"Everything's Bigger In Texas"

....Trucks. Hats. Sam Houston Statues. Fevers.

Hello Friends!

As usual, we took our annual vacation after we dried the cows up.  This is very precious time for us.  Living where you work creates special challenges. Sometimes to truly be "off" you also have to be "absent".  One of our favorite benefits of seasonal dairying is having the opportunity to get away together. All of us. For more than 2 or 3 nights.

Last year we went to Texas too.  Less than a month after our farmer left I drove the kids south over 2 days. That was pivotal. That was God showing us/them that we could do it. There was still life and adventure out there.  And sun, and warmth......it's still there!

For the first time ever, we vacationed in the same state, just a different area.  Don't be surprised if we go back next year.

It wouldn't be a trip without a stop at Lambert's Cafe....

Home of the "throwed roll".  Oh to correct the bread throwing after you leave here!  We stayed in Little Rock after this, unknowingly right next to a TSC.  As the kids and I walked across the parking lot at night, then back again with our clearance treasures,  we laughed.  They thought walking to TSC was "the best thing ever".

We visited a local church, celebrated the super bowl in house (40 minutes north of the actual event), and took a ferry to the USS Texas.  The battleship visit corresponded to Kid #1's history unit.  While this was unplanned, it reminded me how thankful I am that we get to visit the places the kids study about. History comes to life.

At this point one of the kids started to not feel well. Like every good parent I assumed it to be travel related, gave the appropriate medicine, and announced to the kids that we were going to tour the Anheuser Busch plant.  Because lots of things are fermented.  The kids took this tour head on, answered all the crop questions correctly, asked 5 questions the tour guide couldn't answer, and really made Marcus, our guide, earn his tip. He was great!  If the kids start growing hops it's not because we are avid drinkers but because they can do math and the milk market right now is not that great......Marcus also said we needed to eat at What-A-Burger.  This also happens to be the chain that Lane Frost (pro bull rider) took his future wife Kelly for dinner in the movie 8 seconds....(useless information).

One of our favorite activities was joining the local home school group at the Rosenberg Railroad Museum for a class on the transcontinental railroad.  The kids participated in the one hour class with other local homeschoolers, then we looked at the rail yard.  Their fellow classmates for the day were also 4Hers.  I can truly say, we felt like family.  It was a great break from the noise and congestion of north Houston.  Thank you so much Rosenberg friends!

Then this happened.  All 5 kids were sick over a period of 1.5 weeks, up to 4 of them at one time. I was very grateful it was just high fevers, headaches, body aches, and the like.  Not much to clean up there if you know what I mean!  However, we had a pause in all of the activity, and took turns staying with the sick kids.  This made the nights short too, as I had to get up and check them and administer medicine.  Vacations aren't suppose to be relaxing anyway, right? It did give us time to do a little shopping:

I tried to get Dad to go home with that car but it's still at the Ford dealership.  However, we were blessed to find one of two vehicles that I am in need of.  In true Dave Ramsey style we not only walked away, but drove away from this Ford Explorer when the seller wouldn't accept my offer. He called us back!  My brother and his father in law had come down on the train and they drove it back to Michigan for me.  One down....one to go.  And yes....I bought them lunch at What-A-Burger. (also paid for their travel expenses, don't worry).

As the kids started to feel better we made one last educational side trip to Waco, visiting the Silos at Magnolia, and the Texas Ranger Museum.

On the way home we burned off some energy at a trampoline park...(how much is a parent willing to pay to tire kids out before you put them in a hotel room? A lot. The answer is A LOT.).

 

 

As we left Little Rock on the way home, we seen the Wix Filter truck. One of the kids said "Hey Mom! If we go back in and talk to him we can deduct the whole trip!"  That's my boy!



We are full speed ahead into prepping for calving season and dealership open houses home school field trips.

Until next time, Texas.

Jan-u-weary

The beginning of the month blew in with exceptionally cold temps, causing some challenges with the equipment on the farm. Even when plugged in the 806 decided it wasn't working for a few days. We improvised and went to our back up plan, lining up bales and forking out hay. It's important to keep an open mind and know how to get things done when you're thrown a curve ball. We always take care of "first things first". Food. Water. Cows milked.

We had our annual herd check on the 6th. It was fun to catch up with the vet that started his career the same year we did. We had a great year, only 2 open cows. We are thankful!

We got to use the new pit pump. This was very important as the old pto pump broke as we removed it from the pit the last time we used it.

I couldn't resist this picture....the sun came out!

The educational opportunity I received this month was when one of the chop gates broke in the parlor. This part here is called a pillow block.....

Leroy showed me how to change them out. I hope next time to be able to do it myself. Thanks again friends!

January was challenging. We were short help but the team all gave a little extra and we got it done.

I didn't get this picture rotated correctly.  We marked a year without our farmer on the 20th. When I found this in kid #3's school work....it gave me pause. The two older kids remembered the day, the littles did not. This one remembers details some, but hasn't marked the time like the older kids and I.  Seeing your reality in picture is...no words here. However I am a bit surprised their aunt and uncle and the neighbors 7 miles to the south weren't in it :). We spent the day with family and close friends. Thank you ~

Kid #1 said "I'm going to get one more bale."
No....no you're not. Welcome January thaw.

