Dairy Farm Days

Long Time No See

2012-01-24T19:27:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while since I last posted on here...Oops, that's my mistake. I can't make excuses because there really aren't any. Well, I guess having two kids in various stages of growth, teething, and sinus/respiratory illnesses (aka the common cold) can count for some of the missed time but not all of it. So I apologize and will try to do better from here on out. Here's a little of what's been going on in the last few months at our house...

-V turned 2 just a few weeks ago. He certainly enjoyed his party, most especially the two toy cows he got for presents. Just hope he doesn't start expecting a cow for every year. :) He's turning into quite the mimic now. He and his daddy have a stretching contest every time L stretches. We are having to watch our words as he tries to say everything we do but the results can be hilarious, embarrassing, or simply horrifying since he can't pronounce all the sounds quite right.

-A is nearly four months and, like her brother, she's getting bigger by the day it seems. She can 'talk', giggle, roll from front to back and almost all the way back, and loves to sit up. She recently discovered the joys of applesauce but turned her nose up at the rice cereal. Picky eater already...

-We finally decided on a location for our house and plans are slowly moving along in that direction. I'm spending quite a bit of time dreaming of house plans and trying to fit everything we want into the size we have. It's like a big jigsaw puzzle. Some plans sound awesome but once drawn out, you see that something doesn't work. Others don't sound so promising but look pretty good once they are on paper. I can't wait to see what we come up with in the end.

-We've been having a very mild winter thus far with very few days in the 'frigid' range. It's been wonderful to take the kids for a walk in January but I wish we had a bit more snow. There's a dusting but it's iffy as to whether or not it would be good skiing yet so maybe tomorrow I'll take my skis out for a spin to see. I'm getting cabin fever so it would be lovely to get outdoors for some exercise if the weather is nice.

Well, I'm sure there's been plenty more happening in our little corner of the world but I can't think of anything of major importance at the moment. Maybe tomorrow... If I find the energy that is...

Big Bro and Little Sis

2011-10-22T18:31:00.000-07:00

Here's my big boy. (Don't you just love his cheesy hambone grin?) He's going to be two this winter and I don't know where that time went. Wasn't it just yesterday he was as little as the girl below?

One week old A already showing off her pretty baby blues. Hard to believe that she's almost a month old already!

Proud big brother V holding his little sister A. He would sit like this all day if I let him.

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

2011-09-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

We gladly welcomed Abigail Elsie into our little family in the wee morning hours Tuesday. At 5lb 15oz and 18.5 inches, she's a little bitty thing but I think we'll keep her anyway. :) All went well and we are home now enjoying the first few days of napping, eating, and getting to know each other. V is in love with his new sister but tends to get a bit jealous since Mommy's lap is usually filled with baby, blanket, and burp rag leaving little room for him, toys, and tractor magazines. However, his new favorite activity is holding his sister and pointing at her nose loudly proclaiming, "What's that? Baby?"

Back in the Loop

2011-08-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

It's been a HOT and busy summer. June just flew by and July hardly paused long enough to wave. Now it's August, and I just realized I haven't posted anything since MAY! Ooops... The time just got away from me I guess. So here's a brief update of the happenings in this busy household...

-V has grown. A LOT. Since his 12-month checkup, he's sprouted another 4 inches and added 2 1/2 pounds. He's getting to be such a big boy. Walking, talking, (nearly done) teething...It just amazes me how fast he's suddenly gone from baby to toddler.

-We 'finished' our house addition. I say 'finished' with quotation marks because there's still work to be done (when isn't there?) but we have officially moved our bed and V's crib into the new space. It's now our new bedroom. For the last week, I've been sweeping sawdust, wiring electrical outlets, varnishing baseboards, helping install our new screen door, doing some (minimal) flooring installation, and mostly attempting to keep V out of the dust piles. It's so nice to be able to spread out now. L summed it up pretty good this morning. "It's so nice having that new bedroom. It feels like we have an actual HOUSE instead of just a shack." Now, I just have to get my butt in gear and figure out what else we can move into the new room and where it all will go.

-I am happily (and FINALLY) in my 3rd trimester. After a stressful start (I had a scare at 8 weeks and was diagnosed with a small hematoma that disappeared by 12 weeks but made me worry incessantly until 20 weeks) I feel relieved to have the end in sight. Only 11 weeks left to go!

-I've been trying to find the energy to start harvesting from my weed bed I call a garden, but between the heat, rain, and my sciatic nerve, I'm finding it hard to get out there. L says things are growing but I'm afraid to look for fear that he means the weeds not the plants.

I'm sure plenty more has happened than this, but it's all I can think of for now. I should get back to my sorting and rearranging anyway so I can spend tomorrow out in my poor neglected garden.

Tightwad Thoughts

2011-05-27T10:16:00.001-07:00

I just got my latest issue of the Tightwad Round Robin and I must say that I’m a bit disappointed. This issue was four pages long and one page was the cover! The question was brought up by one Tightwadder of what to do with the TRR since there’s been so little participation in the last year or so. Is it time to say good-bye or is there really more interest out there? Should the TRR be changed into something else? I personally would like the TRR to stick around in some shape or form. The letters are fun to read and I always get some new idea for some project but if there isn’t any participation, then perhaps the TRR needs to retire.

So, for those of you who have read (or would like to) the TRR, what are your thoughts? Would it be enough to send a reminder for letters before the due date? Or is the TRR ready to be put out to pasture? Should it be changed into something new and if so, what could it be changed into?

Baby's First: Molar and Standing Up

2011-05-11T10:24:00.000-07:00

Poor kid. V was sick with the stomach flu, had a growth spurt, and popped two teeth all in one week. No wonder he was under the weather for so long...Then a few days ago, I noticed a molar had come through too! He's getting a mouthful of teeth. Just another sign my little boy isn't going to be little for much longer...*Sigh* They grow up too fast.

He also learned how to stand up from a seated position without pulling himself up on something. He's THISCLOSE to walking but is still hesitant to take that first step. It'll come soon enough and I'm feeling weird about it. I want him to walk because it's getting harder for me to carry him everywhere but it's another milestone towards independence. Does every mom feel this way or is it just me?

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the mommy's out there!

Better watch what I say...

2011-05-03T16:13:00.000-07:00

V is starting to 'talk'. So far, it's mostly babble but a few words actually sneak in there. So far Dadda or Daddy are tops but he can also say Momma, Numnum, Doggy (sounds like Doddy but I know what he means), diaper, what's that, and right there. Grandpa and Grandma are sort of audible too. He also likes to 'drive' shopping carts. It's hilarious! He grabs onto the handle and goes Brrrrrr as I'm pushing the cart so it sounds like the cart is making car noises. His latest is to Moo like a cow. Unfortunately for me, I asked him where the cow was and he proudly points at me before bellowing like a cow. I should be insulted but it hard to be annoyed at such a cute 15 month old.

My Title

2011-04-23T13:12:00.000-07:00

I just got a phone call from a telemarketer asking if Mrs. S was at home. I had to stop and think. Who could be Mrs. S in this house? Then it hit me-I was Mrs. S!

It's been three and a half years since L and I got married but I still don't think of myself as Mrs. I'm not a Miss or a Ms either. I'm just plain ol' J.

I've just never associated myself with that title. I'm a wife, mother, daughter, sister, cow milker, amateur gardener, half decent short order cook, housekeeper, babysitter, dog walker, and pretty darn good procrastinator but I'm not sure I'll ever be ready to be a Mrs. Sure, it's printed on my mail and I'll get the calls asking for Mrs. S but I don't know if I will ever get used to seeing my name with Mrs. in front of it. Maybe I'm not old enough yet...

Needing a Ride

2011-04-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

I have a bunch of meat that needs a ride to the UP of MI. Does anyone know if there is a ride either going that way for Easter or one coming out this way for the weekend? Otherwise, I might just have to break down and make the trip myself. Which wouldn't be a bad thing I suppose. Hmmm...I wonder if that meat could just hitchike it's way there...

Thises and Thats

2011-04-05T19:14:00.000-07:00

-V is starting to test his ability to balance on his own. Unfortunately, he usually ends up doing belly flops onto the floor or sitting down very hard. I've discovered that my son is a little ham. He loves to show off his plunks and plops, and will continue to do so until I no longer pay attention to him. Then he gets annoyed and hollers UHHHH! until I look at him again.

-My jam experiment (see Jammin' in the Kitchen post) turned out yummy! The honey'n'berries jam turned out just fine although I did find one jar that for some reason unsealed itself after I put it in the cupboard.

-V LOVES bananas. You can't eat one in front of him without a little boy begging at your feet. We have to hide them because if he sees them, he throws a fit if we don't give him one or distract him with something else.

-After three and a half years of hauling my laundry to my in-laws and 'borrowing' their washing machine and dryer, I finally ordered my own. It's a stackable unit with full size drums so I don't have to do small loads. Come next week (give or take a few days), I will be able to wash my own clothes in my own home. Now, if only I could figure out where I want my clotheslines...

-For those who were at SLW this year, there was one more Lady who could have sat in the front row at the Talent Show to 'reveal' some news. For those who weren't there, I am happily, healthily, and safely three months pregnant.

Baby's First: Sort-of First Steps

2011-03-30T19:32:00.000-07:00

V is toddling around now and it's scary for me. I never imagined that I would have a toddler ALREADY! He's not walking alone but he will use the edge of anything he can reach-the couch, chairs, kitchen table, my cabinets, his parents, laundry baskets, and even the dog! (though that only was an attempt...she moved away too quick) Still those first unassisted steps aren't too far in the future. Just another reminder that my little boy is growing up.

Reminder

2011-03-26T12:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who contribute to the Tightwad Round Robin, any contributions for the Spring issue are due in April. I talked to the editor Helen today and neither of us could remember if the due date is April 1st or April 15th so I would guess that letters received in early April will be included.

(For those who have never heard of the Tightwad Round Robin, it's a biannual collection of "tightwad tips, gardening, recipes, etc" sent in by the readers. As the cover always proclaims "NO TIP TOO TIGHT OR TOO TRIVIAL". Cost is $2 and you have to share your tips and tricks. Contact me for information on where to send your tips.)

Busy, busy boy

2011-03-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

I had to run to town today and among my lengthy list of errands was to stop at the grocery store. Since we are trying to incorporate more salads into our diet, I stocked up on tomatoes and lettuce. When I arrived home, L needed his supper so he could head to barn and I, being the nice wife I am, neglected to finish putting my groceries away in order to feed my hubby. After L left for chores, I was indisposed for a few moments with feeding the puppies and bringing in the last few bags from the van. When I walked back into the kitchen, V was happily sitting amongst the previously full grocery bags. My salad fixings, tomato sauce cans, and Cheerio box were spread haphazardly around the floor and V had spent a few minutes test-tasting a few things. There are now chomp marks in every..single..tomato.. Not sure if he liked the flavor or not but he tried them all.

I suppose I should be thankful that he hasn't learned how to climb or walk unassisted yet.

Speed Zone Ahead

2011-03-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

If you come visit us in the near future, we currently have a speed zone on our driveway. There isn't a sign posted but the speed limit is set at 15 mph. Anything faster and you may end up digging yourself into a mudhole you can't drive out of. I no longer have a driveway. It's a quarter mile swamp and the water level is rising fast in some spots. Another few warmish days and I bet you could go fishing in the 'pond'. Just be careful you don't float away!

Seriously, it's kind of an 'Enter At Your Own Risk' situation right now. I will say that the four puppies we have left are worth the effort of our driveway. :)

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

2011-03-19T19:03:00.000-07:00

So we are home. It feels so good to be back in our usual routine and sleeping in our own bed again. I miss AK but MN is nice too. Our trip home was somewhat eventful, filled with mishaps that will make for a good giggle when we tell the tale in the future. A left behind suitcase, a forgotten pacifier, no extra clothes for V, and a flat tire on the plane made for an interesting day to say the least. However, we made it home safe and sound so that's got to count for something. Hopefully I can post some pictures of our vacation sometime soon. While reading my previous post, L pointed out that I forgot to mention that the glacier we drove to was the Matanuska Glacier and the P is NOT a charter captain. He just happens to own a REALLY nice boat. He's actually a contractor.

