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It sounds a bit cliche', but our November was full of turkeys. Everyone of them found a table for the holiday, though. Well, except for a few who may have escaped and joined the wild turkey flock roaming the countryside. We're not sure if the very white turkeys running with the wild ones belong to us or a neighbor. Kurt figures if they are tough enough to run with the big boys, he's not going to try and re-domesticate them. Honestly, I don't see them surviving much longer. White tends to stand out on a very dead, brown landscape. Almost like they are advertising a free turkey dinner to all the predators in the neighborhood.
I was surprised by the number of turkey inquiries I received less than 2 weeks before Thanksgiving. The earlier you reserve your turkey, the more likely you are to get one for Thanksgiving.
The longer we raise turkeys, the smarter we seem to get. You might say our turkey IQ that first year was somewhere around 60-65. Three years later, we've learned to keep the turkeys off the porch at night and how to scald them without displacing all the water in the scald tank. If I had to self-assess, I'd say our turkey IQ might be nearing 100. . . . there's still so much to figure out.
Watched the weather this morning and Comanche County is sill exceptional. Go us! Oh wait, the weather people meant we're still suffering from exceptional drought. Thankfully, we've received 2.5-3 inches since our customer appreciation dinner but it's still dry and it will take a few years for the grass to fully recover from the stress of this summer. The winter wheat and cool season grasses are growing slowly and it's nice to see a little green. I've made Kurt promise that he won't complain in a month or two if we end up with record snowfall.
We were overwhelmed by the response to our summer sausage - it flew off the shelves! It will be back in stock by the end of the year - just in time for college bowl games and your Super Bowl parties. These ship nicely if you're interested. Also perfect for football entertaining; our all beef brats and beer brats. For those who are a little braver, we also offer a hot link - Kurt tells me they're addictive. I wouldn't know. My first bite produced tears! Or. . . I have some beautiful slabs of ribs if you want to go all out in your entertaining.
A couple of months ago, I officially took over our website. My mom created our site several years ago and updated it as needed. We decided it was time for me to take over and she assured me that it wasn't much different than Microsoft Publisher, a program I always seem to struggle with. I've dinked a little with easy changes. While Mom was here over Thanksgiving, we sat down and went over how to move and add items. Guess what? It's all coordinate graphs - MATH, something I understand! I'm all over this now! If you get a chance in the next month, check the site out. We'll be changing some family pics as well as adding directions to the farm, etc.
I was humbled when after placing an order for gift certificates, a customer wrote "So tired of buying gifts that really, probably don't matter, but I KNOW this one will be much appreciated and used."
Besides gift certificates (for any amount), DFF has several other gift ideas that matter:
*Soap - I have Wake-Up Rosemary, Lavender and Honey Oatmeal in stock. So excited! Before Christmas, I should have Fresh Linen, Vanilla and Unscented in stock as well. Maybe if I get brave enough, I'll share a picture of me in my soap-making gear. It's not quite as scary as the picture I put up on Facebook of me bundled up to do turkeys!
*Samplers - We offer a Grilling Sampler, Country Comfort Sampler, Steak Sampler and the Best of the Farm. Check out our price page to see what all these include.
*Beef Quarters - Kurt and I had a few quarters processed and stored last month - a great family gift!
*Beef sticks and beef jerky are great stocking stuffers!
I'm about to make the people at Krehbiel's chuckle again. I'm going to make Kurt ask for the tallow off the beef he's taking up next week. I know you're thinking, "Andi, what will you do with that tallow?" I'm going to give container candles a shot, of course! I have no desire to go into full-time candle production and will leave scenting them to the professionals but I am curious to see what we can do with our animal byproducts.
Looking for that perfect holiday meal? We have a variety of steaks in stock; sirloin, t-bone, ribeyes, and my favorite, fillets. We also have several lovely pork tenderloins. Or, if you're feeding a larger crowd, we have chicken or beef bones for stock or stew meat - all perfect for great soups!
Kurt will be taking hogs to McPherson next week. Please let me know SOON if you'd like to reserve a half or whole hog. We have just a few left.
I will be through Wichita, Pratt and Greensburg on December 22nd and Dodge on the 12th and 20th if you'd like to place an order for the holidays.
Family updates:
We enjoyed Thanksgiving at home and it was nice to just take it easy after the busyness of turkey wrangling. My mom was able to come for a longer visit and the girls took turns competing for her attention. I can't count the number of times I heard, "Grandma, watch this!" Numerous rounds of Cray Eights and Slap Jack were played and Anna is turning into quite a competitor. However, I don't think she fully understands that the objective of Slap Jack is to get all the cards. When she would slap the jack, she would keep the jack and let her opponent take the rest of the cards in the pile. Oh, and she gets really mad if you happen to slap one of her jacks! Her sisters struggled with deciding if they wanted to enforce the rules with their 3-year-old sister or have fun. Fun usually won out - usually.
The other highlight of our vacation was a trip to the movies. First, it needs to be said we've NEVER been to the movies as a family outside of the county. This was a big, big deal. So, what, you might ask, was worthy of a trip? "The Muppets," of course! If you have any good memories of the Muppets as a child, GO SEE THIS ONE! We all laughed out loud. I must confess Anna covered her ears a few times and claimed I was laughing too loud. Good, clean, family fun. The only downer of the night was that Anna left Cow in the theater. The manager was amazing though. We couldn't go back and look for Cow because the next showing had already started. I did get a phone call after we got home and the manager let me know Cow had been found and would be placed in the mail on Monday morning. Anna's sisters were very empathetic and were generous enough to share their favorite stuffed animals with her while we awaited Cow's return. The celebration was grand when Cow showed up in a box Wednesday morning. Cow and Anna danced and danced.
Allison was great help at the Coldwater Bazaar and she'll get to go again next year. To be honest, I took Allison mostly for back-up - another body to man the table if I needed a bathroom break. She really stepped up though. She helped unload the car, set our table up, made sure displays stayed well-stocked and even made a few sales when I did have to take a break. So proud of her!
Poor Miss Natalie has been a sickie some this month. Actually, everyone in the house has had the stomach bug that's going around - except me!! Natalie was the only one to get sent home from school though. Poor kid was pretty green when I picked her up. She and Anna were both troopers the day even though they were both sick. It helped that we set up an infirmary in the living room - complete with mattresses and TV. Went they weren't getting sick, they thought they were really living the life! In fact, I think the matresses (and TV) stayed out there for 3 days!
Thankfully, Kurt didn't get hit (again) with the flu and the girls were better after Nat and Anna were sick. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to enjoy his early Christmas gift - a trip to Olathe to see his brothers and a Chiefs game. Unfortunately, it was one of the games the Chiefs forgot to show up at. Natalie spent a good part of the game scanning the crowd for her daddy. I assured her it was a good thing Dad didn't make an appearance on TV.
My November has been full of turkeys, soap and prayer although not necessarily in that order. My soap was such a hit at the Coldwater Bazaar that I've been scrambling to make more for Christmas orders and gifts - the soap takes 2-3 weeks to cure so I gotta get on that one! Turkeys - I got to help dress and package turkeys 4-5 days this month. The work doesn't stop there though. It's my job to arrange transportation, etc for all of them. And prayer - there's been regular family and personal prayers but we have also started a Moms in Touch group that I'm so excited about. Several moms and myself spend time each week praying for our kids, their teachers and the schools.
In the busyness of this holiday season, may you find the peace that only the Prince of Peace can offer,
Andi
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
October 27, 2011
October started on a couple of high notes. Not only did we get an inch of rain but about 70 of you can out to celebrate with us on the farm. To make things exciting, these two events happened during the same weekend. Because it hadn't rained much at all this year (maybe you remember me bemoaning this fact), we really couldn't complain at all. Instead, we did what you learn to do on the farm - adapt and thank God for your blessings even when they aren't quite what you expected. Kurt's brother was able to rent an event tent in Topeka and we had a few other tents up in the yard and all was good. The heavier rains even held off while we had company. Except for a little mud in the house (I knew we laid laminate for a reason!), it was all good. Kurt and I and his family enjoyed visiting with many of you we usually on converse with through emails. Thank you again for coming! We've already picked a date for next year - Saturday, September 29th - and we hope to show you what it looks like after a year of normal rainfall.
The weekend after our party, we headed south to Waynoka, OK, for a field day. Usually, when Kurt and I go to something like this, we find a place for the girls and head out. Our invite though said that children were welcome so we loaded up the 'Burban and made a day of it. The entire day was spent outside and it was a perfect fall day. Kurt will remember to pack a hat next time though - I think his whole head peeled! We had the opportunity to tour an established farm that has been doing what we're trying to do. They're also in the process of including the next generation. It was good to spend the day thinking and visiting - especially since the girls were so well behaved - that might have been aided by Kurt's promise of ice cream on the way home if they were good. Allison, who is drawn to animals of all kinds, has fallen in love with a new breed of pig - Mangalista. Look them up if you need a chuckle. I can only imagine the menagerie that child will manage when she's grown! She has a patience with animals that many adults haven't mastered.
We are so excited to offer summer sausage this upcoming holiday season. We have two varieties available - mild and jalapeno cheese. The 12 oz. sausage runs $5 a piece and we are willing to ship anywhere in the U.S. for whatever it costs to mail the package. Along with the summer sausage, we are able to ship our beef sticks and beef jerky.
