It’s been a couple of days since I blogged and my mother even called to see if there was something wrong with her computer because she couldn’t get today’s blog to come up. She was mighty relieved to see it was not her computer it was MINE.

I finally got sick and tired of the way my computer was acting and I took it in to get it repaired. It was so bad I couldn’t even hear anything on it…and if I can’t get my daily dose of Rural Route Radio with that wild and crazy Trent Loos then my day is just not complete! Actually the real story is that Amanda Nolz, the host of Chewing the Cud, interviewed me a couple of weeks ago and I was curious to hear how it came out.

Well, now it’s time to get dinner on the table and get the kids from school….better get…I’ve also got two columns to catch up on…and one of them actually has a pretty stiff deadline:(

A cool breeze drifted in on the Knolltop this morning. It’s finally down to where it should be….55 degrees this morning. And it’s going to be cool today only in the low 70s. That’s more like it!

Holly the Hottie, as Jerseyboy likes to refer to her, is entered in the North American. I will believe she is going when I see her loaded on the truck and headed south. Until then I will not get my hopes up about this pretty young cow traipsing the tanbark trail.

She will most likely go with Delbert Yoder from Ohio, one of Bobby’s buddies from his cattle fitting days. Last week Delbert won the prestigious Mackenzie-Klussendorf award at World Dairy Expo. The exhibitors call it the “barn award.” It’s basically an award that goes to one of the old faithful cow care takers, the ones who put their lifeblood into a good cow. The one who sweats over getting her topline just right, the one who gets just the right amount of milk in her, the one who does all the work for the love of the cow and then hands her off to a big bellied notable with white pants and a show harness who will take her onto the colored shavings for all the world to see while he heads back to the barn to get the next cow ready. Yes, that is Delbert…he’s one of a kind and we love him.

Like I said, I’ll believe she’s going when I see it. Until then we’ll just work and work with her until she’s like those push-button winners the boys saw in Madison.

Well, breakfast awaits!

A cool breeze drifted in on the Knolltop this morning. It’s finally down to where it should be….55 degrees this morning. And it’s going to be cool today only in the low 70s. That’s more like it!

Holly the Hottie, as Jerseyboy likes to refer to her, is entered in the North American. I will believe she is going when I see her loaded on the truck and headed south. Until then I will not get my hopes up about this pretty young cow traipsing the tanbark trail.

She will most likely go with Delbert Yoder from Ohio, one of Bobby’s buddies from his cattle fitting days. Last week Delbert won the prestigious Mackenzie-Klussendorf award at World Dairy Expo. The exhibitors call it the “barn award.” It’s basically an award that goes to one of the old faithful cow care takers, the ones who put their lifeblood into a good cow. The one who sweats over getting her topline just right, the one who gets just the right amount of milk in her, the one who does all the work for the love of the cow and then hands her off to a big bellied notable with white pants and a show harness who will take her onto the colored shavings for all the world to see while he heads back to the barn to get the next cow ready. Yes, that is Delbert…he’s one of a kind and we love him.

Like I said, I’ll believe she’s going when I see it. Until then we’ll just work and work with her until she’s like those push-button winners the boys saw in Madison.

Well, breakfast awaits!

Good Morning from the Knolltop! We are in the dog days of August here with heat and humidity. Wait, I just turned the calendar to October but that’s not what the weather says….what’s up with all this heat? Complaining? No….I shouldn’t complain…afterall I don’t want to be running the furnace any sooner than I need to and I don’t know what the seed corn supply is like right now for burning in my cornstove…so no, I’m not complaining a bit….just sweating.

I think I’d better get one thing straight this morning. It was brought to my attention that some of you reading this blog were under the misconception that the “Sarah” I was writing about earlier who came to help me with chores and brought her byfriend was my daughter Sarah. NO, NO, NO…that was not my daughter, it was another gal named Sarah who is 17 years old and shows dairy cattle in 4-H.

My daughter is only 11 and according to her father will not be able to date until she is 35 or so. Hope this helps everyone out.

And, I need to apologize to the sensitive Ayrshire in Montana named Betzy Loo. Apparently I spelled her name all wrong…pointed out by her owner, the Montana dairyman, Tom. Sorry for such a huge mistake…imagine me the writer making such an error!