In other news, we desperately (well, not really) need to find homes for four ADORABLE puppies. If anyone is interested, let me know. They are so sweet and cute and cuddly...You'll love them!

Final Update from Up North

2011-03-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

Well, my week vacation is nearly over and done. It went by way too quickly for my tastes but I had a ton of fun! So here's a recap of my weeks events.

-Visited with all of the family in AK. Sis T, hubby B, kids B, K, A. Sis A, hubby T, son O. Sis R. It was so fun to see everyone!

-Got regular updates on the Iditarod. It's cool how much of a following the race has. I would love to be up here for the start of it sometime.

-X-country skiied on Hatcher Pass, L lost his checkbook (luckily an honest person found it), and got some really awesome pictures of the scenery up there. L is currently heading out for some downhill skiing up that way with B. Hope they have fun!

-Toured Palmer and drove up the glacier. It was a very pretty drive and the glacier was gorgeous. Chilly to stand outside but I got some cool pictures anyway.

-Drove down to Homer for a night. We visited P and his family. P captains his own charter fishing boat but blew out his knee so he couldn't take us out on the water. He was able to line up a charter with his neighbor and buddy R, though, so a few of us went fishing Sunday morning. It was my first time fishing for King Salmon and despite only getting one salmon the whole day, the trip was well worth it. I only caught ones that went back in the water, but at least I caught something! I can't wait to go again!

-Enjoyed a yummy breakfast at A's house. She's a wiz in the kitchen and whipped out crepes, waffles, and scrambled eggs. I was stuffed! Wish I could cook like that. Maybe she'll give me lessons sometime...

-Packing up to leave now. As sad as it is, we fly out tomorrow AM. This week went by way to quickly and it'll be hard to leave this beautiful place. I am all the more determined to come back up here sometime. We had great company, tons of yummy food (salmon pizza anyone?), took tons of pictures, enjoyed a few dates without V, had new experiences, and toured a small portion of this amazing state. Still, even though it's hard to leave, I'm glad to be heading back to MN too. It's home-family, cows, farm, chores, and all.

So, Goodbye Alaska. It was fun to visit and someday we'll be back.

But, Hello Minnesota. It'll be great to be home.

Second Update from Up North

2011-03-14T10:37:00.001-07:00

We went down to Homer on Saturday and I was in awe of the whole drive. The views are just spectacular up here! Mountains everywhere and the water is so blue...*Sigh* I could stay here for longer than a week. We went and wandered around on the beach, toured a crazy little bookstore with books stacked literally EVERYWHERE, and visited with Phil, a friend in the area. He's a captain but unfortunately, he blew out his knee and couldn't take us out fishing. Instead, he lined up a fishing trip for a few of us with his buddy Ron. It was a blast! I kept catching fish that had to be thrown back but it was great anyway. In the course of the weekend, I learned a few things.

-Mountain views are gorgeous no matter where they are.
-There are still honest people in the world and one of them just returned our lost checkbook.
-Homeade seafood chowder tastes AMAZING!
-I married into a very STRANGE family...but I knew that before I married L.

Update from Up North

2011-03-11T18:30:00.000-08:00

We made it to Alaska with little difficulty. V fussed a bit on the last leg of our flight but soon fell asleep. We went skiing and sightseeing at Hatcher Pass today and have a few other fun things planned for the rest of our stay here. It's so beautiful up here...I can see why so many people come for a visit or to stay. Even L has mentioned that he wouldn't mind moving up here and farming! It's not something we are currently considering but it's certainly a tempting thought. I have a feeling I am going to be dreaming of AK for a long time after we get back to MN.

Puppies for FREE!

2011-03-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

Yes, Mindy had her annual batch of pups several weeks ago. We currently need homes for five ADORABLE puppies. There are three girls and two boys, mostly black with white on the belly and paws. One female has brown markings similar to Mindy. They are weaned and ready to go anytime. Our camera has dead batteries otherwise I would post pictures.

Quantities are limited so reserve your pup TODAY!

From Our Farm: Demo Day

2011-03-04T09:52:00.000-08:00

If you are in town and would like to sample some really yummy yogurt this afternoon/early evening, stop by the local grocery store (J&B) and see me! L, V, and me are all going to be there doing an in-store demo of Organic Valley pourable yogurt. We've got all kinds of goodies and coupons for give-away too.

Hope to see you there!

Baby's First: Bear Crawl

2011-02-26T19:57:00.001-08:00

It's V's latest trick to get from point A to point B by bear crawling. It's the funniest sight-this little boy on his hands and feet with a bulky cloth-diapered bottom stuck high in the air. It won't be long and he'll be walking on his own. In some ways, it would be nice but I don't know how ready I am for that just yet...

In other toddler news, V now has five teeth. The third top one popped into view just the other day. Gotta watch out cuz he thinks fingers and toes are pretty good for chewing on. With those teeth of his, V can get a pretty good chomp! Ouch!

Free Range Chickens...I mean Children

2011-02-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

I've been reading this hilariously common-sense how-to book on raising your children. It's called "Free-Range Kids How to Raise Safe Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). Lenore Skenazy, the author, wrote this book after being dubbed "America's Worst Mom". She wrote a newspaper column about letting her then-9 year old son ride the subway by himself. Once the column was published, she was asked to appear on all the morning news shows, where she was lambasted for being a bad parent. Instead of backing down and issuing an apology for an apparent lack of sense, Lenore started a blog (freerangekids.com) and wrote this book.

I love this book because she points out just how much society today has caused parents to wrap their kids in bubble wrap. There are knee pads so crawling babies don't bruise their knees. 14 year old boys are being driven home by the police from a park just a few blocks from home because they didn't have a supervising parent or a cell phone. Some schools are banning hula hoops-a hazardous toy because they can be swung around the neck, arm, or other bodily extremity or rolled on the ground. The purpose of the book is to show parents that it's okay to let your children be children. It's a great read. I'm having trouble putting it down. I'm finding that I'm doing pretty good already as a Free-Ranger. V is allowed to crawl around the house banging a spatula on pot lids instead of watching Baby Einstein videos, learn to walk without knee pads or a crash helmet, and his favorite toy (I kid you not) is a fly swatter. (Of course, we bought him a brand new one that was immediately labeled so we know not to use on flies.) There are a few areas that I could work on, but for the most part I'm there. If nothing else, I get a good giggle out of the antics of overreacting parents out there.

Baby's First: Birthday

2011-01-25T13:23:00.000-08:00

It's so hard to believe that V is already a year old! Crazy how fast that time went... This past Sunday, we had a bunch of people over to help celebrate V and L's birthdays. It was fun to visit with everyone and see V playing with his cousins. We got the addition done enough for the kids to play in so that was nice. After a frantic week of building (I helped insulate and sheet the interior of the addition), cleaning, and cooking, it was quite wonderful to simply sit and visit with everyone. V was happy as a clam chasing after cousins and trying to snitch pluggies from them. (He lost his a few days ago.) He even got to enjoy his first piece of cake! I was tired at the end of the day but it was worth the effort. Now all I need to do is have some more company over before the house turns into a disaster area again.

Jammin' in the Kitchen

2011-01-06T14:40:00.003-08:00

I was oh-so-exuberantly looking for a ham I thought was in the freezer this morning when I nearly squashed the toes on my right foot with a large bag of frozen raspberries that nose-dived out of my grasp. Not having any luck with the ham hunting, I figured I might have better luck with the berries instead. Deciding to make my very first batch of homemade jam, I ambitiously began setting my kitchen to rights.

With the dishes done, the floor swept, and all of my canning supplies neatly laid out on the table, I was ready to go. My berries were all thawed out, the sugar was measured, and that's when I realized I needed another box of Sure-Jell. Oops. Instead of loading V up and driving the the nearest town (all of two miles away), I searched the internet for recipes that didn't need pectin. Luck would have it that I found a one that called for honey instead of sugar (a plus when your hubby doesn't like to eat sugar), and didn't need pectin. Of course this took me almost a half hour to find so it probably would have been faster to go get the pectin in the first place.

One batch of raspberry jam with pectin- Done
One batch of raspberry jam w/o pectin and with honey- Done
Clean-up the sticky, berry-y mess- Workin' on it

We'll see how my jam experiment turns out. I'll try and remember to share the results when we crack open the first jar.

At least all the jar lids popped so I know they are sealed. I did that right, I guess.

New Year's Resolutions 2011

2011-01-04T16:49:00.000-08:00

1. Enjoy life as it comes instead of worrying so much. Things always work out in the end.

2. Get to bed earlier. This means getting V on an earlier schedule again and learning to just put the book down.

3. Drink my water and milk. Gotta prevent more kidney stones, right?

4. Exercise 3-4 times a week. Two down so far... I'm on a roll with this one!

5. Get a better filing system in place. Just tossing everything in a box doesn't work so well anymore.

6. Learn to budget properly.

7. Count my blessings regularly.

8. Eat healthy and use up what's in my fridge/freezer. I'm tired of 'finding' things in the back of the fridge.

9. Keep the woodbox stocked and the fire burning when we are using the woodstove.

10. Take the time to stop and smell the roses.

The Stockings Were Hung

2010-12-25T20:20:00.000-08:00

Not by the chimney but rather by the old cardboard fireplace that my parent's have set up every year that I can remember. It's getting a little more rickety and a little more faded but it only adds to the charm. So the fireplace is set up in a nook by the steps and the stockings were hung from nails on the stair treads. At home, our stockings are hung with care from a shelf or simply tossed on the back of the couch. Not a chimney in sight there either. Not having a chimney, however, has not prevented Saint Nick from finding my stocking. This year, as in all prior years, he found filled it with surprises. Mrs. Claus sent two pairs of cozy warm socks while her husband added the usual deodorant and toothpaste since hygiene has always been high on his list of priorities, a new audio book to help pass the several hour drive home tomorrow, and (best of all) a sample of the new laminate flooring that will (hopefully) soon cover the floor of our new addition. Santa was certainly generous this year.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T18:07:00.001-08:00

And a Happy New Year to everyone!

Wishing you all the best in this holiday season.

P.S. To those who sent us a card and didn't get one back (and a certain couple way up north who are patiently awaiting their Christmas gift) I will have them in the mail as soon as we get back from our holiday weekend vacation. If you still don't get one, I apologize and wish you a happy holiday season since I probably forgot to add your name to my Christmas card list...again... Maybe next year...

Holiday To Do List

2010-12-06T13:04:00.000-08:00

1. Make Christmas cookies even though L will grumble. It's just not Christmas without cookies!
2. Get a tree and decorate it. Need to make sure it's up high so V doesn't un-decorate while I'm decorating.
3. Find presents for everyone. My secret hiding places idea backfired and now it's a scavenger hunt to find where I hid my gifts.
4. Make squeaky cheese. (Special request from my Dad since we are heading to my parent's home for the holidays)
5. Finish making and/or assembling gift baskets.
6. Finish any other gift projects.
7. Order pictures for Christmas cards. Wait, make that figure out how many pictures I need first. I am bound and determined to get my cards out before New Year's this year!
8. Make sure everything is ready for our holiday trip to my parent's for Christmas.
9. Keep V out of mischief while accomplishing the above tasks in a timely manner.
10. Wish everyone out there a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

Baby's First: Tooth and Standing Up

2010-12-02T22:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, well it's not exactly his first standing up but he's getting better at doing it on his own. He also mastered crawling forward. It's hilarious. He either can't get a bent leg out from under his belly or he does his inchworm imitation. V can get around everywhere in the house which means I am now on Red Alert when the woodstove is lit (which is all day now that it's winter), busy keeping little fingers out of everything they shouldn't be in, and constantly picking dust bunnies off of his clothes. Honestly, he finds all the dust that I somehow miss. I should just stick Swiffer cloths to his clothes and let HIM do the dusting! :) The tooth makes for interesting exploration as well. Everything he can get his hands on goes into the mouth. For some reason, V thinks that he has only three senses-touch, sight, and taste. First he spies a toy and after hurriedly scrambling to get it, he pokes the object of interest with a finger to ascertain if it moves. Then he grabs it, bangs it on the floor in exuberant fashion, and pokes some more. Finally, V decides the last thing to do is to stuff it in his mouth and slobber all over it. Oddly enough, he won't chew on the things he's allowed to-teething rings, chew toys, pacifier... It's everything else.

