Fence Line: Random Photo Friday
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: Our Farm | Tags: fence parts, macro photography, metal, random photo friday Leave a comment »
Got Wood?
Posted: March 5, 2013 Filed under: Our Farm | Tags: chainsaws, chopping wood, farm chores, firewood, fuel for wood stove 4 Comments »Farmer D and Dad went to get “some” firewood today.
This is what they came home with:
I guess this is his way of saying it’s chainsaw time again.
——
p.s. If you want to do something really nice for me…send Advil.
p.p.s. And lots of it.
No Trespassing: Random Photo Friday
Posted: February 15, 2013 Filed under: My Photos, Our Farm | Tags: farm field, No Trespassing Sign, snow sign, tree, winter 1 Comment »
Road Trip: Cleveland’s Lakeview Cemetery
Posted: January 15, 2013 Filed under: My Life, Our Farm | Tags: Cheesecake Factory Cleveland, Cleveland, Cleveland Ohio, Garfield Memorial Cleveland, Lakeview Cemetery, Wade Chapel 2 Comments »Farmer D thought I was weird when he found out I went to Cleveland’s Lakeview Cemetery for entertainment purposes…but then I showed him the pictures.
Just a little spot on “Millionaire’s Row”
Lakeview Cemetery is billed as “Cleveland’s Outdoor Museum” for a good reason – you cannot believe the history and beauty contained within its 285 acres.
One of my favorites
According to the brochure the wonderful ladies in the office gave me, Lakeview Cemetery is the final resting place for people from all walks of life, but contains a number of famous people including President James A. Garfield, John D. Rockefeller, Eliot Ness, Carl B. Stokes, members of President Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet, Civil War generals and Revolutionary War soldiers…and 22 Cleveland mayors.
The James A. Garfield Monument
Though January is the wrong time to admire the trees and gardens, the architecture is simply stunning.
More amazing architecture
I spent over two hours wandering around, but could have spent at least two more. Guess that means I’ll have to make another trip in the Spring – I’m told the daffodil hill is worth the trip (there are more than 100,000 flowers!). AND I totally missed seeing the Tiffany-designed interior in the Wade Chapel.
As for Farmer D…maybe he was a bit jealous because was at the farm working (in the cold) on the new equipment building…
What my farmers are working on in the off-season.
AND I got to go to lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.
I’ll take one slice of each, please.
Winter on the Farm: Random Photo Friday
Posted: January 4, 2013 Filed under: My Photos, Our Farm | Tags: cold, field, snow, winter 5 Comments »
Road Trip to Toledo
Posted: December 13, 2012 Filed under: My Life, Our Farm | Tags: farm truck, museum, road trip, Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo Ohio 4 Comments »When Farmer D and Cousin B asked me if I was available today and mumbled something about picking up a bed, I knew it was time to start worrying. No, not about any funny stuff – but that they didn’t give me the details until AFTER I said, “yes.”
The down side: Turns out the bed is on a farm truck…and the place that did the installation was THREE HOURS from home.
The up side: The truck was just outside of Toledo…and they only needed me one way.
So, what’s a former-city-girl-turned-farmer’s-wife to do when faced with a situation like this? Take a ROAD TRIP.
The kind of roads on which I’m used to travelling
I told the guys I’d take them to Tony Packo’s for lunch, but after that, they were on their own.
They drove straight back home.
Not my idea of a new bed, but it’ll do.
I spent a good three hours at the Toledo Museum of Art and the Glass Pavilion.
Though most of the time I love living away from the hustle and bustle of the city, sometimes it’s good to head right into the traffic.
As long as Farmer D isn’t driving. 
What Did You Do Today?
Posted: December 3, 2012 Filed under: Around the House, My Life, Our Animals, Our Farm | Tags: construction, farming, pigs, Tractor Supply Co. 2 Comments »While I met my mother for breakfast this morning, the guys were at the farm getting started on what will soon be the new equipment building.
Friday they dug the holes and put in the cement forms. And naturally, it rained all weekend.
