Moms and Sons…

Those of you who know our family know how hard we are on one another; in a fun- loving way, of course!  Here is a little example of just how extreme that can get:  Our son, for years, told our daughter she wasn’t planned and we probably loved him more because we had to try for some time (like we were almost getting tired of each other) to get him.  Kaydee full well knows how much we love her, but his comments were really starting to get in her head.  Matt is incredibly clever and told her she could fire back at Emmet by letting him know he was the reason they didn’t have any more brothers or sisters.  Mercy! Some people and families would take all of this WAY too seriously and genuinely hurt one another.  Thankfully, it all really is in fun for us.

That being said, how many of you moms out there know you are a different person because you have at least one son?  We change when we have kids regardless, but there is something about those boys!  The busy destructiveness can be overwhelming some days – thank goodness for Gorilla Glue and Magic Erasers!  And the charm and wit wins over your heart later those very same days you had to open up yet one more bottle of glue and buy a bucket of paint because the magic eraser just wasn’t enough.  When they learn at a very young age that the proper thing to do is hold the door for a lady, and they do it with their smooshed, crooked straw cowboy hat on, while holding their toy gun from shooting the opossum that is in the yard so the birthday party guests won’t be scared…well, my heart is just in a puddle…

Do you see the orneriness in that top picture???

And then they grow up some more. And they do things that we moms don’t think are safe.  And hopefully they survive with nothing more than a few stitches or ankle braces needed, along with countless ice packs and bottles of stain remover.  The  last person a young man wants to disappoint is his mom.  The first person a young man will go to when he is in real trouble is often his mom.  Yes, us moms get stronger and stronger as we raise boys into men (and it sure does help to have an amazing husband to do this mom thing with – I am too lucky!).  The dating challenges, the school frustrations, and eventually interviewing for career opportunities all get vetted not only by dads and best buddies, but us moms, too.  So, Moms, tell them – tell them to do the right thing when no one is looking; tell them to put others ahead of themselves (they might already know this if they had show animals that ALWAYS came first); tell them to hold the door for a lady, not because she’s a lady, but because he needs to behave as a gentleman;  tell them to send thank you’s and to call their grandparents regularly.  Tell them you love them and you are proud of them and that you like it when they come lean on your shoulder while you are working in the kitchen.  And for goodness sake, let yourself laugh with them.

Perhaps I especially think about all of that this time of year, as we are coming up on the birthday of one very special Son was born to save us all.  I cannot imagine the emotions Mary experienced!  Good grief, I am a hot mess just praying our kids are happy and safe and carrying out their intended calling – nothing close to birthing a Savior!   If you read the book of Luke, right away in chapter 2, as a 12 year old boy, Jesus gave his parents a scare when he stayed in Jerusalem rather than returning home with them.  Boys have been ornery, whether intentional or not, FOREVER!

The Boy Jesus at the Temple

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?”^[f] 50 But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

For all of you moms of young sons out there – enjoy it.  It will be frustrating and scary and oh so much fun to raise them into young men.  And I tell you, it’s worth it! Having adult kids is such a joy!!!  The two young men in these pictures have been friends since first grade – and I am glad, because that gave us parents a chance to become friends, too!  They have grown into wonderful young men who are respectful, polite, and quite handsome, if I do say so myself.

And – to get back into  sharing some favorite recipes, here is one of Emmet’s favorites (when he would bring college friends home to stay at our house and they would ask for “Mom Food” – this is what they wanted):

Meatloaf, Caldwell style

1 1/2 lb lean ground beef
2 eggs
2/3 c oatmeal
1 small onion (diced)
salt and pepper to taste

Sauce
1 1/2 c ketchup
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c vinegar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together all of the meatloaf ingredients and press into an 8/8 glass pan.  Mix sauce ingredients and pour over raw meatloaf.  Bake for 45 minutes or until done (internal temp should be at least 160 degrees).   Double all ingredients for a 9×13 pan.

We really like to pair this with baked potatoes and green bean casserole.  Enjoy!

