At this point in my life I'm wonderin if it's a genetic flaw in the male chromosome. I live in a house with 3 men and have contact with both Mike's dad and my own dad on a very regular basis. Most of our cattle customers are men. Wanna know what I'm thinking? Calendars are for women only. I finally sat down today and made out a calendar for each of our dads with all the things the boys have going on in the next two months. I had a call from one dad needing help this morning and another call from the other dad wanting them this weekend. I figured it'd be just as easy for them to look at a piece of paper and ask to be written in for a free day. Is that crazy of me? Does anyone else need this kind of help? While the boys aren't involved in a lot of outside activities, they do seem to be eating up some time in the next few weeks. And both dads want hay done....yesterday. Next week we have a day for church, Chris has 1/2 day for FFA, both have a day for 4-H and then one day for us at a show. THUD. Somewhere in there I'm sure one or both dads will need one, two or more of us to help with something. AGH~~!
I have papers everywhere on my bulletin boards and desk with dates. Maybe that's what I collect.....date info.
I also got around to update two websites today. Mike's encouraging me to get that going as a side business that might eventually pay for some bills. I enjoy it a lot, can do it from home at any time and best of all, I could make a little money off it. We'll have to see how it all pans out. You know, as soon as I get it on the calendar. :)
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Summertime!
Ahh....it seems as if summer is here. We kicked the air on yesterday due to the fact that we were having company for lunch and didn't want them to be terribly uncomfortable. Today, it's just nice to have a cool place to come in to.
Yesterday we had our interim pastor and youth pastor and their families over for lunch. It was a fun and casual afternoon. We tried out the new ice cream maker that I bought with some birthday money. I think I have our FOREVER FAVORITE ice cream recipe. It is so incredibly easy: for 4 quarts you need 4 cups heavy cream, 4 cups 1/2 and 1/2, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup sugar and about a tablespoon or so of vanilla. We tend to go a little heavy on the vanilla but that's just our preference. It is so very tasty. Ahh...summer treats.
Today we all got up early. I got the laundry finished up, got Jesse's enrollment packet filled out for ag class next year, got some stakes for my tomatoes, went to the feed store and took the truck and trailer to bring home 3 pairs that Mike wants to AI. That was all by 11 am. This afternoon I got the yard mowed and am thinking as soon as it starts cooling off I need to weed the garden, stake the tomatoes and maybe even water it a bit. I also need to pick up the pepper plants that Chris picked up for me at the FFA greenhouse. The squirrels and rabbits have eaten several of the originals I planted. They didn't touch my tomatoes though. Hmm? Picky pests. We did get to pick the first two strawberries out of Jesse's patch today. They are huge! I'd love to weigh the bigger one just to see how much it weighs but our little kitchen scale seems to be broken. Our raspberry bushes that we just planted this sping are leafing out. The lavendar bushes I ordered are beginning to leaf out a bit now too. It's so fun to watch everything come to life.
Tomorrow I'm headed to the Amish community with my sister and mom. Should be a good time and hope to find some bargains this week.
Yesterday we had our interim pastor and youth pastor and their families over for lunch. It was a fun and casual afternoon. We tried out the new ice cream maker that I bought with some birthday money. I think I have our FOREVER FAVORITE ice cream recipe. It is so incredibly easy: for 4 quarts you need 4 cups heavy cream, 4 cups 1/2 and 1/2, 1/2 tsp salt, 1 1/2 cup sugar and about a tablespoon or so of vanilla. We tend to go a little heavy on the vanilla but that's just our preference. It is so very tasty. Ahh...summer treats.
