IT'S OVER!!

The 2008 harvest is finally completed and we have to thank our wonderful son, Andrew - Greg's brother Russ - and my Dad Wayne. We couldn't have done it without them and we will be eternally grateful that they were there for us and we got the crop off. The corn ran like crazy and it took all of them to keep it away from the combine!! It was a great problem to have I guess! It takes a great weight off Greg's shoulders and now we can just concentrate on getting the rest of the machinery ready for the sale. This all really won't sink in until then - but we are so excited for the changes this will bring to our lives. It is all very exciting! I want to wish everyone a very happy Thanksgiving - we will be thanking God for all our blessings this year more than any other! Love to all, Becky

Rolling Rolling Rolling....

Yes Folks - the combines are rolling. Things are going well so far - the ground is now hard enough to be able to combine beans and Greg, Andrew, Russ and one of our new renters, David are combining like crazy! They start VERY early in the morning (actually Greg is just now getting out of bed the same time I do :) ) and get the filled trucks from the nite before in line at the elevator - and they start combining at sun up. They have actually been able to get in a couple long days so things are going good. Keep praying for NO SNOW and NO BREAKDOWNS. Greg says the trucks and combines make "funny" noises when it is this cold!! And with only 3 weeks until it is all on the auction block we don't need any repair bills!! Have a great weekend everyone - GO BISON!! And yes - I am still excited for the game even if it is "only" for the Dakota Marker.

The Harvest that Won't End!!

Yes, folks - Greg hasn't turned a wheel in the field for 6 weeks!! His decision to retire is looking better and better all the time! If only----he could get the crop off and the field work done!! He is so stressed - along with every other farmer in this area!!-- We have never seen such a wet fall! He has over 700 acres of beans and one 1/4 section of corn just sitting there getting wetter and wetter! He said now not only is the ground saturated, the beans inside the pods are frozen and hard as a rock so if it did freeze the ground enough to be able to travel across the fields, the beans are so frozen they would go right out the back of the combine!! Quite a mess! He feels bad too cause he would like to leave the ground in perfect condition for the Mueller brothers who are renting it next year, but there is no way that's going to happen now - they understand of course, but he still feels bad. He's a little OCD that way and wants everything to be perfect. The auction sale is 0ne month from today - and he has been working his tail off getting all the equipment cleaned and shined!! We have the cleanest augers in Cass County!! And everything else he is done using of course! The pressure washer has sure gotten a work out!! Keep praying for no snow and not to cold for that day, ok??

The guys have been hunting and even with all the crop in the fields they have done pretty good. They have shot 6 bucks and need 1 more and two does. They have had to work really hard to get them though - lots of walking the tree claims! They had some fun too - Andrew, Greg, Tim and Josh Keckler, Dave Behm, Audie -Shane and Brock Brorson - I'm pretty sure some beer was enjoyed by most of the crew!!

After a very nice baby shower for Meagan (she is the cutest pregnant lady ever!!) at her cousins house in Fargo Sat morning, I picked up my grandpuppy Briggs for a sleepover cause Jenn had some friends from the cities in town for a Keri Noble concert. He is such a cutie patootie - with his "sit tall" trick - you can't help but feed him!! On Sunday morning I headed to the lake for a "hunting weekend" of my own. I made a couple of different homemade soups for Meagan, Andrew and my grandson to be, watched a couple movies, did some shopping, had lunch with our real estate agent from DL, read two books, and just generally relaxed in front of the fireplace! It was wonderful - and even better since I took Monday off and had Tues (Veterans Day) as a holiday! Didn't have to even think about HSB for 4 days!!!!!!!! Excellent. A perfect weekend that stretched into the week! Doesn't get much better than that! Already looking forward to going back this weekend. Have a great weekend everyone!!

A New Chapter

A new chapter in our lives will officially begin on Dec 12th 2008. We have decided to have a farm machinery auction and Greg will officially retire from farming this year. His hope always was to retire by the time he was 55 - that will happen in 2009, but the death of his brother Brian earlier this year really set things into motion alot faster. Brian was our help on the farm and with him gone, the prospect of finding someone to help Greg on the farm was daunting. We relied on Andrew, Russ and Dad to get the harvest and field work done this year, (and its not done yet!) and we appreciated that so much - but that is certinaly not a long term solution. We are excited and nervous at the same time as to the changes it will bring, but know this is the right decision at the right time. Greg has rented the land to two young farmers from Hillsboro, and is really excited to do so. Since Andrew didn't want to farm - it is nice to know that we can help to get some younger guys started and at the same time get out of the stressful business of farming. Greg says it hasn't been "fun" for quite a few years with the stress of the marketing side of farming, and dealing with unpredictable mother nature. I have struggled for years with the weather related side - wondering how he could put so much time and energy into planning, planting, huge money outlay, and then sit back and let the weather take over. Something of which we have no control over. Not to mention the marketing side of it - also of which we have no control. It is crazy to me. But - Any way it's been a great life - a great way to raise kids - and we are just so fortunate now to be able to look forward to something new. Our dream to retire at the lake is a few years off as selling the farmstead is not in the picture yet - and I will be working full time for a while longer. I am hoping the next job I get will be in the DL area when we move there full time. For now I will hang out at HSB as long as I can stand it. Greg has a few ideas on how to stay busy - he had offers from everyone he contacted to rent the land to work for them - so that is an option - but he also has other ideas. He knows he is to young to just sit back and rest. So - that is our big news for now. We have lots of work to do between now and Dec 12th, getting everything all polished up and shiny -AND we would like to invite everyone we know to a big "Shop Party" after the sale - there will be some celebrating to do!!

