Reading Time: 5 minutes It was cold enough that the machinery had to work extra hard and a thin layer of frost had formed on Jeff’s eyelashes. He hated working after dark. “Could be worse,” he thought. “I could be Phil, hauling grain here to be cleaned on a Sunday night.” Once Phil drove off and Jeff had the […] Read more
Hanson Acres: This year, it’s going to be different
The calendar makes the rules, even when that load of durum is late
Hanson Acres: When it’s -39 C, and no one else is home
Frostbite isn’t the only danger Jeff faces. It may not even be the worst
Reading Time: 5 minutes By the time Elaine got to the third item on her list, Jeff was wishing he hadn’t answered when she phoned. Or, at least, he shouldn’t have admitted he was bored. “You’re right,” she’d agreed. “It’s way too cold to work outside. But there’re a few things you could do in the house.” Elaine had […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Signed up for a full January
It’s supposed to be a vacation, isn’t it?
Reading Time: 5 minutes “I think you need more sunscreen,” Dale told his wife, as he stood up and moved his lawn chair aside. “I’m fine,” Donna said, barely looking up from her sudoko puzzle. “No, this desert sun can really bake a person,” Dale insisted. “And that glare off the side of the trailer’s probably making it worse. […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Setting the stage for a rural Christmas
Some traditions can’t be broken, no matter how hard you try
Reading Time: 4 minutes “You sure can sing,” Jeff Hanson told his six-year-old son, Connor. “You’ll be great in the Christmas concert tomorrow. But let me help you down from the workbench before you fall. It’s time to go in for dinner.” Jeff lifted Connor down to the shop floor. “Concert? Tomorrow?” Jeff’s father Dale said. “You know that, […] Read more
Hanson Acres: When life happens all around you
That’s when you somehow end up getting in everybody’s way
Reading Time: 5 minutes Harvest was generally going well at the Hanson farm. The weather was holding up, the equipment wasn’t breaking down, the yields and quality coming off were a little better than they’d hoped, and Dale had settled into his role as a trucker. Dale was happy. Until Thursday. It wasn’t even lunchtime when things started to […] Read more
Hanson Acres: What they didn’t know…
Young Connor has some explaining to do. And it looks like his parents do too!
Reading Time: 5 minutes The day had started off well. “Daddy, the sun came out! I better stay home and help!” Connor said, looking out the open front door. Jeff looked out over his son’s head. After three days of mid-harvest rain, the sky had cleared. “Looks good,” Jeff agreed. “But you can’t miss the first day. And it’ll […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Leaving the farm behind
It’s only for a weekend… or so they hope
Reading Time: 4 minutes Dale’s wife vetoed all of his best excuses. “Who’s going to finish the spraying if Jeff and I are both away all weekend?” “Mark. That’s why we hired him. You’ve trained him well. He’ll be fine,” Donna answered. “What about the dog? We can’t leave Buddy in the yard alone for three days.” “Your Dad […] Read more
Hanson Acres: “I should’ve got the dog to do this”
Some days on the Hanson farm, there’s a smell in the air that just isn’t right
Reading Time: 4 minutes Elaine didn’t know her iPhone was almost dead until she pulled it out to check the time. It was nearly four. She stopped the tractor while she rummaged through her pockets and the backpack she’d brought out to the tractor with her. No luck. She’d forgotten her charger. She took a look under the buddy […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Just one more coupon
Why is that new hired man always so late? And what’s with those excuses?
Reading Time: 4 minutes When Mark was 20 minutes late for work on Tuesday morning, none of the Hansons who were out in the shop said anything, although Dale did make a point of taking a good look at his watch and Dale’s father, Ed, would definitely have said something if he’d been there. On Wednesday, Mark was 25 […] Read more
Hanson Acres: Their visitor from the east
The moment the plane lands, the questions get started
Reading Time: 4 minutes Dale was on edge as soon as he saw the number displayed on the phone. He considered just letting it ring, but his wife Donna was watching so he took the call. He shuddered as he hung up. “She’s coming,” Dale said. Ever since she’d heard about their father’s stroke, Dale’s sister Margaret had been […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