Today we all got up early. I got the laundry finished up, got Jesse's enrollment packet filled out for ag class next year, got some stakes for my tomatoes, went to the feed store and took the truck and trailer to bring home 3 pairs that Mike wants to AI. That was all by 11 am. This afternoon I got the yard mowed and am thinking as soon as it starts cooling off I need to weed the garden, stake the tomatoes and maybe even water it a bit. I also need to pick up the pepper plants that Chris picked up for me at the FFA greenhouse. The squirrels and rabbits have eaten several of the originals I planted. They didn't touch my tomatoes though. Hmm? Picky pests. We did get to pick the first two strawberries out of Jesse's patch today. They are huge! I'd love to weigh the bigger one just to see how much it weighs but our little kitchen scale seems to be broken. Our raspberry bushes that we just planted this sping are leafing out. The lavendar bushes I ordered are beginning to leaf out a bit now too. It's so fun to watch everything come to life.
Tomorrow I'm headed to the Amish community with my sister and mom. Should be a good time and hope to find some bargains this week.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The whirlwind weekend and the aftermath....
So, last weekend our niece, Lara, married the man of her dream, Brandon. It was a perfect wedding for them. Nice, not overdone, not huge and just a pretty relaxed time for everyone. Then on Sunday our nephew, Nick, graduated from high school. I can't tell you exactly how many miles we put on our car over the weekend but I do know Mike is looking high and low for our next car. Sometime last week I looked and noticed our car has 274,000 miles on it. Yes, that's supposed to be a 2. It has served it's purpose and is about to go to car crushing heaven. And the only request I have is that we NOT buy another white Pontiac Grand Prix. I need a bit more variety in my life than that. Our car before this one was just like it. We started driving it before Jesse started school....he'll be a junior in the fall. So, now the search is on. Jesse believes we should just buy a Shelby GT and let him drive it most of the time. Unfortunately that's about 6-8 times our budget besides the fact that I'm sure we'd just fall over dead at the insurance bill on that with an 18 year old son and a 16 year old son.
We had a discussion in Sunday school this week about what made America a great nation. While I do agree with the first answer given ("Our Founding Father were men of great faith and prayer.") I believe there's more to it than that. I believe our nation was founded by people not only of great faith but also of great determination to do whatever it was that God called them to. They were not deterred by hard times, lack of resources or bitterness. They simply blazed ahead and did whatever it was that God asked of them. I have a huge concern about the work ethic of the majority in our country now. It seems to me that more and more people believe they are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness at someone else's expense. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that if a man does not work, he shall not eat. How does that work in our society? Somehow, we've come to the idea that if you don't work, it's ok, someone will provide the food for you. While I'm all for taking care of those who do need help, I believe most people are able to do some sort of work in exchange for food or money. The thing is, our country has fed them the line that it's not necessary. I see commercials on tv offering options to get out of paying off the credit card debt so many have run up, how to get out of paying their mortgages, car loans, etc. I cannot find the words to express how disappointed and frustrated that makes me. IF you buy the stuff, you need to have a plan on how to pay it back. A solid plan at that. During the latest housing crisis many people found themselves upside down on their home loans. Upon further investigation we learned that many of them had been paying interest only on their loans for 5 to 10 years. They actually had no plan to repay the loan. They "thought" they'd get a better job, spend less money, etc, but didn't plan for it. When we look back historically, this country never would have survived as a sovereign nation without men and women who worked hard and put back food and money for the future. I hope that is one lesson our country will learn for our current economic crisis. If not, I'm not sure we'll even survive as a country, much less have the strength as a nation that we had in our parents' generations.
