Harvest has been underway for about a month and for someone who grew up on a farm or knows what I’m talking about, it’s just another part of this crazy life we live.
Growing up I loved this time of year, you knew it was getting close to harvest when dad would take out his John Deere 7720 Combine and start power washing and fixing what needed fixed before it was time to start picking. What was even more exciting was getting to ride with him and really getting up close and personal with it all. Today, instead of riding along with my dad, I’m riding shotgun next to my fiance, (in a CASE combine mind you). My mom would fix meals for my dad in the field, and one special meal I always remember was her hot ham and cheese sandwiches wrapped in aluminum foil. I know it doesn’t sound that special, but let me tell you we were crazy about them. Now, that I think of it maybe it wasn’t just these special sandwiches that made us go crazy, maybe it was the moments that lied ahead. As soon as my mom finished wrapping and folding them in a towel, to keep warm, we would all pile into the truck and head out to bring dad lunch. When we would reach the field we had a few minutes to watch and admire all of dad’s hard work before we radioed him in. Then all hell broke loose after he pulled up and started shutting everything down. We all jumped out and ran yelling mom made sandwiches, and I kid you not we would just stare at him while he ate while he told mom how things were going and if anything major or minor happened.
Today I’m the one bringing out the wrapped sandwiches and instead of radio’s I’m sending text messages. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the butterflies I still get when he pulls up and shuts everything down. I continue to admire his hard work just like I did my dads, but instead of running and yelling, I canter towards him trying not to trip and fall over corn stalks. Harvest is felt not just through the person doing the work, but through your family, the people your life is centered around.
I would love to know if any of you experience harvest or maybe something like it! What makes it so ham and cheese special?
Please say a pray for all the farmers and their families, so everyone has a safe and plentiful harvest.
Thank you!
The Dainty Farmstead 
I remember taking sandwiches to Grandpa and then years later, my Dad when they worked so many hours harvesting. Dirty, tired faces always shone bright with teeth and big smiles when we brought lunch… and sometimes dinner when it was necessary to work late because of incoming weather. My grandparents were very religious – Grandpa got water and Koolaid for refreshing hydration. We snuck my Dad a cold beer inside of a old water cooler filled with ice and water. To this day, packing along water, beer and sandwiches for lunch when my husband and I have been working hard in our pecan orchard or the woodlands makes me smile. 😀
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I love that you used to sneak him a beer! Sometimes a nice cold brew is so refreshing! We used to take out Koolaid or Pink lemonade too!! I love that you have a pecan orchard! I bet you make a lot of pecan pie which is one of my favorites!
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Hi Brittany– we live far from farms in our little suburb– only a few tomato plants in the yard. But I’ve read that world wide, the harvest is the most important event in any year– we all depend on it. Thankful for all you do. (and love the picture of the rows of symmetrical cornstalks– beautiful. Blessings to you and your fiancé! xox
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I often wonder how new followers have found me. It’s nice to know that we share a friend in Little Sundog!
We were not farmers in my family, although my father tells of raising rabbits and working in their kitchen garden in Nebraska. Dad’s hands were always in the soil raising flowers and a bit of veg for the table when I was a kid. His need for connecting to the soil definitely rubbed off on me. I try to grow a bit for our table now and several soft fruits as well. It always puts a smile on my face to sample a bit throughout the summer and to harvest the bulk of it at the end. This summer’s haul is blueberries in the freezer and a bin of butternuts in the pantry. Both put a smile on my face every time I see them and make me look forward to next spring and summer.
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Raising a garden can be so fun and rewarding! I myself love to plant herbs except this year I was so busy I kind of neglected them resulting in me killing everything but oregano lol! That oregano is a tough little herb!
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