It's About Time!

Why hello there! Long time no talk (since July 14^th to be exact). I suppose this puts me on the bad bloggers list. To be honest, I have been thinking about writing this post since about the middle of August. Yes, I do realize that that was a solid two months ago but to put it simply, life happens!

Dan and I went to visit my family over the weekend and I was asked on numerous occasions when I would write a blog post again. So, as Dan and I head back to the great state of Kentucky, I am sitting shotgun with the laptop at my fingertips hoping I can complete this post within the next hour or so (a nap was my first priority!).

In order to catch everyone up to speed without putting y’all to sleep with the boring details I will try to keep it short, sweet and to the point.

July:

Soaking up the rays – A few days enjoying the sand, sun and seafood with Dan’s family in St. George Island, Florida.

 

August:

Just call me Auntie Ashley - My brother and sister-in-law informed us that Baby Hodapp is in the making and should be complete by April 7^th!

On the road again - My parents bit the bullet and bought a camper. They found several weekends to venture down to Kentucky and test out their new home on wheels.

September:

Now things get interesting!

Say Cheese! - My photography hobby has quickly turned into a passion of mine and I find myself taking every opportunity available to practice.

Sip ‘N Stroke – Off to Nashville we go for a girl’s weekend. Nothing like shopping, eating and painting with your girls! You can just call me the next Van Gogh!

The Girls

My Masterpiece

Time to bring home the bacon! – It. Is. Harvest. Time!!! After a very wet summer, the corn has finally dried enough to do what I like best, harvest. This year Dan knew he had more than he could handle by himself so our good friend from college came in for a week to run the semi for Dan. Neil was great company and I couldn’t even tell I had two men in the same house until I realized I didn't have leftovers for lunch the next day.

Mr. Neil

October:

Wedding bells are ringing – I have become rather addicted to this photography thing. I started taking a photography class and have enjoyed every minute of it! I was also given the opportunity to shoot my first wedding as a second shooter for Carrie G. Photography! Carrie shot my friend’s wedding back in June and after exchanging a few emails she so kindly hired me as a second shooter for a wedding in Indiana. Not able to get enough of it, the following weekend I was shooting with Carrie again at a wedding in Murray. Pictures will be posted later!

Dinner for one – Dan has finished up his corn and is now helping his cousin with his crop. Back to dinner for one and nights at home with the dog. On the bright side, the crop is looking great and we continue to thank the Good Lord for the bountiful harvest! God is Good!

Farmer at Heart

$$$$$

Pumpkin Fest – After two years of postponing the Pumpkin Fest due to weddings (mine and my brother's) the Pumpkin Fest was back in session this year. What’s not to love about chili, bonfire and pumpkin carving. This year I found a perfect theme for Mom and Dad's pumpkin but somehow Dan and I got stuck creating the masterpiece. I must admit, we did a pretty darn good job!

Dan Doin' Work

On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again...

 

“I Do” – Two years ago on the 22^nd I said “I Do” to my best friend. It doesn’t seem like two years could have possibly gone by but the past two years have been the best two years of my life. I was told that the second year of marriage is typically the hardest. The newness is slowly wearing off and the couple begins living a routine. I have had so much fun the past year that settling in our routine just seemed natural. I look forward to the years to come but I am completely content just living this beautiful gift that God has blessed us with.

Yup, sums our relationship up perfectly!

1 Year Anniversary

Harvest time may be lonely but the life as a farmer’s wife is a true blessing!

That's what friends are for!

I began writing this post about two weeks ago. It took me a while to post anything because things had been rather quiet and uneventful.  A few days pass and I am left some excitement. Life on the farm leaves one easily amused!

Life in the Valley has been a pretty typical farming summer. Dan has been working hours on end helping his cousin get his wheat crop in and beans planted. Frequent rain has left us feeling unbelievably blessed and thankful for the upcoming harvest.

I have been blessed with being able to find a few hours to catch up on some good summer reads as well as some time to sit my hind end in the saddle.  Life has been good!

And then He said, “Let there be excitement!”