 

Stop Comparing…

You be you, my friend! 

I have traveled a lot over the past month (Matt reminded me last week as I was preparing to leave the house at 3:30 a.m. that I was headed out for the fourth week in a row for meetings.)  The people watching in airports and around different cities is fascinating!  I especially like to see the ones who are willing to have long, soft, PINK hair, but dress completely normal otherwise.  I am NOT bold enough to do that and on the person I saw, it was absolutely gorgeous!  There are always folks who you can tell have been to the beach, or the fishermen returning home from a trip (yes, they might smell if they didn’t get a hotel in town and shower before boarding), or the families donning the Mickey Mouse ears as they dash to their next gate.  It’s easy to long to be those people…the ones who get the fabulous vacations…not sitting in another meeting room in another hotel, not hauling water to cows everyday, not trying to finish harvest way too far into November…

But alas, you are the one doing all of those things listed above – the chores and harvest and meetings.  And when you have sold the calf crop and the grain crop and you deposit the paycheck for the entire year’s worth of work, there is just enough to cover all the bills, and nothing left over for a nice vacation. That is when you get to make YOUR choice – you can be gloomy, comparing yourself to everyone you are not, or you can be thankful. 

I so hope you choose to be thankful.  Those of us who get to farm and ranch get things others only dream of seeing on vacations.  We get the most gorgeous sunsets, ever.  And, we get to see them frequently because we are usually still out working, right???

A random October sunset at the Caldwell place.

We get to enjoy wildlife as we go about our days.  Others pay a lot of money to come to our part of the world to hunt and fish – we have it all right where we go about our daily tasks!

This is my awesome niece with the nice buck she got this year.

Every day can be a complete struggle or absolute joy for each and every person – for so many different reasons.  Some years the vacations will happen.  Some years the stay-cations will be what you get to enjoy.  Family, friends and acquaintances will have something wonderful happen to them, while you do not.  You will certainly hope they are there to help celebrate you when your turn comes – celebrate them when it’s their time! 

We are all here in this earthly world for a finite amount of time. Since you are reading this, you obviously woke up this morning to get to choose to enjoy another day.  On this day, YOU DO YOU!  Please, DO NOT compare yourself to anyone – they very likely are not even thinking about what you have or do or look like.  But, they WILL notice if you smile, help someone out, or overcome a challenge.  The only comparison you need to make is if you are a better version of you than you were last week or last year – you do you.

 

 

Love Thy Neighbor…

That was the topic of the sermon at church last Sunday.  It was a short sermon because it’s a pretty darn blunt message!  Well, that, and our pastor is just really good at getting the point across in a short time with a LOT of enthusiasm!  There are some awfully good tv shows and movies made about this very thing – trying to get along with neighbors; and for good reason!

So, for today, let’s think about a counter action for different times your neighbor frustrates you, so you can demonstrate those acts of love.  (You have to bear in mind, I am really making up some fun stuff here, because our nearest neighbors are just over a mile away and they are completely not annoying!)

1.  Your neighbor constantly spies on you and then reports to everyone else what they see you doing.  First of all – how much fun is it to do things because you know they are watching!?!  Do something to give them an extra good story, like writing Christmas cards during the summer or using a fork to eat ice cream (I may or may not do these things regardless if someone is watching).  Then, each and every time you see them, kindly ask how they are doing and offer them a cookie – preferably a Valentine’s cookie at Easter, a Halloween cookie on Valentine’s Day, and a Christmas cookie on 4th of July.  Just generally keep them guessing – cheap entertainment for you and them! 

   I highly recommend a cookie/snack recipe I made this morning – your neighbor will LLLOOOVVVEEE you if you share! 
   Peanut butter Fritos – oh my sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy deliciousness! 
   Here is the simple recipe:
   Dump a bag of Fritos on a serving tray (I used a jelly roll pan covered with foil).  Mix 1 cup sugar and 1 cup light corn syrup in a small sauce pan and bring to a boil – stir and boil just until sugar melts and mixture is clear.  Remove from heat and stir in one cup peanut butter.  Pour the entire mixture over the Fritos.  Allow to cool and ENJOY!

