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

Farmers - Not What I Imagined - #WMFHEROES

When Jim Richardson began to speak I knew it would be an enjoyable session I was attending.  His voice was upbeat and he had joked pretty quickly into his presentation!  That's always a good sign!

Then the photographs began.  My words will not do justice to the talent this man holds.  The way he opened my eyes and mind to the fact that farmers are not only this....

OR this.

But also the way we farm in our neck of the woods seems to look pretty easy compared to how some must farm just to feed their family.  Although they might be  helping feed the world too.  Planting by hand, children helping daily, and starting over each new day early to late.

Jim opened my eyes to see other farmers in a human light.  It makes me hope that I am able to do that for those that are no longer familiar with farm life.  That are generations removed from rural living.  This blog is one way to share the way we farm, and to reach out to groups of people that are living off the farm.

I invite you to visit Jim's website and look at some of the most beautiful photographs you will ever see.  You will have the chance to see not only beauty but a view into a world removed from our Kansas Agriculture. Yet we have a link to feeding the world between us.


Jim Richardson Photography - Farmers Growing Our Food

Thanks for stopping by!
Julie

Early Morning Views from the Farm

On an early morning last week I traveled out to my yard to get some exercise before the craziness of the day began.  Milton was already at the farm yard preparing to feed the calves.  I made my way over there to take a few photos of him working.  

Here  he is loading the feed into the feed wagon.  

As you can see it is still dark outside and it was chilly this January morning.

He is filling the feed bunk with the feed.

It makes my heart feel good to see him working for our family and others.

To know that he loves what he does make it all the more better!

As I made my way to the end of our driveway this was my view.
Spectacular morning!

I will end the post with one of the evening moments in our home.

Dad reading to his little girl!

Life is good!

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Julie

September & Corn Harvest Continues

With my new status of being home more than away, it gives me an opportunity for me to remember why I love what my husband does for a living.  Not because he helps feed the world, provides for our family, or works physically and mentally hard, but because I get to see first hand the impression he is leaving on our child. 

Tonight they were able to get back in to the field to continue corn harvest, so supper was served in the field to Milton.  It was his first night back from his hunting trip, so I had planned a nice meal of Pork chops, rice, and carrots.  Well it's a good thing I have a handy plastic compartment plate with lid!  I need to find some more of them! Send me links if you know of a place I can get some!

The little farmer and I headed out to the field in the mule.  Milton was unloading and then came to sit with us to eat his supper.

His Dad returned with the semi truck from unloading at the farm.  There was an issue with the elevator leg, specifically one of the downspouts.  So Dad jumped in the combine, and we took Milton back to the farm so he could see about repairing it!

There was an area, straight in front of him on the downspout that was worn and corn was shooting out of it.  So he had to make a temporay repair!  It's funny what a farmer will find in the sheds to repair something!  Tonight it was belting and zip ties.

It's amazing what will entertain a six year old on the farm too.  While waiting for Dad, this is what PV talked Grandma into doing!  85 degrees out and she has the snow sled out!  Gotta love this little farm gal!  Don't worry, I did give Grandma a break and took my turn pulling! NOW, to just train Charlie to pull her!

Once the repairs were done, I took Milton back to the field.  When we arrived we climbed into the blue farm truck.  It was ready to unload, Dad was down the field, so we took her home to unload!  Milton did visit with me about shifting gears and pushing a red button, and how to lift the bed.  I'm just going to leave it at that for now.....

This. This is what I love.  These are treasures my friends! Sweet memories in the making!  Take a gander! Love love love them!

Once it was unloaded, Milton and I headed back to the field.  PV stayed with Grandma to finish cleaning up the corn and sweeping it into the pit.  And of course play with Charlie!

When we returned to the field, as we waited for Dad to make his way back to the truck to unload corn, Milton checked out the soybeans.  Before we know it, we will be harvesting these non irrigated soybeans.  

Grain sorghum/Milo is my favorite fall crop.  I think it is just so pretty when it starts to turn red.  I plan to go look at those fields this weekend, I have plans to use some of the milo for decor.  Our annual Landlord's dinner is coming up in October, and I think it will make a nice centerpiece.

To end this post I will leave you with this photo.  I love generation photos, especially when in the midst of what both these two individuals love to do in life.  Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Snapshots of Precious Things

Her and I had just arrived home.  

We were standing in our yard witnessing her father once again harvest wheat.  

She happens to look up , I had my smartphone in hand.

  I am so very glad I did.

This individual is: 

A Farmer's Daughter.

A Child of God.

A Blessing to our Family.

A Determined Girl.

A Silly Smiling Character.

And SO much more!

I can't seem to find words for these next two photos.

Feel free to comment with any you might think of when you look at them.

Wheat - I was going to edit this one, but just couldn't.

I think it is naturally beautiful.
So representing of our Kansas heritage.

Strong. Bendable. Beautiful.

The Brown eyed susans in my yard, next to the blackberries.
They were not planted by us, the birds of the air did this display.

I think they did a lovely job.

Thanks for stopping by today.

I hope you enjoyed the photos.

Feel free to share.

Julie

Growth, Damage, & Livin This Dream

Last evening after our daughter's tball game we decided to go check the mulberry trees in the fields.  They should be ripe in the very near future, but we were disappointed to find that most of them must have gotten hit by the frost this past winter.  

We only have one tree with some on them.  

I will go check them again this weekend, to see if there is enough for one batch of jam.

The trees sit next to a wheat field. 

 This year, the wheat is not very tall at all, and is currently quite muddy in the fields. 

The combines will probably be running slower through the mud and muck.

We are grateful for the rain, but it does make a difference when harvesting.

