Hart Communications

Author: Melissa

  • Is normal really real?

    I often wonder if there is such a thing as normal. I was thinking this morning that we are back to normal, but we really aren’t because each day is so different from the next. There is always something pushing us to the next event. Like today, we are cleaning up and getting rid of some junk around the farm. This is because my mother in law is coming and that is as good a reason as any to clean up things that have been let go in the name of busyness. So really is that normal? No. So my conclusion has been and will continue to be this: Normal is only a setting on a dryer.

    Last night JW put a new fuel line on his tractor and was sure it was going to start. Luke got his tractor out and hooked up to JW’s and they began the process of trying to pull start the Massey. When Big Daddy saw this he must have figured they needed help, so he put down his dipper and hopped on the tractor with Luke. I watched them go by a couple of times, but there was only one tractor running. When they all came back into the barn to help milk, JW said there was yet another repair that needed to be made. These repairs seem to be endless…too bad antique tractors don’t come with a warranty. 🙂

    Yesterday I found time to make some sweetrolls. They sure were good this morning with the oatmeal. Yes, we are out of cereal…I have to actually cook breakfast!

  • Is normal really real?

    I often wonder if there is such a thing as normal. I was thinking this morning that we are back to normal, but we really aren’t because each day is so different from the next. There is always something pushing us to the next event. Like today, we are cleaning up and getting rid of some junk around the farm. This is because my mother in law is coming and that is as good a reason as any to clean up things that have been let go in the name of busyness. So really is that normal? No. So my conclusion has been and will continue to be this: Normal is only a setting on a dryer.

    Last night JW put a new fuel line on his tractor and was sure it was going to start. Luke got his tractor out and hooked up to JW’s and they began the process of trying to pull start the Massey. When Big Daddy saw this he must have figured they needed help, so he put down his dipper and hopped on the tractor with Luke. I watched them go by a couple of times, but there was only one tractor running. When they all came back into the barn to help milk, JW said there was yet another repair that needed to be made. These repairs seem to be endless…too bad antique tractors don’t come with a warranty. 🙂

    Yesterday I found time to make some sweetrolls. They sure were good this morning with the oatmeal. Yes, we are out of cereal…I have to actually cook breakfast!

  • Sunny Monday

    Another sunny day here on the Knolltop…we really could use some rain…it’s getting bad here in Michigan and other parts of the Midwest.

    It was a fun weekend at the tractor show…I only spent the afternoon there..the boys spent all day there and enjoyed jawing with all the old men who brought their tractors. Honestly, I thought they would’ve come home with a report that it was incredbly boring..but just the opposite was true. They loved it. They loved standing around their tractors talking about all the old iron and diagnosing problems with other mechanics.

    Now just for the record…my Allis was the only tractor that made it down there on it’s own power and also that made it back here on it’s own power…the other two tractors quit part way and had to be pulled. But now I have to admit, I want to trade tractors. There is a JD B up in North Adams that I’m looking over…but I would have to sell the Allis first and I’m having a hard time convincing the other owner to sell. He’s dead set against any part of selling the chicken chaser. I need to pray about that!

  • Sunny Monday

    Another sunny day here on the Knolltop…we really could use some rain…it’s getting bad here in Michigan and other parts of the Midwest.

    It was a fun weekend at the tractor show…I only spent the afternoon there..the boys spent all day there and enjoyed jawing with all the old men who brought their tractors. Honestly, I thought they would’ve come home with a report that it was incredbly boring..but just the opposite was true. They loved it. They loved standing around their tractors talking about all the old iron and diagnosing problems with other mechanics.

    Now just for the record…my Allis was the only tractor that made it down there on it’s own power and also that made it back here on it’s own power…the other two tractors quit part way and had to be pulled. But now I have to admit, I want to trade tractors. There is a JD B up in North Adams that I’m looking over…but I would have to sell the Allis first and I’m having a hard time convincing the other owner to sell. He’s dead set against any part of selling the chicken chaser. I need to pray about that!

  • Red Shirt Friday

    Every Friday we have a chance to make a statement. We can wear a red shirt saying we support the men and women who are protecting our country and everyone’s freedom.

    This week, the Junior exhibitors in the All-Michigan Holstein Junior Show wore red shirts in support of our troops. On the back of the shirts it said exactly that; “We support our troops.” Isn’t it wonderful that the youth of our country are willing to tell the hard working men and women who serve us that they will stand in support of their mighty efforts and difficult mission. Thank you Michigan Junior Holstein enthusiasts! You’re awesome!

  • Red Shirt Friday

    Every Friday we have a chance to make a statement. We can wear a red shirt saying we support the men and women who are protecting our country and everyone’s freedom.

