The Story of Us

March marks many milestones for us-the day we met, both our birthdays, and our wedding anniversary!  It's a good thing we're not milking so we can celebrate all those events.

When people learn that Rick is from Pennsylvania, they often ask how we met.  Rick will laugh and say "She just drove in the drive one day!"  And well, that's exactly how it happened.

In the summer of 1999 I had done a college internship near where Rick lived and worked. However, that summer he went out west on a custom harvest crew.  Must not have been our time yet.  The following March (3rd, to be exact) I went back down to tour some farms and take pictures and measurements of retro-fitted New Zealand style swing line parlors for my Dad, who I was working full time for.  My former boss had suggested that I go to the farm that Rick was working on.  It ended up being a 4 hour tour.

I was sure he was "the one".  But, I didn't want to mess this up, so to be sure I sent Dad down to check him out. I disguised it as Dad going to a pasture walk with his boss and the farmers dad knows down there, but I think we all knew what was going on.  If Dad approved, well then we would proceed.

Later that summer, I was very clear with Rick.  Given our distance I made sure he understood my plans.  I said "I'm going buy the second farm and start a dairy."  He responded with "sounds good to me."  So it took about 30 seconds to determine our lifelong career.

In August he proposed to me.  When I came home with the ring, my Dad and I had a very touching conversation. It went like this:
Dad: Its okay if you want to move down there.  Its not that far away.  (Read: I'm not going to hold a grudge and be angry or bitter if you, my last child, moves away and leaves nobody to take on the family farming tradition.  I might be a little disappointed, but I'll get over it. Don't stay here for me and your fifth generation farming roots.)
Me: There's no opportunity for us down there. We're buying the second farm and starting a dairy. (Read: Move away from here? Really? )
Dad: Okay then. I just wanted to tell you that.

In making the wedding plans, it went like this:
Mom and Dad: You have to get married during the dry season or in the fall.  We can't have a wedding during calving or haying.
Me: I guess its March then.  This driving once a month to Pennsylvania is getting expensive. Not to mention the phone bills.

I'm sure that's how everyone picks their wedding date, right?

So that was planned, and within a year of meeting we were married.  I can't say that its the ideal situation, having all those special days in one month-but when they occur doesn't matter, only that they do occur.

For my birthday this year Rick and the boys made me this mason jar light fixture/chandelier.  I absolutely love it! Its the perfect size for the room it was created for, and it fits our personality and the character of the house.

This year we will celebrate our 13th anniversary.  Its hard to believe its been that long!  Most likely we'll be outside prepping for calving and caring for the new arrivals.  We might go out to dinner, but at this point in the dry-season budget it won't be anything over the top.  One advantage of all these special days happening in March-there's no overspending on gifts!

So our hair is a little thinner and our waists a little thicker, but 13 years later our love is deeper than ever!
(see-I can wear a dress and be all romantic... occasionally!) 

My niece is also getting married this March! She is the first of our nieces and nephews to marry. I have to say, they picked a great month!  We are so excited for them and look forward to sharing our anniversary month with them.

In a week or so we'll break out the happy birthday banner for Rick, and once again enjoy some cake, ice cream, homemade cards from the kids, and a break from the daily grind.  It will most likely be the last "ha-rah" before the real fun begins!

Happy March!

D.I.Y. Projects!

Ever wonder what we do during the dry season?

Most years we try to catch up on projects that get neglected during the year when we're busy with calves, hay, and regular chores.  Often the projects are house related, since those are easiest to work on during the cold winter months.

This past year we planned to remodel and re purpose our living room and enclosed front porch areas during the dry season.  Over time I found myself not inviting people over and feeling embarrassed over the condition of the rooms.  As our family grows, our needs also change.  We have come up with a better way to organize parts of the house to meet those needs.

In January we had seven new windows installed.  The change is incredible!  Our old windows were single pane aluminum, and were in horrible shape.  I used the curtains to hide them rather than enhance them.  All of Rick's work cutting wood to heat the house escaped through the windows, and they would condensate, frost, and produce mold on the inside...yuck!

