The Pleasant Farm

Life & Family

Sisterly Love April 15, 2012

Filed under: Family — Jess Z. @ 10:32 am
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I’m not known for having a very fantastic memory– Todd often points out people who were in my own graduating class because I simply don’t remember them (and if I’ve passed you in Walmart, I apologize!).  So I’m certain the memory I’m about to share actually happened, I just can’t promise any details.

For some reason, I think it all started in a grain truck of soybeans.  My sisters & I loved playing in corn or beans; it sure beat the cat-poop-infested “sandbox” we had in the yard (which was actually a tractor tire filled with sand… but we still loved that too!).  In today’s world, such fun would probably be frowned upon by those who think their kids are best kept inside a hypoallergenic home that’s kid-proofed to the max.  Anyway, one of my sisters ticked me off.  I can’t even tell you which sister it was, although Julie might be a safe assumption since our sharing a bedroom was the preface to a generally unstable tolerance of each other.  I voiced apparent hatred of my sisters to my mom, whose reply I wish could be shared verbatim.

“Don’t say you hate them.  They’ll grow up to be your best friends.”

For the hundredth time I’ve realized it, with hundreds more realizations to come, my mom was right.  Although at the time, I’m sure I knew better than her that I didn’t need sisters when I had friends.

It works against the law of averages that my parents would have 4 daughters.  Today, it seems nearly everyone I know who have produced multiple children have had statistics in their favor: daughters & sons, in any mixed order.  I don’t understand how relationships work between sister & brother, but I’m disgustingly lucky to be blessed with three sisters who are honestly also best friends.  It seems like drama is involved in most female relationships and while we encounter our share of “drama”, no such thing dictates our relationships with each other.  My sisters have answered a billion of my questions, from the ones I’m too dumb to deal with (“What’s the sale price if this shirt is 30% off?”) to the ones overwhelming me (“I’m having a breastfeeding problem!”).  We have all stood up at each other’s weddings, meaning many close friends had to be shaved off potential bridesmaids lists with 3 automatic maids already lined up.  Now our lives are filled with children as well, and the amount I lean on my sisters for advice & sanity keeps growing.

All this memory lane crap is leading up to my sharing of pictures from my little sister Jackie’s baby shower this past weekend.  It may have been a rainy day on the outside (particularly ominous of a baby shower don’t ya think?  Hahaha) but the inside was sunny with family & friends (and ALL the sisters!) sharing the excitement for Baby Boy Becker’s approaching arrival.  What a great opportunity to shower Jackie with love (I just keep cracking myself up) and feel the blessing of sisterly love as well.

 

Workin’ It April 13, 2012

Filed under: Farm — Jess Z. @ 1:19 pm
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It’s only April, but the mild Spring means farmers are hittin’ the fields hard already.  The anhydrous is being applied, ground worked, and corn planted in quick succession.  Some who’ve had a busy week might be glad for a break this weekend– the threat of rain has been pretty ominous!

Before the work can be done in the fields, maintenance has to be done on the tractors and implements.  Here’s the two tractors ready for work: the one on the left is hooked to a field cultivator, the one on the right is hooked to the planter.  No matter how thorough everything is checked/replaced/improved before hitting the field, chances are something will still break.  Such as… the air conditioner.  But hey, better the air conditioner than most any other part!

Here we are, ready to get going!  I thought it was difficult getting out of the house with everything I’d need during a day in the tractor, but put a baby in the mix and it took me a hundred times longer to get out of the house.  So much for just grabbing a cooler on the way out the door!

It’s no secret that Trent is a fan of bouncy rides, and it sure didn’t take him long to konk out in the tractor.  There’s a good chance he inherited my sleeping gene– it was a rough ride but we had him snuggled tightly.  When I was on my own, I was able to speed up and hit the bumps a little harder.  Good thing there was no chance of my water breaking this time.  Actually, this was the first day in the tractor since I finished chopping corn silage last fall… with my water breaking as I climbed down the ladder…

Trent & I ran the field cultivator through the field to make the ground into a perfect medium for a seed to thrive.  This was about the time I realized the air conditioner wasn’t working– off came Trent’s sweatshirt and socks.  I yanked up my pant legs and pushed up my shirt sleeves, but otherwise stayed completely clothed, thankyouverymuch.  He never once fussed, so I think he enjoyed it.  He slept, woke up and played, and then fell asleep a second time.  Clearly he enjoys my singing as much as he enjoys the bumpy ride.  It’s soothing =)

Now Trent’s watching his grandpa get started planting the corn.

 The dust was flying!  It was a perfect day to work ground… not a perfect day for trying to crack a window and find some cool air!

Working ground is extremely satisfying to me.  You can tell on the right where I’d been, and on the left where I had yet to cover.  Slowly but surely I always get to the far end of the field.