We had a discussion in Sunday school this week about what made America a great nation. While I do agree with the first answer given ("Our Founding Father were men of great faith and prayer.") I believe there's more to it than that. I believe our nation was founded by people not only of great faith but also of great determination to do whatever it was that God called them to. They were not deterred by hard times, lack of resources or bitterness. They simply blazed ahead and did whatever it was that God asked of them. I have a huge concern about the work ethic of the majority in our country now. It seems to me that more and more people believe they are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness at someone else's expense. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 that if a man does not work, he shall not eat. How does that work in our society? Somehow, we've come to the idea that if you don't work, it's ok, someone will provide the food for you. While I'm all for taking care of those who do need help, I believe most people are able to do some sort of work in exchange for food or money. The thing is, our country has fed them the line that it's not necessary. I see commercials on tv offering options to get out of paying off the credit card debt so many have run up, how to get out of paying their mortgages, car loans, etc. I cannot find the words to express how disappointed and frustrated that makes me. IF you buy the stuff, you need to have a plan on how to pay it back. A solid plan at that. During the latest housing crisis many people found themselves upside down on their home loans. Upon further investigation we learned that many of them had been paying interest only on their loans for 5 to 10 years. They actually had no plan to repay the loan. They "thought" they'd get a better job, spend less money, etc, but didn't plan for it. When we look back historically, this country never would have survived as a sovereign nation without men and women who worked hard and put back food and money for the future. I hope that is one lesson our country will learn for our current economic crisis. If not, I'm not sure we'll even survive as a country, much less have the strength as a nation that we had in our parents' generations.
Monday, May 17, 2010
A new goal for me....
I'm setting a goal that for the rest of May I'll make a weekly post (minimum) and then in June I'll do at least 2 posts a week. Eventually I'd like to update this daily but we shall see. I will not count this little PSA as my weekly post. I'll get to that in just a minute.
Friday, May 7, 2010
Reflecting....
No, I'm not looking in a mirror or a puddle of water. I'm thinking back over the years once again. Chris will soon (as in as soon as he finishes his final language paper) be a senior in high school and Jesse will soon (as soon as he finishes HIS final language paper) be a junior in high school and I'm realizing just how soon our homeschool adventure will end. We allowed Chris to take an ag class at the local high school this year. It was the only way he could join FFA and we wanted him to have that experience. I was not sure it was going to be the best thing for him, but knew at his age this could work. We bit the bullet and let him go. He has done amazingly well in his class and has developed leadership skills and confidence in the man God has made him beyond what we ever could have imagined. It thrills me to see this transformation.
A few weeks ago he said they were going to have officer interviews. We encouraged him to apply for an office. He came home from the interviews and said he knew who probably would be president. He was right in his guess and it wasn't him. BUT the chapter chose to have an FFA Chaplin. They've not had this position in the past and I figured our school was so politically correct they never would. You know, it might offend someone. But they chose to have this office and Chris will fill that position next year. I don't think he understood what an honor it really is. And I'm guessing at 17 I probably wouldn't have either. The thing is though, they looked at the kids that applied and chose him to be the one stationed at the Bible, to guide the spiritual presence and moral participation of the chapter. To me, that means more than being the president. From the beginning of our children's education we felt that faith in God would always trump any other aspect in education. If they excell in head, heart and mind knowledge and faith in Christ, the rest is just icing on the cake. I know a multitude of people will disagree, but these are our children. We do know what's best for them. Last night as he was announced as this officer God spoke quietly to my heart that while this will be a growing experience for him (speaking and praying in front of groups of people) this will also be a chance for him to boldly show his faith in Christ in a public school setting.
Both of the guys are going on the church's mission trip again this year. They will once again miss our county fair but they feel like the opportunity to minister to the Indian tribes in North Dakota will have a more lasting impact. I pray that they are like shining lights always, but especially on the trip. This year the plan is for them to build some playgrounds on the reservations. Young men doing manly work for God. It doesn't get any better than that. Jesse is really stoked about it now that he knows he can use power tools if needed. I'm guessing he'll find a need for them no matter what. That's my boy. Jesse has grown up so much this year and I often find myself forgetting that he's only 15. He's looking into colleges and scholarships and trying to figure out how to make his life all work out. I so remember being like him at about 16 and 17. I was even so bold as to fill out my 5, 10 and 20 year plans in my senior album. I thought I knew exactly where I was headed. I do hope the one thing he's learned that I hadn't was to be flexible. Life will be much easier for him if he has learned that little skill.