    This week, the Junior exhibitors in the All-Michigan Holstein Junior Show wore red shirts in support of our troops. On the back of the shirts it said exactly that; “We support our troops.” Isn’t it wonderful that the youth of our country are willing to tell the hard working men and women who serve us that they will stand in support of their mighty efforts and difficult mission. Thank you Michigan Junior Holstein enthusiasts! You’re awesome!

  • From cows to tractors

    It is a cool, sunny morning on the Knolltop. Good Morning!

    We are finally done with the All Michigan Holstein show and the whole week seems like a blur. Yesterday we went up and helped out with the show and had a lot of fun. (By the way, Todd Watts had champion and Koebels had reserve.)

    We came back home and did chores and then the boys fired up their tractors to head to Boardman Farms for a tractor show. They only took one tractor down last night…actually a friend pulled JW’s tractor down there…it’s not exactly independently mobile. Luke’s tractor needs a new fuel line, that is getting worked on this morning and mine and Jake’s tractor is not going. I just don’t want to fool with it. Blame it on too much cow show, but I’m too tired to monkey around with a tractor that might quit half way there. Besides, I want a John Deere A,B,C,D,G, any old putt putt, and it can even be in it’s working clothes for all I care, I just want an old John Deere that runs when I want it to run! Enough of my ranting and raving!

    So today we will go to this tractor show south of us. It’s not a public show, it’s by invitation only…doesn’t that sound special….not really, they just don’t want the liability of having a public show, so they invite people and have a tractor show. We’ve not been able to make this one before, even though we’ve been invited, it’s always been right before Dairy Days…and there’s no time for a tractor show the day before we leave for a cow show.

    I’ll take my camera so you can see all of us pigging out on roast pig and all the trimmings and yes, I might even take a picture of a tractor or two!

  • From cows to tractors

    It is a cool, sunny morning on the Knolltop. Good Morning!

    We are finally done with the All Michigan Holstein show and the whole week seems like a blur. Yesterday we went up and helped out with the show and had a lot of fun. (By the way, Todd Watts had champion and Koebels had reserve.)

    We came back home and did chores and then the boys fired up their tractors to head to Boardman Farms for a tractor show. They only took one tractor down last night…actually a friend pulled JW’s tractor down there…it’s not exactly independently mobile. Luke’s tractor needs a new fuel line, that is getting worked on this morning and mine and Jake’s tractor is not going. I just don’t want to fool with it. Blame it on too much cow show, but I’m too tired to monkey around with a tractor that might quit half way there. Besides, I want a John Deere A,B,C,D,G, any old putt putt, and it can even be in it’s working clothes for all I care, I just want an old John Deere that runs when I want it to run! Enough of my ranting and raving!

    So today we will go to this tractor show south of us. It’s not a public show, it’s by invitation only…doesn’t that sound special….not really, they just don’t want the liability of having a public show, so they invite people and have a tractor show. We’ve not been able to make this one before, even though we’ve been invited, it’s always been right before Dairy Days…and there’s no time for a tractor show the day before we leave for a cow show.

    I’ll take my camera so you can see all of us pigging out on roast pig and all the trimmings and yes, I might even take a picture of a tractor or two!

  • Two Boys

    Yesterday Jake and I had the rare chance to be together without anybody else. We ran some errands in town and of course on our way we had to stop and celebrate Ice Cream Month! While we were eating our ice cream we were discussing Jake’s future. He was telling me where he was going to live and how I could ride to town with his wife and kids whenever I wanted to.

    Then we began talking about his kids…this is how our conversation went:
    How many kids are you going to have?
    Two.
    Boys or girls?
    Two boys.
    What are you going to name you two boys?
    Humpy Almondinger and Frank.

    Laughter ensued for about 10 minutes as we both just fell out! We laughed and laughed together, it was so funny. He gave than answer without skipping a beat…it was so absolutely funny it still makes me giggle! Sometimes that kid can come up with the best stuff…I’m so glad I have him. But I can’t imagine showing off my infant grandchild at church and saying, “Yes, isn’t he cute, his name is Humpy Almondinger.”

  • Two Boys

    Yesterday Jake and I had the rare chance to be together without anybody else. We ran some errands in town and of course on our way we had to stop and celebrate Ice Cream Month! While we were eating our ice cream we were discussing Jake’s future. He was telling me where he was going to live and how I could ride to town with his wife and kids whenever I wanted to.

    Then we began talking about his kids…this is how our conversation went:
    How many kids are you going to have?
    Two.
    Boys or girls?
    Two boys.
    What are you going to name you two boys?
    Humpy Almondinger and Frank.

    Laughter ensued for about 10 minutes as we both just fell out! We laughed and laughed together, it was so funny. He gave than answer without skipping a beat…it was so absolutely funny it still makes me giggle! Sometimes that kid can come up with the best stuff…I’m so glad I have him. But I can’t imagine showing off my infant grandchild at church and saying, “Yes, isn’t he cute, his name is Humpy Almondinger.”