27 Jun Tracy: Wanting to Fib (Just a Little)

Manley, Nebraska – Um, I really want to sort of fib a little right now and put Chase, Kansas, as my location but that would be lying and that’s not me.

So, here’s the deal. I’m feeling a bit like we’re never going to actually get Harvest 2019 started. It’s really beginning to wear on me. I know my sitting here in my “home, home” kitchen typing this note, I am telling the story of Harvest 2019—just not the one I want to be telling you. I would much rather be telling you about the late night we had cutting 65 bushel wheat until the trucks were full. I would rather be sharing sunset pictures and rainbows—well, let’s not talk rainbows right now because that means more rain happened. Maybe beautiful heads of wheat against a dark-blue, cloudless sky. How’s that?

Here’s what I can tell you. All of the equipment is sitting in the farmer’s yard in Kansas. The “cottage on wheels” is sitting in my driveway in Nebraska. The wheat is ready to cut but there’s been way too much rain to begin the harvest.

We had a bit of help when getting the combine loaded this first time.

I started the job and Eli thought he should try helping with that. And he did. 

“Papa, can I help you do that?” Putting the strobe lights on the tire. 

“I remember taking a nap in here when Mom was with us.”—Eli

Got that job done!

I wish I could just sneak him out of the house and take him with us! This was fun to see on my phone.

Last Thursday, June 20, we took off with the “train” and the service truck. As soon as we got to the Kansas farmyard, we transferred items (and tools) from the pickup to the car and headed back north. We pulled into the driveway in Manley at 1:45 a.m.

Beginning the 2019 harvest – or so we thought. 

Taken just prior to leaving the farmyard in Nebraska and heading for Kansas.

Now, isn’t this a reassuring sight?

Reunited in Chase, Kansas.

We knew there was a chance of rain for the Chase area on Saturday and Sunday. Yesterday (Saturday) morning, Jim walked into the kitchen and said the farmer had texted him to let us know they had two more inches of rain overnight. It wasn’t even supposed to rain. I don’t know what additional amount, if any, they received over the past two days.

Guess there’s no reason to hurry back to Kansas right away.

The struggle is real. If harvesters aren’t sitting in rainy conditions, they’re fighting the mud. I’ve seen some horrific pictures of combines “playing” in the mud. Some even needing a dozer to get them out of the hole they fell into. Not fun. Stressful … for sure!

Let me tell you what I have done since my last update:

Jim celebrated Father’s Day with half of his girls at home this year. Not sure when that happened last. We spent the evening at Jamie and Curt’s house and had a fire—roasted hot dogs and marshmallows.

Father’s Day gathering at Jamie and Curt’s house. It was also my brother’s birthday. 

Celebrating Father’s Day with two of the four—Jamie and Taylor. 

Helped Jim give The Beast a bath. It hadn’t been scrubbed since it joined the Z Crew last spring. It was nasty! She sure shined up nicely, though. I know … it’s not going to stay that way. But that’s okay because that only means we actually went to work.

The Beast probably won’t look this good again for a while. 

Finished loading the trailer house. I am now completely ready to hit the road when Jim says, “Let’s go!” There’s nothing like living out of two homes! If you haven’t done it before, you should try it. Part of what you need is in the trailer and the other part is in the house. Need a cold drink? It’s in the trailer house. How about a shower? That’s only possible in the house because the water isn’t hooked up to the trailer house. It’s been horribly hot and humid. Need to cool down? Head to the house because there’s not enough “juice” to pull the air conditioner in the trailer house. How about crawling into bed? Head for the trailer house. But remember…no air conditioning so the night is spent tossing and turning because it seems to take the trailer house all night to cool down. I have taken things in and out of the trailer house so many times, who knows what will be left behind when it’s time to take off. I try to keep it all in one place and then just take handfuls out and in and out and in.

Ugh … the struggle is real!

Ben and Eli helping me unload the fridge.  It was my job to carry the basket from the house to the trailer house. 

Called services to place them in a “vacation” or “pause” status. I called the garbage removal service, DISH, the internet provider and the Village of Manley to shut off the water. So, when I realized we weren’t really going anywhere yet—I quickly sent an email to the village clerk in all caps … DON’T SHUT OFF OUR WATER YET. As far as the mail goes, I have someone gather the mail and send it “General Delivery” to us wherever we’re at every week. I called them to let them know I will continue to pick it up until further notice.

Cleaned the house only to have to clean it again when we return due to bugs and spiders taking up residence. My mom, Jamie and the kids came to help me. Thank goodness they can just drop everything and help me with last-minute efforts!

Ben helping his mama vacuum the living room. 

Picked cherries with the grandkids from a tree that I’ve never picked cherries from since it was planted in 1991. The tree is so large now that even the tallest of ladders won’t reach the top. And, the best cherries are at the very top, of course. We were able to gather enough to make four pies at a later date. The worst of that whole process was standing at the sink until 1 a.m. pitting them. I waited until the day before we were leaving with the combine to pick them. Bad move on my part.

Nora filling her bucket with cherries. 

I think Eli was eating as many as he was putting in his bucket. 

The whole gang!

Do I dare say we’ll have a better week and maybe actually get something started? I’m going to cross my fingers, toes and whatever else I can possibly cross!

I haven’t seen these pop up in our area in a very long time. Won’t be long and they’ll be selling fireworks! Wow!

Until next time … “I believe that a trusting attitude and a patient attitude go hand in hand. You see, when you let go and learn to trust God, it releases joy in your life. And when you trust God, you’re able to be more patient. Patience is not just about waiting for something … it’s about how you wait, or your attitude while waiting.”—Joyce Meyer.

Okay … I admit, I’m not doing this very well, yet!

All Aboard Wheat Harvest is sponsored by High Plains Journal and John Deere. Tracy Zeorian can be reached at zcrew@allaboardharvest.com.