Speaking of chewing, I'd better go rescue the stuffed animal from Jaws right now.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-24T11:33:00.000-08:00

Not that long ago, I read a column in the paper on counting your blessings. The columnist wrote that she had a bit of trouble getting the list started but it wasn't too hard to find 100 things to be thankful for. I took that as a challenge and decided to see how hard it was for myself. Being that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, it seemed like the time to write my own list of 100 things to be thankful for.

1. Faith
2. Family
3. Friends
4. Good Food
5. My health
6. A working vehicle with heat
7. My 'auto-start' button for the van (aka my husband)
8. A baby that has slept 9+ hours a night since he was 3 months
9. The ability to lift 40+lb calf milk buckets with minimal huffing and puffing
10. Finding out even unexpectedly sad times can lead to good things
11. A roof over my head
12. A woodstove that keeps me cozy warm all winter
13. Fleece blankets
14. And a comfy recliner
15. with a cup of homemade hot cocoa to sip
16. while reading a good book on a cold snowy winter day
17. Knowing that despite the miles in between, family is only a phone call away
18. A mother's hug
19. My 'auto-fire starter' (aka my husband)
20. Learning that I can smile through my tears and mean it
21. "This too shall pass." is really true
22. Improving my aim when using hammer and nails (banging a thumb will do that...)
23. My house addition-to-be
24. Healthy, happy cows
25. A successful harvest season
26. Farm equipment that doesn't break down (very often)
27. My prolific vegetable garden
28. Dropping pounds
29. And being able to keep them off!
30. Trying on a pair of pants only to find out they are too big
31. Garage sales
32. Fuzzy slippers
33. My minivan
34. A chest freezer full to the brim
35. Being able to find homes for all of my dog's puppies
36. That feeling you get after you finish cleaning the house top to bottom
37. "I love you."
38. "Will You Marry Me?"
39. "I Do."
40. "It's a Boy!"
41. "Mama"
42. The smell after a spring rain (as long as the guys haven't been spreading fertilizer in the fields behind the house)
43. Waking up and realizing it's my Sunday off
44. Afternoon naps
45. My college degree
46. Going on vacation
47. And coming back home
48. Pasty, coleslaw, and chocolate milk
49. Ooey, Gooey, Chewy Brownies
50. Being done with chores for the day
51. A clean kitchen
52. My clotheslines
53. Wild roses
54. Homemade bread warm from the oven
55. Daisies
56. My dog Mindy (who keeps the rabbits out of my garden but lets the neighbor dog visit)
57. Homemade applesauce
58. All my prior jobs-I might not have liked them all, but I learned something from each one
59. My automatic dishwasher (aka Me but someday it'll be a machine...)
60. My 6-qt crockpot
61. Cloth diapers
62. A filled woodbox
63. Plenty of kindling
64. Bonfires, good company, and toasted marshmallows
65. Growing up within 10 miles of Lake Superior
66. Snow Days (even though I don't get them anymore...)
67. Snowmen
68. April Showers when they bring May Flowers
69. My comfy jeans
70. Hoodie sweatshirts
71. Flip-flops
72. Flannel Sheets
73. Wool socks
74. Catching snowflakes on your tongue
75. Going swimming on a hot summer day
76. Not having to worry about what I'm going to be when I grow up
77. Knowing that even the best laid plans can go awry but still turn out somehow
78. Buttercups
79. Snowshoeing
80. Being able to finish my Pilates workout without having to stop halfway through to catch my breath
81. Running Water
82. Indoor Plumbing
83. Having a hubby who is willing to crawl under the house in sub-zero weather to unthaw a frozen water or sewer line
84. Raw milk cheese
85. Reminiscing about the younger years with family and friends
86. Cinnamon rolls
87. Newborn calves
88. Weaning calves
89. Walking on a crisp autumn afternoon
90. Cross country skiing on a moon-lit evening
91. Springtime
92. Squeaky Cheese
93. Funny pictures of everyone but me
94. My son's smiles and goofy grins
95. All the little things my hubby does to show he cares
96. Having all of this kidney stone business over with
97. Apple pie
98. Making Christmas cookies with my nieces and nephews
99. Mackinac Island Fudge Ice Cream
100. A good game of Scrabble or Rook

Now that it's written, I can see that the writer was right. It can be hard to get started but once you do, it's easy to find things to add. I could easily add to this list but I'll stick to 100 for now. How about you?

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Hope you all enjoy your holiday weekend!

I never want to do THAT again...

2010-11-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

DRINK YOUR WATER!

It's become my motto of late. And I can't tell people to do it enough. Why, do you ask? What is the purpose of my proclaiming that you need to drink more water?

Simple.

It's the number one, quick and easy, painless, and cheap way to help prevent kidney stones.

After being in the ER twice with severe back pain, I have been diagnosed as having a VERY large kidney stone in my right kidney. I was in agony, L tried to get me there ASAP while still obeying speed limits, and we discovered that V has this uncanny ability to wake from a sound sleep as soon as we enter the ER doors. (I got pain meds that made me loopy, L got no sleep, and V got to watch all kinds of new people and new things. At least someone got some enjoyment out of those nights...) It's not an experience I want to repeat. Trust me on this. I would rather go through childbirth again (and I did it without pain meds) than go through kidney stone pain a third time. Not to mention this last week of being half asleep and sick due to the medications necessary to manage my pain. It's only been the last two days that have been relatively pain-free.

Now, I have to go to a hospital two hours south of my hometown in order to have it removed. In order to do this, I had to find a babysitter for V, and L and I both have to take more time away from farming duties to make the trip.

I had very little risk for developing a kidney stone, but I did. It could be one of any number of things (though the chiropractor thinks it is most likely a pH imbalance that he recently discovered), but drinking more water certainly wouldn't have hurt me. So, I am going to go all Mother Hen on you people out there reading my blog and remind you once again to DRINK YOUR WATER!!!

Baby's First: Crawling and Talking

2010-10-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, my little nine month old boy is crawling. It's so cute because he pushes his bum up in the air to get on his knees and then 'inches' like an inchworm. What makes it especially hilarious is that he can only go backwards! The look of puzzlement when he finds himself backed up into a corner gets me giggling every time. He can also scoot forwards on his belly and while sitting up if he has something to grab onto. His latest trick is to attempt to pull himself up using the furniture. This has resulted in a few tumbles and bonked noggins, but that doesn't deter my intrepid little man.

He's also so very proud of his ability to talk. His extensive vocabulary includes lengthy words like Mamamamamamama and Dadadadadada and AAAAHHHHHHHHH! The latest addition to V's word bank is Uck or Ucka (as in Yuck) and he will proudly proclaim "Uck" before wrinkling his nose and snorting. It's his latest trick and he does it to make Mommy laugh. Seriously though, since most of his babble is still just babble, I've been working on baby sign language with him in hopes that some of it will stick. He sees me sign Milk when I give him a bottle (open and close one hand into a fist as if milking a cow) but it's like working with Pavlov's dogs... I sign Milk and he starts smacking his lips...

The Fourth Go-Round

2010-10-13T09:36:00.000-07:00

Seven weeks ago, I was eight weeks pregnant.

Six weeks ago, I wasn’t.

Yes, I have had another miscarriage. Labs, an ultrasound, and talking to the doctor revealed that it was a ‘false pregnancy’. It started out normally but something happened and the pregnancy just stopped developing. There’s no way to tell what went wrong but the doctor is confident that I will have a normal one the next time round though she recommended I go back on the progesterone pills.

In the recent weeks, as a way to keep my mind occupied, I’ve researched possible causes of progesterone deficiency in hopes of finding a way to fix it. I discovered that I am severely deficient in zinc and iodine. Along with my struggle to lose weight and three prior miscarriages, this points to a possible thyroid problem which is a leading cause of hormone imbalances. I am currently working with a nutritionist and my doctor to see if a diet change and the addition of some new multi-vitamins will correct the problem. So far, I am seeing positive results after only a month. I feel more energetic, I’m eating better, I’ve lost weight, and I sleep better at night. I feel hopeful that we found the cause of my hormone issues. It’s encouraging to me and I can only hope that this keeps up.

For the moment, I am focusing on me and getting healthy, figuring out a lifestyle that works best, and drawing up plans for our house addition. It’s enough for now.

Baby's First: Creeping

2010-09-24T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yep, my little man is scooting around now. He can't quite get to his hands and knees but V still manages to move around the house. Time to baby-proof the bookshelves and sweeping the floor multiple times a day. Time to figure out how to keep V away from the door and the bathroom and from under the bed. Time to wonder where the last eight months have disappeared. He is no longer content to stay in one place. All too soon, he'll be walking. 'Dada' is his favorite person at the moment (unless Mom has a bottle in her hand) and the dog is a really interesting animal that he can watch for hours. He loves his oatmeal and banana for breakfast, eats more than I do some days, and is already what's on Mom and Dad's plates tastes better than his own food. Today he's creeping and scooting and almost, but not quite crawling. I just hope he's not walking tomorrow.

P.S. For those who are interested, his last doctor's visit showed that he is following his growth curves for height and head circumference but had a VERY large jump in weight. Doctor was quite pleased.

Out of the loop

2010-08-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting in ages but our computer is so virus laden that it takes five minutes to load pages and I just don't have that kind of time. So, until our new modem arrives (the old one was fried, again, during a thunderstorm) and our computer is virus-free, I will be on sporadically when I am at the library.

Quick update on everything else:
-V is 7 months old! Yikes, where did that time go? Summer is nearly over, Fall Freshening is fast approaching, and I am the mother of a little boy who can roll over, sit up, and babble.

-I started my first canning project. 8 pints of bread-and-butter pickles are now in the cupboard and I own my very first canning pot. I still have one more batch of pickles to put up and tons of other garden produce to finish putting up.

-Green beans (2 gallons so far) are in the freezer and carrots are next. My garden is doing awesome this year! I have so much produce and we did better on the weeds than we have ever done. I am loving this. Nothing like sweet corn fresh from the garden for supper.

Bye Bye Bossy

2010-08-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

Because I grew up in town, even though I now live in the country, I still tend to look at animals as pets rather than just animals. I'm getting better and certain aspects of farm life no longer phase me. It's just that I get this little pang for awhile when we send a cow to the sale barn.

We sent one just this morning. She was one of the older cows in the herd, had developed a slight limp, had a high SCC number, wasn't bred, and wasn't producing as much milk as she used to. Still, for some reason, I've become attached to that particular cow.

Perhaps I was attached because she was one of the first ones I could always pick out when I first started milking. She just stood out in my mind. Maybe it was her placid temperament. (In other words, she went into the parlor first without complaint, had a nice big bag with large straight teats, and didn't kick at you or the milker.) It could just be that I liked that cow for no reason at all. For whatever reason, it was still bittersweet to say goodbye.

You know it's time to weed when...

