Pumpkins, Pupkins, Pokins and Putkins.

So I have tried to write this post about 100 times but find myself struggling to get it all down on paper.  Not because I don't have anything to say about pumpkins but because I have too much.  I LOVE the pumpkin fields around my families' homes.  Every time we go out to the farm, we see hundreds and hundreds of pumpkins.  The boys start screaming "pupkin, pupkin, pupkin" or "pokin, pokin" and sometimes even "putkins".  Yeah, I find myself screaming the same thing too.  How silly is that?!  I mean they are just pumpkins, we see them every year in a store, we buy them, put them on our porches, sometimes carve them and that is it.  But this is different, so different.  I have seen these pumpkins grow from seeds, to vines, to blossoms and now full on pumpkins.  It might be the coolest thing I have ever experienced.  Seeing them doesn't get old and I find myself looking forward to the next time I will be out in the pumpkin patch.

Migrant workers pile up the pumpkins so that workers can load them in buses
and wagons to be transported back to farms and eventually to grocery stores
and markets across the country.  Thanks Tammy Yochum for this great pic!

Mouzin Farms rented the land around the Hinkle compound to grow pumpkins this year.  In June and even July, the fields weren't that impressive.  With all the rain that we had, it took awhile for the pumpkin crop to get going.  Even after the the vines came up, I wasn't sure if there would be a lot of pumpkins to look at. The pictures below were taken on July 19th (we have pumpkins, a little green but they are starting to grow).  The fields still look pretty bare.

Harrison touching a "young" pumpkin.

Oliva and Thomas Weintraut enjoying the pumpkin fields on their visit in July.

Once August hit and the heat settled in, the pumpkins took off.  Did you know that farmers put bee boxes near the pumpkin fields so that the bees can pollinate the pumpkin plants?  Without pollination, we would not have pumpkins.  Did you know that the state of Illinois grows over 90% of the processed pumpkins in the US.  I personally believe that number is lower because there are more and more pumpkins being grown in southern Indiana.  Here is a fun link to learn more about pumpkins.  http://urbanext.illinois.edu/pumpkins/facts.cfm

What I am blown away at is how much labor is involved with harvesting these orange wonders.  The workers harvesting the fields around my sister and brother-in-law's home were from Florida.  These men would take what looked like hedge clippers and walk through the fields and clip the pumpkins that were ripe and ready to go.  Another group would pick and line up all the pumpkins.  Finally another group would form an assembly line, pick and then toss one by one the pumpkins to the man next to them until it got to the wagon or bus.  Once there, one man was responsible for stacking, very carefully, all the pumpkins for transportation.  I have been told that this is an art and takes much skill to maximize the number of pumpkins on the wagon or bus while making sure that none fall off during transportation.

A bus load ready to head to Mouzin Farms for processing.

Pumpkins up close in the bus.

The little boys and I have especially enjoyed the pumpkin fields this year.  Harrison is OBSESSED with pumpkins.  He will pick them up and carry them around like a baby.  He runs from one pumpkin to the next, each one seeming more exciting then the first.  Mac follows right behind, touches the pumpkin and yells, "pupkin!".

Tammy, my sister-in-law, told me that they are planning on picking the fields three times and then will be done.  Let me just say that the Hinkle house will have more pumpkins then they know what to do with this year because I have a feeling there will be plenty of pumpkins left after Mouzin Farms is done with them. The invitation is open if you want to come to Knox County to pick your pumpkins :).  The more the merrier.  No worries, I will post a picture of all of our pumpkins on our beautiful front porch once we are done.  This city girl can't wait for fall to officially be here to celebrate her favorite time of year.  But, I think I may be able to celebrate a little early since the pumpkin crop is in full bloom.  Cheers to the BEST time of year!

Yes I will take a pork chop the size of Texas, please.

What a farm week it has been!  The little boys, Tony and I went to JL Farm Equipment Co., Inc. for "Customer Appreciation Day" on Wednesday.  Now, when I here Customer Appreciation Day, I think "deep discounts on items and maybe a cupcake or some chocolate."  Yeah, JL does customer appreciation a little differently.  I have never seen so many trucks, farmers and blue jeans in a limited space in my entire life. To say that the little boys were in farm heaven is an understatement.  So many tractors and combines, plus cookies and ice cream.  It was truly the Disney of the little boy world and my little boys had an express pass to all the attractions.  It is really hard to put into words what this event was like so I will narrate via picture.

Yes, every vehicle in attendance is a truck except for our lame minivan.  Talk about being a fish out of water.

3 farm boys enjoying the day.

