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I was reflecting this morning as my third son walked out the door to work, that I have turned into "the old mother!" He is 17!!! today, when did that happen! We are no longer the young parents! Dennis and I have been asked to teach a Sunday School class for "the young parents" group. That used to be us!!! Ugh! This wasn't supposed to happen that fast. Dennis is away at a Men's Conference, he just called to say that he was really enjoying it. The theme was Farm Men so he was excited about that. 10 men from our church went which is always encouraging. One of the men gave Dennis a pair of ear plugs which I guess was a good thing. One of the men in another room snored really bad and kept everyone up. The boys are holding down the fort at the farm very nicely. They probably like it when Dad is away because they can do things their way. Which isn't a bad thing, Dad's way doesn't always have to be right. ( Don't tell Den I said that I am going out with a friend this afternoon, she is leaving her 2 kids with Lynsey so we can go to the Christmas Tree Shop and AC Moore to browse around. It must be warming up a bit because there is some fog over the snow this morning, it is quite pretty. Well I must go pick up the house before the little ones come. It is surprising how unchild proof my home has become. |
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Well we are bracing for another nasty snow storm. We are supposed to be getting 12-18 inches. I am hoping for the lesser. We took Tyler out last night to celebrate his birthday ,which is this weekend, because Dennis will be gone to a mens retreat. We went to a movie and out to Applebee's for supper. Had a great time. He is going to be 17!! How crazy is that! What happened to my little small boy? He will kill me for posting this pic. I must get a newer pic of him. He has been lifting since this was taken and is in much better shape. Kyle is pestering the boys to get their own snowmobiles because it is boring riding by himself! He hasn't even let them try his out yet! Sounds like a waste of money to me. Sounds like a true mother comment. |
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Well the dreaded day has arrived. The snowmobile is now fixed and on the premises. I can only hope he is very careful. Which he already is not buckling his helmet. "Mom, it is tight without buckling it!" Tell that to me when he hits a tree and it comes flying off! Whatever!
Isn't she nasty! as they would say. I hope after all the money he has sunk into it, he will at least be able to ride it for a while. Now Tyler says he wants one next year. Oh boy! The flushing of the cow went well yesterday, Ryan got 9 eggs out of her but only 3 were fertile. Now we just need to hope and pray that they all settle and bring forth some heifers. I think Ry was pleased. I am debating whether or not to go to Augusta for the afternoon, I feel like getting out but not sure what to do. I would like to go with someone but can't think of who to call. I will probably end up staying home. |
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Well today is going to be a little busy at the farm. Ryan has an "Excellent" 92 point Jersey cow that is getting flushed today. I know that sounds abit weird but what it is, is she was super ovulated last week and then Ryan artificially inseminated her a couple of times in hopes that she made many fertile eggs that today, they will flush out of her and implant them in recipient cows that were in heat the same day she originially was. Confused yet? We have to watch the herd and track those that were in heat the same day so when we implant these fertile eggs they will be in the same cycle time she was when she "concieved" them. Ryan is in hopes that maybe some stud will be interested in a bull from her. She is quite a good cow. All for the furtherance of the herd. We don't do this all by ourselves, we have a genetic specialist vet come to do the flushing and the implants. If we get more eggs than we have recipients they freeze them for us to put in at a later date. If we don't have enough eggs we have some frozen from the last cow that we flushed last year that we will put in so the recipients won't be wasted. Does this sound like a typical day at the farm? Yesterday we had 2 heifers that were overdue so Dennis induced them. He actually induced them the day before. They both had huge heifers, we had to pull both of them because the mothers were having trouble. I helped with the first one but the second one Ryan had to come help while I milked with Kyle. Dennis and Ryan have used "sexed" semen for the last year and it has been very successful for us. I think we have only have had 2 or 3 bulls out of all the sexed semen he as used and he has used alot. I told him to cut it out!!! We are very full with heifer calves. He said he would cut back for a bit Well I guess that is all for today. Not much else going on. |
