Not much to write home about...

Or to write about home. The weaning of the kids could be going better. It seem nigh to impossible to keep the little magician's in a pen. We are giving it our best shot. So that will have to be enough.

Right now I'm tired in more ways than one. And I'll leave it at that. Everyone but me were busy little bee's today. I just could seem to get my act together. Oh well there is always tomorrow. Tomorrow, tomorrow... there's always tomorrow... it's only a day A WAY!!!!!

So much to do... so little time.

This morning...

Farming is over rated. Granted it's not that I don't love what I do. But like with any job it has it's down days, frustrating moments and all that jazz. I can't quit (OK I could but I don't know anything else so who would hire me?), I can't blame the boss..., there is no 4 day weekends, days off, or vacation time.

I'm sure some would ask, then why do you keep doing it? The simple answer is... I can't help myself. It is something that is in the "blood". It's akin to eating, breathing, reading and writing. And when countless generations of family present and those who have gone on before have farmed... what's a girl to do? I do believe that my family here and myself are the last to be farming. All the others have been forced out do to high costs and lack of profit. It's rather sad, don't you think?

My family has been farm since before coming to this country. It was said that some members were thrown out of Plymouth (I think that's the right place) because they let their hogs out or they got out. :) You can imagine hogs in gardens, winter coming... It's no wonder!

Farming... not for the faint of heart, mind, body... It's not always fun, profitable, or easy. But there is no place like home, like the sight of a newborn baby, the joy when you can rest after a long day YES it's a joy and relief! :) It's not for everybody and you don't become a caretaker of the land over night even if you own land and animals... It's a process... long and hard, laughter and tears, shouts of joy and utter frustration.

Things with Wings... Sunday Stills...

These first two are from the archives... Sadly we no longer have Lucy (the black cat). For over a month last summer this Mocking Bird would dive bomb poor Lucy. It was rather comical.

ATG (AKA Alexander the GREAT) the newest Chicken addition to the flock. He's a Banty Cochin. Isn't he darling... Napoleon wasn't in the mood to be photographed. He's another banty rooster but he looks as tho he's wearing black over-all's. TOOO cute...

And YES this creature above does have Wings... you just can't seem them. while I was TRYING to get pic's of WINGED things... PT and a heifer had some how managed to get out. WHERE I haven't a clue...

And last but not least a fuzzy pic of a Wrens nest in a hanging basket we have... Five little winged babies to be if all goes well. :)

I have just about...

Decided to start writing letters to Washington DC. for what ever good it would do. At least I would feel like I'm doing something to maybe chink the armor off the uncaring, unknowing, people in politics. Something needs to be done for the dairy farmers of this country. Right? Besides there is a lot more that I want to say. :)

Will I ever get around to doing? more than likely not... but in my mind at least I'm giving them what for. Besides... who would listen to me anyway?

It's the heat talking... today's the last fore casted day of excessive heat. I can hardly wait for the cool front that is supposed to be pushing in later today.

So what is on tap for the day? Good question... staying cool I'm guessing. That and finding the serger needles. I wanted to get some of the tops I'm working on put together. Only to have the one of the needles break and of course I don't know where any new ones are. I bought them but, well I've lost them. :-/ so it goes... :)

And the heat goes on...

And the heat goes on... blessed relief is on the horizon though... Sunday. High for then... a cool 86. It will feel like heaven! I know the moo's will be happy with the relief along with all our other critters. Both two and four legged. :) At the moment it's clouding up with the possible, slight, minuet, really a long shot pop up T-storm.

I'm not holding out much hope but the cloud cover does help. Now if a breeze would stir things might be bearable.

One thing about it... fescue season is in full swing. At least for those who harvest the seed. For those of us who don't it doesn't really matter much. I do feel though for them, it's a hot and dusty job. Always working against time, weather, and equipment.

It made me think this morning as I was going to the vets office for some meds, I was passed by, a sheriffs car, 3 ambulances, 1 state trooper, 1 fire truck, and life line was over head... that life is short. And I then wondered, was it a farming accident, combine, tractor, baler??? the likely hood it was bad wreak out in the middle of no where is slim. Maybe a fire... I didn't see any smoke though. I'll probably never know... and my thoughts will soon be off on something else. But somewhere in MO there are people who could use some prayer I'm sure...

