Contest Keepsake

Just a few weeks ago I became aware of a photography contest

 advertised on the website nwaMotherlode  sponsored 

by The Smile Shoppe, a pediatric dental practice in Northwest Arkansas.

The subject was kids enjoying summer in Northwest Arkansas.

What I liked about this contest was  that  it didn't want professional pictures or 

recommend any certain kind of  photographic ability, just cute pictures of kids.

That's all it took for me to enter the picture I call, "First Kiss".

Today I picked up the prize for the winning picture!

Scott Frame and Art  presented me with a gallery wrapped

canvas of the photo I submitted.

It is so sweet to look at those puckered up lips!

I so appreciate this keepsake of granddaughter Hattie's

experience on our family dairy farm.

                                        Thank-you to nwaMotherlode for loving all the
                                                      mamas in Northwest Arkansas and
                                                  to the community support shown by
                                              the Smile Shoppe and Scott Frame and Art.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                                                   Not all birthdays are celebrated with cake,

but

August is a celebration of  life down on the dairy farm.

This new baby was born after midnight and was taken to 

its own clean hutch, fed colostrum from its mother

and monitored   for  any health issues. Calves grow up to 

become the cows that produce milk, so we are committed 

to getting them off to a healthy start.

I'm thankful for the healthy calves born this month, 

the unexpected help bottle feeding the new August calves

and

                                      for the opportunity to celebrate  life down on the dairy
                                                        farm with the next generation.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

"Foodie Friday"  was a fun food experience provided

during the Megaphone 19 Influencer conference.

We started the event by tasting our way through local food businesses at 

8th Street Market  and ending with cheese and wine pairing.

My favorite experience was the demonstration of Brightwater 

culinary chef Aria Kagan making Fresh Mozzarella.

Chef Kagan gave us the step by step directions.

Although she made it look easy, I think I would want to practice a few times before

the party!

Fresh Mozzarella requires the use of  a water bath made of 4 cups warm 

water plus 2 Tablespoons salt and 2 pounds of fresh Mozzarella curd.

My friend Kerri captured the fun part of this recipe perfectly as Chef Kagan 

was working with the cheese.

I may never attempt making fresh mozzarella but 

I am thankful to be a producer of the milk that brings great joy 

And provides many delicious and nutritious dairy foods.

I

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

When I spotted this new calf lying next to the fence in the 

 early evening,she was all alone. It was only a few seconds

 before Mama joined us to make sure I was not a threat.

  I thought it was a perfect example of how the mothering instinct

 kicks in to protect her baby.The sun filtering through the trees

 seemed to put her in the spotlight!

I'm thankful for a healthy new calf  born on one of the 

hottest August days without any complication to the mother's health!

Storytelling Celebration

A little more than nine years ago  with the urging of

 Midwest Dairy, I stepped out of my comfort

zone into the world of blogging and social media 

 to tell our dairy story.  Spotted Cow Review 

has been my dairy storytelling place ever since. 

I celebrated my  storytelling adventure this past weekend

by attending the Megaphone Summit 2019 that was held in

my hometown of Bentonville.

Sponsors of the conference made it possible for a wide variety 

of speakers that presented  on all things blogging and social media

 and what I would call "self improvement".

A very big Thank-You to each sponsor and the host 

of the conference Soapbox Influence!

Over the last nine years, I have attended several blogging 

conferences hosted in Arkansas. For me, the very best part of each

conference is the people I have met and the inspiration

I feel by listening to others' stories.

                                           
                                                        Cheers to Storytelling!
                                                                        #Megaphone19