Random Thoughts

Hi Everyone! I'm sitting at home today after a "procedure" I had done this morning. I'm 50 - you take a guess on what it was. But I have to report it was no big deal. Everyone was telling me horror stories, but it was a piece of cake and I am seriously feeling very "cleaned out" today. I feel so good I may do that clean out about once a month!! And it's a beautiful day to be home enjoying the weather and baking cookies for the harvesters! It's fall - the leaves are turning, nites colder, and Greg is harvesting beans finally. He found one field that the beans are ready and the ground is not "to soft". He's only had to go around a few holes but he said there are no beans there anyway.
This field is running about 30 bu so not to bad for all the rain we had this season. They are forecasting rain for Sunday and Monday, so not good news. It would be really nice if this harvest went as smoothly as the wheat harvest did, but so far, not so. Andrew is here helping and Russ is dumping trucks in-between working, so as you can tell the "help" problem has not been solved. We are so thankful for these two offering to fill in, but it is really not a solution. We can't keep taking them away from their jobs, and Greg tried to get someone to work, but it's almost an impossibilty! If you advertise in the Forum all you get is the guys who want to use you on their list for unemployment - they really don't want the job. And just putting the word out amoung other farmers has resulted in some calls but nothing worked out. This is quite a problem, so everyone pray for good weather, so we can get this crop off, ok?

Fall also brings our nephew, Elliott's soccer games. He starts for Fargo North and is the quickest player on the team. Now I don't know alot about soccer yet - in fact sometimes it drives me crazy cause they get so close to a goal and it just veers off, or someone steals the ball - oof - crazy game. Anyway, I think his speed is being wasted cause he plays mostly defense, but I am told, his speed is needed back there and he is great on defense. He is almost certain to be all conference or whatever kind of awards they give out now days. He's really fun to watch, and I bet all the HS girls agree with me too!!

You can also see that our Aunt Beverly was home for a visit last week. She came mostly to see her sister Gloria who is in Bethany Homes now, but we got her for one night for supper out at Russ and Janets and it was really great to see her! She is so much like Caroline, it feels like for just a while that Caroline is back with us, but also makes us realize how much we miss her. They both had and have a great love of life and we always laugh so much when Beverly is around - we just love her! Hopefully soon, we will have more time for travel and we can go see her and Jim in Washington - it sounds like they have a wonderful place and also have their motor home at a beautiful campground at a lake. She showed us some pics and it looked like a great place! Can't wait!

Things are going better at work. We are finally used to the new building and everyone has things figured out now - so my days are not so long anymore. Thank goodness. We have our grand opening next week so that should be fun. We are not just bank tellers lately - we are also tour guides. Everyone wants to see it which results in alot of extra traffic and and we have picked up a substantial number of new accounts. Things are going well. We are also answering alot of phone calls about this "banking crisis" we are all involved in. People really aren't all that worried around here they just have some questions. I think since almost everyone seems to think the crazy wanna-be vice president Ms Palin is the next best thing since sliced bread, I am going to start talking, winking, and acting like her. "Darn right Harwood State Bank is just fine - you betcha your FDIC insured money is safe - also you don't have to worry about a darn thing because also we are doin all we can to safeguard your money and also we didn't get involved the sub-prime mortgage thing. And you can be assured that even though Tom the President is a maverick, he will continue to make sure you can also trust your money is safe with us!! How's that sound - Think it will work?!?!? What a joke - that women is a disgrace to all women. Come on - how long will cute last?? God - hopefully everyone will come to their senses by Nov 4th!

It is Bison homecoming this Sat and since Greg is combining I get to take Dad as my date! Tonite before supper with Bil, Mark, and Mallory, I am going to Scheels to get him a new sweatshirt to wear. He has had the same Bison sweatshirt (hanging next to his Sioux sweatshirt) for quite a few years now and it is time for a new one for sure! It will be a fun game, and after having to keep my voice down at the bar for the last game (remember the old people giving us dirty looks) I can't wait to get there and scream my voice horse! I hope its a great game!! Go BISON!! Take care everyone - Becky

A Beautiful Day!