Here's a gift idea for the dog in your life - pet jerky! Kurt and I have been smoking strips of beef liver and then cutting them into smaller pieces. Our dogs love it! Yeller has always enjoyed raw beef liver and can eat a pound in about one swallow. This is an easier way to store it and give him a smaller, nutrient dense treat instead of an entire meal.
Our turkeys are pretty much sold for the season. We have a few "spares" but we're going to consider them predator insurance since we still have a few weeks to go. If we end up with any turkeys left, I'll put it out there for those who might interested in one for Christmas.
On November 3rd, I'll be making deliveries to Greensburg, Pratt, Wichita, McPherson and Lindsborg. If you need something, please email me. On my way home, I'm picking up meat and we will have steaks and beef roasts in stock again.
If you or someone you know is still interested in purchasing a quarter or half and missed the deadline, let me know. We will have these available through the winter. You won't be able to get custom cuts - we gave pretty generic cutting instructions that include steaks, roasts, brisket and ground beef. Because of the drought and our limited forage, Kurt decided it would be smarter to go ahead and process some of our larger steers now rather than trying to feed them and maintain condition through the winter. A quarter would make a great gift for parents or adult children.
When I come home next week, I'll also be bringing bacon with me (cue celebratory music). Nothing tells me we're producing an excellent product you want like not being able to keep it in stock! So we can share the love, we will be limiting customers to 4 pounds per family. Also, we have had to feed our hogs more this fall because the forage/weeds we were counting on for feed just didn't grow (too hot and too dry). To help offset some of these expenses, bacon will be $8/pound. This is still a steal. I've been told the "good stuff" in the store is running around $10/pound and doesn't even compare to ours.
If you're not quite ready to commit to a quarter beef which is about 100# of meat, what about 60# of amazing pork - chops, roasts, sausage, hams, tenderloin (oh my!) and your own supply of bacon? A half a hog runs $140 plus $25 freight to the processor. Then, you'll pay processing fees of about $75. A total of $240 for a half - money well spent! We have about 5-6 hogs left and Kurt will take them to McPherson in early December. They'll be ready by the first of the year. We'll save some pork to sell by the cut but won't have hogs ready to go again until August 2012.
One last plug for the holidays and then I'll be done. We also offer beef bundles and samplers if you'd like to give good food but are limited by budget or space. AND, I've been busy making soap this week - Wake Up Rosemary that has a minty scent, Lavender and Unscented. All soap is made with DFF lard, coconut oil and olive oil. I won't make any specific claims but my skin isn't near as dry and Anna's eczema is better since we switched from a commercial bar to homemade soap. Bars are approximately 4 ounces and are $3.50.
I've had fun playing in the kitchen as I've made soap. The tricky part though is working when the kitchen is empty. The initial step in soap making involves lye, a caustic base. Because my kids are kids, it's best for them to be absent during the process. Usually, this means I work during nap time or after bed time. . .. I'm finally catering to my inner chemist. Next month's experimenting involves an oatmeal face bar and a Lava-like bar for Kurt.
Next week, Kurt will be loading out the remainder of our cow herd - they're headed to greener pastures, literally. The cows will be hanging out in the Flint Hills where the forage is much better than anything we have to offer in the county. They'll come home in about 3 months and get ready to calve here in the late spring. The calves will stay all winter and graze winter wheat and other stored forages.
Apparently word travels fast in the skunk community and one of them must have bragged about the free chicken at the Dales. I'm not sure how many skunks we've had the last week but there have been a bunch. it's not uncommon to have predation issues - we've seen coons, possums (ugh!), and many others. Skunks, however, present a unique set of challenges. Thankfully, no one, especially Kurt, has had to take a tomato juice shower - yet.
Last weekend, I was introduced to the wonderful cut of meat called pork tenderloin. Oh. My. Goodness. Unfortunately, only abut half of my crew could enjoy the meal because a stomach bug took up residence at our house. I was nice enough to save some for the sickies but it took willpower. I will have 3-4 tenderloins in stock this holiday season if you want that perfect meal for entertaining.
DFF will be at the Holiday Bazaar in Coldwater on November 19th AND we'll have samples! If there are other craft fair kinds of things that you are aware of, drop me a line. I'd be interested in setting up shop during the fall this year or next.
As I write, Kurt is headed off to his last football practice of the season. WOOHOO!!! I love football BUT I'm ready to eat supper before 7:30! This season has not quite been what Kurt and the head coach expected but good things have happened even if they might not be reflected in the Win-Loss record.
Allison is enjoying her time as a 5th grader. Her last big project was to build a house for a Native American tribe. Definitely a father-daughter project. I can help with these but too often I get wrapped up in what I think the finished project should look like instead of hearing what A wants to do. Kurt's approach is much more constructive. What do you want to do? What do you need me to find? And then if he sees something that is a potential train wreck, he asks a good question or two. Allison's Seminole chicki (sp?) turned out very authentic even if the only people we could find at Hobby Lobby that even remotely looked liked the people in her reference book were Jamestown settlers (including the one, the only, John Smith) and were about 2 inches too short.
Natalie is reading for real! And can read a whole book by herself from beginning to end. WOOHOO!! Going to credit Kurt with this success too. He's so faithful about reading with her after supper. The stories she's writing are also delightful. She's become brave enough to write without worrying about spelling every word exactly right and often relies on her knowledge of phonics. While her words may not be perfect, her stories are!
Anna may be my "last" daughter but over the past 3.5 years, she has provided me with entirely too many firsts - eating tomato leaves which according to Poison Control are slightly toxic, opening child safety lids that were way out of her reach, and most recently, shoving a cheerio up her nose during nap time. It was so high, I couldn't even see the sucker. After my initial moment of panic, I took a deep breath and decided I didn't really want to pay the ER copay if I could avoid it. If we headed to the ER, I'd have to go by myself since Kurt was still sick with the stomach flu. I thought we'd try to self treat, handed her a kleenx and told her to blow. Voila! Who knew I had a future in medicine? Unfortunately, I'm not sure it scared her enough to keep her from doing it again. I gave Kurt credit for the other two's success this month, I think he should take the credit for this one too. Pretty sure the orneriness and desire to push the envelope comes from her daddy and not her risk-averse, over planned momma.
When I wasn't creating back-up rain plans for our party, tending sickies, rescuing preschoolers or making soap this month, I've been tutoring a few students. I love it! I've tutored since high school when my desperate friends would call with their College Algebra questions. This is what I love about teaching - one-on-one interactions sprinkled with light bulb moments - not state assessments, faculty meetings or the myriad of other issues that get in the way of connecting with students through a subject I love.
I've also been enjoying Joel Salatin's new book "Folks, This Ain't Normal." I'm going to have to go back and reread it - there's so much to think about and consider. I may not always agree with everything Salatin writes but he always pushes me to think.
May you and I be aware of our blessings as we enter this season of thanksgiving!
The weekend after our party, we headed south to Waynoka, OK, for a field day. Usually, when Kurt and I go to something like this, we find a place for the girls and head out. Our invite though said that children were welcome so we loaded up the 'Burban and made a day of it. The entire day was spent outside and it was a perfect fall day. Kurt will remember to pack a hat next time though - I think his whole head peeled! We had the opportunity to tour an established farm that has been doing what we're trying to do. They're also in the process of including the next generation. It was good to spend the day thinking and visiting - especially since the girls were so well behaved - that might have been aided by Kurt's promise of ice cream on the way home if they were good. Allison, who is drawn to animals of all kinds, has fallen in love with a new breed of pig - Mangalista. Look them up if you need a chuckle. I can only imagine the menagerie that child will manage when she's grown! She has a patience with animals that many adults haven't mastered.
We are so excited to offer summer sausage this upcoming holiday season. We have two varieties available - mild and jalapeno cheese. The 12 oz. sausage runs $5 a piece and we are willing to ship anywhere in the U.S. for whatever it costs to mail the package. Along with the summer sausage, we are able to ship our beef sticks and beef jerky.
Here's a gift idea for the dog in your life - pet jerky! Kurt and I have been smoking strips of beef liver and then cutting them into smaller pieces. Our dogs love it! Yeller has always enjoyed raw beef liver and can eat a pound in about one swallow. This is an easier way to store it and give him a smaller, nutrient dense treat instead of an entire meal.
Our turkeys are pretty much sold for the season. We have a few "spares" but we're going to consider them predator insurance since we still have a few weeks to go. If we end up with any turkeys left, I'll put it out there for those who might interested in one for Christmas.
On November 3rd, I'll be making deliveries to Greensburg, Pratt, Wichita, McPherson and Lindsborg. If you need something, please email me. On my way home, I'm picking up meat and we will have steaks and beef roasts in stock again.
If you or someone you know is still interested in purchasing a quarter or half and missed the deadline, let me know. We will have these available through the winter. You won't be able to get custom cuts - we gave pretty generic cutting instructions that include steaks, roasts, brisket and ground beef. Because of the drought and our limited forage, Kurt decided it would be smarter to go ahead and process some of our larger steers now rather than trying to feed them and maintain condition through the winter. A quarter would make a great gift for parents or adult children.
When I come home next week, I'll also be bringing bacon with me (cue celebratory music). Nothing tells me we're producing an excellent product you want like not being able to keep it in stock! So we can share the love, we will be limiting customers to 4 pounds per family. Also, we have had to feed our hogs more this fall because the forage/weeds we were counting on for feed just didn't grow (too hot and too dry). To help offset some of these expenses, bacon will be $8/pound. This is still a steal. I've been told the "good stuff" in the store is running around $10/pound and doesn't even compare to ours.
