Thankful Thursday

Our hay cutting season is getting off to a really slow start due

to our soggy weather but we did get started  with the field next to the 

house that is less soggy than many others.

It was important to get the mixture of rye grass and weeds cut 

so the Bermuda grass would

have a better chance to grow for the second cutting.

Even though our work has been slowed down

by the weather, I am thankful for the opportunity 

it has provided for us to  enjoy the company of those 

around us,

 let our imaginations run wild in the 

fairy garden,

                                                         
                                                            and celebrate a birthday or two!

Thankful Thursday

It may be too cold or  wet for pasture grasses or crops to grow,

but you can always count on the weeds to take advantage of the 

worst conditions!

We were grateful for the two days without rain that allowed 

Cody to begin weed control spraying in the pasture next to the house.

This pasture has a variety of Bermuda and other mixed grasses that

will grow much better with less competition from the weeds and make

a more nutritious  hay bale for our cows to enjoy.

If you look closely, you can see a couple of extra heads in the 

tractor cab.  

Hattie and Breck didn't waste the opportunity 

to ride in the tractor with their Daddy.

I am thankful that we can share life on the farm with 

our family and celebrate the milestones of 

each year  with those we love the most!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Spring is in the air everywhere down on the dairy farm!

Our ordinary day became extraordinary  with a visit from

the grandchildren and their cousin William that arrived from 

Texas for a spring break adventure.

What better place to come than the dairy farm!

It was obvious by the smiles that a tractor ride ranks 

pretty high on the fun to do list.

A tractor ride can also be a serious experience. At two,

Breck kept a close eye on the calves as they were feeding 

grain. 

We celebrate new life often but  spring also 

gave us the opportunity to celebrate my Mother's 

ninetieth birthday!

Always supporting the use of dairy foods,

the cake contained a lot of butter and cream cheese!

I'm thankful for all these experiences in the past

few days that have put a little more spring in my step

and a greater appreciation for the blessings

of everyday life down on the dairy farm.

                                                         

Dairy Farmer's Party

 

A birthday down on the dairy farm is always a celebration.

These new calves represent the growth of our dairy herd

and the future production of high quality milk.

My daily job is caring for these new babies.

It truly is a celebration when you witness a calf that is

 born and raised on the farm give birth to her own calf.

It's one of the labors of  dairy farmer love to watch 

this process over a two and a half year process.

It's our own brand of dairy farmer party!

 

                              

                                      We're also finding the fun in farm family birthdays

                                              with the expert candle blowers.

                                Hattie and Breck definitely bring more fun to the party!

Sheath Cake is one of our family favorite birthday

requests. It's not so pretty but if you love

chocolate cake with a big dip of vanilla ice cream,

this is perfect!

Sheath Cake

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1/2 cup shortening

4 Tablespoons Cocoa

1 cup water

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups sugar

2 cups flour

1/2 cup buttermilk

 1 teaspoon soda

2 eggs,slightly beaten

Bring margarine, shortening, cocoa and water to a rapid boil.

Pour over the sugar and flour,beat well.

Add buttermilk and soda, vanilla and eggs.

Beat, then bake at 400 degrees F. for 20 minutes.

Cover with the following.

Icing:

1 stick butter

4 Tablespoons cocoa 

3 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar

6 Tablespoons milk

1 cup pecans (optional)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Bring butter, cocoa and milk to a boil.

Add powdered sugar, vanilla and pecans.

Beat well, pour over cake while hot.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

We kicked off  the 2020 hay  season down on the

 dairy farm this week. I felt like we should be having a 

hay party to celebrate this season of hay production that 

has been delayed with cool, rainy weather all spring.

Hay is used in feeding our dairy cows everyday.

It is part of the special diet that is formulated by

our dairy nutritionist to make sure the cows are provided 

all the nutrients needed to produce milk and maintain health.

I'm thankful that the sun kept shining while this hay

was cut and baled before the next rain shower

and 

                                                         
                                                     that we did celebrate our first hay day
                                                 with the birthday of our head farmer and
                                                             his candle blowing helpers!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                       It's obvious from looking at the relaxation of our farm dogs,
                                       we need a little more excitement in these crazy COVID days!
                                       Feeding the baby calves twice a day has just worn them out.

