Annual Corn Harvest

Corn harvest got under way on September 7th in Rigby.  We've had a beautiful fall and wonderful weather for harvesting.

It seems like I always have an opportunity or two to keep up on my truck driving skills.

Truck problems were the major story of the first half of harvest.  It was all we could do to keep them running.  

Sergio operated the newest of our two pack tractors.

The kids look forward to visits to the field where they can mess around, ride with Dad, and help to deliver food.  At times the visits are infrequent because of the distance our crews have to travel.  Since we are doing the harvesting for farmers, they don't all live nearby.   In most cases we are chopping 45 minutes away from home.  So the fields close to home are a luxury.

The best part about riding with Dad is that he lets you drive the chopper.  

 It's hard to say who enjoys the experience more.

 I love this picture with Brent's silhouette reflected in the window.

Instagram Update

As soon as harvest started, blogging got put on the back burner.  In no particular order, our life according to Instagram.

1.  We found out that we're having another little girl.  "You're having a sister" was inside the pink balloon.

2.  Home grown meals.  It will be a sad day when we don't eat straight out of the garden.

3.  I got to pinch hit and drive truck for a night.

4.  Ruby reading her shirt "I love Mom."

5.  The fight over who gets to ride with Dad begins.

6.  Helping Daddy drive the chopper.

 7.  Eating our "Spud Day" baked potato.
8.  Enjoying the icecream and animals at Reed's Dairy.
9.  First official day of Harvest Break.  Went to the Potato Museum before running parts, phones, and food for the rest of the day.
10. Relocating a shipment of Precision Planting.
11. Gleaning potatoes with Uncle Tracy and Jake.
12. Trying out our new microscope at the River Bottoms.

Gorgeous Spud Day

It's happened before in rain and snow.  Regardless of the weather, Shelley celebrates the Idaho Spud every September.  This year was a beautiful day, so the kids and I participated in a few of the festivities.  The small town parade strung out over and hour and a half, with equally impressive amounts of candy.

 After standing with the masses "in line" we were handed our baked potato by Miss Russet.

 Trying to keep the hair out of her eyes when she ate.

The kids enjoyed the chocolate milk more than the potato.

 After lunch we headed up to Idaho Falls for a disappointing Harvest Fest.  We decided to make the drive worth it, we'd better stop at Reed's Dairy.  Their petting zoo was is full force, so the kids were delighted to eat their ice cream and pet the animals.  As always, our visit received high marks.

Watermelon Stand

If a person has a watermelon patch, you can bet they need a place to sell their melons.  And since Hudson was dying to make a ticket booth, we compromised and made this stand.

Mitchell oversaw the painting, while I was in charge of the measuring and cutting.  It came together quite well using mostly what we had around.  It should be versatile enough to use for lemonade stands, fruit stands, and whatever else the kids try to peddle.

 Once we had a storefront, we needed labels.  Nik came up with these beauties and I had them printed.  Despite the controversial beginning (read: husband thought they were unnecessary,) people have loved them and I've enjoyed branding our melons with them.

But before our watermelons reach the stand, I'd better take you out back to where the magic happens.  We are always getting asked, "how did you raise such nice melons. . . here?"  There are four key ingredients: sand, black plastic, compost, and drip irrigation.

Dalanie has become quite an expert at determining when the watermelons are ready to pick.  Some people tap & thump, some people look at the curly-ques, but her method: rolling the melons over to look for a "yellow belly."

 

 After harvesting them, they have to be taken to the wagon and hauled around out front.  Hudson has gotten so tough.  (After moving watermelons, he had no problem bringing a 25# sack of flour upstairs for me.)

 They are sold by weight, so the kids enjoy reading the scale.  Rumor has it that Hudson sold a 40 pound watermelon.  20# and under are $5, 25# are $6, 30# are $7, 35# are $8, and 40# and over are $9

On occasion, a watermelon will get dropped so we slice it up and give out samples.

Good thing a hydrant is nearby because these kids cannot eat watermelon without juice dripping off their elbows.

 

 We've had many a repeat customers who claim they are the best watermelons they've ever had.  So here's to many more years in the watermelon business.

As a side note, I've taken watermelons into both Hudson and Dalanie's classrooms.  We have made paper plate watermelons and counted the seeds, weighed & measured them, and even done watermelon worksheets before slicing one open to share with the kids.  It's hard to know who has enjoyed it more, me or the kids.  They get a kick out of the way I transport the melons into the school.