Author: Melissa

Perfect 10 in the Half Pike!

Posted on by Melissa

Winter visited while we were sleeping last night and spread a blanket of heavy, wet snow in our neck of the woods.

The trees that fill the horizon every way you look were a snowy white, with a glittery shine. We had gotten a good 2 to 3 inches on the ground.

As I carried a sleepy boy down our front yard to the barn this morning, who knew that I was secretly training for the next winter Olympics!?! Not even I!!!

Where the grass meets the gravel there’s a slight ledge. And a downhill slope. And that…  should be enough information for you to guess what happened.

I hit that sucker like a banana peel and up in the air I went!

I’m pretty sure I landed perfectly horizontal! A perfect 10!

Reed wasn’t so happy with my landing. As I was perfecting my form, I probably squeezed him awake before we even hit the ground! He looked at me like “What the heck just happened?”

And I let out a loud groan…. Crap.

It was too early in the morning for me to ask Kayla, who I had seen over by the condo as I was coming down the yard, to score my landing. She rushed over to help me up, but I convinced her that I was just going to lay there for a couple minutes.

After I rolled over, curled my spine, and listened to see how many vertebrae popped, I thought maybe I could make it to the barn to tell my Olympic tale.

What a way to start the day. Well, at least it got better…

Dan, Reed and I headed to Fredericksburg to serve frozen yogurt at the schools today. (Click on the red words to see pictures)

We had great help, which always makes it lots of fun.

We also stopped by the Mennonite School near our house and served the kids and teachers there a dish of frozen yogurt. The appreciation you get from everyone sure makes it worth doing!

We had about an hour to relax when we got home before we had to start chores. We headed outside a little early so we could get to our Dairy Promotion Board Meeting tonight.

While my feed was mixing in the TMR, I had a couple minutes to play with Reed in the snow.

Reed and sled

There’s a spot in our yard that has a deep hill and the snow was packed just enough to make it really slippery! I tried not to repeat this morning’s performance as I showed him how to start at the very top to get lots of speed!

He giggled and giggled and had a great time sledding all through chores!

Reed on Sled

It was funny to see how his sledding progressed… He started sledding on his bottom at first, then drove it down the hill like a chariot, holding the reins. By the time he was done, he was snow surfing!

You’ll have to stop by my Facebook Page to see the video! (Click on the red words)

As the night gets late, I’m starting to get a little stiff from my (Perfect 10!) landing. Ya know, it’s too bad I couldn’t have gotten that on video!

But then again… I like to think there’s a reason for everything !)

Morning Glory

Posted on by Melissa

The stars were crystal clear and close enough to touch this morning as we headed out for chores. I made it just outside the door when I stopped, looked up and marveled at how big and close the stars seemed to be.

The sky was a deep, navy blue but quickly faded to black as I changed my focus to the stars. They twinkled a good morning and I realized how warm it was for January.

The pump jumped to life in the barn and I glanced that way to see the lights in the milk house, glowing a candlelight yellow in the darkness.

I joined my family and saw that the cows were up, milkers were put on and the milk was flowing.

I gave a round of good mornings and leaving the barn, I headed toward the shed to start the skid loader and the 4020. I’d start my morning with mixing up feed for the cows.

Hopping up on the open cab tractor, I pulled down the throttle, twisted the key and layed on the rubbery start button. The 4020 roared to life, surely enjoying the warm morning as well.

Backing out of the darkness of the shed, dawn broke and the stars faded, and the sunrise peeked over the trees to the east of our farm. I stopped to snap a photo, framed with our two silver bins.

Jumping in the skid loader, I headed down to the barn to get some hay. I tossed the bale in my bucket, snapped the strings with my knife, pulled them into loops and knotted them.

Stepping up over the bale and twisting as I sat in the cab, I pulled the door shut and turned my hand to the left. I swung around to the East, and the now brighter sunrise caught my gaze. I reached again for my phone and clicked a photo with our calf building, hovering over the glowing light.

Sunrise 1.19.15 2

Revving down to the bunker, I flipped the hay into the TMR and turned to the North to scoop up some haylage. Pink clouds flashed to my right and I stopped again to admire the now red and deep gray sky, behind the tractor and over the bags.

Sunrise 1.19.15 3

I kept an eye on my scale as I weighed out the haylage, flipping it into the TMR. Perfect! Turning, I headed to the earlage bag.

