May mini edition

Good afternoon!

Hope all is well in your world.  After temperatures dipping below freezing last week, it's now 90 in Southwest Kansas!

I have lots to share with you in our June newsletter but just a few things that couldn't wait another 2 weeks.

*Ground beef special is still going on until the end of the month or while supplies last.  Buy 50 pounds of ground beef and get 5 pounds free. 

*I just spoke with the Kansas Department of Agriculture and we have been approved for the poultry exemption we were seeking.  What this means for our customers is that we can deliver chicken anywhere in the state AND sell to businesses and restaurants!  WAHOO!!!  We will be doing our first batch of broilers at the end of the month and then we are going to celebrate with a Chick-a-palooza, i.e. we'll be loading up as many chickens as we can and headed east to deliver.  Let me know if you'd like to be on our route and how many chickens you'd like.  We'll also be processing in late June and again in the fall.

*We're quickly approaching our next processing date for beeves (June 6) and still have several quarters, halves and wholes left  Please let me know ASAP if you would to reserve some bulk beef.  Price is based on the liveweight of the animal but a good rule of thumb is a quarter will run you around $500 for about 90# meat.  Questions, let me know.

Counting down the days until school's out,

 

Andi

May 2013

Yep, just like I thought.  Kurt was all talk last month when he said he'd start penning the Cattle Rattle.  We're in the car on our way to a track meet and I even offered to take dictation but he decided he was too busy this month.  Guess you're stuck with me.  That's ok - I'd rather do this than hot (or cold, depending on the day), messy farm chores.

Where to start?  Where to start?  Spring is a hoppin' time on the farm.  Not that we sit on our haunches (what are haunches, anyway?) all winter but the growing season has begun and we've got new life all over the place - although most of it is just as confused as I am by the wild swings in the weather!

There are all kind of babies roaming around right now.  Our heifers and cows started calving a few weeks ago.  We've had two shipments of chicks (200 meat birds and 125 layers).  There was a litter of kittens but we think they've disappeared and that one of the cold snaps was just too much for them.  And . . . (drum roll, please). . . . 1 baby goat!  There's a sad side to this story but we're going to focus on the good things today.  Allison's remaining doe had twins on April 24th - do you know how adorable baby goats are?!  (Update - he's following his momma everywhere)  His name is Survivor, if that tells you anything.  Oh, and 5 other new additions - Red Wattle Hogs - 2 bred gilts (girls that haven't had piglets), 2 open gilts and a boar, Mr. Boar.  Check out this link to learn more about the breed and see how funny they look.  They are supposed to be aggressive grazers - so far they have been!  The two bred gilts are due sometime next month (both of their pregnancies were oops which is how we came to own them) - more babies!!

Broilers are out on pasture now.  Kurt has worked hard to keep them comfortable in the brooder and on pasture - not an easy job when the temperatures have varied by 70 degrees!  Kurt has also modified our chicken pens this year and we hope to let these guys free range just a bit during the day.  This all happened by accident.  Last year, we had a broiler chick get mixed in with the layers.  He was pretty vigorous too and would wander several yards from the hen house and scratch for bugs.  Last year, we used a different hatchery and believe these Cornish Crosses are a little hardier than we've had in the past.  Other improvements in Poultry-land, include the addition of the "water wagon."  Right now, adding water lines wherever we have poultry is cost prohibitive but hauling 5 gallon buckets of water 4 times/day gets tiresome.  True to form, Kurt set out to find a better plan.  He traded out for an axle/trailer thingy from a neighbor, bought a 55-gallon drum and got busy building the water wagon that can be pulled behind the 4-wheeler and used by his wife and daughters.

This first batch of chickens will be ready May 30 and 31.  Holler if you'd like to reserve some.  I've read and researched and we ARE eligible for a state/federal exemption and MAY deliver chickens.  To celebrate, we're going on a chicken tour!  We'll load the suburban down and head east - delivering them as we go.  If you'd like to be a stop on our tour, email me how many you'd like and we'll put you on the list.

