Why Oh Why do we Farm???

This spring has been a long one.  Lots of really yucky weather seems to make one rather "grouchy", especially when you are working out in it.  I was pretty negative in my last writing, which I apologize for, as that is not my intention with my blog.  However, maybe it's good to let you know that I do have bad days.  Days I wonder what I am doing here.  Those miserable days seem to make a person wonder why we do what we do.  The thoughts in my head seem to shout... "I'm sure there are easier jobs out there!....Like inside a building!"
As I was out checking cows again the other day, I once again asked myself why. It had been raining and snowing that morning, again.  It was windy and cold, and my thoughts were heading in that direction.....Why do we farm!?!? It's for sure not for the money! And it is not because its easy!  It's definitely not the glamour job that some people think it is.
I stopped on top of a hill and just sat for a moment.  Pondering this question, I looked around at my surroundings.  Suddenly, the wind became a whisper, the blue sky started to peek out from behind the clouds, the sun shined its warmth across my face and a different view formed within my mind and maybe my soul.

What does make this farming life worth it?

Sitting out in the middle of a field and soaking all in....sights, sounds, smells.

The sound of a cow mooing to her new born calf.

Watching a brand new calf attempt to stand for the first time.  And once he has his legs planted firmly underneath him, he miraculously makes the way to momma's utter for that much anticipated and nutritional first meal.

Watching the hay fields bare up, after being buried underneath layers of snow for 5 months (or is it 10 months), turn green and begin to grow.

The "I'm wakin' up" smell of the pasture grass after it is harrowed.

Watching a fox hunt, sneak up, then pounce on his unsuspected prey.

Listening to 150 black birds (yep...I counted) lined up on the power line and fence line singing joyfully as if saying "Hello Mr. Sunshine!"

Watching an eagle or hawk glide flawlessly in flight over head.

The smell of fresh turned dirt as it boils out from behind the plow.

The sweet fragrant smell of a newly cut hay field.

Watching the pride on my Farmer's face as he looks out across his field of oats that has grown chest high.

The pride we feel watching our calf crop enter into the auction ring.  Knowing that all those sleepless nights during calving season was worth it.

Realizing that someone in my Farmers family, has been in the same spot, doing the same thing, on the same land for over 100 years.

Yep, I AM.......Livin' the Life........The FARM LIFE that is!!!!
And I am truly blessed.

(However, if it frickin' snows again tomorrow.........the why will be back.  😉 )

See ya when the sun comes up.

As I am sitting here in my living room, drinking my morning brew, watching the beautiful sunrise, my mind wonders back in time.  Memories of my Farmers grandfather, and one of his many saying  "see ya when the sun comes up".  Sitting here in this house that was once his, looking out the very window he did, looking at the same view he did every morning for over 60 years...this morning I think I get it.  I always wondered why he said that instead of goodbye or see ya tomorrow.  Watching the sun rise is magical, its awe-inspiring.  The feeling of greatfulness, the feeling of thanks for life, the feeling of a new beginning, the feeling of peace....these are all the feelings that awaken in me as I sit here and watch this event. I can Imagine him thinking the same when he looked out.  Only I'm sure he wasn't sitting, still in his pj's.  Nope, he'd be standing, dressed, ready to start the day. He didn't just start his day.....he started it watching the sun rise. 

Ok....done dreaming......back to reality.  To be honest, I am not a morning person. My Farmer gets up early and has always told me that morning is the best part of the day.  I argued that night was better.  I am trying to change my ways.  But I am starting to think that I could start to like this morning thing. As long as I can sit here by the window, stay in my pajamas, drink my morning brew and not talk to anyone until I'm ready.  Yep, just maybe I can get use to it.  With that said.....See ya when the sun comes up.

  After all, tomorrow never comes, but the sun does rise.

And On the Farm they had a Dog..................

I've decided to go through my blogs and pick a few favorites and re post them.  Here goes....

Have you ever had one of those moments when you do something stupid and then you look around to see if anyone was watching?  Well, this is one of my stupid moments. 

When my boys were little, we got a dog for them.  Being the wonderful mother that I am, I wanted to name him something the little guys could easily say.  My boys favorite book at the time was of animals and the sounds they make.  The sound for the dog was arf.  So that became the name of the dog, Arf.   I thought it was very clever, and a good name, if I do say so myself.  We have had many dogs here on the ranch, and with dogs, comes issue.  One issue this dog had was that he would chase cars, and bark at anyone walking by (come to think of it, we have that issue with our current dogs).  Anyways, our farm is located 4 miles from town, and our road has a lot of traffic, in the form of cars, walkers, and bikers.  On this one particular summer day, the boys and I were outside soaking up the sun, when Arf starting barking.  I yelled at him to quit, and looked up to see what he was barking at.  It was a lady on her bicycle, out for a nice ride in the countryside.   Before I knew it, Arf was headed down the driveway after her.  Now, I was getting pretty tired of his chasing habit, and barking at everybody going by, so I was going to teach him a lesson!  I headed down the driveway after the dog.  So here is the scene;  One bicycler peddling along, one dog running towards the biker, barking,  and one lady (me, myself, and I) also running down the driveway yelling Arf, Arf, Arf, all the way.  I'm not sure who was scared the most, the dog, who took off in a different direction, or the fast peddling bicycler being chased by a dog and a barking lady.   But I felt pretty good, because the dog stopped chasing the bicycler, I did not know this person, so life was good.  My first mistake was telling the family what I did (yep, I do seem to have a big mouth).  It then became the favorite story of my brother-in-law.  He, in turn, would repeat this story when ever he had a chance. (I'm sure most of the town had heard about.)  So this brings me to the "Rest of the Story".  As I said in my "about me", we grew potatoes in the past.  Every spring, we hired people to help us with the sorting and shipping, plus every available family member helped when they could.  So one day, my wonderful brother-in-law was helping out, and decided to share the "Arf Story" with the crew.  As he finished, and everyone was hysterically laughing, one of the crew, looked up and said, "that was me!"  I just about died..........

