Cow's It Going? : a bovine adventure

Today, during our usual living room playtime, I noticed cattle in our pasture.

This wouldn't be a problem.... except that our pasture isn't supposed to have cattle in it. Currently, it's got about 50 little delicate baby trees that might make a delicious snack for some cattle. And also, there's not a good fence between our pasture and the cornfield, so these cows-gone-rogue could get themselves good and lost in the cornfield pretty easily.

Trevor got out the four-wheeler and it was off to get some cattle back home.

Blessings this Week: 08.11.2017

This week has been absolutely gorgeous- and the weather has just mirrored all the many God-given blessings from this busy, but wonderful week.

...   ...   ...

My morning view- I never get tired of it.

Blessings these Weeks: 10.14.2016 and 10.21.2016

Change creeps up on us, sometimes. Like the sudden shift that brings down the leaves and laces the ground with frost, my life seems... surprising.

But somehow, in the middle of the surprises is where the most beauty is found. I just have to learn to lean into it, to allow the change to happen- even when it's not the way I thought it would be. That's where I find the biggest blessings.

Neighbors.

Living in rural Iowa means that we have very few neighbors.

In fact, our closest neighbors happen to be these guys.

(So, then, does that make them "moo-bors?" Get it? Get it?)


As far as neighbors go, they're not so bad.  I mean, they smell a little, but they're not big on loud parties. They never borrow tools without returning them, and their strangest hobby seems to be standing in the mud for hours on end. 

There are several little ones, but they seem pretty well-behaved. 

They aren't super polite, though. They kind of... stare.

Especially this lovely white-faced mama.

Every time I walk past their yard, she's watching.

Suspicious.

Plastic earrings dangling in the wind.

DISCLOSURE: In order for me to support my blogging habit, I may receive monetary compensation or other types of remuneration for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial and/or link to any products or services from this blog. You may see a full disclosure by clicking on my "About" page. I will only promote products that I use, enjoy, or take a shine to. All opinions and reviews are my own and are not influenced by any compensation I may receive.

Blessings this Week: 09.30.2016 Edition

The bumble bees are moving slower now, just as my life seems to speed right up. 

Today was my last day at work, officially, and the two-ish weeks before we leave seem so short already.

So I count.

Because when I count blessings, time seems to slow for those moments of gratitude, and I remember that I'm loved by One who isn't bound by time.

Blessings this Week: 09.16.2016 Edition

I begin our weekly blessings post with a story.

A dog story.

On Saturday, our dog was not acting like his happy self. He was mopey, not terribly excited to see us, eating slowly (not at all typical for him), and he was walking and sitting funny. He got worse as the weekend went on, and by Monday, I was sure we were going to have to put him down.

To the vet we went- and an exam and a painkiller pill later, Bear was back to his happy self.

And now I've been taking seven million pictures of him, reminding him that he's my big handsome boy, taking long walks, and most of all, appreciating all those funny habits of his that make me smile.

Sometimes it takes a storm to really show the beauty of a sunset. (Cheesy, but true.)

Counting blessings is like that. Sometimes, in the hardest seasons, we find the most beauty.

Blessings this Week: 09.09.2016

This week has gone by like... like it included a holiday weekend, no work on Monday, and lots of activity. 

So it went fast. 

And I'm reminded, once again, that life moves quickly and if I focus only on the to-do lists and the plans and crossing out boxes on my calendar, I just might miss the actual "life" part of life. 

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

Blessings this Week: 09.02.2016

And just like that, September rolls in and marks the easing into Fall.

These transition times can force us into a noticing again. Suddenly I'm reminded that the summer is waning and the days are getting shorter and I'd better find the summertime blessings before they're gone.

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

Barn Swallows and Finding a New Place

I woke up one morning this summer, the sun streaming in, even though it was still early.

I took my time getting up; watching the trees swaying in the country breeze, considering that I should probably put a curtain on that window because we've lived here for six months, already and what kind of a grown up am I, anyway? and a curtain would mean I could sleep until my alarm and also, privacy but we don't have any neighbors, so who really cares.

And that's when I saw her. A pretty little barn swallow swooping past my window.



I didn't think much of it. Barn swallows are just one of the lovely gifts that come along with living on twenty-plus acres of quiet farmland.