Also, Kurt will be hauling beeves to Krehbiels the first week of June.  Please reserve yours soon so we can plan better.  it will vary some by weight but quarters average around $500. 

Now that the forensics season is coming to an end, I'll be gearing up soap production.  Several of you have been patient while I've been trying to find time to restock. (oooh and I figured out how to shrink wrap my soaps that will make them look a little more professional)

Kurt and Anna both seem to be fully recovered from their accident  Kurt still gets a little stuff but his neck is much better.

We'll be in Dodge on May 7th; Greensburg and Pratt on the 9th; and through Greensburg, Pratt and Wichita on the 10th  If you'd like to place an order, email me.

Family updates:

Kurt - With more daylight, he's working longer days and is often up before 5 to do his thinking and planning for the day.  He's also been a rock star by attending all 3 of Allison's track meets - rain or shine, warm or cold.  Oh, and he's also started putting in the garden!

Allison - Miss A has been competing in track this spring - well kind of.  The weather has really thrown a wrench in the whole season.  Two meets have been cancelled and one has been postponed.  It's really hard to practice for a month without a meet!

Natalie - Nat is desperate for warmer weather and flip flops.  "When is it going to be spring for real?"  If I knew that Natalie, I'd be rich.  Counting down the days until school's out.

Anna - Only 2 more weeks of preschool - I can't hardly believe it.  She is turning in to such a big girl and wants to be a helper whenever she can - and even when she's too little. 

Maybe next month, I can tell you how "normal" the weather has been!

April 2013

Where did the winter go?  I was about to sit down and write an update in February and then life got interesting - more so than the day-to-day excitement I've grown used to on the farm.  On February 19th, Kurt and Anna hauled hogs to McPherson.  On the way home, they were in a car accident just west of Pratt.  Kurt was getting ready to turn left off of Highway 54 when they were t-boned by a semi going around 45 mph.  You can read about it here. Amazingly, Anna did not have a scratch on her.  She was asleep when they were hit and is doing very well 6 weeks later.  Kurt didn't fare quite as well but was remarkably fortunate.  The semi hit on his side of the pickup and all Kurt suffered were a few small cuts and bruises and a concussion.  I'm not quite sure how/why the ER physician released Kurt that evening but it was probably a good thing he did.  The next day, snow (lots of snow) moved in.  Kurt would not have handled being stranded in Pratt well at all.  Unfortunately, there were several small jobs Kurt had planned for that afternoon of the accident to prepare for the impending weather and none of them got done.  That said, we have AMAZING neighbors and customers.  During the next week, during two strong winter storms, we had people helped with cattle chores (often helping care for our cattle before they cared for their own), cut firewood, plow out our yard/drive, and the list goes on and on.  I'm sure most of you know it's much easier to be on the helper side of the equation than the helpee side. 

The snow was an inconvenience - especially since I had to be out in it several times a day.  Kurt had strict orders to rest and stay in dark places.  I was reminded yet again that I am a much better farmer's wife than I am a farmer.  I'm not sure how you can sweat in 20 degree weather with 15 inches of snow on the ground but I did!  Even though we spent several days snowed in during which included  a carbon monoxide scare (I told you they were an exciting few days!), the moisture from the snow was WONDERFUL!!  We could always use more rain but both snows were wet and took several days to melt and soak in.  

The snows and the accident slowed Kurt's early spring project down a little bit but the greenhouse is almost operational!  The frame is mostly finished and ready to be covered.  This is a good thing since the tomato plants are about to take over Helen's sewing room.  Our plan is to grow tomatoes, salad greens and other vegetables and have them available for sale also.  We'll keep you posted as produce becomes available.

Our first chicks should be arriving next Wednesday - it doesn't seem like it's that time of year yet!  We have increased the number of broilers that we are doing this year since we ran out of whole chickens in December.  Our scheduled dates for processing in 2013 are May 30 & 31, June 20 & 21, September 13, September 20 and October 4.  If you would like to know that you will get the number of chickens you want, we are asking that you reserve them as soon as possible.  We are fairly confident that we will be able to deliver chickens this year.  We need to reread the exemption policy one more time before the season begins to make sure that we are covered.

