Family

Happy Mother’s Day!

Posted on by Melissa

Most of my life I have been the daughter celebrating my mother on Mother’s Day.

MomI am lucky to say that I’ve always gotten along with my mom and she’s always been supportive of me. She has taught me more than anyone in my life and has shaped me into the person I am today. Her unconditional love, understanding, and listening ear have taught me how love should be and I’m lucky enough to still have her here to call on whenever I need her. It is a love that can never be duplicated and I can’t imagine life without her. She is one of my richest blessings and I love her dearly!

There are a few other ladies in my life that I’ve come to think of as my “moms”. These ladies have shown me that mothering can come in many forms of love.

Through these relationships I’ve been continuously encouraged and, as a result: I’ve shown more love to others; I’ve learned how to do things better and learned how to be better; I’ve shared my successes and failures and my feelings of joy and inadequacy; and in all of this I’ve been shown love and grace and mercy time and time again. I’ve been mothered from all directions, in all areas, in every season of my life.  I’ve been richly blessed by these relationships and I’m a better person thanks to the love they have shown me.

Now that I’ve had a few years of being a mother myself, I wonder if I’ve made a difference in the lives of my kids like these wonderful ladies have made in my life? Have I been that person for them?

I can’t answer for them but I know that I have felt the rewards of being a mother to all four of my kids. We have celebrated together; We have laughed through the tears; We have hugged through the hard times; And we have come to understand each other a little better every day. It has been confusing and hard and happy and fun and I have loved them through it all.

kids

Today I am so thankful.

Thankful for having a mother, being a mother, and looking forward to being a grandmother. I hope you have as many blessings as I have to count today.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Just what I needed

Image posted on by Melissa

God has a way of waking you up. A way of saying “Hey! life is short so choose to be Happy!” And He gives you hope in a way that no one else may understand, but for you, it is just what you needed to hear.

Just a week ago my oldest sister was telling me, my mom and my other sister how her husband just wasn’t getting any better.

He had been battling a cold since Thanksgiving and coughed and coughed at Christmas. He was treated for pneumonia around the first of the year and shortly after a scan discovered that he had a blood clot in each lung. He was started on blood thinners to dissolve the clots but still he didn’t feel any better.

Here it was, the last week in January, and my sister broke down, telling us that he just wasn’t getting any better. He still felt like crap… he had no energy, he coughed and coughed, and he hadn’t left the house, except for doctors appointments, in over a month. This was not like the junk loving, joking guy that Vinny was.

She had made another appointment for that afternoon, hoping they would get referred to a bigger hospital that could dig deeper into his symptoms and see if they could find an answer.

His counts showed that his body must be fighting some kind of infection, as the white count was elevated and the red count was low. They started him on IV antibiotics and fluids and ran test after test. They were determined to find the source of infection so he would get better for good.

On Tuesday when we talked, his voice had gained some life again and he sounded like his old self. He thanked me over and over for keeping his girls overnight while they were at the hospital. He joked about all the specialists that had been in to see him and all the tests he had been through. And I thought, “Good, hopefully they’ll be home by the end of the week!”

On our way to the wrestling meet on Thursday, my phone rang and it was a call from Vinny himself.

He said they had figured out what the problem was…. cancer. Cancer? Yes, cancer. Ughhhhhhh. My hand reached for Dan as he was driving as if to say stop the car, I need your help. He just looked at me, searching for what to do.

The word “cancer” is enough to stop your world. In that moment it stopped mine as he listed where the cancer had been found – in his lungs, his stomach and his liver. My eyes lifted to the sky and my head started shaking from side to side as if to say No… It can’t be. Lord, he has 2 little girls. He has a wife that needs him! He just has a cold that won’t go away…. it can’t be….

I sat in church on Sunday, listening to words that really spoke to me and I tried not to cry. I tried not to worry. I was reminded by Pastor to let God know what’s in my heart.

