Here we go!

Rich started laying down the alfalfa today. The weather has be absolutely beautiful the last couple of weeks. He's had the irrigation on that whole time. Shut it off on Wednesday and the hay is ready to cut. Temps have been in the 80's the last few days and is supposed to stay there for a few more. Things are going to get very busy around here now.

Next week is the last week of school for both boys. John is graduating from High School and Tim is graduating from the 8th grade. Tim's grad ceremony is on Wednesday with his last day on Friday and John's graduation is on Friday with his last day on Wednesday. We're having a BBQ get together on Friday afternoon before John's graduation. Family and friends will be here to congratulate both boys.

On Monday June 15th Tim and I leave for Washington DC with a group of kids from Tim's school. It will be a whirlwind trip. Lots to see in 6 days! It will be fun though. Something we will remember for the rest of our lives. Rich and John get to stay home and take care of the farm. John will hopefully have a job somewhere this summer too.

Tim has a busy summer ahead of him all on his own. The day after we get back from DC (Monday June 22nd) he leaves for a week of football camp with the high school team (he will be a freshman next year) in Spokane, WA. When he gets back from that he is going to a football camp in Portland, Or for 5 days. The first week of July will be Babe Ruth All-Stars practice then the tournaments for that starts on July20th in Pendleton, OR. The end of August is fall football practice/camp for High School and our County Fair. Tim will be showing a steer again this year. Whew! What a busy kid!

So anyway, here we go............ Our busy season is just starting. Hope you have a wonderful summer!

Spring is here?

Looks like it today anyway. Sunshine, blue skies, fluffy clouds, slight breeze. I even went for a walk on my lunch break. Wore my coat... shouldn't have. It's that nice! Hard to believe yesterday was 25° in the morning then rain/snow in the afternoon. Spring officially arrives about noon on Friday. I'm hoping the "in like a lion, out like a lamb" thing rings true this year. First high school baseball game is tomorrow. We have sat through games in the snow... that's not fun... but it would be really nice if tomorrow could be like today. As for the farming........ we're all calved out....... well, except one cow that insists on being the VERY LAST. Not sure what satisfaction she gets. I think Rich is getting the itch to get outside and do something. He's even helping the neighbor feed his cows! Tim, our 14 year old, is also helping the neighbor feed. He made a deal with him for a beat up pickup truck. They towed it home a couple of weeks ago. It actually runs now. Tim is sooooooo excited! Cracks me up. It's the ugliest thing you've ever seen. Well, I guess that opinion could have something to do with my gender. It's Dukes of Hazzard - General Lee orange, missing one tail light, no tail gate, one of the doors won't stay shut, numerous dents, rust spots..... But, in Tim's 14 year old eyes........ IT'S BEAUTIFUL! He can't wait to drive it to high school in a couple of years. I'm sure all the girls will be soooo impressed. Things are starting to green up around here. Haven't seen any of my bulbs sprouting yet though. Still too cold at night. Still have some water standing in the Swale too. Hopefully the grass hay crop will be good this year. The low land in the Swale flooded at least twice this year! Before we know it, we'll be complaining about how hot it is and when is winter coming.............. Yeah right!

Winter Blahs..........

It's been eons ago since I last posted. Sorry. Yeah, yeah. I know. Just 'cause it's winter doesn't mean life on the farm comes to a screeching halt. There's still cows to be fed, snow to be shoveled..... er... pushed, hay trucks to be pulled (out of the mud post loading). That actually only happened once this winter. My oldest son, the all knowing 17 year old, spent most of his winter pulling his friends out of snowy, muddy ditches. Seems he's the only one for miles around with a 4-wheel drive truck. Or maybe it's because they don't want to call their parents. ??? Not that he minded at all. Nothing like giving the teenage ego a boost! His shiny bright red truck however, has been in a perpetual state of mud covered-ness. Teenage boys, what are ya gonna do? Today we're finally getting some sunshine. After 2 1/2 months of temperatures in the teens to mid 20's, 40° feels like a heatwave! Sure looks pretty out there. Calving started at the first of February too. Out of 17 cows, we have 3 left to calve. I'm such a horrible farm wife! I've only been out to the pasture once and that was right after the first baby was born! Shame on me! I might get out there today..... since it's nice and sunny. Ok, so I'm a fair weather farmer's wife. Shoot me. I did finally get a new pair of barn boots though!! My first pair of my VERY OWN!!! But, alas........ they've still got that "new boot" smell. Barely out of the box. Someday.......... (sigh.......) Ok. So the boys basketball season's have ended.. albeit badly. High school won one game and my younger son's middle school team won 4 out of 8. Thank goodness that's over. On to baseball!!! We'll see how that works out. Baseball season means spring is right around the corner........ after sitting through the first half of the season all bundled up like we're Nanook of the North. The second half of the season we break out the sunscreen! Watch out for those metal bleachers!!!