Barn Quilts of Kankakee County

Too bad it's not Grateful Friday--but I can't wait!

Yesterday, I took my Mom and Aunt with me to tour the Barn Quilts of Kankakee County. This was Mom's birthday present, but we had decided to wait until the fall trees were in their glory. We could not have picked a better day.

• The weather was perfect and the colors were magnificent. I am in awe of God's creation and man's creativity. 
• I am humbled by the gracious hospitality shown toward strangers.
• I am thankful for His protection, both for us as we traveled many miles and for our precious men-folk who experienced a small field fire while harvesting. (Yes, my initial reaction was the same as yours. The fields are wicked dry this year, but they are wise and experienced. It was quickly contained, no one was hurt, and no damage was done. Thank you, Father!)
• I am also appreciative of close-knit family relationships, as I am aware that not everyone is as fortunate...and time is fleeing.
• I am thankful for folks with a passion to preserve history and culture and share it with others in such a personal way.
• I am happy that I was taught how to read a map!
• Most of all, I feel ridiculously fortunate to be living here in the country myself. I cannot begin to count all the reasons that makes me feel blessed.

But you probably want pictures, right?

Specific information about many of the barns and quilt blocks is available HERE. We still have more to see in Kankakee County. And then it's on to another tour! I'm going to see if there are plans for Barn Quilts in my own county. We'll see where this takes us!

Dusting

Of course, the camera batteries died when I needed them most. So, I missed the shot where the crop duster looked like he was going to go right through the bedroom windows, taking my scalp in the process. This is all you get.

Every few years, when the beetles are out of control by normal means, the crop dusters come and spray the fields that are most effected. I am always amazed at both their skill in flying, and at the precision of their application. They navigate around power lines, buildings, fence rows, and trees--sometimes in very tight spaces. The equipment they use, along with some way cool GPS technology that puts Garmin to shame, allows them to spray exactly where they want, and nowhere else. I wouldn't want to be in the field when they come by, but the garden next to the end rows is safe. It was quite a hoot to watch the kids running around shrieking and falling to the ground when he roared over them.

Makes me want to watch Pancho Barnes again. *sigh*

Swallows

Part of the appeal of living in the country, for me at least, is all of the accidental delights that bring joy to the ordinary. One of those delights is the Barn Swallow population here on the farm. I love their acrobatic swooping around my head when I'm mowing. And I love their neighborly chattering as they gather on the fence row and the gutters outside my office window. Their back and wings are the most beautiful shimmering dark blue. And they eat mosquitoes too! I especially love how the little babies silently spy on you as you walk under their nests in the barn. Those in the picture above are almost ready to set off on their own.
I will miss them when winter comes.

...By the 4th of July

Here is the picture of the field corn from yesterday. As you can see, it's a little more than knee high. Don't get lost!

Most of the sweet corn (which is pathetic this year) is even taller than M. Some of it is only knee high and it's already tasseling out. That makes it difficult to predict whether we'll get a good crop or not. Fortunately, we don't raise the sweet corn for profit. We only hope to put up enough for our family. My mouth can hardly wait. Got butter?

Knee High...

No, not that one, silly.

I'm talking about the saying "Knee high by the Fourth of July". There are numerous old expressions based on farm life. This particular one refers to growing corn. If the corn was at least knee high by July 4th, then the crop's yield was expected to be favorable. Then came hybrids.

This photo was taken on June 6th. You can see that the corn is already several inches above my knees. How tall will it be by Independence Day? Stay tuned...

Isn't she cute standing out there in her wellies? Minutes later, those clouds behind us let loose. If we get a good rain followed by lots of sun, the corn grows almost visibly. Corn loves humidity. Can you actually hear corn grow? You bet. If you don't believe me, come on by in the next couple weeks. Bring a lawn chair.

The Amber Waves are Green

There is something so peaceful about watching the wind ripple across a field of wheat. Very Little House on the Prairie. Crop Rotation means that we don't get to see it here at home every year (we have fields in 5 locations), so I love it even more when we do.

This is what it looks like before they start writing songs about it.

"The fragrance of the grass is always sweetest after a hail storm." (Unknown)