Signing off for now...

PS. First cherry tomatoes are ripe in the garden! It's to bad I don't like them! Zuchinni is soon to follow, and there are baby buds on the green beans. :) Oh the joys of summer and it's bounty!

A good laugh...

Today was a day of far flung travels... here, there, everywhere. After morning chores... I went to get the dip stick for the tractor at the parts store. I have issues with this store. I seem to always get the clerk who is having a BAD day. At one time there was just one woman to deal with, now there are TWO. UGH... I would much rather deal with a man there ANY man. Anyway that didn't happen... I was even first in line and one of the fine ladies working there took him in front of me... Oh well... smile on... smile on...

So 10 minutes and $9.16 later... I KNOW for a DIP STICK! I could hardly believe it. And I had to pay tax to boot. Here if it's for farm use you don't pay tax. Now I ask you... What possible use are you going to have for a tractor oil dip stick other than it being FOR a TRACTOR on a FARM??? I didn't even ask... but one would think that for $9.16 it would come with the rubber O rings right? HA ... I say HA! So in my mind I thought why go back and fight traffic... I'll just stop off at MFA on the way home. I'm sure they would have them. Sigh... Why do I bother thinking? I should just stop and for go the pain I cause myself. MEN... God Bless them... they need it... and I'll leave it at that. Needless to say the ones he got for me didn't work. SO it was off to Vestal's to get the right ones... thankfully they were helpful and the O rings worked. It's to bad they didn't carry Agco parts... It would make my life so much easier. But they did have some nifty Farm-All fabric... I know... seems odd for a tractor and equipment store to have fabric.

In other news... the heat finally broke. Pop up storms here and there dropped the temp 20 degrees in less than 20 minutes. WOW... it was so nice not having to sweat through chores. I'm not even going to complain about the humidity.

And now for the laugh... I've not had one in days... Well Mom came with me on run to V's for the O rings. Well we were talking and she asked if milk prices had came up... I laughed and laughed at that one. OH it did make me feel better. In all honesty I've given up looking at the CMT prices. It only adds to the stress I'm feeling. So I figure who needs it. Some day milk prices will be up and over cost of production. Right? Someone just lie as say yes... Thank you and Good Night...

KIDS!!!!! and other pictures...

A rose of course...

Lemon tree blossoms... I think I want to move to FL.

A David Austen rose... Heavenly... just heavenly...

L-R Lily, Violet (middle back) and Hyacinth.

L to R. Violet, Lily, Hyacinth.... isn't them tweet! :)

Don't let those sweet faces fool you... they can bite... and bring the blood. I know from experience.

It's another hot one here... it was 90 by 10 this AM so you know what it's like now... there is a slight... and I do mean SLIGHT breeze... I have a fan going in the barn to the babies above just for some air movement.

One part at a time...

One part at a time... That's how our tractor works... Today was cleaning out the big barn day... I'm sure we chose the HOTTEST day of the year to do it. To start off the tractor would run. Those blessed goats had chewed the wires apart. Thankfully Mr.B. came and fixed it for us!

Then I started hauling load after load of straw, hay, poo, water that has made mud underneath it all... thankfully Uncle Larry came to help with his little tractor. He can maneuver so much better than I can with our BIG one. *tiredly laughing* at that one. There is an oil leak on Aggie... I said it was motor oil and UL said it was hydraulic... Well today at 2:30ish PM June 22, 2009 I SARA was RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT,.... did I mention that I was right! HA :) the dip stick is missing. And who was the last person to check the oil in the tractor and say " you need to add oil"? UL :) so it wasn't me!

This however led to having to call the parts store for the part. Only to find out they don't carry Agco Allis parts anymore... SINCE WHEN????? Hopefully she said they could cross reference. And would you believe... I'm getting the ONLY dip stick they have at the main store? What are the odds you might ask... very good... I swear they never stock more than one part for our tractor EVER. Sometimes they don't even do that.

Once we had to get a new rim for the front tire. One had to be shipped from FL. Last year they had to over night a part from Chicago. I think it would have been cheaper for me to just run up there. Shipping was awful!