2010-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

The pigweed no longer counts as a weed because it's the size of a small sapling. It took me an hour, but I finally found all of my onions in the garden and thinned my carrots. Unfortunately, I also accumulated pricked fingers because my garden is not only producing a bumper crop of veggies but also an even bigger crop of thistle plants. I can usually get them early enough that they don't have any pickers but a few managed to sprout several inches tall and now have terrible spines on them. It was just my luck that those few were also the ones hidden in the copious amounts of quack grass that is also quite abundant in my garden this year. Still, it's a gorgeous day, V slept the hour I worked in the garden, I got five rows weeded, and a gallon of baby carrots so the poked fingers are worth it.

Baby Daze

2010-07-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

V is SIX months old now!!! Yikes!!! Where did that time go? My little man is able to eat some food (sweet potatoes are a fave), is constantly practicing his sit-ups, knows how to roll over and scoot a tiny bit, is teething, and grabs everything he can get his hands on. My baby is growing up.

From Our Farm: Part 2

2010-07-17T23:28:00.000-07:00

This is a milker. When the cows come into the parlor, we wash their udders with an iodine-based solution to clean off anything that might be on the teats. Then we put the milker on. The milkers are designed to mimic (as closely as a machine can) the action of a calf suckling in order to get the milk out of the cow.

Once the milk is in the milkers, it is pumped through a pipeline, a holding tank or 'jar', and our plate cooler (which cools the milk down) before ending up in our bulk tank. (This one is in our winter barn.) The bulk tank is essentially a very large cooler with a paddle inside. It keeps the milk between 35 and 38 degrees while the paddle stirs the milk to help keep the milk at a constant temperature.

From Our Farm: Chore Time

2010-07-07T10:50:00.000-07:00

Twice a day, we bring our cows into the barn for milking. We have two barns-one is a stall barn with an attached parlor used in the winter and the other is just the milking parlor on our 90-acre irrigated summer pasture.

This is our winter parlor. This parlor is a Double 7, meaning we can milk seven cows on each side with a milker for each. We bring the cows in from the holding pen through the two doors on the right. The cows face away from the center aisle or 'pit'. The chore people stand in the pit and put the milkers on between the cow's legs. Once done milking, the cows are sent out the far door and back out into the barn where they are fed hay bales and TMR (a mixture of grain, minerals, and corn silage) in the feed lane. They also have access to the winter pasture.

This is our summer parlor. We bring the cows in through the system of gates you see at the far end of the parlor. As you can see, this is a much bigger parlor. It is a Swing 14, meaning we can put 14 cows in on each side but swing the milkers from side to side as the cows finish milking. The exit doors are not pictured. The cows go out of the parlor and walk back to their pasture until the next milking. We feed the TMR out in the pasture.

From Our Farm: Calf Chores

2010-06-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

When a calf is born, we usually separate it from the mother shortly afterward. Because we do not allow the calf to nurse on the mother, we need to bottle feed our calves twice a day for 8+ weeks. We feed them a gallon of whole milk per day and introduce hay as early as possible. We also free-choice (leave out for them to eat when they want to) whole oats at least a week prior to weaning. Kelp and sometimes minerals are given with the oats.

This is a calf bottle. It holds 2 quarts of milk. That's a pretty big bottle.

This is a mob feeder. We can feed 2-5 calves with this feeder. After being bottle-fed for a while, we usually train our calves to drink out of this. They still get the same amount of milk but we will begin free-choicing water when the calves are using these.

At a minimum age of 8 weeks (and able to eat a fair amount of hay and grain), our calves start weaning. We give them 2 quarts of milk once a day for two weeks and then stop giving milk altogether. Once weaned, we keep the calves for another month or so just to make sure they are eating hay and grain well before sending them over to our custom calf raiser.

From Our Farm: A Calf is Born

2010-06-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have never been on a dairy farm, here is a peek into our farming life.

Step 1-A calf is born. Our calves are bottle-fed whole milk for 8+ weeks before being weaned. Once weaned, we will keep the calves on the farm until they are 3-4 months old before sending them to our custom calf raiser. They will stay there until they are old enough to be bred.

Step 2-The calf grows up. We bring the next batch of heifers (cows that have not had their first calf yet) back to the farm when they are about a year old to be bred by our breeding bull. After being bred and having a calf, we bring the cow into the milking herd.

Step 3-In order to produce milk, a cow has to 1. have a calf and 2. eat, eat, eat. We feed hay, corn silage, and a mixture of grains and minerals during the winter months. This is taken in the feed lane at our winter barn.

Step 3(cont.)-From mid-May to mid-October, our cows are on our summer pasture. We move their paddocks twice a day to allow for fresh grazing and feed corn silage and a grain/mineral mix. There is nothing lovelier to me than seeing the cows grazing contentedly on all that lush green grass.

Why is it that....

2010-06-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

when things seem the worst, something always happens to make it better?

Crabby baby had Mommy up half the night.
Calves didn't want to cooperate during feeding.
Cranky, hungry baby wanted Mommy ALL DAY LONG.
Garden in need of planting, weeding, and watering but baby not happy about being outside.
Mommy ate too many carbs, didn't drink enough water, and WAY behind on dishes/laundry/housework/etc.
Mommy REALLY didn't want to do chores but had to.
Mommy was very tired and just as crabby as baby.

Just when it seemed like it would never end, baby looked up at Mommy and grinned...right before sticking his tongue out and going Pllllbbbbbbb (accompanied by copious amount of baby drool) It's V's newest trick and he's so proud! Suddenly my bad day didn't seem so terrible anymore. (Besides, shortly after Daddy came in and took pity on Mommy. He held baby and fed him a bottle.)

Sorry, it's been a while...

2010-05-15T13:13:00.003-07:00

Yeah, I know... It's been some time since I posted. Life just got in the way I guess. In fact, here is a little peek into the 'life' that's been keeping me busy of late.

This little man is 4 months old tomorrow! Ye gads!! Where did the time go?

My Mindy is going to be a Mommy again soon. Puppies are on the way! (anyone want one?)

This handsome Rascal is the most likely father, but no one knows for certain. I think I need to give Mindy a curfew or something...

Homeschool Teacher

2010-04-23T19:14:00.000-07:00

I taught a session on writing stories to two of my nieces this past week. They are both being homeschooled and I jumped at the opportunity to see how homeschooling feels. I had a great time though I kept finding myself 'telling' them how to write and had to remind myself that they needed to learn for themselves. I think this would get better as time goes on and have offered to do more with writing and english with the girls in the next school year. I am brimming with new ideas and can't wait to do it again. It's getting me excited about homeschooling even though V won't be in school for five more years.

Bad Hair Day

2010-04-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have been hunting high and low for the American Girl doll my parents got me when I was a young girl. I thought I had brought her in the house but worried I had accidentally stuck her in a donations bag that went to a local thrift store. Last week, I was in our 'storage shed' (aka the remains of the trailer) digging through a box of junk and what do I find? My doll! Only a mouse had decided to take a nap on her head...*Sigh* Anyone got a good way to clean mouse poo from doll hair?

Diaper Duty

2010-03-25T11:21:00.000-07:00

I've been using clothies on V for just over month now and thought I would share what I've learned during that time. I do the old-fashioned tri-fold diapers fastened with Snappi's and plastic pants/diaper covers at home and use the bumGenius brand diapers on V for town trips and chores.

-bumGenius 3.0 All-In-One pocket diapers are awesome! They are the only diaper (to date) that can contain V's 'explosions' when he is in his car seat. The only downside is that they are a pretty bulky diaper. Still, a bulky bottom looks cute on a baby.

-Snappi's are pretty cool. I love that it's 1-2-3 and the diaper is on without any pricked fingers. Daddy would prefer diaper pins but since Mommy does 98% of the diaper changes, she gets the final say.

-I don't feel bad about changing four diapers in five minutes anymore because I am not thinking about the expensive diapers that are being wasted and added to our landfills.

-V is happier in clothies. Perhaps they are softer and/or more comfy than disposables? Not sure.

-Old-fashioned tri-fold diapers aren't all that hard to change. I was intimidated at first, but after doing them for a few weeks, it's not that hard.

The one thing I have yet to do is bring my clothies on a road trip. I am heading out of town for a vacation this weekend and am doing disposables. It's going to be at a jam-packed house and I am not sure of how much room is in my ride for diaper pails and my diaper bin. At least that's my rationale-that it's just easier to do disposables. I feel bad not bringing my cloth diapers but I don't feel comfortable enough yet to bring them. Maybe the next trip...

Baby's First: Sleeping through the Night

2010-03-23T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well, that 7 hour night was a one-time-only deal thus far but a greatly enjoyed one for me. At least his 'short' nights are in 4 hour stretches and I am not getting up every two hours anymore. Now if only he would let me put him down more during the 'awake' periods during the day. So far today-20 minutes in the swing and five minutes on his infant gym. Such is Mommyhood I guess.

A Big Hug From Mommy and Baby

2010-03-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Whenever I've mentioned that V has been a slightly fussy baby (especially of late) and not wanting to sleep really well if I am not holding him, I've been advised to check out the book "The Happiest Baby On The Block". I requested it from the library on Wednesday. After yet ANOTHER late, late night with a cranky baby who didn't want to go to sleep, I caved in and bought the book at a local bookstore. AM I EVER GLAD I DID! Last night and so far today, V has slept like...well, a baby. It's simply blissful and it's SO easy to get him to calm down now. The five (well, six actually) S's are so simple to follow and they really do work. Swaddling, laying baby on Side/Stomach, Shushing, Swinging (V prefers a light bounce), and Sucking on a plug or nursing certainly do lead to Sweet Dreams! So Thank You Thank You Thank You to every Mom out there who suggested I look into getting this book. Me and my no-longer-so-crabby baby appreciate it! (I'm thinking of getting a few copies for baby shower gifts, I love this book that much!)

I think I am part werewolf...

2010-03-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

This has been one of those days where I just CANNOT wait until my hubby gets home from chores to help calm baby down. V has been fussy-not really hungry but wanting to nurse, VERY much in need of a nap but fighting it, and just cranky all around. I have put him down and let him fuss but he cries until I pick him up (whether it's five minutes or a half hour). Not gassy, no diaper rash, just plain old crabbiness. He slept ALL DAY LONG yesterday (it was BLISS!!!) and is making up for it today. What is it about these crabby baby days that make me just want to prowl outside in the dark and howl at the moon?

Baby's First: Road Trip!!!

2010-03-05T16:08:00.000-08:00

Headed to the UP with my sister for the weekend because I didn't want to spend the weekend alone while the hubby headed west for a ski trip. (I would have joined him but figured the other gals going along wouldn't appreciate a crying baby at 4am and I don't downhill ski.) V was pretty good for the trip-pounded down 5oz bottle AND nursed (twice) before we left but slept til Duluth. Ate then slept til Houghton. Wish he slept that long and that well at home.:) Sister's kids were fairly good, too, so the trip went by quick. Hope the return trip is as good.

Baby's First: Chore Time & Snowshoe jaunt

2010-03-01T17:06:00.000-08:00

Yep, I did chores for the first time last night. It was kind of fun to be back out in the barn again. I am quite rusty with dipping, wiping, and putting milkers on though I can still take milkers off reasonably quickly. Now, I bet you are all wondering what about Vern. Well, he was out there with me. Before I get shocked expressions from everyone reading this, I did have him fairly bundled up. Three layers of clothing, four layers of cozy blankets,and he was in his car seat in a playpen set eight feet away from the cows. He loved it! Slept right up until his daddy walked in to help with milking. He woke up because he was hungry so I went in and fed him. Worked out well all around. I am hoping to get back into the swing of things now that I know Vern will tolerate the noise of milking but I do have some limits. I won't take him out in the barn if it's below freezing and I am not doing morning chores yet. It will be a while before I am doing chores more than a few nights a week, but with Spring fieldwork and planting right around the corner, it won't be long before my help will be much appreciated.

