Saying Goodbye To Summer

It is the last day of summer and I am bummed! I love Spring and Summer. I love to feel the warmth of sunshine, to be outside, to see baby calves being born and to watch things grow.  Fall to me is flowers dying, a chill in the air, the farm turning gloomy as the crops are waiting to be harvested. Yes there is still warm days and believe me I get my butt out there to soak it all up but the nights being cold, having to bundle up to walk in the mornings that is just not my cup of tea, (but I do it).

Enough of me whining I will just have anticipate my tropical vacation while we get ready for the harvest. For now here is a look back to some of the happenings on the farm this past Spring/Summer.

This is lucky. We had to bottle feed her because she lost her mom. She is our baby! She loves to talk back to us, of course in her own mooing way.

Any time we have the hummingbird juice out we can watch at least 4 hummingbirds playing around the feeder.

Tim is introducing Punkin to our newest farm critter Cocoa. Hopefully a year from now we will have a baby Hershey. Yes girls mini donkey's are pregnant anywhere from 11 1/2 to 13 months. YICKS!

Grass Is Not Always Greener!

Meet Bush! He is our Palomino and the most inquisitive horse I have ever been around. If left to his own he can open latch gates. He well take your ball cap, your sunglasses he has even grabbed my ponytail, all in fun of course.

Last night about 9:30 I am closing up the house and I hear galloping, wow the horses are active tonight! Then the dogs start barking, a mean guard bark. I go outside and see a white tail go by the side of the house. I call for Bush and he looks around the corner at me. What are you doing out? It is dark and we have two brown horses and a brown mini donkey, Tim is at a business function. Great!

I call him anyway, just to see how close he is. My luck he is just coming to Granger! I tell him "His Horses" are out. They were in when I did chores at 6:00. You hear Bush whinnying and carrying on. I have no idea where the others are.

Tim comes home and Bush goes right to his truck, they walk to the gate and Bush goes right in. I am on the front porch trying to figure out where the rest are. Tim says they are in!

We have no idea how the horse got out or where but I guess the moral of the story "Grass is not always greener on the other side if your friends will not follow!" Crazy Horse!

Bridget is the one with White on her nose and leg, Sissy is the other one. Sissy was suppose to be a race horse but she is to spoiled and would need Tim to run around the track with her. Her race name I thought would be so cool, Settle Down Lil Sister.

Our 9/11 Nightmare!

With the anniversary of 9/11 coming up I thought it appropriate, just like everyone else to reflect on where we were on that dread full day. Tim and were on a cruise in the Bahamas. We remember that day so well, it was a Tuesday, we had gotten up early to watch the ship dock at Nassau. We took a horse and buggy ride around Nassau just waiting until a departure ferry to Atlantis came. As we get back to where the horse and buggy drop us off we notice that there was a huge presence of the military walking around with machine guns. Shop owners had the radios on in their cars parked in front of their shops. It was the first time either one of us had been out of the country so thought nothing of it.

We boarded the ferry and headed to Atlantis, we were departing and notice TV's on at the station and people stopping and gasping. We heard "Oh My God" so many times. We heard people crying. Finally we asked some one what was going on. We were told that a plane had crashed into the towers and that New York was under attack, (now this gives me goose bumps just writing about this ten years later). We decided to stop and watch and then they announced the Pentagon had been attack. That is when I lost it. My mom works for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA. She was in Washington for training. I also remembered that my sister was to fly to New York for her job with Citi Group. We didn't have our cell phones so we try to find phones in the Atlantis. After many attempts we finally reach my dad, (The one time we are glad he doesn't like to travel).

He was panicked trying to make sure that my mom, sister and I were all safe. He wanted us home and now! He had heard from my mom and she was in a different part of the pentagon, Shelly's (my sister) flight was cancelled because of the attack, (they shut down all airports right away).

 I do not remember going thru Atlantis at all. If it wasn't for Tim taking pictures of the beautiful aquarium I wouldn't believe I was there.

We go back to the cruise ship and turn on the TV. The ships captain is telling people that we need to have our ID's and that the ship needs to see everyones before taking off that evening They also announce that there will be no charges for phone calls back to the states. I try to call my mom and Andy, who was staying at his other grandparents, the circuits were all busy after about an hour I finally got thru to my mom. What relief to hear her voice, she was safe.  As soon as she could she was going to rent a car and  drive home. She was informed as a government employee that all air travel will be cancelled for awhile. She advised us to try to rent a car. My next call was to Sue, Andy's grandma. She was so up beat, Andy was still at school and she was just going to let him tell her if the school said anything and she wasn't going to have the TV on so that he wouldn't worry. Andy is a worry wart, he is a big "What if" person. I told her I would try to call when we could. Our next call was to a car rental to book a car because there was no way we were going to get on a plane even if we could.

That night as the cruise ship was suppose to be pulling out of the Bahamas they would call peoples names over the speaker looking for Mr. or Mrs. whoever. Most of the time it was a foreign name. It was kinda scary. Finally after an hour past the departure time we take off.

