27 years!

Yes, today is our 27th wedding anniversary. I would post a picture of us but I don't have any on the computer and I don't feel like digging the wedding album out. Sorry! Tonight we go out to Kelly Lake with Steve & Rogene (Jerry's cousin, Steve did stand up for our wedding). Wednesday we leave for Michigan for a 2 day get-a-way. Yea!!!! We need a break from the farm! This 14 hour day crap is getting rather old.

Bad freezer day!

After almost 27 years my chest freezer died on Tuesday night. When I finally figured it out it had been at least 2 days of not working. So off to Shawano I go with checkbook in hand as Jerry said take the checkbook and go. I wish he would say that about other things I would like. So I was kind of at everyone's mercy. I hate that! I wanted a 25 cu. ft. this time. Only 1 in Shawano and I wanted it delivered that day. Well it got done and wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I even got some the basement cleaned because of it. So that night Jerry is looking it over and tells me Happy Anniversary as our anniversary is on the 9th. Isn't he romantic? LOL

First day of autumn

My favorite time of the year is here! It is always sooooo short. I love fall and everything that goes with it. Pumpkins, colored leaves, warm sunny days but not too hot, our wedding anniversary and a weekend away of course. In two weeks we go to Michigan. Can't wait!

I'm still here

I have been pretty lax on this posting thing. But now since I'm on facebook I think the blog might have to go by the wayside. I don't really have time for both and they are both kind of the same anyway.

Jenny's last day is today. Boo-hoo! We won't see her again until Thanksgiving, I hope. I am getting my entries ready for the fair next week.

Just think 4 months from today is Christmas! That's all for now...................

BHS Class of '74

Good lookin group. We all thought we looked the same as graduation day. LOL A good time was had. We wished more classmates would have been there. I'm on the next committee!

August will be nuts!

August looks to be a hectic month for me. We have something going on every weekend and sometimes both Saturday and Sunday. Jenny leaves us Aug. 25th:( So that means I will be going to the barn more. I had it rather nice this summer and only went to the barn once or twice a week. The Shawano fair is Labor Day weekend. I do take photography exhibits among a few other things to the fair. Not only that I work at the fair. I am superintendent for photography, cultural arts and woodworking. So that means I am at the fair every day. The first days are 12 hour days. Those are some looooong days working with the public. So I probably won't be blogging too much this month unless something really exciting happens, but don't count on it.

A special thank you

It was a non-stop weekend for me. Went with Mary to the big craft show in Lakewood. I had never been there before. WOW!!! I've never seen so many people in little Lakewood. Did buy a few things. Then on the way home we stopped at The Schoolhouse for a Bloody Mary. Yummy! They had a corn roast that day and the corn was free! So of course we had some. Got home and I was going to go to Green Valley for the picnic, as Jesse was in the tractor pull. So I called him just before I was going to leave. He said I just pulled and I got first place! He said there were not many tractors there. So off to Scott's 50th birthday pig roast. Again yummy! Can you tell I don't go to the barn much in the summer:) Although I did go Saturday morning before the craft show.

So Sunday I had to get to church early to help set up communion and sell the last benefit tickets I had and pick up the bars for the benefit. The off to the benefit as Jerry and the rest stayed home to bale hay. Have to do that when the sun shines you know. So I was kitchen help this time. I've never seen so many good bars and salads. Again yummy! Well, I did get to walk around a very little at the benefit. I stopped to read the thank you board. As I skimmed through it twice I didn't find my name. Well, I did give the prize and baskets a while ago already, I was a little disappointed but then thought oh well, I know what I did and how many people read all those names anyway. So I was making my way back to the kitchen and trying to look at the bucket raffles. Someone took ahold of my shoulder. I turned around and here was Lowell with tears in his eyes, thanking me for everything I did for the him and the benefit. Then I felt I hadn't done enough. I didn't need to receive such a heartfelt thank you from him. It almost brought tears to my eyes too! I had to change the subject quick and tell him how good he looked for what he went though. It looked like the benefit was a huge success!!!!! I had to go home and milk as the hay baling wasn't stopping for the cows. Sue told me she could really tell after I left the kitchen. I guess that means I was a good worker? I milked about half of the cows by myself and finally help came. That's all...........
Yea, I know I've been slacking on this thing lately. It's called LIFE!

Road trip up north

This is riding behind Steve and Rogene.

This is what it is like on the back of a Harley.

We went up north for 2 days. Had a nice time finding new bars, some good and some well lets say you need to order a bottle of beer only. We stayed overnight in Minocqua. It ended way too fast.............

Oh Canada!!!

We were gone to Canada last week. Here are some pics. We drove around Lake Superior. This is Bond Falls in upper Michigan near Watersmet.

Split Rock Lighthouse in northern Minnesota near Two Harbors.

Here is Jerry at Old Fort William in Thunder Bay, Canada.

Then we went to Kakabeka Falls.

This is the Sleeping Giant in Thunder Bay. It is a peninsula and we also drove on it to the end.

We saw 8 bear at the dump in Wawa.

We didn't see any moose but we had great weather. Only rained on and off one day. Jerry and I had done this once before we were married with our families more than 30 years ago.
Very nice time to get away.

