Thankful Thursday

Spring is filled with new beginnings.  

Welcoming new babies to the herd is a spring time event

that we look forward to and spend a lot of time

monitoring the expecting mama cows. 

                                   It's also been a couple of months filled with family celebrations--

                                                   Family gatherings that give us opportunity to

                                                   laugh at the fun the  grandchildren provide,

                                       

birthday celebrations

and Mother's Day.

                                      Our world changed on May 15 with the passing of

                                                     my sweet Mother, Mary.

                                Ninety four years is a very long life and yet it would

                                                 never seem long enough for me.

                                         She moved to the farm to be my next door

                                                     neighbor 10 years ago. 

                                      We had so many great times together just being

                                              on the farm and working in the yard.

                             I am thankful for her life  of loving and living and for everyday

                                                   she was with us on the farm.  

Thank-you Veterans

Veterans Day, also known as Armistice Day, pays tribute to all American veterans.

Living or dead, we pay tribute to all American Veterans and give thanks

to those who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.

President Woodrow Wilson declared "Armistice Day" on the first

anniversary of the end of World War I on November 11,1919.

Ryan's dad, Bill, served during World War II.

Fortunately for our family, he returned to our family farm

 after serving in Japan.

Ryan's Mom and Dad married before he left for his

service in Japan.

It's hard to imagine the sacrifices of the men

and women just like Ryan's parents who

left farm and family to fight for the 

freedoms we enjoy everyday.

During the years when Bill was serving,

Bonnah Lyn continued to farm with

her father while waiting on Bill's return.

Words seem totally inadequate when you think of 

the sacrifices made by families across America

during times of war but these days of

celebration give us the opportunity to

stop and give thanks for every Veteran.

From down on the dairy farm,

Happy Veterans Day!

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Dairy farmers support practices that make economic sense,

 help the environment and are socially responsible to our

 communities and our world. 

 A great example of this farming  practice statement is the hay crop that

 we are cutting this week has been fertilized with the manure produced

 by our cows. Utilization of cow manure increases the water retention of 

the soil, adds needed nutrients for crop growth and protects

the water quality of our farm by following our farm plan 

designed for environmental protection.

I'm thankful for the hay crop that not only feeds the cows but

for the dairy farmers that work everyday using best management 

 practices to  insure that our land will be left in better shape for the

next generation of  family farmers.

 

Happy Father's Day!

                                As I looked across the field late this afternoon, Ryan and the
                                   boys were wrapping the last few bales of hay for today.
                                     Although it's a fairly common picture of them working
                                         together to complete a task down on the dairy farm,
                                                 it is a sweet reminder of how special the
                                                    relationship between father and son.

Working together as a family has its challenges but in the long run, 

those are overcome by respect and love for each other.

                                        

Father's Day gives us a special moment in time to celebrate 

our family relationships.

and 

                                           
                                               appreciate the love that has shaped our family.

                                                        Happy Father's Day!

Dairymom's Thankful Thursday

While I'm always thankful for rain, 

feeding calves is much better when the sun is shining!

After all the calves received their morning milk, 

Casey and I proceeded to feed the grain.

My job was tractor driving while Casey scooped a measured 

amount of grain into each calf's bucket from the tractor bucket.

I'm thankful for each of these healthy calves

 that are growing down on the dairy farm

and

 that my son trusts me not to run over him!

If Barns Could Talk

Ryan's mother milked in this barn during World War II when his dad was serving in Japan.

In a day of no instant communication like we have today, I can only imagine the thoughts and concerns of a young bride as she milked the cows every morning and evening.

If barns could talk...

can you imagine the stories we would hear?

It's a simple reminder to me of the sacrifices made by the

 men, women and families of the past to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today.

Thank-you to all Veterans!