Happy Mother's Day!!!

I want to wish all the moms out there a very Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

For me there is no greater gift than my children.  As I watch them grow up too fast I try to seize the days they are still young for I know it won't last forever {just a second........had to grab a tissue.....thinking about them grown and gone out of the house makes my eyes water}.  Sigh!

Growing up my mom was a rock star {not in a band...lol} because she could do anything!!!  My mom made sure I always had my hair done up cute {it is probably why I have small eyes....she pulled them long pony tails up good and tight and I felt like it was pulling my eyes....but it was cute} and I was always dressed in the cutest clothes.  She taught me right from wrong and how to braid.  She took my brother and I to sunday school and church.  My mom was always at our school events volunteering her time and energy to help out.  She drove hundreds of miles to watch my brother and I at our sporting events.  She let me get a cocker spaniel puppy for my 10th birthday {her name was Princess aka Yubs}.  She could sew like no other and even made Barbie doll clothes, Halloween costumes, dresses, and made our schools mascot outfit!!!  I spent countless hours with her at the craft store {hmmm, now I make my kids go with me}.  She can play several instruments including the piano.  We spent every weekend at the lake {probably my greatest childhood memories are from our time at the lake} and she taught me and several of my friends to water ski.  I have seen my mom do plumbing, wiring, and woodworking with no problems.  My mom can hunt, fish, and back a trailer.  The list can go on and on. I am not sure there is anything she can't do!!!  Happy Mother's Day Mom!!!!....{I know she reads my blog because she is a supportive mom}.  Now she does all these things with my kids!!!!!

Have a great Mother's Day!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Planting Seeds

As I mentioned earlier my hubs is busy busy busy!!!  We are officially  in full swing on the farm {if there is an unofficial time on the farm please advise me of it because we are always busy}.

So for the past several days my hubs has spent a lot of time in a big green tractor planting corn and spraying the fields.  For the past several days I have spent a lot of time cooking and taking meals to the field for the guys.  My son {who is 4 years old} loves to go with his dad.  You need to have someone in charge and that would be my son....at least he thinks so!!  Anyhow, my son is very disappointed if he doesn't get to eat his lunch in the field.  If he is at home with me and I am taking "field meals" as I call them, he wants me to wrap his food in foil and put his chips in a ziploc baggie and get him ice tea in his Buzz Lightyear water bottle.  These things are very important when you are 4 and love every aspect of farming.

The hubs was about done with this field and ready to move to another when I showed up.  So I thought I would stick around and see this new planter fold up.

But really I just wanted to see if he could fit across this bridge.

And he did.  I would say it was a tight fit, but our friend Troy was with me and said he had tons of room.  They always tell me an inch is as good as a mile so in this case I guess we had about 6-8 miles to work with.  I am glad I wasn't the one driving!!!

Now that the corn is in the ground I have this song in my head....

♪I am gonna live where the green grass grows♪

♪ watchin' my corn pop up in rows♪

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

My Lawn Mower Saga........

For several weeks I have been asking my husband to get my mower tuned up and ready for another year.  For several weeks my husband has been gearing up to plant corn {and is currently planting corn}.  I usually do all 95% of the mowing at home at.  Our yard is rather large and then I also mow around our corrals, grain bins, barn, garage, hog shed, and the rows of trees that form our wind break.  Needless to say I am very thankful to have a riding lawn mower because it takes half a day to mow everything with the rider.

For several weeks now my mower is still sitting there staring at me with a sad face.  It is ready to get to work, but has a flat tire and just needs a little "spa" treatment to get its motor running.  Each day it sits there and each day the grass gets taller.......sigh!!!  I have been reminding my husband everyday to get the mower going {because he forgets.....everyday}.  I am not sure when "reminding" turns into "nagging", but I am sure I am getting close.

So my friend and neighbor happens to have one of these.

This here folks is an Earthwise 36 volt electric lawn mower.  It takes no $4 a gallon gas.....none!!!  You simply charge the battery and mow.  My friend was kind enough {because she understands when husbands don't do their honey-do lists} to let me borrow it.

