Monica Weiand – Far Eastern Colorado
Guess it’s time for me to check in again!
You might be a HarvestHER if…
You plan your baby shower around expected wheat harvest time. Haha. I had mine on June 24th. We started in our wheat on June 29th here in far Eastern Colorado (see also: Kansas border). The shower was wonderful, I’m so thankful to all our family and friends for their support! Although the theme was centered around our horse hobby, a good friend did get us a pink tractor to add to the toy pile for Miss Nugget. 😉 Never mind it’s the wrong brand, we’re going for girl power here! I’ve also officially started the 3rd trimester! Doc says I’m doing well, which matches up with how I’m feeling most of the time. I have GOT to learn to eat smaller portions…
The summer heat is cracking up, and my tolerance for it is dwindling down. My endurance for longer days is also struggling. We were wondering just how harvest would treat me, then answered prayers came in the form of the boss’s two grandsons! They haven’t been around the farm stuff a whole lot, much less drove a tractor of any sort, but they are eager to learn and doing well! They’ve helped my husband in the shop getting things harvest-ready and are learning about irrigation sprinklers, including ways to get them unstuck. Ha! At the time I’m writing this, we’ve only had one good day running of harvest that I stayed out the entire time for training one grandson on the cart. It’s difficult for me to put into words what now comes as second nature, but we’re getting by. A few more runs and he should be good by himself. If not I’ve warned him there is a shovel waiting for him to recover any spilled grain. 😉
The other grandson rode with my husband in the combine learning how it works. The thought is we’ll work this grain cart in shifts. I’ll start in the morning and then mid to later afternoon, the grandson can come take over. It will allow me to keep my bonus daughter in the saddle as she practices for her rodeo finals at the end of the month, feed horses before sundown, fix some field meals, and in theory – REST. Maybe some housework/nursery setup. I’ve really got to get that going before Miss Nugget gets here!
I’ve enjoyed reading up on everyone’s harvest time! I’ve seen several recipes shared that I’ll try. This one is getting me by. I need to eat smaller portions, even when I think I’m starving. Funny how that notion seems to hit out of nowhere. When it hits, I’ll try eating one or two of these. If I’m still hungry, I take it that I need more of a regular meal and dig further into my lunchbox.
I also add in 2 scoops of a protein shake powder, chia seeds, cocoa powder if I want. It’s pretty variable to fit your tastes. You want the mix almost sticky so it stays together. Mix up, scoop onto wax paper & chill about 30 minutes then put into a ziplock bag! Keep refrigerated.
Can’t end this without a field update! We’ve been extremely blessed to have been spared by the hail, for the most part, so far. The dryland quarter we just finished averaged 80 bu/ac, 11% moisture, 60+ test weight (a few loads were 63!) and it hit 12.5 protein.
Happy cutting everyone!
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".
