Terry pulled half the pinto beans yesterday before the dew left and the pods became too dry. Pintos have to be pulled early so the dew will keep the bean pods from cracking open and spilling the pinto beans out onto the ground. Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.
Today he has been out there since full light. He hopes to get the other half of the field done before the heat hits.
Depending on the weather he will wait about a week then start combining the rows, gathering the beans into the hopper and then the truck and then off to the Beanery to be sacked and sold.
Rain clouds keep building every afternoon, which causes us a huge amount of tension. So far so good, the storms stay around us in the foothills and on the plateau, which is good.
Another thing that is good is we sometimes get a rainbow!
Feeding the bees seems to be working. I use a dollop of honey early in the day…by nightfall it’s all cleaned up.
Terry also said we are on the very last irrigation of the corn. Boy, has summer ever flown. Although, we will still irrigate the hay fields the work load of changing water is fast disappearing.
I’m not sure but I think most of the adult Hummingbirds have left, I still have lots of little ones feeding. I’m not having to fill the feeders as much so I’m thinking this is a sign the large majority of those delightful little birds have gone. I know the Bullock Orioles are gone since I haven’t seen any for two weeks now.
I’m off now to fork the bean ends back so we don’t lose any…those tiny little beans are what we’ve been working all summer to have. 🙂
Your friend,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I love that last picture! I love to see our hubbies on the tractors, because I don’t know about yours, but that is one of the hubbies favorite places to be and that is on the tractor seat doing field work!
LikeLike
All of the things you and Terry know about farming can’t be put into books. I read that the average age of a farmer is in their 50’s. I’m wondering how the information is going to be passed on.
Is that a dumb question?
LikeLike
Where has the summer gone? I hope you’ll be able to get the beans in without any weather problems. We still have a few hummingbirds around, but I imagine it won’t be long before they’re gone as well. I, too, like the last picture of Terry on the tractor.
LikeLike
Yes, the last photo looks like a painting–it captured so much.
LikeLike
wow, your season really has flown… hoping the harvest continues to go well!
LikeLike
The end of summer is fast approaching. Hope the weather holds for your bean harvest:)
LikeLike
Great photos,Linda.
Once the beans are spilled there is no way to pick them back up.
True in security, too.
Have a safe weekend, all. ♥
LikeLike
Magical thoughts and best wishes for the rain to hold off until harvest is done….I learned a lot from this post, as so often here!
LikeLike
Wonderful photos – especially that one of Terry on the tractor. Have a good weekend!
LikeLike
Interesting as usual to read what you are doing on your farm at the same time as what we are doing here in the Yorkshire Dales in the UK> Linda. Everyone around us is harvesting their fields of wheat to make whole crop for cattle feed in Winter. We don’t grow wheat – just grass for silage.
LikeLike
Time marches on…. I’m not sure I’m ready!
LikeLike
Every time you and Terry plant or harvest or pray for rain (or no rain), I think of what a huge gamble farming is. We are so blessed to have folks like you in this world. I would not have the chops to deal with the uncertainty.
Beautiful pictures, as always!!
LikeLike
Where can we buy your pinto beans? Your recent blogging I have thoroughly enjoyed. Thanks for sharing the farming life with us. Susan
Sent from my iPad
LikeLike