Here's the float

Here are float pics. The 2 top ones are before the parade.

These next two are during the parade. We handed out 700 freeze pops and ran out the last half of block. Sorry kids! Next year we could have 1,000 of them. No word yet on if we won anything. I saw two of the judges during the parade and I bribed them each with a freeze pop. I told them what I was doing and they laughed and said it was a good idea. Hope it helped.

We will be gone for a few days on vacation next week. So I will be offline for awhile. Last Wednesday I went to the Botanical garden with Bonnie and Sue. I have many beautiful pics of flowers but don't have time to share right now. Later.................

Float!

Last night our snowmobile club worked on it's first float (first float since I've been a member) for the 4th of July parade in Gillett. It's taking shape pretty good. I think it will look nice when we're done. It's like a real float, not just a vehicle decorated. We are handing out freeze pops to the kids so I have been separating them and putting in the freezer. A few more boxes to go. One more night of doing the sign and the float will be ready to go except for the last minute decorations in the parking lot before the parade. We have to wash the Jeep too. I will have pics next time. 4th of July is my favorite holiday. Have a great 4th!

We will always remember Michael

As the news of Michael Jackson's death is still a shock, we will always remember him. He was close to my age so we went through the same era's together. When I was in high school the Jackson 5 were it! I can remember slow dancing at high school dances to "I'll be there." I know he got kind of eccentric through the years but you cannot deny he was an awesome performer. His dance moves were superb, like no other. As we will here more and more about Jackson's death in the days to follow and many tributes to him it is sad this talent is now gone. Rest in peace Michael, as God has decided you work on earth is done.

My other job

I don't think I have ever really mentioned my other job as a legal secretary. So here it is. Here is the front door.

This is my sort of messy desk. It doesn't look too bad at the moment. Yes, it has looked a lot worse at time.

This is our library that I just cleaned and organized. Doesn't it look nice? I wish I would have a before picture of it. I can't believe how nice it looks now compared to what it was.

These are some of my photos in the hall near my desk. I change them once a year. I guess you can't see them real good. Sorry!

If you ever need to find me this is right next to our building. I hope you never need our services. That's all for today!

Jesse is 21!

Jesse is finally legal! I don't know if that's good or bad. Where has the time gone? 21 years ago today was Father's Day. When I went to bed the night before I had a lower backache and felt a few small labor pains. When I woke up I felt a few more. Jerry went to the barn but I didn't say anything yet. We had planned to go to breakfast on the farm in Oconto County. It was in Cream City that year which is about 25 miles from our place. So when he got home I told I don't know if we should go but he wanted to go so we did. I had a pain here and there, nothing major. Stood in line to get food. As soon as I sat down to eat I knew this was for real. I said we better go. Jerry said, well I have to eat! I took a few bites and said we better go. I said I'm going to the car. So Jerry finished my plate too and ran through the barn and machinery and we left. I remember it was really warm and windy that day. So we laid around at home for awhile until the pains were 5 minutes apart. When Jerry called the doctor he told her it was soooo windy here the apple fell of the tree. So got to the hospital just before 3 p.m. I remember I had one nurse for about 5 minutes and then there was a shift change. Things were going fine. There were 2 other women having babies that day too but of course they got done way before me. About 8:30 p.m. I had stopped dilating for an hour. So the next thing I know I'm having a C-section! Surprise! I remember them calling in the anesthesiologist and he came in just dirty, he must have been working in his garden or something. Even the nurses said, "How come you came in so dirty?" He said, "they told me to come right away!" I was put out by 9:30 p.m. That was the longest hour of my life. Labor every minute laying flat on your back somewhat strapped down! He was born at 9:40 p.m. He was sunny-side up and cord wrapped around his neck twice. No wonder he wouldn't come out. I never saw Jesse until the next morning, I was too out of it. Anyway, 21 years later, here we are. Happy 21st birthday Jesse!

This morning Jerry and I wondered if that farm that had the breakfast was still operational. Neither one of us thought we could find it anymore. We were there a rather short time.

Today's my birthday!

Probably won't be doing anything special. We are still making hay!!! Maybe I can sneak away for a little while. Have to see how the day goes. Tomorrow night we are going out for wings with John and Mary and Steve and Rogene so I guess I will celebrate then. Hope it doesn't rain we want to take the Harley.

HAY!!!

Not hey you, it's hay for the cattle. Yep, that's what we've been doing this past week. Chopping hay and putting it in the silo. I have been cutting hay. I needed a little refresher course the first day and I'm on my way. I still don't go as fast as the rest but I'm getting it done. So nothing else knew here. We will be doing this for another week possibly. Let's hope it doesn't rain. You know the old saying "Make hay while the sun shines."

I'm back!

Boy those 3 days went fast. Left Thursday just before 4 p.m. and got to Dubuque, Iowa a little after 9 p.m. Then on Friday off to Dyersville to the toy show. Jerry added a few new pieces to his toy collection that is on display at the National Farm Toy Museum in Dyersville.



See those 4 cases with all the toys plus the one Jerry is standing in front of are all his toys in the museum. He collects Tru-Scale toys. The ones he played with when he was a kid. There are about 110 toys in the museum.

