: Push all the unwilling calves onto the trailer.

These two didn't want to get in the trailer!

Neither did she!

Don't Worry, the guys coaxed her in.

Yes, I'm actually good for something other than taking pictures. 

I took the 4-wheeler back to the barn!

Tune in tomorrow for Hay!

Your Farm Friend

Amy

Beautiful Weekend

I love living on the Prairie!  It's so pretty out here.  On a clear day you can see for miles.  This weekend started out a little on the cloudy side, but it brightened right up and was beautiful the rest of the weekend. 

LB and I started Saturday morning out with a quick trip to the farm to help is dad with the cattle.  What was supposed to be a sunshiny day had turned into a rainy morning.  Never the less, the work must go on.  No matter the weather.  We got the heifers up and loaded in the trailer to take to the feedlot.  I saw this as the perfect picture opportunity.  So I found a spot and settled down to take some pictures. 

Unfortunately I haven't had the chance to get the pictures ready, So I'll post them tomorrow.

Sunday was a much more beautiful day!  I decided to leave the laundry for later and enjoy the beautiful sunshine.  I talked LB into driving me and Moose all over the country so that I could take more pictures.  Those too are still on my camera.  I'll post them tomorrow as well.

This weekend was definitely more play than work!