SUNDAY CORN

365 Days of Thanksliving — Day 273

Are you wondering what Sunday corn is? If you’re an old-timer (and I say that affectionately), you might have had a pa who’d like to take a Sunday drive just to look at the fields.

My mom used to say that when she was a little girl, my grandpa would take them all on the obligatory drive after church just to see how all the neighbor’s corn was coming along — hence, Sunday corn. Grandpa would drive so slowly that apparently the dead moved faster.

Well, today, we drove hither and yonder and looked at lots of corn fields… and bean fields, and other kinds of fields where I have no idea what kind of crop was coming up. I surmised sugar beets, but I haven’t looked that up yet. (I suppose I could do that before sitting down to bang this out). Hahaha!

Now, truthfully, we didn’t just go for a drive to look at the crops. While I do find them fascinating, I have no idea what I’m looking at, other than what’s obvious: corn, soybeans, wheat, etc.

Those three crops I know; I’ve done edumacated myself enough to know that when corn is harvested while still green, it’ll be used for silage. But when fully ripened, drying, and brown, then it’ll be harvested for feed, fuel, human-grade food, etc. Beans: tons of applications from food to fuel to candle wax. I guess that’s up to the end user, right? Anyway, I digress.

Today, on a whim, we grabbed the pups and decided to go on a grand afternoon adventure, just because. We — and by that I mean, me — thought it’d be neat to go to Blue Mounds State Park to take it all in. While we prepared for our afternoon trip, we didn’t think it through enough; that heat and humidity took a huge toll on our pups.

Less than ten minutes into the walk, their tongues were dragging on the ground. After twenty minutes, they were spent — 92 degrees ambient plus high humidity was too much for our boys. Boxers don’t handle heat very well.

Anywho, after getting back to the car, the boys slurped down two bottles of water, then we cranked the A/C as hard as it would go and hit the road for home. But instead of taking the faster, more boring route, we opted for a scenic drive. There was no rush, after all. So up to Pipestone we drove, then up and over towards Florence and Balaton, then east to Walnut Grove before heading southward toward home.

If you’re not from these parts, you might remember the name ‘Walnut Grove’ from Little House on the Prairie – Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood home.

Anywho, apart from the putrid and steamy heat, we had a grand adventure with the doggos, and for that, I’m thankful for the time to go on a little adventure and take in the Sunday corn.

It’s too bad it was way too hot to gaze upon the buffalo and the giant rock wall at Blue Mounds. Perhaps next time. In that, though, there was a learning lesson (and for that too, I’m thankful). Life hack here: plan your micro-adventures better than us. Sunday afternoons are great for a short ride. But for a day at the park, perhaps an early rise on Saturday is best. I’m thinking a Saturday in October would be great. Not too hot. Not too cold. Just right.

Anyway, that was today after church (which was great too. If you missed it, you missed a good one). I’m thankful for all of it today. Now? Now it’s time for some supper: grilled brats, Captain Ken's Baked Beans (so nummy), some slaw, and tater chips. Praise the Maker for the wonderful food He gives, and my wifey the grill-master when it comes to all things bratwurst.

What are you thankful for today? Drop a line below. I’ll catch y'all on the flip side!