New Old Trailer

Michelle, here are a few pictures of the trailer. We're looking forward to trying it out -- but it may take a little longer than I wish. For some odd reason, Harvest takes precedence over anything else!

Freedom Board Family Fun on the Farm

Our recent hayride and bonfire for Freedom board members and their families couldn't have been held on a better day. Although a noon deluge left our favorite farmer drenched when he drove a load of big round bales home from Hudsonville (we won't talk about the wallet that ended up in the wash and the credit cards that got lost in the dryer!!!) the sun shone gloriously in time for the hot dog roast.



No one can do a hayride like we do. And, NO ONE enjoyed the hayride more than Hannah L! What a good time! And, in the end, while the old people chatted and sipped that lousy decaf coffee, the young guys solved the world's problems.

Combine's rolling

So, maybe the combine doesn't roll all the time! Our old green machine has been belly achin' a bit.


Finally, got it going again late this afternoon. We're hoping to have the soybeans harvested by Saturday. Then we'll have to wait a bit for the corn to dry a little more. No point in paying Crystal Flash too much for propane to keep the grain dryer going! No point in hauling a lot of water to the bin!

Wednesday, we're hoping for a couple Freedom guys to help put the floor in the bin that we moved two weeks ago. There's been no time to finish it and if we're going to be able to use it, the floor must go in.

Our new auger is a pile of parts at Topline in Zeeland. They're hoping we'd like to assemble it ourselves, as they are extremely busy. We'll have to see if we can find another guy and the time to work on it.


Tonight, the whole Krol family loaded into the combine for a ride. It's a tight fit! Good thing there are only two little boys.

A Day in the Life of a Farmer

Some days Elizabeth rakes the hay.



Sadie calmly supervises the whole operation.



Finally, the old baler goes to work, putting up hay for the winter.

Bin moving on down the road

PTL! God blessed us with perfect weather, safety, and fun. We made the turn from the neighbor's drive onto Riley Street.


Okay, so The Man was feeling a little pumped! He's been thinking of all this for weeks, waking early in the morning, measuring, drawing diagrams, buying bolts, taking 2x12s off the walls of his tool shed, buying more bolts...


All that excitement wears a guy out, so we had to let the younger generation help with the driving. Jason now wants to be a farmer :)

All that way down Riley, around the corner onto 56th Avenue and we did not have to turn away a single vehicle. We had the road to ourselves and really enjoyed it.


As the bin moved into its new home, only minor adjustments needed to be made in alignment. It's 9:50 p.m. and the bin is now fastened securely to the cement. The predicted rain, should it come with winds, will do no harm -- at least to the bin. Whew!

Kousa

This is why I love my Kousa Dogwood! If you plant one, find a spot near a window so you can enjoy it through so many seasons.

BF

Natalie Snuggles

Pondering Perry's Victory

Tugboat drew them in

The Men couldn't escape the draw of the tugboat.

Rare moment

Heidi's fever gave her a rare moment with her Papa...

Craziness in Ohio!

Wow! All that fun in Ohio with Eric and Lea Anne and Co., as well as Lea Anne's family, and we laughed the most at the playground! Not only did we all (Old Folks, plus 1947 S's) ride the train, but we managed to have parts of the six of us, together, in that one caboose :) And, wait until you see Eric's gymnastics...