Thursday, May 26, 2011

Planting Soybeans

The farmer who rents our land is planting soybeans on what used to be my alfalfa field.
I put this photo in for Brogan and Soren. :-)

This is the time of year that I wake up about 4 AM, fall asleep for a while, but then can't sleep past about 5:30. If it's not a dog barking, then it's birds singing which I LOVE, and sunshine coming in the window. But that's a good thing, for then I get an early start on my day. Being a morning person, this is especially helpful, for I can get a lot done in the mornings. But it also means that I'm ready to crash about 8:30 PM. My kids know that all it takes is a movie and a fairly comfortable couch to put me to sleep. I've watched lots of  movies, but don't ask me how they end.


Alfalfa field north of the house, 2010
Hopefully next year it will be planted to alfalfa again.

This is going to be the weekend to get the garden in. So far my plants are sitting on the deck and getting covered by sheets at night to keep them from freezing. It only got to 41 degrees last night, but tonight we're expecting close to freezing. I'm not taking any chances. I'll cover them again tonight. The forecast looks like we're good after that. I'm eager to get those plants into the garden.


 
Misty, 2010 in afalfa field
See that spotted tongue of hers?

I read Ephesians 4 again this morning. I think it's one of those chapters I need to read and re-read and re-read. And not because I fall asleep before the end.


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18 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 6:59 AM

    I am an early riser too and there is nothing like being the first one awake with the birds!

    I planted our plants way too early (again) this year and have vowed to not repeat this next year...which I also said last year. I haven't bothered to cover them or care for them as the weather went from 90 degrees to 35 degrees and on and off the past two weeks. Enter a ton of rain and we will be lucky if anything survives!! Eh....we'll make do, of course!

    Have a great early morning and enjoy your peaceful time. I am on a flight back home soon and can't wait to get there!!

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  2. UnknownMay 26, 2011 at 8:02 AM

    I love the mornings... I always have... I was probably the only college student that got up before 10am!! lol

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  3. JoyceMay 26, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    I don't know that I've ever seen alfalfa blooming -it's pretty. Cute pup-we had a shepherd collie mix long ago. She was a great dog.

    Have a nice weekend!

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  4. AnonymousMay 26, 2011 at 9:11 AM

    The boys love the picture! Kevin just finished up planting the last of our garden this morning. We are trying some new planting combinations, so we will see if that makes our garden better this year. Enjoy your weekend in the garden!

    Love-

    Stacey

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  5. NanaNor'sMay 26, 2011 at 9:55 AM

    Hi there, Loved seeing the photos of your alfalfa fields-the flowers are beautiful. Our daughter has a field of alfalfa but she doesn't get flowers with hers.
    Our spring has been weird to so I have delayed planting my seeds but hope to today. I am not an early riser but the birds do wake me up.
    Have a great weekend.

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  6. Heide at ApronHistoryMay 26, 2011 at 11:11 AM

    How fun! We are hoping to get ours in too this weekend. We would have put it in earlier this week, but it rained.
    I don't think I have ever seen alfalfa bloom! Or I haven't been that close to see it. Very pretty.

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  7. jennyfrecklesMay 26, 2011 at 11:22 AM

    The alfalfa was pretty - what do they use that for? We eat alfalfa sprouts here but they are tiny delicate little things. Hope the soybeans look good too.

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  8. Ma What's 4 dinnerMay 26, 2011 at 1:11 PM

    It's amazing what people like us can get accomplished before 7! I can do 3 loads of laundry, all the dishes, write 4 blog posts, return comments, eat breakfast, make a casserole for dinner, pack lunches, and work out all before everyone else is stirring...Isn't it great being a woman???

    Lots of yummy love,
    Alex aka Ma What's For Dinner
    www.mawhats4dinner.com

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  9. UnknownMay 26, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    This dad-gummed weather is for the birds! I'm freezing today. I'm not sure we made it in to the 50's!?!?!?! UGH! Hoping in my best Scarlet O'Hara voice that "Tomorrow will be a better day." Good luck on your garden. I might just get adventurous and do the same thing!

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  10. UnknownMay 26, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    This dag-gummed weather is for the birds! I don't think we are getting to 50 today. Good Luck on your garden planting. You might just have inspired me to do the same!

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  11. J_on_tourMay 26, 2011 at 5:06 PM

    It looks like the action has started. I never get the chance to watch many movies these days. There's a lot in that chapter, maybe I need to read it again as well.

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  12. Carla from The RiverMay 26, 2011 at 6:01 PM

    Hello Judy,
    We will be planting this weekend too. I love the photo of the farmer. Have fun in the dirt :-)!

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  13. Cranberry MorningMay 26, 2011 at 7:29 PM

    Alfalfa, a legume used for feeding cattle, is relatively high in protein and contains its best food value just before it flowers, which is why you don't usually see the flowers. In this case, probably too many day of rain in a row, they missed its optimal harvest time and had to cut it after it flowered. In a normal season, we get three crops of alfalfa off the field before September, at which time you're supposed to avoid cutting the alfalfa. Cutting the alfalfa will cause it to try to restart, depleting carbohydrate reserves just before a killing frost. That would result in a weak or dead plant come next spring. I'm pretty sure of this information, but if any of it is incorrect, please don't sue me. :-) I just wanted to address the 'why' it is many haven't seen alfalfa flowers even though they've seen an alfalfa field. And now you know...the rest of the story.

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  14. Cranberry MorningMay 26, 2011 at 7:31 PM

    Carla, I had to laugh at your comment. It took my mother years to get me to call it 'soil' rather than 'dirt.' :-) After all, when we play in it it does get us dirty, right??!

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  15. TiffaneeMay 26, 2011 at 10:51 PM

    You write the best posts. I wish I was a morning person. My kids make fun of me because I always sleep through movies. No matter how hard I try. Good luck getting the garden in. I hope the weather will be good for you.

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  16. Yenta MaryMay 27, 2011 at 5:40 AM

    Been up since 5 myself, Judy; and 8:30 is definitely the witching hour for my dozing off, too! I always say, "Yeah, I've seen parts of that movie ..." and no one else understands why ... :)

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  17. Empty NesterMay 27, 2011 at 8:04 AM

    Judy- 41 degrees? Are you kidding me? We haven't seen 41 since the beginning of February. It's so hot here that people are, wisely, avoiding me like the plague. LOL It's only going to be in the upper 80s for the next week though---a break! Ugh.

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  18. CandaceMay 29, 2011 at 2:22 PM

    I'm happy to know that I'm not the only one who sees "parts" of movies. I judge the quality of the movie by how well I slept through it. :)

    Happy Gardening!
    Candace

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