Thankful Thursday

One of the added benefits to mowing the yard next to the pasture is 

getting to watch the heifers enjoying  those grass clippings

that were blown under the fence.  They looked a little like excited

kids in a candy store!

Even though farm life is extremely busy in the month of May,

I am thankful for the moments that bring smiles,

for the family celebrations of  Mother's Day ,birthdays

 and graduations,

and for the beauty of the garden  that 

remind us that all these gifts 

are freely given by our heavenly Father.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

To cut or not to cut? 

That has been the question most discussed 

during this season of rain not only down on the dairy farm

but by farmers across  Benton County and many parts of Arkansas.

Hay is an important crop for all livestock farmers and growing

it is an important part of  our farm's  sustainability.

Many fields are still too wet to cut but after much discussion

it was decided to take our chances and start with the small field 

next to the house so it can be fertilized for the next cutting.

Too much rain has created the need for more creative planning and

adjusting our usual work schedules but

I'm thankful for the rain because without it,

nothing grows.

Too much or too little of anything, reminds us who is in control.

Even the lilies know that! 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

It was the perfect spring morning to walk across the pasture to 

find this baby snuggled down in the loose hay around the manger.

As usual, Mama stayed between me and the calf just in case 

I should act wild and crazy or the farm  dogs following me got too close!

                                                         
                                           I am thankful for new life down on the dairy farm
                                                                              and
                                                           

                                                                 for the gifts of spring!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

There's no other month quite like May down on the dairy farm.

All of a sudden, everything  needs to be done at once.

Everything includes not only milking twice a day and caring for 

our cows,heifers and calves but also hay cutting,wheat harvesting

 and corn planting.

Our feeling of being out of control happens every year but

                                        as crazy as it sounds, I still love the month of May.

I'm thankful for the new calves that are being born almost on a daily schedule,

for the smell of the first cutting of hay,

             

and 

for the appearance of the old fashioned flowers that 

brighten the landscape as we work down on the dairy farm.

                                                                                       

Happy May!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                              I'm thankful for....
                                 

the pair of Egyptian geese that have come

 back to enjoy the farm habitat,

                                         

the new calves born this week,

the variety of  beautiful  colorful iris blooming,

and

                                               
                                                           for the entertaining conversations
                                                                   with Hattie and Frog.

                                                         Life is good down on the dairy farm!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

New life is always welcome down on the dairy farm.

                                                     
                                        I'm so thankful for the beauty and blessings of spring!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

When you look at our tall corn crop and the green pastures,

 it's hard to believe August is just around the corner. 

I'm thankful for the blessing of rain we have received in July 

for our crop  fields and pastures

and

for our crop of sunflowers.

down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                           After a few rainy gloomy days.
                                            rays of sunshine were a welcome addition in the
                                                     late afternoon down on the dairy farm.

                                   I'm thankful for the  rainy days that watered our spring crops,
                     refreshed the pastures and encouraged the iris in the flowerbeds to bloom!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Even on a rainy gray day, there's a touch of spring beauty to enjoy

 as we work down on the dairy farm. 

                                                   I'm thankful for the blessings of spring--

                                                      to live in a world of new beginnings.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

I don't think we have a name for this season that happens

 just before the beginning of spring, but I love it. 

Winter's not quite finished but we've got the promise of spring.

 I'm thankful for the blooming jonquils, 

for the blooms I found on the  Lenten Rose 

 tucked away in the corner of the flowerbed,

and 

                                                                         
                                     for the  calves being born during  this in between season
                                                                 down on the dairy farm!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

                                                         Happy Fall,Y'all!

                                                        

                                        I love these seasonal transitions down on the dairy farm.

                                          Even though  there's a little bit of farmer frenzy as they

                                   work to finish harvesting the hay and silage crops before winter,

                                                   

                                              I'm thankful for the abundance of hay that will

                                                     feed our cows and calves this winter,

the cooler weather for our calves,

and

                                         the beauty of summer flowers that brighten the fall days.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The clouds were hiding the sun this morning, but it gave this cluster of jonquils a chance to shine!

I'm thankful for the beauty that seems to pop up every day of the spring season... a reminder to take time to be thankful for the beauty that surrounds us daily.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was a perfect first day of Fall  down on the dairy farm!

Babies are always welcome but it seemed fitting that this mama cow gave birth on the very first day of the fall season. We're expecting and looking forward to  a lot more babies in the next few weeks.  

I'm thankful for the cooler temperatures ,the beginning of the fall calving season

and the time we have left with bright summer flowers!

                                                            Happy Fall,Ya'll!

Summer Begins with National Ice Cream Month

Summer has finally arrived in Northwest Arkansas! Although the cows and I don't really enjoy all the heat and humidity, we do like to stand under the shade trees and enjoy the view of the flower bed full of colorful lilies!  

There's only one thing that makes this even better...

                                      thinking about all the ice cream we can enjoy during July!

                             Happy July--National Ice Cream Month!!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

        I'm thankful for not only the beauty of the season but the smell of sweet roses and the wild       
                             honeysuckle blooming in the fence rows. It is absolutely heavenly!

 

It was so fitting when I read this from  Sarah Young's Jesus Calling devotional book:

 

"Approach each new day with desire to find Me. Before you get out of bed, I have already been working to prepare the path that will get you through this day. There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles. Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayer. I have not abandoned this sin-wracked world; I am still richly present in it.

Search for deep treasure as you go through this day. You will find Me all along the way. "

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

Rain and chilly weather lingered most of today in Northwest Arkansas.

Wearing coats and gloves this afternoon while feeding calves was  a  sure sign of "blackberry winter"  on the dairy farm.

 

I'm thankful for the late afternoon sunshine  and the  spring rain that we so desperately needed

 

 

to refresh  our grass for the  cows to enjoy

and 

 

lift our spirits with new surprises of   color in the garden.

Fall Treats

 With the days becoming cooler and shorter, I know the days are numbered for these flowers I have enjoyed all summer. As I returned from feeding calves this morning, I just had to stop and admire these fall treats...

 

 

the knock-out roses,

 

 

the pink begonias on the porch,

 

 

and pick the last bouquet of multi-colored zinnias from the garden.

 

 

 

Thank goodness for this year round treat from down on the dairy farm!

May Days on the Dairy

 

On top of the daily chores of milking and caring for our dairy cattle, May is busy with harvesting spring crops, preparing to mow hay and plant silage crops. Busy May days often feel like what I call  tail chasing days on the dairy farm--which job should we tackle first because everything needs to be done at the same time!

 

 

 

As I walk from the house to the calf hutches, I'm calmed and refreshed as I enjoy the beauty of May.

 

 

 

Old fashioned flowers like these iris are a beauty to behold in the month of May!

 

 

 

There's nothing like May Days on the Dairy!

 

 

 

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

 

It was a happy May Day when I found the first lilac bloom and iris while enjoying the sunshine this morning.

 

                                                                            
                                   I'm thankful for the April showers that bring May flowers!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

 

Spring in Northwest Arkansas is amazing! I didn't think there could be a prettier picture than the redbud trees blooming on East Central Street in Bentonville, until I passed through downtown on my way to a meeting. The tulips were singing Spring! I'm thankful for the beauty of this season and for the blessing of  blooming trees and flowers.