Adventures In Farming

I grew up on a farm and had many duties, but never really had to drive any big equipment.  Dad had us driving the skid loader to clean out barns or clear snow, but we never helped in the field.  Well, Rach and I didn't - I think Spencer probably did, but not until he was older.  Anyhow, so I've never really driven a big tractor back and forth in a field - until today!
Nick normally has guys ready to help with the farming, but today he had no one, so Mackenzie and I headed out to the field after bringing Rylan to school to do some plowing.  Nick gave me a little driving lesson and we were off!  I was nervous about doing something wrong or pushing the wrong buttons, but once I got it figured out, it was pretty easy.

Here we go!

Cutest little co-pilot you've ever seen!  We took a whole backpack full of stuff - 3 babies (big ones) 2 blankets, a stuffed bunny, and a sippy cup for her babies.  I also took the iPad along for her, but I never got it out.  She played with her babies a little bit, but then they needed a nap.  After she got them settled behind her seat, she just sat there and we talked and sang along with the radio.  We had such a good time!

Here's the plow we were pulling.

This one is blurry because I took the picture while we were going and it's just a little bumpy in a tractor.  It's a pretty sweet system.  The green is the field and the yellow parts are what I had already done, all I had to do was paint the field!  The best part is that it has auto-pilot so once you turn around in the headlands you just get it lined up with one of the lines, hit a button, and it stays right on track for you.  Can't get any easier than that!

I packed a lunch for us and we ate it on the go.

I found myself surprisingly satisfied with just driving back and forth at 9mph.  It was peaceful, and just a nice time to spend with Mackenzie.  I was also glad that I could be helpful to Nick.  

Well, I was helpful until I got stuck.  He had warned me to stay out of the wet spots and I was probably overly careful to stay away, but this one came out of nowhere, it didn't even look wet!  And I was so close to being done - only a few acres left!!!!  I rocked it back and forth hoping to inch my way out, but when it just kept going deeper I knew I had to quit.  I was feeling so proud of myself and hoping Nick would be impressed that we had finished before noon, but then I had to call him and give him the bad news.  I got it stuck pretty good too.  See for yourself.

So, Mackenzie and I got out and had to walk about 200 yards to the car and she ended up being late for school, but that wasn't a big deal.  I was just bummed that Nick then needed to use up his afternoon to drive another machine all the way out there to pull it out.  I'm so thankful for such a wonderful husband though - I thought he would be frustrated with me, but he assured me it was no big deal, that everyone gets stuck, and even asked if I want to plow more tomorrow.  Is it strange that I was daydreaming about when both kids are in school full time and I can be in a tractor from 8:30am to 2:30pm without stopping?!