Yes, all farmers standing in line to eat.  Eat what, you might ask? Well, pork chops from Dewig Meats which is local and amazing.  Now, I will tell you that I WAS looking all cute in my khaki shorts and turquoise shirt that said "I kissed a farmer and I liked it." Tony bought it for me and I felt "all country" wearing it.  Yeah, I might have been a smidge out of place but I totally owned it and smiled at all those blue jean farmers.

Dewig Meats, which is a local meat provider and butcher grilled up our grub (http://www.dewigmeats.com/).  Pork chops I swear as big as my head and so juicy. My stomach starts grumbling and my mouth begins to water just thinking about those chops.

See as big as Texas and was so good that I found myself eating it by hand and nibbling as much as I could off the bone.  Anyone who knows me knows how much I HATE eating meat off the bone so you have to know that is was pretty incredible meat.

Simply Simple

I woke up this morning feeling exhausted.  Not a great way to start your Monday but it was my reality.  With the exhaustion comes the need to be cranky, lazy and just plain blah... As I sent Em off with Tony to catch the bus, I felt and saw the beauty of today and decided to fight that exhaustion with all my might.  I wanted to enjoy this beautiful Monday with my little guys, not wish it away or waste it away inside while they watched endless hours of tractor videos.  So I powered through my second cup of coffee, got the boys dressed and decided that we should take a walk.  Of course, after getting both them and me ready, I was even more exhausted and I really just wanted to turn right around and head to the couch.  Thankfully, I just kept moving with the boys right out the front door.

It was simply gorgeous outside and I instantly gained some energy.  We started our walk only to make it a few yards and had to stop because there was a small mound of dirt.  As I watched the little boys play in this piddly pile of dirt, it dawned on me that I had access to endless amounts of dirt.  Why weren't we there, playing and enjoying the day.  This city girl had almost forgotten where she was and why she was here.

So I scooped them up and to the FARM we went.

Most of the soil around the farm is sand which is AWESOME, making it the largest sandbox EVER!  As we headed out to the farm, I realized that it had been almost 2 weeks since I had been out there.  Too long!  Just driving down Main Street road made me feel more at ease, calmer and more at peace.  I found myself smiling, almost chuckling, as the boys shouted "big tractor, combine, pumpkin, corn, and MOO."  Melons were overflowing in wagons and corn was so high that I couldn't see around bends.  The overall view of healthy, farm fields was breathtaking (sounds strange I know but watching the corn wave in the wind created this amazing picture...wish you all could be here to see it).

Upon arriving, we found our "perfect sandbox" which sits right at the end of the road that leads to the fields by the house. With combines, tractors and a few snack cups in hand the boys got right down to it and so did I.  Not too long after beginning "our great dig" as I like to call it, Tony pulled up on the John Deere.  Exciting things were happening just down the dirt road and he invited us to join him.  An excavator was there to dig up a couple of trees.  Well for anyone who is a boy or who has boys, you know that this is quite the event.  We once again scooped up the boys and relocated them down the road.  We found a shady spot (which is very hard to do because Jerry has just about dug up all the trees) and resumed our sand playing.  Just down the road, we could see the excavator working to dig up dirt and eventually the trees.  My boys were in heaven.

We played for well over an hour in that spot digging, dumping, oohing and aahing at the dirt and the trees falling.  It was the most fun that I have had in a long time.  The joy that I gained from watching my two boys play in the dirt and to see their two faces when the tree came crashing down was just priceless.  My sister-in-law brought the Ranger down and Harrison even enjoyed a speedy ride on it.  It was like we were at Disney World for little boys.  They don't need much, actually less is more in their case.  Having their mom and aunt, a little dirt, some combines and an excavator is all they really need.

I love this quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder because it reminded that it is quite simply, the simple things in life that we gain the most joy from.

"It's the simple things in life that make living worthwhile 

- sweet fundamental things such as love." 

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

First Day of the First Grade

We are well into the first full week of school and I am finding it hard to believe that my sweet, little girl is in first grade.  Like all parents, I continue to find myself saying, "where has the time gone."  One week ago today, we put her on the bus to a school where we really knew no one.  Talk about an overwhelming feeling to an already overwhelming day.  I felt a little more at ease knowing that my brother-in-law, Trent, was driving her.  What a wonderful surprise and blessing!  Trent will fill in as needed for the the schools and I sure was glad that the original bus drivers decided that they "just didn't want to drive this year."  Emily was totally surprised too and I hope made her transition a little bit easier.

I am constantly amazed by my daughter.  She is smart and so wise, too wise for a 6 year old.  We have always said that she is an old soul.  Her beauty, well, it is pretty overwhelming.  Her heart is pure gold and the kindness and generosity that she shows towards others, especially her crazy brothers is rather humbling.  I am so very proud of her and I hope that when I grow up I can be as amazing as she is.