  I'm thankful for these three dairy farm dogs that 

                                        do nothing but bring us joy on the gloomiest days,

the laugh from the son who put up with the wrong candles on 

his birthday cake,

                                         

for the opportunity to celebrate a belated birthday and 

Mother's Day with most of my family 

and

the beauty around us during these challenging 

days down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                                 Due to the social distancing of COVID-19,
                                            we have been postponing our family celebrations.
                                        Even so, that doesn't stop me from being thankful for
                                      these 32 years that we have watched our oldest son grow
                                                 and mature into a fantastic human being!
                                             

I'm thankful  for all of our special memories

down on the dairy farm,  

for the opportunity to see the next generation 

explore life on the  family farm,

                                                    and for the time we are looking forward
                                       to celebrating with the 32nd chocolate birthday cake!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

"It takes a village" was the phrase that came to mind as I observed

this mama-to-be assisting with welcoming the new calf. It's not unusual

to see this behavior  in a pasture full of expectant mothers and although it

appears to be helpful, it can be a distraction to the new mother causing her

not to do her job of cleaning off the calf.  

We don't always separate these cows but today due to the frigid,damp weather, we

moved the new baby and mama to the maternity barn for protection and to assure

that the mama could do her important job.

Observing the behavior of animals is always interesting and part of the 

dairy farmer's job in providing good care of their cows and calves.

I'm thankful for all the birthdays down on the dairy farm

and in our family!

Happy 1st birthday,Breck!

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                                   Not all birthdays are celebrated with cake,

but

August is a celebration of  life down on the dairy farm.

This new baby was born after midnight and was taken to 

its own clean hutch, fed colostrum from its mother

and monitored   for  any health issues. Calves grow up to 

become the cows that produce milk, so we are committed 

to getting them off to a healthy start.

I'm thankful for the healthy calves born this month, 

the unexpected help bottle feeding the new August calves

and

                                      for the opportunity to celebrate  life down on the dairy
                                                        farm with the next generation.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Whether you are nearly 3  or celebrating your 88th year,

birthdays are special occasions down on the dairy farm.

I'm finding that with each family  birthday celebration,

life becomes sweeter and richer as each year passes.

I'm thankful for the sweet relationship I  share with my

Mother and my granddaughter Hattie

and 

                                             
                                             for the birthdays that are just in time to help us
                                                                      kick off spring!

Birthday Blessings

We're celebrating birthdays today down on the dairy farm!

Cody, our oldest son celebrates his 29th birthday today.

My how things have changed...

but we are so blessed by this man we call son.

                                                           
                                        Birthdays are always special down on the dairy farm!

                                                 
                                                                 Happy Birthday Baby!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

This is what we do on Spring Break...

get together with the herd!

                         I'm thankful for the ordinary but beautiful  days down on the dairy farm,
                                   the first day of spring and for the blessing of celebrating
                                                  my Mother's 86th birthday with my herd!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Having a new baby in the family has brought a new dimension to family birthday celebrations.

There is no shortage of someone to hold the baby!

Hattie Claire slept through most of the celebration for her Daddy's 28th birthday but it was the sweetest moment when Cody said that she was the best present he could have for any birthday.

I'm thankful for these sweet memories of my son and his new daughter.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Vaughn Presbyterian Church has been a fixture in our  community for 126 years. 

Our membership is small but we've got a supportive community that came to buy a bean and cornbread supper and bid on pies to help us raise money for a local children's home.

I'm thankful for community friends like State Representative Dan Douglas who 

served as our  pie auctioneer, the church members that baked delicious pies, and the friends who not only  supported our project, but also

                         helped us celebrate my Mother's 85th birthday with cake and ice cream!

Happy Christmas Birthday

New babies are always special on the dairy farm

 but having a Christmas baby  is a great gift for a dairy farmer.

Having two is even better!

                                                                    Merry Christmas
                                                                               from
                                                      down on the Arkansas dairy farm!
                     

Happy Birthday August!

While families are thinking about the last days of summer vacation and taking advantage of tax-free weekend school shopping, we're celebrating birthdays on the dairy farm!

In the middle of the afternoon on this first day of August, this heifer gave birth to her first calf.  

I'm naming this baby...August,of course. 

We try not to have too many calves born in the month of  August due to the heat and humidity we experience in Northwest Arkansas   but as you see, we often adjust our plans on the dairy farm.

August and her mother are doing great! 

Happy Birthday August!

Don't you just love August?

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Birthdays are always special days on the dairy farm...

... days of reflection and thankfulness.

I'm thankful for the blessings of  faith,family,friends, farming

and

                                                 that  there was  just one candle--instead of 60!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Life definitely changed for me twenty-seven years ago when I began my role as a mother and dairymom!

I'm thankful for the memories of each birthday, the milestones of growth and development and for the fact that our two sons  continue to work  on the family farm.

Cody will never be too old for chocolate sheath cake!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Have you met anyone that is 100 years old?

Meet my Great Uncle Dallas Baggett! 

 He's a history maker this week for our family---Happy 100!

My Mother and I recently visited with Uncle Dal in Alabama. He's always had a great sense of humor and still loves to share a good joke. 

                             I'm thankful for my Uncle Dal, for the love and dedication to his family,
                            his lifetime of Christian ministry and the example he is living  for all of us.