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

In our days of nothing seems normal,

it is comforting to watch the cows relaxing and enjoying

the end of  a hot summer day in the cool of the evening.

Rest  is part of the care plan for these soon to be

mamas. To prepare for the big event of birth, each cow is  removed

from the milking herd and brought to the pasture to rest for the  60 days prior 

to calving. This is more maternity leave than most human moms enjoy!

Our commitment to ensuring high-quality milk begins with 

taking good care of our cows and treating them with respect.

I'm thankful for these visual reminders that every job on the farm

and in nature is important in making a difference to our   life down on the 

dairy farm.

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

A new calf doesn't always follow Mama 

but you can usually count on 

Mama to show up if you get a little too close.

I have great respect and appreciation  for this maternal instinct.

I'm thankful that we have the opportunity to enjoy 

the land and animals  that live with us and around us.

                                            We love the land and work to protect our natural
                                                       resources down on the dairy farm.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The ordinary days down on the dairy farm become extraordinary when 

viewed through the eyes of an inquisitive nearly  2 year old.

The blandness of winter scenery becomes more vivid as Hattie Claire and I 

talk about all that we see looking from our perch on the windowsill. 

We're not talking in great detail about all the ways we manage cow manure to

 help improve air and water quality or how we care for our cows everyday but 

we share an appreciation of all the activities and the farmers working at every task.

This week ,when looking to the left, our conversation was about the big tractor

 working to spread cow manure for anticipated green spring grass. 

To the right we saw  the cows busy eating their daily grain .

Tractors and cows just couldn't compare with the excitement of 

seeing the bright red headed woodpecker in the tree by the window.

                                   I'm thankful  for the opportunity we have to share life down
                                    on the dairy farm with the next generation and to enjoy the
                                                      spark of color in the dead of winter.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

It was a dreary,gray,drizzly start to our calf feeding chore time this morning.

As I looked to the dry pasture to see if we had any new calves born in the night, 

I spotted 6 young deer running together at the north end of the pasture

 trying to figure out how to get over the electric fence.

The deer moved so quickly and gracefully.

 I wished I had been able to capture a better picture of their beauty and grace but 

my phone /camera  was buried in my coveralls to protect it from the drizzle.

   
                                          You can see a faint outline of the deer inside the heart.
                                           It was obvious that fences are no obstacle to the deer.
                                           
                                    I'm thankful for the moments of surprise that warm the heart
                                           and send a special message of love that God provides
                                                   down on the dairy farm when least expected.
                                         

                                                     Happy Valentine's Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

If cows could ride a sunbeam,

 it looked quite possible this afternoon when the sun was setting.

My thought really  was that after  an afternoon of  eating whenever I felt like 

it and resting leisurely in the pasture, a quick ride to the milking  barn

 would be appreciated.

                             I'm thankful for these extraordinary  natural scenes of beauty down
                                         on the dairy farm that occur on ordinary days.

Moon Moos

We talk about the stars aligning just right, but it was the full moon

 that caught my eye rising directly  above  the milk barn. 

 The cows didn't seem impressed as they were leaving the barn after being

 milked for the second time today.   I'm sure they were anxious to get to  the

 feed barn for a snack and a drink of water before bedtime in the pasture.

                                       It was an end to an  ordinary day but a simple reminder
                                           of how extraordinary  God is if  we just look up!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The leader of the Egyptian Geese started her training class early this morning as we began feeding calves. 

It was obvious by the response to the leader's call, they had been through this drill before as they marched from the feed bunk to the edge of the grass.

These are just one of the many birds that we see and enjoy  everyday on the dairy farm. 

                   I'm thankful that our farm land provides a natural habitat for many of God's creatures.

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

The landscape of Northwest Arkansas is rapidly changing with our population growth and development. 

As the places I've known since childhood are gobbled up with urbanization, I know that it is important to protect the open spaces that we all enjoy. 

Members of the Northwest Arkansas Open Space Steering Committee are on a mission to develop a coordinated,voluntary program to protect and promote the region's most valued natural landscapes and open spaces. We  enjoyed taking a field trip Monday afternoon to visit three natural springs in our area. 

I'm thankful for this process that has the goal to preserve these assets of our community that will maintain the high quality of life  as the region grows.

You can find more information about this project and participate in   this process by taking a survey about the spaces you enjoy in Northwest Arkansas at

nwaopenspace.com

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. "

Happy Easter!

 

Even though it's a typical day on the dairy farm with milking the cows and feeding calves and cows, it's also a special day of celebration with family and friends recognizing the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

It's no coincidence that we are experiencing the beauty of nature at the same time we celebrate the fact--He's alive!

 

                                                    When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

                                                       When I survey the wondrous cross,
                                                       On which the Prince of glory died,
                                                        My richest gain I count but loss,
                                                        And pour contempt on all my pride.

                                                        Forbid it,Lord, that I should boast,
                                                         Save in the death of Christ, my God;
                                                        All the vain things that charm me most,
                                                         I sacrifice them to His blood.

                                                         See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
                                                         Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
                                                          Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
                                                         Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

                                                         Were the whole realm of nature mine,
                                                          That were a present far too small;
                                                          Love so amazing, so divine,
                                                          Demands my soul, my life, my all.

                                                                                            ---Issac Watts,1674-1748

                                                                     Happy Easter!!

Got Your Goat

 

Spring on the dairy farm brings many joys in nature, in life on the dairy farm and for our family.

Birthdays are always special events and

last night we managed to pull off a surprise birthday party for Cody,thanks to Margaret(Cody's girlfriend) and alot of sneaky family and friends.

 

 

I was afraid we might set the cake on fire if we lit  twenty-five candles!

 

 

 

 The best gift was this baby goat from a family friend who knew Cody needed a new lawn mower!

                                                     A memorable birthday--don't you think?