It’s day two of Luke’s basketball camp and they are having a ball! They won two out of three games yesterday and will go at it again today. Last night at JW’s baskeball practice, Luke was invited to play too, he loves to play with the older boys.

Sarah’s team won their game, she got on base twice and scored two runs. It was a late game, we didn’t get home until 9:30 pm.

It’s been so hot lately causing Holly to go off feed for a day and dropped in milk. Boy was that nerve wracking having to think about her all day and wondering what was wrong. But as soon as she got out of the barn and into the cooler night air she began eating again and talk about a relief! She was eating well this morning too.

Today, Jake and Sarah and I will travel down to one of Luke’s games, I shouldn’t because I’ve got so much to do, but since the mountain of laundry has been reduced to a hill and I vacuumed up the hay chaff in the corners of the kitchen, I feel a little better about leaving. 🙂

As I look out my window this morning I can see the wheat has really turned in the last couple of days. It’s such a beautiful golden color and soon, we’ll be baling straw!

It’s day two of Luke’s basketball camp and they are having a ball! They won two out of three games yesterday and will go at it again today. Last night at JW’s baskeball practice, Luke was invited to play too, he loves to play with the older boys.

Sarah’s team won their game, she got on base twice and scored two runs. It was a late game, we didn’t get home until 9:30 pm.

It’s been so hot lately causing Holly to go off feed for a day and dropped in milk. Boy was that nerve wracking having to think about her all day and wondering what was wrong. But as soon as she got out of the barn and into the cooler night air she began eating again and talk about a relief! She was eating well this morning too.

Today, Jake and Sarah and I will travel down to one of Luke’s games, I shouldn’t because I’ve got so much to do, but since the mountain of laundry has been reduced to a hill and I vacuumed up the hay chaff in the corners of the kitchen, I feel a little better about leaving. 🙂

As I look out my window this morning I can see the wheat has really turned in the last couple of days. It’s such a beautiful golden color and soon, we’ll be baling straw!

Yes, my sister and her family left to head back to Montana today. On Sunday we had a big day of eating and celebrating my parents anniversary. We had to leave the party early of course to come back home and milk the cows, but we came back with a bonus…my nephew Tom.

Tom is 18 and has one Ayrshire cow that he breeds and milks. He has a big customer base of buyers for Betsey Lou’s raw milk. He takes a load to the local town, where his grandma lives and puts the milk in her fridge and people come and get it from there and then he also takes a load to Billings where he meets people and they pick up their fresh milk. He fetches a pretty big price for this ranch product…the locals pay $5.00 per gallon and the urbanites in Billings pay $7.00 a gallon. Talk about a niche market!

Because Tom loves dairy cattle, he wanted to come to our house and spend some time with his kindred souls. We had a great time and he helped JW and I milk the whole time he was here. Milking a barn full of cows is different than milking just one, but he got into the groove and did a fine job for us. In between milkings we built fence and went swimming and of course the most important thing we did was EAT. Tom has a hollow leg.

While we had Tom my sister took Jake and Sarah and they went to Henry Ford Museum. After a day of touring, they brought them to my house so Jake could make it to his game and Sarah to her practice. Jake’s team lost by one run.

After the game they came here and we had ice cream and then the sad moment came when they had to leave. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in a long time as when Tom was here…he and JW and Luke are great together. I sure wish they lived closer!

The agenda for the day is called catch up! I’ve got a mountain of laundry to get done and a house that looks like a pack of wolves has moved in. Bobby and Luke are gone to basketball camp for the day which means we’ll finish chores this morning and then I won’t be interrupted for any errands or “will you help me’s.”

I’ll try to get to the pool today, I just love sitting poolside and reading while the kids swim.

Yes, my sister and her family left to head back to Montana today. On Sunday we had a big day of eating and celebrating my parents anniversary. We had to leave the party early of course to come back home and milk the cows, but we came back with a bonus…my nephew Tom.

Tom is 18 and has one Ayrshire cow that he breeds and milks. He has a big customer base of buyers for Betsey Lou’s raw milk. He takes a load to the local town, where his grandma lives and puts the milk in her fridge and people come and get it from there and then he also takes a load to Billings where he meets people and they pick up their fresh milk. He fetches a pretty big price for this ranch product…the locals pay $5.00 per gallon and the urbanites in Billings pay $7.00 a gallon. Talk about a niche market!

Because Tom loves dairy cattle, he wanted to come to our house and spend some time with his kindred souls. We had a great time and he helped JW and I milk the whole time he was here. Milking a barn full of cows is different than milking just one, but he got into the groove and did a fine job for us. In between milkings we built fence and went swimming and of course the most important thing we did was EAT. Tom has a hollow leg.

While we had Tom my sister took Jake and Sarah and they went to Henry Ford Museum. After a day of touring, they brought them to my house so Jake could make it to his game and Sarah to her practice. Jake’s team lost by one run.

After the game they came here and we had ice cream and then the sad moment came when they had to leave. I don’t think I’ve laughed as much in a long time as when Tom was here…he and JW and Luke are great together. I sure wish they lived closer!

The agenda for the day is called catch up! I’ve got a mountain of laundry to get done and a house that looks like a pack of wolves has moved in. Bobby and Luke are gone to basketball camp for the day which means we’ll finish chores this morning and then I won’t be interrupted for any errands or “will you help me’s.”

