Mother's Day Festivities

Mother’s Day was founded by Anna Jarvis back in 1908. Her original intent was to have a day spent in prayer and remembrance of mothers. Jarvis protested the holiday 15 years later due to the undesired commercialization of the holiday.

105 years later, Mother’s Day is the third most popular holiday next to Christmas and Easter. $2.6 Billion is spent on flowers, $1.53 Billion is spent on gifts and $68 million is spent on cards. More phone calls are made on Mother’s Day compared to any other day out of the year and more people go out to eat on Mother’s Day. Looks to me like Joyce Clyde Hall (founder of Hallmark) won this battle.

Thankfully, we didn’t have to battle the Mother’s Day lunch crowd considering Mother’s Day lunch was at our house this year. It seems like Mother’s Day is slowly becoming our holiday to host. Maybe it’s time to stop before it becomes our official holiday…just kidding!

After discussing Mother’s Day plans with Mom, I invited my parents to come in for the weekend. It just so happens that I had a list of projects that needed to be done as well! You see, Dad has this thing for restoring old machinery. His latest project is this 1965 Pennsylvania Panzer. After making just one comment about my yard full of weeds, Dad decided that he would load up the truck with his pride and joy and drive on down to Kentucky so he could spread some fertilizer/weed killer on his daughter’s yard. Darn the luck!

Making Dan proud!

Giddy as a school girl!

I was able to find a few other odd and end jobs for Dad to do (imagine that) while Mom and I horsed around. With a large lunch crowd coming over after Church Sunday, Mom and I spent Saturday afternoon cooking, baking and cleaning until the cows came home (if you read a little further you may find that statement rather funny).

I don’t want y’all to think that all I do is put my parents to work. We actually do have some fun! What’s interesting is that we just discovered this variety show theatre that is located about 20 miles from our house. Dan and I took my parents there last month and they loved it so much that we had to go back a second time! Dad compared it to a Branson show if that means anything. Not too shabby for good ol’ Western Kentucky!

I was so blessed to be able to spend Mother’s Day weekend with the best mom a girl could ever ask for. I am so blessed to have someone like her as a role model. She has the biggest heart full of love and compassion. I guess I never realized how strong she was until now. There was a time where she spent days on end sitting next to my brother’s hospital bed while he received his chemo treatments and bone marrow transplant. She hauled me all over creation for riding lessons and horse shows. She would drop everything for us kids. She is selfless and my biggest fan!

God was smiling down on me when he blessed me with a great Mother-In-Law as well! She is so kindhearted and compassionate. She has raised two boys into the most respectable, caring, Godly men, one of which I am married to! I don’t know how, but she even survived living in a house full of men! Needless to say, I am one lucky girl.

After everyone left Sunday, I was able to sneak in a short ride and play around at the barn. Just as I was about to walk back to the house to finish laundry and pick up, Dan came cruising over to the barn. He informed me that cows got out and that he needed my help. This is when things get interesting.

As any good farm wife would do, I jumped in the truck to go help load some panels and fencing equipment. We drove out to the quarry farm (the farm that shares a fence with the local rock quarry) thinking that this would be about a 30 minute fix, an hour tops…

Just as we pulled up to the hole in the fence, the majority of the herd began making their way back to the correct side. Noticing that we were still missing the two bulls, a cow/calf pair and possibly a few more cows, I was instructed to call the cows (like Dan does) and guard the hole while he walked into the quarry to see if the rest were back there.

At nearly 7:30, the sun was beginning to set and the temp began to drop. This was all fine and dandy seeing as I could just surf the internet on my phone while calling the cows and blocking the hole. Gotta love modern technology and multi-tasking. Thirty minutes passed and still no sign of Dan. I finally got a phone call saying that he was following the tracks to where the cattle went and that he was at least a mile away. As the sun began to drop down even further I began to worry about Dan being able to see to get back but he reassured me that he was fine. I continued to do what I was told and occupied myself with a phone call to Mom.

