The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
"It feels like I have been living in a topsy-turvy world the past couple of weeks. I swear our farm was transported to somewhere south of the equator. It felt more like April than October here in central Minnesota with the cold "spring rains" and muddy yards. I can only hope November will dry out like May and bring a bountiful harvest instead of flowers. The Harvestor is running low of high moisture corn. We appear to have enough corn to harvest, but it is still in the fields and too wet even for the silo. As with everyone else, mold is the issue to deal with next. Who would have thought we would be grumbling about too much rain after farming through the last 3 dry years?
The good news is that we haven't had many breakdowns in the fields! Of course, we haven't been able to be in the fields yet either. But that's a minor note. Mark and Al have the chopper and boxes all cleaned up and ready to store away for the winter. They just can't sit around waiting for the fields to dry out so they might as well get something else done. I think they have completed quite a few odd jobs.
As the guys were servicing the tractors and equipment, I figured I should have my computer serviced. I thought it might need some annual attention for the first time in 5 years. The technician called me and said the hard drive was going out. In my limited knowledge of computers, I knew that was not good news. Since my computer was so old and outdated it would less expensive to replace my tower, rather than repair it. It appears computers age faster than dogs. 5 years is a millennium in computer years. I was assured by the tech geek that I would love the new updates and speed of my new computer.
You have to understand I am not computer savvy. I like having my filing cabinets stuffed with paper receipts and statements for the past 15 years. My office is a collection of different piles for 4-H, kids, farm, article ideas and miscellaneous. My office isn't as bad my extension agent's back home, but I can find just about anything I need if no one has touched my piles. It may appear to be an "old school" office, but when the new technology goes kaput, I can still find everything I need.
I guess some of my reluctance in adapting to the new technology is that I am stuck on the ground floor. When I was in high school, we were considered high tech with a single party touch-tone phone with an extra long cord, a pocket calculator that we couldn't use during a test and an electric typewriter with correcting ribbon. We were on top of the world.
While my computer was down for 5 days, I felt lost and cut off from everyone without my e-mail and internet hook-ups. How did I function before I had access to all of this information? I never realized how dependent I have become on my computer to keep me "connected with the world". I guess I am slowly moving up to the first floor.
The tech geek was right. I do like the speed with which I can do things now, but I'm having a hard time finding everything. I spent the first dry sunny days we've had in weeks stuck in front of my computer trying to put "things away" where I can find them. It is kind of like finding everything after you have cleaned the kitchen cabinets and drawer and someone else puts it all away for you. What makes sense to them is mind-boggling to you.
While I continue to get my office order and the weather returns to fall, it appears things are getting back to normal, just in time for the holiday madness.
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As their four children pursue dairy careers off the family farm, Natalie and Mark are starting a new adventure of milking registered Holsteins just because they like good cows on their farm north of Rice, Minnesota.
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