Also, even though this seems slightly ridiculous, it's not too soon to reserve your turkey for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  We had to turn several people away last year.  Because we are a small producer, our supply is not seemingly unlimited like the grocery store.  Also, we don't have freezer space to store turkeys fore extended periods of time.

Kurt is working on finding feeder pigs (pigs that are about 50-60 pounds) to buy this spring so that we will have hogs available again in October.  We have several pork products back in stock - ham, pork chops, sausage, pork roasts.  However, one of the casualties of the accident was our bacon supply - scattered allll over the highway. 

We have a date set with the processor for early June for beeves.  If you would like to reserve a quarter, half or whole beef, please let me know.  We are charging $1.50/pound liveweight plus $25/quarter freight to the processor.  The customer pays the processing.    This works out to about $500/quarter for around 90 pounds of meat.  Ribeyes for $5.55/pound - you can't beat that!

Yesterday, Kurt and I had some time to think and plan while it was cold and rainy and we've got a question for you - what kind of interest is there for lamb out there?  We don't know much about lamb meat but are willing to learn.  We have several areas in the pasture that Kurt thinks would be better utilized by sheep or goats than cattle.  Let us know what you think or if you just want to shoot us an email and share anything you know about lamb, we'd appreciate it. 

Oh, and also coming out of that conversation was discussion about doing something here on the farm during the summer and fall - tours, demos, etc.  Opening our doors to local people so they can learn more about what we're doing here and also doing something for others to come out enjoy what the farm has to offer.  Any thoughts?  Suggestions?

Upcoming delivery runs:

*Dodge City - April 9
*Pratt, Greensburg - April 11
*Wichita - April 26 - tentative

Family updates:

Anna - I didn't say much at the beginning about Anna but she was sooooo big after the accident.  I had nurses tell me what a big girl Anna was when they put her on the back board and took her in the ambulance.  My baby, who rarely talks to strangers, struck up conversations with all kinds of people that afternoon.  The accident did not slow Anna down a bit.  In the week after the accident, when we were all snowed in, Anna learned how to play gin rummy with Grandma Billie.  We played lots of cards during that week.  Anna wanted to learn to play like the big girls.  We thought she was just drawing cards and putting them down until Mom won - she checked Anna's hand and she was one card from having gin rummy!  What a smart little girl.  (Side note for those of you that know my Mom lives 4 hours from the farm - she came between the two storms to help out and then got snowed in after the second storm.  Crisis are always easier to face with your momma around.)  Oh, and Anna finally has a joke that is funny!!  Finally!

Kurt has been reading (and commenting) over my shoulder -it's always good to have help, right?  Because he's been so "helpful,"  Kurt has just volunteered to start writing the Cattle Rattle - oh he thinks I'm joking but we'll see what May brings.  His response:  "Don't be surprised if they are shorter.  I'm not quite the wordsmith Andi is."

Natalie - This little girl is gymnasticating fool.  She tumbles at home, at recess, whenever she can.  She loves it and has gotten so much stronger this year.  She can almost go from a bridge to kick over - translation - she can start in a back bend and almost kick her legs over!  How?!  I have no earthly idea.  Do you ever look at your kids do something and think how do they know how to do that?  Do they amaze you?  Natalie does on a daily basis.

Allison - Basketball season has come to a close and I'm pretty sure she knows how long until it starts again.  I'm thankful that late practices are over for the year.  Even with b-ball over, she's not been short on things to do.  Track season has started - she's high jumping - another one of those "how does she know how to do that?"  Allison's also been on the quiz bowl team this year.  We got to watch her compete at a home meet - pretty proud of her holding her own with the big kids.

Kurt - He's still recovering some from the accident but is so much better than those first few days after the accident.  He keeps telling people that every day is better than the last.  Right now his energy is spent checking cattle (baby calves any day now!!) and working on the greenhouse. 