A few weeks ago he said they were going to have officer interviews. We encouraged him to apply for an office. He came home from the interviews and said he knew who probably would be president. He was right in his guess and it wasn't him. BUT the chapter chose to have an FFA Chaplin. They've not had this position in the past and I figured our school was so politically correct they never would. You know, it might offend someone. But they chose to have this office and Chris will fill that position next year. I don't think he understood what an honor it really is. And I'm guessing at 17 I probably wouldn't have either. The thing is though, they looked at the kids that applied and chose him to be the one stationed at the Bible, to guide the spiritual presence and moral participation of the chapter. To me, that means more than being the president. From the beginning of our children's education we felt that faith in God would always trump any other aspect in education. If they excell in head, heart and mind knowledge and faith in Christ, the rest is just icing on the cake. I know a multitude of people will disagree, but these are our children. We do know what's best for them. Last night as he was announced as this officer God spoke quietly to my heart that while this will be a growing experience for him (speaking and praying in front of groups of people) this will also be a chance for him to boldly show his faith in Christ in a public school setting.
Both of the guys are going on the church's mission trip again this year. They will once again miss our county fair but they feel like the opportunity to minister to the Indian tribes in North Dakota will have a more lasting impact. I pray that they are like shining lights always, but especially on the trip. This year the plan is for them to build some playgrounds on the reservations. Young men doing manly work for God. It doesn't get any better than that. Jesse is really stoked about it now that he knows he can use power tools if needed. I'm guessing he'll find a need for them no matter what. That's my boy. Jesse has grown up so much this year and I often find myself forgetting that he's only 15. He's looking into colleges and scholarships and trying to figure out how to make his life all work out. I so remember being like him at about 16 and 17. I was even so bold as to fill out my 5, 10 and 20 year plans in my senior album. I thought I knew exactly where I was headed. I do hope the one thing he's learned that I hadn't was to be flexible. Life will be much easier for him if he has learned that little skill.
Monday, February 22, 2010
FFA Week - Monday (Also known as Let the Adventures Begin)
FFA week. Chris is taking an ag class this year so he can be in FFA. Great. This is FFA week. OK. Today is Vehicle Day. Uh oh. Muddy truck or any tractor. OK. Let's take the 4 wheel drive. Did you know that it takes up the better part of a city street? And did you know that when the stack falls off and you have to bring it in the truck that's following you, it's hard to see due to the exhaust coming out right in front of the windshild? No? Well it is. And lastly, did you know that when your dog has been picked up by Animal Control and you let her ride in the tractor with you to school, she gets a bit nervous. She begins hiding when you enter town so that the bad doggie police won't see her? Well she does. And to think, it's only 9 am and we've survived the better part of Vehicle Day. Whew, that was close.
Friday, February 19, 2010
What a day, what a week...
The boys ended up working Tuesday - Friday mornings this week for Mike Martin in Curryville. Monday we crammed in a week's worth of history and finished up Grammar for the week. They would get up each morning at 6 am, check the maternity ward of cows/heifers, grab some breakfast and be on their way by 6:30 or 6:45. Once at Mike's they had to feed grain, feed hay, tie calves, brush calves, blow calves and then turn them out and start over with the next bunch of calves. They would then drag back home about 12:30 or so and be READY for lunch. Chris had ag class each day so he'd head out for that after lunch. THUD. Thursday night when I got home I noticed it was hitting them hard. They were so tired because that didn't end their day. They still had to feed hay, do evening chores and keep up with their Bible study.