Well all it's been a long LONG day... and I'm heading off to take my second shower of the day. But here is a country/redneck/farmerette beauty tip:

Hot motor oil does WONDERS for the skin and hair... if you can ever scrub it off. Calgon take me away!!! :)

Change

Change... I just can't seem to leave the things be... for a person who dislikes change I seem to keep making a lot of changes to this blog. I felt like being patriotic this summer though. And no that's not meant to sound how it sounds. Hopefully everyone knows what I mean.

It’s going to be a hot one…

Or so they are saying. All this week we are leaning on the side of 90’s to upper 90’s and the heat index climbing over 100… I’m sure the humidity will be in full force also. The joys of summer… but it’s like I always say… You can get cool in the summer… and in winter it’s hard to get warm. So I’m not going to complain to awful much… maybe a wee tiny bit. But that’s ALL :)

On tap for tomorrow is cleaning out the big barn. In the anticipation of calves coming in a month or so… While it is most certainly going to be stressful… it will be a much needed stress relief for the low milk weight. Now if milk prices would just see fit to start climbing I would be a supremely happy person. Really I don’t ask for much. HONEST…

Night all… this is one tired person signing off…

Sunday Stills…

“Ranger”

Brown, Black and White… :) all colors… This was taken this past winter when we had some snow… Oh what I wouldn’t give for a little snow right now. :)

I would have had a better showing but I went to a dairy goat show. OH I wish I would have taken my camera… Oh well maybe next time.

Finally!!!!!!!

After many days of not worrying, not stressing out, NOT getting frustrated and wanting to cry… Violet and Hyacinth both ATE tonight!!!!  They have been on an eating strike. And who can blame the little things. SOOO sweet they is… Being taken from their mummy, moved, disbudded all with in 24 hours. It would be hard on ANYONE or thing.

The one saving grace was that Lily ate very well from the beginning. Over the course of 3 days I’ve called 2 vet clinic’s about them. Knowing that in this heat we’ve been having and the stress, dehydration would be an issue. The first clinic… my stand by, my rock of vets… let me down… :-/ WHERE is DR. H when you need him?! No I get the new vet… I’m not sure he is even a vet yet… I’m sure he’s nice enough and means well, but when you say if they don’t eat soon there is no hope… well that doesn’t do much for the lifting of the spirits.

Thankfully the new clinic I found was much more optimistic. Persistence! They’ll get it… just try often. And I’ve persevered and won the battle of the stubborn baby Nubian goats. I fought the goats and I WON, I fought the goats and I WON!!!   I just love changing the lyrics to songs to fit my mood… :)

Tomorrow I’ll show you our Lowe’s find of the week. :) Can anyone say Lemon Trees for 9.95???? :)

Thursday Travels... formally Tuesday..

OK everyone... please sit down, relax, and lets have a full filled time traveling the blog-sphere. This time we are heading halfway around the world for our starting point. YEAH!!! This country is the one I would most like to visit in the flesh! Next would be England in the Spring... the countryside.. Long Garden to be exact, the maybe Germany (where most of my past relatives came from.), Malta, and the South of France... I'm probably the only person in the world who doesn't want to go to Paris. OK lets get this puppy back on track. As you'll remember I start off at a FAVORITE blog and then from that one we go into the blog unknown. :)

First stop is... Chookyblue an Australian blog. I just adore this first stop. It's just a wonderful blog IMHO! Farming, quilting, baking... REAL LIFE BABY! :) From this wonderful site we head to :

Kerry Swains Cottage... What a treat! another Aussie blog... full of quilting. :) Can't go wrong there now can we? From this site we go:

Sarah's Prime Treasures... HEY! All Sarah's/Sara's are wonderful people SO we just HAD to go. I'm guessing it's another Aussie blog... I can truly say I enjoyed this blog. BOOKMARKED! along with the one above it! :) Next on our stop is:

Katie's Dream ... A sweet little blog that I wouldn't mind going back to sometime...

And that will end this weeks traveling blog. If anyone has any suggestions of a blog that should be traveled let me know! :) Bye bye and buy bonds! :)

Long Day...