Mom happened to ask if I was at home, never dreaming of the answer she would get. I replied with, "Well, I am actually stranded in a field guarding a hole in the fence. I am trying to call the cows home without sounding like a dying hog. It is getting kinda dark and the temperature is dropping. Dan is about a mile out and he said that he isn’t completely sure who’s pasture ground he is on. He said he was able to track the cattle to where they were at but still not able to herd them back home. We brought the two-ton truck out here so there is no way I could drive it even if I wanted to. Heck, I would be thrilled to just go sit in the truck in order stay warm but it’s too far away from the hole in the fence of which I am supposed to be guarding. It’s 9:15 and I am so ready to eat. Thankfully, I think Granny is coming out here shortly to bring me a jacket and keep me company. That may be a problem though because she doesn’t know where I am exactly and frankly, I don’t know where I am at either. Oh, and my phone is about dead!"

Such soothing words for a mother to hear!

After about an hour and a half, 5 phone calls to Dan, 4 phone calls to Granny and 3 phone calls to Mom, I was ready to be done with this cattle round up. By now, Dan had a ride picking him up about two miles away from where he started and I was still stranded by the hole in the fence. It got to the point where I was so cold that I had to do something. 48 degrees seems rather chilly when you are in a long sleeved t-shirt and accustomed to 70 degree temps. I wasn’t able to get my workout in for the day so I figured I could kill two birds with one stone. I began doing jumping jacks, high knees, running in circles, anything to keep me warm. As the cows started coming towards me I figured I better stop seeing as this was not helping my guarding abilities. Cows are such nosey animals!

Even though sitting in a warm car sounded lovely, standing in an open field under a gigantic, clear, star-filled sky was breathtaking. Sadly, the moment was quickly ruined by what sounded like a rushing river (cows urinating) and the massive slop of their…poo. Thank goodness the smell of cow poo doesn’t make me sick!

As I began hearing the sound of a car nearing, I held up my phone with the S.O.S. flashlight going (yes, there is an app for that!) Granny was able to find me and I was soon on my way to a hot meal and warm bed at 10:30. Cows have safely made it home and a new fence is in the process of being built.

Oh the joys of being a farmer’s wife!　

So God made a farmer's wife

Well, it’s that time again! Time for lonely meals for one and a few hours of having the entire bed to myself. I don’t mean to make planting time seem like a burden or anything. I really do miss Dan when I only see him for about five hours in a five day period but having the entire bed to myself for a few hours isn’t so bad. I guess that’s what life is like as a farmer’s wife.

To be quite honest, planting season truly hasn’t made its full debut. This rain three days, dry three days, rain three days cycle is not helping the farmers much.

Dan was blessed enough to get all of his corn planted three weeks ago but his Cousin hasn’t been as lucky. This weather is throwing a lot of farmers off but we sure are glad that we hadn’t started a drought like last year. This time a year ago we had a grand total of under 1 inch of rain with a temperature easily reaching the 80 degree mark . As of now, we have had a total of  nearly 5 inches of rain with an average temperature of 65 degrees. Now that is just crazy. Needless to say, we are happy about the rainfall. Now if we can just keep it coming through the blazing hot summer months.

 Queen of the house

 

With Dan’s busy season in full swing, I am learning to readjust to quiet nights at home. Just me, Gunner, Gracie and Gus. Okay, maybe quiet wasn’t the right term. Maybe chaos is a better term to describe my crazy household! Who is Gus you might ask? Gus is a new addition to our family! I found him stranded in a hole inside the horse barn, all by his lonesome self. He couldn’t have been but three-four weeks old when I found him so of course I picked up this scrawny but beautiful and oh so fluffy little kitten. I do believe I have the word….S.U.C.K.E.R. plastered across my forehead. An animal in need is Ashley’s indeed! I just can’t say no. I broke the news to Dan over the phone but he knew this one wasn’t going anywhere once he saw the kitten formula and bottle on the kitchen table.



My little Gus Gus

Most likely the happiest dog ever...always smiling!

It’s nice having a few buddies to keep me company while Dan’s out in the field until midnight. I sometimes feel like a cold and heartless wife when Dan tells me he will be working late and I don’t get too bummed. I have a slight problem with getting too involved in too many projects. What can I say, I just love projects. Between finishing a few projects around the house, working on my photography, gardening and the horses I somehow find my lonely nights at home slipping by quickly. Thankfully, I have a husband that understands that his wife has a slight ADD/OCD/Extreme need to always be doing something.