We tried to stay busy on the ship, eating, watching the shows, gambling, but I was just getting motion sick so bad. I could feel every little wave that the boat hit. We went back to the room, Tim dropped me off and he went up to go outside (he has a dirty little smoking habit). He comes back down and tells me not to look outside, now if that doesn't peak one curiosity. After a lot of "what is going on out there" he tells me that it was so windy out there that he couldn't open one door so he went to the other side, then he watched the chaise loungers be catapulted off the top of the pool deck out into the ocean. Great! We get ours bags packed because the next day is the last of the cruise. Thank God! It wasn't until the next morning we find out were sailing around a Hurricane, Hurricane Erin!

Once in Miami we were two hours trying to get off the ship because you had to go thru customs and they were being very careful (we didn't need passports back then). We get to the Miami airport to find out that no flights are leaving, (we knew that but had to check in any way) we go to the car rental place and get the last remaining car, thank goodness we booked it. By the way, when we were at the Miami airport it was pure hell there, that is where they discovered the terrorist stole the pilots uniforms. There was military, dogs, police, millions of people stuck and scared. We got our car, bought a few maps and took off.

We were listening to the radio it was raining out, I was the co-pilot. We would hear the announcement on the radio to take cover there was a tornado in such and such town. Tim would ask where that was, we just past it! Drive further and another announcement for another town, once again we just past it! This happened three different times. I am starting to freak out but Tim keeps his cool and is going to get us out of here one way or another, we just want to get back to the Midwest! He drives in heavy down pours until we got out of Florida. Finally in Georgia at about 1:00 am we decide to get a hotel. Who could sleep but I am sure he is tired of driving in this crap!

Next morning brings a beautiful day, we decide to try to salvage this trip and drive thru Louisville Kentucky and check out the horse ranches. What beautiful country that is. (That little trip is a whole other story). We finally get home two days later than we were suppose to due to the driving, but I was never so glad to get home in my life.

So that is where we were on 9/11, where were you?

4-H Is Not For Sissy's

Growing up on a farm most farm kids belong to a 4-H  club and look forward to taking projects to the county fair. Raising livestock or completing a project in woodworking, photography, sewing the list is endless. If you have attended the Iowa State Fair maybe you may have seen them over and in front of the 4-H building. Not me! I belonged to a 4-H club in Dallas County, Tim belonged to a different one in Dallas County as well. Neither one of us participated in the projects. Tim doesn't remember why he didn't. I know why I didn't, my dad explained to me if you take livestock and it wins you have to sell it. What! No Way!

 A participate decides on their projects by December then you spend roughly the next seven months completing it and documenting it. If you decide on livestock you are spending that time bonding with an animal, then you have to sell them. I am the type that if I name them they are mine forever. I cried when I accidentally ran over a couple of our turkeys once (that is a whole other story).

April 09 we had a calf born that we thought would make a great 4-H project. He was stocky and stood perfectly only thing was we have no kids at home. 4-H is for 10 yr olds thru 18 or 4th thru 12th grade. A high school friend of Tim's has kids that are in 4-H and he mentioned to them about this little guy. (I hadn't named it yet). Scott brought his kids over Blake and Emily. Blake picked this guy and another little shaggy calf and Emily picked one. Off they went to get weighed and become their 2010 4-H project. Tim was just giddy thinking he had raised something good enough to show at a fair.

A true 4-H project is that the kids pick their own livestock, usually within the county they will be showing in, do the work and record all information. Just like in sports there are parents who stick their two cents in and sometimes a whole lot more money than that into the project. It takes the true meaning out of what 4-H is for. Not Scott and Barb they insist the Blake, Emily and big sister Sara do the work themselves. They will help when needed but it is their projects.

July comes and it is time for the Dallas County fair. We have not seen the calves but hear that they will be shown. We go over early in the week to peak at them. Blake has taken three to the fair two of which were ours. He named them Drewby (he was the stocky one) and Shaggy. Emily takes one but it is not ours. Very impressive! They look fat and happy.

The showing is on a Saturday morning and Tim takes off with camera in hand to see how the kids do. Tim watches as the kids wash and groom their animals, helping each other and just having a good time. Show time is close and then the seriousness sets in on their faces.

I am not sure how Emily does but Tim does say she is the hardest working girl out there. She got in and helped others without blinking an eye. Blake however discovered that Shaggy was 40 lbs. to light to show in his class but was unable to show him. Now Drewby, Tim will be blowing up pictures of this guy and hanging in his barn. Drewby placed 2nd in his class! The down side is he was then sold, but then there is a Carcus Class and Drewby got 6th so that was additional money for Blake. But how hard would that be to lead your calf to the truck and come back with an empty halter? Yea you get a check but that was a pet, he had a name. This is why I couldn't complete a livestock project. It does bother the kids for awhile then they are deciding on the next years project and what they could do differently.

We are proud of Blake, Emily and all 4-H'ers who take part in 4-H and follow thru on a project. We look forward to watching their progress next year and little sister Faith will be following in their footsteps in the near future.  The lessons these kids learn will be invaluable in life. Scott and Barb are proud that their kids do it the correct way thru hard work.

