Archive for September, 2008
September 30, 2008 – Dried Soybeans
Here’s a shot for all of you who always wondered what a soybean plant looks like right before harvest. This field is ready to harvest. You can see each pod contains about 3 beans and each plant has multiple pods. These are not the edible soybeans more commonly known as edamame, nor are they specialty ...Read more.
September 29, 2008 – Corn and Bean Harvest
Most of the neighboring farmers are out in force now harvesting soybeans. The corn was planted very late and is not yet dried down. The scale of today’s commodity agriculture is exemplified in this photo – a modern tractor and wagon to transport the beans to the elevator can l no longer fit in the ...Read more.
September 28, 2008 – Octemberfest Parade
This is the obligatory town celebration weekend of the year for Marshalltown, called “Octemberfest.” Here the drum major of the Bobcat marching band leads them town main street. Have you ever soon a better group of tubas? The clarinet section leader keeps the players in line! Emma’s school at West Marshall recently revived their marching ...Read more.
September 27, 2008 – Harvest Table
A few weeks ago a school tour came and I neglected to show the “harvest table” that shows some of the goods and products harvested from our farm. This table, set September 14, shows apples, onions, potatoes, raspberries, blackberries, garlic, tomatoes, beans, shiitake mushrooms, eggs, watermelon, lambskin, peppers, flower bouquet, and a bunch of canned ...Read more.
September 26, 2008 – Stainless Steel Milk Cans
I was in Marshalltown shuttling kids and had about 45 minutes to kill, so I stopped in at a couple of garage sales. I found these stainless steel milk jugs shoved under a table of clothes. I didn’t hesitate too long before buying them for 5 bucks each. When I got home and did a ...Read more.
September 25, 2008 – Thingamajig Thursday #134
Here’s this week’s “Thingamajig” entry. Also check out the last thingamajig answer. As always, put your guess in a comment below. Hold mouse over this sentence to pop-up answer. one year ago…”Putting Food Up”
September 24, 2008 – New Wind Farm in Neighborhood
About 20 miles form us a 150 MW wind farm is being constructed. It is about halfway between our farm and Ames. It will contain 100 towers when completed and power 30,000 homes. I liked this shot of the the old and new – the Sherman County one-room school house and a few of the ...Read more.
September 23, 2008 – Fall Landscape
The shadows are lengthening, the yellows are turning to brown and another season is upon us. Here’s a view down the road along Linda’s walking route. one year ago…”A Small World”.
September 22, 2008 – Apple Peeling, 2008 Style
The latest round of apple-peeling was assigned to the girls and they approached it 2008 style. They dragged out an extension cord, a clock radio that has an IPod docking station and an IPod player to help pass the time. I much prefer the IPod in the docking station to the earbuds, even if that ...Read more.
September 21, 2008 – Monarch Bed and Breakfast
We’ve had healthy south winds the past few days, which has made the migration to Mexico difficult for the butterflies. So, they wait patiently on the lee side of the windbreak trees I planted many years ago. I never intended the trees to be used in such a manner, but I’m pleased they are. They’re ...Read more.
September 20, 2008 – Claire’s Birthday Event
For her birthday event, Claire chose to take a friend to the Des Moines Farmer’s Market, spend some time in the East Village, and eat out for lunch. Here the day’s quirky food finds are displayed – elk jerky and caramel apple popcorn. This fellow had a nice job – roasting peppers over a flame ...Read more.
September 19, 2008 – Emma’s Birthday Event
Both the young ladies in our family celebrated birthdays this week. Emma’s choice of a party is encapsulated below. Good friends, a fire in the chimenia, a tent to sleep in all together, and a long night of fire watching and talking. A bonus was the new mini-horse cart that the girls got for their ...Read more.
September 18, 2008 – Thingamajig Thursday #133
Here’s this week’s “Thingamajig” entry. Also check out the last thingamajig answer. As always, put your guess in a comment below. Hold mouse over this sentence to pop-up answer. one year ago…”Raspberries, Again”
September 17, 2008 – Apples, Apples Everywhere
The wet spring produced a bumper apple crop. We’re relatively absent orchardists as far as spraying goes, so besides some dormant oil in the spring and being fanatical about picking up the deadfalls to feed the animals, our apples for the most part are not things of beauty. But we get enough to eat, and ...Read more.
