Today I noticed...Sometimes just a little talk helps to alleviate a lot of stress.

The Mister has been a bit snappy for the past week. No matter what he was thinking or talking about, he seemed to have a negative outlook and attitude about it. Then, he started loosing sleep. He would retire to bed when he was sleepy but would toss and turn and eventually get back up and return to the den, his recliner, and the television.

I happened to be awake and sitting in the den the other night and I asked what his worries were. So, he began spilling the beans. He was concerned about the task of getting his hay harvested. His friends had been calling to chat and would ask him about his hay crop and that seemed to add to the pressure. The whole process was out of his control because Mother Nature kept sending rain to prevent hay work. 

He was stressing about some work that is in process at the local cemetery where he serves as manager. The whole process is slowly making it through the red tape of local town government. Yet, there are people consistently asking him about it and wanting to know when the work will be completed. Those folks probably mean well, but it seems to add to his stress level. 

The Mister listed a couple of other issues that were weighing heavy on his mind. I just sat and listened. Yet, I could tell that with every word that he spoke, he seemed to look a bit more relaxed. Finally, he paused and we sat for a moment in silence. Then, I asked him a couple or three questions like, "So, what is the worst thing that might happen if you don't get the hay harvested this week?" He listed a couple of possibilities. One was that the hay would not be fit for the cows to eat and it might have to just be bush hogged instead. I reminded him that his son, Stephen had said he could buy hay, if necessary and that we only have a handful of animals to over-winter. The barn is already half full of hay. So, that would probably all work out. He sat and pondered a bit.

We chatted on back and forth like that for a few more minutes and the entire time I could visibly observe his whole body sort of relaxing. I think he had been keeping all these worries bottled up inside. I think he was mulling over all of the what-ifs that could happen. That was sort of casting gloom on his sunshine and most of it was way beyond his control. So, instead of just airing his concerns and letting somebody reassure him that it was not nearly as big of an obstacle as he was making it out to be, he was snapping over the little things that cropped up. 

I know that I do the same thing at times. Then, when I voice my ideas and hurdles aloud to the Mister, he ALWAYS sees things clearly and makes me realize that it is a molehill instead of a mountain. Why do we allow ourselves to get wrapped up in knots like that? 

Double Dipping

Last week was a busy one for these grandparents. In addition to the eldest grandson playing baseball in the state tournament, we had a couple of grandsons showing their cattle at the State Beef Expo. Thank goodness both events were taking place in the same town. So, while we had about a forty-five minute drive to our destination, we could take in both activities, since they were only a couple of blocks away from one another.

Angus Steers in the District Champion Class

The first day was actually the district show. Both boys did a wonderful job showing off their animals. They held the calves' heads high and positioned their feet just so. They watched the judge and kept an eye on their calf as well. All of us were pleased at how they were 'dialed in' and focused on doing their best.

Easton with his steer

It was evident that the boys had done their homework because their animals behaved beautifully. The calves responded to the gentle tugs and nudges from the boys and handled almost like pets. Of course that kind of behavior only comes after hours of practice at home and those boys had a ritual every single day for working with each animal.

That's a lot of meat on the hoof!

Levi's heavyweight steer won a banner for Reserve Champion Angus Steer in the district show and got a blue ribbon in his class the next day in the State Angus Steer Show. Easton's steer won a blue ribbon in the district show and was in the top five in the state show. Little brother was not a happy camper that big brother placed a bit higher than him but we don't think either of them did any too shabby! 

Easton's first official steer show

Levi had a couple of heifers to show as well. The first one was a farm bred and raised Angus heifer. The second one was a Hereford heifer that is what we hope is the start of a herd. The Mister has had a lifelong dream of having Herefords. He has talked about it for years and finally bit the bullet and bought one. 

Levi with Kaitlynn

She is sort of a family favorite because she is so docile and friendly. Even little sister has been putting her through her daily paces in the pasture beside the barn. Every afternoon they have a backyard mini-show. First, each animal is rinsed - Easton's specialty. Next, each one has its hair blown out and styled - Levi's specialty. After they all eat their feed, they are led in a circle around the yard or pasture a few times and stopped to practice setting up and standing patiently before they are set free for the evening. The next morning they are all haltered and led into the barn for their morning feeding. They spend the day inside with fans blowing on them during the day and the ritual starts all over again late in the afternoon.

