7 Quick Takes - Unplugged Farming Edition

Last Sunday our family launched our traveling custom wheat straw business with a road trip to a quaint little town 3 hours from the farm. We set up camp at a cozy bed and breakfast knowing that the next couple of weeks would be spent swathing and baling wheat straw for local farmers around the area. (A more detailed description of our adventure is soon to come!)

Our little abode is perfect for our family and for Steve's parents.  Perfect except for one thing...there is NO Internet service. Which means no blogging. I can catch a little e-mail and Facebook on my phone, but even that connection is temperamental at best. 

Since I am parked at the laundromat washing Wranglers and work shirts for the next couple of hours, I thought this would be the perfect time to write a quick post while the little ones play.   Yes, I said play!  Thus begins the first of my "7 Quick Takes" for the day:

1. This laundromat of awesomeness has an indoor play gym, lounge area with wi-fi and coin operated massage chairs.  Really, people, why go to the mall or the zoo, when you can hang out at the laundromat deluxe?? If farming doesn't work out, I'm going to open up a chain of these joints with optional pedicure chairs and a chill station that serves hoppy-type beverages.  Any investors out there??

 

2.  I believe an indoor play gym (along with a commercial-sized washer and dryer) could revolutionize my laundry room. And, if not that, maybe a punching bag and a rock climbing wall would do.

3. Being unplugged has been admittedly a bit blissful. I miss writing, but I don't miss being in front of the computer. Five days of electronic retreat has me rethinking the life of blogging. I am honestly considering retiring this thing. Have you ever felt the same?? Any advice?? 

3.  Wheat harvest is a glorious season for the farm (usually - provided the crop is plentiful). I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the countryside is. Our little B & B is surrounded by idyllic country farmland, which has deeply inspired my a.m. motivation to roll out of bed early to run, just so I can take in a sunrise over the picturesque fields of gold.

4.  It's crazy hot. Hot like "lets fry an egg on the sidewalk" hot.  The only benefit of scorching heat is that it makes a iced cold beer taste heavenly.

5.  Two strides across the street from our country abode sits the most beautiful historic St. Mark's Catholic church. Daily mass, bells pealing on the hour, and the quiet cool sanctuary it provides for me to sneak away to in the middle of an intense day of work would make anyone envy the life of a monk. Being here makes my heart happy.  The children love to follow Steve and me over to the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto for evening prayer. It is very peaceful.

6.  A wickedly windy/rainy storm blew in last night and shut our harvest operation down. After it passed, the children led everyone outside for puddle jumping and frisbee playing in the church parking lot.  Everyone had a blast, especially wee Charlie, who wore himself out splashing through the rain past sunset.

7. A sneak peek at the post harvest story to come.....

That's my man in the tractor.  Please keep my family and our work crew in your prayers, that we may all remain safe and healthy throughout harvest and during our time away from home. Thank you!!

Have a great weekend, friends!!!