The Muench Bunch

The temps have dropped over the weekend and remained cold into the 30's. Monday evening, snow began to fall. It was a chilly morning Tuesday at 26 degrees and the snow stuck from the night before. Wednesday mid morning it began to snow again. We are still combining in the field even though it feels like winter. We sure missed out on a nice fall.  I am not ready for the cold I get chilled so easily any more. My hands are always cold and I am often chilled to the core. What I would do to live in a warm climate! I just don't think people were meant to live in bitter cold temps like the Iowa winters. On the cold wet fall days, we spent time in the indoor arena roping. Mark always likes to point out his favorite number, "Eight!" Luke has gotten really good at catching heels and Jake is taking more of an interest too.  

I spent a Saturday with my high school classmates. It was so nice to spend some time together. We met in Ames for a pre-game tailgating party. I met my friend Paula so we could drive in together. It was quite a journey getting into the tailgate lots. We had to get in a long line of cars. As we were about to the gate, Shawna called and told us to pull into her lot. Of course it had been closed so we had to drive all the way around town and get back into the long line again and wait. That was a but aggravating. It didn't matter, it just gave me more time to chat with Paula. Shawna, Paula, Jessica, Jolene, Tracie, and Mindy all got together for tailgating. Mindy could only stay for an hour. After we got all set up, we headed to the Alumni center to see Shawna's daughter Emma perform in the color guard flags. We conventionally were offered a ride in a golf cart, so got a nice ride rather than a very long walk. It was great! We watched Emma's flag routine and got to watch the

Hidden Acres is such an extraordinary camp site and the location for many church related activities. It is located in a timber are with lots of land. There are cabins and lodges for staying scattered among the twisting and turning roads surrounded by trees. There is an INN for guests that prefre a more hotel like stay. There are campgrounds, canoes, horse rides, a small lake for canoes and swimming, and a small pond with kayaks. The dinning lodge is newly built and phenomenal. It is super large and modern to hold many campers or retreat attendees. They could hold some nice weddings but have to keep those limited. The family Life Center is another wonderful feature with a giant wood fireplace, enormous gym with two basketball courts and an indoor pool and hot tub. They also have miniature golf, zip line, shooting ranges and targets, and rappelling towers. You could say they have it all.  The camp is famous for their outstanding giant chocolate chip cookies. They are served almost daily.

Jayden got a college fall break October 17th through the 20th. She left Oklahoma, riding with her friend Alex, at noon on Wednesday and made it to Ames by 10PM where I was able to pick her up after the boys church group. The timing couldn't have been better. I waited less than 5 minutes. It was so good to see her and give her big hugs. How I miss my girl!!. Alex lives in Madrid, so it was wonderful the girls could travel together. We talked with Jayden all the way home asking her tons of questions. Mark greeted her after being in the field all day and half sick from all the grain dust. He gets so sick every year when he gets in all the dust. He went to bed while the rest of us stayed up till midnight talking and letting Jayden curl up with her favorite cat CoCo.   Thursday morning started with the arrival of my new refrigerator. The old one is over 20 years, still working, just had many problems. From there I took Jayden to her doctor appointment with an ENT.. It was suggested by h

Sept 25th we had the combine in the field ready to roll for harvest 2019.  Sept 26 was the first full day harvesting beans and had a smooth full week.  Jake ran the grain cart quite often. He has gotten comfortable and does well with it. Luke likes to be in the field riding with whoever he can every chance he gets. October 1 was Mick's first day as he joined the Muench Ag team. We met Mick through Stonebridge church in Boone. He has four kids and plays guitar for the worship team. He plays an awesome electric guitar piece in an upbeat Amazing Grace song that amazed me. One Sunday I asked him if he would consider giving Luke guitar lessons. After two years of occasional lessons, he got to talking about his AgServe Fertilizer company  with Mark and soon a relationship grew. Mick is a Godly man, kind and generous. I am so excited to have such wonderful role models in the boys' lives. I know that on the farm, the boys will spend many hours with our employees and having good ones

  "She hath done all that she could" When I have visited the Williams cemetery, there is a tombstone that has always stuck out to me. It is near the Wahlert headstones and it catches your eye. It is a tall cylinder shape and it looks very old. Everytime I see it, I can't help but wonder what happened in this family and what life was like for Ida. I had to write down the dates and think through the timing and ages. Ida Mae Talman Hurd was married to her husband Horace N Hurd and at the age of 20, she had her first child, Clara in 1890. Baby number two, Eva came along and was born when Clara was 13 months. Clara died a month later at age 14 months. Eva died at 14 months as well while Ida was pregnant with Preston. 4 months later, he was born. Preston lived only a short 6 months. 3 months later Ida's husband died. She has lost everything, her babies, and her husband in just 4 years.  Many questions  and wonder, what was happening that took all her family and how did s

We got invited to Ryan G's 40th birthday party,  a surprise party. His wife Krisitn wanted to theme it the 70's with full costumes. Just hours before I started rounding up clothes and throwing things together. A lot of the props and clothes came from Jayden's things, her red rodeo shirt, Afro wig from a dance recital, fringe boots and fringe vest, earrings, and headband. Mark and Jake raided Karen and Orrie's closet to find their costumes. I thought we looked pretty good for the era.

