Soggy

I know this is a common sight for some of you, but here where we are used to it being pretty dry, it was enough to make us stop in our tracks!  Literally, we stopped the vehicle to take a picture...  This tree was a lone tree along the side of the Frazer road. 

A new grain elevator is being built between Frazer and Nashua along hiway 2.  What a year to be doing that!  They have had a hard time getting the building done, but it is slowly going up.  They had hoped to have it finished and open in time for harvest, but they are running behind schedule.  Just recently the ground had dried out enough that they were able to start the dirt work for the railroad track line for loading the grain into train cars.  There was a bad thunderstorm and hail that went through that area a couple of weeks ago, and now it is very wet again.  These pictures were taken back on June 8 as we drove by.  I need to get some current ones!

June 27 - Warren's dad, Harvey, on the west end of the site.  One bin is up.  Last time I was by, there were 3 grain bins up.



We Have Fought the Good Fight,and Finished The Course

As I mentioned in a previous post, It was a bit of a battle to get the crops seeded this year.   We are glad that the record snowfall didn't melt so fast that it all ran down the coulees and washed out the fields.  Most of the snowfall did melt and was absorbed into the ground.  However, the challenge came in May when we had an unusual amount  of rain.  Our normal annual rainfall is about 14 inches.  In May alone, we had over 11 inches!  Add that in with the precipitation from the melted snow, and the ground was saturated.  This made getting the crop in a challenge to say the least.  They seeded peas at the end of April and throughout May as they were able to, then went on to wheat.  Here is a peek at the consequences of trying to seed with a deadline looming, and the ground is too wet.

the neighbors had trouble too - everyone had troubles!

The weird thing is, it wasn't just in the low spots that they got stuck.  guys were getting stuck on the sides of hills, on top, anywhere...  We heard stories of tractors driving into fields and water spurting out of gopher holes...  Fact or Fiction?

It wasn't just tractors getting stuck.  Spraying was challenge as well.

one of the fields that was too wet to seed.  this photo was taken on June 17, too near the deadline of a crop being able to be planted, come up, grow, produce a crop and be harvested before fall frost would damage it.

Alas, all is not lost!  As I type this, Warren is in the combine, cutting peas.  The wheat that was able to be planted grew with good moisture, and is making its way through July & August's dry, hot weather.  It would have been nice to have more rain in the last couple of weeks, but we aren't complaining.  God has provided a crop.  Hopefully we make it through the thunderstorms and into harvest.  Things are really busy around here.  



Family Farm

Its really quite amazing when you think about it.  Our farm was homesteaded and started by Warren's grandpa, Peter Fast in 1916.  He turned it over to Warren's dad, Harvey, and then on to Warren's care.  Our son, Tony joined in the farming when he was younger, and now his family also live here.  Five Generations of Fasts living on the farm on Fast Road over the span of 95 years!
Of course there have been many ups and downs over the years, and this year has certainly had its challenges as well.  We started off with record snow falls, a late spring, which meant that we were still seeding in June, when usually we are finished in May.  Due to wet conditions, for the first time we can remember, we had to leave land without seeding a crop on it.  Wet spots have been left before, but not whole fields. Many fields that were seeded, didn't give up without a fight.   More proof of that in another post!

On June 4 Amy, the girls and I went over west, which is what we call our farms north of Nashua.  Tony was running the air seeder, and Warren keeping him supplied with seed and fertilizer. 

Amy & Natalie waiting for Daddy to come.

getting to ride along

Warren coming with seed

time to refill the grain cart

teaching the 5th generation



The Great Flood of 2011

Montana got huge amounts of snow this winter.  As a result, we also saw a lot of flooding.  I have never been so happy to live up in the hills away from the rivers.  With every larger rain, our Little Porcupine Creek did flood a little bit.  Normally it is a small creek, just a few feet across.  Our crossing on our cut-across road to the fields washed out early on, and is still pretty rough to cross after Warren has worked on it.  One of those projects for when there is more time.  :)

May 30 - Little Porcupine Creek bridge on the Lustre School Road

There was a lot of flooding from the Milk River in the areas from Saco to Glasgow, Nashua, etc. in April with the snow melt, and then again in May and June from mountain snow melts and rain.  There was so much damage to homes and property. 

the west edge of Nashua, June 9

coming down the hill on the east end of Glasgow.  The water should be in the riverbank, the other side of the trees on the right edge of the photo.