Also a first for Vernon-snowshoeing. Lanny and I went out for a short stroll (stroll being an understatement) this afternoon. Lanny had Vern bundled up in the frontpack and zipped his jacket around both of them. It was a funny sight to see him all bundled up like that! (Shoulda taken a picture...) Even though I've been taking walks on nice days, I was stunned at how terribly out of shape I am! I had trouble keeping up with Lanny even though he had the bigger snowshoes AND Vernon strapped to his chest! Still, it felt SO good to get out and enjoy the warm weather. It was nearly 40 degrees and the snow was just about perfect for snowshoeing. I can't wait to go again!

Chiropractor Appointment: Round Two

2010-02-18T16:53:00.000-08:00

Well, Baby V was crankier than all get out yesterday and this morning but I had another chiro appointment for him so I just waited it out. The chiropractor was happy to see that the tense spot in his hip is gone and his cranial bones are slowly (but surely) moving into place. Baby also got a micro-current protocol (a painless electrical frequency treatment) to help with sleeplessness. Worked like a CHARM! V slept for the next three hours, nursed for an hour, and back to sleep for four hours! Longest he's slept in three days.... After V got his adjustments, the chiropractor adjusted my neck, back, and hips as well as running a micro-current protocol on me for inflammation in my belly. This after finding out that V has suddenly been spitting up ALOT (normal-no spit up), very gassy and fussy, and not sleeping. Turns out my stress levels (we are doing books for our tax accountant appointment on Monday), food choices, hormones, and lack of sleep are all contributing to V's colic spell. I have to bring us both back for follow-up visits in a few weeks to see if anything has changed. I wasn't expecting an adjustment on myself, but I do have to admit that I feel much better now.

Tidbits

2010-02-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

-The much anticipated baby swing arrived today (a whole 2 days earlier than expected!) and Daddy got it all set up in time for Baby to take it for a test drive. Works like a charm! It takes up alot of space, doesn't fold up so nicely, but I don't know who likes it more-Me or Baby.

-Taxes are slowly but surely getting done in this house. I always promise myself that I will do a better job of sorting/filing/entering tax info during the year instead of during the final week before our accountant appointment, but this year I really mean to follow through. It's too hard to try and get things done when one has to nurse a fussy baby pretty much all day long.

-Baby is a little piggy. Nursed for a half hour and polished off a 2 oz bottle in no time! I am so lucky that he takes a bottle really well and that Daddy doesn't mind feeding it.

-Left Baby for the first time today. Ran some quick errands in town and was gone about an hour. Heavenly not having to haul that carseat out at every stop! Still, it was nice to get back home again to my little boy.

-I swear our laundry multiplies like rabbits! Laundry bags were all (nearly) empty end of last week and now they are brimming! Grr... Now that I have my baby swing, I think I need to focus on getting a new washing machine.

-I miss doing chores because I miss the cows, the company of my milking partner, and getting out of the house. I feel so out of the loop with what's happening in the barn, but I like not having to do chores because Baby still gets me up 2+ times a night, I get to sleep in (rarely anymore but enough to count) in the mornings, and I know I will be back in the swing of things soon enough.

Baby's First: The Chiropractor Appt

2010-02-11T17:44:00.000-08:00

Things I Learned Today:
-Baby is capable of sleeping through my appointments

-Baby is wonderfully silent and cooperative when being undressed in a Dr. office

-Baby is interested in room decor until range of motion is checked. (Note to self: Bring earplugs next time...)

-Baby settles down on drive home until car is possessed by the electrical demon and stalls out. (Note to self: Feed baby as close to appt time as possible and try to keep car in motion at all times. Also, bring baby Tylenol to next appointment just in case.)

-My worries that Baby isn't getting enough to eat are unfounded. He is 7lb 9 oz and ~21 inches long. He gained 11 oz and grew ~1 inch in 11 days. Must be doing something right after all. :)

Understanding: Kicky Cows

2010-02-09T16:38:00.000-08:00

After having my baby nurse off and on for 12+ hours yesterday (not kidding!), I now understand why the cows can sometimes be kicky when being milked.

I also totally understand why they always say "Rest when your baby does!" (and REALLY mean it) as most of that 12+ hours was during the night. Poor little guy has a stuffy nose and can't sleep comfortably unless he's being held. I also think he is going thru a growth spurt, which would account for the near-constant nursing.

Old Barns and Old Farms

2010-01-28T12:46:00.001-08:00

There is something about those old dilapidated weathered buildings you see on old farmsteads that calls to me. Those graying boards, missing windows, and empty rooms all hint at a simpler life in simpler times. My great-grandmother lived for many, many years on a small farmstead in rural MI, only leaving when her health declined. My grandmother and her two siblings were raised there and my dad, his siblings, and cousins all helped out with chores and fieldwork during their childhood summers. It was a small farm with a few cows, a bull, a very mean rooster (or was it a goose?), some chickens, a few horses (I think) and a tame skunk that came to the door to be fed and once to show off it’s family. The farmhouse was an old log cabin (that porcupines adored eating) with three rooms downstairs and a small upstairs for bedrooms and a homemade weaving loom. The kitchen housed the wood cook stove that took up an entire wall and, if I remember right, provided heat for the small home. I don’t remember much about that house except that the wooden shingle siding had already acquired the grayed, antiqued look long before I was born. I remember the cook stove being a big black, cast iron thing with the perpetually percolating coffee pot keeping warm in a back corner. (My dad claims the grounds were rarely emptied so you ran the risk of getting coffee that ranged from a decent cup’o’joe to high-octane tar.) I remember the bare lonely bulb hanging in the changing room of her sauna and eating raspberries off the bushes as I walked back to the house after washing up. I remember the cracked vinyl on the 70's era floral-print toilet seat cover displayed in proud prominence in the outhouse (even in her later years, my great-grandmother refused to get indoor plumbing). Mostly, though, I remember her barn. It was massive to my little kid mind, rising tall in the twilight hours when the bats would fly out of the rafters to catch the mosquitoes buzzing about. Though long empty of farmyard animals, it was still home to the bats, some birds, and I am sure the occasional wild barn cat. It, like the house, had long ago turned to the faded gray of aged wood and was starting to sag around the edges though it was still used for storage. I always wondered what it was like inside when the animals were still there. I imagined the smell of bedding, cows, and horses. I pretended that light filtering in through the cracked window panes transformed the dusty bare floor into a blanket of golden straw. I could hear the sound of cows chewing their cud, the ‘whoof’ and stomp of the bull as he shifted in his stall, the meow of a hungry barn cat. To open my eyes would be to admit it was just an empty old barn. In my mind, I was transported back 30 years, to a time before I was born, when it was home to those animals. I fell in love with old barns and buildings as a young girl visiting my aging great-grandmother but to this day, I can’t drive past an old farmstead without wondering what stories those old homes and barns could tell. Perhaps that's partly why I ended up out here milking cows for a living...

I know he passed his hearing test but...

2010-01-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

Scene: Mom stoking the fire, which wasn't cooperating and sending copious amounts of smoke billowing up to the ceiling. Baby sleeping quietly after a marathon hour-long nursing session.

Mom (whispering fervently to fire): Please start already. Please don't set off the smoke alarm. I just got him to sleep. Pretty Please...Please, Please, Please.

Smoke Alarm: BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Baby: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Mom: Whew!

Scene: Fast forward five minutes. Smoke alarm has been turned off, Fire is lit, and exhausted Mom is climbing back into bed.

Mom: (Pulls back sheets to lay down) *small Sigh of Relief as tired head meets pillow and Mom relaxes*

Baby: WAAAAHH! WAAAAHHH!

Our Little One

2010-01-18T13:21:00.000-08:00

Meet Vernon Lanny Salmen, all 6lb 3oz and 18.75in of him. He was born just before 1am on Saturday after putting his mommy through 19 hours of labor and morning chore duty.

Can you tell I've only had about 7.5 hours of sleep in the last 48 hours? And doesn't Lanny look like such a proud papa? I love this picture aside from the fact that I am wearing the oh-so-chic pink hospital nursing gown.

I am still in awe that this little guy is really here! He was a surprise all around since he came nearly three weeks early on the one weekend in January when the in-laws were either out of town or working. Thankfully, we managed to find extra chore help and everything turned out okay. Now, His Majesty is calling for his supper so I am going to go attend to his needs.

The Green-Eyed Monster

2010-01-12T16:59:00.000-08:00

My younger sister had a pretty, petite little girl in the early, early AM hours. (FINALLY...My sis has been ready to have her baby for ages!) I have to admit to being a proud auntie for the third time on my side of the family. She's adorable and looks just like me (if I do say so myself) when I was a newborn. ;) I was there visiting this afternoon and I am so jealous because I've still got about three weeks (more like five I'm guessing though) to go but I am getting so ready to have this baby! :P I never thought I would be this anxious but I am. It seems like the weeks can't go by fast enough but at the same time I don't want to be done being pregnant. Does that make sense? I am ready to have my belly back to myself but this baby is so much more managable when it's still in there. No crying babies, poopy diapers, or midnight feedings to worry about yet, but seeing my niece made me yearn to hold my own baby and count those little fingers and toes and babble baby nonsense and all those cute little things you do with newborns. And it would be nice not to wake up in the middle of the night because the baby has the hiccups and keeps nudging nerves in my back.

Also jealous because now my sister can start working on taking off her 'baby weight' (after a waiting period of course.) Had a Dr appointment yesterday and everything still looks good, though my total weight gain jumped to 24 pounds. So I didn't make my 20 pound goal but I am accepting that and proud that I didn't let myself gain this much weight up until this point. It's a disappointment but that's life. I am also disappointed because I haven't had any 'true' contractions yet (although I did have a REALLY ouchy B/H contraction this evening) so my Dr said she wasn't going to check me even though there are strong indications that the baby has dropped and my Braxton/Hicks contractions are getting stronger. (It's really nice to be able to breathe again but not so nice having to pee like every five minutes...) Grr... I was hoping that I would get checked and she would tell me that signs are pointing to me going early. Oh well...I should know better than to get my hopes up. Now I know why they say pregnant women dread the last few weeks...

And the Countdown Starts...

2010-01-07T14:01:00.000-08:00

36 weeks. That's what I am at today. *Only* four weeks left to go. (Well, if I stay true to Salmen tradition, I will go over by two weeks and have a hefty baby.) I honestly never thought I would get to this point. It seems so surreal in a way. Even my doctor had to ask at my last appointment, "So, did you expect to make it this far?" Nope. Miscarriage is a very scary, very emotionally draining experience and it has colored everything I've gone through with this pregnancy. I kept expecting it to happen but it never did. And here I am, looking like I swallowed a beach ball, ready to have my baby anytime in the next six weeks. (I'm going with six so that I am not disappointed when the baby doesn't come early.)

It's really hitting me hard these days-in about a month, I am going to be a MOM. How did this happen? (That is a rhetorical question, not a literal one...) I had a dream a while back about losing my baby at someone's house and it got to me. I worry that I am not ready for this responsibility. I wonder what life will be like when it's not just Lanny and me, if I can handle the middle of the night feedings and crying, colicky fits and the teething and everything that goes along with raising kids. I can't keep my own head screwed on straight these days so am I going to do something dumb like leave my baby at home when I go to town? I know these are all questions built upon the typical first-time-mom anxieties, but I still worry. I know I won't forget my baby somewhere and that Lanny and I will somehow manage to raise this child despite the sleep deprivation and stress because other parents have done it before us. I know that I will find the fortitude to navigate the path of motherhood. I just can't get that darn dream out of my head.

