That Old, Familiar Feeling

So, we had a big weekend of planting. BIG.

It was nice. It was sunny. Great guns, folks, we were going great guns.

The intent of hitting it hard was not just to get closer to done that we already were, but to beat the big, heavy rains that were being predicted Saturday night into all day Sunday. We quit at dusk in time for Joe and I to head to town for a friend's birthday party ( a fellow farmer ), and the guys kept checking the radar, only to watch the rain that was supposed to come that night dissipate before their very eyes.

One tenth.

That old, familiar feeling of defeat by the radar came creeping back.

Sunday was a day that held a lot of promise. Good, soaking rains were predicted to soak in and help the little corn seeds start their life off in this dirt with a good drink.

Only, it didn't happen, and they started planting again, only to be kind of rained out, despite a really black sky.

Sixth tenths.

Grouchy talk. Griping at the weather man's failed predictions. In classic farmer style, never enough, never at the right time, and NEVER, EVER what we thought it would be.

So, here we are this morning. Quite moist (as witnessed by my massively curly hair I refused to fight today), but not moist enough. Not raining currently, but gray enough to tease you.

That old familiar feeling…

that I loathe.

Bee Happy!

So Bayer CropScience is my friend. I say that like they're a person, but the people I met through my experience at the Ag Issues Forum in San Antonio (remember that…like nine thousand years ago, when I was awesome and in a limo and on a panel and now I'm taking a garbage bag to my girls' obnoxious room that I cannot even walk in to put their LAUNDRY AWAY. Glory days…), were professional, fun, personable, and committed to best practices in agricultural innovations.

So, why not host a coloring contest to promote their Bee Care Program?

Why not?

For 25 years, Bayer CropScience has dedicated research to "ensure the protection of bees." They have developed several Bee Care Centers across the US and Europe. Did you know what a vital role bees play in food production? I really didn't. I just hated getting stung. However, these little buzzers are amazing and their role in our ecosystem is bigger than the pain of a sting!! For more scientific, more eloquent explanation, you can visit Bayer's Bee Health site here.

But, because I'm a mom and not an apiary expert (how's THAT for a fancy word???), I get to endorse the Bee Care Initiative through the Color Me Bee-utifully contest.

I won't bore you with the rules, but if you click here, your kids can enjoy a contest and it's awesome because you don't have to sent it it…you can snap a picture and upload it! Oh technology…I adore you.

It started on the 15th, which was last week, but I've been out of it, so I'm thankful it goes until May 15th.

Just a quick reminder, you need to be 12 years and younger to participate, because, let's be real folks, by 13, you should be awesome at coloring. Give kids like Amelia and Jack a chance.

Happy coloring!!

Too Much Information

So I took a blogging break. Could you even tell? Ha!

Do you ever feel like you've received so much new information in your life that your head may explode.

So you shut down?

That's where I am right now.

Shut down.

I generally err on the side of too much information, so this is not like me. I tend to roll my eyes at cryptic Facebook posts. JUST SAY IT, I proclaim. As a child, I detested the "I have a secret, and can't tell you" aspect of third grade girl drama (and to this day, despise it through some of my adult relationships). I generally tend to share most of my life's goings on, because that's who I am. I've never been considered mysterious.

Lucky you.

However, for now, we have to be somewhat annoyingly cryptic. I will update you all in a timely manner, as it's all good things, just overwhelming.

End of cryptic and annoying aspect of this post, and on to more farm-y updates.

The planter has been set up on and is sitting in the lot, ready and waiting.

The ground has been Turbo Chopped.

Anhydrous has been applied.

It's been b-e-a-utiful here, thus helping soil temperatures get to almost ideal after this crazy winter. So, we're ready. As I have mentioned in previous posts, the farmers in this operation have a bit of a superstitious bone, and didn't want to start on a Friday (thus our version of the "Last Supper," burrito style, in town), really didn't want to start on the Saturday before Easter, because then you'd have to work on Easter Sunday because it was just as beautiful, but who wants to work on Easter Sunday?

So, today.

Maybe.

It's a little overcast, and there's a chance for rain this afternoon, but maybe today.

Maybe today, we'll have the chance to start new. Another year. Another growing season, chock full of possibility and hope that this will be a "normal" year. Another time where we eat ham sandwiches out of coolers, see Joe for 15 seconds at a time, and try to keep Jack from stowing away on one of the tractors as they pull out in all their glorious massive size, deep green on tracks…a little boy's dream.

For now, I would appreciate grace as I wade through too much information, too little time with my husband, and too much opportunity for mischief with my seasonal single parenthood status.

Thanks for continuing to read, despite my spotty blogging presence. I do appreciate all of you.