It's been a long and homidy (my combo word for hot and humid)... We got our newest additions home around 4:30 or so. Maggie (my moms Saanen doeling) and my three... Violet, Lily, and Hyacinth. I decided to keep the flower theme going for the Nubian's. Pictures this week end if possible.

And while we gained 4 we lost our dear little Fire. If I wasn't so tired I would be crying a river of tears, however all I can muster are a few that are dripping off my face as I type. I'm going to miss that little feller so. I know there are people out there who think animals are just stupid creatures, with out feelings, personality or intelligence. Well Fire wasn't that... he may not have been the brightest crayon in the box, but he was full of life and personality. His little voice in the mornings is going to be greatly missed. OK enough of that... he is in a better place. Yes I believe my animals go to heaven.

And I've just remembered was I wasn't going to forget... blast... well I'll get to it tomorrow. Maybe we'll just do blog travels Thursday's and not Tuesdays... I can't seem to remember. :)

Well it's been a day. Night all...

Blue Plate Mondays

OK... so lets give this a whirl shall we? GOOD... I found and "tweaked" this recipe for many moons... It's a summer and people favorite dish. ENJOY... Sorry no pictures...

The BEST Potato Salad

2 pounds of new red potatoes ( personally I use the cheaper big ones and just cut them into huge chunks) and do NOT PEEL them.
1 cup Hellman's mayonnaise (YES you have to use Hellman's)
2 T. Hellman's Dijonnasie Creamy Mustard (I've found that you get just as good of a result using Best Choice brown Mustard)
2 T. chopped fresh dill (you can use dried dill with the same results)
2 T. white vinegar (DO NOT use apple cider vinegar)
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper (I use 1/2 but I like pepper)
1 c. chopped celery
1/2 c. chopped green onions

Boil potato's in salted water until tender. Drain well...note if you chunk up the potatoes before cooking you won't have to later on. DO NOT use white potatoes either! They fall apart and turn to mush where the red ones won't. Also don't peel them the color is wonderful and besides the skins are very thin.In a large bowl, combine mayo, dijonnasie, dill, vinegar, salt and pepper. Stir in warm potatoes (trust me... it works. you'll have a much better tasting potato salad.), celery, and onions. Cover and chill for 2-3 hours to blend flavors.

Rainy Monday...

It's raining... or has been raining and probably will be raining off and on during the day. And to top it off it's MONDAY. Why can't farmers have longer Sundays? Inquiring minds want to know... me, myself and I that is. :)

So what should I do today... good question. There seems to be a million and one things I could, should, need... to do... yet I'm less than motivated to do any of it. I just want to sleep and not hear dogs barking, cows mooing, goats naaing, roosters crowing (THAT REMINDS ME!!!! Hold on to that thought), cats doing whatever they please where ever they please... neighbors going by honking their car horns in greetings to a relative. Of whom just got married last night. Mom and my grandmother went to their first ever Amish Mennonite wedding. 3 and a half hours after they left the ceremony was over and the reception is to follow this evening.

OK about the Roosters... we had been plagued with 2 horriblly mean and over zelous roosters. L1 (inside family joke and someone else would understand) ANYWAY L1 was known to do sneak and attack missions on unsuspecking people. You had to carry a stick, broom, hoe... anything in case he would start on the war path just to be safe... Even our dogs seemed scared of him. Anyway he's gone. YIPPEE SKIPPEE!!!! and so is L2 who was just nuts over the ladies of the flock and was getting the temperment of his daddy (L1). So they have found new homes along with another rooster we had. There is peace in the hen house again. Other than the fact that mom got a little banny rooster who has been named Napolian.

Well it's that's time again... no rest for the wicked...

Back on the BLOG again..

Back where a friend is a friend... :)

Yes it's been a couple of days. For one thing I didn't want to blog on my birthday... why I don't know. Then things just seemed to snow ball, I wasn't inspired by much of anything or nuttin' honey.