One day after work I went to pick Gunner up from Granny’s house. From her house (located directly up the road from our house) I was able to see that something was out of place.  All of Dan’s farming equipment was spread out in the pasture next to our house.

With the lawn mower in the shop, Dan’s friends came to mow our yard. I assumed that Dan moved the equipment around so that the guys could mow around the shed. It was rather strange seeing the equipment spread out so much but I didn’t think much of it. The moment I pulled into the driveway Dan’s buddies cam zipping right up in their race car fast lawn mowers. They were up to no good.

Culprit # 1

Culprit #2

They proceeded to inform me that they were the ones that moved all of the equipment and that it was time to pay Dan back for the pranks he had played on them. I was instructed to to keep my mouth shut and not say a word to Dan. Several minutes later I realized that the tractor and baler sitting alongside the road held a gigantic “For Sale or Trade” sign. Oh boy, these boys pulled a good one!

Come to find out, the guys spent about 40 minutes hooking up the rake, baler, etc. to the tractors and strategically moved the equipment around. This well thought out process all started with them moving just one piece of equipment. They even went to the extent of moving a tractor behind a barn so Dan could have the joy of playing hide’n’go seek with his tractors.

 Within ten minutes  I had received phone calls from both Dan’s dad and grandmother saying they saw that Dan’s buddies had had a little fun. It was all fun and games until Dan called. He had made a 60 mile trip to the sale barn with a load of calves just to see that they were closed for the holidays. This did not put Dan in a good mood. I was tempted to spill the beans right then and there but managed to keep my mouth shut just praying he found this funny when he got home and saw it for himself.

The equipment had not been sitting out for longer than 30 minutes when a woman stopped by desperately wanting to buy the baler. I happened to be over at the barn so I let Dan’s friends handle this interesting predicament.  Due to the lack of room on the board, they did not include Dan’s cell number. There is no telling how many phone calls he would have gotten.

Thankfully, Dan was a good sport and took this prank well. He was able to find all of his equipment and quickly began scheming on how to repay the favor. Although the equipment only sat out for a little under 2 hours, Dan received numerous phone calls and texts wondering why he was selling the equipment. They all probably thought we went bankrupt and were selling out. Man, Dan has some great friends!

So what could possibly be more exciting than fake “for sale” equipment? How about being out on the lake during a tornado warning!

Dan and I were invited to go out on a houseboat and watch the annual firework display. The weather was perfect that afternoon. …then things get interesting!

We sat out on the boat and had plenty of sunshine and a cool breeze. By about 5:30 the clouds began rolling in but managed to just go on around the lake.  We knew our luck was quickly running out when we looked at the radar. 

Tornado warning while on the lake…oh joy!

We safely waited out the storm inside. I wasn’t too concerned until I looked out of the window and saw that we were spinning in circles rather quickly. I suppose we lost a good hold with the anchor and continued to spin until the wind calmed down. This was all new territory for the small town girl that had never been on a boat during a tornado warning!

The rain came to a stop just minutes before the firework show. The large houseboats had a private show that was full of fireworks and lightening.  This was by far the most interesting 4th of July that I have ever experienced!

 Oh the joys of being a farmer's wife!

60 seconds of fame!

Do you ever go shopping and feel guilty picking up another dress even though you know there are three new dresses in your closet? Do you ever feel the need to put your shopping bags in a secret hiding place so your husband doesn't see that you bought the fourth dress in a two month period? Thankfully, I have a husband that never asks why there is a spare bedroom full of shopping bags.

Now when I go shopping, I shop the clearance racks. Rarely will I purchase a full-price item unless it is something I just have to have. It just so happens that I ran across that must-have dress over the weekend. Stores sure know how to grab your attention when they put the cutest items in the very front of the store.

I was weak and picked up the dress to try on. I was hopeing the dress didn't fit so I wouldn't buy it but go figure, the dress fit like a glove. As I was checking out, the cashier ( a larger black woman) was commenting on how cute the dress was. I proceeded to tell her that I was hoping the dress didn't fit so my husband wouldn't ask why I bought another dress. Her comment to that, "Oh honney, just tell him that that dress makes you look gooooood."

