Routine Commitments

Our daily routine on the dairy farm includes milking 300 Holstein cows at seven thirty in the morning and seven thirty at night,twice a day, three hundred sixty five days a year. We are committed to providing quality milk which begins with consistent routine daily care of our dairy cows. Routine daily care includes activities such as feeding the dairy cows,milking the cows and making sure the cows are comfortable. The word routine might sound dull and boring but I can tell you that when working with cows, there is never a dull moment. In everyday's schedule we must have flexibility to deal with the unplanned events such as delivery of a calf,repairing equipment, mending fences,or driving to town for an item that we didn't plan on needing. The intense heat that we have had in this past week also adds increased monitoring of the water supply and comfort of the cows.

As I walked back to the house tonight from a trip to the dairy barn before the evening milking, I noticed about half of the first herd of cows were already standing at the gate, ready to enter the parlor to be milked. Cows are very much creatures of habit and when time to be milked, you will often find the same cows at the head of the line. Routine makes the cows happy! Just like the dairy cows, I find a certain amount of comfort in following routine and schedule--it's one of the reasons I do like living on the dairy farm and working every day with my family!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

In the middle of the afternoon these dairy cows enjoy the shade provided from trees in our yard. I am thankful for the rain we received this week that cooled our triple digit temperatures and provided a much needed drink for our crops,pastures,flowers, and trees.

Youthful Cheese

While preparing for our 4th of July picnic, I was looking for an easy dessert that would go well with homemade ice cream and be easy to pack up with the picnic food. Deep in the back of the recipe drawer that contains everything that I can't find, was the perfect recipe --Black Bottom Cupcakes. The ingredient that makes this recipe stand out is cream cheese. Cream cheese is considered a fresh or unaged cheese. Its mild,fresh tasting and sweet flavor makes it one of the most widely-consumed cheeses used in a variety of recipes.

Here are a few tips for storing youthful or unaged cheese:

-unaged cheese is highly perishable, keep refrigerated

-the fresher the cheese, the better the flavor

-open within the package dating code and use within one week after opening

-keep tightly wrapped or sealed until gone

-if mold forms on any part of cheese, discard all of the cheese

-freezing is not recommended due to change in texture when thawed

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Filling:

1 package (80unces) cream cheese,softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 egg

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Cupcakes:

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon white vinegar

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping:

Sugar

Chopped almonds,if desired

Combine cream cheese,sugar,egg and salt in a small mixing bowl;blend until smooth. Stir in chips. Set aside. Sift toether flour,cocoa,salt,sugar,and soda. Add egg,water,vinegar,oil and vanilla; beat until well combined. Fill paper-lined muffin tins half full with chocolate batter. Drop a heaping teaspoon of cheese mixture in center of batter of each cupcake. Sprinkle with sugar and chopped almonds, if desired. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate any leftovers. Yield: 20-24 cupcakes

You can find more delicious cream cheese recipes at http://www.midwestdairy.com/. Hope you find the perfect recipe for youthful (unaged) cream cheese!

Freedom to Celebrate

Happy July 4th! Our traditional holiday celebration begins after all the daily chores are done on the dairy. Our celebration will include a picnic this evening in a shady area next to our largest pond that we call Anglin Lake. Anglin Lake is actually a spring fed pond that we enlarged by joining two smaller ponds together several years ago. Our traditional picnic spot is perfect for watching fireworks from the surrounding cities of Centerton,Bentonville, Rogers and even a few from Springdale. With the rain we are having today, we can also plan to shoot a few fireworks of our own without the fear of setting a fire!

Today's celebration would not be possible without the dedication of the men and women who have served and are presently serving our country to protect the freedoms we enjoy today. Ryan's father,Bill, served in Japan during World War II. As a family we appreciate the sacrifice that members of our military make to serve our country. July 4th is not only the time to celebrate America but also to remind us of how blessed we are as a nation!

America,the Beautiful

In 1893 Katherine Lee Bates was inspired to write the words to the song, America,the Beautiful, when she reached the top of Pikes Peak and looked at the beauty from the top of the mountain. We will be singing this very song today at the Vaughn Presbyterian Church as we give thanks to God for the freedoms we enjoy in our country and the beauty that surrounds us.

America,the Beautiful

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain.

For purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood,from sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern,impassioned stress

A thoroughfare for freedom beat, across the wilderness!

America! America! God mend thine every flaw,

Confirm thy soul in self control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved in liberating strife,

Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!

America! America! May God thy gold refine

Till all success be nobleness and every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years

Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears!

America! America! God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!

Beat the Heat

As much as I would like to sit around in the cool air conditioned house and eat ice cream during July, that is simply not a realistic plan when you live on a dairy farm. Facing triple digit temperatures for the next few days and through out the rest of the summer,I decided it would be a good time to read up on ways to prevent heat related illness. Anyone who works outside such as farmers, construction workers, or pool lifeguards, should be cautious as the temperatures rise. The information also pointed out that some people are at greater risk for heat related illness such as: infants and young children,people aged 65 or older, people who have a mental illness and those who are physically ill, especially with heart disease or high blood pressure. Steps to prevent heat stress while working include:

--wear light-colored,loose-fitting,breathable clothing such as cotton.

--gradually build up to heavy work

--schedule heavy work during the coolest parts of day

--take more breaks in extreme heat and humidity; take breaks in the shade or a cool area when

possible

--drink water frequently; drink enough water that you never become thirsty

--avoid drinks with caffeine,alcohol,and large amounts of sugar

--be aware that protective clothing or personal protective equipment may increase the risk of

heat stress; monitor your physical condition and that of coworkers

As I go out to feed calves or work in the garden, I'll be wearing my farmer hat and sunglasses and drinking plenty of water and milk throughout the day. What preventive steps will you take to prevent heat related illness?

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

IJune Dairy Month has been filled with a variety of activities just like this tour yesterday of the Bill and Delia Haak dairy farm in Gentry as a part of the statewide Water Quality Conference. I'm thankful for our friends in agriculture that provide assistance to all farmers-- from providing technical information to passing out the cheese at an event!