Update

Rained twice so far this week - about 1/10th on Sun night and about 4/10ths Tues night/Wed morning. More rain projected later this week - Praise the Lord! The drought continues but if we can get some more rain more consistently it might break the trend. Burn Ban is still on (since 2/13). No news from relatives about possibility of leasing land to plant trees on so tonight we decided to pray for 3 days about planting in the next few weeks. If the burn ban continues and we do not get an enthusiastic agreement to lease the land we will stop trying to make it happen this year and resign ourselves to the fact that no trees will be planted until next winter. It is very discouraging, especially to D and along with continued layoffs and demotions at his work, so please pray that we will persevere and also that we will have wisdom both in decisions and their timing.

14th Annual Pecan Conference

Last Saturday D went to the state-wide pecan conference and learned lots of wonderful things. At this point we are inevitably frustrated that we have done all this work and yet it seems that we probably will not be able to get trees into the ground until next year.

One of the interesting things D learned was that our brief knowledge and "gut feel" for overseas opportunities seems right on the money. We just wish we already had the trees in the ground about 5 years ago but as the old saying goes "When is the best time to plant a tree? 10 years ago. When is the second best time to plant a tree? Today."

Unfortunately, the burn ban has been reinstated adding to our frustrations and complications but what would farming be without furrows (on the brow)? So trying to look "outside the box" we are talking with a relative about leasing some unused farm land of theirs to plant on immediately but so far we haven't gotten an answer. Please pray for us to make wise decisions in the use of our (limited) resources.

As far as other information from the conference, most of it just confirmed our choices and decisions to date including sources of trees, varieties, layout of the farm, etc. A lot of new and interesting information regarding irrigation was very valuable as well as some sources for crackers/shellers that are local.

Quote of the Week

Give fools their gold,

and knaves their power;

let fortune's bubbles rise and fall;

who sows a field,

or trains a flower,

or plants a tree,

is more than all.

-- Whittier, John Greenleaf

(Picture by Robert Duncan)

Update

Well, the piles are still burning (sort of). With cool temps, sleet, some rain and little wind it is amazing that they are still smoldering. Unfortunately this is because they are not burning nearly as well as we had hoped and this week we will meet with some grading people to see what needs to be done to get rid of all of the massive amounts that still remain. Next weekend D&I plan to attend an all-day conference by the NCPGA and he has had to work all weekend last weekend and this one on his construction job so almost no progress has been made in prepping the land. We haven't heard back from our source in Texas to see if he still has stock of varieties we want or not and it is looking more likely every day that we will just clear and plant ground cover this year and plan on planting trees next winter. It's a hard pill to swallow but there is no sense in rushing and not having the land and soil right before the trees get planted. Pray for Godly wisdom as we decide how quickly and exactly how to proceed.

Better than a Persian Rug

To me a lush carpet

of pine needles

or spongy grass

is more welcome

than the most luxurious Persian rug.

Helen Keller

Burn Baby Burn!

Saturday we began burning stumps. As of today we have had lots and lots and lots... well, you get the idea.... of smoke. The stumps don't seem to have been reduced in size much and several of the neighbors are somewhat irritated. The weather has been very warm for January and tomorrow is supposed to set a new record high but what we really need right now is WIND. It would help fuel the fires so that they would burn rather than smolder and it would keep the smoke moving rather than just hanging around. I hope that tomorrow might be a "rather blustery day" to help the process along but alas, I lost my power over the weather when.... OK, I have absolutely no control over any part of the weather but wouldn't it be fun if you could turn the wind or rain or sun off and on like a switch? Until I invent that contraption, I'll just sit and watch the smoke roll by and pray that the stumps will burn completely (and soon).

YIPPEEE!!! Great way to start a new year!!

D got the news this evening on the radio on the way home that the BURN BAN IS LIFTED!! We had several good rains over the holidays and thankfully the Governor has finally lifted the ban. I will go try to get a permit tomorrow morning and we will begin burning (if there's no wind) this weekend. We are hoping that our neighbor Mr. Simpson can help us keep the piles in order for the next week or so. I'll post again as soon as something is definitive. If we can get the piles burnt in the next two weeks, then two weeks for prepping the land and two for liming will put us about late Feb. to plant, Lord willing. Just barely enough time if all goes well between now and then.