Category Getting Personal
It’s that time of year when we start breeding fall cows. Last week Josh and the kids worked cattle together. It reminded me of the cow work we did in the spring. Basically, it was all the same routine, just a different season. The cows were sorted into different breeding groups and the calves separated from them. It’s much easier …
We moms—we women—put so much pressure on ourselves. We’re bombarded with choices to make for ourselves and our children the minute the pregnancy test shows two pink lines. Breast or bottle, work outside or stay home with the kids, jarred baby food or homemade, co-sleep or crib, cloth or disposable diapers—the list truly goes on… and on… And …
From Tween to Teen! We recently celebrated this girl hitting a milestone birthday! Planning a 13th birthday party for girls is so fun, especially with the help of my party planning SIL, Stephanie. She did amazing putting our patio and decor together for the event. Emma had requested a backyard movie party, similar to her sister’s 13th birthday party. We …
Our boy had wanted to show a pig in 4-H ever since he was six years old. Jayten talked about pigs all the time. His first oral presentation contest talk was on the cuts of pork when he was a Cloverbud (not old enough to compete, but could do projects for display). He loved helping his friend with his pigs …
We feel very blessed with our life and raising our kids on a cattle ranch. We are able to have a rural lifestyle that allows for lots of time outdoors in the fresh air, running around, doing outside chores, learning responsibility by taking care of animals and the land in our care. Other life lessons that just come naturally with …
This is my favorite season! Not only is it time for pumpkin spice everything, apple cider and fall foliage, it’s fall calving time! Our cattle herd is divided into two breeding groups—the spring cows calve January through March. The fall cows calve August through October. And while anytime a new calf is born is cause for celebration, the fall calves …
I cried all the way home. It was the first time that had happened—not the crying, of course, I am admittedly an emotional girl—but it was the first time I cried after a first-day-of-school drop-off. My youngest started kindergarten that day. I knew the day would come. It’s time. She was ready. I was not. I always drive my kids …
“The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have and so I put my hope in Him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 Sunrises and sunsets remind me of my friend, Julie. Even before she passed away, if I saw a great one, she would come to mind because I …
It’s calving time! (Cue the Semisonic lyrics. Anyone else think of It’s Closing Time? Just me? Mkay.) Thankfully it’s been a mild winter so calving this year hasn’t been that hard on the cattle or the guys. Last year there was so much snow and we had to bring many pairs into the barn to calve or right after calving, …
Welcome to the world, little one! “Duke,” nicknamed Lil’ dude by my youngest, made his appearance Jan. 22. He has been a highly talked about and much anticipated addition to our animal family. My oldest purchased and showed his mother, Olive, last year. She was bred in the fall, then after a five month gestation, became a mom! Of course …
The months of January through March are usually known as the “season of muck” around here. Now last year, we were covered in snow, but it’s more typical to have a winter and spring like this year. We may get a few snowstorms, but it doesn’t last long. If the ground doesn’t freeze, then things get mucky. The ground is …
A few months ago I put some of the thoughts swirling around in my head on paper in a personal essay. Usually they just remain on the pages of my journal, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone and share it with others. I want to be an encourager, especially of women, as we all need a …
Currently it’s raining…a far cry from the winter scenes I’m posting here. All the snow is gone and with all the moisture we’ve had lately, everything is green, green, green. Yay! But, it wasn’t that long ago that we didn’t think we’d ever see spring or green grass again. I was asked to submit some photos for a couple different …
It’s always a team effort to get the cattle fit and looking their best on show day. The Hereford Bull show was going on from the other side of the area. Angus on Parade! Love those fluffy ears! This was the last show for this heifer. The pair had a successful show season, but now it’s time for her to …
I do realize it’s already the 5th of January and many people have popped the New Year’s Eve champagne cork, taken down the Christmas tree and are tackling those new year’s resolutions already. Me. Not so much; at least not yet. At first I thought I was behind, but then a dear friend reminded me we are just on the …