Dad’s kickin’ up the dust on his end of the field too.  It was difficult to get a good shot out my tractor window while hitting bumps aggressively, so pardon the slight blur!

Break time.  I stepped out towards the end of the field to snatch this picture: the blue implement is the field cultivator and the red one is a rolling harrow.  They work together to make the field into a massive garden.

At this point, I was done and put her in park.  You can see my dad still going with the planter in the distance.

Hopefully we’ll get a nice, gentle rain this weekend and by next week I can come out and look at tiny green corn plants reaching for the sun.

Funny story: so here we were in rural country, a house here & there but fields as far as the eye can see.  I took this picture at the same place my nephew John (3 1/2 years old) pointed towards the distance and excitedly said “Look!  There’s a field over there!”  Love him =)

We’re not done with the field cultivator, not done planting corn, and not even started thinking about soybeans.  But it’s only April, and we’re off to a dang good start!  I’m happy to know that Trent likes to ride in the tractor.  Company sure is nice!

 

Dear (7-Month-Old) Trent April 9, 2012

Filed under: My kid's growing up! — Jess Z. @ 8:33 am
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Dear Trent,

Let me tell you right now– you’ve got it good.

There will come a day when I, your mother, will be your worst nightmare.  At least that will be your opinion.  You’ll probably blame me for all the woes in your life and think my purpose in life is to make yours miserable.  Maybe your dad will be my partner in crime– together, we’re out to get you.

This day may come when you’re 3 and we make you take a nap.  Or when you’re 10 and I pick you up from school right by the front door– with your friends watching.  Or when you’re 16 and we make you come home by midnight.  Or when you’re 17 and get caught doing something you weren’t supposed to (I’m leaving this thought as ambiguous as possible because I don’t want to think about all this could entail).  Yep– I am your worst nightmare.

But maybe someday when you’re absolutely hating me and cursing the fact that God put you on this earth from my womb, you’ll find this on the internet.  If the internet still exists in any familiar form by then.

You have it good.  Celebrating Easter this past weekend is an awesome reminder of how freaking loved you are.  You have 2 sets of grandparents and aunts & uncles who spoil the crap out of you, never tiring of the smiles you dole out indiscriminately.  Your church family lights up when they see your face, and no one complains when you get fussy in the balcony.  You’ve got a mom & dad who not only feed you and wipe your butt, but have also made it their mission to raise you surrounded with fun, learning, respect, and (duh) LOVE.

Nope, not friendship love.  Not “I’ll never let you cry” love.  Not “my kid is superior” love.  Not fickle love, not faltering love.  Rather, the kind of love that began with the decision that your dad & I wanted you in our lives… love that grew with God’s blessing to send you to us… love that continued to grow with 9-months of carrying you in my belly through the hottest summer on record, while you had never-ending dance parties with my bladder & ribs… love that pushed our hearts to new proportions when you arrived as perfectly as we could have hoped… love that continues to grow with every single day that we have the opportunity to nurture your little body and expanding personality.  And this will continue for every single day, whether you’re 3 years old or 10, whether you’re 16 or 26.

So go ahead and hate us when we stick to our mission to raise you right.  Slam your bedroom door, scream into the carpet, shoot us a glare.  It will suck.  Chances are that I’ll shed more tears than you.  But even when you’re hating us, blaming us for your crummy life, wishing you were living under someone else’s roof, I know that 7 months of having you in our lives has proved one absolute thing.

You are loved.  And in your core, you will always know that.  It’s part of our mission too.

Love,

Mom

 

We’re Beating Cancer, One Bald Head At A Time April 1, 2012

Filed under: HPFD,Pictures to Share — Jess Z. @ 8:49 am
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Saturday, March 24, 2012 marked the 3rd Annual St. Baldrick’s event held in the Highland area.  Volunteers with big hearts reached out to their community to raise money to help cure cancer for kids, with their fundraising efforts topped off with shaving their heads at the event.  Those who participated, including paramedics, EMTs, and firefighters from Highland Fire Department and Highland-Pierron Fire Department, wore pins encouraging others to “Ask Me Why I’m Bald” in hopes to spread awareness.

While children facing cancer is a heart-wrenching reality in our world, the St. Baldrick’s event is an upbeat day of smiles, activities for kids, and plenty of good food.  Friends and family of the participants shaving their heads (really just a short buzz-cut, razors could be just too dangerous you know!) gather around the stylists who volunteer their time and tools to make it all happen, cameras clicking and jokes flying.  It may take most people a small amount of time to shave their heads, but the stylists at St. Baldrick’s took their time with each participant: everyone’s head of hair went through multiple phases of design & absurdity!

St. Baldrick’s raised over $2000 this year at the Highland Area event, money that will all go towards finding cures for cancer afflicting children.  Everyone who volunteered & participated can’t wait to do it all over again next year!