First thing this morning I decided to jump off the ladder of my combine onto a windrow and roll my ankle. In this case, farm first aid means throw a lunch box ice pack in your boot and prop it up on the window so you can get back to work.
We’re 20 days into our grain harvest so naturally my allergies are going full throttle at night keeping me up so I’m running on lots of Red Bull and Mountain Dew. I’ve always wondered what other harvesters do to keep from nodding off.
Remember that pesky header of mine? Well, I thought my biggest problem with it today was going to be its tendency to float down on the right side. I was hopeful. I was wrong. As soon as quitting time was within sight I found something with my header. Tag isn’t a game you want to play with a header.
1. Be ready to go at the drop of a hat...sometimes without a lunchbox.
2. Has removed the word impossible from her vocabulary!
3. Can hold a baby, take care of a toddler and drive a tractor or combine all at the same time.
4. Must be able to cook for a crew - large or small.
5. Must be able to read minds.
6. Must be able to banter with a parts man until he realizes you DO know what you're talking about.
7. Must be the entertainment director for those rainy days.
8. Be a wife, mom, friend, helper, cook, problem solver, taxi driver or extra crew hand at all times.
9. Can handle the call that makes you react, "You need what? When?" Dropping everything you're doing to make it happen.
10. At the end of the day say, "I really do love this life".