If you're not quite ready to commit to a quarter beef which is about 100# of meat, what about 60# of amazing pork - chops, roasts, sausage, hams, tenderloin (oh my!) and your own supply of bacon? A half a hog runs $140 plus $25 freight to the processor. Then, you'll pay processing fees of about $75. A total of $240 for a half - money well spent! We have about 5-6 hogs left and Kurt will take them to McPherson in early December. They'll be ready by the first of the year. We'll save some pork to sell by the cut but won't have hogs ready to go again until August 2012.
One last plug for the holidays and then I'll be done. We also offer beef bundles and samplers if you'd like to give good food but are limited by budget or space. AND, I've been busy making soap this week - Wake Up Rosemary that has a minty scent, Lavender and Unscented. All soap is made with DFF lard, coconut oil and olive oil. I won't make any specific claims but my skin isn't near as dry and Anna's eczema is better since we switched from a commercial bar to homemade soap. Bars are approximately 4 ounces and are $3.50.
I've had fun playing in the kitchen as I've made soap. The tricky part though is working when the kitchen is empty. The initial step in soap making involves lye, a caustic base. Because my kids are kids, it's best for them to be absent during the process. Usually, this means I work during nap time or after bed time. . .. I'm finally catering to my inner chemist. Next month's experimenting involves an oatmeal face bar and a Lava-like bar for Kurt.
Next week, Kurt will be loading out the remainder of our cow herd - they're headed to greener pastures, literally. The cows will be hanging out in the Flint Hills where the forage is much better than anything we have to offer in the county. They'll come home in about 3 months and get ready to calve here in the late spring. The calves will stay all winter and graze winter wheat and other stored forages.
Apparently word travels fast in the skunk community and one of them must have bragged about the free chicken at the Dales. I'm not sure how many skunks we've had the last week but there have been a bunch. it's not uncommon to have predation issues - we've seen coons, possums (ugh!), and many others. Skunks, however, present a unique set of challenges. Thankfully, no one, especially Kurt, has had to take a tomato juice shower - yet.
Last weekend, I was introduced to the wonderful cut of meat called pork tenderloin. Oh. My. Goodness. Unfortunately, only abut half of my crew could enjoy the meal because a stomach bug took up residence at our house. I was nice enough to save some for the sickies but it took willpower. I will have 3-4 tenderloins in stock this holiday season if you want that perfect meal for entertaining.
DFF will be at the Holiday Bazaar in Coldwater on November 19th AND we'll have samples! If there are other craft fair kinds of things that you are aware of, drop me a line. I'd be interested in setting up shop during the fall this year or next.
As I write, Kurt is headed off to his last football practice of the season. WOOHOO!!! I love football BUT I'm ready to eat supper before 7:30! This season has not quite been what Kurt and the head coach expected but good things have happened even if they might not be reflected in the Win-Loss record.
Allison is enjoying her time as a 5th grader. Her last big project was to build a house for a Native American tribe. Definitely a father-daughter project. I can help with these but too often I get wrapped up in what I think the finished project should look like instead of hearing what A wants to do. Kurt's approach is much more constructive. What do you want to do? What do you need me to find? And then if he sees something that is a potential train wreck, he asks a good question or two. Allison's Seminole chicki (sp?) turned out very authentic even if the only people we could find at Hobby Lobby that even remotely looked liked the people in her reference book were Jamestown settlers (including the one, the only, John Smith) and were about 2 inches too short.
Natalie is reading for real! And can read a whole book by herself from beginning to end. WOOHOO!! Going to credit Kurt with this success too. He's so faithful about reading with her after supper. The stories she's writing are also delightful. She's become brave enough to write without worrying about spelling every word exactly right and often relies on her knowledge of phonics. While her words may not be perfect, her stories are!
Anna may be my "last" daughter but over the past 3.5 years, she has provided me with entirely too many firsts - eating tomato leaves which according to Poison Control are slightly toxic, opening child safety lids that were way out of her reach, and most recently, shoving a cheerio up her nose during nap time. It was so high, I couldn't even see the sucker. After my initial moment of panic, I took a deep breath and decided I didn't really want to pay the ER copay if I could avoid it. If we headed to the ER, I'd have to go by myself since Kurt was still sick with the stomach flu. I thought we'd try to self treat, handed her a kleenx and told her to blow. Voila! Who knew I had a future in medicine? Unfortunately, I'm not sure it scared her enough to keep her from doing it again. I gave Kurt credit for the other two's success this month, I think he should take the credit for this one too. Pretty sure the orneriness and desire to push the envelope comes from her daddy and not her risk-averse, over planned momma.
When I wasn't creating back-up rain plans for our party, tending sickies, rescuing preschoolers or making soap this month, I've been tutoring a few students. I love it! I've tutored since high school when my desperate friends would call with their College Algebra questions. This is what I love about teaching - one-on-one interactions sprinkled with light bulb moments - not state assessments, faculty meetings or the myriad of other issues that get in the way of connecting with students through a subject I love.
I've also been enjoying Joel Salatin's new book "Folks, This Ain't Normal." I'm going to have to go back and reread it - there's so much to think about and consider. I may not always agree with everything Salatin writes but he always pushes me to think.
May you and I be aware of our blessings as we enter this season of thanksgiving!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Dale Family Farms at OneTrueMedia.com
This is the slide show we plan to show on Saturday. Five years on the farm. Thanks Stacy for your help!
Monday, October 3, 2011
October 3 - The Party Edition
Wow! I can't believe we're down to less than a week before our Big Shindig. In case it's not on your calendar, our Customer Appreciation Dinner is on Saturday, October 8th from 5-8 pm. If you're planning to come, please let me know by Thursday. Don't forget to bring your kids, lawn chairs and if you get a chance, a side dish to share - although, don't let this keep you from coming. We'll do farm tours on a hay rack and visit at 5; eat around 6; let the kids run free and take a "train" ride after that. Well have a little farm store set up inside along with literature and a slide show - that way you can see what normal looks like around here. If you'd like to pick up meat, let me know and I'll have the order packed ahead of time. I know several of you are planning on picking up fresh chickens that day. Don't forget your coolers!
Kurt and his twin brother, Andrew, are making smoker plans - chicken, pork loin, brisket, hot dogs and pork burgers. I'm roasting a turkey inside. Some of the best we have to share - again, to say thank for your continued support and encouragement. Looking ahead at the forecast, there is a chance of rain next weekend although I've become a bit of a cynic when it comes to the National Weather Service and their empty promises. We will have a rain plan ready but more than likely if it showers, we'll be dancing between the drops!
We've spruced up a little and been spurred to finish a few projects - all the more reason to make this an annual event! I gotta warn you though, the yard looks rough. Six months of very little rain hasn't done much for the little grass we had and the chickens and turkeys have fed on the weeds. That said, we're excited you're coming and promise to show you a good, albeit dusty, time!
In addition to party preparations, September has been full. It has been cooler, thankfully, but certainly not much wetter. I keep telling Kurt it WILL rain again but soon I'm afraid it will be winter, and I'm going to have to tell him it will SNOW instead.
Earlier this month, the girls and I headed to Pretty Prairie to cheer for Kurt - he's still learning that the girls like football but they really go to watch and cheer for him. We stayed the night in Pretty Prairie and then headed onto Hutchinson the next morning for the State Fair. Allison had some 4-H responsibilities and wanted to see her exhibits. At first, I thought I was a bit nuts for taking all 3 girls to the fair by myself but it was a good day. We rented a wagon early on and Anna had a special monkey backpack which had a "tail" I could hang onto. No one got lost, no one had a full blown meltdown and we saw a 700 pound butter sculpture - by all measures a good day.
Kurt and I also celebrated our 14th anniversary this month. A few remembrances we shared over dinner: Kurt picked our wedding date with a planting schedule and a K-State football schedule in front of him. Yes, really - and I let him! I was teaching at the time and only had a handful of personal days. Our honeymoon was spent in the very relaxing, very familiar Wichita, KS. We decided the last 14 years haven't been perfect but there has been a lot more laughter than tears and I wouldn't have wanted to make the journey with any other farmer.
Part of our sprucing up has involved repainting the porch railing and the swing. Because I'm a little short on time, I actually put paint brushes in Allison and Natalie's hands - desperate times call for desperate measures. All things considered, mostly their ages, they did a nice job. They enjoyed their time on the porch so much, they asked if they could sleep out there. Anna was most disappointed that she had to stay inside. She's still up at night though and I didn't want her disoriented. Allison and Natalie were quite a sight! They shared a twin mattress and Natalie definitely got the short end of that arrangement. Both were bundled in heavy duty sleeping bags, multiple blankets and stocking caps - the low that night was 45. To listen to them talk, they have plans to do this every Saturday night. We'll see. I'm not quite sure this is what's meant by a sleeping porch.
While Anna didn't get to sleep outside, she did have a friend over this week. I pinch hit for a friend that needed emergency day care. Oh. . . . they were both so excited. Silly me thought that they would both take naps. After about 20 minutes in separate bedrooms, I begun to hear very loud stage whispers:
"C, what are you doing?"
"Nana, can I play with this?"
After about 10 minutes of this, I gave up on the idea of a nap and instead we played, ran errands and headed to the Kreeme for a much needed snack. Both kids were great - or as great as you can expect two 3-year-olds who didn't nap to be. I would help out again in a heartbeat BUT I did learn why God never blessed us with twins! Oh my goodness! the energy! Headed in two different directions!