Living room before:

 

 

Here the new windows are taped and the room is ready for paint.  In this room we had 2 regular size sofas, a love seat, the corner sectional piece, chair, toy cabinet, the treadmill, the toy barn, and the TV/media cabinet.  It was wall-to-wall furniture.  Although it was nice to be able to seat a lot of people, all the furniture made the room feel small, and the toy storage was spread out through the house, some in the front porch and some in the living room.

 

So, we made the front porch into a dedicated toy storage and play place. I do not have a before picture of the front room (who needs a reminder??).  It was very dark paneling and a cement floor. We painted, installed window blinds & valances, special sub floor panels that will control condensations, and some clearance carpet.  Rick did all the floor trim by himself with the miter saw I got at Menards on black Friday.  Who knew he was so great at trim? :) Here is the finished product:

 

entrance into front porch area from dining room

To see or not to see....our choice!

To the left-a small electric fireplace heater, throw pillow, and totes of toys.  All the toys are sorted by likeness-blocks, Lincoln logs, baby toys, puzzles, etc.  We only get one tote out a time.

The toy cabinet, moved in here from the living room.  Fisher Price Little People toys on top, although they don't look great here.  The bench is also for storage, with a couple of pillows for a cozy place to read or play.

In the cabinet are all the toys that do not have a tote, or their tote does not match the décor.

 

The electrician is coming tomorrow to install a light fixture and an outlet in this room.  Now, all the toys will be stored here.  This will help us keep the volume of toys under control, too. It also gives the preschoolers a place to play where the 1 year old will not be able to interrupt them, when the door is shut.  The exception to the toys is that some of the older kids do have some things that are special to them in their rooms, that they do not want the little kids to have access too, such as Lego's.

 

With all the toys out of the living room, it gives us more space to enjoy the room with a more open feel.  We disposed of one of the largest sofas that was in the worst shape, and the sectional piece.  This is the (mostly) finished living room:

 



The paint is "Grey Stone" and we used a combination of shades and cordless blinds for the windows.  The valances are black and grey.  The floor is prefinished hardwood.  No more allergen hoarding carpet!

The new furniture arrangement.  Placing furniture 12" to 24" away from the wall makes the room appear larger. It also keeps the walls in better shape....for awhile.  There's no great place to put the treadmill, but it gets used daily, so that is more important.

We're having a custom corner cabinet built here, which is why the trim is left undone.  It will be later in April or May until it is done. I'll post pictures then.  So excited!

We also need to install new outlets and switch plates in the living room.  The rugs are a little awkward, but later in the year I will be shopping for new furniture, which will not be blue (!!).   I have a couple of items for the walls, but am undecided about exactly where I want them.  After filling all the holes with putty though, I can say that command strips are my new best friend!

 

 

So we spent the first 3 weeks of dry season on the house project.  The next three will be outside getting ready for calving!  We have a parlor to wash and do regular maintenance on, hutches and calf pens to prepare, and fences to put back up.  Hopefully the weather improves soon!

 

Special thanks to our neighbor who helped Rick install the wood floor, and for those that gave Rick helpful hints on how to do the trim work.  Thanks also to Mom for waiting in line with me for over an hour at Menards on black Friday! Sometimes just having the right tools makes all the difference.

Happy organizing!
-Terri

 







1 year down!

This month will mark one year since we began our blog!  Our first post was about a trip to Rick's sister's farm, where we toured their compost bedded pack barn.....then we built one!

The cows have been in the barn for almost 6 months now.  It is working out quite nicely.  We finally got the tilling and bedding system down, and the cows seem to be comfortable, especially given the weather this winter.  The most popular housing in our area is a free-stall barn, so many people are unfamiliar with how these barns are managed.   Here's a quick peek:

The rotary tiller incorporates the manure and bedding, creating the compost.



It mixes up the manure piles and makes a nice, soft, fluffy bed for the cows.

Next, new shavings are spread on top using the spreader.