The boys are home from Madison with so many stories to spin. I don’t know what stories are true and what are tales. They had a good time, but I could tell by the hugs, they were glad to be home.

Good Morning from the Knolltop! We are in the dog days of August here with heat and humidity. Wait, I just turned the calendar to October but that’s not what the weather says….what’s up with all this heat? Complaining? No….I shouldn’t complain…afterall I don’t want to be running the furnace any sooner than I need to and I don’t know what the seed corn supply is like right now for burning in my cornstove…so no, I’m not complaining a bit….just sweating.

I think I’d better get one thing straight this morning. It was brought to my attention that some of you reading this blog were under the misconception that the “Sarah” I was writing about earlier who came to help me with chores and brought her byfriend was my daughter Sarah. NO, NO, NO…that was not my daughter, it was another gal named Sarah who is 17 years old and shows dairy cattle in 4-H.

My daughter is only 11 and according to her father will not be able to date until she is 35 or so. Hope this helps everyone out.

And, I need to apologize to the sensitive Ayrshire in Montana named Betzy Loo. Apparently I spelled her name all wrong…pointed out by her owner, the Montana dairyman, Tom. Sorry for such a huge mistake…imagine me the writer making such an error!

The boys are home from Madison with so many stories to spin. I don’t know what stories are true and what are tales. They had a good time, but I could tell by the hugs, they were glad to be home.

Okay, it’s been fun, but it’s time for the boys to get home.

I don’t mind doing the chores, with my helpful crew, it’s been a breeze…it’s all the socializing that’s done when all the work is through.

Yesterday at 11 am…I got the great idea to meet a girlfriend for lunch. We sat for two hours and caught up on things. I skidded into the school parking lot just in time to get the kids and made a date with another girlfriend who’s husband was going to be gone for the evening. After getting back home and starting chores another girlfriend stopped in to drop off her daughter for the afternoon and I invited her along for the girls night out.

When chores were through, we headed to the restaurant and I got home promptly at 9 pm….I started yawning during dinner and we all decided I needed some sleep. I hit the hay after visiting with the kids and when the alarm went off this morning I just couldn’t move.

I got all the chores done and had planned on heading to the outlet mall with mom, but I changed that slightly. My body just said, no, you need to shorten the trip and make it a shorter afternoon. So I’m headed to Jackson for a couple of hours and lunch of course. Then I’m coming home for a quick nap before all that milking stuff starts again.

Yes, the men need to come home so I can get some rest!

Okay, it’s been fun, but it’s time for the boys to get home.

I don’t mind doing the chores, with my helpful crew, it’s been a breeze…it’s all the socializing that’s done when all the work is through.

Yesterday at 11 am…I got the great idea to meet a girlfriend for lunch. We sat for two hours and caught up on things. I skidded into the school parking lot just in time to get the kids and made a date with another girlfriend who’s husband was going to be gone for the evening. After getting back home and starting chores another girlfriend stopped in to drop off her daughter for the afternoon and I invited her along for the girls night out.

When chores were through, we headed to the restaurant and I got home promptly at 9 pm….I started yawning during dinner and we all decided I needed some sleep. I hit the hay after visiting with the kids and when the alarm went off this morning I just couldn’t move.

I got all the chores done and had planned on heading to the outlet mall with mom, but I changed that slightly. My body just said, no, you need to shorten the trip and make it a shorter afternoon. So I’m headed to Jackson for a couple of hours and lunch of course. Then I’m coming home for a quick nap before all that milking stuff starts again.

Yes, the men need to come home so I can get some rest!

While the big boys are in Madison, us younger ones are left to keep the cows milked and fed.

All went well yesterday. When I got in from milking, Sarah had breakfast on the table and the coffee made! It was wonderful to come in a sit down to eat without having the get it on the table myself. After I got the kid to school, I started the rest of chores. No breakdowns, no melt downs, no hitches…just routine chores.

When I got done spreading manure my neighbor called, so I pulled up the lawn chair and just sat and talked on my cell phone. When our called got dropped, I just sat there and enjoyed the sunshine. Boy was that nice just sitting there with no immediate chore pushing me to get up and go.