As the woman walked around the counter to give me the bag she glanced down at my two pairs of shoes that I bought at the store nextdoor. "Oh honney, now how are you going to explain those?  Oh just tell him they make your feet look good!" 

Yes, I bought a dress, a pair of running shoes and a pair of heels but I didn't spend but $70 on it all! Looking back now, I would have spent more on a dress had I known I would be standing next to Kristen Bell on National Television!!

It started out with a text Monday morning from a friend saying that she was able to invite three friends to go with her to the CMT Awards for talent seat fill in. I was confused as to what she meant by talent seat fill in. Apparently Kayla (blonde standing behind and to the right of Kristen Bell) has been going to the CMAs, CMTs, etc. awards shows as a talent seat fill in for the past 5 years. These fill ins are trustworthy people that have the ability to sit next to the artists without passing out, trying to talk to them, handing out demo discs, etc. As artists get up to either perform or accept an award, fill ins sit in the empty seats for the appearance of a full audience.

Luckily, Kayla was able to invite three trustworthy friends to go with her this time. I am almost ashamed to tell ya'll that I was on the verge of not even going. Its not that I had anything else major in to do but for the simple fact that this was way out of my comfort zone. Not only did I have to make a spur of the moment trip to Nashville Monday afternoon for orientation but then there was a possibility of not getting back Wednesday until the wee hours of the morning. For those of you that know me, staying up late is not my thing and spur of the moment activities are not my favorite.

I immediately called Dan to ask for advice. His only advice was that I had to go otherwise he would be mad at me. My friend Crystal pressured me into going even though she was one of the lucky ones that had the opportunity to go but had other obligations. I am in a friend's wedding this weekend so I had a million things to get done beforehand and the thought of how exhausted I would be was darn right exhausting!

I had a personal debate for a while thinking about all of the things that I needed to get done but I soon realized that this was once in a lifetime experience. There was the possibility of seeing my man, George Strait!

So Wednesday Kayla and I headed down to Nashville. We stood at the bottom of the stairs that the artists would walk up when receiving an award. Just inches away from Miranda Lambert, Lady A, Florida Georgia Line, Luke Bryan....the list goes on and on. 

About 10 minutes before the show went live, a production manager came up to a small group of girls and informed us that Kristen Bell was going to be shooting where we were and he needed us to circle her. Those 10 minutes were full of checking each other over making sure our hair looked good and lips were shiny. For the record, Kristen Bell is very sweet in person. She looked at all of us and asked how we were doing. Of course we all just nodded and smiled seeing as we were given strict orders to not talk to the celebrities. 

Kayla and I continued to have the best seat in the house considering we were just inches from all of the award winners. About an hour and a half into the show we were able to go be seat fill ins. I wasn't able to sit right next to any celebrities but I sat directly behind Dog the Bounty Hunter and Beth, about four seats over from Randy Travis, two seats over from Big and Rich, and two rows behind Darius Rucker and Kenny Rogers. So many celebrities! I didn't loose my cool walking past Carrie Underwood or stop to gawk at Luke Bryan (that one was a little more difficult). My only saving grace was that George Strait wasn't there. I didn't realize until the next dat that George was supposed to perform until his dad passed away. Before I left the house Wednesday morning I informed Dan that if I ever got in arms reach of George Strait that my hand could possibly get a major twitch and slide across that great Wrangler butt. I don't know of any other man that can look that good at age 61!

Even though I slipped into bed about 12:45 that night and still have several loads of laundry yet to do, I wouldn't have traded Wednesday night for anything. The performances were amazing and the experience was unforgettable! I just wish I could have spent a little more time on my hair and wore my new dress rather than my $29 dress from Catos.

Oh the joys of being a small farmers wife on National Television!!

What a week!

Whew wee! This week has been…uh….interesting to say the least.

The week started out well with a day off from work. Memorial Day was spent lounging in a chair outside with Kindle and a large glass of sweet tea in hand. Three day weekends are great for catching up on household chores and some much needed R & R.