New bedding material is added every other day during the milking season, and every third or fourth day during the dry season.

 

Ready for the cows!

 

 



Later this Spring when the cows go out to pasture, we'll use the compost for fertilizer on the hay fields, pasture, and our garden.  If you need a pick up load for your garden, let us know!

Don't forget to visit the farm's FB page ( Grazeway Dairy ) to enter the first day of calving contest. You could win a farm shirt or mug, your choice!

Have a great day!

-Terri

Rules to Work By

As this milking season comes to a close, one of our employees will begin a new phase of her life as a stay at home (and work from home) mom.  She has been with us a little over three years and we wish her all the best in all her new endeavors. 

We have been blessed with low employee turn-around over the past couple of years, but that has not always been the norm.  We have had people work as little as one week after hiring.  We have seen all sorts of personalities and work ethics -or lack of- along with exceptional character traits and some that...well...lets just say they could use some improvement.

With the recent uptick in people looking for work, I have seen a lot of articles on resume writing, and interviewing.  But what about keeping that job you land? What about climbing up the ladder in both position and pay?  Ever wonder what keeps employers from moving you up?

We have an employee handbook that clearly states all the rules that we expect everyone to follow when working here.  What we haven't had is a standard for conduct and/or character expectations.  If we did, this is what I would include, from an employer's perspective:

1. Don't leave tasks assigned to you undone for others to finish.
2. Don't leave a mess for others to clean up.
3. Do a complete and thorough job.
4. Be at work both mentally and physically.
5. Show up on time...or 5-10 minutes early so you are "ready to work" at the appropriate time.
6. Leave work at work and home at home-unless its an emergency or serious situation. Your boss actually cares about you, believe it or not.
7. Don't be the office drama queen/king or gossip central. 
8. Only say positive or encouraging words. If you don't have something nice to say....just be quiet.
9. Don't be a minimalist.  Do a tad more than what's expected. Something about the extra mile....
10. Own up to your mistakes, and then correct them. Don't pass the blame.
11. Say "I'm sorry" when you need to. We all make mistakes.
12. Take initiative.  Learn what needs to be done, then do those things without being asked.
13. Do not be wasteful of time or supplies.  These things cost money, and the more money spent on these things, the less money spent on employee compensation.
14. Treat the company as if it were your own. This will pay dividends. Literally.
15. Remember, your current boss is who your next boss will call for a reference.

So what if your boss isn't the easiest person to work for?  Why should you do all these things, and strive to be an excellent employee?  That depends on who you think you're working for.  As Christians we're instructed to work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men (Colossians 3:23).

We are also reminded:
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Proverbs 14:23 In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty. 

 Philippians 2:14-15 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the  midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among who you shine as lights of the world.

If you find yourself in a rut at your workplace, consider doing a little self-check using the items above.  Is there something you can improve on?  Even if you feel your effort goes unnoticed, at least at the end of the day you will know that you have done your very best-from that point on its out of your control.

Because every blog needs a picture-

"For someone with no thumbs, it certainly seems as though that's all you have."
Courtasy of Rubes Cartoons 2013 Leigh Rubin

In the Farmer's Kitchen...

In January Rick, kid #2 and two of our friends went to the Ft. Wayne Farm Show.  As usual, I sent some snacks, including our own version of "Monster Cookies".  Yesterday, one of our friends insisted that I give him the recipe. Apparently he had taken the extras home, and when he went to get one after work, they were all gone-imagine that!

We rarely purchase snack foods.  Can you imagine swinging by the gas station and picking up snacks and drinks for a family of 7? That would cost almost as much as a weeks' worth of groceries.  More importantly, we don't need to be eating all those artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

Here is my version of Monster Cookies.  This is a gigantic batch, so you may want to halve it if you don't have a very large mixing bowl.

12 eggs    
4 c brown sugar, packed tight
4 c white sugar
1 lb butter
1 T pure vanilla
8 t soda
3 lbs natural peanut butter
3 packages Ghirardelli chocolate chips
19 cups oatmeal

First, cream the sugars and butter in your mixer.  I use a kitchenaid, and it can handle this first part well. 