Me - The next few weeks will be full of forensics as the season comes to a close.  It's been a good season but I'm ready to have my afternoons at home again.  I almost forget in the craziness post-accident, I accepted a part-time teaching position at the high school next year.  I'll be teaching Algebra I and Tech Math.  I oscillate between being thrilled and being terrified.  Anna will start school in the fall and will be be done at the school by noon.  It could be a good fit. 

Here's hoping for some more May showers!

January 2013

Wow!  I did a little research and September 9th was the last time I sent out a newsletter.  I think a little writer's block coupled with a lot of life has derailed me a bit.  It's time to get back in the swing of things especially since 2013 has the potential to be a big year here on the farm.

Let me spend a moment to update you on the last few months and the I'll fill you in on what's coming up in 2013.

First of all, the customer appreciation dinner was perfect.  Ok, it wasn't "perfect," exactly.  There were minor mishaps and moments of chaos but I'm learning (finally!) how to roll with life a little better.  Mike Benish, our entertainment, was fabulous!  AND will be returning this year - September 28th, 2013 to be exact.  Next to the entertainment, the food and the fellowship, I think my favorite detail of the night was the mason jar lanterns my friends and mom put together and hung on our clothesline - they were pinterest worthy!

Right before our party, I attended a workshop put on by the Kansas Rural Center on marketing.  I even got to be on a panel during one of the Q/A sessions!  I'm certainly not an expert on anything farm related but it was pretty cool to sit there with two other producers who have been doing this a lot longer than we have.  I also had the opportunity to meet the head of the KDA Meat and Poultry division and learned lots more about poultry exemptions and how they might apply to our operation. 

In December, Kurt and I drove to Louisville, KY for the Acres conference.  I was totally overwhelmed by what we don't know.  I guess my admonitions to students in the past about being life long learners were as much for my benefit as theirs!  One practical skill I learned that I can even explain to you and have confidence you will understand me is. . . . I learned how to make sauerkraut!  I've even made my first batch and it passed Kurt's inspection.  I also bought a huge book on fermentation and have lots of experimenting to do!  If I can find bottle caps/capper, we're going to give root beer a try!

I can't believe I've waited this long to tell you we got RAIN!!  Almost an inch between the New year's Day snow and a rain we had a week later.  maybe that's why I didn't get a Cattle Rattle out - I was tired of telling you how dry it is/was.  It's still very dry but it's nice to see the car covered in mud.  I may not wash it and just drive it around as a reminder of our blessings.  If you compare 2013 to 2012, we've already had about 14% of last year's moisture (sorry, the number nerd took over my keyboard for a moment).

Some inventory updates:

*We are completely out of chickens and turkeys.  Chickens won't be available until late May 2013.  The best way to guarantee your supply of chickens is uninterrupted is to stock up during the summer.  We like to keep chickens on hand during the off months but we can only store so many of them - they don't stack very well in the chest freezer.  This winter, we will be thoroughly investigating the USDA exemptions for small producers and should be able to deliver chickens this year.  One quick question - are any of you interested in turkeys earlier in the season or are they completely a Thanksgiving/Christmas item?

*We are well stocked on all our beef products including jerky, sticks, and summer sausage.  We also have a few quarters left at Krehbiels if you're interested in freezer beef before May.

*Hogs - Kurt was supposed to haul our first load of hogs to the processor today.  However, the fuel pump on the pick-up went out before he left the county and we're doing some rescheduling.  When those hogs are ready, we'll be restocked with pork chops (sigh), pork roasts, hams, as well as more bacon and sausage.  Kurt will be hauling a second load of hogs to the processor on February 21st.  We do still have some halves and wholes if you'd like to reserve yours.

I was pleasantly overwhelmed by the demand for homemade soap this holiday season.  I'm gearing up production again and hoping there's still enough lard in the freezer to get me 'til February.  Kind of exciting news - the Co-op has a "general store" in Medicine Lodge and they're willing to carry my soaps and see what happens. 

Now, the super, super big news.  In the next week or so, Kurt will start construction on a portable hoop house for vegetable growing!!  Kurt and his mom are plotting and planning but by early/mid spring, we hope to be offering a small selection of vegetables as well.  YAY!