As I rounded the corner by the oat bin, the skid loader came to a halt. I opened the door to a sunrise that my camera couldn’t do justice, but snapped one last picture and sat there to take it in.

Sunrise 1.19.15 4

I thought, “Man, anyone still in bed sure is missing one great morning!”

She said “Yes” to the dress!!!

Posted on by Melissa

It has been quite the year for weddings! From June to November, we had 8 weddings to attend! Now that’s a lot of weddings in 6 month’s time!

New Year’s Day of last year, our oldest daughter, Chelsey got engaged to Jason! We had a great time planning and getting ready for their Labor Day weekend wedding!

This year is stacking up to be another year of frequent weddings!

Just before Christmas, our middle daughter, Nichole, aka Cozie, got engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Chase! Another wedding in our family this year!

They have set a date for a 10-10-15 wedding (easy to remember, eh?) so the planning has begun!

Nichole & Chase
Nichole & Chase

Twice now I have been invited to go with her and her bridesmaids dress shopping. It’s been lots of fun as she decides what appeals to her and what doesn’t.

The first time we went shopping, she fell in love with the first dress she tried on. And fell in love with the second dress! And the third one she loved more than the first and second!

I thought for sure whichever dress she tried on last was destined to be the one!

Rumor Dress
One of the dresses she loved. Well, she loved them all! Ha!

She had vowed not to “Say YES to the dress” this round of shopping so we switched gears and the bridesmaids got to try on some of her picks for their dresses.

This one was a favorite among the ones that she saw. (In a different color of course)
This one was a favorite among the ones that she saw. (In a different color of course)

Then one night last week we traveled to another nearby dress shop to see what else was available. Road trip! We had all the ladies in the wedding party along and had a great time!

Cozie went down the whole wall of dresses and pulled out several she thought she would try on. Then into the dressing room she went!

The first dress she came out in… well, you could tell she just didn’t love it. The next dress had her so twisted up we thought she’d never come out of the dressing room! She was laughing so hard that she could hardly stand up straight on the pedestal to get a picture!

Another dress she tried on, she couldn’t stop holding onto the top of it! Oh did we laugh!!!!

She was almost to the end of the ones she picked out, when Holly the owner, brought one more in.

And this time when Cozie walked out of the dressing room, we knew it was “the one.” Her eyes welled up and she was biting her lip and she said “This is it! This is the one!”

🙂

She lit up with pride as she turned in the mirror to admire all sides of it. It fit almost perfectly and was a beautiful choice!

Of course, I can’t show you what her dress looks like. But take my word for it, she will be one beautiful bride as she walks down the aisle in that dress!

After Cozie had made her final decision, the girls had a great time trying on all of the bridesmaid dress styles that were available… and ohhhhhhhhh did we laugh!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Throughout the night I just couldn’t get over how much the dress shop owner and Cozie looked alike! It was like they were mother and daughter!

Cozie's long, lost mother?!?
Cozie’s long, lost mother?!?

She did a great job for us and it was a great experience.

We ended the night sharing a meal at Johnson’s.

girls at supper

What a great time we had picking out dresses! And now… on to decorations 🙂

Saturday on the Farm

Posted on by Melissa

Today turned out to be one of those days that livestock farmers hope to get in January. A day to haul manure!

It’s been warming up this past week and today it made up into the 40’s. That means that the housework waits and we spend the day in the skid loader and tractor, cleaning out our lots.

This morning after chores we worked at home and got the Monster pile in the cow yard hauled out. I loaded with the skid loader and Dan spread it in one of our nearby fields.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Dan’s sister, Teresa, stopped in around lunch time so we got to take a nice break. We haven’t seen her for almost a month so it was good catching up with her, and hearing how her Christmas and New Year’s went.

While we were in the house I made some goodies for the Community Awards Banquet tonight. I made a cheese tray, a beef stick tray, and a batch of snowballs. They will be served during the Hor d’oeuves portion of the evening.

Last year I worked at the Chamber and helped put on this great event. Community members nominate volunteers in 5 categories to be honored at this Banquet. It’s a great honor for the volunteers and also a fun social night out.

image
Dan and I at the Awards Banquet

We were also happy to see a good family friend of ours be honored, Lester. He is a very giving person and does a lot for the community.

image
Lester was so happy and humbled to be honored

Hats off to you Lester! And to all of the others who were honored tonight!