Anyway it was 80 degrees in Dyersville that day and we had a good time. Except the city wide rummage sales were a dud. There biggest day is Thursday and I didn't get started until Friday at 11 a.m. After hitting 12 sales and I didn't buy one thing I quite. All baby stuff and old home interiors stuff. Everyone woman in that town must have had or went to a home interiors party. Gas was only $2.55 a gallon!

Then Saturday on to Illinois. First to Sycamore to see Griffin (Jerry's cousin) and Sarah's home they recently bought. Sorry no pics of that. Then to Carpentersville to the grad party. Becky-Class of 2009

Jerry and Becky

Came home Sunday afternoon. What a whirlwind trip!

June is birthday month!

It's my birthday and Jesse's birthday this month, so let's start celebrating! Don't think I will have time to post until after we get back next Monday as we will be gone from Thursday afternoon until Sunday night. Yea! Hope to have pics for you then.

Another first place for Jesse!

Another tractor pull weekend in Green Valley. Jesse got another first place! I brought my new little camera with that takes videos. Well I have only had it not even a month and never looked at it before we left and wouldn't you know it the battery was dead when we got there. I hardly used it, I thought. So maybe next tractor pull I will have some video to share.

We are busy making a fence around the cow pasture so the cows can roam around a bit. Hope to be done real soon as I am REALLY GETTING SICK OF IT! Next weekend we get to leave for a bit. YEA!!!!!! Leaving Thursday late afternoon for Iowa for the summer toy show in Dyersville and update the museum pieces. Will be there for 2 days then off to Carpentersville, Illinois for a grad party. Jerry's goddaughter, Becky, is graduating high school.

Better go now and start working on that fence.........

Pretty good weekend, how bout you?

Weekend was good! I got my garden planted. Got the lawn cut. Went to the new Mexican restaurant in Cecil and would go back again. We got the Vette out (earliest we ever did) and took a rode trip to Tomahawk and took a few Jeep rides in the latest restored Jeep. I think it's a 47. No top or doors. Kinda fun. Jesse got 1st place, twice in the tractor pull at Suring! And the best part is nothing broke on the tractor! Need to get flowers planted this week. Nothing else here.............


Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration. ~Lou Erickson

Happy Memorial Day!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Another rhubarb torte

Here is the recipe I made last weekend. Got it out of our church cookbook. Those cookbooks are the best!

2 c. flour
2 sticks butter
2 T. powdered sugar
4 c. rhubarb
1 c. sugar
1 sm. pkg. vanilla instant pudding
1 cool whip
1 3/4 c. milk

Mix flour, butter and powdered sugar. Pat into 9 x 13 pan. Mix rhubarb with sugar. Spread over crust and bake for 45-50 min. at 375. Cool. Mix pudding with milk and spread over rhubarb. Top with cool whip. Keep in fridge.

Hope to plant the garden this weekend. Hope to get on the Harley for a ride too! My favorite time of the year, the lilacs are in bloom! I love them!

Yes, please anyone if you read this leave a comment. I hope someone enjoys this!

Have a great weekend!

Shopped til we almost dropped!

Well the rummage sales were super! We had such a good time. Jerry and I even went the day before they officially started and hit about 12 sales. The deal of the day was 14 rolls of Christmas wrapping paper for $2.50. One roll was never opened and it is pretty paper too! The woman was going to throw it out because her daughter had figured out that it was the same paper as the year before and Santa wouldn't do that. Who cares! Apparently the hard economic times have not hit that family. Jerry found a really nice print of a winter scene with pheasants he got for $5. Now I have to rearrange my living pictures put I was getting kind of sick of one of them anyway. So Saturday Sue, Bonnie and I started out at 7:15 a.m. and got home a little after 6 p.m. Would have stayed longer but no one was open anymore. The car was almost full. I could have put something on my lap yet. Sue got an ice cream maker so she's making the ice cream and we're bringing over the cream de menthe for grasshoppers. Bonnie bought the most but she always buys sleepers, blankets, etc. for her mother-in-laws church to make layettes to send to third world countries. 25 cents is the limit on that stuff. Some people even donate when they hear what it's for. I found Jerry a battery charger for $5 and it works! I get Christmas cookie tins for the cookie walk at church. 25 cents is my limit too. They are easy to find. Everyone has those. I wish Pulaski, Bonduel and Seymour weren't all the same weekend. We have so much fun. You have to keep an open mind when you go, never know what you'll find.

I made a new rhubarb torte. Will post recipe this week. Jenny was back as of Friday and I haven't been to the barn. I am actually getting a few things done around here. Life is good!


"Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping." - Bo Derek

Twins different days!

Tuesday night just about the time milking was done one of the cows had a bull calf. Ok, milk the cow take care of the calf and all is good. Wednesday morning when Mark came at 5:30 he found another calf. The cow had another calf and here the poor thing was laying in the gutter but she was alright. So she had twins somewhere between 5-9 hours apart we are guessing. So one was born Tuesday night and the other born Wednesday morning. That's the first time that happened for us.

This is not one of the twins but I've been wanting to post her picture for awhile now just never took the camera to the barn. I call her Yin Yang. She even has one black eyelash and one white one. You can see it on the picture. Calf count 5 milk 3 water.

