It ain't much, but planting has begun......

We've had a few dry days that have allowed Mike to get into the fields.  By dry, I mean days where it has rained less than a tenth of inch.  Every time a quick shower passes by, we resort to one of our favorite sayings: gee, I'm glad it rained again because the mud was starting to get tacky.  The entire state of Ohio sat last week with 7% of the corn planted (normal is 70%) and this week the number jumped to a whopping 11%.  Whoohoo!  Let's break out the wine glasses and celebrate.  Or perhaps more appropriately, pop the top on a Miller Lite.  Still it is progress.

Of course as soon as the weather gives us farmers minuscule weather windows to get things done, stuff like this happens.

See tiller on tractor

See tiller with hole in side that shouldn't be there

MAJOR MALFUNCTION.  Something big broke inside.  A gear.  The shaft.  Something.  This is NOT the time for this major piece of equipment to go down.  But it is what it is and we are awaiting word whether this is fixable or we will need to make a new equipment purchase.  Either way, the timing stinks.

Now Mike did get some of the garden area tilled before the tiller broke down.  So he worked hard to get his new planter set up and was able to get some spinach, beets and carrot seeds planted.  Finally!  Crops have been planted!

Today, Bill came over and finished fixing one of the tractors.  Needed a new hydraulic line.  Then he replaced some of the wheels that had gone flat on the disc.  So that is ready to go.  When it dries out.  In August.  Let's hope not.

Mike got the chisel plowing done.  Yay!

Meanwhile the baby meat chicks are growing leaps and bound.  This picture is from 4 days ago and it is amazing how much they have changed in just those few days.  They are 2 weeks old now and have reached the stage where I feed in the morning and when I come home at night, I swear they look bigger.  I'm glad they are not out on pasture yet in all this rain.  I usually get them outside somewhere around 3-4 weeks of age depending on the weather. 

And to finish off today's blog .............. you know you've had a lot of rain when ................

Peters Creek is a little (mostly) seasonal creek that runs behind our house.  It does run full during times of flood, but mostly dries out during the summer.  Well last week, a canoe showed up next to the culvert that goes underneath the roadway back to the fields.  I think I know which neighbor this came from, but I have to say seeing a canoe on our little stream is a first.