As a kid, I never worried about it, unless it rained when I wanted to swim or play outside. Of course, like any other kid, weather was important when it snowed -- and I got out of school. Other than that, I really didn't care.

My children never had that luxury. No at our house, it is a rule -- no make that a law: There is no talking, crying, sneezing, coughing or even heavy breathing during the weather report.

When the weatherman talks, we listen -- or else.

By the time the boys were old enough to talk, they knew the rule.

For example: One sunny July day several years ago, a friend and I were driving to a nearby U-pick blueberry patch. We were talking and laughing enjoying each other's company. The crops were planted, harvest was months away and the only thing I needed to know about weather I could see from my driver's seat. It was a great day for picking berries.

"SHHHHH Mom," piped up the 5- year-old girl and 4-year old boy in unison from the backseat. "The weather report's on the radio!"

And there it was, their farmer-father had taught them well. That's when I knew at least it wasn't just my husband.

Like I said, I never really thought much about the weather until I married a farmer. Now, I think about it every day (not always because I want to.).

But I still have problems remembering when to want rain, and when to not want rain. Sometimes it changes even in the same day.

We want some moisture in winter, but not too much. If we get too much, then the cattle lots are a mess, and feeding can be a nightmare. Of course, we don't want rain, snow or ice when the calves are coming. That

too can be a nightmare.

In spring, we want it to be dry in early March, so we can put on anhydrous. Then as soon as we're done with that, it can rain ... until April. Then it needs to stop raining for a couple weeks so we can plant corn. Then we need rain again. (Obviously the weather man hasn't followed the rules this spring!)

Then we need it to stop again for a few weeks, so we can plant beans. Then it needs to rain again, until of course it is time to spray. But then we need it to rain again ... and so it goes.

I have learned one thing; rain in August is almost never a bad thing, unless it is too much. Or it is late August and too close to harvest ...

Well, it's complicated.

So I suppose that's why listening to the weather is so important. Of course, I'm not even going to get into the part about the weatherman not being right about half the time. In fact, that's the perfect job -- you can

be wrong and still get paid.

But I'm off the point ...

It wasn't just me that had to learn about the finer points of weather. The first year my husband and I were married, it turned off dry -- very dry. Of course, as my husband and I watched our first soybean crop burn up in

August, I called my mother to whine. After all, mother's can fix everything, right? Of course, she couldn't, but assured me she'd pray for rain. Well, September came and harvest was to start. However, it finally started raining.

And then it rained, and rained and rained some more.

My mother came one weekend to visit and my husband was explaining to her that we were unable to get in the field because of the rain.

"You mean, you don't want rain -- but I've been praying for it," she said.

"You're the one!" he exclaimed.

Like I said, weather's complicated.