Farmers Save Lives

While I sit here on my porch and watch the heat dry up the Earth, which in turn dries up the various crops we have planted I can't help but feel sad.  As I have stated before, we live in a very rural area in Nebraska.  Most people in our area have some sort of agriculture background if they are not currently living the glorious lifestyle of being a farmer.  If they don't have a background in agriculture, you can about guarantee they have a family member or friend close by that farming is their livelihood, they are employed by an ag driven business, or the like.  It is the lifestyle in this area.  

As I sit here and reflect on what kind of production we will have....or sadly, not have... I can't help but feel a bit nervous.  But, being a farmer, it is a risk we take.  We can't control input costs, the markets, and what seems to be our big deal currently...the weather.  Mother Nature has not be kind to us.  In many parts of the United States, other farmers are having to deal with quite the opposite....they are getting too much rain.  Therefore, they can't get their crops in the ground.  Or, if they have been lucky enough to snag some dry days to plant, they have been hit with torrential rain again that has washed away their seeds....leaving them no choice, but to double their input cost and replant.  I don't know why Mother Nature can't drop a nice even inch of rain once a week across the fields....would that be too much to ask!  Ha!!!!

As I think about our lack of moisture, and other farmers plethora of rain I can't help but realize this could be a problem.  This would not be a problem most would be thinking about, but for us individuals in the agricultural world....we do!  What if there were no crops here in the U.S?!?!  Yes, we import.  Since the entire country is not going to lose its crops, it won't be a problem.  There could be a shortage, but there will be another year, hopefully some rain, and with any luck.... a bountiful harvest.  

My hubs has always said, and I 100% agree, "that farming is the backbone of this country!"  Think about it, I can live without my obsession of beautiful designer purses, but I CANNOT live without food!!!  Therefore, as I sit here on my porch watching the heat beam down, and listening to my sprinkler run on my struggling grass I have come to the conclusion that FARMERS SAVE LIVES......3 SQUARES A DAY!  

{{{HUGS}}}

It Finally Happened......

Do you all remember the last family photo I posted here on The Farmer's Wife?  Well, if not please read this post here.  That was over TWO years ago!!

Last weekend we attended a wedding of one of our hired hands.  Our son was asked to be RING SECURITY, so I figured this would be a perfect opportunity to finally get a "real" family photo.  We would all be in the same place at the same time AND we all would be spiffed up as well....especially my son in his cute little tux!!!!  The reception was held at the bride's parents home which was gorgeous and there were plenty of scenic choices to for us to finally get that overdue family photo!

Typical photo sessions with my kids usually go like this....

Or.... a couple of them try to hard at achieving the perfect smile.... {I still like this picture though}

And then we sometimes luck out and get a nice shot!

That is me and my clan....LOVE THEM!!!

A special thanks to our friend Calvin for taking our family picture {I know these people, and they are not the easiest family to work with...haha}.

You can check out my latest adventure here.  Yes, I branched out with yet another job to add to my resume.  It's a little something I have a passion for and truly enjoy.  If you like me work, please like my page.

{{{HUGS}}}

You Know You Are A Farmer's Wife When.... part 2

I felt it was time for another round of:

If you would like to check out my first round round click here!

{{{HUGS}}}

A Calf Being Born

The hubs called me tonight and asked if myself and my daughter could come help pull a calf.  Like a nice wife, I agreed to head over to help.  He told me he was going to go to the shop and grab the pullers.  I told him I had to change my clothes and we would head right over.  I had to take off my comfy yoga pants and put on a pair of jeans.  I considered wearing my yoga pants, but then I didn't want to ruin a perfectly good pair of yoga pants.  Don't you love yoga pants?!?

When my daughter and I got to the farm my hubs was watching the heifer {meaning she has not had a calf yet in her lifetime}.  She was laying down and pushing with all her might.  When we approached the heifer she got up and pushed.  And then....well, watch.....

The heifer seemed a little confused at first, but she made her way over to her newborn calf to clean him {or her} up.  Sometimes, first calf heifers aren't so loving and won't claim the calf.  If that happens, it means I would have a bottle baby calf.  So far, we haven't had any bottle babies this year.  We did bottle feed one calf, but after a while the heifer decided she liked the little guy and decided to let him nurse.   

  I love seeing baby calves born and this gal was kind enough to let me stand 10 feet away and watch.  The other heifers would come over and sniff the calf, but eventually leave.  I'll tell ya, it takes a village to raise a calf or maybe I should say herd!

So we did not have to pull calf which is always a plus!  Guess I should have left those yoga pants on!

  

{{{HUGS}}}

The Herd....well a few of them!