Our turkeys are growing - it's helped that the puppy is in foster care at the farm and has quit chasing them - hard to eat when you're running for your life. We only have a few left to preorder. If you want one, reserve it soon.
Your last chance to get fresh chickens will be this week. After the Customer Appreciation Party, chickens will go up to $3.50/pound to cover our additional expenses of storing them, etc.
I have good news for those of you who love bacon as much as we do - it's back in stock! We also have ribeyes and fillets back in the freezers. Life is good. We brought home a few new products from Krehbiels made with our beef and pork:
* A sweet sausage link - Natalie's favorite
* A hot link for those of you who like heat. I tried a bite - oh my. Didn't realize I was such a weenie.
*A few pork tenderloins for those very special meals.
*And our most exciting new product - SUMMER SAUSAGE in two varieties, mild and jalapeno cheddar.
Our October special is in deference to my German heritage and Oktoberfest - ok, I'm only like 1/8 or so German but hey, it sounded good. Buy 10 pounds of sausage - you pick the mix, sweet Italian, spicy Italian or zesty breakfast sausage - for $30. A $5 savings.
Last chance to put your name on a quarter, half or whole beef. Kurt is headed to the processor on Thursday. See our FAQ's page for commonly asked beef questions. Hogs will be available in December and our supply is limited so let us know if you'd like to reserve one.
Family updates:
Kurt is frustrated with his hot wire situation right now. The hot wire allows Kurt to keep his cattle bunched up and graze more intensively for shorter periods - a practice that is good for the cattle and the grass. The problem is with very little moisture in the ground, the hot wire isn't grounded and won't carry much of a charge. It's hard to get the cattle, especially the younger, smaller calves, to respect a wire that won't bite them when they hit it. I rode out with Kurt last night to check cattle and was floored to watch the calves duck and walk under the wire and then moments later see the older, more experienced cows who know better step right over the wire - almost as if they were thumbing their noses at Kurt and I. One more reason we need rain - so we can better handle cattle and manage the feed we do have available.
Allison has been enjoying her usual activities. Two weeks ago, she and a friend walked in the Homecoming Parade as chefs from Cupcake Wars - a show we were not familiar with. They took 2nd place and won $5. After the parade, the two girls came up to me and asked, "Can you split this [$5 bill] into $2.50's?"
"Two fifties?? If I could do that, I wouldn't worry about rain." I responded.
After a beat to think about what I'd said, they both gave the obligatory chuckle. Then, headed across the street to the bank to ask the cashier if she would change their $5 into two $50's.
A highlight of Natalie's week was getting to ride home on the football bus Friday night with Kurt. The team played in Greensburg which is only about 35 miles from home. She was very excited about the trip but fell asleep shortly after the bus hit the highway.
Apparently, my concerns about preschool were totally unfounded. Anna has settled right in and I have been informed that she can be quite a "Chatty Cathy" when given the chance.
I am ready to begin my career in the IT field. We have recently replaced our laptop and I took on the challenge of moving important programs and documents from one computer to the other. Some processes have been pretty simple; others have involved more frustration, more time and more muttering under my breath than necessary. Either way, I know more today than I did a week ago.
Looking forward to celebrating with you this weekend!
Kurt and his twin brother, Andrew, are making smoker plans - chicken, pork loin, brisket, hot dogs and pork burgers. I'm roasting a turkey inside. Some of the best we have to share - again, to say thank for your continued support and encouragement. Looking ahead at the forecast, there is a chance of rain next weekend although I've become a bit of a cynic when it comes to the National Weather Service and their empty promises. We will have a rain plan ready but more than likely if it showers, we'll be dancing between the drops!
We've spruced up a little and been spurred to finish a few projects - all the more reason to make this an annual event! I gotta warn you though, the yard looks rough. Six months of very little rain hasn't done much for the little grass we had and the chickens and turkeys have fed on the weeds. That said, we're excited you're coming and promise to show you a good, albeit dusty, time!
In addition to party preparations, September has been full. It has been cooler, thankfully, but certainly not much wetter. I keep telling Kurt it WILL rain again but soon I'm afraid it will be winter, and I'm going to have to tell him it will SNOW instead.
Earlier this month, the girls and I headed to Pretty Prairie to cheer for Kurt - he's still learning that the girls like football but they really go to watch and cheer for him. We stayed the night in Pretty Prairie and then headed onto Hutchinson the next morning for the State Fair. Allison had some 4-H responsibilities and wanted to see her exhibits. At first, I thought I was a bit nuts for taking all 3 girls to the fair by myself but it was a good day. We rented a wagon early on and Anna had a special monkey backpack which had a "tail" I could hang onto. No one got lost, no one had a full blown meltdown and we saw a 700 pound butter sculpture - by all measures a good day.
Kurt and I also celebrated our 14th anniversary this month. A few remembrances we shared over dinner: Kurt picked our wedding date with a planting schedule and a K-State football schedule in front of him. Yes, really - and I let him! I was teaching at the time and only had a handful of personal days. Our honeymoon was spent in the very relaxing, very familiar Wichita, KS. We decided the last 14 years haven't been perfect but there has been a lot more laughter than tears and I wouldn't have wanted to make the journey with any other farmer.
Part of our sprucing up has involved repainting the porch railing and the swing. Because I'm a little short on time, I actually put paint brushes in Allison and Natalie's hands - desperate times call for desperate measures. All things considered, mostly their ages, they did a nice job. They enjoyed their time on the porch so much, they asked if they could sleep out there. Anna was most disappointed that she had to stay inside. She's still up at night though and I didn't want her disoriented. Allison and Natalie were quite a sight! They shared a twin mattress and Natalie definitely got the short end of that arrangement. Both were bundled in heavy duty sleeping bags, multiple blankets and stocking caps - the low that night was 45. To listen to them talk, they have plans to do this every Saturday night. We'll see. I'm not quite sure this is what's meant by a sleeping porch.
While Anna didn't get to sleep outside, she did have a friend over this week. I pinch hit for a friend that needed emergency day care. Oh. . . . they were both so excited. Silly me thought that they would both take naps. After about 20 minutes in separate bedrooms, I begun to hear very loud stage whispers:
"C, what are you doing?"
"Nana, can I play with this?"
After about 10 minutes of this, I gave up on the idea of a nap and instead we played, ran errands and headed to the Kreeme for a much needed snack. Both kids were great - or as great as you can expect two 3-year-olds who didn't nap to be. I would help out again in a heartbeat BUT I did learn why God never blessed us with twins! Oh my goodness! the energy! Headed in two different directions!
Our turkeys are growing - it's helped that the puppy is in foster care at the farm and has quit chasing them - hard to eat when you're running for your life. We only have a few left to preorder. If you want one, reserve it soon.
Your last chance to get fresh chickens will be this week. After the Customer Appreciation Party, chickens will go up to $3.50/pound to cover our additional expenses of storing them, etc.
I have good news for those of you who love bacon as much as we do - it's back in stock! We also have ribeyes and fillets back in the freezers. Life is good. We brought home a few new products from Krehbiels made with our beef and pork:
* A sweet sausage link - Natalie's favorite
* A hot link for those of you who like heat. I tried a bite - oh my. Didn't realize I was such a weenie.
*A few pork tenderloins for those very special meals.
*And our most exciting new product - SUMMER SAUSAGE in two varieties, mild and jalapeno cheddar.
Our October special is in deference to my German heritage and Oktoberfest - ok, I'm only like 1/8 or so German but hey, it sounded good. Buy 10 pounds of sausage - you pick the mix, sweet Italian, spicy Italian or zesty breakfast sausage - for $30. A $5 savings.
Last chance to put your name on a quarter, half or whole beef. Kurt is headed to the processor on Thursday. See our FAQ's page for commonly asked beef questions. Hogs will be available in December and our supply is limited so let us know if you'd like to reserve one.
Family updates:
Kurt is frustrated with his hot wire situation right now. The hot wire allows Kurt to keep his cattle bunched up and graze more intensively for shorter periods - a practice that is good for the cattle and the grass. The problem is with very little moisture in the ground, the hot wire isn't grounded and won't carry much of a charge. It's hard to get the cattle, especially the younger, smaller calves, to respect a wire that won't bite them when they hit it. I rode out with Kurt last night to check cattle and was floored to watch the calves duck and walk under the wire and then moments later see the older, more experienced cows who know better step right over the wire - almost as if they were thumbing their noses at Kurt and I. One more reason we need rain - so we can better handle cattle and manage the feed we do have available.
Allison has been enjoying her usual activities. Two weeks ago, she and a friend walked in the Homecoming Parade as chefs from Cupcake Wars - a show we were not familiar with. They took 2nd place and won $5. After the parade, the two girls came up to me and asked, "Can you split this [$5 bill] into $2.50's?"
"Two fifties?? If I could do that, I wouldn't worry about rain." I responded.
After a beat to think about what I'd said, they both gave the obligatory chuckle. Then, headed across the street to the bank to ask the cashier if she would change their $5 into two $50's.
A highlight of Natalie's week was getting to ride home on the football bus Friday night with Kurt. The team played in Greensburg which is only about 35 miles from home. She was very excited about the trip but fell asleep shortly after the bus hit the highway.
Apparently, my concerns about preschool were totally unfounded. Anna has settled right in and I have been informed that she can be quite a "Chatty Cathy" when given the chance.