(I think barn swallows kind of balance out the dusty vehicles from driving down miles of gravel every day.)

Like I said, I didn't think much of it, until I saw her fly past the window again. And again. And again.

Stubborn Independence

There is a row of  rag-tag "pots" lining the porch, containing what my husband calls my "ten year tree plan."

I use the term "pots" loosely because, well, they're really industrial-sized aluminum cans that once held excessive amounts of green beans. Because we work at a Bible Camp.

I've talked about my little trees here, before (when they sprouted and also a week later when they grew little leaves), and then I really didn't say much else.

My venture into tree growing isn't really that much of a story to tell, actually.

I decided that I wanted some fruit trees around our little acreage. So when my in-laws gave us apples from their trees, I kept several seeds. We got a couple pears from the grocery store, and I kept a couple seeds from those, too.

The seeds, folded into a wet paper towel, spent the winter in our fridge in zip-lock baggies until they started to sprout.. and then I planted them in a little potting soil. Someday soon, we'll plant them in the ground around our place, and hopefully, they'll grow.

It's not a ground-breaking story. But my little ten year tree plan reminds me of something about myself:

I am stubborn. 

Blessings this Week: 07.08.2016 Edition

Talking about blessings in the face of all the evil going on seems... trite. It seems naive. It seems like denying the truth and putting on a happy face and ignoring the gritty realities of this past week.

People are dying, justice is missing, and anger courses through our country this week.

And here I am, talking about blessings. 

It's not because I don't see what's going on. It's not because I live in rural Iowa, and most of my neighbors are white. It's not because I'm in denial.

I'm counting blessings because I believe in a good God. Because I know that fighting for happiness, even in the face of such pain, is the only way to keep rejoicing in Him, and I refuse to let fear or despair win. I'm counting blessings because I don't grieve as one who has no hope. I count because the counting brings the hope, and shows me a small piece of the character of our God who also grieves the events of this past week.

I count blessings because I believe that the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 

...   ...   ...   ...   ...   

Blessings this Week: 06.10.2016 Edition

Well, it's official. The summer has started.

How do I know?

The counselors are here, parents are calling, and my office looks like someone took the contents of a Staples Superstore and shook it onto my desk.

It's easy for me to get into the wrong attitude when I feel like everything and everyone is depending on me.

When I give and give and don't feel like I'm getting much in return? My spirit wears out and my temper wears thin.

That's why I have to find the moments of God's love, His faithfulness. 

Those little moments? They may only be seconds long- a ray of sunshine hitting the clouds just so, or a Facebook video of a little boy receiving a present that makes him cry.

They fill me up. I just need to open my eyes and see them.

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

The last little one to leave the nest... (and yes, this is the same nest from last week, and a few weeks before that.)

Blessings this Week: 06.03.2016 Edition

There have been lots of little moments this week.

They had to be little moments, because with summer camp starting up veryverysoon, my big moments are all filled up.

These little moments are glimpses into a very real God who is very much interested in the details of my life. And He loves me. Even in the smallest of things, like a little bunny in the grass or a sunset or a funny moment, I know that He loves me.

Blessings this Week: 05.20.2016 Edition

Something very interesting happened the other day.

Someone "re-tweeted" one of my posts on Twitter.

I know! Crazy! I'm barely on Twitter at all- most things that I tweet are scheduled because I just don't really "get" Twitter in the first place, and I don't have time to mess around over there, honestly.

But this person (someone I don't know at all), tweeted my post from yesterday- the one with the spring tour of our little farmplace.

They added the comment (I'm paraphrasing),

People like this who drive through life like it's 85 and sunny with the windows down when the world is falling apart... 

and then he (or she... couldn't tell by the username) virtually shook their head at me.

SMH, indeed.

Because yes, I like to tell you about the beautiful things in life, but that doesn't mean that I don't see the hurt. I'm living a little of that hurt, myself. No, the world isn't perfect and rosy. It'll just keep on falling apart until Jesus comes back.

I do believe, though, that to truly enjoy the gifts of God in this life, the ones we're living right now, we need to notice. We need to find the small blessings, because those little glimpses of God's love are really what this life is about. We can't find joy in our today unless we express gratitude for the gift of today. 

A (super quick) Spring Tour...

