Wheat is Over

Most years at this time we would be hot-n-heavy in the wheat field, but because of the extremely wet fall we had around here we, Caleb and I, didn't sow any. Pop however did get some in the ground and by some I mean about 60 acres. In comparison to most years the three farms combine usually sow about 1,500 acres. So we were down just a little bit this year.

So when harvest time came around this year it lasted only half a day. I wasn't able to get over there to see the combine rollin' through the field, but here are a few pics that I took of the little bit of wheat we had on the farm.

This is all that was left in the field by the time I got there.

The entire field fit into the semi trailer.

I will say that I loved not having to mess with much wheat this year cause it made the spring time a lot less hectic.

With that being said I am gonna sign off, go to bed and rejoice that the 2010 wheat harvest is over on the Phillips Farm!

J

If You Can't Say Something Nice

I have been busy with Vacation Bible School every evening this week so I haven't had time to write a couple of post that I've been wanting to get on here so until I get a chance to do that here are some pics from what Caleb and I were up to last week.

Hopefully these will hold you over till have get my evenings back.

With beautiful blue skies above us we head out...

...to haul hay.

Can we say yuck!

I don't know why, but this is one of my least favorite things to do. Don't ask me why, but I just don't enjoy it. It's kinda like puttin' laundry away, it's no fun.

I was always told "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all."

So I'm done talkin', cause I really don't have much more nice to say, so enjoy....

Oh, this is the look I get when I am suppose to get back in the truck and stop taking pictures.

Aint he such a cutie! ;)

I always here people say how beautiful a field full of bales looks, and I agree when they are some one else's but when they are ours I not a fan of the look.

I am more of a fan of this look. The way a field looks when we have gotten all the bales hauled off the field.

Now that's beautiful!

Peace, Love, Hay Bales...wait No Hay Bales

Until next time,

JP

The World's Best Procrastinator

Yes it's true I am a huge procrastinator. That's one reason why half of my posts are one to two weeks after they happen, and that's what's goin' on here. About a week ago my folks came down from NE Missouri to come pick up a new puppy for my mom. While they were here, in lieu of a payment for the puppy I enlisted their help with putting up the panels to stake my 50 million tomato plants.

Ok so I don't really have 50 million plants.

I do however have 40 plants and for someone who hates the way tomatoes taste, I think that's plenty.

So as I previously mentioned I am a huge procrastinator and my tomatoes should have been staked about two weeks before my folks came down, but this time it wasn't my fault. Well it wasn't all my fault. Ya see Caleb was supposed to help me with this project and he never did. Since I didn't want to destroy all my plants by trying to lug all my panels into the garden by myself, I had to wait for help. Luckily my parents came a just the right time.

My momma had the camera during this process so I am actually in the pictures this time around.

I held the panels and Caleb wired them to the post. It worked great especially since he had pliers and I didn't.

But since it was my garden we were working in I got to be the boss for once.

It was great!

I held the post and made sure they were doing everything right.

FYI: I use cattle / hog panels instead of tomatoe cages...first because my momma does it that way so it must be right, and second cause they are sturdier and I need sturdy with this crazy Kansas wind.

So now the panels are in-place, the tomatoes are tied up, I've got all the weeds pulled now, I'm just waiting for the nasty little buggers to turn red so my wonderful husband can start eating them.

Now that's done and I'm a happy girl. Now I'm gonna go sit inside, drink a glass of sweet tea and just relax.

Ok, play time is over gotta get back out there and pull some more weeds before they take over my garden again.

With all that being said I will never, ever procrastinate again...

...starting tomorrow.

Lots of love, even to you crazy people who like to eat tomatoes.

J

Mom's Cherry Pie

Ok so as promised here is my Mom's Cherry Pie. This is my all time favorite pie! I have never been much of a cake eater, so every year for my birthday I ask for cherry pie instead of a b-day cake.

So without any further ado, let’s get started.

The Cherry Pie Line-Up: Cherries*, Flour, Sugar, Almond Flavoring, and Pie Dough.

*You can use fresh, frozen, or canned...but not the canned pie filling cherries.

 

The almond flavoring is what makes this pie just simply amazing!

Alright, first place 1 quart (4 cups) of cherries into a mixing bowl.

Also ya might want to pre-heat your oven to 375 degrees.

Now add 2 cups of sugar to the cherries.

I am using tart cherries so if you are using sweet cherries you won't need as much sugar probably only a cup. Also if you use the cherries like the ones I canned and there was already sugar in the syrup you also might only put one cup of sugar.

Now give it a quick stir.

Next add 1/2 to 3/4 cup of flour, depending on how thick you want it to be. I like it thicker and use 3/4 cup.

Now stir it all together.

Now throw in a cap full almond flavoring or for those of you who have to have the exact measurement then 1/2 teaspoon.

Now let it sit while you get the pie curst ready.

Now dump it all in the pie crust.

Now place your top crust on top. I usually wet my fingers and run them around the edges to get the top and bottom to stick together.

To make a fluted edge, go around the edge and pinch them together.

Take a sharp knife and cut the excess crust off the edge of the pie.

Take that same knife and put some slits in the top of the pie so it can breathe while it cooks.

Take some sugar and sprinkle it on top of the pie.

Now place it in the oven and cook it for 45 minutes to an hour or until it starts to bubble out of the top of the pie.

Ya see all that ooey-gooey stuff come out of the top, it is wonderfully delicious!!

Once it's done take it out and let it cool for a bit.

Slice it up and serve it...

...with ice cream like Caleb likes it, or...

...if you have a mom who does things like this then...

...you might want to try it my way with some whipped topping on it.

You won't be sorry. It's yummy, yummy!

I hope ya'll enjoy this as much as I do.

J

Cherry Pie Filling


1 - quart Tart Cherries (4 cups)
1 to 2 - cups Sugar
1/2 to 3/4 - cup Flour
1/2 teaspoon Almond Flavoring

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Mix all four ingredients together in a large mixing. Pour into pie crust. Place top crust on. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour, or until filling starts to bubble out the top.