As farmers, we are used to unpredictability in weather, grain prices and yields. But, like everyone else, we are learning that 2020 is even more unpredictable than normal.

We had some nice days in March and April, and then the pleasant weather seemed to go into quarantine along with everything else. If it wasn’t raining it was cold. If it wasn’t cold it was too windy. If it wasn’t windy then it was raining, and if it wasn’t raining it was snowing.

This kept me out of the fields and kept the boys in the house.

The weather seemed to dampen our spirts as much as the quarantine. I was starting to feel a little stressed out one day and Sheilah said, “No one else is doing anything either. Nothing is going to be normal this year. That includes planting. It will stop raining and warm up eventually. This is just like the year we went to South Dakota.”

Of course, she was right. The year she was speaking of was rainy and cold for weeks. We were planning to go to South Dakota for her friend’s wedding in the middle of June. I had decided that we weren’t going, that we wouldn’t have enough done in time to go. But the weather cleared up and everything came together, and we were still able to go on the trip.

Just like that year, it seems as though things are finally starting to get done.

For Sheilah, her stress level at work has been pretty high for a while. In her five years of nursing, this was the first time I have ever really seen her stressed about going to work. While the COVID-19 patient population in our area never got very high, it was the unknown that was making her uneasy. Every shift came with a new policy and new PPE requirements.

Finally, though, it seems like the most recent requirements are in place and she has fallen into the new routines. Those new routines also include teaching Cole his preschool lessons. His teachers set up a wonderful Facebook classroom filled with all kinds of worksheets, songs, stories and resources, and have held Zoom meetings once a week.

In the beginning Cole was excited to do his work and to keep learning. But now he seems to be over it. I think his new teacher is, too. Caleb, though, wants to help Cole with his lessons every day!

The crops are getting planted and we hope to plant a garden soon. We, like everyone else, are waiting to see what this summer brings. Our summer plans have already been altered and we are looking to see what other options we’ll have for fun summer activities.

Until then, it’s work and tractor rides for everyone!

Mike and Sheilah Reskovac and their sons farm near Uniontown, Pa. Check out all of their "Two Hearts, One Harvest" blogs.