Good Morning from a cloudy Knolltop!

Last night Jake had a baseball game and boy was it eventful….in the last inning. The ump called a strike that the other coaches didn’t like and they let the ump have it. What they didn’t realize was who they were dealing with. This particular ump would rather get into a fight than call the game. So when he threw the coaches out of the game and the coaches kept arguing, the ump said, “I’m not afraid to come over that fence and start throwin’ some punches!” And with that, the coaches took their team off the field and forfeited the game. So, we won all because of an ump who “isn’t afraid to start throwin’ some punches.” We know the ump, and we know how he reacts to things, so it certainly wasn’t a surpise that he got into a shouting match. In the end, it was pretty humerous. Of course, not for the other team…but it gave me a chuckle on the way home.

Now I’m going to try to post the video I took of Jake and his drum set.

Good Morning from the sunny, but cool Knolltop!

Honey’s baby now has a name….Honeymaid! There is a short story behind that name. From the time I was a kid, I’ve always enjoyed dipping graham crackers in milk. I did it then, I still do it now and I’ve inadvertently taught my children about the goodness of graham crackers in milk.

A few months ago, I was arguing with someone about the price of graham crackers and that the store brand is just as good as the name brand. Then one day the name brand went on sale, so I bought some. Luke and I sat down to share some Honeymaid graham crackers and milk and we looked at each other and agreed, they were so much better than the store brand!

So when Luke was searching for a name for Honey’s calf, Honeymaid just seemed appropriate!

Yesterday afternoon, Jake acquired a drum set from a friend and he has been playing them ever since, so when I heard him outside, I decided to take a peek. The video camera was a must and now because I know Nana and Grandma will get a kick out of this, I will share another video. Just so you know, Luke, JW, Sarah and I were all outside watching the rock star do his stuff!

Well, I’m currently uploading it right now, it takes a while, when it’s done it will appear!

Good Morning from a cool Knolltop!

Honey had her baby! She was bred with sexed semen, so it should be a heifer calf out there in the pasture that the boys are bringing up as I type! Luke gets to name her and as of yet, I haven’t heard what he’s decided on.

After I get all this writing done, I’ll head out and take a look at the new addition to the baby calf clan. They are going to overrun the barn pretty soon!

Jake and Sarah are busying playing with the new kittens they found in the back room. There are three of them and they are just opening their eyes and boy are they cute!

Well, I’ve got a column to write and I’ve had my share of interruptions this morning, so I’d better get on it!

It’s a cloudy, cool morning here on the Knolltop!

I see I’m not the only one who didn’t blog yesterday, Northview Diary didn’t blog either! I’m in good company.

Bobby got home Friday night from Dallas…finally. After spending most of the day in airports with his mom. At least they enjoyed each others company!

Then on Saturday Sarah and I had a baby shower, so much fun! And then we drove over to Spring Arbor for the boys Shoot Out where they played four basketball games. We were able to see two of them, but then had to come home to milk. It was fun watching both boys on the same team.

We had a couple of calves born the last couple of days…no twins! The kids continue to work with their show heifers and I’ve been working with Holly to get her ready for whatever show Bobby decides to take her to. She looks better and better everyday!

It’s time to get to work!

Good Morning from a sunny and not so hot and steamy knolltop!

It’s been quite a week around here….so busy, so hot and so surprising!

I was held to secrecy until yesterday, but then I didn’t have time to post yesterday, why? Because the boss was gone to Dallas! As you might remember from last year, Bobby’s sister and mom surprised him for his 50th birthday. Well, Bobby and his mom planned the very same thing for his sister on her 50th! So on Wednesday morning at 3 am, JW and Bobby drove out of the driveway headed for the airport.

Just a few hours later Bobby walked up behind his sister in the Dallas airport and said something like “Ma’am, do you need some help?” Startled, Carole turned and found her big brother standing there. Hugging, tears and laughter ensued and they spent the last couple of days visiting, relaxing and well…shopping???

Meanwhile back at the ranch we kept the cows milked and fed and kind of cool. And we ourselves tried to stay cool, but it hasn’t been easy! This morning after chores, I gave Holly a bath before she went into her boxstall, I figured she needed to look her best when Bobby got home.

Bobby is currently trying to get back home…and not a minute too soon!

Good Morning from a steamy knolltop! It was 71 this morning during chores and it’s supposed to reach the 90s!

I think swimming is a must today, don’t you? I took the kids swimming for a bit yesterday and it felt so good getting in that pool! But I think it wore Jake out, they lost their baseball game last evening.

Luke is going to basketball camp every day this week. It’s called Hotrock Camp and it is put on by Gary Gray the famous physical therapist who has worked on many famous athletes….so I’ve heard??? Gary and his brother Doug sponsor this camp at their home where they have four basketball courts among other things. They kids come from all over and it’s free! It also has a Christian emphasis which is really nice.

Anyway, Luke has been coming home crispy red. He puts sunscreen on but I think he sweats it off. He said he has never sweat so much in his life! I hope today they will take it easy on the boys, it’s too hot for basketball!

Okay, I started this blog at 9:40 am, now I’m just getting it done and I’ve got other writing to do!

Later!

It’s a beautiful sunny day here on the Knolltop and I’ve heard it’s going to be a hot one!

I was so excited yesterday because I was able to post a video of Holly on the blog. If you haven’t seen it, then go look today. I’ve never posted a video before so this was really cool!

Last night Jake had a game, they lost. They have another game tonight and hopefully they will win. That reminds me, I’d better go put his uniform in the wash!

I’ve got so much to do today, gardening, I want to pick some strawberries, I want to take the kids swimming and take my nap poolside, but I know I won’t get it all done! Where are the days of summer going?

This morning Luke drove himself to basketball camp! Unbelievable, I know! He and his two buddies left early and although it seems strange, it sure is nice for us moms who don’t have to worry about taking these boys everywhere! I think I’m loving this!

Too much to do..so I’ll get!

It’s a beautiful, sunny, going to be hot Knolltop this morning!

First of all, let me say a belated Happy Father’s Day! And a very Happy Anniversary to my parents. Okay, my sister, Ginny is 53, so that means my parents have been married 52 years today! NOT, just joking! My sister will be 51 this fall, so that means my parents have been married 52 years today! That’s a long…long…long time!

One week ago today my sister and brother-in-law celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and one week from today my brother and sister-in-law will celebrate their 13th anniversary! Everyone was married in June…except for me, I was the odd one, I got married in February.

It was an eventful weekend! First and most importantly, the first grandson on my side of the family announced his engagement! My second oldest nephew, John popped the question to his girlfriend, Kelsy. They are planning on a May wedding. If I could get my scanner to work I would post pictures of the sweet couple here, but I have to get that going first. There’s always a stumbling block!

The other main event is that Holly had not one but two babies! Bobby, Jake and I went to the Indiana State Holstein Show in Goshen on Saturday so I could cover it for Dairy Agenda Today and when we got home, we walked the pasture to see what she was up to…since she’s been looking like she was going to calve for two weeks now. When we approached her, we saw two heads pop up out of the grass!

That is the third set of twins is two weeks! And the fourth set this year! Unfortunately, it was a bull and a heifer. While we were hopeful enough to get her tested, the vet came by this morning and told us she was a freemartin. Yes, sad news, but Holly looks great! She’s grown 2 more inches! Yes we got the stick out last night….we just couldn’t resist!

With my new camera I can take video, so I did and then I messed around to see if I could post it here and it worked! This is so much fun….I can’t wait to take more videos and post them! Wow, what a deal! By the way, Bobby was standing nearby talking on the phone while I was taping, so you can eavesdrop on his conversation!