2. Your neighbor parks in front of your driveway so you can’t turn in to your own property.  This can be incredibly maddening!  Your first thought may be to park in their driveway, but it’s probably already full if they are blocking yours.  Let’s think of something SO nice they are completely confused  – my mom always called it “killing them with kindness.”  I would suggest getting your lawn mower and and going to work on their lawn!  Who doesn’t want to have their lawn mowed for them?  Or perhaps, once you have finally found a place to park, you just call and invite them right on over to supper and some entertaining board games.  Wait! I’ve got it!  Put up Christmas lights on their house for them! (I love this idea, particularly if they aren’t fond of Christmas lights, heehee!)
   
3. If your neighbor constantly has loud music going or loud machinery outside all the time, here is a potential solution:  Give your neighbors a pair of Bluetooth speakers as a gift.  How loving and kind is that?  Then, you can use your device to blast music into the speakers at random times during the day so they can enjoy your music with you! You can easily sync your device to the speakers so long as you are not too far out of range. You can also blast creepy sounds to make them think their house is haunted, you know, just for fun. 
4. Your neighbor has all kinds of political campaign signs that you absolutely don’t agree with and they place them in their lawn right up to the very edge of the property line.  This is NOT the end of the world!  Once again, plan a bbq or meal, invite them to watch a ball game, and JUST DON’T TALK POLITICS.  

Honestly try to get to know something about your neighbor that has nothing to do with politics or even their habit that makes you angry.  Do they love to cook?  Are they good at art?  Do they have an amazing garden?  Did they grow up in a small town or a big city?  Have they ever been to a farm?  Do they enjoy sports?  I know I am 100% chatty and I am also well aware of my tendency to hang with people that are just like me.  That is when I remind myself, I am glad I have friends like Jonathon – not much like me, but SUPER cool and smart!  I just have to be willing to show a little love to someone that at one time in my life I would have probably stared at, snuck a pic to send around to friends, and even sent a group “check this out!” text.  That is rude and now I know I should talk to them instead of making fun…In fact, I got to enjoy a completely impromptu shopping trip at a thrift store with Jonathon!

Here is my buddy Jonathan – he has more certifications and qualifications than I can name, he grew up in Hawaii and now lives in New York City, he is a great advocate for modern agriculture and I am proud to call him my neighbor from across the country!

But in all seriousness – do you see why I would have sent that “check this out” pic!?!?  Blue mo-hawk, a lot of crazy, and quite honestly, stuff you just don’t see much in good ol Clay County Nebraska, USA.

Have a great week everyone – I hope you get to show some unexpected kindness to someone!

On a Dirt Road…

Some pretty great memories are made on dirt roads!  And,  with that statement, I can guess where a few of your minds went – immediately to the slightly disappointing flavor experienced in sharing a can of beer that was snuck out of your parents’ garage fridge or to the stomach butterflies of fumbling through a first kiss, praying no one would drive by and see you.  Yes, many of those growing up moments definitely happen on a dirt road (at least in our part of the world).

I am thinking a bit more nostalgically.  Some of my earliest memories of dirt roads include learning how to skip; individual lessons were given by Roy Henry while we waited for wheat trucks to be filled.  The shoe prints in the dust created a pattern that couldn’t be replicated, as hard as you tried.  There were ground bee holes to smash the mounds on and try to fill in, and grass growing along the roadside.  A great accomplishment was to learn to hold the perfect grass blade just, right between your thumbs and place it against your lips to make some kind of shrill kazoo type sound.  During fall harvest, we would pick milkweed pods, scatter the seeds like snowflakes, and then take the empty pod home to paint to look like a ghost for a Halloween decoration.  (My Mom is one of the nicest ladies ever to always let kids, even to this day, destroy the house while carrying out their “very special” projects!)

Fast forward to the college years.  It was on a dirt (maybe with a little rock or gravel) that Matt asked me to marry him.  I’m not sure I could drive to the exact spot today, but I am comforted in knowing that he can and more importantly, that I said yes!