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I love it after a snow, it is so beautiful Lynsey pulled a good one yesterday. We got home from church in the morning and she went to change before lunch. On the way out to the kitchen she thought it would be funny to try to scare the dog so she snuck up and startled Sandy only to then trip over her and twist her foot and land on it. She wasn't laughing then. Kyle was quite concerned but didn't want to show it so he "helped" her up and into a chair where we doctered her up. After work later that afternoon Kyle called to see if she was alright and did I think she broke it. No I told him she was doing much better and could at least hobble around on it now. Although watching her crawl to the bathroom"like a baby" was quite funny. We are getting ready to watch The Chronicles Of Narnia- Prince Caspian for the second time, while the boys are gone to work because they don't like it. But we love it, it is a great movie. Loved the first one as well, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Check them out if you havent seen them. |
Kyle bought a snowmobile this past fall but as you can see there are no marks in the snow as of yet from him racing around. He has had trouble getting it put back together after they did some work on it and has sunk alot of money into it with no fruit to show for it. I tried to tell him it was a waste of money but he would not listen. I just chuckle now and not say a word. Sometimes it is good to be a parent, especially when you know you are right!!!|
We awoke to -16 degrees on the thermometer this morning. BRRRRRRR! Right now it is 11 degrees so it has come up 27 degrees since 6 am. Our phone was acting up this morning as well, I don't know if it had anything to do with the frigid temps but it wouldn't surprise me. I just pray no calves are born during this cold stretch. I saw my sister yesterday for the first time in a couple of months. She looks great! She has dropped a good 50 lbs I would say. She hasn't weighed herself but she is doing great. Keep it up Deb! We went up to visit with our parents yesterday. I made some banana bread for Mom and between Lyn(Deb's Daughter) and Dad there was one loaf almost gone before we left for home. That is the problem with letting them cool on the rack on the counter. A nibble here, a nibble there and wham it is gone. There is the fatest blue jay out in our yard right now scrounging for something to eat. Just a sec, I am going to download a pic. Isn't he chubby!! Well I think I am going to town this afternoon so I must get going. More later |
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We had a family supper for Dave last night at our house. He wasn't able to make it home for Thanksgiving or Christmas so we wanted to try to get together while he was here for the Trade Show. I had Shepherds Pie, Lasagna, Greenbean Casserole, Ceasar Salad and French Bread. Then for dessert I made a mixed berry pie(strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry.) Chocolate and Butterscotch pies. We then played Mad Gab after and laughed so hard all the food we ate must have been burned off. It was a great time. If you have never played Mad Gab you must get it and play it with a large group of people. Sorry this is short but we are leaving for Augusta for some meetings that Dennis has to attend at the Trade show to keep up his licenses to farm. Nutrient management( lic. to haul manure) and a pestiside lic. |
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I know, I am sorry, I got onto Facebook and it is so much quicker to get on there and check what everyone is doing. Well, things have really slowed down here now that it is winter, calves are still being born aplenty but crops are tucked safe away in the silos and are covered with snow. We are supposed to get some more tonight but maybe it will go out to sea! That would be nice. Dennis and I are going out for supper at a friends tonight and having a game night. We got a new game for Christmas called Fact or Crap and they want us to bring it to play. It is trivia game that you have to decide if the comment is "Fact or Crap" Ryan and Kyle are still cohabitating up to the trailer together. They have not killed each other yet but have definately turned into an "Old Married Couple" It is funny to hear them sometimes This is Kyle and Tyler opening their presents. Kyle is admiring the spoons and forks he got. He was pretty excited about those. Kyle has been up since 2 am. He is starting to fade. Well must get going so I will try to update sooner than 2 months next time. |
As you can see Ryan faded fast after presents were opened. Lynsey and Tyler were out playing Battleship at the table. Tyler got Ry that body pillow and obviously it did the trick. Doesn't he look comfy
Well yesterday we went up to Mom and Dads to do some last minute chores that Dad needed done. Dennis and Tyler cut down this tree that Dad has been wanting to get rid of all summer.  Of course Dad had to get up and unchain this smaller tree from the old tree. He couldn't let anyone else do it. It was a bit chilly as you can see by Tylers hood! Dad was a little nervous that the tree was going to fall the wrong way "Oh you of little faith" Dennis is a pro! You remember he almost knocked himself out last winter while cutting wood. Oh yes by the way Dear, where is you helmet!!!! I guess Dad is pleased with the result. Now comes the clean up and the other 2 boys showed up just in time to help with that Ryan is there somewhere. Kyle had to borrow Gramps shirt because they just came from a Dr. app. so they had their good clothes on.You know how Kyle loves to get dirty, NOT. Here is Ryan helping clean out the gutters. While they were working outside we were diligently working inside on Cookies and pizza  Good food and fellowship was shared after the work was all done. While lunch was cooking Grampie educated the boys (Kyle) on the difference between a "boat" and a 'ship". He won't make that mistake again. Check out the two that got the recliners. Yup Grampie and Grampie Jr. Can you see the recliner that Kyle is in? It is my mothers who is only 4' 10 maybe! Here is a closer look The chair is just a tad to short for him. Nana said "if you pull yourself up in the chair more your legs wont hang over so much" Well when he did that the top of the chair was in the middle of his shoulders. It was quite funny to see. Lunch was good and everyone ate their fill with just a few pieces left. When we got home my brother was here with a couple of friends hunting and this is what they got for their efforts. Congrat. to Dave. Dave is the guy on the left, his son-in-law Alex in the middle and my brother Jim on the right. Good times here during huntin season! That is the first deer shot this year. Lets hope that changes today!!! |