Dry off 2017
We had some good laughs as we finished out the season, then in tradition we enjoyed breakfast together. Thanks team!

I will be the first to admit it. I often lose hope. When one thing after another breaks, when we are short help, when there is yet another negative producer price differential, and on and on and on....I get discouraged. I often see all that needs done instead of all that has gotten done. This picture reminds us once again, each day, each season, each year is new and filled with hope.

Ephesians 3:20
Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power of work within us, to accomplish infinity more than we might ask or think.

Page Views

It is evening as I write this. I just finished checking school work for the day.  While the day didn't go as I had planned, tasks still got done.  While working outside this afternoon, I took a few pictures to update the FB page.  I have noticed that the farm page has had a lot "hits" lately, or "page views" as the FB team likes to call them. A page view is when someone visits the page for the first time.  There has been a significant amount of page views lately.  I can't help but wonder why...is it because I handed out some business cards at a conference lately, because of our new endeavor selling grass fed meat, or is it because of another recent tragedy in our farming community, and people are wondering what my response will be.  Something that I struggle with within our own situation is never knowing that last thought, that last cry out to God, or for all we know that last cuss word sent out for the world.  I know what was said for us to hear, and it was anything but comforting.  The absolute hardest part of these situations is the lack of resolution.  No answers. Ever. Only speculation.  Please don't speculate on behalf of the Clark family.  We, and possibly his family, will never know the deepest battle that went on inside of him.  And the constant challenge now is coming to peace with that.  Please join me in prayer for the family.

***

~November~

We welcomed back our regular supplier of sawdust.  This trailer has a "walking floor' where the dust literally falls out into a pile, and I (or an employee) push it into the sawdust bay.  We get a load of dust every 2-3 weeks.

Another Birthday :)

I was blessed to be able to attend the Director Leadership Conference by FCS.  It had been 30 years since I have been to California.  The last time was with the American Farm Bureau Federation when I was in 1st grade.

The super moon over San Diego

Pacific Ocean....I smiled a lot as I watched Farm Credit take over the hotel lobby (jeans and boots everywhere) and how the farmers really stuck out at the beach (lol)

As winter approaches we continue to prepare.  One thing we happen to be on top of is keeping the shop cleaned, swept and ready for equipment to be serviced.

Started the woodstove in the house. Thank you again, church family!

We enjoyed our traditional Thanksgiving meal, including the last of the grass fed turkeys that Rick raised.  Mom and I went shopping some, more for entertainment than gift buying, while my dad watched the kids. The older boys decorated outside, and we enjoyed having the afternoon off.  Thanks again, team members!

Monday, the boys and I blew out the water line that provides water to the tanks in the pasture. Today, with help, we put up the freezer strips between the parlor and the holding pen.  One thing at a time, we will chip away at that winter prep list.  All we can do is our best!



I often wonder if the agricultural community will refer to this year, and possibly last year and the next, in the same way they refer to the "80s".  Will we look back in remembrance of all the struggles the farming community endured, and all the results of those struggles?  We are living through history, right here, right now.  What can we do today to change the way the stories will be told in 30 years?

I am often heard saying "It's been an off year." And it has.  And while some may think that is too much of a nonchalant way of referencing it, it contains it. And there is only one more month left.  



Windrows, Windows, Woodrows, Windmills

I have so much to share with you! Exciting things, stressful things, inviting things, blissful things...

The last two weeks have been interesting to say the least. The twist and turns of direction have sometimes left us feeling queasy, and in anticipation for the roller coaster to finally come to a stop for a bit.

On October 23rd, I choose to be baptized.  While I have been saved for the greater part of my life, I choose to make this additional commitment to fully serve our Lord.  It was a great and humbling experience all at once.  We celebrated that afternoon by baling and wrapping up two of the three fields of alfalfa. Dad baled, my brother and I worked on hauling and wrapping.  Mom helped with the kids.  I marveled a bit at how seamless it went...and how few words had to be said at this point in the game. We have all worked together many, many hours. And given this was 4th cutting at my place, they all knew how I wanted it done...whether they agreed or not! (LOL).  At the end of the day we all went home feeling satisfied about the day's events.  I normally wouldn't make hay on a Sunday, but our time was running very short on getting it done.

On October 24th, we shipped the final two bulls!  This marks two significant changes for our farm. First, we are no longer raising our own breeding bulls!  We don't have to move them back to the rental farm; we don't have the added chore of caring for them daily; we don't have the stress that comes with keeping them over the winter.  Secondly, soon we will have grass fed hamburger for sale!  The bulls were butchered at a federally inspected plant, so the meat will have our own label on it.  Check the Facebook page for availability updates.

Rueben and Howie on their final ride...

Mid week the mechanic came out to look at the 806 that has a serious hydraulic oil leak.  While that only requires a seal kit to repair, the New Holland required some additional thought.  The 4x4 has not been working, and while it can be fixed, the greater issue is that the farm has outgrown the tractor, and if used in the same manor, will probably need fixed again.  We have doubled the amount of high moisture balage we harvest, and use it daily in the winter.  It simply no longer meets our needs, so....

