Table Talk

Perhaps there is no greater scope of staked his claim there as well, and it was opposites than is present during harvest just as unfortunate when it was time for time. him to leave there and go home for supHarvest time presents some of the longest days of the year for the farm family, and it clashes with the shortest amount per. We can all learn something from little kids who live in the moment, for the moment. of time to get laundry and chores done, Sometimes progress and patience are in get field lunches made and dishes done, short supply during that very hectic time and even answer Mother Nature’s call when the combine is waiting for the TABLE TALK of year. When the combine driver has to wait for the grain cart to return; when grain cart or trucks to catch up. By Karen Schwaller trucks are backed up at the elevator; But there are plenty of things that don’t last long during harvest season — and one of them would be sunsets. Harvest sunsets feature some of the most beautiful paintings God has ever created, but they certainly don’t last long. when breakdowns occur and we have to wait for parts; when the rain lasts too long; when computer technology fails us; when there isn’t enough help; and even when political news intrudes and rears its ugly head. It’s a good thing too, because I could see myself so Nights are some of the shortest of all during harengrossed in the beauty of a fall sunset that we vest season. Before I used to help with harvest I could revisit an incident we had a couple of years would hear my husband say, “All that’s left is to fill ago involving a damaged combine and grain cart the trucks and then we’ll be home.” That always tractor, a frustrated husband and a wife who was sounded like a short-term effort … until it would considering revisiting her 100-yard-dash capabili- take forever for them to come home. ties from her junior high track years. When I became part of the harvest team (out of a

We don’t want to go back there. lack of work force and sheer desperation), I came to When you’re a kid, a ride in the combine or tractor is never long enough. When our very young grandson came to ride with me one fall, it came time for him and his mom to switch to the combine for a ride, and amid his tearful angst, we had to peel his little fingers off of the steering wheel so he understand how long it takes to ‘just fill the trucks’ — especially during the soybean harvest. It takes some time to fill the trucks for the night, especially depending on the wind speed, blowing dust, yield levels and how much coffee was consumed during the day. could make the move. Yet, once in the combine, he Many farm women have full-time jobs in town, so

their days are as long as they are short when they have to hold down the home fort while the guys are in the field. When I was doing that, I would get home from work around 5:30 or 6 p.m., toss the field supper into the oven, change into my chore clothes and take care of the hog and sheep chores for an hour. I would then return to the house, change out of my chore clothes, pack up supper and haul it around to wherever everyone was working, bring it home and put it away, get field lunches ready for three or four people, and prepare what was going to be for supper the next night for eight to 12 people. Those days dragged and yet whizzed by, and it confounded me that I never lost a single ounce of weight in all the time I did that. Sometimes the help doesn’t last long in the field or in the hog barns — especially if it’s a husbandand-wife situation and things aren’t going well. Maybe it’s best you don’t ask my husband how he knows that. There are many other things that aren’t around long at harvest time, including bread and mayonnaise, Rice Krispie treats (especially when young grandchildren are passengers in the combine), clean clothes, and yes, even whiskey. Ask my husband, and he’ll tell you it cures what ails you … especially at harvest time. Karen Schwaller brings “Table Talk” to The Land from her home near Milford, Iowa. She can be reached at kschwaller@evertek.net. v We couldn’t take in all of the museum’s offerings in a day

FARMHOUSE KITCHEN, from pg. 4

band music was playing in the background: happy days are here again!

Plymouth County has quite an interesting history which includes an English settlement. Yes, this town on the prairie at one time was known as a British town.

Apparently, the Close Brothers must have had a sense of adventure when they look outside of England to build their homes. In 1878 they bought 30,000 acres in Woodbury and Plymouth County. By 1880 they owned almost 40,000 acres. These English capitalists also had land in other parts of northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota. With them they brought their architecture design which could be seen in some of This sign shows quarantine is nothing new. the buildings and farms in Plymouth Miller’s Lunch still serves root beer floats!

County.

It was the first time land west of the Mississippi was used for playing golf, hosting a horse competition known as steeple chasing, and even polo contests complete with correct uniforms and equipment.

It surprising what one can learn in a few hours at a museum. Indeed “Old Central” is still being used to educate.

We didn’t even have time to explore the floor devoted to agriculture or visit the train room operated by the Floyd Valley Model Railroad Club. Oh well, I guess we will just have to repeat the day sometime soon. Let’s see … dinner at Iowa Barbeque Company and ice cream before we go home at the Wells Blue Bunny Ice Cream Parlor.

You know, I think this is doable.

The Plymouth County Historical Museum is open Tuesdays through Sunday from 1-5 p.m. It is located at 335 1st Ave. SW in Le Mars, Iowa. For more information, call (712) 546-7002 or email pchmuseum@gmail.com.

Renae B. Vander Schaaf is an independent writer, author and speaker. Contact her at (605) 530-0017 or agripen@live.com. v