Harvest 2011

This past Thursday night and most of Friday I got to enjoy some time with Charlie out at the family farm while he helped his dad with harvest.  While it was the first time I've been out to ride along with Charlie this season, I'm sad to say it will probably be last.  Let's just say...I pretty much knew my body was not going to like me going out there, but...I was stubborn and still went.  My lungs and allergies DO NOT like the dust, pollen, etc. etc. and being out there for a couple hours on Thursday night and from about 1:00 in the afternoon until 9:30/10:00 Friday night was a bit too long for my body to handle, and boy am I paying for it now.  My lungs are all wheezy and it feels like my heart is working overtime to get the oxygen I need, I feel like I have a fever, and I have a massive headache I think from my head just being so stuffed and probably not getting enough oxygen.

Anyways, I'm sure those of you who have husbands that are farmers know that when it comes to harvest time, you will not see your much of your hubby at all unless you go out and ride along with them.  Charlie usually tries to get over to the farm at harvest time as much as he can as he has the "farmer's blood" in him and just really enjoys it, but on top of that he's also been working at the sheriff's office.  So, I have learned that if I want to see him at all between his hours at the sheriff's office, working out at the farm, and sleeping, I have to go over there and ride along with him.  There were several days this week I did not get to see him at all as our hours were completely opposite and we had several different things going on.  So when it came to be Thursday night/Friday afternoon I was pretty excited to spend some time with him even if that meant riding in a combine/tractor for hours and paying for it later.  Thursday night I rode along with Charlie in the combine for about an hour an half and then I headed back to Mom and Dad's house and worked on some homework for awhile while mom worked on some sewing projects.  Then mom and I enjoyed watching the Mentalist on TV for awhile before I just about feel asleep on the couch.  On Friday I had to work until about 1:00 in the afternoon and then I headed back out to the farm and rode with Charlie the whole day until late that evening. (By the way thanks Dad for giving us the newer combine to ride in so that not quite as much dust would get in for me...I appreciate it!)

Here are some pictures from the day:

Wagons waiting to be filled

Taking a load to the elevator in Craig

A view of the farm from the field

The elevator in Craig

Charlie taught me how to drive tractor

I even drove it all on my own with a wagon attached out to the middle of the field ;)

Unloading the beans into the semi

Dad in the combine

There's the tractor & wagon I drove out to the field

Boe & his dad Jasper enjoyed running around all day together

The combine head or reel or whatever it's technically called

I just thought the rows looked so cool from inside the combine so I had to get a picture

Dad in the other combine across the field from us

And this is probably what my lungs look like right now (full of dust...yuck)

Charlie & Dad

Taking the tractor out for the night the finish off the last few rows of beans

Riding in the combine together

(I loved the second seat...it definitely beats sitting on the arm rest for hours)

 

A view of the beans from on top of the combine

Unloading the last of the beans into the wagon for the night