Travel plans for the next few weeks:

*January 19th - going through Greensburg and Pratt

*January 22nd - appointments in Dodge

*February 1st - possibly going to Greensburg, Pratt and Wichita if there's enough interest

Some family updates:

Kurt has been studying and sketching plans, trying to come up with optimal hoop house plans.  He's also trying to figure out what to grow and when!

I'm learning how to juggle - some days better than others.  January marks the beginning of the forensics season and this is my first year as head coach.  Needless to say, my head is swimming just a bit.  I'm also substitute teaching in the school system 1-2 days a week.  My only two stipulations - nothing below 5th grade AND no shop classes!!  So far, so good.

Allison is about to wrap up the middle school basketball season and then will have 5 weeks of peewee ball.  I've been so proud of her hard work this year.  I watch her play and can only think "who is this woman child?"  How does she know how to box out or roll on the floor to go after a loose ball and who got stepped on (there were tread marks!!) during a game and never cried!

Natalie continues to grow and blossom - I do believe there's a little artist in there.  She loves to draw, color, play with color palettes, create, etc.  Oh and she's quite prolific as well!

Anna is no longer little - she's 5 now.  She is my little puzzling engineer (with a great sense of humor).  For Christmas and her birthday, she received several puzzles.  Her current Fave - a map of the U.S.  She also like to put puzzles together - upside down!  Yes, with the picture on the floor and the cardboard facing up.  Who does that?!

Here's wishing you (and us) a wet, slushy winter!

Quickie Hog Edition - January 3rd

Good morning!  Hope 2013 is off to a good start!

 
I have to confess, this really isn't a "Cattle Rattle" - after almost 4 months, I think I've forgot how to write!  I do have a newsletter started and hope with some extended car trips, I can get back in the swing.
 
Anyway, I have a couple quick items to share:
 
1.  We are out of chicken for the season.  =(   Between losses to the badger and increased demand, our supply was a little low this year.  We'll make adjustments for next year.  One way to make sure you have chicken all year round is to stock up during the summer.  =)
 
2.  We have another freezer!!  AND it's practically new!!  This brings the count to 8 plus a fridge - although one doesn't quite count because it's a little bitty one.  One of our customers spotted it at a business' liquidation sale and snatched it up for us. 
 
3.  Please let me know ASAP if you are interested in a half or whole hog.  Kurt will be hauling the first trailer load to McPherson on January 16th and the next a few weeks later.  Whole hogs will be $380 plus about $120 for processing (paid to the processor) and halves will be $190 plus about $60 for processing.  We'll also be restocking bacon (how quickly our supply shrinks!), pork chops, hams, ham hocks. . . .all kinds of good stuff!

Blessings!

September 2012

School started about 3 weeks ago and we have a schedule - albeit a bit hectic BUT there is a rhythm to our day again!  Depending on your personality, you may or may not understand this.  For a former school teacher who lived by the bell for 31 years, it's sanity saving.

On the flip side, the start of school also brings with it practice - times two.  Kurt has football practice and Allison now has volleyball practice.  Anna and I went to A's first game last Thursday.  I'm not gonna brag but her "C" team was awesome!  A third set of practices is about to start as I get started with the One Act play at the high school.  Looks like we're going to have to be more creative about how we spend time together as a family!

I want to remind you one more time about our customer appreciation dinner on September 29th.  Also, if there's someone you know who'd like to find out more about our farm and sample our meats, bring 'em along.  Know you'd like to pick up meat while you're at the farm?  Please feel free to email your order and we'll have it ready to go.  The "farm store" will also be open that evening.  We will have hot dogs, all beef brats and summer sausage back in stock by then - we've been missing the dogs around here this summer!  If you have any questions, please let me know.  We're looking forward to a great time with Mike Benish as our entertainment.

Not only are we celebrating with you this month but Kurt and I are also celebrating our 15th anniversary at the end of the month (two days before the party to be exact).  Being the traditionalists that we are (ok, you can quit laughing now).  We wanted to do this one right but unfortunately instead of celebrating with traditional crystal gifts, we will be giving dental work this year - I need a crown and Kurt is getting fit for a mouthpiece because he's grinding his teeth (drought related possibly??)  Ah, romance is in the air. 