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We are now done with football, sadly to say we lost in the Semi-final round. Kind of a shock but Tyler is dealing with it with much maturity. I am very proud of him. He is turning into quite a young man. To answer you question Ashley, I think it is all the manure they play with all the time that makes them so big. Of course all the hearty meals they eat can't hurt either. We are well into the second week of hunting season and no one has tagged out yet which is unusual. They are getting a bit frustrated but it is just starting to get cool so things may change. Kyle had a friend over yesterday to hunt and kyle calls me from the woods to have me check online to see what district his friends hunting license is in. They have to be put in a drawing for a doe permit here in Maine so not everyone gets one. When Den checked earlier in the season he said only Ryan got a doe permit so they boys have been letting some nice deer walk by. GUESS WHAT!!! They do all have doe permits!! When I called Kyle back with his friends info I was very excited to be able to tell them they all have doe permits. Needless to say no one saw anything yesterday. We had to call the game warden the other night for someone decided to shoot after dark right next to our posted sign by the house. They couldn't find the deer he supposedly shot so all they can get him for is criminal trespassing. He was an out of stater- Go figure! An Army sniper no less. I guess he needs to practice up a bit before he does a job for the army! He thought we were blowing it all out of proportion, what is the big deal he said. Kyle was sitting down where he shot toward the night before. That is the big deal. Someone hunts that field almost every night but because it was Friday and we were going to the game no one was out hunting. Thank you LOrd!
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Today it is over 60 degrees, a slight breeze is blowing and I have had the priviledge to vote for my next President. Not everyone can say that. Thank the Lord I live in a free country where I can choose who I want for my leader and not worry whether I am going to be punished for "choosing the wrong one" I also have had the priviledge to cook for a young family today that has been blessed with a new little girl. It was a touch and go birthing. The Mom's placenta was 50% detached and there were many complication but little Jubilee Evelyn is safely coming home today. Mom lost alot of blood and there was a question as to whether they would have to tranfuse her but all is well and our God is the Great Physician. I had a special request from the Dad for Corn Chowder w/ bacon so that is what they are getting along with a freshly baked pumpkin pie. We are well in to playoff football and the team is doing great. We have a rematch against Skowhegan this Friday and my daughter has a double or nothing bet with her Uncle Mark as to who is going to win. Uncle Mark is a glutton for punishment. Maybe this is where I get the $20 back I bet him when he set me up with my husband!! (That is a story for another day!!) Lynsey is supposed to make him molasses cookies if we lose. Which we won't !! Which ironically is on our 21st anniversary!! Mark you have no chance of winning this bet. All the boys are right into hunting now and they are not liking this warm weather much. Ryan is the only one with a doe permit so of course everyone is seeing doe but him. Well that isn't exactly true. Ryan was out in his tree stand on opening day and fell asleep for about 30 min. and when he awoke there was one right under his stand licking his ladder!! I guess his scent was well covered. I know he stinks like dirty swamp water when he goes out. it must work. After everyone went back out for more hunting in the afternoon on Sat. these two had to milk the "Ladies" so I took this before they went out the door. It is nice to see them in a loving hug. This happens more often now that it is just the two of them home. Tyler has always been my affectionate one anyway.
Lynsey played in church sunday and did a great job. I wish I could upload it so you all could hear her. I was so proud of her. She was ready to give up playing after the last time when she got so nervous her hands were shaking so bad she couldn't play. She played a duet with Suzanne (Allen) Quimby and now she is looking forward to doing it again at Christmas. Thank you Lord for answered prayer. Well must go deliver the meal I made and take Lynsey to her friends for a surprise early birthday present. Her birthday is Friday and Lyns doesnt want to miss the big game so she chose not to go. The first b-day party she has missed since they were 4 yrs old.