I am ready to begin my career in the IT field. We have recently replaced our laptop and I took on the challenge of moving important programs and documents from one computer to the other. Some processes have been pretty simple; others have involved more frustration, more time and more muttering under my breath than necessary. Either way, I know more today than I did a week ago.
Looking forward to celebrating with you this weekend!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
September 1, 2011
Finally, there may be a break in the heat. While today and tomorrow are forecasted to be well over 100, this Labor Day weekend should be much cooler. Don't know how to handle highs in the 80's - Anna will probably get out her winter coat. Now, if it will just come in and rain for 2-3 days (or weeks)!
Yesterday was a difficult day on the farm. Kurt loaded out two truckloads of cows and sent them to the sale barn. While we still have about 50 cows (the best of the herd), 20-30 butcher beeves and this year's calves, it was hard to see over half our breeding livestock go to town. We know this was the right decision to preserve our feed supply for the winter and pastures for future grazing seasons but that didn't make it an easy decision. We continue to pray for soaking rains and trust in a God who is faithful.
On a lighter note, we are still planning on celebrating in October - hopefully, in the mud! Make sure you've marked your calendar for October 8th. We'll be hosting a Customer Appreciation Dinner here at the farm. Kurt and his brothers are breaking out the smoker again and this year we'll share a wide sampling of farm products. Watch in the next few weeks for a formal (ok, we don't really do formal here on the farm but you know what I mean) invitation with all the details.
We have a couple specials going through the end of September to clear out the freezer for the fall harvest.
*Buy 4 pounds of hot dogs and we'll give you a pound for free to share with a friend.
*Buy 4 whole chickens and get a pork roast for free. Sidenote: I was never a huge fan of pork roast growing up but these are amazing! Great as a centerpiece dish or shred it for BBQ pork.
Several of you have reserved your quarters, halves and whole beeves for this fall. I will be contacting you by the end of the month to confirm and keep you up-to-date. We still have a few quarters left. Holler if you're interested.
We are currently out of bacon (insert sad face), steak (sad face with tears) and only have a few roasts left. This should be remedied soon. I expect to have bacon (and a lot of sausage) in the freezer by the end of September. We're also excited to bring home two varieties of summer sausage - an all beef mild sausage and a beef/pork jalapeno cheddar sausage. We will have these in stock for the holiday season and will be able to ship them along with our beef sticks and jerky.
Steaks and roasts will be restocked by the end of October.
A couple other product updates:
*Our last date for chickens is October 6th. We will have fresh chickens at the Customer Appreciation Dinner if you want to pick up yours then. After the 8th, chicken will go up from $3.00/pound to $3.50/pound to cover our storage expenses.
*We will have a few turkeys available this weekend and next. If you'd like one, email me. Otherwise, I think we'll smoke several and enjoy them ourselves through the fall for lunches.
* Reserve your turkey for Thanksgiving as soon as you know you'd like one. We have limited numbers and would hate for you to miss out.
*For the planners out there, we will have hogs available around December. Let me know if you'd like to reserve a 1/2 or whole hog.
In about three weeks, we will be processing several Freedom Ranger chickens. We ordered these chicks a few months ago when our Cornish Crosses, our current meat bird breed, were struggling with the heat. We did our research and came across this breed. They are more vigorous (these guys forage ALL day long) and hardy (the extreme temps haven't affected them as much). We are considering changing breeds for next year but would like some customer feedback. If you'd like to try a Freedom Ranger, our compliments, and would be willing to provide honest feedback, let me know. Because we are not selling these birds, they do not need to be picked up on the farm.
Our puppy, K.Z., is struggling to learn appropriate behavior on the farm. You know, that rule where you can't eat the other animals running around in the yard with you. In the last 10 days, K.Z. has killed that many free-ranging turkeys. Currently, she is on a 15-foot leash with plenty of water and shade. She gets to play when we are in the yard which Allison does faithfully 2-3 times a day. See, K.Z. has really become Allison's puppy and A can't bear the thought of finding K.Z. a new, turkey-free, home. We will try this last attempt at remediation, at least until the turkeys can hold their own.
Since our last update, school has started here and that's a big deal.
Allison is now a 5th grader and is really coming into her own. This year, kids get to start band and guess what Allison chose to play? Clarinet! The same instrument her momma played all through high school and college and still pulls out and plays occasionally. Other important clarinetists in Allison's life: her Grandma Billie, my Aunt Gayle, her great-grandma, her Grandpa Bill, and Aunt Cynthia. Hmmmm . . . nature or nurture? It has to be a confidence builder to have your youngest sister dance and clap when you play the same note over and over and over. . . . this is the same little girl who tells me I look beautiful in every swimsuit I try on so she's not the most objective critic.
Natalie is loving 1st grade and can't decide which is more fun; riding the big bus with some of her friends (our route has grown from a suburban to a real bus) or playing at recess. Gymnastics started again and I saw Nat do several front-walkovers with a roly mat to help. How does she do that?! To someone as nonathletic as I am, it always amazes me to watch her strength and grace.
Anna started preschool a few weeks ago and we both survived! There are no babies at my house any more. Anna likes to be with her family (and we like having her around) and she can be uncomfortable in a new situation without her sisters there. Silly me for worrying. Miss DeAnn and Miss Christy, her teachers, are pros and Anna has had nothing but smiles when I pick her up.
Between farm work, football and picking up my slack, Kurt is burning the candle at both ends and sometimes even in the middle. I'm hoping with the cooler weather, he won't be quite so wiped out in the evenings. To relax, Kurt has been testing out his new smoker, a birthday present from the girls and me. He's been waffling between building one or buying one for awhile. We made the decision for him. He's come a long way from the first meal he ever smoked for me years ago. Kurt was so proud of that brisket he had smoked on a small silo smoker I gave him one Christmas. I tried soooo hard to enjoy it but all I could taste was smoke. I thought I might have been chewing on a charred piece of wood from the smoker!
And me? This month, I've mostly made sure everyone was clean, well-fed, clothed appropriately (no long sleeves yet, Anna) and showed up at the right place at the right time as well as getting a few deliveries together and out the door. No small feat and some days, I'm more successful than others. (My chuckle for the morning - I was reading this edition to Kurt and Anna piped in with "I've got small feet!" Oh my!)
Looking forward to fall, football and the state fair.
Yesterday was a difficult day on the farm. Kurt loaded out two truckloads of cows and sent them to the sale barn. While we still have about 50 cows (the best of the herd), 20-30 butcher beeves and this year's calves, it was hard to see over half our breeding livestock go to town. We know this was the right decision to preserve our feed supply for the winter and pastures for future grazing seasons but that didn't make it an easy decision. We continue to pray for soaking rains and trust in a God who is faithful.
On a lighter note, we are still planning on celebrating in October - hopefully, in the mud! Make sure you've marked your calendar for October 8th. We'll be hosting a Customer Appreciation Dinner here at the farm. Kurt and his brothers are breaking out the smoker again and this year we'll share a wide sampling of farm products. Watch in the next few weeks for a formal (ok, we don't really do formal here on the farm but you know what I mean) invitation with all the details.
We have a couple specials going through the end of September to clear out the freezer for the fall harvest.
*Buy 4 pounds of hot dogs and we'll give you a pound for free to share with a friend.
*Buy 4 whole chickens and get a pork roast for free. Sidenote: I was never a huge fan of pork roast growing up but these are amazing! Great as a centerpiece dish or shred it for BBQ pork.
Several of you have reserved your quarters, halves and whole beeves for this fall. I will be contacting you by the end of the month to confirm and keep you up-to-date. We still have a few quarters left. Holler if you're interested.
We are currently out of bacon (insert sad face), steak (sad face with tears) and only have a few roasts left. This should be remedied soon. I expect to have bacon (and a lot of sausage) in the freezer by the end of September. We're also excited to bring home two varieties of summer sausage - an all beef mild sausage and a beef/pork jalapeno cheddar sausage. We will have these in stock for the holiday season and will be able to ship them along with our beef sticks and jerky.
Steaks and roasts will be restocked by the end of October.
A couple other product updates:
*Our last date for chickens is October 6th. We will have fresh chickens at the Customer Appreciation Dinner if you want to pick up yours then. After the 8th, chicken will go up from $3.00/pound to $3.50/pound to cover our storage expenses.
*We will have a few turkeys available this weekend and next. If you'd like one, email me. Otherwise, I think we'll smoke several and enjoy them ourselves through the fall for lunches.
* Reserve your turkey for Thanksgiving as soon as you know you'd like one. We have limited numbers and would hate for you to miss out.
*For the planners out there, we will have hogs available around December. Let me know if you'd like to reserve a 1/2 or whole hog.
In about three weeks, we will be processing several Freedom Ranger chickens. We ordered these chicks a few months ago when our Cornish Crosses, our current meat bird breed, were struggling with the heat. We did our research and came across this breed. They are more vigorous (these guys forage ALL day long) and hardy (the extreme temps haven't affected them as much). We are considering changing breeds for next year but would like some customer feedback. If you'd like to try a Freedom Ranger, our compliments, and would be willing to provide honest feedback, let me know. Because we are not selling these birds, they do not need to be picked up on the farm.
Our puppy, K.Z., is struggling to learn appropriate behavior on the farm. You know, that rule where you can't eat the other animals running around in the yard with you. In the last 10 days, K.Z. has killed that many free-ranging turkeys. Currently, she is on a 15-foot leash with plenty of water and shade. She gets to play when we are in the yard which Allison does faithfully 2-3 times a day. See, K.Z. has really become Allison's puppy and A can't bear the thought of finding K.Z. a new, turkey-free, home. We will try this last attempt at remediation, at least until the turkeys can hold their own.