A good day, all in all.

BBQ Baby Back Beef Ribs, Oh My!

Posted on by Melissa

The day before Chris and Mom visited, I made 3 long slabs of Beef Baby Back Ribs. I love having our own Beef in the freezer and tend to store up these cuts for special occasions.

I figured putting up with the cold was a good enough occasion!

So here is how I made these fork-tender, exceptionally seasoned,  finger-lickin’ ribs.

  1. Season the whole slab on the meaty side with Cavender’s Greek Seasoning and Lawry’s Seasoning Salt. Pat it down with your hands so the seasoning stays on.
  2. Cut the ribs in between the bones to get single pieces
  3. Sear the ribs in a skillet, meaty side down, until golden
  4. Add them to a tall stock pot after seared
  5. Fill the pot with water so all the ribs are covered
  6. Add a Tablespoon of salt, a good dash of pepper, plenty of liquid smoke, and a sliced onion.
  7. Bring to a full boil (you will keep it uncovered the whole time)
  8. Turn down to low, just so it’s barely bubbling, and let it simmer all afternoon (Add water, if needed, to keep the ribs covered)
  9. Before heading out for chores I turned it off so it could cool.
  10. When I got back in I turned the oven on to 350 degrees
  11. Drain off all of the water and dispose of it (Do not put this down your sink!)
  12. Cover a sheet pan with foil and spray it with cooking spray
  13. Place the ribs on the sheet pan
  14. Squirt a line of Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce down each rib
  15. With the back of a spoon, spread the BBQ sauce over the whole top of the rib
  16. Bake 20 to 30 minutes until heated through and the BBQ has set
  17. Enjoy!
Beef Ribs
I’m not sure this picture does them justice, but boy were they good!

I happened to have a couple left when Mom and Chris stopped by so naturally, I had to get mom’s opinion…

Mom gave me good reviews as she easily pulled them apart with her fork
Mom gave good reviews as they easily pulled apart with her fork! “Mmmm… Tender!”

This is the kind of meal you wish you could have more often, but as my husband says…

“They take some time to make, but they sure are good!”

You can now Follow my Blog on Bloglovin

Posted on by Melissa

<a href=”http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/13424517/?claim=4y97r6r8u5y”>Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>

Surprise Visitors!

Posted on by Melissa

Now getting visitors around here is nothing new.

But, having family members stop is super special!

We were just getting started on chores the other night when I got a phone call from my Mom. She and my sister weren’t too far from our place, attending a party at a friend’s house, and wanted to stop over.

I was totally excited! It’s not everyday they come to visit us! Usually we stop and visit them on our way to volleyball, but rarely are we on the way anywhere for them.

We hurried up and got most everything done before they pulled in the yard. Reed, who had been napping in the milk house, hopped up and stumbled towards the house after hearing that Grandma Martha and Aunt Chrissy were here 🙂

My sister Chris… aka “Aunt Chrissy”

After we all got in and got the rundown of their afternoon trip, I asked Mom if she wanted to play a game of cards.

Now, there’s only one game my mom and I ever play, so she didn’t even need to ask what I had in mind.

Pinochle.

A game our family has played and cussed for years. The first round always consists of a refresher in scoring and card order, as Ace is high, then Ten, King, Queen, Jack and a Nine. And the first one to 150 wins!

Weird, I know. But fun!

I’ll try to give you just the highlights of how our game went…

The first hand I actually bid! (Mom was shocked, as I’m usually a chicken at bidding, especially the first hand) After her shock, she (of course) outbid me… Crap! This should have been a sign!

The way the cards fell in her favor, she easily made it. And I was kinda glad she outbid me, even though I had initially thought my cards would clean up!

The next hand I dealt. Boyyyyyyy was it a crappy hand! She bid 28 and I let her have it. She picked up the 3-card Kitty to see what was in it… and guess what it gave her? The 4th leg of a

A DOUBLE Pinochle! and 30 points!

DOUBLE Pinochle! and 30 points!

Double Crap!

Her melt totaled 42 points! 42!!! And then she took 17 out of the 25 points during that round! (I really should’ve just thrown in my cards then, ha ha!)

In the next 3 hands, I only got the bid once. I used the phrase “Piggy” an awful lot too (which is a family tradition, might I say!) as she took pointer after pointer each trick.