In the news around here, We are getting 4 more goats... just when I thought I was through feeding babies... I'm blaming my mother for showing me a craigslist post of 3 of of the cutest (Spring born Nubians... since NOTHING is cuter than Rose, Sweet Pea (or Pea for short) and Pansy (Pan for short). Anyway... since I have a soft spot for roman nosed, fly away eared babies a set of triplet doelings are coming along with a SAANEN doeling! We have been searching HIGH and low... for one. And the closest we could come was Utah or TN. I'm not up to all that driving y'all. Now to find a Saanen buck. I've got a few monthes for that.

The milk froze in the bulk tank and we have been fighting with the agitator (the thingy that moves the milk in the tank.). I'm personally tired of this old barn. But Praise the Lord things are working now...

Have a good night all...

Tuesday Travels...via blogs... and a day late...

Yes I know... So it's a day late. Life got in the way... between storms, sporadic internet, and my forgetfulness...

Anyway lets start out shall we...

First stop is

At Home with the Farmers Wife... I truly enjoy going to her blog... a home away from home internet style. Sorta... :)

Next we jet off to... Turkey Feathers... I just love this blog when I can remember to head there... So many blogs SO little time. Now we are heading into uncharted blog territory... Scared... na me either... NOT in the LEAST... Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY, Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY, Lions and Tigers and Bears OH MY!!!!!!!

A lovely little blog called 4:53 AM ...I don't know... it just does something for me... and that's the end of the road... we have dead ended so quickly. Maybe next Tuesday we'll head over sea's.

What are some of you favorite spots?

Nothing to write about...

There really isn't much to talk about these days. Besides:

Weaning kids... after 2 extra months of bottle duty for Rose, Sweet Pea, and Pansy... I'm finally in the home stretch of weaning. I'm cutting them down to 3/4 bottles morning and night.

Fire... he's doing well. Although I seem to have to get him running a little before he will finally do his "business". Other that and being weaned him and his sisters are doing well. Now if I could just CATCH his sisters.

The garden I think is growing leaps and bounds.

I could write about the abortion doctor who was killed in KS a while back. There was an article in the Kansas City Star paper about him. I'll have to read it. Mom was telling me about it. I just don't understand how people can justify taking an innocent life. As the late doctor said... "he was giving women their dreams back" OK I'm sorry but what about the lives and dreams of the "little women" There were SURLY some little girls who he murdered who would have grown up to be women. They would have hopes and dreams. But because two people don't want the inconvience of having a CHOICE THEY made interfear with THEIR lives... a little baby dies. OK getting off the soap box now. And just for the record... I don't agree with the person who killed this doctor. Killing is killing... There is no good spin to put on murder.

I'm not much of a newspaper reader. Although I did read about Martha Stewart's new cookbook Cupcakes. I even saw it at Wally World, well the super center... All I can say is... MMMMMM HEY if your looking for different recipes head to http://www.kansascity.com and do a search for recipes their are 403 sites for recipes and so far some look very promising...

SO lets find something up lifting to talk about... as it won't be milk prices, abortion, polotics, gas prices, the price of tea in China... :) which I'm sure is going up like everything else.

Good... there must be some good going on in the world... Anybody know of anything?

Well it's time for chores... online ones are done... sad soooooo sad... LOL now for the real life ones.

Later today... Blog Hopping...

Sundays Stills...

To Sunday Still or not... THAT is the question... I had just about decided yet again not to do it. for the simple reasons that I was: forgetful, forgetful, forgetful... so I thought well I'll just do some digging in the ye ole archives. And so there you have it. :) Granted I didn't know what I was doing... they are... well far I would say... the last one could even double for last weeks miss!

For more Sunday Stills.... click here

He's coming HOME!

I know to some it will sound silly to pray for a little goat who will only live out his days eating and drinking. Nothing else but getting out and into naughtiness. But Fire is coming home... here home, not heavenly home! It's a good day... *not saying it to loudly though*

And all that Jazz

49 degrees out... er was out... we are up to 53 now. What gives already? Sunny however, so that's a good thing. Rain isn't supposed to be moving in until Monday or so... I guess we'll see. There is a slight chance for tomorrow but they say it's to dry... I don't know... I'll just go with the flow.

