This Sucks!

 When I first thought of coming up to the farm, I envisioned warm weather, laughs, hard work and comradery with the boys.  What I did not envision was me spending a 24-hour period running between my bed and the bathroom puking my guts out with the worst case of whatever the hell this is known to man. 

It sucked. Cold, fever, chills, nausea, fatigue, I could go on, AND, I had to do it.... a l l   b y   m y s e l f. I will tell you right now, I do not think any single man has ever been sicker than what I went through this week. Nope, not a single one. I guess this sickness started on the farm about two weeks ago sporadically selecting victims from household to household. It did not even spare baby Tessa who is now an adorable 20 months old. Everyone thought it had run its course...until Bob S and I showed up. It hit him first; he was out for 24 hours. Two days later it hit me. Did I mention it sucked? Lesser men would not have survived, but I powered through and now I am back in the workforce while this sickness lies in wait looking for its next victim. 

But we did get a lot done this week. We have somewhere around 2,000 acres of wheat in the ground. They start with wheat as it is the most weather tolerable and can stand being in cold, wet soil without molding. We all have our individual jobs; Dylan pretty much runs the seed plant, preparing the seed for not only farm uses but for dozens of other farmers in the area. Mine is to fill and deliver the fertilizer trucks to the field. Actually, Ty and I both do this depending on what the other is doing. Bob S keeps everything cleaned and organized around the farm while Farmer Bob is usually running for parts to Minot when something breaks down or is in a tractor preparing a field for planting. Chris, of course is in the seeder. 

We all have other jobs too, like fixing things and cleaning up tree rows. And tree rows were the main focus for Bob S and I for at least two full days this week. The blasted North Dakota winds are constantly knocking branches into the fields creating havoc for the seeder so we would go up and down every tree row picking up branches or fully fallen trees. We even took out one full tree row. That was fun! 

I was in the payloader, Bob was in the skidsteer. Most of the trees had been long dead in this row and it was time for it to go. Here I am getting ready to attack the tree row in front of me. 

6 hours later......

We also moved a bin out of a field. It had been unused and in the way for years and it was time fit it to go. We cut all the tie-downs put a strap around it and I dragged/drug it to a slough where it will rest until we have time to move it again. 

Bob and I also took out several fence rows. Fences are a thing of the past in the kind of farming they do now. No livestock to deal with and they just get in the way.  We have probably taken out a couple miles of wire so far. The wire roller makes quick work of it though. It is so weird to think that what took someone weeks to erect several decades ago, we are ripping out in a matter of hours. 

Mishaps for the week include two people getting stuck. Farmer Bob was first when he was mowing around a slough and hit some soft ground. 

Then it was Bob S's turn in the skidsteer while moving a big rock. Funny, I had just mentioned to Bob that morning that he had not gotten stuck yet and whalla! You will notice two things in the picture, actually three. One, he is stuck. Two, the big rock on the ground in front of him and three, the special wave he is giving me with his right hand when he saw me pull out my camera. It really a gesture of endearment here on the farm. 

The weather here this week has been crazy. We have seen 80's and we have seen 20's. We have seen low winds and winds sustained in the 30mph range. One afternoon when it was 80 I thought it was the perfect time to go up and finish caulking around the vent and skylight on the camper roof so I got my caulk and a caulk gun from the shop and went up on the camper roof. Low and behold, what do I see? My caulk gun! It had traveled over 8 hours up there!

The weather at home was even crazier. Again, with highs in the 80's to be followed two days later with this.....If you look closely, you can see Zoe Belle in one of the pictures. 

No complaints though, we need the moisture and we will take it any way we can get it!

Barb has been busy doing Barb things. She is having a garage sale while I am gone and is getting everything ready. She has been out in the woods with her chainsaw limbing up trees and out in her workshop doing who knows what. I guess I will find out when I get home!

Last, but certainly not least, today is DeAnne's birthday. Happy Birthday DeAnne!