Tim has been asked by some of the local kids  if they can look at our calves for their 2011 project. He is ecstatic about that! It is the little things in farming that make it all worthwhile!

Blake giving Drewby a bath!

Blake and Drewby in the Showring

Blake and his State Fair calf Haus. Couldn't resist this picture, it says it all!

My Adventure in Mowing

I typically do all the mowing at our house, especially since I work part time and I have more free time.  I don't mind I get out of the house get some sun, but it also gives me a lot of time to think of projects, we have 10 acres to mow. I use to have a Cub Cadet, a typical riding mower. It would take me about 8 1/2 hrs to mow everything. Last year we traded that in for a Dixie Chopper. WOO HOO! It makes mowing now a 4 hour event. If anyone knows anything about a Dixie Chopper they are loud and they are fast. I feel like Tim "the tool man" Taylor minus the grunt,  like "the tool man" I get myself into predicaments. Today was no exception!

 I was mowing down our driveway which a quarter of a mile long. Down out the bottom of the drive we have the ditch mounded up with trenches in it so that water won't fill the drive. Well I got stuck. Not really stuck because there is no mud, it was more like wedged. I couldn't go forward or backwards and I certainly couldn't push it out. Boy that driveway looks long!

All else fails call Dad! No answer on either his cell or the house phone. Call Tim it is 3:30 in the afternoon maybe he is on his way home (yea right ). I have the feeling that these two do not answer their phones during the day when they see that I am calling because they do not want to know what kind of trouble I have gotten myself in.

 I have to walk up the drive to get the 4 wheeler, in flip flops. I get the 4 wheeler and a chain and go down to pull myself out. Oh the dog, don't forget the dog, Pepper (our black lab) has to come with. You start the 4 wheeler and the dogs go crazy. Today only Pepper goes, Sadie was wore out from an early walk.

I  pulled myself out, park the 4 wheeler in the shade, take the key and continue to mow. Pepper digs a spot and takes her position next to the 4 wheeler. I head back up the lane and then have to make another swipe down. Get half way down the lane and Pepper peeks her head around the corn looking for me. If dogs could talk she would have said "Did you forget something?" I have more mowing to do at the bottom of the lane while watching Pepper circle the 4 wheeler and making sure that I see her. I continue up the other side. Mow at the top of the drive and see Pepper sitting down at the bottom of the driveway  in the middle of the lane. I finish up and park the mower. I start to head down the drive and Pepper comes running toward me. She sees me walking and begins her happy jump (she jumps straight up in the air as if she has springs in her legs). We walk to the 4 wheeler she starts barking and we begin the drive back up the drive. Pepper is prancing, head held high as if she won a prize. She made sure I did not lose the 4 wheeler!

Nobody will ever be able to steal our 4 wheeler unless they want a dog. What a girl!

Pepper Chillin with Fred the Peacock

Sadie

Where To Begin

This is our first attempt at blogging! He, would be Tim, I am Shari! We have been married ten years and moved back to rural Dallas County eight years ago. You see we both grew up on a farm and couldn't wait to get back out here. We were lucky enough that my dad let us build a house on a parcel of land that his dad gave to him when he got married 49 years ago. My parents live 3 miles away and Tim's mom lives about 10 miles away.


It has been suggested that we write a book on the trials and tribulations of life on the farm (who has that kind of time). Suffice it to say there is never a dull moment and we have the philosophy that you better laugh or you will go crazy!


Our farm consist of 40 chickens (give or take a few with the is heat, you never know what you will find when you do chores at the end of the day). Two guineas (18 eggs in the incubator and fingers crossed). three peacocks and one baby pea, momma hatched out four be we can only fine one, raccoons! If anyone needs beautiful peacock feathers, we can set you up!


We have three horses and one miniature donkey, her name is Punkin. We have thirteen cow/calves, 10 calves, 9 of which will go to market in January. The one that probably won't go is Lucy, we bottle fed her last year and she is our friend, just like Lucky who we bottled fed this year. You just can not eat something you named. Ask my dad, I wouldn't show animals for 4-H once I was told you have to sell them after spending 9 months taming and training them.


We also have the token barn cats, one of which was rescued 6 years ago and lives in the house. Her name is Mia, I call her ugly. She is mean to anyone who comes into her house, she has even gone so far as to attack people when they come near me while I am sitting at my computer. She has no claws but that doesn't stop her. I feel safe as long as I can get to my computer. We also have two of the best dogs. A yellow lab Sadie, she is ten years old and has cancer, she doesn't let it stop her. Start the four wheeler and she is there, going for a walk she is there, she will not be doing anything the rest of the day but she is going with you! Then there is is Pepper a beautiful, feisty, four year old black lab. We swear she has springs in her legs, she jumps straight up and down. Not on you just up and down. If she sees me with tennis shoes on and heading toward the door it starts and it doesn't stop until we get about 500 yards from the house. If you start the four wheeler it is worse she jumps and springs and finds chickens to chase. She doesn't catch them she runs at them until they squawk and fly away.


That about sums up what are farms consists of. Hopefully you will enjoy the goings on of our farm life, we know we do!