I remember the night before school started laying in bed with her and asking her how she felt about going to a new school.  "Mom, I am excited and I can't wait to begin school," she said.  Then there was a long pause.  "But mom, what if the kids laugh at me or what if no one wants to play with me as recess?"  Like any mom, my heart sunk.  I have been having those same thoughts too, because I know how kids can be.  I want to shield my children from all the hurt that is out there but that is not reality or the real world.  I could keep them in a little bubble but then that is not life.  Life is beautiful and amazing but is also ugly, mean and painful.  I thought, I thought really hard about what I was going to say, "Well, some kids may laugh at you but because you are funny, not to make fun.  And some kids might not be as nice on the first day because they are scared and nervous just like you.  And if some kids are mean, remember that they just don't know any better.  You're sorry they are like that and move on.  Remember, we love you, God loves you and you are one amazing, awesome first grader who EVERYONE will want to meet."  My answer was a little long winded so I got the usual "ok mom, I need to get to bed because I have big day tomorrow."  Love my big girl!

The first day went well and the first week, very exciting and fun for this little city girl.  As each day passes, both big and little CITY GIRL gain more confidence and comfort in this quaint, beautiful town.

My farmer

Leigh:  "So what did you do today?"

Tony:  "Pulled weeds in the pumpkin fields"

Leigh:  "Pulled weeds?  All day? In a field that you aren't even farming?"

Tony:  "Well no, for about 3 hours this morning and then again in the afternoon.  So not all day."

Leigh:  "You use a machine right?"

Tony (with a puzzled look on his face): "No, I pulled weeds, in the fields by hand.  There aren't machines that can get in between the crops to pull them.  I wore gloves though."

Leigh:  "So let me get this straight, you spent the day pulling weeds, by hand in a field that you aren't even farming."

Tony:  "Yes.  If we don't pull them, then the seeds from the weeds will spread resulting in more weeds and impacting more crops."

I used to think that I knew what hard work was until I saw and heard what my husband does day in and day out. Farming is not for everyone.  The job is hard, very hard. My husband is tired and his body aches. With the humidity and heat, he can only work a few hours before having to retreat inside for rest and even a cold shower (just one of several for the day).  Very few people would get up, day after day, and go out and do what Tony, his dad and his brothers do.  But they do it, day in and day out.  Tony loves being outside and working with family.  Even though the work is hard, he still has a smile on his face.

It is hard for me to believe that Tony has been working on the family farm for over 4 months now.  Some days are long, really long.  He leaves before 6:30 am and isn't home before 9.  Other days, he works "regular" 8 - 5 hours.  What is amazing to me is that I have not once heard this man complain.  Complain about equipment breaking down, complain about pulling weeds by hand for 6 plus hours a day, complain about sitting in a tractor seat for over 9 hours, complain about mother nature destroying fields and fields of crops...  I could go on but I won't because Tony doesn't.

Very few of us really know what hard work is.  I mean, we think we work hard, but have you ever shadowed a farmer to see what he does on a daily basis.  I have and let me tell you, each and every one of us should pause and thank our farmers.  I am lucky and blessed because the love of my life is one.  I hug him a little harder and say an extra prayer at night now for him and all the other farmers out there.

Watermelons, the holy grail of Knox County

Watermelons, watermelons, watermelons EVERYWHERE!  When I drive out to the farm, I pass three family farms knee deep in watermelons.  I am just amazed every time to see watermelons growing here and so, so many of them.  It's not like these farmers have just started growing melons.  For some reason, I am just now really paying attention to them.  Knox County, specifically Decker, IN, is known for their melons. I "Googled" Decker Melons and here is what I came up with (http://my-indiana-home.com/deckermelon/)

What is a Decker melon? Only one of the sweetest, juiciest, heftiest, most sought-after melons in Indiana you can sink your teeth into on a hot summer afternoon. But Decker is not a variety of melon. The moniker refers to the town (population 249) – and its environs in southern Knox County, Indiana – where these highly reputed cantaloupes (technically, muskmelons) and watermelons are grown. It’s a Decker art and tradition that spans more than 100 years. The area’s temperate climate and perfectly sandy soil, along with the knowledge, expertise and love that has been passed from generation to generation, turn out melons so good they taste like a cool bite of heaven.

Sadly, there is very little cantaloupe grown in Knox County for purchase anymore. According to several articles that I have read, demand is down and government regulations are up which equals a crop that farmers can make very little money on.  I am happy to report that I have enjoyed some amazing cantaloupe from the weekly farmers market but am sorry for all of you that can no longer enjoy this sweet taste of summer.