Peaches n cream trifle

The recipe is as follows:

1 white cake mix

1 c. peach schnapps

2 large boxes of french vanilla pudding

2 cool whip

3 cans peaches, drained and sliced

Bake the cake and after it's cooled take a fork and poke holes in it. Pour the peach schnapps over the cake. Do this a day ahead and put in fridge. Mix the pudding and make your layers. Cake, pudding, peaches, cool whip. Repeat but end with peached on top. Enjoy! My bowl is always running over when I make trifle. I always use sugar free pudding mix but I take milk right out of our bulk tank so I think one cancels out the other.

Here are a few more pics from Mother's Day.

Jerry and Jesse cut most of the lawn for me. I didn't get a picture of Jesse. He was doing the trim with the push mower and ran away on me. I did have to finish 2 small sections of the lawn as Jerry had to finish picking stones for Joe Peterson. But it took me less than a half hour and I was done and it was the easy part with no trees to go around. They tried.

I got these flowers at church. Women of Faith put carnations on the alter for Mother's Day and after the service we give each woman a flower. Well I had to order them and pick them up and take them to church. I got 8 dozen and they were in a big bucket. When I was putting them in vases the 2 white ones had a lot shorter stem than the rest so I took them home. They were perfect for the vase I had. I got the pink one on Mother's Day. Pays to be in charge, you get the leftovers.

Jesse gave me this lovely card. The verse made me get a lump in my throat. AWWWW.........

That's all for today. Looking forward to rummage sales on Friday with Bonnie and Sue.

Happy Mom's Day!

A day early, I know but I won't have time tomorrow. Busy as ever around here with planting corn. The barn is being white washed as I type this. As it is a rainy day today I don't think any corn will be planted today. Jerry only has about 20 acres to go and he's done. Yea! Tomorrow Jerry's Mom is having us over the dinner. I am making a new trifle recipe I found. It's called peaches and cream. It has peach schnapps in it. Jerry's Mom likes fuzzy navels so I thought, why not try it. I will let you know how yummy it was. Other than that not much going on except work, work, work! I went to church this morning to put 8 dozen carnations in vases for tomorrow. Then we hand them out to the ladies after church. I moved 3 more calves this morning all by myself which can be somewhat of a challenge. These are weaned calves that have a mind of their own now and really don't think of me as their Mom anymore. They don't want to suck my fingers and just follow me like the little ones. But I made it. Calf count 3 milk and 3 water, it's great!

All mothers are working mothers. ~Author Unknown

Mexican Lasagna

I made Mexican Lasagna for Cinco de Mayo yesterday. It was delicious! You can make it as hot or as mild as you like with the salsa and sauce. We are having the leftovers tonight. Here is the recipe:

1-1/4 pounds ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups salsa
1 can (16 ounces) refried beans
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (10 ounces) enchilada sauce
1 can (4 ounces) chopped green chilies
1 envelope taco seasoning
1/4 teaspoon pepper
6 flour tortillas (10 inches)
3 cups (12 ounces) shredded Mexican cheese blend, divided
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
Sliced ripe olives, guacamole, chopped tomatoes and sour cream, optional
Directions: In a large skillet, cook the beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Stir in the salsa, beans, enchilada sauce, chilies, taco seasoning and pepper; heat through. Spread 1 cup sauce in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Layer with two tortillas, a third of the meat mixture and 1 cup cheese. Repeat layers. Top with remaining tortillas and meat mixture. Cover and bake at 375° for 30 minutes. Uncover; sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with tortilla chips. Bake 10-15 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Garnish with the olives, guacamole, tomatoes and sour cream if desired. Yield: 12 servings. ENJOY!

Hurray, hurray the first of May!

Been doing spring cleaning on the calf huts the last 2 days. We moved 28 calves and I cleaned and sanitized 13 huts and mats. Then I moved the huts back and ready to be used again. It was quite a project. And they tell you at the doctor's office that farm work doesn't count for exercise! Man I was sweating when I moved those huts! So glad it's done and most everything is clean again. I haven't cleaned huts since November so they were pretty disgusting. The calves we took out of the huts and put in the barn in a pen aren't very happy at the moment but they only cry when they see me. I stand and talk to them and tell them they are big now and they are OK and not dieing but I don't think they care what I say. They want their warm water!!!! In 3 days they will forget all about it. Today we had to grind feed. More exercise that doesn't count. I had to fork corn out of the crib so it would fall in the grinder/mixer. We did 3 batches at 5000 pounds each. My arms felt like wet noodles when I got done. BUT THAT DOESN'T COUNT!

Calf count 6 on milk and 3 on water. Yes, life is good with only 9 calves to deal with.

Photo I Sold

Well, here it is. This is the one I sold. It was an 8 x 10 with a black matte around it. Not one of my all time favorites, but it's OK. If I had a lake home I would use it. Maybe that's were it's going. Who knows?

Let me know what you think. Would you have bought it?

So I had to find the Gordon Lightfoot song just for this photo.

Rhubarb Crisp

Made the first rhubarb crisp for the season. Sure tasted good. So here is my recipe.

3/4 c. sugar
2T. flour
2 eggs, beaten
3 c. rhubarb

Mix together and put in greased 8 x 8 glass pan.

