So what exactly is success?

Success is determined in various ways along the road. As we hit these different mile markers our idea of success changes.  At age 4, success is measured by not peeing in your pants. Age 13, officially a teenager. Age 16, hello driver’s license. Age 18, now recognized as an adult, the ability to vote, ability to enlist in the army, ability to be sentenced to prison, or possibly just head to college. Age 21, “Long Island Ice Tea please.” Age 25, graduate college, say “I Do”, and reduction in car insurance. Age 35, establish a career and family. Age 50, AARP. Age 55, graduations and weddings. Age 65, time to whip out the Medicare card. Age 90, not peeing in your pants. Age 100, have your picture on a Smucker's jar on the Today Show (Granny B. will hopefully have her picture on the Today Show this October!!)

Why am I going over the different age mile markers you ask? Well you see my dad just had his 55^th   mile marker. Some people may wince at the idea of reaching the next stage of success but I believe this is one my dad was thrilled to reach.

The Birthday Boy

I can only imagine being a parent and sending your kids off to college. I don’t know what would be more difficult, pulling away and leaving your child behind or pulling out the pocket book when tuition is due. Either way college is definitely a  time of change for parents. These changes usually lead to a remodeling of the house, addition of WiFi Internet and a big screen TV  with surround sound I might add. I don’t know if these are mid-life crisis changes or ways to entice the children to come visit. 

Within a years’ time, my parents will have married off both of their kids. I believe my brother’s wedding will be a tad easier on my parents than mine was. It may possibly be because they don’t have to pay for this wedding or it may be that they are still in wedding mode.  Either way, they have made it known that they are so blessed to have both kids graduated from college, both have good jobs, and both have found their significant others. This seems to be very rare these days.

Like the age old saying goes, “Age is just a number.” My dad is the busiest 55 year old I have ever known. He may be getting close to retiring age but he is the type of person that wouldn't be happy sittin at home watching soap operas and eating bon bons. He can crunch numbers in his head all day long and can beat us young whippersnappers at mental math any day. Who says you loose mental ability once you go over the hill? Dad is relatively techno savvy but if he ever comes over, you best be hiding your TV remote!! I believe the last three times we had issues with our TV just so happened to be the last three times my parents came down to visit. He somehow manages to mess up the TV every time he comes in. I now hide the remote and don’t allow him to touch any electronic device.

I have come to the conclusion that age IS just a number. I have been told time and time again that I have an old soul. Yes, I am a 22 year old that enjoys saving money, making things from scratch, going to bed early, and not driving past dark. The sad thing is, I just realized today that the last part is so true it isn't even funny. As Dan and I are driving to Illinois Saturday I realized how many bug guts are on my windshield. I honestly can’t remember the last time my windshield was that dirty! I began pondering what made my windshield so dirty. Oh yea, Dan drove to Nashville Friday night to pick up a friend from the airport. Night driving attracts bugs to windshield. It has been so long since I drove past dark that I wasn't used to seeing the ruminants of night driving. Wow…a 22 year old that already doesn't drive past dark. This is not looking very promising!

So as I celebrate a new age of success with my dad, I can appreciate the fact that age means diddly squat. Yes, your knees may buckle while your belt wont and a faucet drip may lead to a sudden bladder urge but like a fine wine, you get better with time! Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional. 

I can say I look forward to my car insurance discount but until then, I will enjoy my early bed time and lack of bug guts on my windshield.

Oh the joys of being an "old soul" farmer's wife!

It's Fall Ya'll!

As of Saturday, autumn is officially here! The hustle and bustle of the harvest season is in full swing. We are very welcoming of the cooler temperatures, crisp air, and CALVES!

Now that homework and studying are things of the past, I am able to do what I love best...crafting, decorating, horsing around and taking pictures!

Craft of the day

I love antiquing

My lil girl is growing up so fast

Good ol' Dakota

View from the house

A boy and his dog

Good ol' Kentucky sunset

I was able to enjoy a Saturday at home and some more time behind the camera. Maybe within the next 10 years I can fully understand how to use this thing!

