The Van Zante Family: Harvest Continues

The harvest season is continuing at the Van Zante farm. Every day, the guys combine their wagon loads of corn, then go back over the fields to mow, rake, chop and bag the stover that is left before it dries out anymore than it already has. It makes for long, hard days since their timing is of the essence. Their goal is to store two bags of stover, one for this winter's feed source and the other to have on hand as an emergency supply. The second bag is almost done, which means that their jobs will soon go back to "just" the normal harvest...which is big enough job on its own! (The explanation of what stover is and why we have to have it is in a past post...not too far back if you want to read about that.)

There isn't too much that the kids and I can do to help, but we do try to be as accommodating to Josh's schedule as we can. Among other things, that sometimes means early or late lunch at home, but today it meant a picnic in the field (which is very common!).

Sarah Rose must've been hungry because she was sat down and had her lunch open almost before the blanket hit the ground!

Daddy and Daughter sharing lunch together in the shade of the wagons. We couldn't believe that it was almost a week into October and we were hunting shade to keep cool! It was already 81 degrees out when Sarah Rose and I stepped out the door to head to the field at noon, about 15 to 20 degrees warmer than the typical average for this time of year.

Even though they eat in the field, I always try to make it a decent meal. Today's menu included cole slaw, tator tots (to replace the baked potato I had planned...they're easier to transport!) and a tenderloin sandwich...