So I just have to share some pics that I took of how the watermelons are transported.  Many watermelon growers still use tractors to pull wagons of melons from the field, then to the farm for processing.  The challenge with the wagon is that during transportation, you can lose watermelons and also you are only able to transport a small amount.

What I have started to see over the last several years are converted school buses being used to haul melons.  Farmers can haul more and the melons are protected better from the sun and from falling out of the vehicle.  Pretty mind blowing isn't it?!

With the evolution of machinery and farm equipment, I thought surely melons were planted, taken care of and harvested by some type of machine.  Well they are...the machine is called a human.  Many melons are still planted by hand and tended too by people just like you and me.  Larger farms have migrant workers that come and turn vines and also the melons as they grow.  Many farmers employee high school and college age kiddos who are home on break for the summer.  When it is time to pick the melons, they are done by hand.  I have heard many stories from nieces and nephews as well as Tony and his siblings about working in the melon fields in the summer.  Sounds like a perfect place for my kids when they become old enough to work.  Ha!  Ha!

I encourage all of you who live in and around Indiana to seek out Knox County melons.  I know that the Mouzin Brothers Farm sells to Kroger (http://www.mouzinbrothers.com/).  You may also see Decker Melon signs but I caution you to make sure that they are grown in Decker.  I do know that some packers and distributors in the area redistribute melons from Georgia and other areas in the southeast and market them as Decker melons.  Not the same people!  Hope you can embrace and enjoy this wonderful summer fruit while it lasts.

So I hung my head

Yesterday morning was beautiful. I laced up my running shoes and headed out for a 5 mile jog before the sun had come up.  It has been quite awhile since I have run outside, especially at that hour.  The air was cool and the world was quiet.  As I ran, I was reminded just how much I love running outside first thing in the morning (I hate getting up but the reward is always worth it!).  I like to think that it is my "little secret" because it is just me and my thoughts before the chaos of the day and influences of the world seep in to my little utopia.  I know that I have said this before but I will say it again, running is my therapy.  I don't like to run but I do it because it is the one time in the day that is ALL mine. While running I found myself reflecting on my trip to Texas the week before.  I found it hard to believe that I hadn't been back to Texas in over 6 months. Where had the time gone?

My mom and dad had taken Emily back with them after their 4th of July trip here.  She had the gift of spending almost 2 weeks at "Camp Mimi and Grandy."  We had traveled the week earlier to pick her up and so that we could visit with family that we had not seen in what seemed like forever.  The visit was simply, wonderful!  

Enjoying the Texas Rangers ballgame.

Gigi and Mac

Such a special time with Mimi at the princess tea.

We always enjoy spending time with family but for some reason this visit was even more special.  I realized as I reflected back that it was me that was a little different, not really Texas.  I was more at peace, calm and willing to take in everything, the good and the crazy.  I mean, every family is a little wonderful and a little crazy right?!  I loved seeing the kids with their cousins, grandparents and great grandma.  Family is everything. Every day that passes, I am constantly reminded just how important they are.  We don't choose our family, God does and they are forever.  We have good times but also difficult times and I wouldn't trade any of them for anything in the world.  I am pretty lucky.  My family is amazing!  They love me no matter what (in spite of my craziness, moodiness, and the fact that I spend most of my time as one big hot mess).

In the middle of my run, I was stopped by a train (only in Vincennes).  My thoughts moved from my family to today.  I had Tony's family and knew many people from the church, but good girlfriends I had not made.  In fact, I have really only met a few women who I am not related too since moving here.  I realized that if I were to disappear tomorrow, no one in this town would really miss me because they didn't even know that I was here.  Talk about a humbling thought.  I was to many people, invisible.  There is something sad but also something cool and mysterious about it.  I am the new city girl in a town where the majority of the people were born and raised and had known each other all their lives.

As my run came to an end, so did my thoughts.  I was exhausted from the jog and from the emotion that came with it.  All I could do was hang my head and walk home.

I know that I will meet people and I will make friends.  I mean, I have too right?!  Part of me wonders if people will like me and want to make a new friend. I mean there has to be a group of women who:

1.  Love and like God, their children and husbands most of the time
2.  Love to laugh at themselves and don't take themselves too seriously
3.  Who aren't perfect and that is what makes them wonderful
4.  Truly understand and value the importance of girlfriends

Oh, and maybe drink wine or a beer every once in awhile.  I have to believe that there is a place for me here and that I will find my niche.  Patience and time, Leigh.  Patience and time...