So the moral of the story is........think before you name your dog, and if you do something stupid, don't tell others about it!!  (yep, like I am doing now)

The Legend of Bergie...........

You ever heard of the traveling plate?  You know, someone gives you a plate with goodies and after you empty it, you refill it and pass it on.  Well we have a similar custom with some really good friends of ours, only it's not with a plate of cookies.  It's a stump of wood. Yep, you read it right.  And it gets better.  The stump of wood has a name.  Bergie.  We have been trading Bergie back and forth for over a year now.  Yep, we are a little weird, but let me give you a little background.  It happened one weekend while we were camping.  Our friend was cutting firewood with a chainsaw, and decided to try his hand at chainsaw carving. (We did tell him not to quit his day job)  There was a lot a discussion on what he had carved, an eagle, a bear, or an alien, but what ever it was suppose to be really didn't matter, cuz Bergie was born.  His full name is Bergie Shirdorf.  (yep, there was alcohol involved)  Our friends took Bergie home to do a few touch ups, and a few weeks later he appeared in our yard on my birthday.  I guess it was suppose to be a birthday present, but I just didn't feel right keeping Bergie all to myself.  He seemed to be missing our friends.  So after a few months, we returned him to our friends house, (when they weren't home of course), and so started the traveling Bergie.  The reason I am sharing this story with you is that Bergie has returned to our house.  Evidently while we were gone, (we have to remember never to tell our friends when we are leaving) they snuck into our house and put Bergie in the bathroom, behind the shower curtain.  They did put caution tape on the door, warning us, but I didn't get it.  It wasn't until my Farmer opened up the curtain to shower that we discover Bergie.  And yes he did scream.  My Farmer, not Bergie, or at least I think it was him.  

Yep, that's Bergie.  Ain't he cute?  Well, maybe not, but he kind of grows on ya after awhile. I think he looks like Alf, the alien from a TV show in the '80's.
So now we have Bergie, and I want to come up with a very creative way to return him. So I am asking my followers for any idea's.  So far Bergie has worn Mardi Gras attire, a Santa hat, Bunny ears, an Indian feather, and now the witches hat. I would LOVE for you to help me out.  Just leave me a comment with your ideas.  I could hold a contest and give the winner a prize.  But I'm not ready for that, so if I pick your idea, you will just have to be happy with bragging rights.  Until next time, I'm livin' the farm life, and Bergie is too, for now anyhow............

Farmer or Rancher..........What's The Difference?

How to tell the difference between a Farmer and a Rancher.......

The Rope........A farmer's rope will not be coiled up properly and will have more than 2 knots in it. He uses his rope for everything from pulling a piece of machinery to tying up a cow.  A rancher only uses his rope for catching livestock and he actually knows how to throw a loop. 

The Repair Kit........A ranchers emergency repair kit consists of a roll of wire and fencing pliers.   A farmers emergency repair kit consists of snap ties, duct tape, and vise grips.

The Hat........A farmer wears a cap usually advertising a seed or equipment company.  A rancher wears his western hat.  Except when they dress up, the farmer will wear his western hat, and the rancher will wear his new western hat.

Choice of Ride........A farmer herds his cows with a 4-wheeler, snowmobile, motorcycle, pickup, tractor, or most anything with a motor.  A rancher uses his horse. 


Why I know I am married to a farmer........He wears a cap, (the cowboy hat goes on when we go out), he always has duct tape handy, he rides a 4-wheeler (and has herded cattle with a snowmobile, but that's another blog in itself), and his rope is not coiled, definitely can't be coiled properly, and for sure has more than 2 knots in it.

(My Farmer is quick to inform me that he does have a rope coiled up hanging in the barn, but that is just because a friend (whom actually ropes critters) just gave it to him and he hasn't had the need to use it yet.) 

I hope this helps you out when it comes to knowing the difference between a farmer and a rancher.  Pretty much, ya just asked about his rope.  That will tell ya.  

I would love to know your view on how you tell the difference between a farmer and a rancher, so please leave me a comment below.   Well, I'd better get going and help my Farmer, since the sun is still shining and there's farming to do...........         .

Ready.....set............calve!

We are about one week away from starting our calving season.  We have about 90 mother cows to calve out this spring and then about 7 will calve in the fall.  It's just me and my Farmer, so calving season can be very tiring and stressful. When the cows start calving, we usually try and check on them at least every 3 hours.  Besides helping during the day, I usually do the midnight check.