Filling in the Ditch

I called the fellow that does tile drainage this spring about the short ditch over near Everetts. Somehow we ended up tile draining 25 acres up on the hill, and filling in the ditch that runs below the house. Here is a picture of the machines after they got started. They actually were parked there for 3 weeks, broke down and waiting for a part. We never got the little ditch by Everetts done.

We put 3 lines up the length of the ditch, and connected all the old lines to them. This is where the water comes out.

And this is where the water goes in. They are called "Hickenbottoms"

Look close, you can see water going in at the bottom. Tanya likes this picture.

Here are some pictures of the bulldozer filling in the ditch. We had a few gravelly knolls in the field that are now gone. He pushed aside the topsoil, put the rest in the ditch, and then spread the topsoil back over.

There was one rock he couldn't move.

When it was all finished, we harrowed it, picked a few rocks, then got something growing on it, just in case.

This is the view from up the silo. The large pile of dirt is to finish filling in down closer to the road. It was too far for the dozer to push, so we will move it with the dump trailer. It wasn't quite ready down there anyways, but it is now. In the second picture you can see where we put the tile lines in the swamp by the road.

And here is the tile machine laying tile on the hill. He is just about out of pipe, so in the second picture you see the excavator putting another roll on.

So I got this field plowed last week, only found one wet spot, and if the weather stays good next week, we might get a start on some rockpicking. I did notice a few.

Corn Harvest 2010

I don't remember a year when we started chopping corn silage as early as we did this year, or had such a crop. The silo we filled with 30 acres of corn a few years ago, and almost filled with 30 acres last year, was full with 23 acres this year. We did manage to get a few more loads into it by letting it settle and chopping a load every 2cd day for a week or so. That left us with no alternative, but to put the rest in above the haylage, and feed only corn silage until we hit haylage again in silo #2. We'll see how that goes, I hope the milk doesn't suffer too much.

We were worried at first, that with Jesse's broken foot, he would have trouble keeping up. Tanya offered to come and help, as she misses helping with the corn silage, and our John Deere dealer offered us an extra tractor to use. But Jesse got the job done, whether it was hopping between corn stubble (which was fun to watch), or having Danielle help him.

A few corn field pictures...

A night time shot...

And the last 2 rows..almost done...

Topping a silo... a view from inside...

Me climbing it to do it...

And a picture taken today, I found the warmth in the cab tractor unbearable, but Jesse was whining about how chilly it was hauling in with an open tractor. Yeesh, kids...

Well, we are almost done... All chopped but 2 more loads left on the wagons... We'll get at least one of these in tomorrow. Good feeling though, going into the winter with so much feed ahead.

Thanksgiving, 2010

If anyone is getting tired of looking at Carrie's happy face when they check the blog, you are now in luck. It is a week after Thanksgiving, and it has been a busy week, but I am ready to get some pictures on. We had Tanya and her kids here for the weekend, as well as Chris, Joyce, and Aunt Joan. And 23 for Thanksgiving dinner! I have a picture of just about everyone, so let's start with Cecily...

We haven't seen Victoria and Hailey, for awhile. Hailey is growing fast! Good to see them.

Bradford was here showing off some new shoes.

Kara smiled for the camera.

Sheila and Arla, Dan and Katelyns daughter. Emma and Sarah in the background. Sheila was a big help with the dinner.

Dan and Art.

Katelyn, Arla, and Hailey. Sarah and Emma in background. I might note that Katelyn brought a delicious pumpkin pie.

Gus...Dan's new puppy.

Stacy, looking for Queen Elizabeth in 3D...

Chris; Tanya; Brad, Gilbert, and Dan; Danielle and Jesse.

Carrie and Cecily.

Sarah (the little one).

Stacy and Tanya.

Joyce, who we would like to thank for all she did in the kitchen to help with dinner.

Chris, who did his share as well.

Art, who made a plan and made sure we all sat where we should. Aunt Joan makes her way to her assigned seat.

Chris and I made our way to the table with our lil' bundles of joy.

Some of the big kids had to eat in the kitchen. Actually, Jesse and Danielle had to eat quickly, and then head to Danielle's house for Thanksgiving dinner there. Notice Dan feeding Arla, and the beautiful flowers Joyce and Chris brought.

And the little kids had a table too. I see Emma, Kara, and Sarah... Bradford and Madilyn must be on their way.

Now I didn't get a picture of Grandma, but I am going to save a spot here for one of her and Aunt Joan.


On Monday, Tanya and her kids, Carrie, Sarah and I went out to check on the suspension bridges, and on to St. Martins.

Tanya at the lighthouse in Quaco.

 
And at the beach in St. Martins. The kids had fun trying not to get their feet wet.

 

And I give thanks that we got to enjoy this past weekend with so many. Happy Thanksgiving.