Some eclipse pics.

I meant to post these earlier but the corn planting took precedence.  We had a pretty good show Sunday night.  There was an eclipse of the sun.  An annular eclipse.   I used my welding helmet to look at it and it was spectacular!  The shadows were too!

Even the shadows were crescent shaped!

The view through the welding helmet.

Washing princess.

Skyler got up at the crack of dawn again. I decided to take the opportunity to wash my truck. I love Ford trucks. This truck came about as the result of me totaling my first truck in a rollover accident that broke my back. I bought it new with the insurance settlement. It's a 2002 F-250 Superduty. It only has 33,200 miles on it and it's my baby. Altair nicknamed it princess. I think she thinks I love it more than her. (I don't).

Planting sweet corn with 235 horses!

Not in our yard, on the farm!  Skyler and I spent the afternoon at my good friend Wayne's farm.  He was planting 80 acres of sweet corn 12 rows at a time using his gorgeous JD 8235R tractor.  We were seeding at a population of 29,000 seeds per acre.  That's 29,000 ears of corn per acre!  Also, a 12 row planter is a little overkill for 80 acres but Wayne has to use what he's dealt.  The tractor has GPS guided steering meaning you don't have to steer the tractor while you plant.  This makes for some REALLY straight rows!  Skyler was a little scared in the cab at first, but he mellowed out towards the end.  A huge thanks to Wayne for babysitting Skyler and me for a couple hours. 
(EDIT: So blogger's image settings are hit and miss, sometimes small sometimes large.  Today's pics are HUGE!  Perfect for a farm post)

Here he comes!

Closer...

In cab view!

Looking out the back.  The large tubes are the vacuum for the seed metering.

Notice how straight the rows are!

Dusty today!

This sight never gets old!

The colors of heaven!

Bye Wayne, thanks for letting us tag along!

Afterwards, Skyler had to cool off in the water trough.

What a great day!

Pool!

Skyler got a pool!

Splashy splashy!

Maizey really wanted his ball!

Ready to get out.

Just like Dad!

Holding a JD 10mm wrench!

Eating my spaghetti!

I made spaghetti for dinner last night.  Skyler enjoyed it!

And yes, he's only wearing his diaper while eating.  No need to ruin another outfit... :)

Terrible two's is really the terrible one...

Skyler has been extra difficult this week.  Everything from crying, screaming, not listening, chasing the cat, beating the dog, and slapping his Dad just to name a few.  I'm not sure what it is, we think he's getting another tooth (yay more teething) or he's just being a toddler.  Either way, I'm excited to have Altair here this weekend to give me a break.

This morning, he's trapped the cat on the top of the stairs after chasing him all around the house.

Here kitty kitty...

Poor Eddy cat!

It's raining here today.  That's good because I fertilized the lawn yesterday and our newly planted garden needs a drink.

He just likes to be outside...

Here is Skyler this morning looking out the window wishing he was outside.  (We're heading out on a walk shortly.)

A big thanks to Grandma for taking him last night so Altair and I could get the garden planted.  Yes, I planted CORN!!! 5 rows now, 5 more rows in a few weeks.  Delicious!

So God made a Farmer.

If you had anything to eat today, THANK A FARMER!!! 

(Paul Harvey speaking.  I can remember listening to Paul Harvey with my Dad in our van while he took me on trips to the home improvement stores.)

Skyler found the hose!

Altair was watering her pots on the patio while I was starting water on the garden last night.  Skyler grabbed the hose as soon as Altair put it down.  So entertaining!

Here are a couple of iris pics too.  This is a great year for iris, they're huge!

The Mother's day barbeque.

I think everyone had a good time.  Skyler was tired and over stimulated but that was about the only hiccup.

Everyone relaxing on the patio after delicious New York strip steaks.

Skyler playing in the pet's water bowl.

The spoon makes it so much better!

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Mother's Day.  I would like to recognize all the mothers out there because raising a child is the hardest, and most under appreciated job in the world!

 Last year was technically the 1st Mother's day for Altair, but even she agreed that she was too "new" of a mother for a holiday since Skyler was only 2 weeks old.  This year I don't think she can say that.  She still gets up at 5a.m. every day to go to work after sometimes being up half the night with Skyler.  She works 12 hour days and doesn't get to spend the day with her son.  She puts up with me, (that deserves it's own holiday)  She cleans up after Skyler and me and the damn pets. She allows me to have my silly John Deere obsession/hobby and doesn't ever say anything negative about it.  But mostly, she's been a great mother and role model for our son.  I know I don't say it enough, thank you honey, we love you! :)  And thank you to my Mom. I wouldn't be the person I am today without your love and support.  I think about you every day and am glad to have had such a great mom.  You've taught me well.

Now on to yesterday's big event.  PLANTING!  We have had such a weird Spring here in Utah.  I planted sweet corn 3 weeks ago and only about 1% germinated.  I thought maybe it was too cool but the soil temps have been right for about a month.  Imagine my surprise yesterday when I dug up some of the seed and found bug holes!  I planted some un-treated Kandy Korn seed variety and this is what I get!  I'm only using the treated agricultural seed from now on.  Lesson learned. I tilled the corn patch under and we planted squash there instead. We also planted celery, cabbage, and cucumbers yesterday.  Today hopefully we will be able to finish the rest.  (We are hosting a Mother's day BBQ at our place for our moms this afternoon.) Here's some pics from yesterday...

Skyler's pack n play by the barn.  Note the ultra-cool JD flag!

Happy Mother's day!

Squash and cucumbers planted.  Note the Catawba wine grapes in the background.

Potatoes planted a month ago.

Altair looking for a start.

The starts that she started in our house 2 months ago.

Squash being watered.

Everyone always says what great views we have here.  I guess I take them for granted but it is a nice view! (Minus the redneck neighbors shit)

Skyler looking at the JD flag on the barn.

Getting a wagon ride next to mommy's new rose.

I don't care about that, just this baseball.

I'm not always happy.

Feeling better.

See my baseball?

Mommy's turn to pull.

Why aren't you pulling me Dad?

Drumming on the sprinkler box.

Skyler is walking everywhere.  There is something about the side yard that he loves.  I think it is from when Grandpa and him walked to the front yard during his birthday party and saw the balloons out front.