Spring 2015

Spring 2015 has arrived, I must admit I am ready for it.  Oh sure in Kansas we could still have some cold temperatures, but the warm sunshine is probably not far behind!  

As I worked in the garden this past weekend I noticed some spring time indicators.

Blooming Trees

When I went for my walk down the country road there was this reminder of spring time.

Wheat out of dormancy

Last week was the reminder that planting corn would be here in the next couple weeks as well.  The farmer is working on the planter and preparing it for our corn season.

And last but not least we celebrated PV's 7th birthday.  This always reminds me that spring is here and that life will be picking up at the farm before we know it!

What have you seen in your neighborhood to remind you of the new season?  We'd love to hear about it!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

National Agriculture Week-2015

National Agriculture Week 

That's what was celebrated throughout the world this week.  My Facebook and Instagram feeds was packed with all kinds of reminders and opportunities to celebrate.

Today I'd like to just put a few photos up on our blog of years past to celebrate agriculture.  The time spent farming is important not only to our own family but many others.  I don't really care to toot our own horn but what the farming communities do is extremely important to feeding the world. I hope you have taken some time this week to thank a farmer or showed support in some manner to agriculture.  Whether it be by buying food, clicking like on a post, or shaking the hand of a farmer.  We appreciate the consumers a great deal as you help us continue our legacy.

Thanks for supporting our family! We appreciate you!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie and Milton

VVDDP - 2015 Edition - Recipes

Our menu for the 2015 VVDDP gathering was one of simplicity and yet offered flavor!

We chose to serve soup verses salad this year.  

The weather has been cold and we thought a hearty 

thick soup would be delightful! Although the rescheduled date we actually served it ended up being beautiful spring-like weather.  It was still a good choice we feel!

Beer Cheese Soup

The main course included chicken and broccoli.  

We kept the main course light so we 

could enjoy the two desserts 

that were on the menu!

Herbed Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce

Parmesan-Lemon Roasted Broccoli

Amazing Pull Apart Rolls
Made by our guest/friend Lisa G.
They were wonderful and she said she would
 be using the recipe again!

We chose to serve two desserts. 

One was sugar free and the other included chocolate.  

Both were ones we will make again for sure!

Yogurt Pie

Chocolate Italian Love Cake

You can obtain the recipes for yourself by clicking the title of each recipe.  It will take you to the original source.  We also have all the recipes on our Pinterest Board named VVDDP.

I would highly recommend any of these.  They truly were delightful to eat.  They will be put into our regular rotation at our home!  Enjoy and feel free to share!

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Julie

VVDDP - 2015 Edition

Our annual couples gathering for February had to be rescheduled to this past weekend due to weather.  We were thrilled that all the couples were still able to make it in March and the day couldn't have been more beautiful outside!  We kept the menu simpler as our focus was more on spending time with friends.   The table decor was spring like as well!

There will be a follow-up post with all the recipes 

and links to where  I found them. I have to admit this year was simpler but was not without taste! I have found a go to chicken recipe for the grill I know we will make again!  

My favorite part of the gathering was the games.  Our friends DD and JD did a GREAT job of preparing a super game (s)!  I won't share all the photos but I will tell you we were all laughing having quite the time!  I now have a few games to do at future other gatherings!

It was such a nice day that a couple of our guests drove their beautiful vehicles.
So we took our annual group photo with them!

I want to talk about the games for just a moment. 
 It was like the game Minute to Win It. 
 Did I mention how much fun it was?  
We did several different ones.  
Here's a little information on each.

One used conversation candy hearts, while another 
used candy corn and a paper plate.  
How about pasta and spaghetti!

Oh and the one with all our hot air!
My sister won this round!

I think my sister cheated, she used the end of the counter!

Then there was the one where 
the guys used pantyhose and pennies! 
 The guys had to wrap us girls in crepe paper too. 
 Those photos are hilarious 
but I better not post them, my friends 
might not come next year!

And the only reason I am allowed to show 
this next photo is because my husband was the 
winner of this round!  
Yep, he's got talent! 
He can get a cookie from his forehead 
to his mouth without using his hands!

The couple that won with the most points was MG & LG.  They have been married for 24 years, but this game it took skills, not years! Apparently they had the best and their prize was awesome from DD & JD!  A Gratitude Smash Book!  

We all got little prizes, which ours was a piggy bank that had LOVE BANK on the backside! :) 

Thanks again to DD and JD for their fabulous game and prizes!

Our menu for the gathering is below.  

My sister and her husband brought an assortment of cheese, grapes, and crackers for us to munch on.  I had some mushrooms I needed to get used up as we were heading out of town the next day, 
so I whipped up my recipe for stuff mushrooms!

Beer Cheese Soup
Herbed Chicken Cutlets with Mustard Sauce
Parmesan-Lemon Roasted Broccoli
Chocolate Italian Love Cake
Strawberry Yogurt Pie

Milton & I were very pleased with the meal.  It was good tasting, healthy, and fun to prepare.  We look forward to start planning our 2016 gathering!

Be sure to look for the recipes and links to the menu items!
So not to miss anything, be sure to follow us!

To follow us via email, you can check out the

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Thanks for stopping by!
Julie & Milton

Farm Photos - 2015

I just wanted to put some photos up of our day when we sold some cattle.  I snapped photos around the farm and of our little gal PV.  Memories in the making here folks!  

The generations to come will hopefully enjoy them!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Cycles of Farming & Seasons of Change

Well the time has come for us to say goodbye to the majority of the cattle we have been feeding since October.  We will keep a couple back so we can refill our own freezers with beef.   They will feed those until July.  I am wondering if anyone would be interested in a post about raising our own beef to eat?

Sometimes we keep them a little longer and sometimes we sell early.  The market on cattle was quite high when we bought them but has since fell.  Once they are sold we will sit down and review our expenses and see how it turns out.

Sorting cattle.

Life as a farming family is one that there are no guarantees, so we will take what has been provided and know that we will be sustained by the Lord.  We put our trust in HIM and not what is to be produced in the field or cattle pen first.

As the  days get longer and the flowers and trees begin to turn with colors, we too will awaken to a new start.  When April rolls around Milton will begin planting corn.  Which will be followed by soybeans and then grain sorghum (milo).  Before we know it our wheat that has been quiet and dormant all winter will be yellow and ready to harvest.  The cycle of farming is still as it has always been but with each new season comes different things.

We want to thank our readers for following our blog about farming, family, and our faith in God. We are placed here on earth to share HIS ways, we hope through this blog and our farm life we do that justice.

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Waffles

I like to eat waffles over pancakes any day.  I was lucky enough to get a new waffle maker for Christmas.  It is one of those that you can flip and it beeps when the timer goes off.  I love it!  It's like being in a motel for breakfast but in the comfort of my own home! 

My mother in law gave me a waffle recipe a while back and I finally tried it this past weekend.  I wanted to share it with you here on Sunsets.  I hope you enjoy them!  It makes a large amount of batter, so if you are only wanting a few, maybe cut the recipe in half.

Waffles

1 C. All purpose Flour
1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 C. Cornmeal
1 Tbls. Sugar
1 Tbls. Baking powder
3/4 Tbls. Baking soda
1/2 Tsp. Salt
3 Eggs
3 C. Buttermilk (can use sour milk made with vinegar)
1/2 C. Applesauce
3 Tbls. Oil
2 Tbls. butter, melted

Mix together and bake in waffle maker.  Normal batter I cook for about 2 minutes, but this batter I needed to go more like 4 minutes.  They come out crispy and air light!

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie