February's Farming and Fun

                                               Can you believe that February is almost gone? 

                             We did manage to have a little fun mixed in with the  daily work

                                             down on the farm  of feeding cows and calves.  

                                                It was a little challenging walking around on

                                     the layers of sleet and ice that took a week to melt but  we 

                                               took our week without any bad falls as a win!

Here is just a sampling of a little fun in February:

Farm dogs are always loyal and would

never stay too far from the action.

Papa Ryan made a trip to the local hardware

store to purchase a sled  so that Hattie and Breck could enjoy the 

sledding experience from the hill at the barn.

Memories for a lifetime made down on the farm.

Valentine Pie was the perfect treat for my farmer Valentine!

With spring just around the corner,

Breck finally managed to get his tractor charged

up for a chilly ride.   

February is still holding on 

but  we are seeing the signs that spring is not too far away.

                                         I'm not really wishing February to hurry and be done

                                                but I do look forward to the promise of spring!

January Reflections

January is in full swing...

freezing weather and high winds,

 a little fog,

lightning but no rain,

a little sleet,

 single digit  temperatures followed

by 

70  degree days...

 

but what can you say?

It's crazy January!

The calves are handling crazy weather better than the 

farmers.

I will say, January also gives time to reflect on some

of the fun times of the holiday season...

and a special Christmas gift of a visit from 

my friend Nancy.

Life on the farm just can't get any better when you 

have the love of family and friends.

It's that love that keeps us going on the 

toughest days.

 

Thankful Thursday

April brings more than showers!

We welcomed this new calf just after the showers

and a cool down in the temperature.  

As you can see, the calf found a cozy spot on the 

hay as her Mother continued to eat before going to

the milk barn.

I am thankful for all the blessings of spring--

new life on the farm,

celebrating our precious Hattie's 6th birthday,

                                                                              and 

                                                 to live in a country that gives us the opportunity

                                                     to seek election  to serve our community.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

I've had a lot of thinking time this week while sitting in the

 hospital  with my Mother who is battling pneumonia. 

It's moments or events like these when  you realize what is important

 may be different than what was on the daily schedule.

I'm thankful that I live in a community with state of the art medical

facilities, dedicated nurses and skilled doctors ,

for the beauty of the Christmas season,

                                                                           
                                         for my family that have taken over my farm duties
                                                while I have been taking care of Mother,

                                                                                 and
                                                    for the extended family and sweet friends
                                              that have lifted us up in prayers and offers of help.
                                             
                                          --------------------------------------------------------------

                                              Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything
                                           give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
                                                                                               I Thessalonians 5:16-18

Happy Father's Day

From down on the dairy farm,

from our family to yours,

                                                       Happy Father's Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Last Sunday afternoon dedicated firemen from three different community

 fire departments showed up to save a house located on one of our 

farm properties. Fortunately, there were no people in the house at the time of the

 fire and the quick and efficient  work of the firemen saved the dwelling.

We know many of these firemen personally and appreciate the

 fact that they represent generations of  firefighters in our community.

                                               I'm so thankful for these dedicated men that
                                                 volunteer to keep our communities safe.

Memorial Day

Even though we're working down on the dairy farm today like every day,

it's a special day...Memorial Day.

It's the opportunity to pause and  celebrate those who have given the 

ultimate sacrifice that has provided the freedom we enjoy each day.

"We don't know them all, but we owe them all."

That sentence says it all.

Happy Memorial Day!

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

Veteran's Day reminds us of the sacrifices being made

 today and in the past to provide the freedoms we enjoy on a daily basis.

I love this 1944 picture of Ryan's dad.

Bill and Bonnah Lyn were married in  Tyler,Texas 

before he was sent to Japan during World War II.

We can only imagine what he experienced as an ambulance driver and medic.

because he  never talked about the war when he returned  home.

I do know that we can never say thank-you enough to all those

 who served in past wars and those who are serving today.

I'm thankful for the  recognition given to all veterans on Veteran's Day

and 

to live in the United States.

                                                                God Bless America!

Farms and Friends

A crane is not part of our dairy  farming operation but we were happy to see our friend and his crane   this morning after the axle under our feed wagon broke as the loaded wagon was moving towards the barn to feed the cows. Although this is a bad situation, we were very fortunate that no one was injured and that we have a friend that owns a crane and was willing to help us get it pulled up right so that it can be repaired.

 

 

Before the crane had set the mixing wagon upright, the boys were hooking up another friend's mixer wagon so that our cows could be fed.

 

Our cows definitely appreciated our friend's willingness to let us borrow the wagon.

They never missed a bite of nutritious feed!

 

 

 

If our days were always trouble free, we would miss out on these opportunities to appreciate the friendships we have in our farming community!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Benton County Farm Bureau Women's Committee brought Farm Expo to Russell Jones Elementary in Rogers on Monday.  Students rotated through stations to learn about Arkansas agriculture  from  farmers, University of Arkansas  extension agents, Arkansas Farm Bureau and Arkansas Beef Council staff.

I'm thankful for the students and teachers who allowed us to share about...

 

how seeds germinate and farmers raise crops,

 

the life cycle of a water drop and the importance to agriculture,

 

 

how farmers raise healthy chickens that included

 

 

 poultry terminology bingo,

 

 

how dairy farmers work to provide high-quality milk,

 

the benefits of beef and beef by-products we use every day,

 

safe food handling,

 

cotton farming and ginning,

 

 

rice production,

 

 

including milling the rice.

 

It was a win-win day for students and volunteers---

the students had a fun learning experience and the volunteers passionately  shared how agriculture  impacts our everyday lives!

Rain Gauge Ready

Although we can't change or  predict the weather, we do like to measure the rain when we receive it on the dairy farm.  When the TV weatherman announced this morning that it's been three weeks since rain fell in Northwest Arkansas and mentioned the possibility of showers, I immediately felt it was necessary to hang up the new rain gauge just in case he's right.

 As the farmer's wife,  I've decided that  it isn't always as much the amount of rain that we see in the gauge but it's the hope and encouragement we receive  from the blessing of rain--whatever the amount.

Ryan's been no-till planting a Sorghum Sudan grass crop this week  that will be harvested (Lord willing)  late this summer or early fall. It's definitely dry and dusty but...

We're rain gauge ready!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Spring is full of surprises and celebrations on the dairy farm.  We were surprised with  frigid temperatures frosted  with snow  and the birth of this snowy white calf this first week of spring. Isn't she cute?

I'm calling her Snowflake.

 

 

 

I'm thankful for new life on the farm and for the opportunity to celebrate my Mother's 82nd birthday!

Celebrating Farm Love

Twenty eight years ago today, I married not only the farmer,I married the farm. It was obvious from the start that the farmer's first love would always be the cows and the land and I accepted that condition. Not only have I accepted it , I truly understand farm love after twenty-eight years!

 

We're totally committed to farm love

 and  providing you with safe,high-quality milk and dairy products!

 

 

Don't forget to enter the Spotted Cow giveaway by Clicking here and submitting your email address to Country Outfitter. Leave a comment here on the blog letting me know you submitted your email.

Cows and Clocks

Thank goodness we don't have to explain Daylight Savings time to the cows ! As long as we keep to the consistent routine of making sure our dairy cows are fed and milked twice each day of the year--they're happy!





Our cows are milked every day at 7:30 in the morning and 7:30 each night. While most farmers may start and finish at earlier hours, we have found that this schedule works best for us in getting the daily chores done on our farm. Our commitment to providing high-quality milk begins with taking good care of our cows by providing consistent and regular milking schedule that allows time for the cows to eat a nutritious diet and rest between each milking time.

 

Through the years, we've found it more challenging to make sure that the humans on the farm get to work at the right time and understand which direction to move the clock for Daylight Savings time than to get the cows to the barn!

 

I'm glad we don't have to explain to the cows: "Spring forward and Fall Back"!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It must be a sign of maturity (nice word for old age) when the best part of any trip is coming home. I'm thankful for  a safe trip and  to be back  home on the farm with my family of humans and cows!