We always need rain so I'm just not going to talk about it - much.  The last several days, it has tried to rain but mostly just a few drops at a time or wind. 

Here's a quick look at our upcoming delivery schedule.  Many of you receive emails when we head to different location.  If you'd like to receive these and aren't please email me.

    *September 13th - Greensburg and Pratt
    *September 17th - McPherson, Wichita, Pratt, and Greensburg
    *September 20th - Lindsborg, Salina
    *September 29th - I'm not going anywhere but you can pick up orders here.  Not trying to nag but   it will be easier to pull orders before party time.
    *October 3rd - Greensburg, Pratt, Hutchinson, and Dodge City

I will send out reminders as we get closer to the dates. 

The badger is still on the loose - somewhere. We haven't seen any more evidence during the past month and we're hoping he's found a less economically devastating food source than our chickens.

Allison's goats have enjoyed their freedom since the fair.  We never know quite where they are going to end up - on top of a round bale, in the bucket of the tractor, sunning themselves on the patio or out in the trees playing with the pigs or calves. 

The kitchen has been busy this month.  I bought 40# of peaches and probably could have bought twice that.  (They'll be featured as dessert for the party.)  I also found a source of kind of local apples that havent' been sprayed.  So far, I've bought 2 bushels that I've been drying and hope to get 2-4 more bushels for applesauce and apple juice.  Now, if our tomatoes would just take off.  I'm dying to make salsa and tomato sauce - we've been 2 years without it.  If you know of someone with an abundance, holler.  I'd trade out meat for 'maters. 

Even though the upstairs needs a good cleaning - you can tell we've been living in organized chaos.  However, our basement is finally habitable.  It still needs a little work but Kurt and I have our desks back and you don't have to walk by piles to get to the couch and TV.  Don't know about you, but clutter really brings me down.  My momma is probably laughing as she reads this because she remembers my room growing up  but she also has to remember that I didn't spend much time up there either. 

I love when we can scavenge or repurpose something.  I use to be a bit of a skeptic but now I'm learning to be more creative.  Two weeks ago, the high school had their kleenx scrimmage.  After the football portion, the watermelons were drug out and a few hundred people enjoy a slice or two.  For the second year, we've asked for the rinds.  Our pigs and chickens LOVE them and it's way better than tossing them in the dumpster.  If you are local and end up with food waste like this, give us a holler or bring it out; our livestock love the treat.

Our first two litters of piglets have been weaned.  Kurt used the standard rule for weaning around here - if the piglets are roaming the yard and eating dog food, it's time.  A third litter was born last weekend.  Not sure why but piglets make me smile.

Our turkeys are also roaming pretty free - going 1/8 to 1/4 mile from their shelter during the day.  The are really keeping the grasshopper population down.  Our turkey numbers are down just a bit from this spring.  K.Z., our black lab, enjoys turkey almost as much as we do.  A few weeks ago, we had to find her a new home.  We just couldn't break her habit of chasing anything smaller than her.  As hard as it was to give her away, we think it will be a good move for her.  We have an "open adoption" and have received several updates and pictures from her new owners.  Next time we're in Fowler, we might stop by for a visit.

Several of our turkeys have been reserved for the holiday season.  If you know you'd like a turkey for the holiday season, now rather than later is the time to reserve one.

Kurt has dates reserved in mid-October for 1/4, 1/2 and whole beeves.  The price per pound live weight will be $1.50 - the same as it was in the spring.  Please reserve yours now.

Piglets are growing fast but we're still a few months from taking them to McPherson.  However, it's not too soon to reserve your half or whole hog.  I am excited to tell you though that we're not too far off from having bacon in stock again.  Kurt will be hauling a couple sows in October also.

Family updates before I close:

Anna - Shes started back at pre-school and is loving it this year.  She's comfortable enough this year that I think Miss DeAnn is starting to believe the stories I tell on this ornery little girl.

