One fitter, and I use that term loosely with this guy, was David Bennett from the thumb area. He the one holding the shovel…actually leaning on it. He is on the Holstein board with me and he does his best work while talking…..and nothing else…..just talking. The other guy actually working is Brandon from Kentucky. I told him he looked like the lead singer for Rascal Flatts. He commented that he hears that a lot.

The Jersey heifer they were clipping at the time needed a lot of evaluating….they do that a lot too.

Better go evaluate how breakfast is coming!

It’s a sunny morning here on the Knolltop and just the right kind of day for the opening day of JW’s baseball season. This afternoon they have their first game in Camden. I’m so excited for JW. I told Bobby I would stay home and milk and he could go to the game….he loves baseball!

Well, the cows came home and just in time I might add. They strolled in from their neighborhood jaunt just in time to be fed and milked and then the boss walked in the barn just as we hooked up the last cow. Other than fresh sod between their toes from hanging out over the fence where the grass is always greener….there were no other signs of their escape. Those naughty cows. 🙂

I have to tell you, I had a great time in Stryker, Ohio speaking at their annual FFA awards banquet over the weekend. (Although the ride home was an adventure…which I’ll share later)

Their FFA advisor, Duane Knisely invited me down for their celebration and boy was it fun. Duane has a great group of kids there to work with and they rolled out the red carpet not only for me but for all their guests. The gym was beautifully decorated, the banquet table was filled with wonderful food and watching these kids host this event was exiting and motivating.

I was asked to give a motivational talk and after watching this group in action and the passion they have for FFA, agriculture and for each other, I was the one motivated! One of the highlights of the evening was receiving an Honorary FFA Chapter Degree. They gave me a degree! Can you believe that? The one who was never a part of this wonderful organization now get’s one of their highest honors! WOW! I was more than excited about that. And then they gave me a pen set with a clock and my name on it…plus..my own monogram ed shirt with their new slogan on it…”FFA taking you from practice to reality”

But…the biggest highlight for me was watching the 2007-2008 officer team say goodbye to Mr. Knisely as he retired this year. Each one gave Mr. Knisely a rose and said their goodbyes to him. One gal stood there and said, “Mr. Knisely, you are every reason why I want to be an ag teacher and I cannot wait!”

Another gal said, “Because of you, I’m not that shy little girl I used to be.” And one of the most poignant moments was when officer stood at the podium trying to collect herself. Wiping the tears from her eyes she stood there and stood there, trying to say something and then finally in a totally silent room waiting for her words of goodbye she just walked over and gave him a big hug. Her actions said it all.

I fell in love with FFA all over again that night. Thank you Stryker FFA and Mr. Knisely for allowing me to be a part of your evening. The pleasure was surely all mine!

Good Morning from a very sunny day here at the Knolltop.

Before anyone asks…no, I didn’t have donuts for breakfast…although I would like one right now with my coffee. I actually had something good for my body, yogurt and raisin bran!

Things are going well this morning on the Knolltop without the head honcho. No broken water bowls, the gutter cleaner continues to run trouble free, the tractor starts, the cows are still milking…well, except for those ones I just didn’t get to …I was tired of milking so I just hung up the milkers and turned them out. Sometimes you just have to take a break. I mean, really, work…work…work….it’s just never ending.

And yesterday I got so tired of fixing fence and I was really hungry…so I just dropped the wire and came in for a snack. I hope the heifers aren’t tempted by the opening. They have plenty of feed so it’s not like they need to get out to eat. I say, if they get out then it’s all their fault! Why do I have to be responsible for their choices anyway?

Well…as I sit here…I can look out my window and half the milk cows are headed to Knolltop Morgans. I hope Lori has enough hay to feed them for a couple of days….if they think I’m gonna run down there and bring them back they’d better think again. If they think the grass is greener up the road…then they can just stay there and see how good the grass tastes.

That’s just fine with me….now I won’t have so many to milk. I’m getting tired of milking anyway. This twice a day stuff has got to go…once every couple of days would be ideal.

Oh…Lori’s calling…..okay…I’m back. I told her to keep the cows up there for a few days, I needed a vacation. I told her where she could find the portable milk pump and milker. Hope it still works.