I’ll try to get to the pool today, I just love sitting poolside and reading while the kids swim.

We’re pretty hot and humid here on the Knolltop. Yesterday the family gathered to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary…I’ll have pictures tomorrow. After the party I left my two younger kids there and came home with my 18 year old nephew, Tom. He has one cow out west that he milks…more about that this week. Consequently, he wanted to come to the dairy farm to milk our cows with us. When we finished chores last night we went to a bigger dairy where they milk 1500 cows, so he could see the other extreme.

This morning they worked on fence, then I took them swimming over lunch and now they are back to work on the fence. I’ve got to fix dinner and then chores and Jake has a game. My sister is going to bring Jake and Sarah home this afternoon, hopefully in time for the game and Sarah’s practice. Tomorrow, Bobby and Luke will spend the day at basketball camp, so I will get some things done around here…like laundry!

We’re pretty hot and humid here on the Knolltop. Yesterday the family gathered to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary…I’ll have pictures tomorrow. After the party I left my two younger kids there and came home with my 18 year old nephew, Tom. He has one cow out west that he milks…more about that this week. Consequently, he wanted to come to the dairy farm to milk our cows with us. When we finished chores last night we went to a bigger dairy where they milk 1500 cows, so he could see the other extreme.

This morning they worked on fence, then I took them swimming over lunch and now they are back to work on the fence. I’ve got to fix dinner and then chores and Jake has a game. My sister is going to bring Jake and Sarah home this afternoon, hopefully in time for the game and Sarah’s practice. Tomorrow, Bobby and Luke will spend the day at basketball camp, so I will get some things done around here…like laundry!

The westerners made it to the great lakes last night. My sister and her family showed up at Luke’s ball game last night and were able to sit and watch most of his game with us. It was such a treat to have them here, sharing one of our passions with us. The boys have changed so much, but have also stayed the same. I enjoyed watching all of the cousins interact with each other, especially John the college student and my daughter. They sparred the whole time they were together…too much alike maybe?

They left for Grandmas house about 9 or so, but they are still on Montana time, so it was early for them! I’m sure they will be tired this morning. It sure is good to see them!

By the way, Luke’s team lost the first game and won the second. Luke pitched the second game and caught the first game. Sarah’s team lost, I wasn’t able to see that, it was at 5 pm…right during chore time.

Today, we’re fixing fence, every night when we come home from a ballgame there are at least two or three cows out…time to put an end to that!.

The westerners made it to the great lakes last night. My sister and her family showed up at Luke’s ball game last night and were able to sit and watch most of his game with us. It was such a treat to have them here, sharing one of our passions with us. The boys have changed so much, but have also stayed the same. I enjoyed watching all of the cousins interact with each other, especially John the college student and my daughter. They sparred the whole time they were together…too much alike maybe?

They left for Grandmas house about 9 or so, but they are still on Montana time, so it was early for them! I’m sure they will be tired this morning. It sure is good to see them!

By the way, Luke’s team lost the first game and won the second. Luke pitched the second game and caught the first game. Sarah’s team lost, I wasn’t able to see that, it was at 5 pm…right during chore time.

Today, we’re fixing fence, every night when we come home from a ballgame there are at least two or three cows out…time to put an end to that!.

I went to a career fair last night held in Bloomfield Hills and visited with youngsters about careers in agriculture and I specifically spoke to the whole group on ag journalism. When I spoke I told them that all my life all I wanted to do was to be a farmer’s wife but my parents told me that a college education was a valuable asset that no one could ever take away so they encouraged me to go to college. Of course I did and I’ve ended up with the best of both worlds, a farmer’s wife and mother…and an ag journalist!

When I finished speaking Gina, the girl in the picture came up to me and told me she has the same aspirations as I did…she wants to be a rancher’s wife. I told her that was a wonderful goal but that she needed to get an education first.

I was so struck by this…I didn’t think there was anyone out there who would want to be the wife of a farmer or a rancher, especially growing up in the middle of the city. I’m so pleased to see there are kids growing up knowing that there is value in being a wife and mother and who also see the value in agriculture. I hope Gina does find her rancher or farmer, I know my boys saw her picture and are ready to get to know her a little better! Good thing we live two hours away! Gina… if you read this, email me and let me hear from you!

I went to a career fair last night held in Bloomfield Hills and visited with youngsters about careers in agriculture and I specifically spoke to the whole group on ag journalism. When I spoke I told them that all my life all I wanted to do was to be a farmer’s wife but my parents told me that a college education was a valuable asset that no one could ever take away so they encouraged me to go to college. Of course I did and I’ve ended up with the best of both worlds, a farmer’s wife and mother…and an ag journalist!

When I finished speaking Gina, the girl in the picture came up to me and told me she has the same aspirations as I did…she wants to be a rancher’s wife. I told her that was a wonderful goal but that she needed to get an education first.

I was so struck by this…I didn’t think there was anyone out there who would want to be the wife of a farmer or a rancher, especially growing up in the middle of the city. I’m so pleased to see there are kids growing up knowing that there is value in being a wife and mother and who also see the value in agriculture. I hope Gina does find her rancher or farmer, I know my boys saw her picture and are ready to get to know her a little better! Good thing we live two hours away! Gina… if you read this, email me and let me hear from you!