The Truth about Chores

2010-01-05T12:01:00.001-08:00

Here's a secret...I don't actually mind doing chores. Even at 8 months pregnant, I don't really mind doing chores. Despite the bone-chillingly cold temps we have had recently, I don't mind doing chores. It's crazy but it's true. I am tired of having to pull on three layers of long johns, undershirts, T-shirts, pants, wool socks, sweatshirts, and jackets that no longer close over my belly. I am tired of having to go bathroom before we leave for chores, before I start chores, during chores, before I leave the barn, and when I get home from chores. I am tired of having to crawl out of my nice cozy flannel sheet-covered bed on chilly mornings only to have to put on barn clothes that seem to shrink with each wearing and venture out into sub-zero temps to deal with poopy, temperamental bovines.

But chores, themselves...It's relaxing. There is this almost poetic rhythm that becomes second nature once you've been milking for a while. You move from cow to cow dipping, wiping, putting milkers on, taking them off. There's the soothing click of the pulsators that sound out the steady heartbeat of the milking system, the swish of milk through the hoses, the clunk of the pump turning on, the metallic *clink* of the milkers being hung up. It's music, after a fashion, with harmonies of swatting tails, tip-toeing hooves, and the 'whoof' of a cow coughing up her cud. The beauty of milking is that it's never the same. Different people milking, different cow order, added cow pie cleanups, etc. all add to the musical elements of chores. It's a randomly precise choreography that varies in texture each time yet with the same results in the end-a large increase in the milk level in the bulk tank.

Perhaps I am just crazy, in a sane sleep-deprived way that is, but I really don't mind chore duty. I just wish I could do chores without having to wedge my burgeoning belly into too-tight barn duds and brave the chilly, icy outdoors to get there.

Lanny's New Toy

2010-01-04T12:13:00.000-08:00

Lanny bought this last month. He claims it was purchased to make sure that I get to the hospital on time when the baby comes, no matter what the weather is like outside.

Brrr...It's Cold Out There!

2010-01-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

We got down to -31 degrees last night. That's cold. I was pretty happy to be able to sleep in this morning as it was -18 (I think) when Lanny left for morning chores. I don't milk if the temp is -20 and I guess he figured it was close enough. Chores this evening will be chilly but they shouldn't be too bad. It's those more extreme negative temps that cause problems. At -15 degrees, everything starts freezing in the parlor. Hoses freeze, hands and feet get chilled, boots get slippery, and anything wet that hits the floor freezes within a short amount of time (not instantaneously but it sometimes seems that way...)It makes for some treacherous walking if one isn't careful about spreading ashes or sawdust on the icy patches. Still the cows prefer to be outdoors rather than in the barn. They come in with frosty 'beards' on their chins, snot-sicles the size of baby carrots, and frozen manure blobs hanging from tails but still they would prefer to be out on the manure pack. I'll stay indoors and leave the frozen noses to the cows.

Only On This Farm...

2010-01-01T12:34:00.000-08:00

We were doing morning chores yesterday and Lanny came to interrupt for a few minutes. He had something to show me in the doghouse. The in-laws had two dogs, Rascal and Ruffin. For some reason, the black one (Ruffin) disappeared a few weeks ago. (Interestingly enough, the neighbors have also had a black dog disappear right around the same time.) Anyhoo, Rascal has been awfully lonesome since his buddy disappeared. Since he doesn't have a buddy to play with anymore, he makes do with the animals he can find. Lanny discovered that Rascal was sharing his doghouse with none other than a real live....pigeon. You could peek in and the bird would just look at you, fluff it's feathers and settle back into the straw. Rascal left it alone (amazing to me since Mindy would have devoured it in seconds) and it wouldn't bother him either. Guess he's a bird dog and we didn't even know it!

In other news, the baby is no longer breech according to the doctor. Yay! Had a checkup yesterday and everything looks good. Measuring right on schedule, weight gain around 16 pounds, all my baby clothes are washed and ready to go, and only 5 weeks left!

Baby Bums

2009-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

I really need to order my cloth diaper materials already. It's just so hard because there's so many choices out there! The thing that makes me most annoyed is how little access there is for cloth diapers in the area. Sure, I can buy pre-folds (1 doz for $12) at the local Wal-Mart but you can't find covers, pins, or plastic pants sized for smaller than a potty-training toddler anywhere around! Oh well... I should just order my stuff and be done. Have just about everything else ready for baby's arrival. Clothes are washed, diapers are sorted, changing table is almost ready...Just have to finish washing the baby bedding and blankets and pack my hospital bag. And I still have five weeks to go! Not bad, huh...

Christmas Eats

2009-12-28T11:08:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? I celebrated the holidays without attempting a single bit of traditional baking on my part, Santa came and left wool socks but no candy in my stocking, I ate very little sweets over the entire holiday weekend, and (surprisingly enough) it still felt like Christmas. I did make some yummy homeade eggnog but decreased the amount of sugar (could probably do so again) and used our milk so I didn't feel quite so bad about that indulgence. It's got me wondering... Can Christmas be celebrated without the cookies, bakery, and other sugary treats? I do like my Christmas cookies and was able to limit myself to just four this year, but I wish I had the willpower my hubby has. He hasn't eaten any goodies for the last two months! I will admit to having a sweet tooth and I always start the holiday season with good intentions but rarely manage to follow them. This year I did though, proving to myself that it can be done. I felt better too. None of that icky "I ate too much" feeling after Christmas Day Dinner. Is it just because I am pregnant that I am watching how much and what I eat? Or is it that I am finally changing eating habits for the better? I suppose I will have to wait and see if these good habits stick after the baby is born. (One thing I discovered over the weekend...A chilled clementine is sweeter and tastier than any cookie I tried.)

Christmas To Do List

2009-12-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

1. Make eggnog, prepare cheese & cracker tray, and get milk for family (in-laws) get-together on Christmas Day. (Should really call and find out if I need to bring more food too.)

2. Clean house and make meatballs for family (mine) get-together on Sunday. (Don't want my family to see what my house looks like on a regular basis, now would I? hehe)

3. Figure out one more gift idea and wrap remaining gifts. (Any good but quick homeade gift ideas out there?)

4. Get a tree and decorate it. (Just haven't had the time to find one yet.)

5. Quit sitting at the computer and get some work done already. (Get off your butt already, Jill!)

6. Enjoy the holidays with family, friends, and whoever else stops in.

WISHING YOU ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

'Tis the Season

2009-12-22T11:30:00.000-08:00

To be warm. Let me tell you that I am really enjoying my woodstove these days. Even on 'warmer' days like today, it's nice to not feel guilty about keeping the house at 70 degrees.

In other news, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and my weight gain is still hovering around 13-14 pounds total, though a weekend bout with the stomach flu is partially to blame. Everything is looking good with the exception of a possible breech baby (based on the fact that the Dr. had to look for the heartbeat above my belly button instead of below). The Dr. is going to re-evaluate at my appointment next week and if she still thinks the baby is breech, I have to go for an ultrasound to find out for sure. However, the Dr. also said not to worry as I still have six weeks to go and that the baby may flip on it's own. Easier said than done but I'm trying. I don't want to spend the next weeks worrying about something that may not be an issue.

Cold Mornings

2009-12-08T11:26:00.000-08:00

It's getting to be that time of year again. Yes, I know Christmas is on the way but that's not what I am talking about. It's time for the thermometer to show dreaded NEGATIVE numbers. Yep, it was officially -0.6 degrees F this morning when I headed out to do chores. At least it was warm here. The in-laws had a temp of -2 degrees. These colder mornings mean cold fingers and toes while milking, chasing cows, and feeding calves. It also means that my 'automatic' starter on the pickup needs to be in working order. (aka my husband) That 'automatic vehicle starter' is also a pretty good 'automatic fire starter' for the wood stove, too. (Thanks, honey. I don't tell you that enough!) I am also getting prepared for the inevitable frozen water/sewer lines (water line has frozen a few times already including today). There's a bucket of water in the bathroom, a gallon of drinking water in the kitchen, plenty of hand sanitizer and, of course, I stocked the outhouse toilet paper supply.

Baby on Board

2009-12-04T11:16:00.000-08:00

I am 31 weeks pregnant and only have 9 weeks left to go.
That's 9 weeks left of:
-hearing the stories of farmer's wives who milked in the morning, went in and had their baby, and were back out in the barn for evening milking
-not fitting behind the steering wheel of my car
-hearing all about the awful labors and the extraordinarily short and sweet labors
-waddling
-waiting on pins and needles to meet the little imp that daily reminds me of it's existence with 'gentle' nudges and bumps to various internal organs and bones
-having to pee every few minutes
-not being able bend over and tie my shoes

It's also 9 weeks left of:
-wondering what my baby will look like
-hoping the times flies by
-waiting to fulfill my greatest wish
-waiting to meet the miracle that is my baby

Saved the best reason for last.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-25T19:43:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful this year. I am surrounded with a wonderfully loving family, exceptionally awesome friends, and I have my faith. I am entering the last weeks of a normal, uneventful pregnancy. (30 weeks exactly on Thanksgiving Day!) Our farm is doing okay, the cows are (mostly) healthy, and Fall fieldwork is just about done despite wet weather, mud, and mold. I am thankful for a four-day trip to the UP to see family I haven't seen since August. (Also thankful for the four days without chore duty...) The usual assortment of the usual things to be thankful for. However, I am thankful for a rather unorthodox thing as well...

Due to a whole herd lice infestation, I am VERY thankful that humans can't get bovine lice.

HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Never thought I would be glad for...

2009-11-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

At my last doctor's appointment, I mentioned that I am worried about having a big baby. (Seeing as the last three babies around here have been 10+lbs, can you blame me?) My doctor reassured me with the facts. 1. My weight gain is minimal. Only 11 pounds to date. (She still thinks I am going to gain 25+ pounds but I am still determined to prove her wrong.) 2. My glucose tolerance test came back normal so gestational diabetes isn't a concern. (Yay!) 3. "With your pelvis, I can see you easily delivering an 8 or 9 pound baby." (8 OR 9?!?!? Yikes!) Good to know my big hips are good for something other making it hard to find pants that fit right. :)

What a Way to Start the Morning...

2009-11-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

Chasing cows into the holding pen for morning milking and an overeager cow decided to knock me over. Fortunately, I had a soft landing as I was standing behind a cow laying in a stall. I sat down on the soft, doughy part of her leg. Unfortunately, I also happened to sit right down in the middle of a cow patty that was conveniently left by another accommodating cow. I swear I heard the cow who knocked me down snickering as she headed up to the holding pen.

The World's Best Feeling

2009-10-22T14:37:00.000-07:00

Is when you have the energy to make four supper meals-worth of food to add to your freezer, a batch of cookies, tonight's supper already on the table, and a (mostly) tidy house all with an hour to spare before chore time. I wish I had this much energy on a daily basis. Why is it that I get so ambitious on the days when I am the most in need of a nap? Is this just a pregnancy thing?

Oh, and wish me luck on my glucose test tomorrow. A bit nervous about it thought I really shouldn't be. I've felt better than I ever have during this pregnancy and my weight gain is still under 10 pounds total (at least according to my bathroom scale although it tells me I've gained more than I wanted to in the last six weeks). No signs or symptoms of it otherwise. Just something that's been on my mind.

Jill's Note to Lanny

2009-10-20T11:11:00.001-07:00

October 20, 2007 on a day much like today-kind of rainy and gray-we were married. I couldn’t wait to become your wife, and suddenly I was! I don’t remember much of that day but I do remember being so excited to be Jill Salmen instead of Jill Olson.

Two years later, we’ve survived a drafty trailer with no indoor plumbing or running water, long-distance marriage, long work days, car troubles, and all the other usual ups and downs that go with married life. You don’t complain (too much anyway) about the questions I ask about farming and answer them to the best of your abilities. You push me to step beyond my comfort zone and set new limits. You helped me mourn three lost babies and reminded me how to smile through my tears. You keep me on my toes with your humor and your ‘new ideas’ that you are constantly stewing on. You still don’t always pick your dirty socks off the floor but you’ve shown me that it’s not that big an issue. I may not say it very much, but I appreciate everything you do for me from making me laugh to forget my tears to keeping the car running to teaching me about farming life.