I thought I would share some pictures of the mama cows and their adorable babies during a recent winter storm. Yeah, that's all!!

It was so cute watching the baby calves pounce around in the snow.  I think they really wanted to build a snowman!!!  Maybe, they wanted to make snow angels.  It was hard to tell for sure.

And this lady was trying to sport her best camouflage trying to blend in with the scenery, but I have an eye and spotted her anyway!!!  

Oh, then there is this gal, not to be confused with the prior camo mama!!!  She was clearly upset that I shot the picture from her bad side.  I'm sure when I show it to her she is going to go on a crash diet.  Pictures do that to us ladies!!!

As much as I have an itch for spring to arrive, I am grateful for the moisture in whatever form God decided to give us.  It was a beautiful wet snow and made for moments like these a few days later...

  

Yep, the glorious sight I get to admire living in the country!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

The Joys of Winter...

It has been so cold here for a couple weeks.  I think we have had a couple days in which the temperature got into the twenties, but it has been single digits most days and negative degree wind chills....brrrrr!!!!  With the non stop-freezing temps that brings on a lot of chopping ice for the cattle so they can drink.  Chopping ice, a winter joy on the farm...ha!!!

I decided to tag along this morning while my hubs and our hired man did chores.  It was so pretty outside because it snowed ALL day yesterday and the earth was covered with a sparkling white blanket of powder this morning.  The trees were covered in frost that was fluttering to the ground like confetti!  I love that I get a wide open view of it all!!!

Not only was the ground cover amazing, the sky was phenomenal as well.  I snapped a few pictures on my phone to share with you!

We {I use that term loosely} chopped ice and chopped more ice.  Today my hubs decided to get all the ice out of the tanks since they were mostly empty.  Some days we {um...my hubs} just chop a couple holes so the cows are able to drink.  So after chopping all the ice up we {I'm so glad I was such great help} threw all the big chunks of out of the tanks.  Next to each of our stock tanks it appears as though there are Eskimos living there because the piles of ice resemble an igloo...lol!

When it is so cold like this, I try to remember what it will be like in the summer with 115 degree temps with all the yucky humidity so I can tolerate the cold, but that doesn't always work....it is still COLD!!!

 {{{HUGS}}}

Prairie Hills Farm Goat Milk Products

If you love goat milk soaps, lotions, scrubs or most things goat milk you will love the products offered up by my friend Elizabeth at Prairie Hills Farm.  

I have used goat milk soaps for years and have even made my own.  I'm not the most knowledgeable in goat milk and all the fabulous benefits, but goat milk defiantly seems to be the best moisturizing soap I have found.  With the dry winter months upon us, I need all the moisturizing help I can get!  I personally do not suffer from psoriasis or eczema {thank goodness}, but I do have severe dry skin.  I have heard that goat milk soap can be an excellent choice to help with psoriasis or eczema problems because of its natural moisturizing elements such as amino acids and vitamin A.  

I have used Prairie Hills Farm soap and I love how rich and creamy it is and the scents are very pleasing.  Her best selling scents are Lavender and Almond Oatmeal.  I'm trying to talk her into offering a Cherry Almond scent because it is my favorite....hint hint Elizabeth!!!  In addition to the soap I also have a bottle of the Goat Milk Lotion sitting next to my sink so I can lather up after doing dishes.  The lotion is perfect!!  It isn't greasy and leaves my skin very soft and smooth with the pleasant scent of lavender.  Both the soap and lotion will rejuvenate your skin!

Please check out all the products Prairie Hills Farm has to offer on the online store here.  If you would like to know more about Elizabeth and her goat heard please "stalk" her here.  She raises her own goats in which all her products derive from.     

Please go and "Like" Prairie Hills Farm on Facebook.  Let her know The Farmer's Wife sent you and put a bug in her ear about the Cherry Almond Scent. 

Elizabeth is offering FREE SHIPPING the entire month of December when you spend $50 {before tax}!!!!  She wanted me to share that when you shop online and your purchase in over $50 to please to choose the "pick up" method and then provide your shipping address so you won't be billed for the shipping.  She will be posting this information on her Facebook page so be sure to "Like" her page!!!

Stay tuned for more products from Prairie Hills Farm.....I'm thinking GIVEAWAY {in Cherry Almond Scent...wink...wink}!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

End of A Dirt Road

I love this song...always have....always will and wanted to share it with you.  I love when a song can sum up my life.  That's all!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Window Shopping...