Since our last update, school has started here and that's a big deal.
Allison is now a 5th grader and is really coming into her own. This year, kids get to start band and guess what Allison chose to play? Clarinet! The same instrument her momma played all through high school and college and still pulls out and plays occasionally. Other important clarinetists in Allison's life: her Grandma Billie, my Aunt Gayle, her great-grandma, her Grandpa Bill, and Aunt Cynthia. Hmmmm . . . nature or nurture? It has to be a confidence builder to have your youngest sister dance and clap when you play the same note over and over and over. . . . this is the same little girl who tells me I look beautiful in every swimsuit I try on so she's not the most objective critic.
Natalie is loving 1st grade and can't decide which is more fun; riding the big bus with some of her friends (our route has grown from a suburban to a real bus) or playing at recess. Gymnastics started again and I saw Nat do several front-walkovers with a roly mat to help. How does she do that?! To someone as nonathletic as I am, it always amazes me to watch her strength and grace.
Anna started preschool a few weeks ago and we both survived! There are no babies at my house any more. Anna likes to be with her family (and we like having her around) and she can be uncomfortable in a new situation without her sisters there. Silly me for worrying. Miss DeAnn and Miss Christy, her teachers, are pros and Anna has had nothing but smiles when I pick her up.
Between farm work, football and picking up my slack, Kurt is burning the candle at both ends and sometimes even in the middle. I'm hoping with the cooler weather, he won't be quite so wiped out in the evenings. To relax, Kurt has been testing out his new smoker, a birthday present from the girls and me. He's been waffling between building one or buying one for awhile. We made the decision for him. He's come a long way from the first meal he ever smoked for me years ago. Kurt was so proud of that brisket he had smoked on a small silo smoker I gave him one Christmas. I tried soooo hard to enjoy it but all I could taste was smoke. I thought I might have been chewing on a charred piece of wood from the smoker!
And me? This month, I've mostly made sure everyone was clean, well-fed, clothed appropriately (no long sleeves yet, Anna) and showed up at the right place at the right time as well as getting a few deliveries together and out the door. No small feat and some days, I'm more successful than others. (My chuckle for the morning - I was reading this edition to Kurt and Anna piped in with "I've got small feet!" Oh my!)
Looking forward to fall, football and the state fair.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
August 2, 2011
Whew! July has been a whirlwind of a month and I have to say I'm kind of glad it's in the books.
The first week of the month we focused on preparing for the county fair. The fair started with the Fashion Revue on the 7th and wrapped up on the 16th with the livestock auction. Those 10 days were action packed. I won't go into all the details but Allison was enrolled in five 4-H projects - four "inside" projects and one "outside" project - her goats. Allison had a great week with her 4-H friends and did an awesome job; qualifying 4 entries for the state fair and earning two reserve grand champion ribbons. She also had a few obstacles to overcome including having to start her state fair blue ribbon cake over THREE times! This was a lesson in patience for Allison and her momma. Also during her time in the livestock barn, Allison found a new love, the wheelbarrow. I can't explain it, I just report it.
Natalie also had a good fair week. She showed two pieces of art and earned a blue and red ribbon. Anna had a good time just hanging out with the big kids. As a 4-H leader, I've really come to enjoy fair time even though it's always too hot and we never get enough sleep. The kids work so hard on their projects and are proud to show them off. There's also a good sense of camaraderie sprinkled with a little competition. The kids all want to do well but never hesitate to cheer on or congratulate someone else for a job well done.
While it sounded like a good idea this spring, leaving the day after the fair for Galveston was pure craziness! In the middle of keeping all our fair balls in the air, I also had a trip to pack for! What was I thinking!? It was a most necessary trip though. A week as a family away from the drought was just what we needed! Our first two nights were spent at Kurt's sister's house and she was the hostess with the mostest! We got to spend an entire day visiting with her family and hanging out by her pool. From Penny's house, we went on to the beach at Galveston. Do a quick Google search of Glenn Campbell's "Galveston." Now, imagine Kurt singing this tune the entire week before we left and you'll understand how badly we needed to get away. When we thought we were going to be debt free in the summer of 2010, we asked the girls where they would like to go to celebrate. After some campaigning on Allison's part, they decided they wanted to see the ocean and we settled on Galveston ("Galveston, oh Galveston." Sing it Kurt!) We had to postpone the trip a year and it was so worth it. We spent three days and three nights just hanging out. Except to go out to dinner one night and ice cream another, we never left our condo and the beach. Our days were filled with the beach, sand castles, the pool, good food and 2.5 viewings of "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roderick Rules."
I'm a numbers kind of person, so here's a short summary of the week:
*26 times Natalie asked "What town is this?"
*6 nights away from the drought
*1 near death experience in Waco traffic
*53 CapriSuns Anna drank at the beach - good parenting practices tend to be relaxed when we're on vacation
*31 times Kurt said "it sure looks dry" as we drove through Oklahoma and Texas AND the number of times he said "Man, that's a lot of water" as he looked wistfully out at the Gulf. I know he was trying to figure out how to desalinate the water and bring it home.
*8 souvenirs the girls brought home
*157 souvenirs the girls looked at before they made their purchases
*1 totally awesome sister-in-law (and family)
*53 times Anna probably peed in the Gulf after drinking yet another CapriSun
*3 helpers Kurt had loading the car for the trip home - yep they all rode the luggage carrier while Kurt pushed
*0 helpers Kurt NEEDED while loading
*2 times Kurt visited with local law enforcement on our way home
*1 ticket Kurt received from said law enforcement
*15 explanations Kurt had for why he should NOT have received a ticket
*1560 miles traveled together by car in one week
*5 people who were glad to be home even if it was ridiculously hot and dry
Three days of not doing much was just the break we needed to find some respite from the unrelenting heat this summer. A friend told me that this has been the driest year on record since 1885! We were blessed with a quarter inch of rain last weekend - I stood out in it and got soaked! However, we need many more inches to make a difference. To go from a D4, an exceptional drought to D1, just dry. Kurt's grazing plan changes almost daily as he makes adjustments based on the condition of the cattle and the availability of forage. He figures it will take 3-4 years for the pastures to heal completely.
The incredibly dry summer has forced many in the county, including us, to make some very difficult decisions. Kurt has already sold off our replacement heifers (the young females that would calve for the first time next spring) and will sell off over half the cow herd in the next month - there's just not enough forage for them to eat. By next spring our herd numbers will be down about 70% from this year. There's a chance that we may have to winter the remaining herd somewhere else. Everything Kurt has read and his own experience has taught him that you can't feed your way out of a drought - it gets too expensive too quickly. Hay that sold for $100/ton last year is now valued at $250/ton.
Thankfully, Kurt found some CRP ground to supplement our butcher beeves with. CRP acres are acres that the government has previously paid people to take out of production. Many acres have been temporarily released this year because of the drought conditions. Amazingly, the steers have continued to gain 2-3 pounds per day - pretty good average even in a wet year.
Thanks to Kurt's good management practices (he told me to leave that part out), we will have bulk beef available in the fall and the spring. If you'd like a quarter, half or whole beef this fall, please reserve yours soon. We don't have a set deadline but the beeves are first come, first served. Kurt has told me that he plans on taking beeves to the processor in McPherson the first week or so of October and your beef would be ready towards the end of the month.
The dry conditions have also caused us to make some changes in our chicken plans for the fall. We cancelled the bunch of broilers that were going to be ready in September. It's just too hot and dry. We are still planning on our group for October. Your last chance at fresh chicken will be October 6th. After that date, our chickens will go up $.50/pound to help cover our storage costs.
One more item to put on your radar. We have a few turkeys that are about a month from harvest. We'll also have turkey available for Thanksgiving. Please let me know if you'd like to reserve one.
We continue to provide more options for our customers. This month we have added a PayPal option for you. If you would prefer to pay for a delivery electronically. Let me know and I can email you an invoice ahead of time.
Hmmmm . . . .what else?
Allison has become good buddies with the dentist. I'm not sure how many times we've seen him this summer with her braces. I do know that it's been more than 2-3 times we were supposed to see him!
We had a bit of a surprise last week when we went for eye appointments. Natalie's farsighted and now has a lovely pair of pink specs! The optometrist said they should help as she works on her reading this year.
And Anna - she goes to preschool in two weeks. Excuse me while I dry my tears. I'm not quite sure how that's going to work out. It will be awesome but I'm awfully glad that Miss DeAnn and Miss Christy will be there to help ease the transition.
One last minute addition and I can't believe I almost forgot. Save October 8th! We've decided to make the Pig Roast an annual event. Only this year, we're going to expand it just a little. Instead of throwing the party to celebrate Kurt's birthday - Happy 41st doesn't sound as party worthy. This year, we want to say thank you to our customers. Kurt also has plans to smoke a turkey, some chickens and a brisket. More details will follow but plan on an evening of good food and good fellowship.
May your August be filled with double digit temperatures and above average rainfall!
The first week of the month we focused on preparing for the county fair. The fair started with the Fashion Revue on the 7th and wrapped up on the 16th with the livestock auction. Those 10 days were action packed. I won't go into all the details but Allison was enrolled in five 4-H projects - four "inside" projects and one "outside" project - her goats. Allison had a great week with her 4-H friends and did an awesome job; qualifying 4 entries for the state fair and earning two reserve grand champion ribbons. She also had a few obstacles to overcome including having to start her state fair blue ribbon cake over THREE times! This was a lesson in patience for Allison and her momma. Also during her time in the livestock barn, Allison found a new love, the wheelbarrow. I can't explain it, I just report it.