Topping
1/2 stick of butter
1/3 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. flour

Mix and put on top. Then bake for 30 min. and 375. Top with cool whip or ice cream. Enjoy!

I know it's not a big pan but I would just as soon eat it in 2 days or less at out house and make another in a week. Rhubarb torte can get soggy/mushy in a hurry so you wouldn't want it eat it 3 days later.

Did you know rhubarb is used as a strong laxative and for its astringent effect on the mucous membranes of the mouth and the nasal cavity.

I sold a photo, really!

I just went to the store that has my photos for sale to drop off my lion picture and the lady told me she sold one of my photos this week! No April Fooling either! It was an 8x10 photo of an old boat that was upside down on the shore of Lake Superior in the U.P. If I find it in one of my albums I'll post it but that photo was at least 5 years old. I'm so happy!!!!!

The lady said business is picking up on the weekends now so who knows!

Last night was Sportsman's Club meeting. Nothing too exciting happening with them. Tonight we are going out with Ed & Carol for fish some place, not sure where yet. Tomorrow I have to work at the brat stand in Shawano at the Country Store for the snowmobile club. Hope we don't get rained on.

I haven't given you a calf count lately. One new one born this week. But remember when I had so many born like 5 in one day. Well, when they are all born at once, guess what, they all get weaned at once. So the calf count is 9 on milk and 6 on water. I am in the process of weaning 2 now so in a few days I'll really be on easy street. Ha-ha! I better not say that or I'll have 3 sets of twins born in one day.

Not everybody trusts paintings but people believe photographs. - Ansel Adams

Happy Earth Day!

It's Earth Day. Go out and do something green!

Not much happening in my life at the moment. Was super busy when the weather was nice and that came to a quick halt on Monday and Tuesday. I didn't even feel like doing anything in the house. The bad weather can really get a person down. We went shopping in Green Bay on Monday. Mostly farm stuff. We did go out for lunch at Old Country Buffet. I had an e-coupon for BOGO free so we both had lunch for only $8.32. That's my kind of deal! That's all..........

"There is enough for all. The earth is a generous mother; she will provide in plentiful abundance food for all her children if they will but cultivate her soil in justice and in peace." Bourke Coekran

Doing spring things

I knew this would happen. Get to busy and don't have time to blog. With the last couple days of nice weather I just had so much outside work to do. Raking, picking up sticks, pruning, washing a lot of winter jackets, snowmobile suits, blankets and normal laundry and hanging outside to dry, helping Jerry with planting like using my vacuum cleaner (cuz Jesse let one of his friends use our shop vac and it isn't back yet) to clean out the grain drill. So then I have the vacuum outside I might as well vacuum out the car too. Then went to the church cemetery today and picked up all the flowers, wreaths, etc. left there from all year. I had a 1/2 a pick-up truck full of crap. I need to get back out there again and do some more, just a little raking left.

Wedding tonight so at least I don't have to cook!!!!

Happy Easter!

He is risen! He is risen indeed, Hallelujah, Hallelujah!

May God bless you at Easter, as He blesses all the earth,
With so much hope and promise at this season of rebirth............

Listen to the music, that says it all.....

The Last Supper

Thought it was appropriate to post this on Maunday Thursday.

That's suppose to be Jesus in the middle next to Jesse.

Anyone look familiar?

Jesse was the disciple James.

These pictures didn't turn out the greatest but I didn't use a flash during the service.

A weekend of parties

Four parties in one weekend is alot of celebrating. It started Friday night as it was my mother-in-law's birthday. The whole family went out for fish at the Coach Light. It was very good. They have those good potato puffs. It's like a big deep fried mashed potato. Saturday I got up early to feed calves so I could take my mom to a 50th wedding anniversary. The party was in Whitehall which is over in the Eau Claire area. It was almost a 3 1/2 hour drive one way. I hadn't been to that area in 27 years! It was nice to see it all again. Everyone was surprised to see us. Got back in time to go to a double 50th birthday party for Mark and Dale at The Bullpen. However, Mark, was on the road coming home from Ohio and didn't even make it to his own party:( But it was fun. They had karaoke and yes I got up and tried to sing. My debut was "These boots are made for walking." I did OK. Today after church we went to Kelly Lake for a snowmobile landowners banquet. Never a bad meal there. It had been a while since I had their chicken and tips. SOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOD!!!!!

As I told you Mark didn't make back from Ohio to his party. Well, this also made a problem at church. Today at church we had a re-enactment of the Last Supper. Mark was to be the disciple James. So they were frantically searching for someone to play the part of James. So they called and asked if Jerry or Jesse would do it. So Jesse volunteered. He even has a scruffy beard now so he looked the part. He did fine. I have pictures but will post them later this week. I thought it was kind of funny as last week in church they announced this Last Supper service. Jesse was with me and said I would like to see that. Little did he know he would be in it.

