Experiencing a New Normal

Yesterday I helped Jon do something I've never done before - find, check and repair tile!  However, between you and me, it seemed more like we were looking for buried treasure.  Take a look for yourself and see if you agree with me! Now do you see what I mean?  I'm sure there were times Jon wished his Dad would have been there (we were on Don's farm) to show him where the tile was, tell him what to do and just for his overall help.  I would like to think I was as helpful as I could be - considering I know NOTHING about tiling.  I even got in on some of the work. Overall we had a pretty good day: we got our tile flowing and repaired, only made three trips to McGriff's for parts (and popcorn), and we never fought!  I'd say we had an enjoyable (do I dare say fun) day together considering what we were doing!

Mother's Day morning, Charlie greeted me with this gift....

Well, I survived the first week of my new job and I am EXHAUSTED!  I don't know how farmers do it day after day.  I didn't do near the things Jon did but by Saturday night I was wiped out!  The good thing..... we get all the corn in (including the sweet corn) by Saturday night!!  I did my best to do what Jon wanted me to do (without asking too many questions).  There was only one time I said no!  It was a job I had never done before and I just was too nervous trying it for the first time while I was watching my niece for a couple of hours.  The amount I helped and the work I did varied from day to day.  We even got the boys in on some of the work too!  My jobs usually consisted of driving the seed and chemical tender from field to field (and to the coop to get more), the ranger to pick up rocks (which the boys actually enjoyed doing), moving equipment from farm to farm, driving the 4020 to hoe corn and ...

Yesterday I started my new job.  It was not as easy as I thought it was going to be - especially on my emotions!  I guess I should back up just a bit.  My job title is: Jon's personal "go-for."  You know go for this and go for that!  Before the day started I reminded Jon how I am new at all of this and to be patient with me (just remember this part).  Well after getting the boys onto the bus my first job was to drive old red to Glenda's - put the ball hitch on the bumper of the white truck - head to Grandpa's and get the seed tender out of the shed.  Easy enough - or so I thought.  Getting the ball on was the easy part - it was getting the seed tender out of the shed.  It was way in the back and the location of the door makes it not so easy for this inexperienced backer upper to get to.  Call #1!  I wasn't sure I could do it without hitting/running over something.  Jon graciously told me that if I didn't thi...