Jake came home and said that if we turn off the TV for a week, he will get a pizza party at school. As a result, we have turned of the TV and yes, it’s difficult not to watch Dancing with the Stars and Idol, but we’ve done it successfully, so far. As you can imagine the results have been greater than any TV program could ever be. We actually have spent the evenings visiting with each other. In fact, last night when we gathered in the livingroom, it was getting to be time to pray and head to bed. But instead we spent an hour talking about everything from cow shows to baseball and there was so much laughter we all went to bed happy. TV has robbed families of a lot, but unfortunately we are too blinded by it to realize it.

Jake came home and said that if we turn off the TV for a week, he will get a pizza party at school. As a result, we have turned of the TV and yes, it’s difficult not to watch Dancing with the Stars and Idol, but we’ve done it successfully, so far. As you can imagine the results have been greater than any TV program could ever be. We actually have spent the evenings visiting with each other. In fact, last night when we gathered in the livingroom, it was getting to be time to pray and head to bed. But instead we spent an hour talking about everything from cow shows to baseball and there was so much laughter we all went to bed happy. TV has robbed families of a lot, but unfortunately we are too blinded by it to realize it.

Yesterday while Jake was mowing and I was having my afternoon cup of coffee before chores, a load of feed came. A new guy was driving and he stopped in the middle of the road, got out and approached Jake. I was headed out to tell him where to put the feed and then stopped to see what might transpire between the two “men.” I watched as Jake pointed and talked and then the man got back into his truck and drove down to the barn. Jake followed him down there to make sure he put the feed in the right spot. This may sound very routine, but what made me smile was to watch the youngest of the bunch take charge. He knew where the feed went and when he walked he puffed out his chest just a little and walked that farmer walk like he was big stuff. It was a precious sight.

It’s a cool rainy morning here on the Knolltop. Although I like the sun, the rain has to come, the pasture needs to grow! The boys have a scrimmage today after school and Luke will have his first summer baseball practice tonight. Big Daddy came home the other night after the game and said he was wrangled into helping coach Luke’s team. Although it takes a lot of time away from his cows, I don’t think they had to work very hard for his cooperation…he loves his kids and he loves baseball!

Yes, JW had another victory tonight. He pitched and got the win against Burr Oak. While they were at the ball game, I milked and yes, Jake got to mow!

Yes, JW had another victory tonight. He pitched and got the win against Burr Oak. While they were at the ball game, I milked and yes, Jake got to mow!

It’s another beautiful morning here on the Knolltop and there is dust everywhere. Yes, it’s that time of year when Jake wakes up in a foul mood because he knows he has to spend the day sitting at a desk in a classroom when he really wants to be on a tractor with the neighbor “helping” him plant corn.
That wonderful neighbor tilled up my garden, now it’s planting time for me. I think I’ll spend the day mowing instead. All the neighbors have mowed leaving the farm on the hill looking in desperate need of a buzzjob. Jake will want to mow when he gets home, if there isn’t a tractor within earshot.

This afternoon I had to help Big Daddy get the tractor started. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it, I just heard rumblings of the battery blowing up in his face last week….but I’m not sure of all the facts.
So all showered, smellin’ good and ready to go to town on errands, he asks me to help. As a dutiful farm wife, I say, “In this?” No, just kidding, I didn’t, I said “No problem” With my mouth full of last nights carmel corn and a bottle of water in hand, I headed across the road to help. His plan was to push the tractor out of the barn with the skidsteer, it would head down the hill and by simply letting the clutch out, it would start. But… the tractor was going to be headed backwards and the manure spreader was hooked to it! Needless to say, I volunteered to hop in the skidsteer and do the pushing. With the last push I gave him as he headed down the hill backwards, I said to myself, “This is a trainwreck waiting to happen!” But, I was wrong, he went just a few feet down the hill, let the clutch out and it started. Ye of little faith!

This afternoon I had to help Big Daddy get the tractor started. I’m not sure what’s wrong with it, I just heard rumblings of the battery blowing up in his face last week….but I’m not sure of all the facts.
So all showered, smellin’ good and ready to go to town on errands, he asks me to help. As a dutiful farm wife, I say, “In this?” No, just kidding, I didn’t, I said “No problem” With my mouth full of last nights carmel corn and a bottle of water in hand, I headed across the road to help. His plan was to push the tractor out of the barn with the skidsteer, it would head down the hill and by simply letting the clutch out, it would start. But… the tractor was going to be headed backwards and the manure spreader was hooked to it! Needless to say, I volunteered to hop in the skidsteer and do the pushing. With the last push I gave him as he headed down the hill backwards, I said to myself, “This is a trainwreck waiting to happen!” But, I was wrong, he went just a few feet down the hill, let the clutch out and it started. Ye of little faith!

JW’s team had another win tonight and JW’s name was in the local sports page for his win over the weekend. That’s pretty big stuff considering I didn’t even write the piece. In the past, I’ve been the sports writer for the local school. I send in scores after games and give a little commentary of the game. I’m not doing that this spring, so it’s pretty exciting to actually have someone else write about you….and they aren’t even related!