Cow cremator

Well, we went to the Farm Show yesterday and this is the last invention for farmers. Yes, a cow cremator. It's only $23,000 plus the gas that takes to run it. What next? It must weigh a ton or more as the inside was concrete except for the door was some kind of fiberglass that didn't burn. Jerry said it would be cheaper than getting a divorce, and no one would ever find me after he spread my ashes out in the field with a manure spreader. I told him it works both ways. Just kidding!!!!! It was an interesting day. We got a free t-shirt, sweatshirt, 2 coffee mugs, lots of cheese samples, string cheese, coffee, candy, pens, etc. The bag was full and getting rather heavy. We had to take turns carrying it.

I am surprised I had no comments after yesterday's post. You guys are slipping!!!!!!

I sold a photo

Remember I told you last week or so that I took 18 photos to a gift shop in Shawano? Well, I sold some. Yes some not just 1 I sold 10! The same person bought all of them and they are going in some museum in Minneapolis! Can you believe it!!! I can't! And if you do believe this April Fool's! Ha-ha!!!!

We're off to Oshkosh to the Farm Show today................

I got nothing........

That's right, nothing going on in my life at the moment. Went to the barn and fed calves, went to church and then went to Panda Buffet to eat (that was good). Oh, yes, went to Walmart too. Soon it will be time to go back to the barn. Tomorrow and Tuesday is work. Wednesday we are going to the Farm Show in Oshkosh at the EAA grounds. That is always an interesting day. Looking forward to it. Calf count 15 milk, 3 water. Later................

Back to reality

Well, Jenny left Sunday after morning chores. Boo-hoo! I only went to the barn 5 times in 10 days. For you non-farmers, I would normally have gone 20 times in 10 days. So I actually got a few other things done around the house. Not as much as I would have liked too as this was my week of only working 2 days at the office(which is what it should have been) I worked 4 days! Thank goodness Jenny was here or I really would have went crazy. Yes, I work 2 days one week and 3 days the next week so I have 40 hrs. in 2 weeks.

So now it's back to the same old grind until sometime in mid-May when Jenny comes back for the summer. My life of leisure is over for now. Yes, I call a life of leisure if I only work one job a week. Calf count 14 milk, 5 water.

You might be a farmer's wife if.........

Some of these really hit the nail on the head with me. I had to laugh. Maybe you are a little bit of a farmer's wife too.



If your name is taped to the side of a cakepan:
If you call the implement dealer and he recognizes your voice:
If the vet’s number is on the speed dial of your phone:
If you know how to change the flat on your car, but can’t because the spare is on a flatbed:
If your second vehicle is still a pickup:
If the folks in the Emergency Room have a pool going for your kids and it involves the type of injury and when it will occur:
If your husband has ever used field equipment to maintain your yard:
If you’re in the habit of buying foodstuffs in bulk:
If a "night out" involves the local 4-H club:
If the word "auction" makes you tingle:
If you’ve ever washed your kids or the dishes with a pressure washer:
If "picking rock" is considered a chance to get out of the house:
If "wild game" reminds you of dinner and not the bedroom:
If "a little bit of lunch" involves 6 courses and a dessert made from scratch:
If the "fresh ingredients" your recipe calls for reminds you to do the chores:
If taking lunch to the field is as close as you get to a picnic:
If that pail with a hole in it is a flowerpot in the making:
If your rock garden was hand-picked:
If you can mend a pair of pants and the fence that ripped them:
If you’re on the lookout for new uses for "Jell-O":
If the shopping list in your purse includes the sizes of filters, tires, overalls, chains, belts, lights, cables, spark plugs or shotgun shells:
If "Farm", "Ranch", "Country", "Cowboy" or "Antique" is in the name of your favorite magazine:
If your tan lines are somewhere below your shoulder and above your elbow:
If "Lacey" or "Frilly" refers to a farm animal but not your nightgown:
If you ever went on a date to the rodeo:
If you’ve ever been grateful for fingernail polish, because it hides the dirt under your nails:
If you’ve ever called your husband to supper, using a radio:
If you buy antiques because they match the rest of your furniture:
If being taken out to dinner has ever included a talk by a seed corn dealer:
If your driveway is longer than a stone’s throw:
If your mailbox looks like a piece of farm machinery:
If your kids’ wading pool has ever doubled as a stock tank, or vice versa:
If the daily paper is always a day late:
If you have a yard, but not a lawn:
If you have lots of machinery and each piece is worth more than your house:
If the leaky barn roof gets fixed, before the leaky house roof:
If duct tape is always on your shopping list:
If the neighbor’s house is best viewed with binoculars:
If the directions to your house include the words, "miles," "silos," "last," or "gravel road":
If the tractor and the combine have air conditioning and an FM radio but your car doesn’t:
If your storage shed is a barn:
If you measure travel in miles not minutes:
If your farm equipment has the latest global positioning technology and you still can’t find your husband:
If you consider "hot dish" a food group:
If your husband says, "Can you help me for a few minutes?" and you know that might be anywhere from a few minutes to six hours:
If you plan your vacations around farm shows:
If Zaa Zaa Gabor is on your list of "Most Admired Persons":
If grass stains are the least of your laundry problems:
If your refrigerator contains medicine, livestock medicine:
If your car’s color is two-toned and one color is gravel road brown:
If you knew everyone in your high school:
If you’ve ever grown your own wall decorations:
If you’ve entertained the romantic notion of living in an old, country farmhouse with a fireplace, but gave it up because firsthand experience tells you that it’s cold, drafty, smoky and sooty:
If you use newspapers to help keep the kitchen floor clean:
If you’ve ever said, "Oh, it’s only a little mud.":
If you need a pair of vice grips to run a household appliance:
If your husband gave you flowers, but you had to plant the seeds yourself:
If you've used the loader to reach the windows when they needed washing:
If you’ve ever used a broom to shoo a critter:
If you’ve ever discovered a batch of kittens in your laundry basket:
If dinner is at noon and lunch is before and after dinner:
If you don't need the recipe to make Rice Krispies bars:
If you shovel the sidewalk, with a skidsteer loader:
If you can find a use for that old tractor seat:
If you've ever found mice in the underwear drawer:
If quality time with your hubby means you'll have a flashlight in one hand and a wrench in the other:
If you know the difference between field corn and sweet corn:
If you buy your husband's "dress" socks at Campbell's Supply:
If family "pets" include deer, coons, squirrels, foxes or birds:
If you can make a meal that can be ready in six minutes and will still be ready in two hours:
If your basement is really a cellar:
If "sharing a cab" has nothing to do with a taxi and everything to do with getting across the field:
If your job in town is considered a farm subsidy:

