Where I Stand Sunday

Since the last week or so in September, til now, I have been working my seasonal job at the grain elevator.  We are in the clutches of full-blown harvest, which includes soybeans, corn and milo.  This is just a photo of Kelli and me standing by the buckets that we dump the extra grain into after we are done testing it. 

We are about finished with taking in soybeans - finishing with about 631,817 bushels of those little buggars, that equates into 37,909,020 pounds of soybeans. Did I say 37 million??? 

The trucks bringing in corn, are lessening now.   Most of the corn is being stored for winter in this pile (photo below).  There are drying fans on the side of the bunker to give an air supply to the corn on the bottom

through venting tubes.  

This mega-pile will be covered with a big tarp for winter. It reminds me of a circus tent!

(Photo by Kelli)

This pile is holding 424,667 bushels of corn.  That is 23,781,352 pounds of corn nuggets.  I asked if the corn on the bottom gets moldy over the wet winter?  And I was told, "That's the part that tortillas are made out of!"  And of course, you say, "Ewwwww!!!"  But after a margarita or two, you won't notice.  Right? 

(Actually, most of this pile will be transported to ethanol plants, it's not 'food supply quality corn'.)

So, that's what I have been doing about 12 hours per day - every day...weather permitting, and Kansas weather has been perfect for this harvest. The farmers in these parts are so lucky to have these bumper crops.

Those to the south of us, have not been as fortunate. 

In the meantime, I am rejoicing as my art is selling and that amazes me - you can be sure there will be more...I can afford the supplies!   I am also busy with a 'reproduction rights contract'.  Stay tuned for more artwork, it's coming soon!!!!

BTW - 'sunporch' (as it's now called) is finished, check back for a photo of it.

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing.
Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.
There are several others who also write this on Sunday, see sidebar.

Where I Stand Sunday

Soon the cooler winds of change will begin.

Since harvest is ongoing, dogs will be cold and need shelter from the wind and cold..into the night.

We are designing, engineering and building an enclosure on the backporch, using the existing skeleton of windbreak that is already there.  We put clear carbonite plastic on the sides.  The front will have a storm door, a window and a doggie door...

can you say 'sauna'??  Always needed a mud room, and with this enclosure and it's dual purpose...now we will have one!

P.S. - a few post ago, you could see the barbecue grill that was sitting just off the porch.  Since then, the wind blew it away into the yard and it is descompuesto. 

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing.
Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.
There are several others who also write this on Sunday, see sidebar.

Watercolor

"Yellow Shades"

watercolor on Strathmore

Doing people in watercolor...or at least attempting to.

Watercolor mystifies me...time to reach for the learning curve..with more practice and more reading and vids. 

This is my daughter at the motocross races in the hot sun and dirt.  I love how little people's sunglasses are always gi-normous on their faces.  These were even kidsized sunglasses. Hands, hands, hands...time to do a study or two of those. She was wiping the dirt from her hands...it doesn't read right.  Fun to paint it though - fond memories.

Sketchin' on a Rainy Day

Thought I would dink around in my sketchbook

with Faber-Castell Pitt pens, watercolor and gouache. 

Where I Stand in the Rain

Lots of rain - a day for staying warm and inside.

Much needed and very welcome!

Been working mega - hours at the grain elevator during this fall harvest.  Soybeans, corn - right now and then milo, as soon as there is a hard frost.  Out to the studio for the rest of the day will fix what I need!

Where I Stand Sunday

Prototype solar heater to be used on...

the Chicken Coop!

And does it put out the heat!

Where I Stand Sunday is an ongoing photo essay examining the different places I spend my life standing.

Too often we take for granted the everyday places we spend our lives walking on.

There are several others who also write this on Sunday, see sidebar.