I only mowed the grass around the house {and remember I have a large yard} because that is what needed it the most.  The mower did quite well and you have the option to bag, mulch, or shoot the grass out the side {is there a fancy term for that}.  I decided to bag the grass since it was tall.  The mower didn't seem to bog down too bad at all.  I could tell it was pulling down on the motor draining the battery in the REALLY tall grass, but still did a great job.  I mowed for about 2 hours and still had battery left.  Another great feature is there is no cord to yank on {and throw your back out} to get it started.  Simply push the button and squeeze the handle and you are off and mowing.  Overall I think this is a great mower!

If you are interested in this mower {like I am} you can check it out here. http://www.amazon.com/Earthwise-60236-Discharge-Mulching-Cordless/dp/B004H4X6P6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1304553121&sr=1-3

I think I need want an electric mower now.   Since I do not have a small mower to get up close to the house and in all the nooks and crannies I think this could be a great option for me.   I wouldn't have to wait on the hubs to get my rider tuned up either.   Plus, it is safe enough for the kids to operate {and it could cut me down to only having to do 80% of the yard work} because it shuts off instantly when you let go of the handle.  I NEED ONE!!!

I will still remind my husband EVERYDAY that he STILL needs to get my riding mower going though!!!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Herbie Husker Garden

I can't tell you how excited I am about my HERBie Husker garden!!!  Spring is here {according to the calendar, but not this Nebraska weather} and I was thrilled to purchase some herbs!!!

Meet Herbie Husker Garden....

I found this container at a local retail store for $10 {on sale}.  It has 4 pails that are connected together and has a handle which makes it easy to move around.  Herbie is sporting oregano, cilantro, parsley, and dill.  Doesn't he look stunning!!!!!  He adds a little "life" to my kitchen too!!!

Here is the cute little wood handle nestled in amongst all the herbs.  Should I paint the handle Husker red??????

I used my Cricut machine and some black vinyl to label each pail {not that I don't know which herb is which} to give Herbie some personality.

I have never grown herbs, but I am looking forward to cooking with fresh flavorful herbs.  I also plan to dry the oregano and dill.  I am not sure if I will dry the cilantro and parsley.  I have read that parsley and cilantro will mold fast because they contain quite a bit of moisture {but I am new to this....so what do I know}.  Any greenthumbs out there have any advice on drying herbs?

{{{HUGS}}}
The Farmer's Wife

Brandin'

Last weekend we managed to cram sixty hours of work, activities, and Easter celebrations into a 48 hour time period.  It was exhausting, but we enjoyed every minute of it {except when my team lost at a game of pitch}.

One of the weekend happenings was helping our friends with their branding.  At a brandin {I prefer to not put the {G} at the end of the word because...... that is how I like it!} the baby calves get "worked".  And you get to eat sour cream and onion potato chips while sitting in a feed bunk {kind of funny if you think about it}.

The gang is ready to start working.

First the cows and calves are gathered up.  Then the baby calves are sorted off from their mamas.  The mama cows get irritated when they are separated from their babies.  And the baby calves bawl because they want their MOMMY!!!!

Once a calf is roped it gets vaccinated and branded while a couple people hold it down.  If you are the one on the rear end of the calf it is a good idea to put your foot over the butt so you don't get pooped on. I could go into great detail about why I know this, but just take my word {it involves calf scours}.

Here is Sher'rie my multi-tasking friend....remember I talked about her here.  She was in charge of cutting the bull calves.

.

Then the kids decided to have a huddle.

Only to find out that Hayden needed to pee.

The work continues........

Then my oldest daughter was taught how to cut the bull calves.

And she loved it so continued to cut as many as they would let her.

Here are the hard working gals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And Mav was hoping one of them would miss the bucket that they were throwing the nuts in.  Mav loves Rocky Mountain Oysters!!!!!!

When the work was done my husband smarted off to Sher'rie and so she took after him and she WON!!!!!

Good times good times!!!!!!!

{{{HUGS}}}

The Farmer's Wife