Well, it’s a cloudy afternoon here on the Knolltop and I’ve got a really good reason for not posting this morning. Our fearless leader went on a vacation. He’s out visiting some friends of ours and so now I’ve got his responsiblities too. But let me say this: I could not take care of this farm without the help of my four wonderful children!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again….farm kids are special. While they are not perfect in the least and I have complained about them slacking off in the past, I have to say when they are needed to step up to the plate and make a hit, they usually hit a homerun!

They have been great at pitching in and helping out to take up the slack and now I’m realizing they are capable of much more than I’ve given them credit. Tomorrow night will be a test. I will be speaking in Ohio at an FFA event and JW will be in charge. He can do it…as long as he keeps his mind in check. It’s when he starts to daydream and then forgets which cow he’s already milked, that’s when I have to worry. But I’m sure he will do fine…especially if he has some PRAYER support! (That’s where you come in)

This morning I made an emergency phone call to the neighbor….who just so happens to be an electrician….lucky me! I turned on the auger to fill the grain cart and nothing happened. Because I’m a gracious neighbor and I didn’t want to wake him up at 4:30 am….I waited until 6:45 to call. He walked in, looking and sounding a bit under the weather and came to my rescue. I’m not sure if I should tell you how simple it was….but I will. It was a tripped breaker. But for heaven’s sake, how was I supposed to know? I’m not an electrician! 🙂

I thanked him for saving the farm and we were both glad it was simple. Then on the way in for breakfast we had a herd of heifers who decided to take a walk. The boys and I got them back in and I decided we needed donuts. Since Mr. Kaiser bought yesterday, I sent the boys into Jonesville Bakery for a dozen sugar bombs.

Mr. Kaiser came, we ate donuts and they went on their way to work and I went on mine.

Now it’s nearly time for lunch and then back to the barn. If you’re inclined…pray for us!

It’s another sunny morning here on the Knolltop.

When we were finishing up chores this morning I said, “Boy, I sure could use a donut from Mr. Kaiser this morning.” And when I walked across the road to fix breakfast…guess who I spotted walking into my house with a big white box? Yes, it was the donut man….Mr. Kaiser! So I made some coffee and I bellied up to the donuts and had my fill of sugar! I love donuts and coffee. I should’ve been a cop!

I’ve got plenty to do today. It’s a nice day out and I’ve got to write today and do an interview that I didn’t get to yesterday. Grandma is going to bring Jake home today and we will do lunch while she’s here.

I’d better get to the barn!

It’s a beautiful morning here on the Knolltop. The sun is coming up over the horizon and there is nothing but blue sky here. It’s a crisp morning, but it will warm up today and be a nice spring day.

Yesterday I traded one kid for another. I gave Jake to Grandma and got JW back. So now I still only have three kids and no matter which one you take out of the mix, it’s always quieter and somehow it’s just not right.

I also had a meeting yesterday. It was my first meeting as a board member of the Michigan Holstein Association. And I’m sure after yesterday’s meeting, they are wondering why they ever asked me to run for this position! I talked way too much and even got into an argument. But I promised the board I wouldn’t tell anyone what happened in that conference room. You know, it’s the “Vegas Promise.” Don’t worry, when we left we were all friends.

I’ve got some writing that needs to get done today. And I’ve got to interview a retiring equipment dealer Dave Bergland from Dave’s Farm Equipment. We bought our first tractor from him…..well, our first tractor that wasn’t an Oliver. But let’s not go down that road.

Better get breakfast on the table!

Well, it’s spring break here on the Knolltop and this first morning is very foggy.

Luke is already gone to work for the neighbor today, JW is at Grandmas and I’ve got so much catching up to do from a busy weekend. I’ve got a mountain of laundry and lots of house to clean. And when it gets warmer outside…who wants to be inside? Not me! At least I’ve got lots of help at home this week!

It seems like all the kids friends have gone to Florida for the week and we’re left home to feed their dogs and cats. I guess a dairy farming family is the best choice to do your chores while you’re on vacation since they never seem to go anywhere! No, don’t feel sorry for us…we’re doing a pretty good job of that all on our own!

We really can’t complain, we just spent the weekend at a cow show, one of our favorite events in the world!

It’s time to get back to work.