And as the message came to a close, Pastor reminded us that God is our Shepherd. And to come to Him this week. And with hope and an uplifted voice he started to recite the 23rd Psalm, a psalm that I know by heart. It made me sad as I thought about all of the funerals I had been to when it had been recited.

But as I listened to the words in the way that he read it I felt HOPE. He read each line slowly, his voice lifting each word in a positive tone, as if to say… TRUST in God, no matter if life is good or hard or near the end… He is with us. And everything is going to be ok.

It made me want to run to the hospital and read it to Vinny. It was as if it was the first time I had heard it and IT.   WAS.   AWESOME!

Take a second to read it, slowly, and let it bring you hope, the way it did for me.

Psalm 23

I got this!

Posted on by Melissa

Yesterday I had a revelation.

I grew up living in town but both my parents had grown up on farms. And all through growing up we had a little car that was a stick shift transmission.

I remember telling my dad that I wasn’t going to drive a stick shift! But the day came when I went to the court house and passed my test and got my learners permit.

On the way home dad and I went back and forth. He wanted me to drive. I did not! I was afraid of that thing.

Afraid of killing it in the middle of the road. Afraid of those deep ditches! And afraid of failing. You know… sitting there, with cars waiting behind you, while you figure it out.

I’d witnessed the choking, sputtering, and gasping that car could make when you were in the wrong gear or shifted too soon or dropped the clutch. (All thanks to my older sister, haha)

Mom finally convinced me to try it, behind our house, in the County Fairgrounds. They had paths surrounded by grass that wouldn’t mind if I strayed from the road… and no ditches!!! But it did have trees. Lots of trees.

There I learned just how much there was to learn to drive a stick shift. Not only did you have to watch where you were going, you had to use the clutch AND find a gear – the right gear – and stay on the road with all of that distraction. It seemed like an awful lot to ask for a new driver.

But… after I figured out that you have to finesse the clutch, I learned to enjoy driving that stick shift. I enjoyed the challenge of doing five things at once.

I got that lesson all over again when I started dating Dan. I would ride with him in the tractor and it wasn’t long before he had asked if I thought I could drive a tractor?

I was like “I learned to drive on a stick shift! NO problem!”

And as he showed me how to drive that tractor I had felt proud. I was proud that I halfway knew what I was doing.

I secretly thanked God that I didn’t have a choice when I learned to drive. I had only one choice… a stick shift.

So yesterday, when I climbed in the little car we had offered to deliver to a friend from the mechanic shop, I laughed out loud. I actually sat there for a minute… giggling.

I hadn’t realized that all the times he had stopped at our place, that that little car was a stick shift! And as I put the key in the ignition, pushed in the clutch, and figured out that for reverse, this little car had a ring you had to pull up on the stick, I giggled.

I pulled up to my husband in our truck… still giggling! And he was like “What’s so funny? What’s wrong?”

And I giggled “Do you know how long it’s been since I drove a stick shift anywhere?????”

He smiled and asked if I’d be alright and I said “Yep! I got this!”

I took off and I think I smiled the whole ten miles to his house.

I remembered what it was like to learn to drive one of these… I remembered my dad, now gone, trying to persuade me to drive… I remember that shortly after mom taught me how, I had refused to drive home from my aunt and uncles because I was afraid of backing into the ditch across from their driveway…

And I realized how important learning how to drive a stick shift has helped me on the farm. I use a clutch every day and I think I’ve improved a lot with the many levels of farming I have learned through.

You know, like how to pull a full chopper box without killing it on a hill… Or how to shift down, turn around, shift up and full speed ahead (all without taking out the fence!) when I’m chiseling… Or how you don’t kill your husband when you’re backing up ever so carefully to line up the two holes in the hitches while he stands between the tractor and the whatever it is you’re hooking up!

Now that folks, takes some concentration! And good clutch control!

