Bloom Where You're Planted Farm

Its just twenty-three days until we open for our fifth pumpkin patch season!  Things have been moving along surprisingly quickly this week, thanks in no small part to my father-in-law, Richard.  A full-time farmer, Richard used to and still does work occasionally as a carpenter.  Both these skills/occupations have been a God-send to us since Terry's accident, as Richard has been putting up our hay and helping Terry build our new hay racks.  Now we have big, round hay bales ready for the kids to play on (and later for the horses to eat), the first hayrack is nearing completion, and as I write this the contractor just pulled in to trench a water line over to the Schoolhouse Cafe!

We're really excited to finally offer hay rides to our customers and think it will be a lot of fun for us as well.  A hay ride ticket will be included with our base admission fee.  The ride will take customers out to our southern pumpkin fields which will now be "U-Pick".  I'm especially looking forward to this, because it will mean less pumpkin picking for me!  :-) 

Here's a glimpse at how the pumpkins are coming along.  They're starting to ripen and are looking forward to going home with our happy customers!

Things have started looking up and picking up around here since my last entry.  Terry is beginning to feel more like himself and enjoyed time outdoors this weekend working with his dad building our new hayracks.  It has now been two full weeks since his accident.  All signs point to a successful recovery, although it will be a few months before we'll know how much vision he'll have in his injured eye.

The weather has been wonderful, and its been really enjoyable to be outdoors, even in the heat of the day.  Unusual for August in Nebraska, for sure.  Maybe its the fall-like weather, but we've started hearing from quite a few folks interested in booking field trips and parties for the fall.  We have a few different party options available - if you're interested, visit our website:  http://www.bloompumpkinpatch.com/parties.html.

I love the anticipation of this time of year, as we await ripe pumpkins and a farm full of visitors!  See you soon! 

Its been about ten days since my last blog, and BOY it has been quite the ten days!  On August 10th, Terry, whose "real" job is as a remodeling contractor, had an accident with an air-powered nail gun.  A finishing nail ricocheted out of the baseboard he was attaching and hit him in the left eye.  We went to the emergency room, and two eye surgeries and multiple eye specialists' visits later, he is finally in recovery mode.  It was and remains quite an ordeal!  One effect of the injury was that a cataract developed.  The second surgery was to remove the cataract, but due to the other trauma in the eye the lens implant that is a usual part of cataract surgery won't be put in for a few months.  His vision in that eye will be permanently affected, but we won't know how well he'll see until after that lens implant surgery.

So many people have sent their prayers and good wishes.  The concern of our extended community has been heart-warming.  We have just over four weeks until our pumpkin season opens, so we'll be relying even more heavily on the help of our family and friends.  Luckily, we've been working diligently all summer in an effort to avoid a major last-minute rush.  So, we're in much better shape than we could be!

The pumpkins are growing like mad and some are even starting to ripen.  The weather today is clear and crisp and feels like it could be early October.  We're looking forward to getting "back to normal" and are excited for opening day!

Another Cass County Fair has come to a close.  As a kid, this was a sad event because it meant that the start of the school year was near.  As an adult with a seasonal fall business, it means its time to kick it into high (higher?) gear!  Our opening day, September 19, is now less than six weeks away.  Wasn't it just yesterday that I was blogging (and panicking) about it being TEN weeks away??

Before I get to work on all the painting, cleaning, ordering and advertising I need to be doing, here are some final images from the fair...

This is our niece Grace greeting a Jersey calf.

One of the most popular events at the fair is the Mutton Bustin' competition, where kids see how long they can hang onto a running sheep.  The folks from McClain's Mutton Busters do a great job!  (Is it me, or does the next kid in line look a little nervous?)

Our friends from the Conestoga FFA (Future Farmers of America) had a float in Saturday night's parade.  This is the group that helped with our Ag Day in 2008 -- we're planning another one this year!  Driving the tractor is FFA Advisor Jon Anderson.

And finally, here is my dad, Mick Jacobson, competing in the antique tractor pull with his 1938 John Deere G.  He got second place -- my brother, pulling with the same tractor, beat him by two inches!

The Cass County Fair , our local county fair, began on Tuesday and continues through Saturday.  We have a booth for our farm and pumpkin patch, so have been spending a lot of time there this week. 

Before we head out again, I wanted to share some photos.  The weather has been beautiful, and the skies clear.  The sun was just setting behind the midway when I shot this one...

I've never seen so many flowers entered into Open Class!  This is just a testament to the wonderful rains we've had in our area this summer!

The 4-H beef show was yesterday morning.  These beginning 4-Hers had just finished showing their bucket calves.

We also spent some time at the 4-H horse show yesterday morning.  I couldn't resist taking a shot of the "sandbox social club".

So many great photo opportunities at the fair!  I'll bring you more soon!