The westerners made it to the great lakes last night. My sister and her family showed up at Luke’s ball game last night and were able to sit and watch most of his game with us. It was such a treat to have them here, sharing one of our passions with us. The boys have changed so much, but have also stayed the same. I enjoyed watching all of the cousins interact with each other, especially John the college student and my daughter. They sparred the whole time they were together…too much alike maybe?

They left for Grandmas house about 9 or so, but they are still on Montana time, so it was early for them! I’m sure they will be tired this morning. It sure is good to see them!

By the way, Luke’s team lost the first game and won the second. Luke pitched the second game and caught the first game. Sarah’s team lost, I wasn’t able to see that, it was at 5 pm…right during chore time.

Today, we’re fixing fence, every night when we come home from a ballgame there are at least two or three cows out…time to put an end to that!.

The westerners made it to the great lakes last night. My sister and her family showed up at Luke’s ball game last night and were able to sit and watch most of his game with us. It was such a treat to have them here, sharing one of our passions with us. The boys have changed so much, but have also stayed the same. I enjoyed watching all of the cousins interact with each other, especially John the college student and my daughter. They sparred the whole time they were together…too much alike maybe?

They left for Grandmas house about 9 or so, but they are still on Montana time, so it was early for them! I’m sure they will be tired this morning. It sure is good to see them!

By the way, Luke’s team lost the first game and won the second. Luke pitched the second game and caught the first game. Sarah’s team lost, I wasn’t able to see that, it was at 5 pm…right during chore time.

Today, we’re fixing fence, every night when we come home from a ballgame there are at least two or three cows out…time to put an end to that!.

I went to a career fair last night held in Bloomfield Hills and visited with youngsters about careers in agriculture and I specifically spoke to the whole group on ag journalism. When I spoke I told them that all my life all I wanted to do was to be a farmer’s wife but my parents told me that a college education was a valuable asset that no one could ever take away so they encouraged me to go to college. Of course I did and I’ve ended up with the best of both worlds, a farmer’s wife and mother…and an ag journalist!

When I finished speaking Gina, the girl in the picture came up to me and told me she has the same aspirations as I did…she wants to be a rancher’s wife. I told her that was a wonderful goal but that she needed to get an education first.

I was so struck by this…I didn’t think there was anyone out there who would want to be the wife of a farmer or a rancher, especially growing up in the middle of the city. I’m so pleased to see there are kids growing up knowing that there is value in being a wife and mother and who also see the value in agriculture. I hope Gina does find her rancher or farmer, I know my boys saw her picture and are ready to get to know her a little better! Good thing we live two hours away! Gina… if you read this, email me and let me hear from you!

I went to a career fair last night held in Bloomfield Hills and visited with youngsters about careers in agriculture and I specifically spoke to the whole group on ag journalism. When I spoke I told them that all my life all I wanted to do was to be a farmer’s wife but my parents told me that a college education was a valuable asset that no one could ever take away so they encouraged me to go to college. Of course I did and I’ve ended up with the best of both worlds, a farmer’s wife and mother…and an ag journalist!

When I finished speaking Gina, the girl in the picture came up to me and told me she has the same aspirations as I did…she wants to be a rancher’s wife. I told her that was a wonderful goal but that she needed to get an education first.

I was so struck by this…I didn’t think there was anyone out there who would want to be the wife of a farmer or a rancher, especially growing up in the middle of the city. I’m so pleased to see there are kids growing up knowing that there is value in being a wife and mother and who also see the value in agriculture. I hope Gina does find her rancher or farmer, I know my boys saw her picture and are ready to get to know her a little better! Good thing we live two hours away! Gina… if you read this, email me and let me hear from you!

Fifty years ago today, my parents Richard and Virginia Peckens were married! It really doesn’t seem like they are old enough to be married that long…I don’t think they think they’re old enough either. We will have a celebratioin for them this weekend. My sister and her husband and five boys are all coming from Montana, well the oldest boy is flying in from California, but the rest are on their way home to celebrate with all the rest of us. It should be a good time, since we haven’t all been together since my brother was married and back then four of the grandchildren weren’t even born yet. So I guess you could say that we’ve never all been together!

A week ago, my sister and her husband celebrated their anniversary and if I were one to remember I’d know what year it was…let me take a stab at it…I think it is number 23 for them. And next Friday, my brother and his wife will celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss together. I’m the odd one out, my anniversary was in February.

