Farm boy

As a young mother, I made the decision to raise son Hunter close to home, near family and our farm. While I had big dreams elsewhere, I knew the best place for Hunter was raising him in the wide open spaces and safety of my family farm. Hunter and I drove many, many weekends to the farm when he was a young boy. Enough to put 150,000 miles on my then Honda Accord.
When Nathan and I were married we once again made a life changing career decision that would keep us long-term near our childhood homes and family to raise Hunter and our future children. It was a leap off the corporate wheel, turn in the company car and benefits for a simpler life for our family. A decision we love and are grateful for every day. The drive to the farm equates to an hour or two or three of driving but the miles are nothing compared to the lifetime of memories and experiences Hunter has from the farm. The same can be said for the experiences Hunter has every week alongside Nathan and Gpa Eldon in our family business. The values and work ethic learned cannot be taught in a classroom or experienced on a school field trip. But because we are here, they are a part of the every day experiences of Hunter’s life.

Once again this weekend, Hunter took the “train” as we call it to the farm. First I (with stomach flu that never seems to want to go away this week) drove him to my sister 75 miles away. Then sister K drove Hunter to meet my mom along the road to the farm and my mom drove him to the field to get on the combine with my dad. And after a day of school, basketball practice and a “train” ride, Hunter was a happy camper on the combine. He called me to check in on our local high school football score but they won 48-0 so he was not sad to miss the game. He was doing what he loves as a farm boy. And he was there when they finished the barley harvest which you can read about here.

Another aspect about harvest that we all love is my mom’s twice a day meals delivered to the field. She blogged about it here and does not give herself enough credit. The meals are superb. Creative, tasty and the best farm meals anywhere. We might have old equipment doing our harvesting but we have the best food and a well fed harvest crew. In August when we spent a week at the farm during harvest, Elizabeth and I would deliver meals to the harvest crew. She would grab her bag and dig in from her car seat. I was driving and of course could not stop to help her. She was on her own and chowed down on her cheeseburger.

My mom keeps a car seat just for Elizabeth in her vehicle, complete with a cup holder that holds a burger quite nicely.

A tasty cheeseburger and a bumpy drive through the field was just too restful and nap time it was for Miss E.

My brother Robbie called me a couple times last week to remind me that they could use me driving a combine since brother Joe is back at college full time. Apparently Robbie thinks my maternity leave has me at home twiddling my thumbs and that I must have all the time in the world! Certainly a family of five does not take up any of my time. Robbie understood my circumstances once I explained. If Anika and Elizabeth could ride along with me with out trouble, we would be driving combine throughout September! But until that day arrives that I can get out to the field and be a farm hand, we have farm boy Hunter helping out with harvest whenever the train can get him there.