Since we have had our own kids, they have also learned to appreciate the beauty of a good dirt road.  (Okay, I’m not gonna lie – there are times, when we have had plenty of precipitation, that we really wish for a lot of rock and gravel on our dirt roads!)  This picture of moving cattle along one of the roads we use often is so pretty!

I will also confess, on that very road, in about that very spot, we had our pickup sliding sideways down the hill between the steep banks on either side, praying we wouldn’t slide all the way to the bridge and wreck,  with two kids in car seats.  I had sucked nearly all the air out of the cab, but  Matt is a very good driver and had nerves of steel to steer us out of that scary predicament!  But then again, that road served as a perfect backdrop to some of Emmet’s senior pictures.

While a know full well how many great ideas are borne on the thinking throne, there are some pretty great dreaming sessions that happen on dirt roads.  Whether walking, riding horses, driving ATV’s, or just cruising around in a pickup, there is something about a dirt road that spurs your ability to think beyond what is the here and now.  We just need to take time to do it more often!

With that, I hope you take time this weekend to enjoy a dirt road – wherever that is for you.

A Hundred Years from Now…

We have still been cleaning up the Kottmeyer Place.  Everything about it is an adventure.  There are so many cool OLD things to wonder at!  One of the things I wonder at is how many years worth of Old Granddad bottles are in one glass pile.  That would be one of my less favorite drinks of choice, but based on the pile,there was a fair amount consumed on that place through the years – I’m sure, often times, with friends, telling stories.  Roy Henry certainly knew how to tell a good story that never ended without belly laughs.

Roy Henry ALWAYS had a dog with him!

This is what good belly laughs look like!!!   

As we gather up piles of iron, wood, glass and so on, it’s easy to imagine what farming was like 100 years ago.  I have stories from my grandparents to help solidify the images of smaller fields, larger gardens, horse-drawn equipment, early tractors, and of course, the old outhouse!  Gosh – that is one thing that proves to me that God knew the right era to put me in.  I am game to be one with nature if necessary, but to run out to an outhouse through a blizzard – I just don’t know if I’m that tough!

From our grandparents’ stories, we know exactly how much change they got to see in their lifetimes.  They did go from horse-drawn equipment to tractors with cabs.  They went from thrashing crews to combines with air conditioners and bin monitors.  They used crank telephones and ended up having cell phones.  They celebrated yields of 60 bushel per acre corn long before they were disappointed with 100 bushel per acre corn.  They got to experience so much advancement in their lifetimes!

I have reached an age where I am old enough to love myself (that means I am way past my 20’s and beyond my 30’s). I think about what farming was like for my family when I was a kid and I wonder what is yet to come in the next 50 years.  I know it will be nothing short of amazing!  We already have driver-less tractors – well, WE don’t have that, but they have been created.  We do have a drone at our place that gets used to check on where cattle are, look at pasture or crop quality, and so on.  Seed genetics and soil health have improved immensely.  And livestock – we have much better facilities, genomic data, carcass usage, and ultimately, eating satisfaction.  Heck, we can even Ask Chuck how to prepare a cut of beef!  It’s hard to believe we can get EVEN better at what we all do, but there are a lot of very bright minds working to help us do just that.

I hope that as we continue to make advancements, we do so  wisely.  Every choice should leave our land, water, and air in better condition than when we became the manager of it.

Honoring Tradition

Embracing Technology

I treasure this line that I saw in an essay contest written by a young lady named Grace:  “Honoring tradition and being bound by it are two different things.”  May we always honor the important traditions of our families and our communities.  May we also embrace and implement advancements in technology, farming practices, and food production while honoring those important traditions.

Just for fun and because I love it, even though the ONLY thing about it that ties together with this blog is tradition, i.e. the father-daughter dance, here is one of my favorite pictures from the summer. And yes, she chose a dress with a very long, gorgeous train that was a beast to bustle up!

I hope that a hundred years from now fathers are still dancing with their daughters.

