Today, I was listening to an audio clip on one of my newest favorite blogs done by Amanda Nolz called www.chewingthecud.org. Amanda, a college student from South Dakota State University and ranch kid who served as the National Beef Ambassador, is a wonderful advocate for the beef industry.

Recently, this young 19 year old had the priviledge of interviewing cowboy poet Baxter Black. I’m sure most of you know who Baxter is…he writes and recites cowboy poetry, writes a column about ranching adventures and is incredbly funny. The first time I ever heard of him was when he spoke at the National Block and Bridle meeting in Denver. I fell in love with his humor, bought one of his books and have been a fan ever since. His column appears next to mine in the Farmers’ Advance and every time I hear Big Daddy laughing I know he’s reading Baxter’s column. He usually feels compelled to share and he reads it to the rest of us. The next best thing to Baxter himself has to be my southern born husband reading Baxter Blacks stuff. We all end up in a giggling mess.

In the interview, Baxter was sharing a story from his childhood growing up on a farm, feeding chickens and milking an Ayrshire cow. Yes, mom, an Ayrshire. While I listened to him tell of his experience with a mean rooster, the thought occured to me that the story he was relating could’ve been told by countless farm boys all across our nation. That same story could’ve happened here on the Knolltop.

It’s always amazing to me that here we are miles apart, farm folk scattered around the country, down dirt roads and over vast prairies, ranging in age from ten years old to sixty years old all enjoying the same experiences we call farm life. There is just none like it.

Hey, I think I just wrote my column for next week! 🙂

Today, I was listening to an audio clip on one of my newest favorite blogs done by Amanda Nolz called www.chewingthecud.org. Amanda, a college student from South Dakota State University and ranch kid who served as the National Beef Ambassador, is a wonderful advocate for the beef industry.

Recently, this young 19 year old had the priviledge of interviewing cowboy poet Baxter Black. I’m sure most of you know who Baxter is…he writes and recites cowboy poetry, writes a column about ranching adventures and is incredbly funny. The first time I ever heard of him was when he spoke at the National Block and Bridle meeting in Denver. I fell in love with his humor, bought one of his books and have been a fan ever since. His column appears next to mine in the Farmers’ Advance and every time I hear Big Daddy laughing I know he’s reading Baxter’s column. He usually feels compelled to share and he reads it to the rest of us. The next best thing to Baxter himself has to be my southern born husband reading Baxter Blacks stuff. We all end up in a giggling mess.

In the interview, Baxter was sharing a story from his childhood growing up on a farm, feeding chickens and milking an Ayrshire cow. Yes, mom, an Ayrshire. While I listened to him tell of his experience with a mean rooster, the thought occured to me that the story he was relating could’ve been told by countless farm boys all across our nation. That same story could’ve happened here on the Knolltop.

It’s always amazing to me that here we are miles apart, farm folk scattered around the country, down dirt roads and over vast prairies, ranging in age from ten years old to sixty years old all enjoying the same experiences we call farm life. There is just none like it.

Hey, I think I just wrote my column for next week! 🙂

I just was notified that my mother in law and sister in law will not be arriving next week as planned. In her email she said that I could take a break from cleaning…oh no, that will not happen. I’ve got everyone in cleaning mode and that’s the way I’m going to keep them! (Can you hear the whip?)

Last evening we attended a birthday party for a new teenager. They are good friends of the family and we enjoy their fellowship. So of course when she invited us over for cake we had to say yes. This woman has a flair for baking and she loves doing it…so when she bakes she really goes to town! She had made Oreo cookie dessert with real whipped cream and homemade chocolate pudding in the middle. She had raspberry cheesecake, just a glance at it made you gain 10 pounds. And she had some St. Louis Butter cake with creamed blueberries for the topping. Oh my, I couldn’t decide so…..yes, you guessed it, just like with Thanksgiving pies…I had a little of each kind! Life is too short not to have some of each!

On to the Knolltop happenings. My baby calves have learned to do the dog paddle. Last night…someone…we haven’t pinpointed the culprit….left the hose trickling. So this morning, the area where my six calves live was flooded and they were paddling around…well not really, they were just kind of wading around. What a sight. I bailed them out and put down fresh shavings…they were so happy to lay down in dry bedding!

I just was notified that my mother in law and sister in law will not be arriving next week as planned. In her email she said that I could take a break from cleaning…oh no, that will not happen. I’ve got everyone in cleaning mode and that’s the way I’m going to keep them! (Can you hear the whip?)

Last evening we attended a birthday party for a new teenager. They are good friends of the family and we enjoy their fellowship. So of course when she invited us over for cake we had to say yes. This woman has a flair for baking and she loves doing it…so when she bakes she really goes to town! She had made Oreo cookie dessert with real whipped cream and homemade chocolate pudding in the middle. She had raspberry cheesecake, just a glance at it made you gain 10 pounds. And she had some St. Louis Butter cake with creamed blueberries for the topping. Oh my, I couldn’t decide so…..yes, you guessed it, just like with Thanksgiving pies…I had a little of each kind! Life is too short not to have some of each!

On to the Knolltop happenings. My baby calves have learned to do the dog paddle. Last night…someone…we haven’t pinpointed the culprit….left the hose trickling. So this morning, the area where my six calves live was flooded and they were paddling around…well not really, they were just kind of wading around. What a sight. I bailed them out and put down fresh shavings…they were so happy to lay down in dry bedding!

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!

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!