So in my revelation yesterday I realized how thankful I am to my parents and my husband for teaching me a skill not everyone has, and how proud I am that I am one of those people who can jump into almost any vehicle and say “Yep! I got this!”

Jammin’

Posted on by Melissa

Today is one of those days. It’s chilly and raining outside and all plans for putting in new fence were put on hold for a job that could be done inside.

These decisions are always ultimately left up to the hubby, because if he really wants to get something done, the weather won’t stop him.

Well, today he decided it was time to make jam, Rhubarb Jam. YUM!

But this made me feel a little sad, ya see, I work part time from home for a small business, updating their website and social media sites.

Today happened to be a day I needed to work, so I wasn’t going to get in on the yearly jam making, except for drooling over the mouthwatering sweetness that would waft down the stairs.

I had already pulled some of our rhubarb just after Mother’s Day and made a few little cobblers to deliver to my mom and some others on the way.

Kayla pulled the majority of the rest of ours last night, and Chelsey picked some of our neighbors’ this morning.

At lunch time I came up from the basement to make Fajitas. I had taken a Beef flank steak out of the freezer and settled on a Pinterest recipe from one of my favorite cooks, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman.

I whipped up the marinade and sliced the peppers and onions last night and combined them with the flank steak to marinate overnight.

I cranked the stove to high, added the peppers and onions to the pan and in 5 minutes flat I had the house smelling like a Steakhouse! Man it smelled good!

While I was cooking, Chelsey washed and trimmed the Rhubarb. Dan set the table and shredded the cheese and we called Reed for lunch and sat down to try the new recipe.

It was pretty good and I think this recipe is a keeper.

As we put the leftovers away I dreaded leaving the kitchen. I absolutely hate days like this when I would rather be doing what the rest of my family is, especially when they’re in the kitchen!

Uhhh…  to the basement I went.

I could hear the progress upstairs as I clicked on the keyboard below.

Chelsey chopped the Rhubarb while Dan did the cooking at the stove. After it was cooked down, he added sugar, pie filling and jello, and Chelsey pureed it and poured it into the jars.

Kayla got home in the middle of the afternoon and jumped in to help.

By 5 I couldn’t wait any longer for a taste. I headed up the stairs to see what progress they had made. I noticed that the sweetness of the jam cleared up all signs of the Fajitas I had made for lunch.

Cherry, Strawberry and Blueberry flavors had been created and I couldn’t wait to try my favorite, the Strawberry Rhubarb!

There were quite a few jars on the table and they had set a few of the big jars aside for the neighbor who had shared their rhubarb.

Reed, the official taste tester, sampled some of the Blueberry and his eyes got big and he “Mmmmmm’d” how good it was.

Chelsey and Dan told me that Reed had wanted to try a chunk of rhubarb earlier. He popped it in his mouth, made quite a face, and ran to the trash to spit it out! Ha ha!

Here are some pictures of them working on one of the last batches.

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This is where, “Food, Family, Farmin’ and Fun” come together on rainy, Spring days in the kitchen… Jammin’

Jersey Calf and Reed

R E S P E C T

Posted on by Melissa

So… you may have noticed my lack of posting lately. Or not. At this point I’m not really sure how strong of a following there is out there for a writer like me.

But this morning as I was out working in the cold and wind I had a revelation. Well, mostly I got angry.

Last week I had posted on my facebook page a picture of my 4 year old son trying to lead an incredibly cute, but stubborn 2 day old jersey heifer calf we had named “Queen”.

Jersey Calf and Reed

Now I understand that everything I post on my blog and facebook page is public. And I understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinion which is fueled by their own perspective.

What I had trouble understanding was how someone could come to the conclusion and actually comment on this photo “Friend or food?”

Now read that again. “Friend or food?”

Really?!?!? Someone is actually questioning this in this picture?

Now, I was really pissed. And who was this person asking such a question? Turns out it was a friend of a friend. I had never heard of them.