Untimely Blessings

We have been getting rain – lots and lots of rain!!!  We would have given anything to have received this rain back in May and June and July.  I won’t be a whiner – I really am thankful for the moisture now, and I do realize it really is a blessing, but golly, it would be nice for the crops to get harvested.  And to have the cattle pens not be muddy.  And to have the gravel roads not be a muddy disaster.  Okay – sorry, I did whine there just a little bit.  Yes, this rain is a blessing, it doesn’t seem like that many years ago we had a very dry fall with strong winds and combines and fields were catching on fire all over the place.  We will gladly deal with a little mud.

 

I really love riding with Matt in the combine.

And we will sit until it gets dry again.

Sometimes things do happen just at the right time.  Last summer we were literally 24 hours from having to drive an hour one way to pick up a water trailer, drive another 20 minutes to load the trailer with water, and then back to the pasture and home again – all for one of the pastures of cows to have water to drink.  Their pond was down to the tiniest muddy water hole you can imagine.  We also had a list of cows we were willing to sell because we just weren’t going to have enough grass to get them all through the summer.  Amazingly, we received enough rain to fill that pond the very next day.  And since then we have received enough rain to keep the grass going.  God is good!  That was a very timely blessing!

These little corn plants ended up getting just enough rain to make a nice crop.

How many times in life do we think, “if this had only happened then, not now?”  Or even more often, how often to we receive or encounter something that we wish would never happen at all?  There are always struggles, whether they are with health or finances, or for farmers, the weather; and sometimes they are with friends or family relationships.  Our pastor reminded us last Sunday (yes, it was raining then, too), it will be o.k.  It always ends up being o.k.  It may not be exactly as you planned and it may stretch your faith and make you get out your thinking cap, but it will be o.k.

This is the rain that came just in time last summer – it was a million dollar rain for the area.

I feel like I need to share some comfort food after all of this.  Since it’s been damp and chilly, we have already kicked off soup season at our house.  Here is a recipe link for a DELICIOUS potato soup we just had.  Matt and I both highly recommend it (especially with plenty of bacon)!

Creamy Potato Soup

P.S.  I know I have been VERY VERY bad about blogging the past couple (er, maybe 3) years.  I have committed to myself to get back to it.  If anyone reads these posts, push me – make me be better about blogging and I certainly welcome topic ideas!

 

 

The Kottmeyer Place

In farm and ranch country, a piece of property or land typically has a name of some sort.  It may be called by it’s legal description (which is far too much for me to remember!) or a fun brand/ranch name, or a direction (the northeast pasture) or in our case, the last name of the previous owner.  The Kottmeyer Place, as Matt, the kids and I are fondly calling it, is a pasture that has been in my family since the 1920’s.  My great grandma, Lydia Kottmeyer raised her family there, one of which was my Grandma Ruby.  When Matt and I got engaged, Grandma Ruby and I went to the nursing home to let Grandma Kottmeyer know the good news.  When we told her Matt had given me a diamond, she stated, “Oh how nice!  Fred is in Africa getting me a diamond!”  As her mind aged, we just played along and were excited with her, why not, right?  And in her defense, Fred was her husband. 🙂   She was still alive when Kaydee was born; we had her funeral the day after Kaydee was baptized.

Grandma Kottmeyer

Grandma Ruby

When my brothers, sister, and I were little, we went over to visit Grandma Kottmeyer fairly often.  One of her sons, Roy, lived with her in the only house that was ever there.  They never had running water in the house – yes, I got the full on experience of using an outhouse!  No, I don’t think I would have chosen to have that as a bucket list item to someday cross off, but, check that – did it!  They did have electricity and a phone, tv, even a sink…just not running water or a bathroom.  Regardless of the “facilities”, it was so much fun to go there – there was all kinds of exploring to do!