Latest Photo Shoot

 

 

 

 

So while Dan is out doing what he loves, I am at home with my house full of animals doing what I love.  Although, after a four day period of not seeing the hubby, we can really appreciate a lazy night at home. Farmer’s lives are definitely one of a kind but it works for us!

It just so happens that I stumbled upon this poem about the life of a farmer’s wife and I just might have to agree with this!

So God made a farmer’s wife

And on the 9th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "Oh dear, the farmer is going to need help." So God made a farmer's wife.

God said, "I need somebody who will get up before dawn, make breakfast, work all day in the kitchen, bank, school or alongside her farmer and then come home to fix supper and wash us the dishes." So God made a farmer’s wife.

God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with their newborn son. And watch him grow. Then pray each morning and teach her children to say, "please and thank you." I need somebody who can make a fried-egg sandwich, stretch a paycheck or thicken soup, who can clean her house with vinegar, baking soda and hot water. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish her forty-hour work week on Friday, then, join her farmer in the field for another two days, six meals and five loads of laundry." So God made a farmer’s wife.

God said, "I need somebody strong enough to plant trees and heave bales, to co-sign a loan for a half a million with steady hands, yet gentle enough to tame show lambs and raise kids and calm the farmer when he’s upset over higher rent or lower corn, who will stop her work for an hour to talk on the phone to her neighbor who just found out her mother is sick. Somebody who could cook and clean and not cut corners. Somebody to wash, dry, iron, tidy, feed, rake, water, drive, check the homework and pack the lunch bags and remember the basketball schedule and replenish the refrigerator and finish a hard week’s worth with a five-mile ride to church.

"Somebody who’d sew a family together with the soft strong stitches of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh and then reply, with smiling eyes, when her daughter says she wants to spend her life "doing what mom does," So God made a farmer’s wife.

I thank God everyday for this simple, but honest lifestyle that he blessed me with. There is something so humbling about life on the farm...something I would never trade. Farm life is pure, simple and rewarding. It definitely has it's stressful times but those are the times that we are able to grow closer to the Good Lord. That is when we take the opportunity to cling to Him and allow Him to lead way. This is not the lifesyle many would choose but I am grateful God chose me to be a farmer's wife.


The true joys of being a farmer's wife!

Is it tax time already?

What comes to mind when you think of the month of April? April showers bring May flowers? Or the dreaded….April 15th? According to the IRS, between 20-25 percent of American taxpayers wait until two weeks before the tax deadline to prepare their taxes. That is a large group of procrastinators! Sadly, after dealing with farm taxes this year I can see why people wait to the last minute. They dread that feeling of anger and resentment as they drop their hard-earned money right in to the drop box at the post office. If I could, I would have opened that door and stuck my arm in there in and took what I worked so hard for instead of giving the majority of it to people that are too lazy to work for it.

I am beginning to feel like my grandpa at Christmas dinner when someone brings up politics. When Dan came into the family I instructed him to NEVER EVER bring up politics at the dinner table with my grandpa. He may be the most conservative-minded man I know and gets rather riled when politics become the topic of discussion. I typically don’t get into politics and I frankly don’t have an interest in it. When taxes are mentioned, out comes the Mr. Denzil Ray in me! I understand why we have taxes…when they are used properly. I know that taxes are what makes America the Land of the Free. What I don’t like is when I work my rear end off every day so that those that are too lazy but able to work, don’t. I guess that is something I will never understand. So as I drop my hard-earned money into the mail box, I pray that my money is used to help out those truly in need.

No worries, I stepped off my soap box. I can say that April is actually one of my favorite months. I love being able to get out and spruce up the yard and plant flowers. I’m not much on picking weeds but planting seeds makes up for it. I’m not so sure if I like buying the flower seed packs because they are fun to plant or if it’s because I can buy a lot of seeds for what one pack of flowers cost at Lowe’s. Either way I enjoy the little pack of seed s that you plant and wait 60-90 days for them to showcase themselves. This year will be far more interesting that last year seeing as I planted on one of the windiest days of the year. I know it wasn’t the wisest decision but I was too excited to be patient. I may have a yard of random flowers scattered about instead of neatly lined in my flower beds. I guess that’s what happens when opened seed packs go flying with the wind!