So, after cooling off half the day I responded with “What a silly question.”  Diplomatic, right?

To which I was met with “Not if you are from a city like I am,” she replied.

Really? Because if you live in the city then when you see a little boy trying to lead a potential Kiddie Calf Show prospect, your first thought is “Friend or food?”

Now this is what I was warned about when I told my husband I would like to blog about what it’s like living on a dairy farm.

And this is the kind of thing I told him I thought I would be able to help people with… understanding our perspective.

So my reply to her was “They are all our friends on the farm” 🙂

To which she almost immediately deleted her comments and unliked my page.

Hmmm. So this is what people can be like?

In my opinion she just had made something out of nothing.

And the longer I think about it, I might be making something out of nothing, but I’m going to take this opportunity to invite anyone who eats on this planet to….

Get out of the city… because that is not where your food is from! Grocery store and food co-op shelves don’t just magically grow food!

FARMERS do!

So let me ask you a question….

How many of you could actually put your own food on your table if you had to? How many of you could produce enough food to feed you and your own family for one year?

I know my family doesn’t at this point… yes, as my husband puts it, we have our own meat, milk and eggs from our farm, but that’s not enough.

I still depend on other FARMERS for fresh produce, the wheat ground for my flour, and I could go on and on and on!

Right now we are enjoying watermelon. Can I grow a watermelon for my family to be ripe and ready to eat in April? Heck no, but I thank the FARMER that made it possible.

Dan and I went to the movie “McFarland” recently on date night. Do you know what I gained appreciation for in that movie? I’ll try to describe it.

In the poor town of McFarland, most of the high school kids, along with everyone one old enough in their families to be out in the fields, were “pickers”. Pickers are the people who actually harvest all of the produce grown in the fields or pick the fruit from the trees.

They are up before dawn to ride out to the fields to pick as much as possible before school starts and after school they return to the fields.

These people are hard workers.

The cross country coach joined them one morning so he could get an understanding of what it was like. He said it was one of the hardest days of work he had ever put in.

Our three girls were all up and helping with chores before going to school too. And when they came home at night they helped with the nightly chores also.

And do you know what my girls are known to be? Hard working. Just like the kids in the movie.

Now, does the lady who commented on my picture know me or my family?

No.

And do I think that anyone that knows my family or has actually visited our farm would ever make a comment like that? I doubt it.

But what I wish the most, is that people wouldn’t be so quick to judge.

Another movie that can give you a new appreciation is “Farmland” . And if that isn’t enough…

Go to where your city co-ops grow their produce. Visit the farms that you drive by. Go out to the fields.

Talk to the farmers who are proud of the job they do everyday. Sometimes pride is the only pay we get. We’d be happy to share our perspective.

Lastly… get your hands dirty! Lose a couple hours of sleep to actually put your own food on your table. Work alongside the FARMERS and pickers and truckdrivers and stockers who put your food on those grocery store shelves.

The headlines are screaming “Consumers want to know where their food comes from…”

It’s more than just the label on the package. Get out there and experience it.

And STOP judging.

Gain some respect for the FARMERS that feed your family.

 

 

 

40 Degrees and Lovin’ It!

Posted on by Melissa

Can you say Spring Fever!?!

Today it (finally!) reached a glorious 40 degrees and the sun was shining! February weather was kind of a bugger and we’ve been looking forward to some warmer days.

This morning we had a couple visitors stop in as we finished up chores. It tends to slow up chores when we have company, but we love to visit, so we really don’t mind.

Roger, a gentleman in his 80’s, stops in pretty regularly to visit and see how his Jersey cows and young stock are doing. We enjoy his visits and he keeps us up to date with the latest coffee shop news.

Neighbors of ours also stopped in for a visit. They, too, were heading to a farm auction this morning. We haven’t been to a sale in awhile, and while this sale bill didn’t hold many items of interest to us, one thing piqued our curiosity.