They kept a pile of empty bottles and cans out by the corner of the driveway under a tree.  Oh goodness, the treasures that could be found!  On the best days, Mom would visit with Grandma long enough that Roy Henry had time to saddle up Lady and take us kids, one at a time, on a ride across the pasture to the creek on the opposite side and catch sand puppies (lizards).  Along the ride, he would point out different grasses and weeds and tell us which ones the cows liked best or if the roots were safe for people to eat. Roy Henry was also one of the truck drivers for us during harvest.  Now you may remember from a blog post a LONG time ago that Grandma Ruby hosted the “Grandma Ruby school of truck driving.”  She was very patient and taught us many life lessons.  Roy Henry was the one to have fun with!  While we waited for the truck to be full, we would race; but we never ran, we always had to skip or trot or gallop.  We learned to whistle with brome grass blades like and the most fun was waving at every oncoming vehicle and keeping a tally of how many were friendly and waved back.  Good times!

Roy Henry

Inside the little, run down house, Grandma kept a table full of violets that bloomed constantly.  We were always welcome to eat the whole stash of store bought cookies (until Mom told us we had enough) and to this day, I can taste the cold, perfect water that I drank straight from the enamel dipper as we filled the bucket from the hand pump water hydrant.

This year Matt and I were asked if we would like to purchase the property, as everyone wanted it to stay in the family.  We are both honored and blessed to have this opportunity!  We have all kinds of dreams for the place, but first, we had to put up new fence – a lot of it!  And there will be more to do next year!

We have also been working on clearing what was left of the buildings and old equipment that were there.  We celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary digging a hold and burning the house and barn.

I know it was a bittersweet event for some in the family, but those structures, or what was left of them, had stopped serving any purpose other than a hangout for raccoons long ago.

The cows that are in the pasture are loving it and we are loving the chance to dream about someday making the Kottmeyer Place the Caldwell Cattle headquarters.  A good date night is sitting on a tailgate with a cold beer trying to picture new pens, a barn and maybe a house.  Dream big, they say…we are!  Maybe in another hundred years it will be known as the Caldwell Place…just maybe.

It’s a Choice…

This week I heard a most profound statement:  “You will feel much greater success when you see your circumstance as a choice rather than a sacrifice.”  Bam! Right in the forehead!  Yes!  Now, I typically do keep that attitude, but I know there have been times where I was certainly less than cheerful about the choice I had made and attempted to qualify myself as a hero for sacrificing SSSOOO much.  That statement was made in a room chock full of successful agriculture women, but it is completely suitable for all people – men, women, urban, rural, everybody.

So, here are a few of my choices, not sacrifices:

1. I chose to marry a man who’s trade training was in welding; not someone who would likely provide me the opportunity to fly in his corporate jet or take luxurious vacations or live in a mansion. I chose a man who treats me like a queen, makes our home feel like the richest place on earth with his wit and charm, and can make any weekend hanging out together as fun as any possible vacation.  And yes – we have treated ourselves to a few really great vacations 🙂
2. We choose to live an hour drive away from the nearest shopping.  We get to plan when to be in town and we learn to keep essential supplies on hand.  We could live where there is a Target just minutes away and going to the movies could be a spur of the moment thing to do. Instead, we choose to rent a movie on our satellite, see millions of stars at night, watch a lunar eclipse without going anywhere but our front deck, and grill burgers at home rather than driving through somewhere.
3. I choose to have a career and be a farm wife and a mom. I have chosen to make time for the kids activities, while showing them that a woman can have a rewarding career in what has traditionally been known as a “man’s world.”  I have also chosen to be involved in organizations where I feel I am contributing to the betterment of the things I love (church, the beef community, all of agriculture, 4-H, FFA, and so on).

While some may say I sacrificed convenience, culture, time with family, or lavish lifestyle, I believe I CHOSE true love, happiness, cherished memories, and genuine appreciation of ALL things, great and small. (Though admittedly, I do NOT appreciate the snakes crawling through my flower beds!)  I guess wherever you are and whatever you do, everyday seems much better if you remember you chose to go the direction you did and you can choose to change it!

Baby, It’s Cold Outside…

More than a few people have asked me lately, “Do you put your cows inside when it gets really cold out?” Oh, goodness…we don’t have the biggest herd in the world, but it would still take quite a structure to keep them all in!

