Farmin’

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.

 

 

 

Oats and Alfalfa

Posted on by Melissa

It’s a windy, cool day here on the farm. This morning was mostly gray, but this afternoon the sun is trying to shine.

It hasn’t warmed up enough, though, to go without a heavy jacket and I almost thought about putting my coveralls on this morning while mixing up, but resisted.

Dan had thought about letting the wood stove burn out, as the last couple days have been warm and the house stayed around 75 degrees.

I made up for it, though, and opened the windows to let the fresh breeze blow through the house. With the temperature topping out at 43 this afternoon, I think he’s glad he kept the fire going.

Chickens up by the House
Even the chickens were trying to stay out of the chilly wind!

And we have some excitement around here too!

Today we are finally getting in the field! 🙂

We have some ground that is fit for drilling some oats and alfalfa. This seeding will grow good quality oatlage, haylage and hay to feed our milk cows.

A neighbor of ours (who doesn’t farm) came this morning and helped work the ground. His young nephew also came along for the experience and Reed had a great time riding in the tractor field cultivating with them!

Then he even got to tag along with them into the woods to get a load of wood and enjoyed jumping on the other little boy’s trampoline when they took him home.

When Reed and I took some more seed out to Dan, Reed was ready to ride again! I suspect he will be sleeping in a couple rounds after the busy day he’s had.

Ready to drill!!!
Let’s go Dad!!!
Dan and Reed Drilling Oats and Alfalfa
Drilling Oats and Alfalfa

When Dan gets done with our field, he will also drill some waterways for a neighbor of ours. Our son-in-law, Jason, will also have some oats to put in this weekend.

With all the Easter gatherings to attend, they hope to finish up today. Happy Easter Y’all!

 

 

 

A day in the life…

Posted on by Melissa

Well hello there! Did you think I got lost??? I know… I’ve been AWOL lately here in the blog world, but don’t worry, I have lots of ex… good reasons 🙂

Now that daylight savings has kicked in and given us a little more daylight in the evening, we’ve been working later outside trying to get a start on Spring.

And that means a blank computer screen doesn’t really compete with a comfy bed at the end of the day… But, let’s see if I can give it a whirl tonight!

Today we worked on hauling manure out of one of our calf lots. We are planning on moving our momma sheep to this lot in a couple weeks so we are ready to lamb.

I know, you may think it seems late to lamb, but that’s just what works best for us here. We don’t have a barn or building exclusively for sheep to lamb in during the winter months like a lot of people do, so we choose to breed them later in the fall/early in winter so that they come in about May, when the weather is easier on both the ewes and the lambs.

Anyways, we will get the calves moved out and then we will herd our little flock of sheep across the yard to our little calf building so they can get all settled in before those little cuties arrive.

We got done hauling the manure, bedded it with cornstalk bales and inevitably did a little fixin’ today. I managed to crack a board as I was scooping up a bucket of manure with the skid loader, so out came the drill and the long screws and we got it all fixed up again.

We also adjusted the height of the red gate on this pen so the gate swings better. These little jobs always take a bit of time, but we’re glad things work better when they’re done.

Oh, I can’t forget to tell you about our moment of excitement tonight…

Dan was coming out of the calf lot with the skid loader after he had put the cornstalk bedding in. Two calves were running from one side of the gate to the other when Dan came forward to come out… and those two made a quick right and out they ran!

Crap!

Double Crap!

They ran straight up the yard towards the shed, then turned down the hill and ran full-on towards the bins! (I was just hoping they wouldn’t like the darkness down there because if they kept going they would be out in the field!!!)

It took Dan, Kayla, and me on the four wheeler to convince them it was time to go home! Thank goodness they didn’t get into the field.

What a way to end the night, huh? Just made me all the more ready to call it a day.

We still have a lot of manure to haul before we think about planting. If the weather stays good we might get some oats in the ground before the end of the week. That will be a good feeling.

One more thing… we had a heifer calf born to Angel this morning that was super cute! Check out a few pictures I posted on my facebook page and you can even help me name her!

Well, the wind burn is starting to set in and I’m feeling a little sleepy.

Will share more tomorrow, I hope. I have lots of catching up to do!

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…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Farmin’ is Fixin’ & Fixin’ is Farmin’

Posted on by Melissa

Hubby has one solid complaint about farming. There’s always something that needs fixin’!

Get one thing fixed and something else breaks down. It’s always something. Now some things are higher priority than others, and many times our plans for the day are changed by something that needs fixed.

One job that’s needed done for awhile, is changing some knives in the TMR. We have been waiting for a warmer day (so we didn’t have to freeze our fingers off!) to check this one off the list.

Well, that day came this week.

We’ve had our TMR since the year Kayla was born. Dan bought it new back in ’95.

TMR

A TMR is a type of equipment we use everyday to mix up our feed ration for the cows. (TMR ~ “Total Mixed Ration”)

Now I love to bake, and I really love mixing up for the cows too.

I think of our TMR as my big Kitchenaid mixer! It has a scale on it that helps me get just the right mix to help our cows get all the nutrients they need.

So naturally, it’s really important to me that this particular piece of equipment stays in good, working order.

You see, cows like to eat the same thing EVERY DAY. And that means this machine and I have to work together to get the same feed every time I mix up. I follow the recipe (ration sheet) and I’m careful to mix it long enough without over-mixing it.

It has a series of augers inside that turn and roll all of the ingredients together to mix them up. The first auger that the ingredients make contact with has triangular knives on the edges to cut things up into smaller pieces, like hay.

Over time, these knives get worn and dull, or get weak and break off. An errant flip of the bucket could also shear off a bolt or knife, allowing it to shift so it doesn’t cut anymore.

Well, our warm January day brought this task to the top of the fixin’ list this week. Reed had a day off from school for the holiday so we had a little helper too.

Reed in TMR

In the magnet tray you can see the triangular knife we were changing out, along with the bolts, lock washers and nuts.

Unfixed TMR Auger

Yep! Looks like it could use a little work!

We changed out many of the knives and straightened up a bunch too.

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I helped put the new knives on too, but of course, no pictures to show for it. !)

It went pretty good, and in about an hour we had her good as new!

TMR Fixed
Ready to “chew” again

I sure was glad to get this job off the list.

And it’s always good to hear Hubby say “That’s a good job done!”

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!”

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.