Have you ever noticed when your really tired and just want to rest that there is ALWAYS a fly present to make one's life miserable? Yesterday I did try to rest a little... I'm guessing those two flies (who are currently with their maker) wanted to take a load off to, as I seemed to be the only place it was fun to land. HA I showed them didn't I?! :)

Good and Bad:

Good thing happened yesterday evening... I found a vets office that answered after hours! The vet seems super nice. I didn't make a person feel like a heal for wanting someone to look at a wee little boy goat.

Bad... that I needed a vet after hours. Fire (one of our little male goats) is at the present down at the office under observation. We are hoping and praying he can come home and not have to "leave" us. He's been such a trooper. So we are hopeful. I think... if he will just potty all will be well.

Well it's off for morning chores. I'm sure the masses think they are starving to death. :)

Is it Sunday yet???

I'm needing a day of rest and relaxation. For some reason I don't think I slept hardly at all. And the day is beginning again and it's a LONG time before bedtime. I'm not a napper... never have been. Even in Kindergarten everyone would take a nap and I would just lay there... wondering why we had to take a nap when SOME of us were not sleepy.

So anyway, it's Thursday... oh joy and thrill divine. How is it that things you dislike zoom towards you and the good things take forever? I want to know! And why is it, heifers and steers can break down the fence and YET be SO utterly stupid as to NOT go back through where they got out? I want to know that one also! Last night I had to make a quick trip to town, got home and there was over 10 heifers, steers, and little bulls out in the yard. We (my grandmother and myself) got all but 2 in. The she called for reinforcements. It's been a long time since we have chased cattle as a family... I swear these were the dumbest heifers EVER! Mom temporarily named one Dumb Bunny and Stupid. :) Stupid is aptly named since she saw DB go through the OPEN 14' gate and walked right on by. Sigh... Someone remind me why we are doing this?

I can tell ya it isn't for the pay this year.

What a day...

Yesterday I totally forgot my train of thought. I know hard to believe! But I wanted to mention this cake. It looks SO YUMMY, and I've been craving real whipped cream.

So what's on tap for today you might ask. First off after checking my "farm" in Farm Town :) TOTALLY and HOPELESSLY addicted. I guess there are worse things to be addicted too. Right? Anyway after that I need to clean off the side lot next to the dairy barn. :-/ it won't be that bad and I want to get it done before any rain starts in. Yes that's right... we are getting rained on again! :) sigh...

After cleaning off the side lot, I'll probably finish up the baby blankets I cut out yesterday and try to cut out some chore tops. I only have so much day light to sew. You see in the bedroom where I'm sewing the ceiling fan and light gave up the ghost. There was literally sparks and smoke. So now all we have are 2 little lamps to give off light. There are days I have trouble with certain people who have prevented us from being able to live in our home.

SO here we are... tired, hot, and needing to get busy. Oh joy and thrill divine.

Let them eat cake,,,

Or whatever is handy... today has been a Monday... not bad, not outstanding... ho hum... In and effort to get some baby blankets sewn up, I found out:

A. I didn't have ANY baby blue thread... navy check, steel blue yup, confederate grayish blueish UMM HMM, chambray you betcha, royal blue, turquoise blue, pink, red, taupe, neon green, coral, pumpkin ... I could go on but you get the point... So this meant I had to go get some. Did that...

B. Found out I have NO frey check... grrrrrr and I NEED IT! So it's off to town again. After I cut out 2 more baby blankets...

C. Out of 1000 or so it seems stitches on my Bernina... do you think there is one with a shell tuck for knit? NOOOOOOOOO Sweet magnolia that would be too simple. So I haul out the Janome... YES we have shell tuck stitch... will it work?! It works like snow in July... Now I've got a headache... and it's this *______________________BIG______________________*. Not really but I do have a headache.

D. It's hot... it's almost 90 and it the first day of June... what gives?

F. Yes Virgina pins do go through little sand thingy you have to hold them. Shall I tell you how I came upon the discovery... It's very simple... it fell during the night... not one to worry about such things I didn't pick it up until I stepped on it this afternoon... OUCH! It didn't bleed that much and thankfully it didn't break off... at least it wasn't a tack... those things HURT like the double eyed dickens to pull out.

OK enough... I have to get to cutting...