Once Dan got back from the field Saturday afternoon, Pete and I loaded up into the Jeep to go check on the cattle and beans at the other farm. I believe this was the first day we were able to come in close proximity to Pete since Thursday. Pete + Skunk = Skunk Wins and we left with one stinky dog! It's bad enough having a dog sprayed by a skunk but then when the dog jumps all over the husband and covers husband's face with skunk fumes, you are left with a stinky dog AND a stinky husband! Thankfully, we have found the cure all pill for skunk spray. Move over tomato juice, there is a new remedy in town. Mix baking soda + Dawn + Hydrogen Peroxide and say goodbye to the awful skunk mist!

One happy dog

I think checking cows/beans is Pete's favorite past time...besides chasing  the rooster

Beans, beans, and more beans!!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it is a duck blind in the shape of a cow. When Dan wasn't in the field, he and some buddies built a duck blind to like Ol' Betsy. This was the first time I had seen the cow blind and I was rather impressed. It really did resemble a cow... minus the extremely out of proportion body. The real cows that share the pasture with Ol' Betsy are convinced it is one of them. Ol' Betsy had cow hair all over her and it looked like she was messed with. I just hope she didn't have an awkward encounter with the bull...

The duck blind...A.K.A. Ol' Betsy

Betsy's head

Betsy's side drops down when the birds come a flyin

I am now left with a normal smelling dog, a house full of fall decorations and hundreds of pictures of random farm things on the computer.

Oh how I love Saturdays and being a farmer's wife!

Let The Chaos Begin

Well it has been darn right crazy around here. I think fall is simply a crazy, hectic, but oh so wonderful time of year! Dan has been working long hours with his cousin trying to shell their corn, as well as getting ready to cut his own beans. One thing is for sure, fall has definitely been much more promising than the previous summer months! Rain has been plentiful and the beans are GROWING!!! The army worms are long gone and the light is shinning at the end of the tunnel.

Dan might just have some beans to cut with his new toy!

Work has been keeping me busy along with trying to fulfill my "wifely duties" of cooking, cleaning and attempting to keep up with Dan's dirty clothes. Squeezing an afternoon ride in these days is getting much more difficult as the days just get shorter. Nothing clears the mind better than a good ride! Part of the pure craziness might just be my own darn fault. I have recently been introduced to the couponing world. I always thought those that were serious into couponing were down right nuts. Well...they proved me wrong! My friend has shown me her ways. Now I am nowhere near her skill level just yet but I recently had a shopping trip that ranks up there. With a bill ringing up to $58.67 and left paying $6.00, I think I might just stick to this new hobby!!

With Dan working long hours lately, some are concerned with how I am handling the "transition period" of being a farmer's wife. Thankfully, I am very good at entertaining myself. Between the horses, blogging, couponing, baking, and playing with my camera, I can't seem to find enough hours in the day to finish what I want to do. Yes, it is hard not seeing Dan like I did before harvest but that just means I get to spend my Friday nights in the cab of a combine.This might not be an ideal date night to some, but I think I just might be able to get used to it. As I climbed up into the combine with Dan Friday, Brian, Dan's cousin, had his wife, Beth, and two kids, Bradley (8) and Lillian (7), climb up in his combine to ride too. For those of you that aren't familiar with the size of a combine cab, it is tight quarters for two people let alone 2 adults and 2 kids. Beth usually brings the guys dinner in the field and packs along the kids so they can spend a couple of hours in the field with dad. Family time in the cab of a combine...I can't think of anything better!

Ryan and Gena trying to not break the ribbon

With my big brother getting married in October, the wedding activities add to the chaos just a tad. It is just so crazy to think that this time a year ago I was going through the same wedding festivities. It is all so exciting but darn right exhausting.

Me and the Groom-To-Be

Wedding Dress Cupcakes I made

So as if the next couple of months couldn't get any crazier, I think it is time to plan bonfires and wienny roasts with the friends!


The joys of being a farmer's wife!