Levi and heifer sharing kisses

It is so much fun for us to watch the guys exhibit their cattle and so rewarding to see them do so well after watching all the hard work that went into preparing. We watched them show their calves for a while one day. Then, I went to the ball park and watched Harris and his team play. The next day the Mister and I thought we would split up and one watch the ballgame and the other watch the cattle show but it turned out to be a rain out for the ball tournament. So, we both watched the cattle show. I sat with a friend from my collage days and we shared tales and photos of grandchildren. The next day we watched a bit of the cattle show and then went to the ball park for a game. That sort of action went on for the duration. So, we sort of double dipped by taking in both events happening in the same town. We felt so fortunate that both events were taking place only a short distance apart and we got to see a little bit of both events.

Wildlife Friends

 Once again, this summer we have some wildlife friends who are allowing us to watch them grow and live. I mentioned the doe that had visited and munched on my flowers a bit earlier in the summer. Well, evidently the doe has a couple of babies. They have spent so much time in the yard lately that they don't even seem phased by our coming and going at times. 

There is also another doe with a baby who is a bit older and larger than these twins. They graze the yard, nap in the yard, and just generally hang out around our house.

The babies are cute and the mamas are beautiful. It also gives us a bit of a worry that they might get down onto the highway and get hit by a vehicle.

I watched them for a few minutes one afternoon and I thought one of the babies was going to go into Mike's barn!

They will look up at us and cautiously watch us to see if we are going to come toward them. When we stand still, they just go back to munching on the grass and ignore us.

What's been happening here lately?

 Well, I've had good intentions since my previous posts. Good intentions and pocket change can get you a piece of bubble gum, though.

Since I posted last, we have been busy. Well, busy for us - two old retired folks. It's funny how busy takes on a different perspective once a person retires. I had a good friend tell me that she and her husband noticed that things which once were scheduled as after work tasks became a day's focus once they retired. So, dental appointments, trips to the grocery, etc. that were squeezed in after work became the agenda for the day after they retired. I think Mike and I have adapted that sort of situation as well. Not that he hasn't been super busy. I just don't pencil as much onto my calendar as he does!

He's put a second cutting of hay in the barn. He's cut several acres of grass each week. He's mixed up and bagged up over 150 pounds of sausage. Plus, he's squeezed in some work at the Cemetery and other tasks. I've done some straightening and organizing. I've done some cleaning out and donating. I've done some digital uploading of information for documenting Cemetery information. 

When Mike took on the Cemetery Manager job last year, I volunteered to be the Cemetery Association secretary. There had been no digital documentation since 2014. So, ten years had raced by with only paper documentation of burials, lot sales, etc. So, my scanner has gotten a good workout. I've been creating spreadsheets to make information easily searchable. I've been checking one list against the other and sorting out differences. It is a thankless job but one that is already proving helpful. 

I've also enjoyed the freedom to read quite a bit. What a luxury! I can put a load of laundry in to wash and sit down and read until the load is ready to be transferred to the dryer. What a treat!

We took the chance to get away between hay crops and went to watch our oldest grandson play baseball in the state tournament. What fun! Yes, it was HOT! It was also great to get away from the responsibilities of home and do a bit of relaxing while also enjoying getting to spend a little time visiting with family that we don't have the luxury of spending time with on a regular basis.

We also got to watch the other two grandson's exhibit their cattle at a local livestock show. It was fun to see them learning and working hard. It was also great to see their competitive spirit being applied in the show ring and sharing some of the hard work that they had been doing at home.

Finally, we also had the opportunity to spend time with one of the granddaughters. Luci came to visit and spent a couple of nights here with us. She was great help to me in a cleaning and organizing project. She also was fun to visit with and catch up on what is going on in her life as a new fifth grader.

Hay Week!

It has been hay week here on the farm! 

Mike has been moaning and groaning about all the rain without a stretch of sunny weather because he had hay that needed harvesting. We are grateful for the rain and cooler temperatures that May gave us but he also wanted to get the hay out of the field. 