The other day a couple of friends and I ended up going on an impromptu trip and having a little bit of much needed girl time!!!  We ate chocolate, had mocha frappes, and stopped at a consignment shop that we have never been too.  It had a nice mix of old and new.  I loved scanning all the treasures.  There was so much there that I would have loved to brought home with me.  I couldn't buy anything because the shop is fairly new and does not have the capability to take debit or credit cards yet.  Remember, I said the trip was impromptu and I didn't have my purse, but I had my debit card.... which did not do me any good.  Window shopping it was.  Bummer!  However, I often go to the town where the store is located so I will head back there with cash and or a checkbook soon.  

Here are a few of the things I loved!  I will work left to right here.

    The vintage queen bedspread caught my eye because I remember my great grandma having several similar ones.  I love the pale pinks tones paired with the mint green.  I can totally picture it in a little girls bedroom.  I don't remember the price on it.

The old pump jack.  Who doesn't love one of those.  I am sure I could find a few of those around the farm if I went hunting....hhmmm maybe I will do that and use it in my landscaping.  Or I could buy this one for $80.  I think I will look around the farm first.

The antique vanity was remarkably nice.  I would say it has been refinished.  It was beautiful and had $400+ marked on it.  I would throw that in the girls bedroom with that vintage bedspread.  I am a visionary and I can totally see that bedroom coming together...ha!

The old globe had great character and sat in a base.  To tell the truth, I was thinking light fixtures in my head!  Who's with me there?  I can't remember the price on it.

A pink typewriter.....to go in the girls bedroom with the pink vintage bedspread and antique vanity.  Can you see it coming together????  It had the case and they wanted $30 for it.  

The green depression glass egg beater caught my eye.  I'm pretty sure the tag listed it at $80.  I need to take notes when I go so I can remember what things cost.  Note to self...take notes!

Ohh, the butter churn.  I am in love with this and sooooo wanted it!!!  I love the square jar and it still has the wood paddles that look original.  What once was a vital part of every kitchen has now become a decor item.  I love butter churns!!!  This one had a price tag of $150 slapped on it!

My mom has my great grandmas old butter churn.  My mom can remember churning butter with my great grandma and now my kids pretend to churn butter with it.  I wonder how many pounds of butter my grandma made?!?    Random facts about my great grandma {and grandpa}..... She was a farmer's wife, she loved the farm, crafts, cooking, chickens {I don't}, dancing, talking on the phone{early day facebook/texting...ha}, family, and an occasional beer.  She let me drive her car around the farm at a very young age {later my great grandpa got us a golf cart...lol}.  Her last 4 digits of her phone number was the same as ours, she was only 4'9" and my great grandpa was over 6' {picture that}.  They got married 20 miles away from where I live which was quite aways from where they lived.  Our youngest daughter was born on my great grandpa's birthday.  She lived on the farm until she died.  

I wish I could talk to her about being a farmer's wife today.  I think she and my grandpa would be in awe with today's farming operations AND PRICES!!!  I'm sure she could give me some advice on the hard times like this drought we are going through.  I have been through one before, but the stories of the 30's are so much worse and makes me appreciate the comforts we have today.

Okay, back to business here....

The antique washboard is in great shape and reasonably price for $30.  Every laundry room should have one hanging on the wall or on display don't you think?  I don't have one....yet!

The fan ohhhh the fan.  I love it and I really really really want it.  It works too!!!!  I am going to keep checking in on it and if it is meant to be mine it will someday.  They want $60 firm for it.  I passed one up for $15 once, but it didn't work and I liked it, but not as well as I like this one.  The old phone in the background isn't too bad either.

So there you have it, my day of window shopping.  It was so much fun and I can't wait to discover new places like this.  Is there any great places I need to know about like this???  

{{{HUGS}}}

Our Fair Week {Picture Heavy}

I am still recovering from our fair {still lacking sleep and trying to get my house back in order...aka LAUNDRY}!!!  I think I am about to get all the dirt out of my ears and nose.  I tried to get in for a pedicure {I have only had 2 in my life} on Monday, but they were booked up.  Guess my nasty feet will have to wait for another day.  Enough about me and my toe jam.

I LOVE our county fair!!!  It is a county owned carnival.  The fair board members and the individuals in charge of the carnival are awesome in my book for the countless hours they put in.   It is A LOT of work for the community to make sure it is a success each year.  Each town in our community is assigned a night to volunteer during fair.   I am SO THANKFUL for those who volunteer so my kids and all the others can have a fabulous time and a successful 4-H year.  To me, it is ALL about the kids!!! 

Here is our fair week in pictures.

A beautiful sunset during fair.

My Dad {an electrician} and my Hubs getting things in order before fair kicked off.  Since Grandpa had his bucket there my son and his friend got to go for a ride way up high!

Then of course, we had the beef show, horse show, exhibit hall, midway, demo derby, and SNO-CONES!!!