A brooder house.

We have a dozen or so laying chickens that roam free around our farm. In one of our buildings we have some nesting boxes for them to lay their eggs in, but a brooder house might make a better home for them.

Here Nichole is checking our nesting boxes for eggs
Here Nichole is checking our nesting boxes for eggs
Even in the snow, the chickens love to roam free!
Even in the snow, the chickens love to roam free!

Well, they had quite a crowd at the sale. I think everyone was ready to get out of the house and get some fresh air.

Since I now live an hour from where I grew up, I have found that sales are often a place where you will see friends you may not see very often, and have time to catch up with what’s been happening.

Today I had fun talking with Ron, a friend of mine from my hometown. I used to work with his wife Dawn and it’s always fun to hear what’s new going on in their world.

They run a fun little operation called Country Boy Salvage and I love keeping up with them on their blog. Check it out when you get a chance.

Sweeney Auction Co

The brooder house they sold wasn’t quite what we had in mind, but my friend Ron was confident he knew where I might find a couple for sale. Woo hoo! Networking strikes again (smiles!).

After spending a couple three hours or so watching items sell, catching up with friends and enjoying the fresh air, we headed back towards home.

On the way, we stopped at Norby’s, the local farm and home store, to get some supplies. I didn’t get twenty feet inside the door before I was mesmerized by the tall display of new seed packets!

Oh…. the possibilities  🙂

Ya see, seed packet displays are almost as fun as book stores! It’s hard for me to break away from the force field once I get drawn in!

I stand there looking at all the new varieties that I didn’t even know existed! Snake gourds? Miniature pumpkins on a stick? Gourds with necks as long and straight as canes? Those would be fun to paint!!!

And along comes the dream of an acre of garden… covered in pumpkin vines, gourd vines, melon vines, rows and rows of carrots and grean beans and peppers and tomatoes, and not a weed in sight!!!!

Of course I’m just dreaming…     sighhhhhhhh. If that was all I had to do. Dan just shakes his head at me. And smiles.

That didn’t stop me from picking out a dozen or so new adventures, though!

A girl has to have hope, right? And I always hope, year after year, for a nice big spot to grow my pumpkins! This year I’m going to hope for enough space to grow all these fun gourds too!

Don't they look like FUN!?!
Don’t they look like FUN!?!

When I got home, the Spring fever kicked in again. I reached onto my shelf of gardening tools and gloves, and fertilizer and pots. And out came my trays to start some seeds. Ohhhh, it’s so exciting!

And I want to get Reed to help me too! I’m super excited about that! I think he will enjoy watching them grow and I know he will love helping me put them in the ground when it’s time!

Ceramic planters

Here are a couple little planters I picked up at second hand stores last year. Aren’t they cute?

I brought them in and washed them up and started dreaming of what cute little flowers I might plant in them. I have them all ready for when I go to the greenhouses this spring 🙂

While I was at Norby’s they had some spray paint on display. I couldn’t resist picking out a couple cans, not even knowing what exactly I would use them for! Obviously, their marketing is working, haha!

Planters

Here are a few things I also had stuck away on my gardening shelf. I think they’re both good candidates for the spray paint I picked up.

The Spring Fever was kicking into overdrive as I imagined all of the things I could decorate my new perennial garden with!

My daydreaming came to a halt, though, as I was finished washing dishes… Dan stuck his head in the kitchen to see if I could come out and help for awhile.

Dan, Reed, Chelsey and Jason had started processing some of our smaller calves. I headed out to lend a hand with the bigger ones as we dehorned and gave vaccination shots. It always goes smoother with more hands and I was happy to help.

It was kind of a rodeo today though, with the pens getting sloppy and the ice underneath where it hadn’t thawed yet. The calves had a little Spring Fever too as they kicked up their heels, running laps around the pens.