My father-in-law is busy supervising.
Today they were working in a really big mud pie.
What was once part of a soybean field…
And after the cement trucks came through a few times, the farm drive wasn’t much better.
Not our actual drive, but you get the picture.
NOTE: One of the most important things to have out here is a good pair of gumboots. And a good place to get them.
One of the few places in which I don’t mind shopping.
(I’d tell you about my love for Tractor Supply and how much it reminds me of the old hardware/feed store where my parents now live, but that’s could be a whole ‘nother blog post.)
Anyhow, after my trip to town and the return home…and doing the laundry, and starting supper, and cleaning the kitchen, and making peppermint bark, and sorting the mail…I headed over to the barn to see the cousins’ new pigs.
I’m pretty sure this is the one they named “Bacon.”
And THAT was the high point of my day.
—-
So what helped you occupy YOUR time today?
No New Cattle for Us
Posted: November 6, 2012 Filed under: Our Animals, Our Farm | Tags: 4-H, cattle, dog, on the farm, steers 1 Comment »Just a quickie today because I’m supposed to be watching video lectures for the Greek and Roman Mythology course I’m taking at coursera.org.
After telling us for months that he was going to take 4-H steers to the fair again, A. changed his mind.
I’m sad about this because I’ve been totally in love with every batch that’s been through here, but there’s still hope because the younger cousins got their steers the other day and they’re living at the family farm. (The steers, not the cousins.)
Annie and I went over to check them out…
“Which way did he go, Mom?”
but dog got completely sidetracked by one of the cats that jumped from the top of the fence and ran into the barn.
Annie was so engrossed, she didn’t even notice when the cattle started to come outside to check her out.
“What is that funny-looking brown thing?”
Anyhow, there are five new steers at the farm and I’ve already been approved for unlimited visitation rights.
I just hope no one finds it odd when I’m out there singing to the cattle.
It’s been known to happen.
Dealing with Sandy
Posted: October 30, 2012 Filed under: Cooking, Canning & Preserving, My Life, Our Farm | Tags: apple recipes, apple squares, baking, rain, Sandy, storm 2 Comments »We’re lucky here in our corner of Ohio. While a large part of the country is still suffering under Sandy’s wrath, we’ve only had high winds and lots (and lots) of rain.
We got 4.7 inches yesterday…and we haven’t checked the rain gauge yet today.
Farmer D is making routine checks at the farm to make sure everything is buttoned up tight and that the drains are clear and the sump pit is running.
I’m dealing with it by hibernating.
And cooking.
(The two kind of go hand in hand with me.)
So yesterday, my hard-working husband got homemade potato soup for supper and a batch of Grandma’s Apple Squares.
Today I made honey brown sugar chicken, baked acorn squash, and buttered noodles for supper, and am now making broken-glass cupcakes for tomorrow’s Halloween party with my folks and the nephew.
As I said before, we’re fortunate that we didn’t get anything as bad as we were expecting. AND our hearts go out to those that did. .
I love Mother Nature, but as any farmer will tell you, she can sometimes be a real bitch.
A Farmer’s Priorities
Posted: October 16, 2012 Filed under: My Life, Our Farm | Tags: crops, family, farming, harvest, soybeans, wedding 6 Comments »
It was a good sign this past Friday when I turned the corner and saw this on my way home from work. This meant the weather was finally cooperating and the guys were out harvesting the soybeans.
On Saturday, they were working further down the road and were on a roll…except they weren’t supposed to be farming. One of Farmer D’s cousins was getting married and I was supposed to meet D at the church.
Luckily he called me before I got there to let me know what was going on and that they weren’t going to stop. As for the cousin about to say, “I do,” Farmer D said he “would have to understand.”
Whether right or wrong, and whether you farm plants or animals, with farming, that’s the way it is. When the crops (or animals) need tending, you go out and do it…even if it means missing a school play, a planned dinner, or a relative’s wedding.
That’s why Farmer D and I got married in January.
That’s the only month I knew he’d be free.