More of the horse and beef show. Nothing like a little rodeo action for some entertainment.  I love the cowboy knelt down praying before his event.  

The beef sale always brings out some tears when the kids have to say goodbye to their animals, BUT it is nothing a glitter tattoo can't fix!!!

So there you have it, our week of fair!!!  Another year of great memories in the book!!!

If you haven't entered for the Bracelet Giveaway, you have until Thursday Aug. 2nd at noon to do so!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

Pivot

Pivot, Pivot, PIVAT...

Whenever I say or think of the word Pivot I am reminded of one of the funniest scenes from one of my favorite T.V. shows..... yes...F~R~I~E~N~D~S.

Ha ha!!  You think?!?!?


When my husband and I first started dating he asked me if I wanted to help move sprinkler pipe.  Me being head over hills for him I agreed to get up at the crack of dawn to help him CARRY sprinkler across his 100 acre hayfield.  My hubs started doing this a couple years before we got married and we continued to do it for several more years.  We would often recruit all the help we could get which turned into great family times because it was my father in law and two younger sister in laws that got wrangled into helping.  It was A LOT of hard work, but my hubs wanted to get his farm certified as irrigated so it had to be done!  

source

After we tore the hay up and planted row crops we only had to lay out gated irrigation pipe ONE time a year.  I still hated laying out pipe, but I loved seeing awesome yields on our crops so I "tried" not to complain when it came time to irrigate.

Fast forward 17 years from the first day I went and helped move sprinkler pipe and this is how we irrigate now.

Yes, it's a PIVOT, PIVOT, PIVAAAT {you have to say it like Ross from Friends ha!}

My hub's uncle purchased a new pivot and we were able to purchase his used pivot.  This spring we got it up and running.  It is such a beautiful sight to see the pivot shoot out the water and creep across one of our fields saturating the soil and plants.

Getting the pivot up and running has really made me reflect back in time.  All the hard work we put into irrigating all those years ago and now we are finally reaping the rewards of that work.  This is one of the goals we have hoped and prayed about for our farm and look HERE IT IS!!!  It has not been only my hubs and I putting our heart and soul into our farm operation, but many of our loved ones have as well.  They are just as excited about it as we are.  My dad, and electrician, shed a lot of sweat helping us get it up and running and we are so very thankful for his help. {Thanks Dad, Love you!}.

My hubs admiring the site of water on the field.

My favorite farming quote is "Farming is more than a job, it's a way of life".  Ahhh yes, this IS the life and I wouldn't change it for the world!!  I feel extremely BLESSED!!!   

{{{HUGS}}}

Brandin' in Twenty Twelve

As promised, here are some photos from our brandin' this year.

Heading out to round up the cattle.

Bringing the cattle in.

The cattle are caught in the catch pen and it is time to sort off the mama cows.

Let the sortin' begin.

As the cows are sorted off they get poured with Ivomec.  Ivomec helps control a broad spectrum of lice, worms, and flies.

Calves are ready to be worked.  First we rope them.

Then a crew goes to work.  The calves will get branded, vaccinated, and if they are a bull calf they will be castrated.  Rocky Mountain Oysters anyone?????

Careful....that's HOT!!!!!

Here is my daughter and her bestie.  Watch out boys, because these country girls know how to throw a calf down and castrate them too!!  Here the calf has been worked and my daughter is pulling the calf around so he will head out to the pasture and not back into the pen with the calves that haven't been worked.  The little guy on the horse is our friends son and he out roped all the adults that day!!!!  He is only 7 years old!!!

My hubs is giving our daughter's boyfriend a lesson in castrating.  I am sure every father would like to show the boyfriend this!!!!! Ha!!

Funny thing is, my daughter has been castrating for years!!!  It could come in handy someday....lol!!!

Every year I seem to get one picture that takes the cake.  This is the winner this year.  The calf has been worked already and I think it got a little rambunctious.  Our hired man is on the ground and his brother is hugging the calf.  LOVE IT!!!

The future crew!

And our new puppy Roscoe was thrilled to chew on a cornstalk and chaps, boots, jeans, and cow poop!  He's flexible like that!!!

When the work is done there always seems to be some more fun.  My daughter and her friend had a plan to take my hubs down.  Here was plan....my daughter was going to get on all fours behind my hubs without him knowing it and then her friend would go up and talk to my hubs and then push him so he would trip over our daughter.  Oh yeah, and I was instructed to take pictures of the whole event.

It didn't go as planned because my hubs felt my daughter behind him with his spurs....which she informed me "kinda hurt"!  Good try girls....maybe next year.

After this, we went to our shop and fed everyone for their hard work.  I love BRANDIN'!!!

{{{HUGS}}}