See? Even if you don’t play Pinochle, the numbers below don’t lie…

Pinochle Score

Yep. I got skunked in just FIVE hands! And Mom just giggles and says “Well, you were the one who wanted to play!” 🙂

My Mom… I just love her! The thrill she got out of getting that Double Pinochle was priceless.

Tonight I made some memories with Mom I will never forget.

It’s the little things in life, right?

 

A glimpse of “Fagle Time”

Posted on by Melissa

It seems like when we start a job around the farm, we know what we’re getting into.

We’ve done things dozens of times… hundreds, thousands, MILLIONS of times we’ve done things! And still. You just never know HOW LONG something will take.

Yesterday was a great winter day here on the farm. The sun was shining, the wind was calm, and chores got done in record time. That left us with a little time before lunch to get a few things done.

We opted to grind feed, 5 batches in all, figuring a couple hours of work before heading in for lunch.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

We ground both shell corn from our bins and ear corn from the corn crib, grinding enough to fill two steer feeders, a calf feeder, a granary we use for our dry cow feed, and a load for our dairy cow ration.

All was going good until we got to the last load. We pulled up to the bin to add some shell corn, switched the auger on the grinder on, it made about a half a turn and then… nothing. Tried it again… nothing.     Crap.

We decided to run home (luckily we had the truck along) and get some tools, as we thought maybe we sheared a pin, lost a key or maybe a chain came off ??? Who knows.

We got back and took the housing off and saw that the chain tightener had come loose on the chain that runs the auger. We put the chain back on, raised the tightener, cinched things up and we were back in business! (Sometimes we’re not so lucky)

So we finished our last load and headed in for lunch. Well, maybe we should call it a mid-afternoon snack, ha ha. And that’s what happens when we run on “Fagle Time.” When things don’t go quite as smoothly as planned and it costs us some time. Luckily, the only thing we were late for this time was lunch 🙂

Friend Time!

Posted on by Melissa

Today I got to spend the afternoon with my best friend, Missy.

Tomorrow is her birthday so we got to celebrate today, doing a little shopping and ate out.

We had supper at the Hurricane Grill, one of the newest additions in Waterloo.

I had a hard time deciding what to get (I always seem to have a hard time deciding – it all sounds so good!) but decided I had to try their wings. I opted for the honey bbq sauce out of the oh… 30 or so choices!

They were good (and sticky!) and I would recommend them. Yum!

Missy’s daughter Margo was along today too and snapped a picture of us.  

image

Happy Birthday to you tomorrow Missy!

Mittens… Serious Business Round Here

Posted on by Melissa

If you asked me what I can’t live without these days, I wouldn’t answer the way I used to. There are just certain things that are a “must” now that I’m a farm girl.

This morning in the skid loader I got to thinkin’ bout my mittens… and how much I love them.

As soon as the aisles at Norby’s Farm Fleet get double-wide stocked with winter gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, and the like I turn my cart down the aisle for some serious shopping.

I have made the mistake the last couple of years to pick up just ONE pair of mittens for myself and the crew. BIG. MISTAKE.

See here? This is the result of only buying one pair of mittens.

Old Mittens
Sad, but true

This pair got totally blown out when I was pumping up a low skid loader tire. There must have been a weak spot in the sidewall because it exploded and blew me on my butt about 4 feet back.

Holy smokes! I thought my contacts were permanently glued to my eyeballs! I count myself lucky, but… my poor mittens. It blew one of the straps clean off and ripped the stitching out of the end of the other one.

But when I got up, they still dusted my butt off. That next week I went back to the store to get me another pair and guess what?

Hmmm…

Notice I still have them. (And in a safe place too, just in case there’s a mitten emergency!) They survived that season because I couldn’t live without them.

Now, this year I went all out. I found a pair of mittens that I am currently in love with. They’re heavy, warm, pretty much waterproof, have a rubbery grip and even have fleece between the fingers! Score!

In fact, I loved them so much I bought THREE pairs! (One for chores, one for good, and one on reserve for someone I really love or in case of a mitten emergency!)

My Mittens
My current Must-Haves

My husband and girls have a favorite kind too.

Axeman Leather Mittens

We have a trusty supply of back ups of these too!

So on this windy, cold, morning my hands were warm.

And that, was a blessing.