We traveled over to the corn field to inspect it. I had not been there since it was about 2 weeks planted I think. 

 I was amazed at what some rain will do for a crop!

Over at my friend Nicole's blog,  A Kansas Farm Mom 

she has this great series she is writing.

Her son won some corn seed and she is telling the story of it from start to finish!

His corn has "brace roots" already, ours doesn't.  His was planted before ours. 

Go check it out here! It's pretty interesting!

This particular field was hit by the last hail storm. 

You can see the damage on the leaves of the corn stalks in these photos.

We will watch the corn to see how it grows!

 Here Dad is teaching PV about

the hail damage on the leaves.

There is an old silo that sits in this field.

It takes me back to my childhood, we had one 

on our farm when I was PV's age.

One of our favorite things to do as a family is to go for a ride on the UTV 

and just tour what we call our "community".  

The fields we farm, the ones our neighbors farm, 

and just enjoy the rural Kansas life. 

Laughter and lessons can be heard if you listen as we ride. 

 It's all about our rural living,it's all about sustaining

 the dream our family has built for four generations.

Thank you for stopping by today!

Julie

Interactions-Photos-Soybean Planting

Last Thursday evening I arrived home to find the farmyard buzzing with activity!  The tractor had finally made it home from the repair shop and the soybeans were ready to be loaded into the drill!  The skies had opened up earlier that day to give us some moisture! And more was in the forecast!  Only one field was dry enough to plant!

The drill had been ready to go for a few days and so was the farmer! I love to watch my husband in his element.  Recently, he has had alot on his plate with construction sidejobs, farming, and being the father/husband he wants to be.  But all the stresses seem to slide away, as he was preparing to do what he loves most.  FARM.  

I don't know if I can put it into words exactly what I see and how it makes us both feel but I'm going to try. First,  the way my husband maneuvers a piece of large equipment or truck is amazing to me.  He just has a talent, at least I think so.  He can park a large grain drill right next to a feed bunk and not hit it or how about when he turns the large tractor and drill around in a small farmyard.  He makes it all look pretty simple, but in reality it's not always simple to be a farmer.  I guess it comes from years and years of practice.

As he goes through each step of preparing to drill soybeans, I watched him not only interact with his father, but his daughter as well.  All while keeping his cool and not missing a step.  

I took this last photo, posted it as our cover photo on Facebook, and it blew up!  It was shared (as of right now) 126 times.  That's the most activity we have ever had on our page, and I'm grateful.  It also gave us more followers which is a wonderful way to share our story and life on the farm!

But mostly I am grateful because the photo and words are true.  Many lessons are taught and received next to a tractor or drill or combine or in a pickup while checking cattle.   They will be passed down for generations.  Respect for machinery, animals, and the soil.  Safety, values, and conduct being a few others learned.

PV played on the drill and surrounding area while her Dad prepared the drill for planting.  She likes to go up to the top of the drill and hang out.  We took this opportunity for a photo shoot! :) She is hilarious isn't she??  And what farm kid doesn't love popsicles!

Milton was able to get some of the soybeans planted.  He finished the field the next day.  He had to call me as he ran short on soybeans.  There wasn't much left to plant, so we decided to get 3 buckets of beans to take to the field.  PV decided to snap a few photos while waiting in the pickup!




I loved the fact that I was at home and able to help Milton with the farming.  That PV got to see us working together.

One of my favorite photos from this day is this one.  I'm proud to be a farm wife and mother, I'm proud to be raising a farm daughter.  Even though this photo was taken at the end of the day, with crazy hair, and hardly any makeup on, it's still special.  Special because the smiles on our faces tell it all!  

We received more rain today and we are very thankful.  Although all our soybeans are not in, we are ok with it. We need the rain something awful and either way we know that God will provide for us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Simple Things - Simple Joys - Simple Farm Life

Last evening I was able to be home right after my daughter got off the bus.  I quickly changed my clothes because I couldn't wait to get outside & enjoy the weather!  It was lovely!

I decided homework could wait, the weather was there to be enjoyed, and we hadn't had a "mule" ride for a long time!

We headed over to the farm yard to get the mule

 and gather the daily egg production!

Milton had been planting corn and I could hear him coming down the road with the tractor and planter.
He had just finished the last field of corn!
Some rain would be great right about now!

Guess who gets to drive!  She is pretty good, 

but Dad controls the brake and gas! 

She has alittle of her momma in her, 

I tend to like to go fast! OOPS!

We headed to the pond.  

Boys will be boys! 

 Playing with a snapping turtle.

Another reason we need rain.

This is the pond. 

We use the pond water to flood irrigate. 

My Father in law was moving some dirt around in the pond area. We stopped to see how it was going and visit a bit.

This evening helped me remember what is important in life.

What brings happiness and contentment to my family.

The simple things in life, rides on the UTV, laughing together, checking crops, and creating a simple life. 

We hope your days are full of happiness!

Thanks for stopping by!

Julie

Photo Joys!

Since I need to finish our Christmas cards still tonight and the kiddo is bed and the hubs is at a farmer meeting, I'm going to blog a few photos of joy from my past couple weeks! 

Not much time for words today! Enjoy!

It was treat making time for the holidays at our home this past weekend!

She is so serious about her decorating!

Finished product & pretty gal!

PV & I preparing for our treat making Saturday!  See the awesome aprons!  My prayer partner for my ladies group at church got us them for my Christmas gift!  THEY ARE AWESOME!

Milton even joined in the fun!

Our California Kid, Kassidy joined us via Skype to for our annual gingerbread house decorating!

Two Cuties!


Thanks for stopping by!
Julie