We power washed it to prep it for sale pictures.  The largest of the compact tractors that NH makes, it still has a lot of life left in it, just for farms slightly smaller than us.

October 30th marked the 14th year of farm ownership for us.  On this day, we take my parents out to eat to celebrate and show appreciation for the farming legacy they have helped continue.  We have only missed one year of lunch, and most years we take a picture...just not this one.

The kids and I had a blast carving pumpkins and visiting the neighbors. They dressed up as "Curious George at Mr. Renkin's farm".  Kid #1 said "I sprayed my boots off as good as I could" Those are actually his work clothes from the day....

We celebrated a birthday....

Hauled scrap iron....

And were blessed by our church!

FREE!!! If you can use this railing, please stop by and grab it.  I have no idea where I would store it....

Kid #4 said "I thought it was going to go over the van and onto the house roof!"

It didn't.

 As you may have seen on the FB page I was invited to attend an advanced grazing workshop, and enjoyed it very much.  There I got to meet in person the farmers who are raising our bulls!  The day was thought provoking, educational, and motivating.

Many good things happened the last couple of weeks, but they were met with as many challenges. 'Tis the life of farming!  The cows are in the barn now, and we will begin receiving sawdust this next week.  We are continuing to transition into the winter schedule. Soon we will move the spring calves over to the heifer ranch, and we hope to start tucking things away for winter.

Most blog posts I try to end with some encouraging words, more so for my own benefit, I admit.  I often have to remind myself to try to see things the way other people see them-and we are blessed.  Let's just go with this:

Meanwhile, Back at the Dairy....

Hello Friends!

While many of you may be ready for fall, I really am missing summer already. It seemed to fly by and all I can remember is milking and hay making.  Some of the projects we have been working on all summer are coming to completion, or are very close.  We're excited to see these changes that will lesson the stress and make everyday chores happen smoothly and more efficiently.

 

 

A long time in the planning-We got the drive going around the parlor to the pit completed!  A huge bonus here: all that wait time meant we got recycled asphalt instead of crushed concrete.  This is an upgrade, for sure.  I am excited and grateful to have a nice drive this winter.....which should mean we don't get stuck!

Dairyland Excavating also completed the drive at the new gateway that Neville Supply installed earlier this year.  We have never had a proper drive by the wrapped bales.  Never.  Thanks are in order to Dairyland Excavating for their talent and time in doing these projects.

We also filled in this big hole, where we drive the 806 back to the new barn to feed the cows.  It's the little things....like not going through a huge hole when you make this corner.  The day goes so much better!

My friend Kathy has been a great encouragement in terms of running this summer. She gently prodded me in the spring, and we signed up for the Dashing for Ag series.  This was the final 5k, the Agri-fit Challenge.  The semi load of sugar beats, donated by Crumbaugh Legacy, INC, was one of the final obstacles.

One of my favorite parts of the 5k was this obstacle. Not because it was easy, or short, but because a fellow GreenStone board member who was photographing the event, ran with me from this obstacle to the next. Camera in tow.  We laughed, and her smile and friendship encouraged me.

 

For the first time ever, I got to attend a Spartan football game with my brother.  We had a blast!  My family has 3 graduates of MSU, and my brother and I both come from the dairy sector.  Our blood runs green....but only in sports. Not in tractors!

I am so excited to have finally set up a self serve egg station at the farm!  We have wanted to do this for a long time!  In November I will also have grass fed beef for sale.

 

This picture, taken October 4th, just warms my heart. To be on full grass in October is such a blessing.  We were very dry in July and had to supplement the cows with balage.  Being able to graze longer in the fall is so enjoyable for me.  The less time in the barn in the winter....the better. LOL!

 

Coming up.....more hay.  In all honesty, I would have loved to finish up the hay in September, grease all the equipment, change discbine knives, and tuck everything away nicely in the barn. BUT, God did this....he brought out awesome sunshine and adequate rainfall, so we will get a 3rd cutting at the heifer ranch, and a 4th cutting of the alfalfa at home in mid to late October, given we get a break in the rain.  We are up over 2000 bales already this year, a record for our farm.  God is Great!

I think often of stories and experiences I would like to share on here with you, but the days seem to pass by before I get the chance.  There are great memories, some funny, some sad, some that would make one ponder for awhile, along with daily events or things that the kids say ( a blog in itself!).  As we continue to grow and restructure I am hoping to bring on at least one more additional part time employee, to ease up on my work load. In reality thus far, however, God has provided what I need for each day.  We are very grateful to have brought on Sam, another graduate of MSU from the dairy sector, and Mel, who helps me with the kids and the house in the morning.

My devotion this morning reminds me that...
...Whenever your mind wanders into the future, make the effort to include Me in that imagery. See Me helping you, strengthening you, encouraging you.  Instead of being intimidated by tough times ahead, view them as adventures that you and I together can handle...
How short we often sell the possibilities of the future because we limit what we think God can or will do.

One last thing....check out this beauty....your next tractor!