Natalie also had a good fair week. She showed two pieces of art and earned a blue and red ribbon. Anna had a good time just hanging out with the big kids. As a 4-H leader, I've really come to enjoy fair time even though it's always too hot and we never get enough sleep. The kids work so hard on their projects and are proud to show them off. There's also a good sense of camaraderie sprinkled with a little competition. The kids all want to do well but never hesitate to cheer on or congratulate someone else for a job well done.
While it sounded like a good idea this spring, leaving the day after the fair for Galveston was pure craziness! In the middle of keeping all our fair balls in the air, I also had a trip to pack for! What was I thinking!? It was a most necessary trip though. A week as a family away from the drought was just what we needed! Our first two nights were spent at Kurt's sister's house and she was the hostess with the mostest! We got to spend an entire day visiting with her family and hanging out by her pool. From Penny's house, we went on to the beach at Galveston. Do a quick Google search of Glenn Campbell's "Galveston." Now, imagine Kurt singing this tune the entire week before we left and you'll understand how badly we needed to get away. When we thought we were going to be debt free in the summer of 2010, we asked the girls where they would like to go to celebrate. After some campaigning on Allison's part, they decided they wanted to see the ocean and we settled on Galveston ("Galveston, oh Galveston." Sing it Kurt!) We had to postpone the trip a year and it was so worth it. We spent three days and three nights just hanging out. Except to go out to dinner one night and ice cream another, we never left our condo and the beach. Our days were filled with the beach, sand castles, the pool, good food and 2.5 viewings of "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Roderick Rules."
I'm a numbers kind of person, so here's a short summary of the week:
*26 times Natalie asked "What town is this?"
*6 nights away from the drought
*1 near death experience in Waco traffic
*53 CapriSuns Anna drank at the beach - good parenting practices tend to be relaxed when we're on vacation
*31 times Kurt said "it sure looks dry" as we drove through Oklahoma and Texas AND the number of times he said "Man, that's a lot of water" as he looked wistfully out at the Gulf. I know he was trying to figure out how to desalinate the water and bring it home.
*8 souvenirs the girls brought home
*157 souvenirs the girls looked at before they made their purchases
*1 totally awesome sister-in-law (and family)
*53 times Anna probably peed in the Gulf after drinking yet another CapriSun
*3 helpers Kurt had loading the car for the trip home - yep they all rode the luggage carrier while Kurt pushed
*0 helpers Kurt NEEDED while loading
*2 times Kurt visited with local law enforcement on our way home
*1 ticket Kurt received from said law enforcement
*15 explanations Kurt had for why he should NOT have received a ticket
*1560 miles traveled together by car in one week
*5 people who were glad to be home even if it was ridiculously hot and dry
Three days of not doing much was just the break we needed to find some respite from the unrelenting heat this summer. A friend told me that this has been the driest year on record since 1885! We were blessed with a quarter inch of rain last weekend - I stood out in it and got soaked! However, we need many more inches to make a difference. To go from a D4, an exceptional drought to D1, just dry. Kurt's grazing plan changes almost daily as he makes adjustments based on the condition of the cattle and the availability of forage. He figures it will take 3-4 years for the pastures to heal completely.
The incredibly dry summer has forced many in the county, including us, to make some very difficult decisions. Kurt has already sold off our replacement heifers (the young females that would calve for the first time next spring) and will sell off over half the cow herd in the next month - there's just not enough forage for them to eat. By next spring our herd numbers will be down about 70% from this year. There's a chance that we may have to winter the remaining herd somewhere else. Everything Kurt has read and his own experience has taught him that you can't feed your way out of a drought - it gets too expensive too quickly. Hay that sold for $100/ton last year is now valued at $250/ton.
Thankfully, Kurt found some CRP ground to supplement our butcher beeves with. CRP acres are acres that the government has previously paid people to take out of production. Many acres have been temporarily released this year because of the drought conditions. Amazingly, the steers have continued to gain 2-3 pounds per day - pretty good average even in a wet year.
Thanks to Kurt's good management practices (he told me to leave that part out), we will have bulk beef available in the fall and the spring. If you'd like a quarter, half or whole beef this fall, please reserve yours soon. We don't have a set deadline but the beeves are first come, first served. Kurt has told me that he plans on taking beeves to the processor in McPherson the first week or so of October and your beef would be ready towards the end of the month.
The dry conditions have also caused us to make some changes in our chicken plans for the fall. We cancelled the bunch of broilers that were going to be ready in September. It's just too hot and dry. We are still planning on our group for October. Your last chance at fresh chicken will be October 6th. After that date, our chickens will go up $.50/pound to help cover our storage costs.
One more item to put on your radar. We have a few turkeys that are about a month from harvest. We'll also have turkey available for Thanksgiving. Please let me know if you'd like to reserve one.
We continue to provide more options for our customers. This month we have added a PayPal option for you. If you would prefer to pay for a delivery electronically. Let me know and I can email you an invoice ahead of time.
Hmmmm . . . .what else?
Allison has become good buddies with the dentist. I'm not sure how many times we've seen him this summer with her braces. I do know that it's been more than 2-3 times we were supposed to see him!
We had a bit of a surprise last week when we went for eye appointments. Natalie's farsighted and now has a lovely pair of pink specs! The optometrist said they should help as she works on her reading this year.
And Anna - she goes to preschool in two weeks. Excuse me while I dry my tears. I'm not quite sure how that's going to work out. It will be awesome but I'm awfully glad that Miss DeAnn and Miss Christy will be there to help ease the transition.
One last minute addition and I can't believe I almost forgot. Save October 8th! We've decided to make the Pig Roast an annual event. Only this year, we're going to expand it just a little. Instead of throwing the party to celebrate Kurt's birthday - Happy 41st doesn't sound as party worthy. This year, we want to say thank you to our customers. Kurt also has plans to smoke a turkey, some chickens and a brisket. More details will follow but plan on an evening of good food and good fellowship.
May your August be filled with double digit temperatures and above average rainfall!
Saturday, July 2, 2011
July 2, 2011
Good morning!
This morning, I'm sitting out at the Farmers' Market waiting for things to get started. it's wonderfully cool. . . if only it would stay like this all day. Unfortunately, the forecast is for another 100 degree day. Our weather report hasn't changed much since last month. The heat, winds and grasshoppers are taking their toll on pastures, crops, gardens, livestock and spirits. Kurt has started to destock some and has a plan for the rest of the summer if we don't get significant rainfall soon. There are a couple of verses from Habakkuk that have been floating around the county lately:
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive falls
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
The desperateness of the drought has forced us to look for the levity in all things:
1. Our feed bill for the laying hens has been cut in half this past month. The girls are getting fat off the grasshoppers.
2. We've mowed once all summer. This is truly a blessing since our mower is currently out of commission.
3. My laundry dries incredibly fast on the line. One day I had a load of Kurt's work clothes and a few of the light weight work shirts were almost dry before I got the jeans all hung up! Yes, 100 degree temps and no humidly can be good for something.
4. Kurt hasn't had to fix any water gaps in the creek this summer.
5. I haven't had to weed in the garden - it's mostly gone except for the tomatoes and the zucchini. Any other weeds that survive I've left alone - it's nice to see green out there and you gotta give them credit for trying to grow. Not much else will.
It WILL rain again - but until then, we're learning patience and resourcefulness . . .
June has been a very full month and I'm looking forward to a little slower July. Camps, both local and sleepover, and ball are over for the year and "all" we have in July is the fair and a vacation.
We have quite a few whole chickens and chicken pieces in the freezer right now. We also have one more summer processing date (July 12) and then won't have fresh chicken until September and October. Reserve yours now if you'd like some. After October, the price will go to $3.50/pound to help cover our storage expenses.
On Friday, we got 25 baby chicks at the post office - surprise! We're going to give a different breed a try. The heat, which we tried to avoid, has been very hard on the Cornish Crosses, our current meat birds. These Freedom Rangers are supposed to be pretty hardy and good foragers - watch out grasshoppers! They also take just a little longer to grow out than the Cornish Cross and may not have quite as much breast meat but will be more like the chicken your grandparents ate. We're anxious to see how they do and may be asking a few of you to taste test one for us.
Our laying hens like the heat about as much as I do and have rebelled by not laying near as many eggs. However, the eggs they are laying have awesomely orange yolks. Pretty sure they'd make a beautiful yellow cake!
I'm proud to say I and the animals survived Kurt's two absences in June. In the last newsletter, I think I shared some of my misadventures while Kurt was in Colorado. At the end of this month, Kurt went with the South Central football team to Northwest Missouri State for a camp. He had a good time, enjoyed the cooler weather and was reminded what rain looked like. The only downer was the highly processed cafeteria food.
Meanwhile back at the farm, the girls and I sweltered and I earned my pliers. Last time Kurt was gone, I was blessed to have a friend come and provide back-up. This time I was on my own. That's not totally true. I had a very helpful neighbor, two amazing in-laws and several friends who were only a phone call away and promised to come if we needed help. The weekend was a blur of ballgames and choring.
