Wheat Harvest

While we were in Kansas, Steve had the privilege of helping with the wheat harvest.  He ran the combine for a few hours to help finish up his wheat crop that Sam farms.  I helped Jan prepare a dinner to take out to the field for workers as they were harvesting until after dark.

Here Steve was driving with Sam and Will riding along.  They were getting ready to stop for a dinner break.

The combines are huge and Sam is one of the few who has a Shelborne header.  This header harvests just the wheat heads and leaves a longer stubble which in turn holds in the rain and snow moisture better. 

We had a tailgate picnic.  The food was delicious and I am sure the workers really appreciate the dinner delivery.

A grain wagon follows the combines in the field and when the combine hopper is filled they unload the grain into the grain wagon and just keep harvesting.

The grain wagon then unloads its grain into a semi truck which in turn heads for the elevator to unload.  Quite a process.

I rode the combine with Steve one round.  These photos were taken through the cab of the combine.  This last one is just as the wheat is being harvested by the header of the combine.

The sunset was beautiful and they just kept on harvesting.....well past dark.

The sun just over the wheat.

And the sun is finally down.  I really enjoyed learning about wheat harvest and experiencing the beautiful evening.  Even though my young years were spent on a farm, we grew corn and soybeans.  Harvesting wheat was a new experience.

Kansas Crouse Kids

Steve's brother Sam and his wife Jan have five of the friendliest kids we know.  We had a great time with them when we visited northwest Kansas on our way to Colorado.  Below are our nieces and nephews: Ben, Pete, Will and Amy.

Their oldest son Max had an accident back in May and was in Iowa for a much needed visit with his Dad.  We are still praying for a complete recovery for Max....we missed you!

This is a  random picture of one of the flowers in Jan's flower garden - beautiful.  Steve is already looking forward to coming to Kansas for pheasant season.  Hey Kansas Crouse kids, Uncle Steve will be back this fall.

Getting Ready

Last weekend we took Austin down to Houston to spend the weekend with his Aunt Melissa and Uncle David.  We also helped put up a shelf, picture and the baby’s vinyl wall decal.  It took lots of measuring to get it just right but David and Melissa were happy with the outcome.

Baby’s glider and ottoman are ordered and this chair is just holding its place.

 

A few finishing touches remain, but the room is nearly ready for Baby James to arrive!

Hodge Guys

We sat outside for my Mom’s birthday dinner and after dinner there was plenty of room out back of the restaurant for some tag and tackle.  I grabbed the three Hodge boys for some quick photos while the lighting was good.

 

It was hard to get them to all look at the camera at the same time.

How about those Mohawks on the older guys….they think it looks cool.

Nathan (4 1/2), Ty (7) and Austin (13)

And my niece’s son, Kayden with Nathan and Ty.  The boys had a great time playing.

Mom’s Birthday Party

Who:  June Huntington

What: An 82nd Birthday Party

When:  Saturday, July 3, 2010

Where:  Koppe Bridge

Who Was There:

Hodge Family, Steve and Jana, Kay and Dennis, Stephanie, Ashley, Corey and Kayden, Mom (of course!)  Sorry…I didn’t get Steve’s photo.

We enjoyed good food, fellowship, sang “Happy Birthday” and celebrated with cupcakes for dessert.  I really think Mom had a good time being with her family on her birthday.

I’m Scared of Snakes

So…I hear the garage door open and know that Steve is home from work.  He doesn’t come right in the house so I think I might just run out to the garage to greet him and talk a minute.  I am just about to open the front door and the phone rings.  It is Steve and he says, “whatever you do, don’t come out the door right now….there is a six foot snake laying right against the front door”.  I scream a little and calmly frantically ask if he is kidding.  No he is not!  When the snake moves away from the front door I grab my camera and go out to get a photo of the slithery beast.

 

Okay…so he’s not so huge, but he is long!

 

Here he is headed back toward the door, so Steve grabs the rake to kill (wishful thinking) throw him into the woods.

 

These photos are not focused for a reason.  It is a miracle I even got the photos at all I was shaking so bad.  Snakes make me very nervous.  And I still don’t like that he is somewhere out in the woods.  That means he could come back!

Family Makes It Special

I think what made Melissa’s shower weekend so special was that both her sisters, niece, her mother-in-law and mother could be there.  Sometimes it is hard to find a time when everyone can attend an event and we were just so thankful that it worked out for the shower.

Melissa with her mother-in-law, Donna, who she adores:

Melissa, Heather, Shauna and her daughter Kylie (my favorite girls in the world):

Just the sisters:

Melissa and I:

And the expectant mother (28 weeks):

Expectant Parents:

It was a fun day.  Now they can set up the nursery, enjoy marriage before children and wait for the birth.

Baby Shower

Melissa’s friends hosted a baby shower/brunch to celebrate the upcoming birth of Melissa and David’s first son.  Everything was perfect; the decorations, the brunch, the fellowship and the sharing of wisdom.

The hostesses with Melissa:  Diana Brock, Danielle Wynne, Melissa, Renae Westcott and Lindsay Garrett.

Photo of the brunch table and flowers:

Gorgeous!

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There were friends from childhood (Melissa and Layne Murr):

And friends made during married life:

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I have not seen so many pregnant young women in one place for a long time.  Half of Melissa’s Sunday school class must be pregnant.  Very happy young ladies.

Several ladies shared words of wisdom for motherhood with Melissa………it was a special time:

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There were a couple more ladies that shared (including me!), but I didn’t get pictures of them :(

And of course there were lots of gifts.  Melissa was literally showered with gifts and love.

 

 

It was a lovely day.  Such a happy time awaiting and anticipating a new life!

Bump Watch

Baby James has been doing his thing….growing and growing.  Here is Melissa at 28 weeks.

She may not appreciate the bump attention right now, but someday she will love looking back on when she was carrying her first child.  He has got about 12 more weeks of growing so we will see how Melissa’s body continues to change.  So far no swollen feet….yet!

Eighty-two

Happy birthday to my Mother!  Looking forward to spending time with you this weekend.  Hope you have a special day!