In a couple hours we had them all done and it was time for chores. Dan put a new grader blade on my skid loader bucket so I was anxious to get out there and get the lot scraped clean.

It really does feel like Spring is just right around the corner today. And then comes Summer!

 

 

 

Just “friends”

Posted on by Melissa

I have a feeling I’m gonna need to ask for forgiveness at the end of this post. But don’t give up on me yet… just keep reading 🙂

It’s been a few days since I’ve shared anything about life here on the farm. And I’m trying to narrow down all the thoughts and directions this post could take.

It’s been a flurry of activity, mixed with cold and wind, just like outside today. A lot can happen in ten days around here.

Heck. A lot can happen in ONE day!

Since my last post, Valentine’s Day came and went. We had a special delivery at our house and this time the flowers weren’t for me.

See, usually it’s a toss-up between which daughter Dan can coerce to run to the nearest flower shop to pick up a beautiful bouquet for me. It’s become a bit of a family joke, and one I look forward to hearing about each year after the delivery.

However, this year proved to be a little different.

A bouquet of twelve RED roses arrived without a daughter’s assistance! In fact, it turned out to be FOR one of our daughters… and for the single one, too!

Rose Bouquet

Hmmmm…. now, what do you think ol’ dad thought about that?!?

When I got home from work and saw those beautiful roses, I had a big smile on my face! And Dan… Well, he just shook his head.

First, he had to break the news that they weren’t for me, which I imagine had him feeling a little guilty.

So, assuming they were for Kayla, our youngest daughter, I asked who were the roses FROM then?

“Cody”, he answered, “her…. ‘friend‘.”

Hmm… I could just imagine how the thoughts had rolled through his head when those roses had arrived…

  1. Roses?
  2. RED roses?!?!?
  3. AND a box of chocolates!!!
  4. AND A TEDDY BEAR?!?!?
  5. WHO IS THIS GUY?????????
  6. CODY????????
  7. CODY WHO?!?!?!

Kayla’s voice rose up when she said over and over… “Dad!!! We’re just friends!!!” to which dad replied, “Well, I can’t remember the last time I got RED roses from a ‘FRIEND!'”

Ha ha. I just laughed and shook my head, all the while smiling. And I imagine Kayla had turned just a shade redder than those roses!

She had escaped to work that day and later left for a trip with one of her best buddies.

While she was gone that weekend, I enjoyed the treat of fresh flowers in the house, even if they weren’t mine!

When she got home later that weekend, we all teased her pretty good. Dan wanted to know a little more about this “friend” and Kayla got the message that maybe it was time we meet this “friend” of hers.

A few days went by and we were talking during chores about the upcoming rodeo in Waterloo. Usually we all get to go, alternating chores with the girls so that some of us go on Friday night, and some go on Saturday.

Kayla nonchalantly mentioned that Cody would be coming over Friday night. She tried not to smile while she looked at the ground.

We looked at each other and all busted out laughing!

Ohhhh, Kayla. She was trying so hard not to smile but her face just couldn’t contain it!

She laughed too and looked at us all and said “Stop. Just stop. We’re just friends!” And we just laughed some more!

Dan and Chelsey tried winning tickets on the radio over and over that week for the rodeo, but with no luck. One morning, they heard the winner’s name come over the radio… “KEVIN FROM FAYETTE!”

Later that morning, our neighbor Kevin called to tell Dan the news. Last year we won tickets so we figured it was his turn.

The week went on, and Thursday night Kevin stopped over at Chelsey’s. He offered them the tickets to the rodeo, which she happily accepted.

However, by morning she had decided that meeting Kayla’s new “friend” would be more fun than the rodeo, so she passed them on to Cozie and Chase, who took Reed with them that night.

Chase, Reed and Cozie at the rodeo!
Must’ve been dark at the rodeo! Chase, Reed and Cozie

After chores, I worked on frying catfish while the girls helped me get the homemade garlic fries made. The brownies were fresh out of the oven and the sweet corn went in.