Two years. It seems like it’s been so much longer than that but it’s only been two years. Two years filled with happiness, laughter, and love. Here’s to many, many more years filled with the same. Happy Anniversary. I love you, Lanny.

It's that time of year again...

2009-10-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

No, I don't mean the weather. (It's TOO early for snow!) There's two times during the year that I absolutely just dread. The first is Tax Time, which I am sure no one is very fond of anyway, and the second is Organic Inspection Time. Both times, there's so much paperwork to be done and, it seems, never enough time to finish it. Lanny turns into a bear because he would much rather be working on other things instead of paperwork but it needs to be done. At least this year we have a different organic inspector. Last year's inspection was 8 hours long! This year promises to be a much shorter inspection. Whew!

My body and Me

2009-10-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

When I first started this blog a year ago, I wrote about my struggle to get healthier and make a lifestyle change. Since then, I have struggled to change my thinking from 'sugar=yummy' to 'sugar=bad', learned to curb my emotional eating habits, dealt with my husband's crazy diets (remember the 'milk diet'?), lost 18 pounds, and discovered I had a jawbone hiding beneath my double chin. Okay, maybe the double chin wasn't that big but the very fact that I can crack a joke or two about my weight proves that my weight isn't as sensitive an issue as it used to be. Throughout the last year, I've learned to love my body for what it is-strong, curvaceous, nurturing-instead of what I thought others would see it as-lumpy, bulgy, and too big. I am proud to have lost weight before getting pregnant and even prouder that my weight gain has been relatively minimal since. My goals were to lose weight and learn to live healthier and I've done that. (It's still a shocker to me when I go grocery shopping and the first thing I do is read the ingredients label. If there is corn syrup or sugar in it at all, I usually put it back.) We eat more fresh produce now than we used to, our meat is all from local producers that we know, and I don't bake goodies. I still miss the sugary sweets once in a while but I feel so sick and achey and tired if I eat too much sugar that it's not hard to avoid sweets. My problem is I miss what I remember it tasting like. I know I have a long struggle ahead of me yet. I have to get through the final four months of my pregnancy while keeping my weight gain down. Then I have to lose the lingering 'baby weight' before I can even think about losing any more! Then, I need to be committed to keeping the weight off! However, I am hopeful that I can do this. I managed to make it through the last year of lifestyle changes. Perhaps I can make it through another year. (I also want to prove my doctor wrong. She said it would be preferable that I keep my weight gain down during this pregnancy but I probably wouldn't be able to do it. We'll see.)

Things I Learned This Summer

2009-09-28T08:22:00.000-07:00

-It's a pretty good sign you are having a bad day when the bull runs through a three-wire electric fence to get away from you. I've been shocked by that fence he escaped through and it left a mark on my arm that tingled for two hours and lasted four days.

-Doing a blood draw on a cow means lots of bellowing, lots of stepping around, lots of 'oops', and LOTS of poops. *Sigh* The things you do to find out if a cow is prego or not...

-I never thought I would be happy to discuss breeding rates but they now rank up there with somatic cell counts, calf treatments, and causes of hoof rot. Now I am getting interested in field paperwork.

-I am perfectly capable of cleaning out a clogged drainage line even if it's my fourth time cleaning it out in one day. I might be pretty annoyed at that point, but I can still do it.

-I can't grow corn. Last year, I planted it too deep and harvested the few puny stalks WAY too late. I couldn't even freeze it because it was SO overripe! This year, I planted it too shallow and picked it too soon. Maybe next year I'll finally get it right...

-Puppies are cute but I am SO glad we don't have any anymore. (Thanks to everyone who took one!)

-Farming is becoming the only thing I can talk about. (Notice how most of my 'lessons' have to do with the farm...)

-I enjoy being a farmer's wife but I'll leave the tractor driving to my husband.

A New Twist

2009-09-18T12:34:00.000-07:00

We tried making our favorite after-chores snack last night only to find out we didn't have one pretty necessary item. Have you ever tried to make Orange Julius without orange juice? The only frozen juice we had in the freezer was grape so I told Lanny (jokingly) that we could either have Grape Julius or no Julius. He took me seriously and before I could say anything, he was adding the grape juice concentrate. Surprisingly it turned out really good! It was smooth and grape-y and very yummy. One thing though-grape juice concentrate is pretty sweet compared to orange juice concentrate and the Grape Julius came out a bit more sweet than we would have preferred. Lanny recommends that we use less concentrate and a bit more liquid next time to balance it out.

Calving Time

2009-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again...The cows are starting the Fall Freshening Season. So far, we've had eight heifer calves, seven bull calves, and one calf that didn't survive birth. We are about par for the course at this time of year. Calving season is always a hectic time of year and, while it's nice to see those cute calves, I do breathe a big sigh of relief when the season is over. (I also breathe a very big sigh of relief when the calves are all weaned and hauled to the calf barn.) Each season bring about the miracle of birth but it also brings about the need for ALOT of patience. No matter how many calves you have at one time, you will be guaranteed to have at least one that can escape any kind of pen you have it in, a few that get sick, a few that are too stubborn to learn how to drink properly from a bottle, and a fewer than you would like that do everything right. So far I've had a calf fall down a fox hole while trying to run to Momma out in the pasture, two calves who could wiggle out of the 12 inch opening in their hutches, and, currently, a stubborn bull calf who protested his being taken from Mom by refusing to drink his bottle. And this doesn't include the cows...We have several cows who regularly wander up to the barn to bellow for their babies who, being penned up, can't respond with anything other than a pitiful little bleat. We also discovered we have some pretty messed up breeding records because we have cows giving birth two to three months before they are scheduled to do so and, in a few cases, without us knowing they were even pregnant! It's frustrating, amazing, and funny all at once. Well, I guess that's just life on the farm.

Farmer's Almanac-Knows it all or a Bunch of Hooey?

2009-09-09T18:36:00.000-07:00

We bought the 2010 Farmer's Almanac this year, kind of as a jokey thing, but it has alot more info in it than I originally thought it would. (It's got some great articles on stretching the grocery bill, going 'green', and ways to reuse common household items.) However, I was most interested in the weather predictions. A few weeks ago (this was before we bought the Almanac), I told Lanny that I thought we were in for a cold winter because of the unseasonably cool summer we had. I just had this feeling that we are in for some bitter days. Lanny told me that my prediction was funny because the Farmer's Almanac was predicting the same thing while meteorologists are predicting an unseasonably warm winter. I am sticking to my original idea of cold but not because the Almanac says so. It's because I just have this weird notion that I am right. I hope I am proven wrong as I am having a winter baby but we'll see who's right in the end.

Tidbits

2009-09-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

-You know you have flies in the house when you hang a new sticky fly strip and within five minutes is has ten flies on it. Two hours later, over thirty flies have landed on it! Plus, there's still at least a dozen flies roaming the house. All this after both Lanny and I spent an hour swatting flies this morning.

-My car is possessed. I keep having weird, but explainable according to Lanny, things happen while I am driving it. Yet, these things almost always happen when I am driving, never when Lanny is the driver. Except the tape player...It randomly turns on even without a tape in it no matter who is driving.

-We have two escape artists-in-training right now. Never underestimate a calf who is determined to find a bottle or Momma-whichever comes first. Nothing will hold them when they are hungry.

-On top of two Houdini-like calves, we have a steer who somehow manages to sneak into the very places you wouldn't think he could fit. So far, he's snuck out of the holding pen three times into a fenced in area full of boards, cement blocks, and stickers, and managed to fit through three wires of electric fencing into my garden. Thankfully, he only munched the quack grass growing in there. Hmmm...Maybe I should let him in there more regularly if he's such a good 'weed whacker'.

-I wish my sweet corn would hurry up and ripen already. I am craving it something fierce but with 300+ feet of it out in the field, I hate to buy it from the store.

-I will never take having meat in the freezer for granted again. It only takes having your puppies unplug your chest freezer and causing your entire meat supply to spoil to keep that in perspective. Our freezer may smell a bit icky at times, but at least it's got fresh meat in it again.

-Thank Goodness It's Over! Lanny is 'officially' back on a 'regular' diet again! Yay! Wait...He did say he didn't want to eat sugar (or anything derived from sugar) if possible. And he's already talking about another diet idea... I think I'm going to hide his 'milk' books for awhile. They keep giving him ideas...

-Gotta get back to work. There's dishes to wash, flies to swat, a garbage to empty, and a whole list of other chores to finish today. At least I get to go to town tomorrow and hit up some garage sales while I am there! Can't wait!

Climbing on my soapbox

2009-08-31T12:29:00.000-07:00

Lanny got an email from one of his sisters with a link to an article on how the US produces so-called 'cheap' food. It's called "Getting Real About the High Price of Cheap Food." I agree with it's premise that the food industry has gotten to be just that-it's all about the almighty dollar instead of raising healthy food. The article also talks about what we can do to fix our food situation. It's amazingly simple: go back to small family-owned farms and use less chemicals/antibiotics to raise crops and animals. I totally agree with the premise that the American food industry relies way too much on scientific and chemical means to grow more food in less time and with less cost. For example-many small grains are harvested after being sprayed with Round-Up so it can be harvested faster and cheaper but don't all weed killers have 'Toxic-do not ingest' warning labels on them?

According to the author, we are doing everything right on our farm. Our cows are allowed access to pasture and the outside world on all but the most inclement winter days instead of being cooped up 24-7. (Even on -40 degree days, the cows have been known to sneak the barn door open and go outside.) Our crops are averaging reasonable yields yet we don't spray or use any chemicals of any kind. We use natural fertilizers, minerals, and crop rotation to keep the soil healthy. We treat our cows with homeopathic and natural remedies with higher success rates than my in-laws saw using conventional treatments. Yes, it's more expensive to farm this way, but I feel so much better about eating what we produce because there aren't the chemicals there. I don't want to blow my own horn here, but simply point out that we don't do things 'conventionally' and are still yielding much the same results.

My challenge to you is this-read the article and think about it's message. Do you agree or disagree with the article? If you don't agree, I don't expect you to change your mind. I just want you to think about it. I didn't come by my opinions on organics overnight and I don't expect anyone else to either.

Cloth Diapers

2009-08-10T10:04:00.000-07:00

As many of you may already know (and if you don't, now you will) I am due in early February. After my prior miscarriages, I am still nervous about the possibility of another but everything is going well so far. Anyway, I am curious about cloth diapers. I know, I know...You might be thinking I am crazy but I have good reasons for wanting to try cloth diapers. Being an organic farmer's wife, I personally feel a responsibility to be at least somewhat 'green' and this is, in my opinion anyway, another way for me to do that. (Disposable diapers don't compost as I found out when our dog dragged one home from a dump pile and proceeded to shred it on my doorstep.) Plus, they save money and are easier on a baby's bum (or so I've been told).

I am just curious of your experiences with 'clothies' (or lack thereof). What is your opinion? Use them or not? If you have used them, do you recommend them? What brands, styles, etc. did you try? Any that aren't so good? And do you know of any resources where I could find more information on cloth diapers?

Cows And Kids

2009-08-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

Cows are like kids. They drool, are capable of making a much larger mess than you thought possible, holler when they are hungry, do what they want to do rather than what you would like them to do, and eat their own snot.

Happy Lines

2009-07-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

Did you know that cows can get wrinkles? Well, they aren't actually wrinkles, but rather 'happy lines'. Happy lines are horizontal lines that appear on the cow's side and indicate she is content. Above is the picture of the bull I promised to post ages ago. If you look closely, you can see his 'happy lines' about halfway down his side. (It's not the best picture of these lines, I apologize.)

Since 'happy lines' prove the cow is content and they look an awful lot like wrinkles, I've decided I won't have wrinkles when I get older. I'm going to have 'happy lines' just like the cows.