Til The Cows Come Home

This is a gift shop in Shawano. They have some local crafters and artists displaying their works of art. As of today they have a new photographer's display too. That's right I finally got some pictures there! 18 of them to be exact. I was in there in December and saw some local photographers had photos there that I compete with at the fair. So I asked if she would be interested in any more photographs. She said she would like to see some of my work. So I did a binder full of some of my favorites and went back there. She loved most of them! Well it took me until now to get them there. Most of these photos were from my film camera so I had to find negatives and have them made. I also had to buy mats, plastic sleeves, hangers, business cards (thanks to my niece Lisa for making me some) and a silver pen as all photos should be signed. Well this took me awhile as January is usually full of tax stuff and snowmobiling I didn't have time to find old negatives. But business has been slow since Christmas so I don't think I missed out on too much. Summer is the busy season. Now I will have to wait and see how long it takes before one of mine is sold. I will let you know when that happens. I'm not holding my breath. There are alot of nice photos there.

I won at last!

Jerry and I do the sign in thing at Spirits of Gillett. You know you sign in every week and pay $1 to sign in. They pick a number and if you have signed in for the week you win half the pot. Well after more than a year I have finally won. $120.75!!!!! I have missed a few weeks here and there but my number had never been drawn. Jerry on the other hand has won 3 times already! He won the biggest pot ever last October of $338 and he won twice in a row about a year ago.

Tonight we have a client appreciation dinner from our vet. clinic. We get to go to Doxbee's in Seymour. Our guest speaker is John Jones former Packer CEO. As long as I don't have to cook, I don't care where we go.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

No, I don't have a drop of Irish blood in me but here's a blessing for all.

May the road rise to meet you, May the wind be always at your back, May the sun shine warm upon your face, May the rains fall soft upon your fields, And, until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of His hand.

I'm back...........

Nice get-a-way weekend in Illinois. I slept in both days. They have no snow there. The grass there has a hint of green already. It was nice weather while we were there too. Went to a concert at their church on Saturday evening. It was very good. About 100 people in the choir with a 6 piece band. Sunday went to a craft show. That was good too! Jerry went to a farm toy show in Sublet, Illinois on Sunday. I spent more at the craft show than he did at the toy show. Go figure......................

Twins!

Well Monday night when I got to the barn, our big old cow we call Rusty, (yes she is red in color) had twin bull calves! They are kind of cute but I didn't need two cute ones! So far they are still in the big pen they were born. They aren't too smart yet but that usually doesn't last long. I have made room for one in the newborn pen. Guess I will just leave one in the pen he was born in. Thank goodness there are no cows in the maternity pen so I might have a little breathing room. Calf count: 17 on milk and 1 water. I am in the process of weaning two of them. Yea!

Can't wait for Friday when we can leave for Illinois! Jenny is back from college for a week of spring break so she will be helping us out again. Yea! I think I'm the one that needs a break!

Morning on the farm

This is what it looked like this morning when I was out feeding calves. It was foggy as the sun was coming up. Looked a little eerie.

Then the sun got up a little higher over the raspberry bushes.

I really like this photo.



I like this one too.

Here are some of my calves waiting to be fed.

Why are you taking pictures when you should be feeding me?

Another calf!

As I was telling you yesterday I was going to move a calf or two to make room for the next one. Well yesterday morning I got done feeding everything and moved one outside. So I thought I better start cleaning out the newborn pen so it's ready. Well on my second fork full I heard the cow in the maternity pen make a noise so I looked and here were feet sticking out. Oh, no, I better hurry to get that little pen clean. Well I got done in time and we have a new little heifer calf and she is a good drinker too! So I still have no room for the next one. Hopefully this week I can move one more out.

Jerry and Jesse are at the church dart ball tournament this afternoon in Hayes. So I have the house to myself. Yea! I just did Jesse's income tax online for him. I'm not telling him I did it and just watch for the look on his face when he sees his refund checks in the mail. Lucky kid!