September 13th - The Kecker-Behm Wedding was a beautiful day and as you can see by the pictures I have included, the Bride and Groom were glowing! The weekend started at the rehearsal, and dinner at the Speak Easy. Greg and I were included because I was the "Wedding/Reception Assistant". I got a mention in the program, and got to wear a flower and everything!! It was so much fun! I would have done it even without a flower :) but I was so happy to wear one!! The way Jenn talks this will be the closest I get to planning a big wedding- so I enjoyed every minute of it. The planning was done way in advance by the very well organized Bride and her wonderful Mom. All I had to do was make sure the actions followed the plans! And I can proudly say everything went off without a hitch!! I do have to make special mention of the "star" of the show. Kristin and Dave had a rockstar ring bearer in their nephew and godson Kaeleb. He must have said "cheese" a hundred times if he said it once during the pictures, and he walked down that aisle like nobodys business (once the photographer got out of the way!) He is soooo cute! The wedding was beautiful, everyone looked great "in their new clothes" as Dave says, and the reception and dance was great too! The speeches were excellent Tim, Julie, Jenn, Dave, and Kristin (best man too - name escapes me) I don't know who you all did it without crying, but I was Very Very impressed!! I just can't say it enough - it was a perfect day!

It took this 50 year old woman about 2 days to recover from the fun we had at the dance and by Wednesday I felt better and couldn't wait to get to the lake! We hadn't been there for 2 weeks so I was missing it bad. I drove down and spent Wed thru Sunday there and had a ball. The weather was just like summer and there were no bugs so it was great! I mowed, read, relaxed. Even though I was driving back and forth to work, it was worth it. I just love it there so much. I call it "my happy place" and Greg just shakes his head at me. We took one last pontoon ride with Andrew and Meagan on Friday nite. It was actually hot out there at least until the sun went down. Just beautiful. On Sat Greg and I went to a bar with a big screen TV and watched at the Bison get beat - a terrible first half - no defense to stop the run - and 4 INTERCEPTIONS - hard to win many games that way!! Yikes - I hope this bye week does some good and the next home game I will be able to cheer like I want to. This table of old people kept looking at us funny - and asking the manager to turn the volume down. Geez - eat at home. Hee Hee. I hope I am never that way!!

I can report that our Grandson is growing like a weed and is as handsome as can be! Probably the cutest baby ever!! We saw the ultrasound pics in person and they are so cool! He looks like a real baby in there!! The parents to be are beaming now that they know for sure its a boy. I think the fathers don't really feel involved until they see pics like these. Meagan can feel him moving, but when Andrew saw him circling around in there I think it made a huge impact on him. He is already planning hunting, sports trips, nascar Sundays with the little guy I think!! It will be so neat to see our son as a father! He has had a great role model - so I'm sure he will follow in his Dads footsteps!

Take care all! Love, Becky

Pics from Last Weekend

Here are the pictures I promised - we had a wonderful weekend, except for the wind the weather was perfect! Hot and sunny - and all we had to do on the pontoon to avoid the wind was stay on the east side and south end and we could skirt around it. Andrew and Meagan's end of the lake was terrible!! Anyway - Dave and Kim came and we had alot of fun - we had a smorgasboard of frozen drinks - Kim mixed up one we called Labor Day Love Juice - with pineapple juice, peach schnapps, etc - sweet but yummy! Our fluffly grandpuppy came to visit and he and Riley are getting along better. The pics show them "playing" - Riley growling a bit and "chewing" on Briggs as they dance and roll around each other. Briggs was soaking wet when they were done, and sometimes even rolled over and played dead to rest! It was pretty funny. The girls went garage saleing on Sat and at one house at Melissa I found a twenty dollar life vest for the new baby. It goes up to 30 lbs and looked brand new. It is one of the neoprene ones so it looks really cool and the expectant parents seemed pretty pleased with it. I also found a cute unisex lake hat for the baby - reminds me of a Gilligan hat only print. Can't wait till next summer to see him or her in it! The pic of me peaking thru the railing on the boat is of course my trademark "dipping" procedure. We didn't spring for the portable bathroom when we bought the new boat so this is the next best thing - except for the last couple weekends when the water turned extremely cold!! A girl has to do what a girl has to do, right??

We stayed home this weekend to clean my nasty house - kinda let it slip this summer - eek! It is also BISON football tonite so we are meeting Dave and Kim for beer and appetizers before the 6pm game. Now that is getting closer to the time FB should be played. Hopefully the powers that be will someday realize that the ideal time for a FB game is about 3 or 4 pm. That way you can do something before and still be able to go out afterwards if you want to. GO BISON!!