Last night we had no baseball games, and no baseball practice, the only thing going was JW’s basketball practice. So after chores, I came in and relaxed! It was so wonderful to enjoy the company of my children…well actually I had to write my column because I didn’t get a chance to do it earlier in the day.

Today I get to go have lunch with a bunch of girls from church. I can’t wait! The kids have to help Bobby clean out calf pens.

My sweetcorn is tasseling!

Last night we had no baseball games, and no baseball practice, the only thing going was JW’s basketball practice. So after chores, I came in and relaxed! It was so wonderful to enjoy the company of my children…well actually I had to write my column because I didn’t get a chance to do it earlier in the day.

Today I get to go have lunch with a bunch of girls from church. I can’t wait! The kids have to help Bobby clean out calf pens.

My sweetcorn is tasseling!

It’s been a busy morning here on the Knolltop. After Bobby, Luke and Jake left for basketball camp, where they have only lost one game…I finished up chores. The vet stopped by to check Holly and to pregnancy check the neighbor’s heifers and he took note of a cow calving. He offered to help pull the calf, but I said, no, we can handle it. I should’ve taken his offer.

After I finished up chores, JW left to go work at the neighbors and I decided to check on this cow. When I reached in to check on the calf, oh my..what big feet I felt! Knowing full well this calf would not be born without assistance I put some string around the feet of the calf and began pulling. Forty five minutes later, I made a desperation call to the neighbor and he wasn’t close enough, so then I called Sarah and she came out to help. We pulled and prayed and finally this huge bull was born…alive! I was so thankful for Sarah’s help and God’s provision of strength!

Now I’ve got to check on mama and baby and then hopefully head down to the basketball tournament. The latest update is they lost their first game by three and now are going to play another team who they should beat pretty handily. Then who knows????

It’s been a busy morning here on the Knolltop. After Bobby, Luke and Jake left for basketball camp, where they have only lost one game…I finished up chores. The vet stopped by to check Holly and to pregnancy check the neighbor’s heifers and he took note of a cow calving. He offered to help pull the calf, but I said, no, we can handle it. I should’ve taken his offer.

After I finished up chores, JW left to go work at the neighbors and I decided to check on this cow. When I reached in to check on the calf, oh my..what big feet I felt! Knowing full well this calf would not be born without assistance I put some string around the feet of the calf and began pulling. Forty five minutes later, I made a desperation call to the neighbor and he wasn’t close enough, so then I called Sarah and she came out to help. We pulled and prayed and finally this huge bull was born…alive! I was so thankful for Sarah’s help and God’s provision of strength!

Now I’ve got to check on mama and baby and then hopefully head down to the basketball tournament. The latest update is they lost their first game by three and now are going to play another team who they should beat pretty handily. Then who knows????

It’s day two of Luke’s basketball camp and they are having a ball! They won two out of three games yesterday and will go at it again today. Last night at JW’s baskeball practice, Luke was invited to play too, he loves to play with the older boys.

Sarah’s team won their game, she got on base twice and scored two runs. It was a late game, we didn’t get home until 9:30 pm.

It’s been so hot lately causing Holly to go off feed for a day and dropped in milk. Boy was that nerve wracking having to think about her all day and wondering what was wrong. But as soon as she got out of the barn and into the cooler night air she began eating again and talk about a relief! She was eating well this morning too.

Today, Jake and Sarah and I will travel down to one of Luke’s games, I shouldn’t because I’ve got so much to do, but since the mountain of laundry has been reduced to a hill and I vacuumed up the hay chaff in the corners of the kitchen, I feel a little better about leaving. 🙂

As I look out my window this morning I can see the wheat has really turned in the last couple of days. It’s such a beautiful golden color and soon, we’ll be baling straw!

It’s day two of Luke’s basketball camp and they are having a ball! They won two out of three games yesterday and will go at it again today. Last night at JW’s baskeball practice, Luke was invited to play too, he loves to play with the older boys.

Sarah’s team won their game, she got on base twice and scored two runs. It was a late game, we didn’t get home until 9:30 pm.

It’s been so hot lately causing Holly to go off feed for a day and dropped in milk. Boy was that nerve wracking having to think about her all day and wondering what was wrong. But as soon as she got out of the barn and into the cooler night air she began eating again and talk about a relief! She was eating well this morning too.

Today, Jake and Sarah and I will travel down to one of Luke’s games, I shouldn’t because I’ve got so much to do, but since the mountain of laundry has been reduced to a hill and I vacuumed up the hay chaff in the corners of the kitchen, I feel a little better about leaving. 🙂

As I look out my window this morning I can see the wheat has really turned in the last couple of days. It’s such a beautiful golden color and soon, we’ll be baling straw!

Yes, my sister and her family left to head back to Montana today. On Sunday we had a big day of eating and celebrating my parents anniversary. We had to leave the party early of course to come back home and milk the cows, but we came back with a bonus…my nephew Tom.

