The weather turned extremely cold—no rain or snow.
“Humm, I wonder if the moisture has dropped in the corn? I think I’ll run some down and have it checked” Terry said, heading out the door to the closest corn field.
“Okay, I’ll be down at the other house; I’m just about done down there.” I answered him.
“13.1% and there is a HUGE line down there, over 20 trucks waiting to unload.” Terry announced as soon as he got back. “The guy at the Elevator told me the number then laughed –‘No more sitting around watching T.V. for you!”
After he got the truck loaded, he backed it into the carport and we covered the bed with the blue tarp —- freezing our fingers off as we tied the flaps down so the corn would be safe inside, if the freezing wind decided to give us rain/snow/sleet to our area.
So far the bad weather is just around us…the mountains look like they are getting dumped on. Terry left this morning at 5:00 to get in line. The Elevator opens as 6, first come first serve…it’s 8:31 a.m. right now and he is still down there. Makes me wonder what he number was when he lined up. His parting words were—“See you at Noon!” Boy, I hope not.
The minute he gets back the combine will begin, (if the weather holds) the truck will fill up, and depending on the time, it will either head back down to the Elevator (doors close at 4:00, you MUST BE IN LINE at 4:00 to get in on that day…otherwise you are first in line for the next day.) If the truck is full after 4 we will back the truck into the carport and cover up the load. The next day will be a repeat of today. This will go on and on and on— every day until we have every last load down to the Elevator. (No working on Sunday–the Elevator is closed and we take it off also) BUT COME MONDAY……………………….!
It all begins again!
Your friend on a Western Colorado Farm,
Linda
Life on a Colorado Farm 
I am shivering in sympathy. Hope you get it done as quickly as possible.
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if that’s not a ‘wait-then-hurry-up’ situation, i don’t know what is. (rather than ‘hurry up and wait’)
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I know you’re going to be very busy until all the corn is in, but I hope the harvest goes all and the weather continues to cooperate.
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So glad you are able to get started on the corn!! I’d send you some warmth up there, but, alas, it was 13* here this a.m. and now only 17*! We did have a skiff of snow overnight, pretty dry stuff, but it’s cold enough it’s sticking around. I do hope you stay nice and dry up there until the corn is all harvested! Fingers and toes crossed!! So glad you are almost done with the other house, too, except for the furnace, of course.
Love your pictures….blessings!
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Oh man! It’s finally time! Kicking the usual amount of work up a notch! I can’t even believe that’s possible.
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Serious hats off to you both.
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Hope the equipment holds up and you get it all in soon:)
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Hooray! So glad the wet stuff has missed you so far and hope that it stays away till the corn is in!! -20 this morning here, but up to about +12 now. This is a stubborn cold air mass and doesn’t want to move out nearly as fast as I would like it too. The Big Dogs got hot breakfast this morning. Brrrr!
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May the weather gods smile on you, the equipment not fail you and the elevator accept you!
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Hi Linda, So glad you all are able to begin your corn harvest… Sounds like the WAIT is the hardest part—but just glad that the weather is cooperating so far and that, even with the long waits, the harvest WILL get done…
Good Luck.
Hugs,
Betsy
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God bless you all for all your hard work! I am having a roast beef tonight with carrots, onions, and home grown potatoes. Thanking farmers (and the Good Lord) for a wonderful meal to sit down to tonight.
Have a wonderful evening. Stay warm!
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Wow…that’s dry! We took ours off when it was too wet and got docked for drying this year, but it’s custom done, and that’s when it suited. How many acres do you have?
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May that old old Deere hold together for another harvest !!
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Phew! You have a busy time ahead of you! Hope you stay warm and get through that line fast. I got the books…thank you!!! I already have ideas churning in my head from them 🙂
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Sounds like the elevator is pretty busy! Keep warm and all the best in the harvest!
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Hope all goes well!
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Wow, Linda, good luck with it all. Farming life is so rigorous, especially in extreme climates (you may not think of yours as extreme but compared with temperate NZ it surely is)
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All right!!! Your corn is on the move at last! It sounds like a slow process sitting and waiting to get unloaded though. Bet you’ll be glad when that’s all done. Glad that the moisture content finally went down! Still alot of corn around here to be harvested!!!
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The moisture content dropped fast…is that normal?
Brrrrr! Been cold everywhere it sounds like…
Cheri
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Do you drive the truck? About how many truck loads will your fields yield? So glad to hear you have started the corn. Winter will soon be here, even the cold has hit here in Florida or I should say cold for Florida.
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Am glad you are FINALLY able to get started. Nothing like having to push right up to winter!
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Hard to believe all this work starting now — it isn’t as if you’ve been taking it easy waiting for this push. But am glad you can get started. And brrrrr.
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Farming is a LOT of hurry up & wait!
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Hooray!!! Corn in before Thanksgiving!!!
Question: When you say that you are “first in line for the next day”, does that mean you have to leave the truck down there and and have someone pick you up, or do they just let you in line when you show back up with the truck?
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