Natalie - We have had new kittens show up this week and she has decided it's her job to be their nanny.  She checks on them several times a day and conjectures about what their momma is up to.  Overhead the other day, "yeah, it's pretty much my job to help take are of the babies around here."

Allison - A has had a full week between school, practice, a volleyball game and getting her state fair entries ready.  She had a bit of a crisis the night before her cake was due - she ran out of frosting with about 1/4 of her cake left to frost.  This frosting recipe has always made enough!  A handled it better than her momma and we got the cake off safely in the morning.

Kurt - He's preparing for the 3rd football game of the season.  He loves the game and working with the boys - his testosterone boost for the year.

Me - Nothing really new going on here.  Mostly juggling the schedule, conquering the basement and preparing for the 29th - have I told you we're having a party?

Hope to see you at the end of the month!

July 2012

What a 6 weeks! I think I've commented before - back when I taught, I always had summer projects - things I put off until summertime when I had a little free time.  Now that I stay home, I save my projects for when everyone goes away and I have bigger chunks of time to think and work.  Some things just can't be done 7 minutes at a time.

With a deep sigh, I can say summer ball was over the 1st week of July.  Our girls loved playing, had great coaches and learned lots but I did a quick calculation (remember I'm a mathematician by trade)  and 70% of our days in June were spent at a practice or a game.

Once ballgames were over, it was time for swim lessons.  Allison is, of course, too old.  You'll understand this statement if you have ever spent time with a middle schooler.  By the end of the week, Natalie had passed her swim test and can now swim un-attended in the deep end.  The little turkey went and swam for the lifeguard and started playing in the deep end without telling her momma!  Anna also learned lots and will go under water without prompting and swim 20 feet or so on her own. Sunday, she got very brave at the pool and about gave me a heart attack.  Of all 3, she is my fish!

Also squeezed in there was volleyball camp, art lessons, a basketball camp or two and vacation Bible school.  Oh, and lots of time to be lazy, hang out and stay up too late.  Gotta brag here just a minute.  Both Natalie and Allison went to the Bob Knoll basketball camp.  They enjoyed the camp and have been playing ball even in the heat of the day.  Highlights for their momma though were the awards.  Natalie was awarded the H-3 award - the Hustle, Hustle, Hustle award.  That's a pretty big deal especially if you know how much Natalie hates to sweat.  Allison was named the MVP of the middle school players. 

Since the last time I wrote, the girls have also all had visits with my mom.  The girls each get to spend a few days ALL. BY. THEMSELVES with Grandma.  Each gets to spend quality time with my mom and by the time everyone's home, they're glad to see each other.  I did note that after this year's rotation my mom mentioned that we miight want to spread their visits out a bit instead of cramming three visits in one week.

We have received some rain over the last 6 weeks - about 2.5 inches in mid-July.  Really weird rain though - neighbors a mile to the south got 4 inches, Protection had 5 and my in-laws, who are a mile north of us, got 1 inch!  The rain was great to get but it's still dry although this summer has not been as brutal as last year.  I know more of the state is dry this year but we're in a little bit better place.  More rain is always good though.

Beef and chicken are still well stocked.  Kurt will be taking in beeves this week to restock our hot dogs, beef brats and summer sausage.  Pork we'll be waiint awhile longer - oh, that bacon will taste soooo good.  We are starting to take names for fall beef and pork if you'd like to be on the list.

Our second liter of piglets was born on the 28th.  If you've never seen piglets, they are adorable!  Come and check them out!  Our first liter was born about 10 days ago and it was HUGE.  Sows usually have around 8 piglets - there were 17 pigs in this litter!  Some were too small to make it though and a week later, she has 11 healthy piglets running through the trees.  The litter the other day was 13 but two were stillborn.  One of the hard parts of working with livestock.  Amazing thing though, both sows delivered on their due dates - 3 months, 3weeks and 3 days after conception.  Wish I'd been that predictable!