 

 

Next, mix in the eggs and vanilla.

Pour the mixture into your large mixing bowl, add the peanut butter and mix.

Add soda and mix.

Finally, add oatmeal and chocolate chips. Mix well.

Because I use regular rolled oats, natural peanut butter and butter (not margarine) I let this sit overnight in the fridge.

Use an ice cream scoop to portion out cookies and slightly flatten on cookie sheet.  I prefer to use parchment paper for easy clean-up.  Bake in a 350 oven for 10-12 minutes.  As the cookies cool, they will set up.  Get your freezer bags ready-there's going to be a lot!

I like to use quality ingredients for taste and to avoid artificials.  I make this cost effective by buying organic oatmeal in a 50lb bag from country life natural foods.  From Sam's club I buy butter (2.12/lb), brown sugar (7lbs $4.48), white sugar (25lbs $9.84) and pure vanilla extract (16 oz. $6.88).  Ghirardelli chocolate chips use pure vanilla, and you can get them at Sam's (.22/oz), but recently our local Kroger had an excellent sale over the holidays that matched that price, so I stocked up there.  They also had natural peanut butter for $1.88 each (the lowest I have seen), so I have at least 6 months worth in my cubard right now.

 

 

Enjoy....now and later!

The Long Winter

...and it's not over yet!

If you did not get the chance to experience the Polar Vortex, I'm sure you heard about it.  This past month has brought many weather events that have made headlines every day.  I've come to learn that the events or happenings around the farm (including the weather) that make excellent blog material are also the things that keep us busy to the point of not having time to share it.  So here are some pics of what we have dealt with this winter (so far).


Ice Storm 2013

Weeping willows in a sad sort of shape!

The ice was beautiful at night, glowing on Christmas decorations.

Having run on generator power for four days, it had to be checked often, even through the night.  It was fun to read through all the text messages on Rick's phone (sent in the middle of the night), as he and his close farmer friends "talked" as they checked fuel levels and tractor temperatures.



Looking to the North from the drive.

During the "Polar Vortex"

The pasture-although you can barely see it!

From the North, headed home-earlier in the day, when it was till passable.

Later that day (the 6th) our daughter had a fever that spiked at 105.5-while on both Motrin and Tylenol.  I called the doctor's office, and they advised me to get her in there right away.   At that point, the road and the driveway had blown shut with very high drifts, so big that Rick said there was no way he could clear a path to the main road in less than 2 hours, let alone the 45 minutes that I told the doctor it would take me to get there.  So Rick made a phone call to the head of the road commission, with a cell phone number that not very many people have.  Years ago we had a not-so-positive experience with this person, but in the end there was resolution.  Because of that experience, we had the right phone number, and within 10 minutes the V-plow on the front of the road grater was passing by the house, throwing snow higher than the trees, making such a white powdery cloud you could barely see him.  As if it was his own daughter.  I nearly cried.  On his second pass, Rick had made enough of a clearing that we could get out of the drive and down the road.  God makes all things work together for good.

So, we've had a couple of unexplained very high fevers, a slight ear infection, an upper respiratory, and currently Rick is under the weather-but we are so grateful.  Our friends have brought wood, a tasty meal, we have the barn for the cows, the "grater guy" keeps the road plowed, and it looks like we'll be able to make it to church on Sunday for the first time since December 22nd.

This winter will be one for the record books-but in my book will be the greatness of God, family, and friends.

-Terri

Making Merry Memories

I recently made a batch of our family's traditional Santa cookies.  Following in my mom's and Grandma's footsteps, I carefully followed all of the directions-although my cookies never quite turn out as good as Mom's.  How they turn out really doesn't matter to me, though.  Its following the tradition and the enjoyment of making them each year.  This year the snow was blowing horribly outside, and I hurried to finish the baking part before the afternoon milking.  While I worked and watched the driveway drift shut I remembered some of my favorite Christmas's from the past.  Although some of the gifts were pretty great, my best memories are the things that we did. This makes me wonder if our focus is all wrong.  The special things we do with the kids often come after all the other "stuff".  After we get the cookies done, after we get the shopping done, after we get the house cleaned, after we get the laundry done, after we get the chores done-sometimes there's so many "afters" we never get to the special things.  Here's some memories that are pretty special to me....