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Well today is forcasted to be warm so I guess I need to take advantage of that and mow our lawns for the last time this year. I hope! Our chickens are starting to lay some eggs, slow but sure and boy are they tiny, I have one already laying double yolkers. Can't wait till they all are laying, fresh eggs are so good. Another football game tonight, it is a home game so it should be pretty exciting. The boys play so much better at home vs. away. Tyler tells me I have no idea what it is like, and he is right. They do seem to get off to a better start at home but I don't know what I am complaining about they haven't lost a game yet this year. We are so used to them blowing everyone out these close games are nerve wracking. School is well underway this morning, I so love it that they can do it on their own with little prompting from me. Tyler is doing a hunters saftey course which has him obessed right now but that is ok. He is doing a home study course where you only have to go to 2 lecture classes and the rest you do at home. Much like homeschooling so he is doing well. He needs to motivate his father who is taking it with him! It is hard to get the old fella into studying after all these years! Farm news is kind of quiet right now, the boys are hauling "cow refuse" to the corn ground in attempts to empty our "refuse" pit again this year. Many trips up and down the road. Den and Ty are cleaning up the chopping equiptment to store it away for the winter. We just have a little bit of wood to put in and yes the cows are still calving in a bunch of heifer calves!!! I think I am over 20 calves now, and we just weaned a couple the other day. Must go help my daughter with something in her school work. More later |
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Well we have been done chopping for 2 weeks, we got all our corn in and covered before the fall rains started. Thank you Lord. We have had almost 5 inches of rain this last week. There are some farmers sitting on their hands right now wondering if they are going to get their crops in. I am proud of my husband and his good management practices. Football season is in full swing, Tyler is the only one playing right now. His team is 5-0, they definately are a second half team. It seems like they struggle for the first half then come out and dominate the second half. I hope that will hold up for the team as the season progresses. Here is the big man himself waiting for the other team to be introduced so they can start this game Well Mom I guess that is all for now, I hope this update is ok. I know you know most of this. |
Sorry this is blurry but it was raining last week. Tyler is at center (on the ball). He has been bounced around quite a bit this year in positions due to injuries. He is happy to play no matter where the coach puts him. Good attitude!!
Tyler is blocking number 72, this was the game he hurt his leg and had to be carried off the field. Every mothers worst nightmare. Thankfully as the trainer put it " Its a good thing you drink so much milk Tyler because anyone else would have broken their leg and would be done." He had a deep bruise to the fibula(sp) head from a helmet to the knee. God is good and he never even missed a practice. He was a little tenitive for a few days but is fine. |
We have been working on our corn crop trying to get it in. We are about half done. We had a very frustrating day the other day though, We had to pull every load the length of the field then we had to pull the trucks out after they were loaded. Got to go to church so I will close |
These are our 2 largest tractors. What would we have done with out these
Ryan is stuck in a rut that was made by the chopper and he can't get out. Tyler spent the whole day towing people back and forth. It was a long day. Good for crops for we got off this 15 acre piece-30 ton of corn to the acre. That is impressive. As you can see the corn is as tall at all the equiptment. God continues to bless us. Thank you Lord. |
Wow what a chilly morning here. I dont think it is 40 degree's. I got up to feed calves and they wouldn't even come out of their hutches. BRRRRR We had a somewhat trying day yesterday trying to keep out of the mud with the trucks and tractors. Finally we took out one of our big tractors to just pull people out of the mud. The guys hate to do it but they finally admitted they needed some extra help I have a team supper tonight here for Tylers football team. Actually it is a Jr's supper, the Sr's have their own supper so we will have about 20 boys here not including my family. I am having Lasagna, Ceasar Salad, Homemade rolls and Oreo Icecream dessert. I will be busy all day for I am sure I have to milk tonight. I don't think Lynsey will milk again for me. We will see. I guess that is all. |
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We are well into our corn chopping season! Yeah!!! That means a couple of weeks and it will be done. Lynsey and I have been milking alot lately which is ok because we know it is only for a short time. The boys are right in their element. Kyle got stuck this morning with the big truck so they had to pull him out. We go about 3 inches of rain Sat. night so things are a little sticky. We have to pick and choose our fields right now. Head for the high ground till it dries out and hopefully the corn is starting to dent so it will be ready to chop. Tyler had his 1st regular season game Friday night and they whooped them 41-0. Tyler has moved to a new position at offensive tackle. He is liking it but has caught himself a few times calling a huddle and the current center looks at him and laughs. Hard to break those habits. School is so much more relaxing this year with just two who are willing students and you don't have to keep getting after them to get their work done. It is really worth the hard times when you reach this point. Well I guess that is all for now. |
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Well we are in full swing of the fall crop season. We have been so blessed by the Lord with an abundant 3rd crop. It is such a neat thing to watch the Lord bless in so many ways. May I always be thankful. Football has started up again, we have had one scrimmage and an exhibition game. Both being victorious but not real pretty. I suppose these boys have some big shoes to fill and are just trying to see where they all fit in. Tyler is doing well, he switches in and out with the center and he also plays alot of defense. Tyler is the one over the ball, playing center! Anyway we have all got a cold and are feeling nasty. We took yesterday to just rest and relax. We caught up on some sleep, we fixed some fence because you know there is no rest for the weary. It didn't take that long we just felt yucky by the time we got done. Ryan has been camping all weekend with some church friends, I hope he has had a great time, he should be home some time today. I guess that is all for now. |
For those that don't know Tyler is # 70 in the center of the pic- Making the tackle! You go Ty.