On Wednesday Jake came home from school with a red swollen area under his eye. I figured it was something he had done during shop class and didn't think much of it and I teased him about getting hit. Then he told me he did in fact get hit. After school when he went to the parking lot, a kid had put his tailgate down and  three boys, one a kid from his class that he thought was a friend, surrounded him. Soon fists were flying and Jake was hit in the face 2 times. I was shocked and in disbelief. Here we are letting Jake go to public school and two months in he is in a fight. This kind of thing is a big deal on school property. Jake said the Graden girls were in the parking lot and probably saw the whole thing. He was so sad and embarrassed about it. He thinks a lot of those girls. In the evening Jake told Mark and we all three talked it over. We decided Jake should go and talk to his teacher Mrs. Anderson and probably tell the principal. Thursday Jake drove a different truck, talked

Luke got his new gun. Luke worked for grandparents, picked rocks, cleaned every other week all summer and fall with cousin Maggie cleaning the shop office, and other jobs to earn his money.  He has very nice and expensive taste. He went with his dad to pick out a .22 Henry. He had been eyeing a certain one, fancy with silver. He was super excited about it. Not knowing much about guns, I asked if he would hunt with it and shoot clay pigeons. He then informed me that this .22 rifle is for targets only. I was so confused, the whole time I though he was getting a gun he could hunt with. I really dont understand. Now he tells me he needs to buy a shotgun too!?!! Coco disappeared for 2 days. He waits every morning on the deck to come in. He sleeps all day inside, likes to be fed in the garage, and drinks his water in the bathroom out of a little dish. He doesn't miss a day.  When two full days passed with no sign of Coco, I was really worried and starting to feel sad. He is our cuddle

Our connection group met at the Cambridge Apple Orchard. With warm weather and falling on a Saturday, we weren't the only ones who had the idea.  I have been to the orchard many years, but never in all my life had I seen so many people there. We parked a half a mile away and the place was packed. Thankfully it covers several acres of land and there are plenty of activities. We had apple cider donuts, played in all the corn piles, rode the hay ride, picked apples, walked through the corn maze, and went down the giant slides. The only thing we missed that I enjoy is the giant pillow trampolnes. It was a fun family bonding time with the Graden and Grave's families and we all had a really good time. Luke sure enjoys being around those girls. It was a little sad remembering everytime we have attended the orchard has been with Aunt Alice. Seeing the goats, Alice in Wonderland Tea Party, and go karts, brought back fun memories with Alice.

Jayden has been enjoying college. She rides most nights, has been roping, even impressed the roper boys the first night she roped live cattle, catching every time. She surprised herself. She also has been taking a few break away roping lessons from a local gal, Teddi. Jayden followed her rodeo team and went along to the first college rodeo of the season in Kolby, Kansas. She rode in a Mustang with a girl who's dad competes in the NFR. She has a steer wrestler friend in her class who is the college finalist champion named Bridger. Her coach Stockton is an NFR Steer Wrestler qualifier. A girl who won the American's sister is another one of the girls Jayden knows. She is definitely in with some elite rodeo competitors. There is a football player named Shark interested in Jayden. He took her out in one of his dune buggies and drove super fast through the nearby sand dunes. Jayden even cinched her hair on the hot engine. She said he owns several off road vehicles and has a sweet Do

Just My Opinion-Conforming to the world. I don't watch television local shows anymore. I stopped about 3 years ago when we started watching more Netflix. I watch older tv series or movies.. Every show seems to have an agenda to promote the homosexual lifestyle. It has become the norm on television and in movies, so much so that they all show it anymore. Netflix has started coming up with it's own television series as well with frequent  shows. What I have observed is a rise in profanity and violence. I can't even stand to watch it. It makes me cringe with each swear word and literally makes me feel sick. It is so frequent and vulgar, violent and inappropriate.  How did it ever get so bad, how did we let this be accepted? I think the fact that it makes me sick is an example of how others should feel that are'nt used to seeing or hearing it. On the other hand if you get exposed to something over and over, you become numb to it with little shock and awe. That is just like

A couple days this week, I helped paint the walls in the old house, Aunt Bettys's. Karen, Luke, and Mark helped also. The house has been under construction all summer, gutted, new walls, and new windows. With Melinda's help, the house will be fixed up extremely nice.  Saturday Jake helped Matt and Libby M. shingle the roof . He worked hard pulling old ones and placing new ones. He spent 12 hours on the roof. Fortunately it was a nice day out to be on a roof. Jake enjoyed the work and he always likes to talk with Matt. At night I helped Allie out by babysitting Andrew. Mark had finished combining all the beans he could. He finished around 400 acres and the rest tested too wet. We took Luke and went to Fort Dodge where we met Blake with Andrew. We ate supper in town then headed home. Andrew loves hanging out with Luke and Jake. Andrew is a cute kid and we get a kick out of hearing him talk in his sweet voice. Sunday we went to church in Boone then went to Bridget's 10