Thankfully, I had a little assistance this past weekend from my parents. As soon as I knew they were making a trip in I made a rather large to-do list for my Dad. He loves to work outside so I put him to work! We had a full weekend of home-improvement projects both inside and out. I don’t know if he realized what he was getting himself into. While Dad had a hay day with trimming the shrubs, I used Mom’s planting abilities to finish planting the shrubs I bought. Now if I could just inherit her green thumb!

With the majority of yard work done for now, it is time for some play. As things begin to green up I actually have the desire to get out and get some photography practice in. Dan’s cousin’s wife, Beth, is a hobbyist photographer like myself. Although she is a great photographer, taking family pictures (with her in it) is a difficult task when it requires setting a timer on the camera and running into place. We spent a gorgeous afternoon getting some practice!

Nice Meetin' Y'all!

Long time, no talk! I am proud to say that since the last time I wrote I am ten pounds lighter with this tax burden off my shoulders! This was my first year dealing with farm taxes and guess what my opinion of it is......POO!! Just plain 'ol poo! A farmer's tax situation is not a very pleasant situation come April 15th but I guess this is just the beginning.

With 2012 documents safely stowed away in boxes, I can breathe for a few months. If only that was true. After spending three hours with our CPA I found out what all I need to keep track of and do. With that being the case, I guess I will be doing book work from now until April 15th..2014!

In the midst of pure chaos due to tax season I was able to get in a photo shoot with a friend's newborn. I guess I never really thought about how difficult it would be to take pictures of a baby that was constantly crying. Babies are such beautiful miracles...and then they won't stop crying. I know that comes along with the baby thing but oh my! I guess that just means I need more practice...baby anyone??

 

Has anyone ever noticed that you could go a good month or two with a relatively open calendar and then BAM...not enough hours in the day? That's about par as Spring rolls on in. March passes quickly, too quickly in fact. I blinked twice and realized that my license plate sticker was due to expire the 31st of March. That typically isn't an issue except when you need to re license in a different state. I've been a major procrastinator when it came to taking care of licensing my car in Kentucky but I knew it would involve me jumping several hurdles. In order to get things switched over properly, a trip to Kentucky was in store for Dad. Luckily, a trip for him involves a 45 minute airplane ride instead of a 3 hours car drive.

For those that don't know my Dad very well, he is a riot. He tends to be very witty and sociable in the most random situations. We spent one afternoon at the courthouse in attempt to switch things over and I believe we left the fine ladies in the office with splitting sides. I'm not so sure that after spending an hour in the office with us they wanted to say, "Now where did she find that Goober?" Dad has a way of making friends wherever he goes. So with title and registration in hand we left the office as Dad bid the friendly women goodbye by saying, "It was nice meetin' y'all!"

I believe I left my jaw on the floor at the courthouse because that was a true jaw dropping statement
. My Dad. A Northerner. Y'ALL. WOW!!I immediately looked right at him and brought it to his attention that he had been corrupted.It is a proven fact that the longer you are in one culture the more like them you become.
My Dad has officially crossed the Mason - Dixon Line and said Y'all. That makes for one very proud daughter!

After such a defining moment in time I knew Dad would ponder the details the entire way back to Illinois. Sure enough he sent me an addition for my blog the very next day.

Please enjoy this nice addition, free of charge.

                                   I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of writing the attached

                                   article for your blog. 

                                   Hope you like it!

                                   Dad

                                 

"Nice meetin’ ya’all!" rolled effortlessly through my lips as Ashley and I walked out of the County Clerk’s Office. Ashley remarked that I sounded like a native, and that those words could be the makings of a blog posting. I agreed with her as I silently contemplated the details of the story she would write. As another moderately talented writer I pondered those details and wondered to myself if I wrote an article would she post it? I thought she might.

It was a good day for flying. Well maybe a little bit of wind and some light chop, but nothing a 1,500 hour pilot in a Mooney would give a second thought to. And the wind at cruise altitude was right square on the tail, all 40 knots. As I sat comfortably in that old Mooney with the autopilot flying the airplane and clicking off better than 3 miles a minute I thought about how sharp Al Mooney’s mind must have been when he designed this airplane. He sure knew how to get the speed out of a 180 horsepower engine. And isn’t that why people buy airplanes in the first place, to go fast?