Then I pulled out the lawnmower, considering the lawn hadn’t been mowed since before the fair…it was in bad shape! A trip to town was a sure bet since I needed a new belt and some string for my weed trimmer. So after a shower and a short nap, I headed to town. When I got home, I put the new belt on, started mowing the lawn and then it was time to pick up the kids. We started chores and the two teenagers that Bobby had hired to come help me with chores showed up early and we got a great start.

They were wonderful help, Sarah and Cody, they are “going out.” This is a county fair romance that is still going a week later…they are great help and a very cute couple!

When all the chores were done, Sarah, Jake and I headed out for dinner. I gave them the choice of where they wanted to go and where did they choose? McDonalds!

I heard from the travelers when they got to Madison. JW called me every two hours. I’m sure he didn’t mean to, but it just happened that way. Of course I didn’t mind at all~

They checked in this morning already and gave me the run down of everything they did and everyone they’ve helped do chores. Apparently they got up just as early as they do at home, headed out to the grounds and just helped out where they could. I’m just glad I”m not with the….if I were there I would insist everyone stay in bed until at least 6 am! For heaven’s sake it’s a vacation!!!

Gotta run….chores to do, gutters to clean, manure to spread and yes, one column to write…shame on me for not getting it done yesterday!

While the big boys are in Madison, us younger ones are left to keep the cows milked and fed.

All went well yesterday. When I got in from milking, Sarah had breakfast on the table and the coffee made! It was wonderful to come in a sit down to eat without having the get it on the table myself. After I got the kid to school, I started the rest of chores. No breakdowns, no melt downs, no hitches…just routine chores.

When I got done spreading manure my neighbor called, so I pulled up the lawn chair and just sat and talked on my cell phone. When our called got dropped, I just sat there and enjoyed the sunshine. Boy was that nice just sitting there with no immediate chore pushing me to get up and go.

Then I pulled out the lawnmower, considering the lawn hadn’t been mowed since before the fair…it was in bad shape! A trip to town was a sure bet since I needed a new belt and some string for my weed trimmer. So after a shower and a short nap, I headed to town. When I got home, I put the new belt on, started mowing the lawn and then it was time to pick up the kids. We started chores and the two teenagers that Bobby had hired to come help me with chores showed up early and we got a great start.

They were wonderful help, Sarah and Cody, they are “going out.” This is a county fair romance that is still going a week later…they are great help and a very cute couple!

When all the chores were done, Sarah, Jake and I headed out for dinner. I gave them the choice of where they wanted to go and where did they choose? McDonalds!

I heard from the travelers when they got to Madison. JW called me every two hours. I’m sure he didn’t mean to, but it just happened that way. Of course I didn’t mind at all~

They checked in this morning already and gave me the run down of everything they did and everyone they’ve helped do chores. Apparently they got up just as early as they do at home, headed out to the grounds and just helped out where they could. I’m just glad I”m not with the….if I were there I would insist everyone stay in bed until at least 6 am! For heaven’s sake it’s a vacation!!!

Gotta run….chores to do, gutters to clean, manure to spread and yes, one column to write…shame on me for not getting it done yesterday!

It’s a beautiful cool morning here on the Knolltop with a sunrise beyond compare.

Yesterday I was visiting with my mom, who happened to be at World Dairy Expo, I think everyone has gone there but me. Anyway, she and my dad were there to deliver an Ayrshire cow. My nephew in Montana, the one with the very lucritive “dairy ranch” had such a demand for milk out there that he needed another cow. Because he already had an Ayrshire and he’s convinced they have better milk, another Ayrshire will now call the hills of Joliet, Montana home.

She will awaken to a sunrise in the east that will splash light on the Rocky Mountain Range that is just to the west of her pasture. She will bask in the dry climate and never have a worry of running out of companionship with her new herdmate, BetseyLou and the brood of Missouri Foxtrotters that also call this ranch home. Imagine, way out there, two dairy cows producing a product so high in value the city dwellers are willing to pay $7 a gallon for it while all I hear around here is how expensive $3.59 is for a gallon of milk. I think I’m milking cows in the wrong part of the country.

Well, to continue that swapping story, my parents met my nephew and my brother-in-law and his brother in Madison. They all had a good time enjoying the big show and then the Montanans headed back west and my parents headed back east around the lake.

I’d better get going, I’ve got a couple of columns to write today…plus all that wonderful other routine work that keeps me from becoming a couch potato.