Finnish Tree

2009-07-22T08:20:00.000-07:00

This was taken during my recent camping trip to the North Shore. I just had to admire the tenacity (or perhaps stubborn-ness) of the tree growing out of solid rock. Perhaps it has some Finnish 'roots'?

Potpourri

2009-07-09T09:44:00.000-07:00

-How come dishes always pile up despite the fact that I am only cook for one and a half people right now? (One and a half because Lanny isn't eating enough for a whole person yet. He's not eating much other than fruit and you don't need plate for that, so I suppose I am only cooking for me, really....)

-I want to move stuff into the house, out of the house, and around the house. I just need someone who's better at fitting alot of stuff into not alot of space to help.

-Never lament about not having a lawn when one lives alongside a pasture. I said something the other day about not having grass around the house and Lanny pointed out that I do to have a lawn. 90 acres of it in fact and I don't even need to mow.

-In a perfect world, the rain we got today would have been limited to the pasture, my garden, and my tomatoes. Too bad this isn't a perfect world.

-We finally named the puppy. I wasn't too thrilled with keeping her (and she's still up for adoption if anyone is interested) so her name isn't too imaginative. Next time you stop by, you will see Mindy and her progeny, Pups.

-I should have allowed more room for the pumpkins as they are starting to overtake the watermelon, the cantelope, and the cucumbers. I also planted way too much lettuce...again...Even with Lanny eating a raw foods diet, we still have too much. You think I would learn.

-Our barn cat is now a morning chores cat, too. He likes to come sit by the cows while we are milking in the morning and mew piteously in hopes of getting some milk. He's doing something right because the cows haven't pooped nearly as much when he's in the barn.

-Our tent claims to be a two-person backpacking tent. This translates as "the tent will fit two people only if they sleep on their sides and it's impossible for both to change at the same time." It also means that I spent an entire weekend with Lanny's campfire smoke smelling clothes in a very compact space.

-If there's one scent I CANNOT stand it's the smell of campfire smoke on clothing and in my hair. Don't ask me why this is, because I can't explain it. It permeates everything when you go camping.

-Why is it that you always manage to pack WAY more than you need when you go camping? I packed enough food to last a week and I was the only one eating it. We went camping on the North Shore last weekend and between the two of us, we filled our car. How is this possible?

Check the Fridge

2009-07-06T10:08:00.000-07:00

I have fond memories of my parent's fridge door. It's a funny thing to admit but it's true. One could usually find my latest masterpiece among the artsy contributions of my younger siblings. There might also be a chore schedule (made with good intentions but rarely followed with such), a calendar of some kind, magnets of all shapes and sizes (including the requisite alphabet letters), and the odd A+ paper or two. However, my ffavorite part of the fridge door was the comics section. My mom had (and still does) this thing about cutting out particularly humorous comics from the newspaper and taping them to the fridge door. Family-based comics like Baby Blues, Hi and Lois, and (by far the best one of all) For Better or For Worse featured prominently as they so closely reflected family life . Calvin and Hobbes and Family Circle were other regulars. Occasionally, Beetle Bailey or Garfield might find a niche somewhere as well. Every time I walked past the fridge, I had to stop and see if anything new had replaced an 'oldie but a goodie'. She didn't throw out any of those old strips either. She has nearly filled her second photo album with those saved strips. It makes for a fun afternoon to sit and page through those old comics.

Looking at my fridge, I see that I am doing much the same thing. Since we don't regularly get a newspaper with comic strips in it, my fridge is a bit sparce in the funnies division, but I've got a few good ones there. They are joined by the grocery list, a calendar, pictures of family and friends, a variety of magnets, and my To-Do list that never seems to get smaller. Someday, I'll have my own albums of comic strips.

Fly Season

2009-06-25T11:19:00.000-07:00

June is hay season. We are currently getting toward the end of first crop hay, though there is still quite a bit of hay to cut, rake, bale, haul, and wrap.

June is weed season. I seem to be out in my garden every day picking out the pigweed, clover, dandelions, and quack grass that seem to multiply exponentially despite my daily weeding. The guys have been busy cultivating the corn fields in between haying duties, but there's still some of that left to do too. We want the corn to be knee-high by the 4th of July, not the weeds.

June is also fly season. I feel bad for the cows because they come into the barn followed by hordes of the pests. Despite the continual tail swishing and kicking feet, the flies continue to bother. We do use an organic fly repellant but it only lasts so long. I feel especially bad for a young cow with the unfortunate nickname of "Shortcut". She lost her tail for unknown reasons (most likely cause-frozen off during a winter) and is left with a piddly little stump about a foot in length. We've tried to come up with a fake tail that would allow her to swish flies with the best of them, but haven't figured out a good way to attach it. Any ideas?

What's for dinner? Milk!

2009-06-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Well, for my husband it is anyway.

My husband has been reading "The Untold Story of Milk" by Ron Schmid, ND. After reading about a diet described in the book-for one full month, he would consume nothing but our milk, he decided to try it. Since June 3, he has had nothing but raw milk, a little bit of raw milk cheese, and villia (did I spell that right?). I am proud that he has stuck with it this long and with little complaint. (The only complaints I get are when I happen to eat pasty in front of him.) When asked what the purpose of being on this diet is, he replies, "It's good for lowering high blood pressure and bringing up low blood pressure. It helps overweight people lose weight, but allows underweight people to gain. It's good for diabetes, artheritis, heart disease, asthma, allergies, and a whole bunch of other things." I think it sounds like on of those 'too good to be true' diets but I am seeing a difference in him already. He's lost some weight, his blood pressure and resting heart rate are down, and he feels good. Am I doing this diet? Nope. I hope to try it sometime in the future, but my hubby decided to start his diet the day after I went grocery shopping. He told me I am not allowed to do the diet because there is too much food in the fridge.

Now, after being on the milk diet for a month, he wants to go a month without eating anything cooked. I forsee July's menu being filled with alot of salad. If, by August, you see me sprouting salad greens and rabbit ears, you'll know why. Oh and if you would like to read the book, we have an extra copy.

That's a BIG bunch of bull..

2009-06-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

I really do mean that. Our bull is a big boy. The guys are pretty proud because 'Bulldy" is even college educated. (We bought him from a university that has a dairy research program.) Unfortunately, I don't know how much he learned while he was there... Yesterday, he couldn't figure out heads from tails when it came to the cows. Lanny claims it's actually a common occurance, but I just had to tease.

(If I can, later I will repost this with a picture of big bad Bulldy boy.)

Meet Mindy

2009-06-06T09:07:00.000-07:00

This is my dog Mindy. She's a pretty good dog even though she doesn't chase cows like we hoped, is a shameless flirt, and thinks she is a lap dog. She eats June Bugs. I just saw her crunch one down like it was the greatest treat in the world. She also likes to 'play' with frogs. It's hilarious to watch her sniff the frog until it jumps and then she pounces on it (like a cat!). She will repeat this until the frog is either dead or playing dead, in which case she will carry it off to a semi-secluded area and eat it.

Oh Happy Day!

2009-06-04T18:54:00.001-07:00

Yay! This came yesterday. We've been on the Organic Valley truck for a month but this just makes it seem 'official'.

I posted on FreeCycle and got two responses to my Free Puppy ad already! Hopefully these cute little girls will have homes sometime next week. I'm getting too attached and it's gonna be hard to give them away.

Why I Love Thunderstorms...

2009-05-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

Actually, I don't really like them all that much, personally. I'm not afraid of thunder though. There's something about the lightening that I just don't care for. I am getting better and don't quite have that 'hide your head under the covers' feeling anymore and can actually admire the beauty of a bolt of lightning as it zips from the clouds, but I still don't have to like them.

However, as a farmer's wife, I understand the necessity of thunderstorms. Ever notice why the leaves and the grass always look so much greener after a thunderstorm? They are getting a big boost of nitrogen, that's why. When the lightning burns the air, it is adding nitrogen to the air which is really good for plant growth.

The other thing I like about thunderstorms is the water. Everything smells so fresh and clean after a rainstorm. It also means I have to water my garden that much less. While I may not like thunderstorms, anything that gets me out of hauling bucket after bucket of water to my 45 foot long garden is okay with me.

Growing Pains

2009-05-26T19:24:00.000-07:00

I wish my garden grew faster than the weeds. I was out there checking on the soil (hoping to plant potatoes today) but it was a bit too wet. I did notice, however, that bunches of clover and a renegade blade of grass here or there were already trying to sneak out of the soil. That clover is the worst. I know the cows like it and there is something magical about finding a four-leaf clover (I once found a five-leaf clover out in the pasture. Honestly!) but it's impossible to get rid of! Clover, picker plants, and pig weed are my gardening nightmares. All have extensive root systems that rival gopher and ant tunnels. All are invasive weeds that take over a garden at a moment's notice. And, two of those weeds are covered in the sharpest dagger-pointed sticker seeds possible. They are like spies-they sneak their way into the garden and hide until you least expect them to pop up. I can't count the number of times I have reached for a cucumber or carrot and grabbed a picker plant by mistake or found a clump of clover bullying my pitiful plants into submission. Hopefully, I will be able to keep my garden growing more than just weeds and rocks this year. I have good intentions so we'll see if I actually live up to my expectations.

Puppies and Plants

2009-05-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

You would think I don't feed my puppies. I walk outside in the morning and they start trying to eat my toes because they are so hungry. They do this three time a day. So, I've asked before, I'll ask again. Who wants a puppy? I have three left. Price: FREE!!!

I am experimenting this year. I am direct seeding everything in the garden. Last year, I killed all of my starts. The tomatoes and green peppers started pretty good but died before I could replant them. My pumpkins survived until I transplanted them. A week after I put them in the garden, all were shriveled up little dead plants. So, pumpkins and watermelon are already planted and we'll see if they make it. It's my hope that I will get at least one of each.

Miscarriage and Me

2009-05-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

I've wanted to write an entry about miscarriage for a while now. For some, miscarriage is a personal thing. It's something to deal with privately. I, however, find that I have this almost insatiable need to know more about them. I need to learn about miscarriage and what doctors think. I need to know other women have coped. It's as if, by knowing more, I can better come to terms with what happened. I have also found it therapeutic to talk about it. It's my 'vent', because if I don't get these feelings out in the open, I get overwhelmed. I also look at it as part of my healing. I am coming to terms with what has been happening over the last year and a half. I am seeing that I can move past this and I am a stronger woman for my experiences. I have had several questions in recent months on how I have handled my multiple miscarriages, possible signs of a miscarriage, the unknown cause of each one, and how I am approaching my fertility issues now. Most people who ask are curious. They don't know much about miscarriage as they've never had to deal with one. Others ask to see how their experiences line up with mine. Some ask simply to learn. I plan to write a few more entries on miscarriage answering the more common questions I have received. If you have a specific query, let me know via email, phone, or in person and I will try to address it as best I can.

Definition of a Farmer's Wife

2009-05-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

10 Signs I Am Truly A Farmer's Wife:

1. I asked Lanny for a pair of vice grips or a garden spade for my birthday instead of a meal at a fancy restaurant.

2. I am able to talk about somatic cell counts, field work, gardening, and cows and actually (sound like I) know what I am saying.

3. The sight of cows contentedly grazing in a lush green pasture is wonderful not only because it's such an iconic country picture, but because it means the cows are happy and happy cows make more milk.

4. I find milking cows to be a (generally) relaxing time of day.

5. I wake up at the 'crack of dawn' whether I need to milk cows or not.

6. I am used to planning spur of the moment trips when the only notice we are going is Lanny telling me at 10pm that we are leaving after morning chores the very next morning.

7. I can finally tell the tractors apart (most of the time anyway).

8. Ask me about treating mastitis and I can give you at least five different treatment options off the top of my head.

9. I know what different kinds of manure mean for the cow's health and that a 'cowpie' can be a good thing.

10. Getting pooped on no longer phases me.