Not only was I flying, I was on a mission. (Flying for a purpose is always better than just boring holes in the sky.) Illinois title in hand, the task for the afternoon was to get Ashley’s car registered in Kentucky. Getting her car removed from my insurance policy was an added benefit.

Fifty-five minutes after takeoff I touched down in Kentucky. Given the tailwind I arrived 15 minutes before I told Ashley to expect me. But that was no problem. I noticed my friend Charlie Phelps pulling into the airport parking lot. Charlie has a hanger full of 7 airplanes, and another one that wouldn’t fit parked in a neighbor’s hangar. With four Piper Tomahawks, Charlie is going to be a rich(er) man if the value of those little airplanes every takes off. He showed me his latest acquisition, proudly pointing out that he painted it "with spray cans from Wal-Mart". And it didn’t look bad, at least not from 25 feet.

Soon Ashley drove up, and we headed to the courthouse. She told me that after waiting five days (to be honest, that did include a weekend) she finally received a quote and evidence of Kentucky insurance as required per the County Clerk. I told her that where I work we try to get things done a little quicker. Ashley explained to me that the lady at the insurance agency was "a good woman" and her desk was really full. I believed her on both counts. And the coverage and price both looked good to me.

As we walked up the stone steps into the Courthouse I felt like we were taking a step back in time. I could almost hear Judge Chamberlain Haller (in "My Cousin Vinny", my favorite movie of all time) informing Vinny Gambini that the system of criminal justice here is Caldwell County is every bit as sophisticated as it is New York.

I want you to know that the people we met with were professional. But they were also friendly, kind, and considerate. They knew their business, but equally important, they knew how to treat people.

A part of the process of registering a vehicle in Kentucky is a $5.00 inspection by the Sheriff’s office. While that inspection was taking place I read the "Wanted" posters. I also noticed a plaque on the wall. It contained a line attributed to Andy Griffith: "Good law enforcement is more about how you treat people than it is about following the book."

Inspection certificate in hand, it was back to the County Clerk’s office to pick out a license plate. The lady who helped us told Ashley if she ever needed any help with her paperwork to come back and she would be glad to help her. I believed her implicitly.

Our paperwork complete, we headed for the door. The County Clerk stood up and said "nice meeting you", to which I replied "nice meetin’ ya’all" – and I meant it!


Oh the joys of being a farmer's wife...in Kentucky!

A change of pace

Is it winter? No, I think its spring. Wait, maybe winter? Oh I just give up! One minute I’m wearing my bibs and insulated muck boots, the next I am pulling out the t-shirts. I have come to realize that this whole Kentucky weather is a mess! I’ve heard time and time again that if you don’t like the weather in Kentucky, just wait until tomorrow. Somehow this is the most honest answer I have ever heard. Weather in Kentucky is very similar to a woman going through menopause…freezing one minute, hot flashes the next.

Needless to say, the month of February was mainly spent indoors. It just so happens that the National Farm Machinery takes place in February. This is a prime opportunity for farmers (and their wives) to get out and have a change of scenery. The Farm Show is a place where many get to meet up with their buddies, walk around and oogle at millions of dollars worth of machinery and equipment and watch the Championship Tractor Pulls. If I was an old farmer I believe I might consider that Heaven on Earth.

There might be just one issue with the Farm Show….it typically falls on Valentine’s Day or Valentine’s Day weekend. As a friend stated so eloquently…”National Farm Machinery Show…Leaving wives and girlfriends lonely on Valentine’s Day for over 30 years” Thankfully, Valentine’s Day doesn’t rank very high in my book. Yes, Dan and I did go out for a nice dinner and he even sent flowers to my office but spending the weekend in Louisville is more exciting than cheesy cards and a box of chocolates. So as many women were wined and dined, I was lucky enough to spend the weekend watching tractor pulls and looking at farm machinery….with a death grip on the checkbook of course!

The first year I went to the Farm Show I was so shocked at the vast amount of farm equipment under one roof that it was difficult to take it all in. This year, I am proud to say that I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I’m not sure if it’s the fact that I am now married to a farmer and have a little more knowledge about the new Kinze 4900 series planter with the 42 degree wing flex that we stood in front of (yes, I actually know what that meant too!), the fact that this type of equipment is what helps put food on our table, or if I am just a supportive wife that will do just about anything that pertains to farming because my husband eats, breathes and sleeps it. Either way, the 2013 National Farm Machinery Show was a blast!