Kurt left on Thursday and returned on Sunday. In that short time, the girls played in 10 ball games and only two of them were home games! Natalie had their last regular season t-ball game on Friday night and an end-of-the-season tourney on Saturday morning - the only two games all weekend where the temperature was under 95 degrees. Allison played in a league softball double elimination tournament. I won't go through all the gut wrenching details but after an early loss to a tough team, Spearville, they played their way back up through the losers' bracket, only to meet Spearville again in the championship game. Because it was a double elimination tourney, they had to beat Spearville twice in order to win the tourney - and they did it! Those little girls (12 and under) toughed it out through the heat and 3 mentally rough games. This from a team who started the season 0-4, 8 of the 12 players had never played softball before, and whom Kurt thought, after their first practice, may not win any games. Oh my! I don't know that I have the fortitude to watch my girls from the stands for the next 15 years. It killed Kurt to miss all the excitement. I suggested that he talk to the coach at NWMS about changing the date of the camp next year because the tournaments will be the same weekend. Apparently, that wasn't a good idea. Somehow, my text updates at the end of every 1/2 inning just weren't enough, especially when read out of order.
When I wasn't cheering at a game or driving to and from a game or packing the car for the next game, I was babysitting chickens and pigs. I lost track of how many gallons of water Jerry, our very helpful neighbor, and I hauled, but it had to be over 100 each day. We had 100+ temperatures all weekend with the high on Sunday topping out at 115 degrees. We lost two meat birds in the heat but given the miserable conditions, I was thankful the losses weren't higher.
I was soooo glad to see Kurt walk into the pizza place on Sunday night! He was pretty lucky too - our sow did NOT have her piglets while he was gone. I told him if she farrowed while he was gone, he could sleep with the pigs. She's due any day now!
We do have ground beef and a few steaks back in stock and are starting to take reservations for fall beef. Even with the dry conditions, Kurt is working hard to keep good groceries in front of the steers and we're thankful for the forage under the irrigation circle. You can also reserve your bulk pork now which will be ready in September and November.
The "little girls" and I will be making a delivery run on Tuesday, July 5th through Wichita, Medicine Lodge, Pratt and Greensburg. If there's something you need, let me know by Monday.
Allison wanted to make sure I included details about the softball championship. Natalie wanted to make sure I let people know she has jumped off the diving board at the pool. In fact, she loves to do it! She can't swim well yet so one of us has to go out with her and hold a pool noodle for her to land on. I wish I could get a good picture of her jumping - it's a crack-up. Instead of jumping, she free falls.
About two weeks until the fair which will be another full week. It's been fun to watch the 4-H kids choose a project, learn something and then produce a finished product.
The day after the fair we are headed south for some much needed time away. We have been planning this trip for almost two years. We told the girls that when we were debt-free (except the house), we would celebrate with a trip. After much discussion, we settled on the beach and have been diligently saving our change to splurge on something fun. Our intention was to go last summer but had some unexpected expenses that extended our debt payment plan and had to put off the celebration for a year. We'll spend some time with one of Kurt's sisters, be on the beach for 2 1/2 days (suggestions welcome here), and make a stop at the Johnson Space Center (a highlight for the astronaut wanna-be in our family). The car ride will be grueling but the time together (and away from our beloved farm) will be be good.
Hoping you have a relaxing, rainy 4th!
This morning, I'm sitting out at the Farmers' Market waiting for things to get started. it's wonderfully cool. . . if only it would stay like this all day. Unfortunately, the forecast is for another 100 degree day. Our weather report hasn't changed much since last month. The heat, winds and grasshoppers are taking their toll on pastures, crops, gardens, livestock and spirits. Kurt has started to destock some and has a plan for the rest of the summer if we don't get significant rainfall soon. There are a couple of verses from Habakkuk that have been floating around the county lately:
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive falls
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD;
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
GOD, the Lord, is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
and makes me tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
The desperateness of the drought has forced us to look for the levity in all things:
1. Our feed bill for the laying hens has been cut in half this past month. The girls are getting fat off the grasshoppers.
2. We've mowed once all summer. This is truly a blessing since our mower is currently out of commission.
3. My laundry dries incredibly fast on the line. One day I had a load of Kurt's work clothes and a few of the light weight work shirts were almost dry before I got the jeans all hung up! Yes, 100 degree temps and no humidly can be good for something.
4. Kurt hasn't had to fix any water gaps in the creek this summer.
5. I haven't had to weed in the garden - it's mostly gone except for the tomatoes and the zucchini. Any other weeds that survive I've left alone - it's nice to see green out there and you gotta give them credit for trying to grow. Not much else will.
It WILL rain again - but until then, we're learning patience and resourcefulness . . .
June has been a very full month and I'm looking forward to a little slower July. Camps, both local and sleepover, and ball are over for the year and "all" we have in July is the fair and a vacation.
We have quite a few whole chickens and chicken pieces in the freezer right now. We also have one more summer processing date (July 12) and then won't have fresh chicken until September and October. Reserve yours now if you'd like some. After October, the price will go to $3.50/pound to help cover our storage expenses.
On Friday, we got 25 baby chicks at the post office - surprise! We're going to give a different breed a try. The heat, which we tried to avoid, has been very hard on the Cornish Crosses, our current meat birds. These Freedom Rangers are supposed to be pretty hardy and good foragers - watch out grasshoppers! They also take just a little longer to grow out than the Cornish Cross and may not have quite as much breast meat but will be more like the chicken your grandparents ate. We're anxious to see how they do and may be asking a few of you to taste test one for us.
Our laying hens like the heat about as much as I do and have rebelled by not laying near as many eggs. However, the eggs they are laying have awesomely orange yolks. Pretty sure they'd make a beautiful yellow cake!
I'm proud to say I and the animals survived Kurt's two absences in June. In the last newsletter, I think I shared some of my misadventures while Kurt was in Colorado. At the end of this month, Kurt went with the South Central football team to Northwest Missouri State for a camp. He had a good time, enjoyed the cooler weather and was reminded what rain looked like. The only downer was the highly processed cafeteria food.
Meanwhile back at the farm, the girls and I sweltered and I earned my pliers. Last time Kurt was gone, I was blessed to have a friend come and provide back-up. This time I was on my own. That's not totally true. I had a very helpful neighbor, two amazing in-laws and several friends who were only a phone call away and promised to come if we needed help. The weekend was a blur of ballgames and choring.
Kurt left on Thursday and returned on Sunday. In that short time, the girls played in 10 ball games and only two of them were home games! Natalie had their last regular season t-ball game on Friday night and an end-of-the-season tourney on Saturday morning - the only two games all weekend where the temperature was under 95 degrees. Allison played in a league softball double elimination tournament. I won't go through all the gut wrenching details but after an early loss to a tough team, Spearville, they played their way back up through the losers' bracket, only to meet Spearville again in the championship game. Because it was a double elimination tourney, they had to beat Spearville twice in order to win the tourney - and they did it! Those little girls (12 and under) toughed it out through the heat and 3 mentally rough games. This from a team who started the season 0-4, 8 of the 12 players had never played softball before, and whom Kurt thought, after their first practice, may not win any games. Oh my! I don't know that I have the fortitude to watch my girls from the stands for the next 15 years. It killed Kurt to miss all the excitement. I suggested that he talk to the coach at NWMS about changing the date of the camp next year because the tournaments will be the same weekend. Apparently, that wasn't a good idea. Somehow, my text updates at the end of every 1/2 inning just weren't enough, especially when read out of order.
When I wasn't cheering at a game or driving to and from a game or packing the car for the next game, I was babysitting chickens and pigs. I lost track of how many gallons of water Jerry, our very helpful neighbor, and I hauled, but it had to be over 100 each day. We had 100+ temperatures all weekend with the high on Sunday topping out at 115 degrees. We lost two meat birds in the heat but given the miserable conditions, I was thankful the losses weren't higher.
I was soooo glad to see Kurt walk into the pizza place on Sunday night! He was pretty lucky too - our sow did NOT have her piglets while he was gone. I told him if she farrowed while he was gone, he could sleep with the pigs. She's due any day now!
We do have ground beef and a few steaks back in stock and are starting to take reservations for fall beef. Even with the dry conditions, Kurt is working hard to keep good groceries in front of the steers and we're thankful for the forage under the irrigation circle. You can also reserve your bulk pork now which will be ready in September and November.
The "little girls" and I will be making a delivery run on Tuesday, July 5th through Wichita, Medicine Lodge, Pratt and Greensburg. If there's something you need, let me know by Monday.
Allison wanted to make sure I included details about the softball championship. Natalie wanted to make sure I let people know she has jumped off the diving board at the pool. In fact, she loves to do it! She can't swim well yet so one of us has to go out with her and hold a pool noodle for her to land on. I wish I could get a good picture of her jumping - it's a crack-up. Instead of jumping, she free falls.
About two weeks until the fair which will be another full week. It's been fun to watch the 4-H kids choose a project, learn something and then produce a finished product.
The day after the fair we are headed south for some much needed time away. We have been planning this trip for almost two years. We told the girls that when we were debt-free (except the house), we would celebrate with a trip. After much discussion, we settled on the beach and have been diligently saving our change to splurge on something fun. Our intention was to go last summer but had some unexpected expenses that extended our debt payment plan and had to put off the celebration for a year. We'll spend some time with one of Kurt's sisters, be on the beach for 2 1/2 days (suggestions welcome here), and make a stop at the Johnson Space Center (a highlight for the astronaut wanna-be in our family). The car ride will be grueling but the time together (and away from our beloved farm) will be be good.
Hoping you have a relaxing, rainy 4th!
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