There is no doubt, this winter has been an interesting one. We have had long stretches of temps below zero at night and only in the single digits during the day. And then, and NOT disappointing to my cold-intolerant body, we have had some grill outdoors, play-in-the-yard, wear-short-sleeves kind of days! As much as I love those warm days for me, they are actually too warm for the cows who have their “winter coats” on.

Mama and Baby

As you can tell from the picture, the cows don’t get to be indoors when it is cold out. We will bring in one who is ready to calve, let the baby get good and dry and nurse, and then turn them out.  God made animals, cattle in particular, very hardy! We certainly do our best to keep them comfortable by having shelter from wind, putting down bedding (straw), and always making sure they have hay to eat and fresh water.  They have a layer of fat, thik skin, and plenty of hair to keep them comfortable.  While I am layering on the amazingly sexy layers of long johns, sweatshirts, coveralls, and coats, those mama’s are doing just fine in their God-given body armor.

So, as we go through these last weeks (I so dearly hope…last…) of winter, enjoy some delicious stew or meatloaf, or whatever you consider comfort food. Before you know it, the grass will begin turning green and it will be time to grill for every meal!

Even when it’s cold, we get to enjoy views like this…

A Healthy Heart…

So, Valentine’s Day is coming soon…are you excited or dreading it? There are so many of us who secretly wish for flowers and a surprise romantic night out that our husband or boyfriend has been planning for weeks.  ~Sigh~  Those things don’t happen in real life. At least not for anyone I know. In real life, a cow needs help as she tries to calve or a pickup gets stuck, or cows are out, or the tractor won’t start. These things don’t happen every day; just on days that us girls of the world want to have a special date.  So, a kiss after the calf is born, a high-five after pulling out a stuck vehicle, a hug between chores – they keep the everyday romance alive 🙂 On the bright side, my charming husband and I do go out on Valentine’s Day to our local Cattlemen’s Banquet and spend the evening with wonderful friends, tons of laughter, and enjoy a delicious beef meal.  The night helps my heart be healthy both figuratively and literally. Good times, laughter in particular, is good for the soul and for the heart!  Beef is also good for the heart! Win, win!!!!

My Valentine

Several years ago, a study was conducted to explore the effects of including beef in your diet on a daily basis.  The results were astounding!  You can read more about the BOLD study.  I guess I am just thankful to know that what I typically eat is NOT causing my heart to be less healthy! Happy Valentine’s Day to me!!!!  Seriously, if you are having any cholesterol challenges, please go to the link and consider what delicious options you have to help yourself be healthier!

Here is a fun recipe to make that is absolutely part of a healthy diet…

BEEF & VEGETABLE SKILLET

• Total Recipe Time: 30 minutes
• Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1. 1-1/4 pounds Top Sirloin Steak boneless, cut 3/4 inch thick
2. 2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
3. 2 garlic cloves, minced
4. 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
5. 3 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, divided
6. 2 tablespoons water
7. 3 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach
8. 1/2 cup sliced green onions
9. 3 tablespoons ketchup
10. 2 cups hot cooked rice, prepared without butter or salt

INSTRUCTIONS FOR BEEF & VEGETABLE SKILLET

1. Cut beef steak lengthwise in half and then crosswise into 1/4 inch strips. Toss with sesame oil and garlic.
2. Heat large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add beef (1/2 at a time); stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes or until outside surface is no longer pink. Remove from skillet.
3. In same skillet, add bell pepper, 2 tablespoons soy sauce and water; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until pepper is crisp-tender. Add spinach and green onions; cook until spinach is just wilted. Stir in ketchup, remaining 1 tablespoon soy sauce and beef; heat through. Serve over rice.

I hope you have someone to enjoy this deliciousness with & you have a heart that is healthy in every way.  And now, just because Emmet is sitting with me as a write & he said so…Bacon; bacon; bacon; bacon; bacon…..and some more bacon!

(Maybe I should give him a pack of bacon as a Valentine’s present! )