Baby chicks show and tell = Ag in the classroom

       Back around April 8th we got our chicks for the year. This year we are going to try some broiler, or meat chickens, for the first time. We got 50 broilers this year to see how it goes. We also got 8 egg layer chicks to supplement out flock of laying hens we currently have. They are so cute and fluffy that I found my self sitting with the kids next to the pen we made for them in the cellar just watching them eat and walk around.
       My daughter Mary is my animal lover and is always wanting to bring the new animals to school to share with her friends. She went to school the day after we got the chicks and asked her teacher if she could bring some in to show her classmates and he teacher said sure. So started an impromptu ag in the classroom visit.

       Mary was so proud to show off our new chicks. I brought enough so that everyone could hold one. Mary told everyone some facts about chickens and the difference in meat and egg laying chickens. As the kids were holding the chicks I walked around the classroom and talked to the kids answering questions and providing some information. The kids loved it, and who could resist holding a cute fluffy baby chick? As I was getting pictures the teacher asked for copies of them to use in the year book. Awesome!

          The kids enjoyed their quick glimpse of farm life and we made sure that when it was done they all went and cleaned their hands and talked quickly about infection control and health. This visit to the school was quick, easy, and a lot of fun.

      When we got home my two youngest had to make sure the chicks were all settled in their pen and had to hold a few themselves. Kids and chicks, too cute!

Easter Family Joy

    We had a wonderful Easter here on the farm full of family and memories. I took lots of photos as the excitement of Easter was unfolding and would like to share them with you. Enjoy

    We started out our Easter celebration with coloring Easter eggs. Many eggs produced by our hard working laying hens were used in this Easter tradition. It was a beautiful day so we decided to enjoy the outdoors and utilized the table on the porch. It made for great pictures with the natural light.

        For Easter weekend we took a long road trip down to Kansas City to visit my sister whom we hadn't seen in 2.5 years. My youngest sister has joined a religious order called the Little Sisters of the Lamb. She has been stationed in France since she joined about 6 years ago and occasionally she makes it back to the states and we made every effort to see her when she is within driving distance.

       Rose and Bernadette were so excited to see each other. We call them the two criminals because they all always up to something.

    Gus and David had some fun running around and just being silly.

       The convent that the Little Sisters of the Lamb have in Kansas City is simple but very beautiful and welcoming. We always love our visits with all the Sisters there.

     Some fun selfies with my sister Susan, now known as Little Sister Hallel. She is still the same all smiles, laughs, and joy.

     Another tradition in our family is making "tombs" for Easter morning breakfast. We take a large marshmallow and wrap it in a crescent roll. Then we roll it in butter and then cinnamon sugar. The kids say they look like the rock that was rolled in front of Jesus's tomb. After backing the marshmallow melts and the tomb is empty. Jesus has risen, he is now longer in the tomb.

     The Sisters enjoyed sharing in our Easter tradition and thought the meaning was wonderful. They are also very tasty and were eaten just as fast as we made them.

      The "criminals" checking out their cute matching Easter Dresses.

            The whole clan in our Easter Best. Family time is the best.

         You can't have Easter without Jelly Beans. So we got out the plastic eggs and set up an Easter Egg hunt for the kids. I might have had to sample a few as I was filling eggs. Jelly Beans are one of my great weaknesses.

        After the hunt the kids display their loot. Looks like they made a haul.

          Everyone in blue, just missing Rose who was taking a needed nap. We had a beautiful Easter in Kansas with  great friends and family.

          We love you Little Sister Hallel and cherish every moment of our time together. Love from all of us back here on the farm.

Date Night with a Farmer

      Getting special time with the man she loves is not an easy thing to come by for a farmers wife. I feel like lately the only time I see my husband has been while he is getting  few short hours of sleep at night. Being in the middle of calving 150 cows, all the extra work that comes with the thawing of spring, having a very busy full time day job as a farm business management instructor, and volunteer extraordinaire it doesn't leave much time for a date night. Yesterday being the Feast of St Patrick's Day I was yearning for some time with the wonderful man I married and give him a brake from the rush of his life.
      When thing of a night "out" with my farmer I knew that this might be too much to ask for at this particular time of year. What if a cow started to calve and staying our late was not what he needed when he has already had so many night short on sleep. Another obstacle to going "out" was getting someone to watch the kids on a school night. I could see that going "out" on a date was not going to work so I started to think about a date night "in" with my farmer.
      To make the night special I ordered some Chinese food from a local restaurant. I had it ready to pick up after a church meeting we went to as a family. Since Paul had to come separate from the kids and I due to him being busy with something before hand I had him take the kids home while I picked up the food and some wine. When I got home we put the kids to bed and while Paul was waiting for the little ones to fall asleep I set up our dinner date in our bedroom. I set up a folding table with a table cloth, a place setting using our nice plates, wine glasses, and lit as many candles as I could find around the house and placed them around the bedroom.
     When all was ready I got Paul out of the kids bedroom and took him to our Date Night In. We closed the bedroom door and enjoyed a wonderful Chinese meal and an even better conversation. I got to hear about all the activities and thoughts that have been filling his days, some of the frustrations about the busyness of life, and what we want our future to look like. An the best part of our Date Night In was that when it was time to call it a night we didn't have to go to get to bed.
      I do have to admit that I enjoy getting dressed up and feeling special going "out" with my husband but what I enjoy the most is just spending time with the man I love. Being a farmers wife there are many sacrifices and adjustments that have to be made to the way I might like to do things but being creative with what is available can be a lot of fun. Being a farmers wife is a great life and in the end I wouldn't have it any other way.

Swimsuits in March?

     It is a beautiful, and unusual, March day here on our Minnesota Farm. It is going to reach a high over 70degrees outside and we are loving every minute of it. The kids thought it would be fun to get out the swimming pool which then led to swimming suits and water fun. With cousins visiting  for the weekend there were lots of playmates to splash with water. All this unseasonably warm weather is making the farmers talk of early planting and it sure is nice on the baby calves. The weather forecast dose call for snow a week from today so we are enjoying this while it last. Boy how depressing that will be to put on snow pants a week after wearing swimsuits in the pool.