I am on my way today to Omaha, Nebraska for an important meeting with Borsheims.  I have three days to get to my destination.    Today my mind is on my long time family friend, Mike Knaus, who has just been in a horrible accident.   Today as I was driving I decided that I needed to stop along the way and “smell the roses”…….but it is Fall and instead of roses I’m finding many other delightful things.   I want to share my journey with you today.

Cotton is White for Harvest

As I journey through the farm land outside of Memphis and into Arkansas I just see fields of white.   It is cotton!   This is a beautiful time to see the cotton just as it is ready to be picked.   Many combines are out also.  I could not resist taking some photos.  This is how the idea of taking photos along the way began. (I am using my iphone.)

Cotton Fields in October 2011

 Sunflowers Make the Day Cheerful

These happy sunflowers were very near the cotton.   They are reminding me to see the beauty in creation even along the dusty road.

Sunflower in October 2011

 Soybeans Near by Lunch Stop

These soybeans were within steps of the place I chose to stop for lunch.   The large field brings to mind “America the Beautiful”  …..O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain, “…..These are soy beans in the field…..drying and soon ready to be harvested.  When you see an entire field it looks more golden but I wanted you to see the beans close up.

Soybeans in the field ready for harvest.

Pumpkins in St. Louis

I must admit these pumpkins were at Trader Joe’s in St. Louis!   I did however see pumpkins growing in several fields along the way…..but I got a close up view of these when I stopped for a break in St. Louis.

Pumpkins greet me in St. Louis.

Cornfields in Missouri

Daddy used to grow corn.  It was always one of my favorite crops.   Many fields have already been picked so when I spotted this field I just had to stop and take a photo.

Cornfields in Missouri ready for harvest.

 Autumn Trees at the Farm

I arrived at the farm and noticed this glorious tree.   It is a standout……but even more than this tree other circumstances are standing out to me…..there is a man I’ve never met before at the grain bin helping to get the soy beans havested……you see this is what Mike would normally be doing but now his friends are all here!  This tree symbolizes the beauty of all the activity that I am about to discover.

Autumn Tree at the Jones Farm Oct. 2011

Soybeans Harvested

Mother and I drove up to the grain bin and discovered soy beans gushing from the truck being fed to the augur and into the storage bin.   There are three huge trucks here transporting soy beans to the bins.   There are three big combines harvesting soy beans.   There are seven pick up trucks…..and men and women who are all friends of Mike helping to harvest soybeans!    This is a wonderful sight!

Soybeans flowing rapidly Oct. 2011 at the Jones farm.

Friends and Family Appreciated

Please continue to pray for my friend, Mike.   He has been such a help to our family for so many years.   Today I saw friends of Mike in action and they were still working as the moon was in the evening sky.   I am glad that I stopped to ”smell the roses” along the way today.

My Mother and Mike's father observing all the harvest helpers.

Notice the Moon in the sky. Early evening harvesting soybeans. Mike' friends are in the fields.