Well we are back from vacation and trying to get back on track with our routine. We stayed at a campground about 50 min. away so we could travel back and forth as needed Tyler and Lynsey were enjoying the hammocks that Ryan bought for this year. Tyler was the only one that stayed in that tent. The nights that Ry and Ky stayed down it poured so they opted to stay in the camper. When the sun did break through the boys went down to swim but quickly came back when they see the beach loaded with little kids. Kyle was having a hard time learning to lay in the hammock. He is such a goober. Tyler was trying to help Lynsey up on this thing they call a watertotter but after much pulling and encouragement Tyler is still alone! After a while she did finally make it up and they did have a good time on this. We also rented Kayaks and a paddle boat  Well that pretty much covers our vacation. I guess that is all for now. |
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Happy Day!! WE finished our 2nd crop of grass today. We are scheduled to go camping on Sunday for a week with the kids. We of course will travel back and forth to milk but all other work will wait till we get back. I have already told the cows to wait and calve after we get back from camping I am trying to get my head around what we need to bring and organize all that. I got together a menu and made a grocery list so now I will wait till Sat. to go pick that up so no one will eat anything I pick up special. That always happens. I pick up special things and I turn around and someone has eaten it before I can make what I want. I have to admit I have been enjoying our garden this year, we have had a slew of broc. and cukes, zuch. and some greenbeans. I planted them a little late so I know I have more coming. My potates are doing good. The pumpkins we put in the old pig pen are doing great. There will be alot for the fall. The boys will be glad of that. Well that is all for now I guess. |
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I know, it has been forever since I was on. Last week we had VBS at church and so I was busy with that in the morning. Milking in the afternoon. We averaged 45 kids all week which is low from what we usually have but God knows the kids that need to be there. 7 kids made decisions for the Lord last week. Thier offering that they brought in was going to an orphanage in AFrica, a girl that used to come to our church when she was younger is now a nurse on Mercy Ships and she works in Monrovia(sp) and there is where the orphanage is. Any way the kids brought in thier loose change and it was boys against girls and we would weigh the offering buckets each day to see who brought in the most in weight. Girls rule!!! They raised $600 during the week, then at the closeing program on Sunday night another 400 came in. $1000 dollars, how God blessed that week. This week we have been dodgeing rain showers trying to finish up our chopping so we can go camping. Not much chopping got done but the ground that we have chopped is all covered with manure so that is good. Doesn't smell to good but that is part of farming. I now have a ton of flys all over my screens trying to get in. I hate flys Last night we had Kyle's 18th B-day party. For his combination graduation and birthday present I redid his room up to the trailer where he is moving to. It is all John Deere. I will try to get pics today so I can post them. It looks real nice. He was surprised, I wouldn't let him see it till we finished it. Den and I went and bought him a new bed for it yesterday. Now he just has to move in his clothes, which are all in the laundry because he wants them clean so he won't have to do laundry right off. He is in for a rude awakening!! Today since it is raining Dennis decided to take the boys to Cabela's for a guys day. Lyns and I are having a ladies day and we get to drive Ryan's truck!! Prayer request: Please pray for a friend of our family- he used to be my pastor when I was younger- his name is Vondel Allen- he has had some health issues this last year with his heart, he is diabetic, he is not strong enough for surgury but at this time he has been having issues with his left leg not getting any circulation and now they are going to amputate his leg. At first they told him just his toes, now it is his leg. He also has colon cancer and needs treatments for that but they were waiting for him to get stronger. I guess they have started that as well. There is alot going on so just pray for his family, for strength for what is to come. God is great and can choose to heal if that is His will. That is just a short summary of all that is going on but it gives you an idea of the urgencey that is felt by his family. Well I guess that is all for now. |