Another hard part about raising livestock is predation.  Just before Kurt left for football camp, we lost a lot of Cornish Crosses (our meat birds).  While he was gone, I lost another 8-10 chickens.  After much detective work and research, we have decided our problem is a badger, a mean nasty, cousin to the weasel.  Over the course of a month, we lost over 70 chickens and probably some turkeys.  Kurt's hooked up a hot wire around the Eggmobile and thinks the added cattle traffic has kept the badger at bay the last few weeks.  We'd sure like to catch him though.

This weekend, will be a big one for the Dales.  In June, Kurt's folks celebrated their 60th anniversary.  This weekend, ALL the brothers, sisters, spouses, children, children's spouse will be home to celebrate - we expect the head count to hit 30.  I'm sure there will be stories to share.

We're about to start experimenting again and would love some feedback.  Allison has decided to breed her 4-H does which means we would have chevron (the fancy word for goat meat) available in the future.  Thoughts?  How about rabbit?  Fresh vegetables in the fall?  Any feedback?

I can hardly believe that school starts in just 2 weeks - and we will have a middle schooler!  Looking forward just a little to the routine that the school year imposes on our lives. 

In just a couple months, we'll be hosting our 2nd Customer Appreciation Dinner.  I had a sister-in-law suggest we call it The Cattle Call.  Kind of liked it until I Googled the phrase and was reminded of the association with acting.  Yep, we'll stick with Customer Appreciation for now.  

Mark your calendar for Saturday, September 29th.  Kurt and his brothers will be in charge of smoking the meats and I'll take care of dessert, tea and water. Toss your lawn chairs in the trunk and your kids in the car and come out for an evening of good food and fellowship. We'd love if you'd like to bring a side dish to share but if it turns out to be "one of those weeks" don't let this little detail keep you from coming!

We'll give farm tours from about 5 to 6 and shoot to eat around 6 although we're still working on the time - this might change a little. The tour will include cattle, pigs, chickens, turkeys, bunnies, goats  and if we get some rain in the next month, we might head out for a ride through the pasture as well.

New this year will be some live music by Mike Benish of Spearville. He, alone, will be worth the drive - google him, you'll be impressed!

Questions, let me know by email at thedales@unitedwireless.com or phone at 620-622-4473 by
September 27th (our 15th anniversary, awwwwww). We want to make sure we have plenty of grassfed meats for everyone to enjoy.

**Our "farm store" will be open on the 29th. You can either pick something up that evening OR if you want to guarantee we have what you want, you can email or call in a pre-order and I'll have it packed and ready for you.

I'm going to finish up with a quick review of Fair Week.  Before we had 4-H'ers, I had no idea what Fair Week entailed.  We go for the carnival one night; the bar-b-que another.  Now, I know the hours of work that go in ahead of time and during the week.  We're still tired! 

Allison's been in 4-H for 5 years and this is the first year that I really felt like I understood what was going on enough to explain it to someone else.  I could give you an accounting of everyone's blues an red ribbons with a few purples thrown in but that doesn't really tell you the highs of the week.  Yes, Allison got two blue ribbons on her sewing projects but that doesn't tell you about the hours she spent with Grandma talking about patterns, cutting, assembling and last minute repairs that were made.  Or her champion layer cake that she got to auction off Saturday night.  There are lots of stories here and many lessons learned over the last 2 years.  Natalie earned a Reserved Champion ribbon in the Fashion Revue but only Allison and I know the whole story there and how very, very brave Natalie had to be to model in front of others.  Or Natalie's blue ribbon cupcakes that she practiced with Grandma Billie and ended up wearing more batter than ended up in the cupcake liners.  She had a plan though the next time we worked and while she wasn't mess free, it was much much better.  The highlight of the week for Allison though was the goat show.  It was much smaller than in years past but her goat, Rascal, was named Grand Champion Goat.  What you need to know though is that Allison has shown goats in 5 shows prior to this and has always ended up at the bottom of her class.  But even this doesn't describe the hours she spent hanging out and loving on her goats.  And, if I only tell  you she won Grand Champion, you don't know that the goats will follow her through the yard and do just about anything she wants them to OR that after 3 years in the project, she's become just pretty independent.  I won't argue that 4-H is for everyone but right now, it's a good fit for our family.

Hope to see you in a few months!