Well, on Saturday, the rainy weather gave way to hot, hot, hot temperatures. 

As I pulled out of the driveway to go to our eldest grandson's baseball tournament, Mike was beginning to cut the hay.

When I returned on Sunday morning, the field with the cut hay is what greeted me.

Mike had already fluffed the hay with the tedder. That process just sort of picks up the hay and allows air to help to dry it out. He was beginning to rake the hay into windrows to prepare it for baling.

Then, for the past couple of days he has been baling the hay. It yielded fifty-plus bales and one hot, sweaty, dirty guy.

Next, Mike and Stephen will haul the rolls to the barn and get it all stored away. It will make good winter feed for the livestock - ours and son, Stephen's. There will be a day or two of rest and hay will will come again later in the summer when the second cutting is ready for harvest.

Wildlife Friends

 Since we live on a farm, we have several animals. Oh, we aren't over run with farm animals. We do have a couple of goats and a miniature donkey. However, most of the animals we see around here are wildlife. 

Last year, we had a whole herd of deer who lived here and grazed our front yard and front field. Some of them have moved on. However, we still have a resident deer or two. Mike said that he saw a couple of babies when he was cutting the hay in the front field. So, we knew there was a mother deer somewhere nearby as well. 

One afternoon last week I made a delivery next door and visited some of the grands as they were playing and eating outside. When I came back down the hill and circled the buggy round to park it next to the back porch, I saw the mama deer!

She and I just paused and stared at one another for a few minutes. She was sizing me up and I was trying not to scare her. After a moment or two, she turned and ran across the front yard and around the side of the house to get away from me. Then, she slowed and headed up the hill toward the hay barn.

Goat Business

My husband is an animal lover. He is a putterer. He is a nurturer. He needs something to keep him busy. So, while I want as few responsibilities as possible, he has been talking about taking on more responsibilities and does not seem to take my discouragement of such endeavors.

Back in the fall, he mentioned to our son, Stephen, that he would like to have some goats. A goat herd has been something Stephen has kept for several years. While I love to watch the little kids jump and run and climb, I am satisfied to do so from afar. Mike, on the other hand, wanted some to pet on and putter with. Stephen finally relented and gave him a pair of females. They were part of a set of triplets and were small and didn't really fit with Stephen's other goats who were twins and singles of that age-group. After consulting with several of the grandchildren, the girls were named Lulu and Billie.

Goats in a trough

The two little goats were set up in a stall in the barn. Shortly thereafter, Mike went to an auction and bought a couple of feeders and a crate for hauling a goat in the back of a pickup truck. So, he was officially in the goat business. He began watching online auctions and visiting goat herds and looking at goats. He had a canvas cover made for the goat crate so that transportation during cold weather or a rain storm would be safer for a goat. He spent time visiting with the goats and feeding them to get them tame enough to pet on. 

Lulu

Billie

Well, this past weekend Mike did a little goat business with what I would call some professional goat guys. They have their own delivery business and equipment. These two young gentlemen delivered a buck to Mike's barn so that the young fellow could become friends with Lulu and Billie for a while. 

Professional Goat Guys

Making a Delivery

This is to be a temporary friendship and the only cost for us will be the feed that the young buck eats while visiting Mike's girl goats. Mike got lots of instructions from these professionals. He was instructed to watch the goats closely so that the two girls would not pick on the new guy. He was told to watch and make sure they didn't crowd him out or butt him away from the feed and water troughs. There were many instructions imparted. Plus, there was a promise that the guys would check back in after a day or so to see how things were going.

Wisdom Being Shared

The customer relations representative also made a visit. She had her chauffeur bring her down the hill to check things out during the delivery transaction. (The chauffeur was not photographed, however.) She supervised and oversaw the introduction of the new visitor. She seems to be quite the company spokesperson and shared friendly smiles and information about goat names, habits, and friendships as well.

The Goat Guys and Gal

Now that Mike is dealing with this highly regarded group of folks, it will be interesting to see how things go and whether his goat business will grow and prosper. Stay tuned for updates in the future!