You would have thought that Chelsey had a new suitor arriving, as much as she checked out the window for Kayla’s new “friend” to drive in!

The dogs barking sent Chelsey to the window once more as she announced in an excited voice that Cody was finally here!

To be continued…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Treats

Posted on by Melissa

It was a busy day for us! Chores went smooth this morning with Chelsey and Kayla both here to help.

We headed to Starmont School after chores to serve frozen yogurt. Today’s flavors were Strawberry and Chocolate Mint. I loved the Chocolate Mint but many of the students went for the Strawberry.

We had a great group of volunteers show up to help and enjoyed lunch with them afterwards. We got to hear about our friends trip to Alaska, which was entertaining. Some day we hope to go there with our family.

We got home and got the big ice cream machine all cleaned up and headed right out for chores.

Our friend stopped by to help get our baler set up for next year. The timing got messed up on it when we were replacing a part last fall and luckily we were done with it for the year.

Brrrrr! That wind sure was a killer tonight! Dan didn’t put on his coveralls before he ground 2 loads of feed and boy was he cold in that wind!

When we got back we scraped, hauled manure and bedded the freestalls so the cows are nice and comfy tonight. Hopefully the wind dies down by morning!

Reed’s Valentine Party is tomorrow at Preschool. It’s our turn to take treats so tonight after we got in from chores Reed and I whipped up some homemade Brownie cupcakes.

He could hardly wait for his “Taster’s Bite” of the brownie batter, ha ha. We got all the ones needed for school in the oven before he dipped his teaspoon in for a try.

Mmmmmm, he said, with big eyes!

While they were in the oven, Dan and I went to work tracing and cutting out Reed’s little hand for his Valentine Cards for his classmates.

image

image

And Reed worked on signing his name to them all.

He will give each friend a valentine with a string cheese treat that we picked up at our creamery today.

Did you know that our creamery, AMPI, has a retail store where anyone can shop for cheese, butter and milk?

This is where our milk is taken when it leaves our farm. Stop in if you are in the area.

It’s just down the road from Starmont School and not far from the newly famous home of the Bachelor, Arlington, IA. 🙂

Road Trips and Reminiscing…

Posted on by Melissa

Friday started like any other day around here. We were up early for chores and I worked outside until it was time for Reed to go to school.

After getting my extra hugs and kisses, I dropped him off at preschool, came home, got cleaned up and packed my bag for the night. I was excited to get on the road to my friend’s house.

A few weeks ago she had invited me to go to a dinner theatre show with her in Minnesota. I was so excited! I love to go to performances of most any kind, and it happened to fall at a time when my husband would be busy at a wrestling tournament.

It was good catching up on the couple hour ride to Minnesota. We stopped about half way to take in a little shopping. We particularly enjoyed one shop called Urban Vintage, and marveled at all of the rustic items and functional decorations! Such cute uses for everyday things! We had quite a few “I can do that myself” moments.

Back on the road and into the city we went. It always amazes me how many businesses and restaurants there are… and I wonder with so many choices, how can they all survive?

We passed the first Casino I ever gambled at. I had just turned 18 and I had taken a trip with my mom and two sisters. I can’t remember what we went to Minnesota to do, but I can’t forget how I won, hand over fist, on one lucky slot machine!

I would win anywhere from $75 to 100 dollars, cash out, put in another ten or twenty, only to do the same again. I had quite a few tickets in my hand before my sisters found me!

And I remember they had a security person come stand by the machine so I could take a bathroom break! I cashed in my tickets before hitting the bathroom and felt like a bank robber as I counted the cash in that bathroom stall! And when I returned to my machine, I won just as much money as when I had left.

Boy, what an impression gambling made on me! Ha ha!

Speaking of casinos…The last time my friend and I had taken a trip, we stayed at a hotel casino in Illinois. We had drove through pouring rain and arrived over 2 hours later than we had planned.