Wow, what a crazy Idaho winter we’ve had. We haven’t seen this much snow for awhile. It seems like it’s snowing every day. One day it was coming down so fast, but it didn’t accumulate that much. After that, we got quite the storm, then freezing rain, then more snow. I’ve been trying to get out and shoot all these …
While I admit, I have been somewhat in denial our first daughter was turning 13 this year, I also knew I wanted to plan a fun and special party for her. When I asked her if she had any ideas she said she wanted an outdoor movie party. I enlisted the help of one of my fabulous, event-planning, party-giving sister-in-laws, …
We spent another fun, family weekend on the road at a junior livestock show. It’s a lot of work, but so worth it to see the kids compete, hang out with friends, and have fun. E showed her heifer and two sheep this weekend. She had some tough competition and did a good job. Each time she goes into the …
Another Idaho Junior Beef Expo has come and gone. It was such a great weekend with family and friends! Jayten was so excited to show “Lily” in the PeeWee Hereford showmanship. Thanks to our friend Emilee for letting him use her heifer. So very proud of these girls! They did a great job in showmanship. MJ won her class and …
May was a busy month for sure! We had several end-of-the-year school activities, celebrated two family birthdays, enjoyed a wonderful visit from my parents, picked up the 4-H sheep, attended a cattle show and participated in a livestock clinic. Whew! It was a whirlwind month, but full of memories. Sometimes the only camera I had with me was on my phone, but …
Usually by April we are seeing more signs of spring around the ranch. The grass has greened up, flowers start blooming and the weather gets warmer. My little miss loves helping water the flowers and I couldn’t help capture her trying to wrangle that big ol’ watering can. She was very determined to get it done by herself. I also love …
I didn’t realize a box of Moon Sand on the clearance aisle of a craft store would provide so many hours of imaginative play for our littlest. One day I could hear her talking, drawers opening and closing, and came to inspect. She had set up her own little baking station. She told me all about the cookies she was …
I realize several of “My View” photos from March are from the same scene. I guess I couldn’t pick just one from our trip to the ocean over spring break. It was the first time my kids and I had been to the Oregon Coast. It wasn’t the best of weather, but that didn’t stop them from playing in the water …
I admit since having an iPhone, I use it to capture every day moments of my kiddos a lot more than I did before I had one. You use what you have and what you have with you. I do love having grabbed quick snapshots with my phone. But I also want to get better at picking up my DSLR and …
This year I decided to share some more of the every day moments and views I experience from my little place in this world. Some will be landscape as we live in a beautiful place and I really try to capture and appreciate all the nature around us on our ranch. Others will be of my family and the simple …
It’s been a couple weeks since our county fair and as I go through the photos, the memories come flooding back. The whole week was exciting and exhausting, but well-worth all the hard work and effort. Fair week is the culmination of a whole year of work. This was our oldest’s fourth year and our second daughter’s first year in 4-H. …
Our second daughter is showing sheep this year for the first time. It’s her first year in 4-H and she has been hooked from the beginning. In fact, the new 4-H year started in October, and she asked almost weekly when she would be getting her sheep. We picked them out in April and brought them home in May. Needless …
This was the first summer we attended the Idaho Junior Hereford State Show. We had a great time! Besides the show, they have lots of contests and activities to enjoy like team fitting, team marketing, photography, judging contest, speech. The kids did their best and learned a lot. Both girls learned more about fitting and had the chance to practice …
One of the activities we enjoy as a family is showing cattle. Our kids are starting to get more involved in junior breed associations and 4-H events so several weekends from May through August are usually spent at a livestock show. It’s a lot of hard work, not only the day of, but also at home in preparation. However, it’s …
In May our second daughter celebrated her First Holy Communion. It was a very special day for her to get to receive the Eucharist for the very first time. She was very excited to get to pick out her own new dress to wear for the special occasion. She had tried on the dress my mom made for my special …