 

one of the farms between Nashua and Glasgow taken from hiway 2 looking south, with the railroad tracks in between.

Our hearts go out to the people who were affected by the flooding. 



Exersaucer Fun

Tony & Amy have an Exersaucer toy that the girls have both spent many fun hours in.  Its a long way from the walker with a tray and a couple of hanging toys our boys had as babies.  Bright, colorful toys that make animal sounds, honks, beeps, rattles and more surround them as they can either stand of sit while they play. 

Natalie at 4 1/2 months, Easter 2010

Aleah at 4 months

Now Aleah loves to spend a lot of time playing in the saucer.  Its one of her favorite things to do. 

Natalie thought it looked like fun and thought she would try it too.  Both of these were taken May 11.

The last couple of times that Aleah has visited Nana & Papa's house, the saucer came too.  Aleah likes that much better than just laying on the floor to play!  July 22, 2011



Chef Natalie

I have so many great memories of being in the kitchen with my grandmothers, that I want to share those fun times with my granddaughters as well.  The girls are a little young to be baking cookies yet, but Natalie is a good helper and loves to wash dishes.  One of her favorite things to do is play with her toy cookware.  She usually points to her apron and wants to wear that as she prepares her goodies.   I got the apron at Schmeckfest and it was made by Cori Toews.  Natalie loves it and is just too cute in it.

Stirring up something good to eat.  

It's gonna be great - I promise!

Taste tested and approved!

Would you like some?

Seeding Time!

The snow finally melted and the guys were able to get in the field on April 25 to test the equipment before starting seeding peas a couple of days later.  They got a different air seeder this year.  They tried one like it on Tony's farm last year.  Tony's rental farm up north has a lot of big hills, and this seeder handles the hills better than the old one.  This one is called a precision drill and the shanks on it move individually instead of in sections, so they are able to follow the contour of the ground better.

Easter 2011

We hosted the Fast Easter dinner this year.  Usually we do Thanksgiving, and Duane & Shirley do Easter.  Last Thanksgiving so many of the family were going away for the day that we ended up going to Glasgow to Warren's parents house.  Duane & Shirley are doing some remodeling in their house, so we offered to host Easter.   Harvey & Gladys,  Duane & Shirley, Keith & Joan and Tony, Amy, Natalie & Aleah joined us.  Thank you, Duane & Shirley, for the beautiful tulips centerpiece.  We enjoyed it for days!

After dinner we had an Easter egg hunt for Natalie. 

this is serious business!

Papa & Daddy giving some hints while Jake looks on.

can you believe how big the snow drifts still were?

the basket is full.

time for a quick picture with us while enjoying candy from the eggs.

Back inside, it was time for Easter baskets from Nana & Papa.

Amy & Aleah with Aleah's basket.

Tony, Amy, Natalie & Aleah

Easter Basket Swap

Some friends and I had a great time the afternoon of Good Friday.  We all gathered together at the Sherman in Wolf Point and exchanged Easter baskets, had a great time visiting, and a delicious dinner. Most of us in the swap were able to be there, but not everyone.  We missed those who couldn't come.

L-R: Connie, Lynn, Tiffany, DeeDee, Amy, Suzy & Myra

Love this picture of Suzy!  She was pretty happy with some Green Bay Packers things in her basket.  :)

I had a fun basket from Amy, including some scrapbooking items, coffee, chocolates, a bunny figurine, a notepad & pen and this cute spring sign that welcomes visitors to our home.

Lynn checking out her goodies.

Connie shows her prayer rock from her garden themed basket.

Tiffany reading a quote from a candy filled egg in her basket.

Amy with her garden themed basket.

Myra's basket included a mailbox with lots of letters to open, along with some goodies.

The food was really good. 

The chef made us a special dessert - Red Velvet Cheesecake - Soooo good!

I enjoyed the get-together so much - great friends, fun and food.  Life is good.