It was nearing Midnight and I was sure she would say, “Let’s just go to bed”, but she surprised me and said “Let’s go!” And down to the casino we went!

We each had given ourselves an allowance and played several machines before we stopped to watch a guy who was winning on a Wheel of Fortune machine.

I always liked to watch those games. When the lights would flash and the machine would blare WHEEL!     OF!      FORTUNE!!!!!     and the big wheel at the top would start to spin!!!

As we stood there watching, she said, “When we come back in the morning, I want to try this machine”, pointing to the one I was standing next to. I studied it a little to see what it took to win on it.

We were coming back in the morning? Hmm. I hadn’t planned on that.

I had reached my $40 limit already, but pulled out a 20 dollar bill and said. “I have a 20, do you want to play?” and she said “Nah, I’ll wait til morning.” So I looked at the machine again and said “Do you mind if I play it then?” (Not figuring on coming back in the morning) and she said “Sure, I don’t care.”

It wasn’t long before I got in my rhythm of betting the maximum only every so often when I thought it would hit. Slowly I was racking up the credits.

And this machine was fun, I mean really fun! Once in a while, it would give you a winning combination, and then go crazy, spinning over and over, doubling, sometimes tripling the original winnings!

Soon, the guys we had been watching at Wheel of Fortune had turned their chairs, looking to see what our shrieks were all about! This idle machine had come to life, lighting up over and over with matching reels!

I was up over $700 before I saw my luck beginning to fade. We looked at each other and agreed it was time to quit.

I hit the cash out button and we headed to the teller window. What a thrill! And what a great beginning to our trip!

Winning made our trip that much more enjoyable.

Our next stop was in Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Festival. That year Spring had come early, and I joked that the “Tulip Tour” we took was more like a “Stem Tour!”

We had a great time shopping though, and I came home with three reminders of our trip.

I bought four 3′ Tulips that had been welded and brightly painted. They were so happy looking! I knew right where I was going to put them!

I also purchased a Bird Feeder that was a great looking barn. It reminded me of home and our farm and I looked forward to putting it out each summer.

And the third thing I chose hangs in my kitchen. It’s a silver plated measuring spoon set embellished with scroll work and cupcakes. They hang right next to where I do my baking and make me smile every time I think about our trip!

One other treasure from our trip was a visit with my Aunt Gerry. Now this hadn’t been on the agenda, but when my friend heard me talking about my family and that they were only an hour further than our destination, she happily afforded me some time for a visit.

Aunt Gerry is a sister to my mom, and even though she’s lived in Michigan all of her married life, we stay close with her and her family.

It was so good to see her and talk with her and get our aye aye’s in. I was happy she recognized me, as it was one of her good days. 🙂

She so wished I had brought my mom along with me because she missed “Babe”.

We made up for it by calling her. And it was just like they were sitting across from each other, as I was with her, bantering back and forth.Me & GerryThat was my last visit with Gerry before she passed away.

Looking back, it amazes me… how things happen for reasons we just don’t grasp at the time. We go about our days, not thinking about the things that seem so insignificant.

And then somewhere in our minds, these moments become memories that we wish we could jump back into. Because they mean so much!

In this moment, as I think back to these happy times, I am grateful for great friends and family, that I took opportunities to spend time with people, and for making memories that are worth remembering.

Family Bonding

Posted on by Melissa

This afternoon we headed out for a little extra family bonding before chores.

Our wood supply is getting on the low side, so we took the tractor and dump wagon and skid loader and chain saw out to get some wood cut up.

Usually we get together with neighbors and have at least one cutting party every fall. With the colder than normal November, that just didn’t happen.

So today, Dan and I, Chelsey, Kayla and Reed made quick work of a couple trees and had a good sized load in less than an hour.

There’s never a dull moment when cutting wood. !) And here are a couple pictures to prove it…

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Making memories one hour at a time!