Unfortunately, R& R was not in Dan's forecast. He has been working like a dog the past couple of weeks and it continued on into Memorial Day weekend. It finally dried up enough for the guys to get in the field and finish up planting corn. Sadly, no break is in sight seeing as they had to jump right into side dressing (applying Nitrogen which boosts growth) the corn that was previously planted.

I’ve had several “crop lessons” over the past 5 years since Dan and I started dating. I now can say with complete confidence that I know what side dressing is, the cycle of which crops are planted/harvested and most importantly…when to just nod and smile!

I know Dan absolutely LOVES what he does but I sometimes get that feeling of guilt when I call to check on him and he is broke down or he has another 50 acres to plant and it is already 10:30 pm. I believe farmers deserve the 125% dedication award!

So with Dan working day in and day out I feel like it is my wifely duty to pick up the slack and take care of things around the house. Due to my slight OCD (Dan may beg to differ on the slight part), cleaning is something I enjoy doing. I don’t mind laundry, cooking, or washing my car. I’m not above taking trash to the dumpster, weed eating or even mulching. The one thing I didn’t do previously was mow grass. Its not that I didn’t want to mow the grass, it’s the fact that the lawn mower is one of those large and in charge, zero turn radius mowers. I will be honest, it’s intimidating! When it got to the point where we could bale our yard was when I realized I needed to learn how to use Big Bertha!

Saturday was the big day. Lawn Mowing 101. Dan’s Grandmother brought Bertha over and there I was…the day of having the excuse “I don’t know how” gone. Granny was kind enough to mow the edges and hard spots so I didn’t have to my first time. I know deep down it was for Bertha’s sake.  I hopped on that sucker and took off. My first few passes were more like the Chevron print than straight lines but I finally got the hang of it. Yes, there might be a few patches that I missed but at least I did it!

Even Gus got a new buddy this week! While cleaning stalls one morning I heard what sounded like another kitten. After searching the barn up and down I found what looks to be like Gus’ twin. We now have Gwen…Gus’ sister. I am not sure how she survived for the past three weeks but she’s a trooper. I just hope they don’t have any other siblings pop up somewhere.

As if things couldn’t get anymore exciting we got a phone call Saturday morning saying that Alex, Dan’s little brother, was in a car accident Friday night. He was hit by a drunk driver and took a spill right into a trailer park, in between two mobile homes. Things could have gotten ugly seeing as he knocked down a power line/gas line but once again, the Good Lord did amazing things. Alex walked away with a few air bag burns, a stiff neck and a totaled car. Times like these we realize life is so precious and so fragile. I believe Alex’s guardian angel was tired after that one!

What more could possibly take place this week you ask? How about an out-of-body experience! About a month ago I had a few cavities filled. The dentist gave me some Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) to make it a more enjoyable experience. If you have ever had the gas you know that it mellows you out and typically doesn't have any negative sideaffects....

I am guessing the hygienist got the vibe that I was anxious about the procedure so they gave me a much stronger dose of the gas. As they were telling me to let them know if the room began to spin or if I felt sick I quickly realized that something was not right. I tried to tell them that something was going on but I slipped out of it too fast. I could hear they hygenist talking but couldn’t make out what was being said nor could I see anything. I was myself in a much smaller form (like in Honey, I shrunk the kids form) and I was in my mouth watching them work on my teeth. It was the most bizarre thing I have ever experienced. Once I came to, the Hygienist told me what happened and informed me that I sat up and ripped everything off of my face. I was hoping they already worked on my teeth but that was a negative. It was apparnt that out-of-body experiences are not part of my regular routine seeing as the first thing the dentist said was, “Well Hun, looks to me like you don’t participate in recreational drugs.” Well Sir, you are correct about that one. I guess they could tell by the tears streaming down my extremely frightened face that this wasn’t something I experienced on a regular basis. Dan’s response to all of this, “And that’s why the dentist is overrated.

Oh my, the joys of being a farmer’s wife!

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!