Look at this fine piece of machinery!

So, Farm Show one weekend followed by a trip to Murray the next…this is pretty exciting stuff for the “old" married couple that looks forward to the typical Friday night dates to Wal-Mart! The Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity held its annual Founder’s Day which is very similar to a college reunion. If I was a guy, I would want nothing more than to be a part of the AGR fraternity. That is one of the closest bunch of men you will ever see! Weddings, funerals, parties, functions…they travel in a pack. They are truly bonded by the brotherhood!

Part of the pack

The only way the weekend could have been any better was if I could have stayed in Murray just a little longer. I love living in the Valley but there is something so exciting about having several restaurant choices besides the local country café. With a new BBQ / Brick oven pizza joint coming soon, the folks in the Valley are about to be living high on the hog but its not the same as having two Mexican restaurants, Applebee’s, Chinese, etc. You then have CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Wal-Mart to choose from PLUS clothing stores! What’s not to like?? Going from all of that to just one country café and a Dollar General is kind of a shock. At least this was something I was accustom to pre-college era. The town I lived in for 18 years only had a café, gas station, bank, two churches and three taverns (now that’s a different story for a different day!). You just have to love small town living!

My girls!

February has been a fun month of travel. It’s exciting to get out of the Valley and do spontaneous things while we still have our freedom…somewhat. We’ve heard on numerous occasions to get out and do before the kiddos come along. What’s funny is that the majority of these people don’t realize that we basically have kids already…yes, they may be hairy and four legged but major responsibility none the less. A weekend trip becomes difficult when you have a farm full of animals that need to be taken care of. I have a feeling that taking care of a child is relatively similar besides the fact that you can’t load them up and sell them if they misbehave.  No, we have plenty of time for that next chapter.  Is it sad that there is a bet going around the fraternity house as to how soon we would have kids? For your information, the vast majority has already lost. The idea of having kids sounds great, but in the future. As of right now, I enjoy my complete peace and quiet and the ability to do what I want, when I want...with Dan's approval of course!

So as for me, I think I will just stick to my furry four legged friends for now.

The joys of being a farmer’s wife!

So God Made a Farmer

Ok ya'll, I am going to be 100% honest with you and throw something out there...I don't care for football. Not even in the least little bit. I see football players as a bunch of barbaric men with testosterone issues. I understand it takes athletic ability, skill as well as some major dedication but none the less, football is garbage. I apologize if I am offending anyone out there but just hear me out.

Professional football players typically make around $1.9 million for a season that consists of 17 weeks and 16 games. That comes out to about $118,750.00 per game. To me, that just seems a tad ridiculous. These professional athletes spend a few years in the spot light and walk away with more money than most people could ever dream of making in a lifetime.

I believe football is good for one thing...the Super Bowl! If you are like me and only watch football when the Super Bowl comes around you understand that it isn’t the game that's worth watching. We are merely watching the Super Bowl for the half time show and the commercials.This year, the Super Bowl left me with goosebumps but it wasn't from the power outage or the close game. After watching two commercials in particular I realized I didn’t just waste four hours of my Sunday night.

The Budweiser commercial is a given. You have the iconic Clydesdale horse displayed in a tender commercial that that demonstrated the delicate connection between man and horse. I will admit to being wrong about a lot of things but one thing I know for sure is that there is something so special about the bond between a man and a horse.

Then you have the Dodge commercial. I don't think I have ever been left with such emotion after watching a two minute commercial. The late Paul Harvey narrated his "So God Made a Farmer" speech which he gave at the National Future Farmers of America Convention in 1978. Dodge really outdid themselves. What better way to put it all into perspective. What better time to thank our farmers than during the most watched TV event in the United States.

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker.” So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.” So God made a farmer.

“I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon — and mean it.” So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, ‘Maybe next year.’ I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain’n from ‘tractor back,’ put in another seventy-two hours.” So God made a farmer.

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place. So God made a farmer.

God said, “I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church.