Chris had earned the right to go to the Farm Show in Kansas City with FFA this year. We had it down on the calendar that it was on Saturday. I was wrong. It was Friday. So Friday he went to KC with FFA and saw all the new toys and shiny equipment. Mike went with Jesse and I stayed home and did my best to do their work for the morning. Should I mention here that we are now doing around the clock checks on the maternity wards (yes, there are 2 of them - one for cows, one for heifers). I got home from work and told the boys to go on to bed about 9 pm. They were asleep in front of the Olympics anyway. I went out and checked cows a couple of times. Mike got home, checked them again and then we headed to bed....at 1:40 am. I took the 5 am check. It's normally 4 am but I wanted to stay up and fix the guys breakfast and get some stuff done. So, I pretty much slept from 2 to 5 am. I decided against doing my walking video today due to the number of times I've been out checking on cows and calves and the number of times I went up and down the stairs trying to catch up on laundry.
Tonight I had visions of dropping into bed at 9:30. And yet, here it is 11:21. Hmmm....you guessed it, someone decided tonight was the night to calve. And what a whopper of a calf it was. Chris checked her at 8:30 and she had her water bag out. We decided to give her 2 hours and see if she had it. I woke them back up at 10:15 and we began heading out. She barely had the feet out, so we ran her in the barn. The very same place we had kept her out of earlier tonight when she wanted in. Guess we should have listened to her. I came back up and got the Oxytocin (think Pitocin for women), the chains for the puller (forceps concept) and a bucket of warm water with disinfectant in it. The boys got her lassoed and tied off to a corner post in the pen. Chris worked hard at getting the chains double looped around the calf's legs. His feet were big. Our puller is several years old and has been used hard. It's in need of some repair and we probably should see to that tomorrow. It survived the pull and I was so impressed with the knowledge and patience the guys showed in pulling. It was their first solo pull where I just stood and held the rope. We have a nice steer prospect out of the deal that certainly wouldn't have survived had we waited for Mike to get home from work.
So now I'm sitting here typing. Should be sleeping because I'll be up at 4 checking again. But maybe, just maybe, I can go back to bed then and get some extra sleep. Ahhh, the joys of calving season.
Chris had earned the right to go to the Farm Show in Kansas City with FFA this year. We had it down on the calendar that it was on Saturday. I was wrong. It was Friday. So Friday he went to KC with FFA and saw all the new toys and shiny equipment. Mike went with Jesse and I stayed home and did my best to do their work for the morning. Should I mention here that we are now doing around the clock checks on the maternity wards (yes, there are 2 of them - one for cows, one for heifers). I got home from work and told the boys to go on to bed about 9 pm. They were asleep in front of the Olympics anyway. I went out and checked cows a couple of times. Mike got home, checked them again and then we headed to bed....at 1:40 am. I took the 5 am check. It's normally 4 am but I wanted to stay up and fix the guys breakfast and get some stuff done. So, I pretty much slept from 2 to 5 am. I decided against doing my walking video today due to the number of times I've been out checking on cows and calves and the number of times I went up and down the stairs trying to catch up on laundry.
Tonight I had visions of dropping into bed at 9:30. And yet, here it is 11:21. Hmmm....you guessed it, someone decided tonight was the night to calve. And what a whopper of a calf it was. Chris checked her at 8:30 and she had her water bag out. We decided to give her 2 hours and see if she had it. I woke them back up at 10:15 and we began heading out. She barely had the feet out, so we ran her in the barn. The very same place we had kept her out of earlier tonight when she wanted in. Guess we should have listened to her. I came back up and got the Oxytocin (think Pitocin for women), the chains for the puller (forceps concept) and a bucket of warm water with disinfectant in it. The boys got her lassoed and tied off to a corner post in the pen. Chris worked hard at getting the chains double looped around the calf's legs. His feet were big. Our puller is several years old and has been used hard. It's in need of some repair and we probably should see to that tomorrow. It survived the pull and I was so impressed with the knowledge and patience the guys showed in pulling. It was their first solo pull where I just stood and held the rope. We have a nice steer prospect out of the deal that certainly wouldn't have survived had we waited for Mike to get home from work.
So now I'm sitting here typing. Should be sleeping because I'll be up at 4 checking again. But maybe, just maybe, I can go back to bed then and get some extra sleep. Ahhh, the joys of calving season.
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