I am making beef vegetable soup. Seemed like a good soup day. As I look outside I see no snow yet. Maybe it will miss us. As much as I love to snowmobile I have had it with winter on the farm. Think spring.....................

Good morning!

While Jerry is watching the farm show this morning I will quick do a little update from the farm before I go out to the barn and see what surprises are out there today. You never know what you will find and most of the time it's not good. I have to move another calf or two outside again to make room. There are two more cows in the maternity pen again so you never know when another one will arrive. I am up to 18 calves now. Some are still kind of dumb when it comes to drinking from the pail and then when you move them outside you have to show them where the pail is and it all takes extra time. Next week I can wean two of them. Yea! Can't wait for next weekend when we go to Illinois for the weekend to see our friends. We finally get to exchange Christmas gifts! Jerry and Robert will be going to a toy show in Sublet, Illinois. We need a break from the farm that's for sure.

Not alot happening here

Well today we went to Waupaca to a Foremost Farm meeting. This is where we ship our milk. Jerry is a delegate so he even gets paid to go to this plus mileage. There was a nice chicken dinner too. Tomorrow is open house at Pulaski Chase Co-op so it's porkies and pancakes there. Another free meal! As long as I don't have to cook I don't care where we eat. That's it now.................

Only 3 calves this time

Yep, that's right. Three calves born in this last 24 hour period. One Sunday morning, one Sunday night, and one this morning. They were all several hours old by the time we found them. One was out of its pen already walking around in front of the other cows. One bull and two heifers this time. I just figured out where to put the other five now I have three more to deal with!

Great snowmobile ride yesterday. You will have to check out Granny's blog to see our pictures. I love to snowmobile but this winter is getting a little long. Does it have to be one of the coldest days of the year on MARCH 2ND!!!!

Another funeral for me tomorrow. My cousin, Melvin, died. He was an old bachelor and only has a few cousins and two aunts left. Jerry has to be pallbearer. At least I only have to go to Bonduel this time. OK, this is two funerals for me, when is the third? I know I shouldn't think like that.

Guys on Ice!

It was a night of laughs! We had great seats too! It was funny and some things were so true. It was a musical comedy about ice fishing. Those guys could really sing and the sound system was super. No echos, no wires, couldn't figure out where the microphones were. My favorite song was "Ode to the snowmoible suit." Even Jerry chuckled a few times. We even had our picture taken and it will be in the OEC News letter next month. I think it was a full house last night. Couldn't tell for sure about the back as we were too close to the front! Some of the dialogue was a little UPish shall we say but all in all it was funny. A good night out. Stopped at Spirits later. They had a band. Place was packed. We have a snowmobile club ride today to Suring. Time to go feed calves again............

No fun feeding calves in blizzard

As mother nature socked it to us again I had just a wonderful time feeding calves in a blizzard last night. NOT!!!! It took me a little longer as you can't walk as fast in the snow and walking against the wind. I tried to look at the bright side and thought well the neighbors (Horsens) have more calves outside than I do so they would be outside longer than me.

I didn't even get late for work this morning. Thanks to Jerry plowing out our road or I would have never made it out until the plow came. Jerry wore his snowmobile helmet on the tractor when he plowed. He looked like one of those guys in the super modified tractor pulls that wear helmets. Sorry, no picture, didn't have my camera out this morning.

But with all this snow the trails are still open! Club ride on Sunday! Not every year we snowmobile into March!

Tomorrow night is the play. Will let you know how it was..............

5 calves!!!!!

Yes, that's right, 5 calves born in less than 24 hours is a bit much. We haven't had a calf born since Feb. 4 so I knew I was probably in for it. It was like the calm before the storm. Mark that works for us told me last week I was going to have 5 born in one day too! I told him he just better keep his mouth shut from now on! Sunday morning we got to the barn and our little heifer (only 18 mos. old, oops) was having a calf. So we helped her deliver it and she had a little worthless bull. OK all was good. This was about 6:30-7 a.m. Then around 11-11:30 a cow had a nice heifer calf. OK all is still good. We get to the barn that night and a cow had twins! A bull and a heifer, worthless and worthlesser. For you non-farmers a heifer that is a twin with a bull is called a free marten and usually never gets pregnant, there is a 3% chance. Although we have had 2 free martens have calves so there is hope. Anyway back to the story, OK all is now not so good. We are out of room for calves and cows. The next morning I get to the barn and start feeding the calves outside and here is a newborn calf on a snow pile. Yes he was alive and shivering. Must have been less than an hour old. All is worse as we are really out of room now! But with quick thinking I rearranged about 7 calves and almost have room. The twins are still together in one little pen. I have 2 calves drinking from a pail already! They are all fine.

Today we took a quick snowmobile ride to Angelica for lunch and then to Pulaski, Green Valley, Gillett and Pulcifer and home. The plowed field hilltops needed a little snow but it wasn't too bad considering the it is the end of February.

I won a pair of tickets to see "Guys on Ice" Saturday at Oconto Falls high school. I won through Oconto Electric. It's about time we get something from them with the cost of the electric bill. Jerry didn't want to go until I told him the tickets were $30 each and it is a comedy. So we're going! I haven't been to a play in years. I can't even remember the last time.

Jesse was lucky too, he won a $100 on a gun raffle.