In first grade my mom and dad put the Christmas tree in the middle of the dining room.  They tied it to the top of the light and you could walk all the way around it.  It was awesome.  That year I had a horrible time waiting to open gifts.  On Christmas Eve, because I was SO desperate, my oldest sister handed me a gift from her, and said I could open it.  It was a small porcelain panda figurine.  I still have it.  After that year, we started opening gifts from each other on Christmas Eve, a tradition that we do with our kids now.

One Christmas Eve, after all the presents had been opened and most the food gone, we went cross country skiing.  The conditions were perfect, the moon was bright, and not a car in sight.  We went up and down Colony rd and looked at the lights.  The calm and peacefulness is unexplainable.   Its hard to put your finger on the kind of special that is Christmas Eve.

Another year my oldest sister put together 1/2 peck size bags of fruit.  Late into the night, after our party was over, we piled in the car and anonymously hung bags of fruit on people's doors.  We'd knock or ring the door bell and run away to the waiting get-a-way car.  Oh what fun that was!  A friend of mine at school the next week made sure I knew that she knew that it was us.  I think she missed the point-sometimes for the sake of other people's feelings it's just better to not be "right".  Sometimes reveling surprises wrecks it more for the giver than the receiver.

Around middle school it was decided that we would attend the neighboring church's midnight Christmas Eve service.  We arrived at 11pm and sat two or three rows up from the back.  The bulletin listed all the songs, some with asterisks besides them, indicating that you should stand.  When it came time to sing the second song, our whole pew stood.  There must have been some sort of miscommunication between the worship leader and the bulletin printer, because we were the only ones.  S l o w l y we sat down  as we realized the situation.  I almost busted out laughing...then and when I think about it today!

Shortly after we got married, my mom needed help bringing her star down from the top of their 100+ft. silo to rewire it.  Rick climbed all the way to the top (it has a caged ladder), and begin to lower the star down with a rope and a hook.  Now if any of you are fans of the TV show The Price is Right, you'll know exactly what I mean when I say the minute that star came unhooked, it was like Plinko x100!  It clanged and clinked as it hit the caged ladder and fell half way down the silo.  We were able to bend it back into shape-sort of-for that year, but I can still here it clear as the day is bright when I remember that falling star.

Our first Christmas Eve as farm owners Rick and I opened a box from my sister and brother in law. It had a poem in it that went like this:
Star light,
Star bright,
First star I see tonight:
(Something, something)
(Something, something)
Out back behind the garage.
For those of you who enjoy the star on our silo, you can really thank my brother-in-law. He made it. And I love it.

We've had a multitude of very creative gifts over the years, but I'll never forget my senior year of high school.  I told mom and dad I wanted a tool box for the bed of my truck.  They said that was too expensive. I knew it was, but it really was what I wanted, I wasn't going to lie.  However, I wasn't counting on one at all.  Very early on Christmas morning, my mom yells up the stairs, in a not very Christmas-y type voice.  Almost out of breath, like.  I came down and there on the kitchen entry way rug was a tool box, with a can black spray paint taped to the top!  Unbelievable!  I never even noticed that Jack (the neighbor farmer) had gotten a new silver plated tool box until his old one turned up in mom and dad's kitchen.  I never even cared that it leaked a little bit.  I had the coolest truck EVER. On this side of 127, at least :)

Of course, the most important thing about Christmas is the gift of Jesus.  That is a kind of love bigger than any anonymous bag of fruit or bright shining star.  Although we can never match the gift of Jesus, we can do our best by focusing on the things that really matter-people.  Spend some quality time with people that matter to you. The memories might not always be perfect, but those are usually the best ones.

-Merry Christmas
-Terri