Fifty years ago today, my parents Richard and Virginia Peckens were married! It really doesn’t seem like they are old enough to be married that long…I don’t think they think they’re old enough either. We will have a celebratioin for them this weekend. My sister and her husband and five boys are all coming from Montana, well the oldest boy is flying in from California, but the rest are on their way home to celebrate with all the rest of us. It should be a good time, since we haven’t all been together since my brother was married and back then four of the grandchildren weren’t even born yet. So I guess you could say that we’ve never all been together!

A week ago, my sister and her husband celebrated their anniversary and if I were one to remember I’d know what year it was…let me take a stab at it…I think it is number 23 for them. And next Friday, my brother and his wife will celebrate 11 years of wedded bliss together. I’m the odd one out, my anniversary was in February.

It was a tough night for baseball last evening as both Jake and Luke’s teams lost. Jake’s team went into extra innings and lost and Luke’s team lost both of their games to Hudson. Jake once again caught the whole game and Luke pitched their first inning and then played shortstop in the second game.

The night before last, Sarah’s team came away with a win. They were down 10-1 in the fourth inning and rallied to come back and tie the game. In extra innings the girls pulled it off with help from a homerun by Kaylie. They were very excited to say the least.

Tonight I get to go speak at a career fair about agricultural careers and that will be fun. I went down to the Farmers Advance and got some of my articles laminated and some papers to hand out. I get to travel to Bloomfield Hills, it’s been a while since I’ve been to Detroit!

Coffee’s gettin’ cold, better get!

It was a tough night for baseball last evening as both Jake and Luke’s teams lost. Jake’s team went into extra innings and lost and Luke’s team lost both of their games to Hudson. Jake once again caught the whole game and Luke pitched their first inning and then played shortstop in the second game.

The night before last, Sarah’s team came away with a win. They were down 10-1 in the fourth inning and rallied to come back and tie the game. In extra innings the girls pulled it off with help from a homerun by Kaylie. They were very excited to say the least.

Tonight I get to go speak at a career fair about agricultural careers and that will be fun. I went down to the Farmers Advance and got some of my articles laminated and some papers to hand out. I get to travel to Bloomfield Hills, it’s been a while since I’ve been to Detroit!

Coffee’s gettin’ cold, better get!

It was Kidsfest today at our fairgrounds and the local Michigan Milk Producers and Hillsdale County Farm Bureau set up a petting zoo and gave out free milk to all the kids. We supplied the calves for the zoo and handed out the milk. Sarah and Jake came out and were a huge help. One of the calves that we took was Jake’s 4-H calf and the other was a newborn…Penny. Penny got a lot of petting time, the kids were drawn to her and she lapped up all the attention she could.
We ran out of milk just 2 hours into the day…I guess it was a little more popular than we thought, but free milk is hard to resist. One of the funniest things about the day was when the kids were given the option of white or chocolate milk, most said chocolate. But when the occasional kid came along and wanted white, the mom always looked down at her child and said, “Are you sure, don’t you want chocolate?” I think us moms like chocolate a little more than most kids!
It was a great day of trying to teach the town folk where their food comes from. You can see some of the pictures below.
Tonight, Luke plays in Hudson and Jake has a home game. JW, Sarah and I will handle chores. It was a beautiful day here on the Knolltop..I just wasn’t here to enjoy it.

It was Kidsfest today at our fairgrounds and the local Michigan Milk Producers and Hillsdale County Farm Bureau set up a petting zoo and gave out free milk to all the kids. We supplied the calves for the zoo and handed out the milk. Sarah and Jake came out and were a huge help. One of the calves that we took was Jake’s 4-H calf and the other was a newborn…Penny. Penny got a lot of petting time, the kids were drawn to her and she lapped up all the attention she could.
We ran out of milk just 2 hours into the day…I guess it was a little more popular than we thought, but free milk is hard to resist. One of the funniest things about the day was when the kids were given the option of white or chocolate milk, most said chocolate. But when the occasional kid came along and wanted white, the mom always looked down at her child and said, “Are you sure, don’t you want chocolate?” I think us moms like chocolate a little more than most kids!
It was a great day of trying to teach the town folk where their food comes from. You can see some of the pictures below.
Tonight, Luke plays in Hudson and Jake has a home game. JW, Sarah and I will handle chores. It was a beautiful day here on the Knolltop..I just wasn’t here to enjoy it.