It's been a while since I shared much about our little homestead- I think the last time I put up a bunch of pictures of what's going on around our little farm was when I was giving updates on the house progress.

Now that the weather is nice, we're not spending much time inside-- I'm out in the sunshine any chance I can get!

Blessings this Week: 05.13.2016 Edition

There is a lemon on my desk at work.

See, here's the thing about gratitude. That lemon on my desk could just be a lemon on my desk.

Or, if I recognize it as a blessing, it can be a reminder that makes me smile. That lemon can be a reminder that God loves me- that little bits of sunshine are everywhere, even on rainy days- that I've got great friends who share lemons.

It's a perspective thing.

When I take the time to count my blessings, I find myself recognizing them more often. Seeing the small things that make life beautiful and good and full.

Blessings this Week: 04.15.2016 Edition

It's Friday!

Which means it's time to count blessings again!

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

Have I mentioned that our little acreage includes a pond?

Our little acreage includes a pond. And I love it.

The beautiful weather this week made walks down to the pond a daily occurrence.

...   ...   ...   ...   ...

A "Den" Fit for Bear

Since Bear joined our little farmstead, things have changed pretty dramatically around here.

Mostly in respect to my morning routine. I now have to, get this, wake up on time and act responsibly toward the care of someone other than myself. I know. I know.

But, besides my new morning walk-and-water schedule, life with this big old boy named Bear has been pretty smooth sailing. He's such a friendly dog that it's easy to forgive his few faults- like how he's always very excited to see us (read: jumps up sometimes), and how he doesn't really understand the concept of "Come," and the slobber.

Oh, the slobber.

The slobber is one (of several) reasons that Bear is an outside dog. Yes, an outside dog. That means that Bear doesn't come in the house. He comes into the entryway at night to sleep, but he stays outside for most of the day, where he can sniff and dig and slobber to his heart's content.

To get ready for Bear, we needed to make an outdoor shelter of sorts to protect him from the elements during the day, and also he's really old and likes to sleep a lot, so we wanted him to have a place to be comfy for his morning, mid-day, and afternoon naps.

Luckily, our farmplace has ninety million buildings.

(That's an exaggeration.)

Featured Farmers: Amber's Story

Today's Featured Farmer is Amber of For the Love of Cows.

Welcome, Amber, and thanks for joining us!

1. Tell us a little about yourself! 

Currently I am a senior social work major at Northwestern college and getting a degree in social work and theatre. My husband and I live in northwest Iowa, where he is the herdsman of a 700 cow dairy.

 We are currently trying to start our herd in hopes that some day we will have our own 150 cow dairy. We currently have four dairy cows of our own. On the weekends and when I don't have to work or go to school, I actively work alongside my husband. My favorite part is working with the calves and the maternity pen.

2. How did you get started in agriculture?

I grew up in town, but was familiar with the agriculture and dairy industry, because my grandpa and grandma milked cows and my dad often talked about it (as he also milked before I was born).

I never had an interest until my husband and I went to college and needed to figure out a way to pay for college. We started filling every spare moment with milking shifts and eventually began raising our own calves in our backyard. This became not only a way to make money, but something that we enjoyed doing together.

Featured Farmers: Lisa's Story

Today's Featured Farmer is Lisa of Fresh Eggs Daily. 

Welcome Lisa, and thank you for sharing your story with us today!

1. Tell us a little about yourself! 

I raised an assorted flock of chickens and ducks, formerly on a hobby farm in Virginia, and very recently on our new farm in Maine! We also have two horses, a German shepherd, a corgi and a barn cat. I also have a large vegetable garden and an herb garden. We don't eat our chickens or ducks, but we do eat their delicious fresh eggs! We also share them with friends, family and neighbors.

I work from home, writing my blog and posting to my Facebook page and doing freelance writing for various homesteading and chicken magazines and websites. I wrote a book Fresh Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens...Naturally (St. Lynn's Press, October 2013) and the upcoming Duck Eggs Daily: Raising Happy, Healthy Ducks...Naturally. And I'm currently working on a proposal for my third book.

I also have an Etsy shop in which I sell signed copies of my book, blown out chicken and duck eggs, chicken decals, lavender sleep sticks, nesting box herbs, and other farm and repurposed items.