Tom is 18 and has one Ayrshire cow that he breeds and milks. He has a big customer base of buyers for Betsey Lou’s raw milk. He takes a load to the local town, where his grandma lives and puts the milk in her fridge and people come and get it from there and then he also takes a load to Billings where he meets people and they pick up their fresh milk. He fetches a pretty big price for this ranch product…the locals pay $5.00 per gallon and the urbanites in Billings pay $7.00 a gallon. Talk about a niche market!

Because Tom loves dairy cattle, he wanted to come to our house and spend some time with his kindred souls. We had a great time and he helped JW and I milk the whole time he was here. Milking a barn full of cows is different than milking just one, but he got into the groove and did a fine job for us. In between milkings we built fence and went swimming and of course the most important thing we did was EAT. Tom has a hollow leg.

While we had Tom my sister took Jake and Sarah and they went to Henry Ford Museum. After a day of touring, they brought them to my house so Jake could make it to his game and Sarah to her practice. Jake’s team lost by one run.

After the game they came here and we had ice cream and then the sad moment came when they had to leave. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in a long time as when Tom was here…he and JW and Luke are great together. I sure wish they lived closer!

The agenda for the day is called catch up! I’ve got a mountain of laundry to get done and a house that looks like a pack of wolves has moved in. Bobby and Luke are gone to basketball camp for the day which means we’ll finish chores this morning and then I won’t be interrupted for any errands or “will you help me’s.”

I’ll try to get to the pool today, I just love sitting poolside and reading while the kids swim.

Yes, my sister and her family left to head back to Montana today. On Sunday we had a big day of eating and celebrating my parents anniversary. We had to leave the party early of course to come back home and milk the cows, but we came back with a bonus…my nephew Tom.

Tom is 18 and has one Ayrshire cow that he breeds and milks. He has a big customer base of buyers for Betsey Lou’s raw milk. He takes a load to the local town, where his grandma lives and puts the milk in her fridge and people come and get it from there and then he also takes a load to Billings where he meets people and they pick up their fresh milk. He fetches a pretty big price for this ranch product…the locals pay $5.00 per gallon and the urbanites in Billings pay $7.00 a gallon. Talk about a niche market!

Because Tom loves dairy cattle, he wanted to come to our house and spend some time with his kindred souls. We had a great time and he helped JW and I milk the whole time he was here. Milking a barn full of cows is different than milking just one, but he got into the groove and did a fine job for us. In between milkings we built fence and went swimming and of course the most important thing we did was EAT. Tom has a hollow leg.

While we had Tom my sister took Jake and Sarah and they went to Henry Ford Museum. After a day of touring, they brought them to my house so Jake could make it to his game and Sarah to her practice. Jake’s team lost by one run.

After the game they came here and we had ice cream and then the sad moment came when they had to leave. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in a long time as when Tom was here…he and JW and Luke are great together. I sure wish they lived closer!

The agenda for the day is called catch up! I’ve got a mountain of laundry to get done and a house that looks like a pack of wolves has moved in. Bobby and Luke are gone to basketball camp for the day which means we’ll finish chores this morning and then I won’t be interrupted for any errands or “will you help me’s.”

I’ll try to get to the pool today, I just love sitting poolside and reading while the kids swim.

We’re pretty hot and humid here on the Knolltop. Yesterday the family gathered to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary…I’ll have pictures tomorrow. After the party I left my two younger kids there and came home with my 18 year old nephew, Tom. He has one cow out west that he milks…more about that this week. Consequently, he wanted to come to the dairy farm to milk our cows with us. When we finished chores last night we went to a bigger dairy where they milk 1500 cows, so he could see the other extreme.

This morning they worked on fence, then I took them swimming over lunch and now they are back to work on the fence. I’ve got to fix dinner and then chores and Jake has a game. My sister is going to bring Jake and Sarah home this afternoon, hopefully in time for the game and Sarah’s practice. Tomorrow, Bobby and Luke will spend the day at basketball camp, so I will get some things done around here…like laundry!

We’re pretty hot and humid here on the Knolltop. Yesterday the family gathered to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary…I’ll have pictures tomorrow. After the party I left my two younger kids there and came home with my 18 year old nephew, Tom. He has one cow out west that he milks…more about that this week. Consequently, he wanted to come to the dairy farm to milk our cows with us. When we finished chores last night we went to a bigger dairy where they milk 1500 cows, so he could see the other extreme.

This morning they worked on fence, then I took them swimming over lunch and now they are back to work on the fence. I’ve got to fix dinner and then chores and Jake has a game. My sister is going to bring Jake and Sarah home this afternoon, hopefully in time for the game and Sarah’s practice. Tomorrow, Bobby and Luke will spend the day at basketball camp, so I will get some things done around here…like laundry!