“Somebody who’d bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life ‘doing what dad does.’” So God made a farmer.




After watching that commercial I wanted to jump and shout to the world that my husband is a farmer. I’ve never felt such pride in the fact of being a farmer’s wife until that commercial was plastered across millions of T.Vs in America.  That commercial advertised the cold hard facts about the life of a farmer. The dedication, the time, the patience, the perseverance, the knowledge and the work ethic that it takes to be a farmer is something many do not understand...until that one commercial.

So now on to why I don't think football players are worth the $1.9 million. On average, a crop farmer brings in between $20,000-$75,000 in one years time.My husband is a farmer that works dawn till dusk. He is a strong man with true compassion for not only others but animals as well. He has the patience to work on equipment into the wee hours of the morning. He is a Godly man with real down home values. God made farmers to be strong-willed individuals with a work ethic out of this world. Although farmers make only a fraction of what a professional football player makes, God made farmers for a reason. He knew that not just any man had the characteristics to be a farmer; it takes a special individual to be a farmer.

The joys of being a farmer's wife...and I am darn proud of it!!

Why hello stranger!

Hey there! I  know, I know....I am slacking on my blogging duties! I was doing pretty good there for a while with posting new stories on a semi-regular basis but things have been just a tad interesting around here. I really thought that the winter time would keep me locked up inside with the creative juices a flowin but I was mistaken! Although I've been stuck inside more than normal, I have found myself occupying my time with other things so forgive me if you thought I fell off the side of the Earth! 

Life really has been rather quiet here in the valley. With Dan's "busy season" just around the corner I feel like I need to be spending as much time with him as I can which means putting the blogging thing on the back burner just for a bit.

Actually, our nights have been kind of funny lately. The past couple of weeks Dan and I have created a routine. After dinner, Dan and Gunner go sit in the chair by the fire place and do a little channel surfing while looking at farm equipment on the phone. As Dan does his thing, I sprawl out on the couch with the Kindle and a glass of wine in hand.
Is it sad that at the age of 22 I am trying to teach myself how to relax at night instead of checking things off my to-do list? As 9:00 rolls around I find random things to do around the house instead of winding down for the night. There is no denying the fact that I am my father's daughter! I am now left with rethinking my nightly activities since Dan informed me that he watches me circle the house 4-5 times on a daily basis in efforts of cleaning. Thankfully, I am learning this thing people call "relaxing" pretty well. I'm not sure if it's the reading, the sitting or the wine that is relaxing but all I have to say is that I am thrilled that the county finally went wet. This "relaxing" thing sure is causing my wine stash to decrease at a much quicker rate than before!  

Although its been quiet around here, a few home improvements have taken place. First and foremost, we finally broke down and bought a new refrigerator!! I never understood why people got so excited over buying new home appliances but I think I finally get it. I think I have finally hit the "adult" stage of my  life! I could have shelves that didn't lean to one side, door shelves that didn't fall when you opened the door, produce bins that pulled out, and an ice maker that actually worked. We are now proud owners of this glorious piece of appliance that I love so dearly! Life in the kitchen will never be the same!


Most adults can appreciate the replacement of any home appliance but we replaced something that I'm not sure many would get too excited over...the toilet seat! Maybe I am just weird but I have never been so excited over a $20.00 home improvement piece. As Dan and I stood in front of the toilet seat section in Wal-Mart I thought to myself, why haven't we done this months ago? There are seats that are super heavy-duty wood, the plastic that won't slam shut, the ones with cushions....so many choices!

While winter is a great time to complete some home improvement projects, I believe if Spring wanted to come a little early I wouldn't be disappointed! I am ready to get outside and get some more photography practice under my belt. Cold weather couldn't keep me inside when it came to taking some engagement pictures of my best friend Emily and her new fiance. With a temperature of 33 degrees, taking pictures became a difficult task when my fingers became so cold that I couldn't change the settings or press the button to take the shot. Emily was such a trooper though. She toughed it out in a sleeveless shirt and coat less while I wore three layers and a coat! I am super happy with how they turned out. Now I just need to find a workshop or class to take!

Hopefully the next time we meet it wont be a month down the road but I can't make any promises!

Oh the joys of being a farmer's wife...with tax season right around the corner!