Beef Month

So May is Beef Month. And true to my normal timing, I'm doing a blog about beef on the last day of the month so enjoy beef not just in May, but the rest of the year.

I grew up on a beef farm and married into a beef farm so our freezers have always been full of beef for cooking. My mom was always really busy with farming, cattle, paperwork, cleaning and taking care of us to do a lot of cooking which was fine by us. Since getting married, my mother-in-law does a lot of cooking for us, but with our own freezer of meat to cook and a husband to cook it for, I've been trying to learn some new recipes and cook with cuts that I haven't used before. Matt would probably tell you I'm failing miserably, but since I grilled hamburgers for him before he got home tonight a few minutes ago, I don't think he should complain to much.

I'm, of course, still learning and will always be learning. One of the ladies in the Leadership KFB class that I'm in works for Certified Angus Beef. She pointed me to their website and I've found it very useful. It will show you where the cut came from on the beef and give you several recipes and ways to cook it to perfection. Here is their website- https://www.certifiedangusbeef.com/ I would highly encourage you to visit it before visiting your grocery store to know which cut to choose or if you already have some meat in your freezer it's very handy for new recipe choices.

We've been spraying some weeds today and been getting ready for a busy week coming up. We'll be very busy getting the rest of cattle rearranged to grass, drilling the triticale ground, possibly replanting and helping my mom get her cattle out to grass.

Lots more to tell you about what's going on on the farm, but it's off to get some sleep for me with a very busy week coming up.

Hope you have a great week!

In the Blink of the Eye-Dad's Accident

How fast things happen...in the blink of an eye everything can change. This week Matt and I have been doing a fair amount of fighting. Stuff that I think are such a big deal, really aren't. I always think of two things when Matt and I fight. 1. Lierz' Philosophy of Life. My FFA advisor and huge role model in my life taught us with his Philosophy of Life the reason we get mad about anything is because our expectations aren't met. This is always true when I'm mad at Matt. I expect him to do something or not just do it, but do it my way and we he doesn't I get mad. The second thing I think of is something Dara, my FSA co-worker, told me towards the end of the time that I was working there. I was complaining about something Matt did or didn't do and she told me some advice that she was given one time. Growing up mothers are their little boys cheerleaders...everything they do is wonderful and right. They are always cheering them on, no matter what they do. Men grow up with their mothers always telling them good job and how wonderful they are. Then they get married. Wives, or maybe it's just me, are constantly nagging and tearing their husbands down. Rather than being the cheerleader that they are used to, they are now given somebody that is constantly telling them they are doing something wrong. Another thing I think about is one of my classmates, Adam, that was killed our junior year in a car accident. Everything can change so quickly and most of the things that I choose to fight with Matt about are inconsequential. While I work the long hours with Matt, I'm not making the thousands of dollar decisions that he is. I simply do what he says. I don't have the stress that he and his father and every other farmer out there has. I try to remind myself that I need to be understanding and patient rather than questioning and doubtful. That approach would get me so much farther than the way I currently use. Matt, I love you and I'm sorry that I nag and I really appreciate everything that you do. 

Today, my mom called me to tell me that my dad had been in a four wheeler wreck. Mind you, this is the man that drives at least 20 miles below the speed limit at all times, always is yelling at us about going too fast and to be very careful on loose gravel. Nobody was with him or around him when the wreck happened so we don't know for sure, but the guess is that he hit the loose gravel that was wet and went for quite a tumble. I haven't seen the four wheeler, but I hear it's done. Dad went in the ambulance to Topeka to the hospital. After doing a CT scan they don't find any broken bones or anything else. He's complaining about his lower back hurting, but that could be just being in a wreck. He's very very fortunate. It could be much much worse. He's staying in the hospital overnight for observation, but hopefully will be able to come home tomorrow. 

It always seems that when I get shallow and Matt and I are fighting there's something that comes along that reminds me that it's not that important. As a human, I'm not perfect but I'm going to try to be a better wife and daughter. 

Be very careful as you go about your daily activities. Don't get complacent in your habits that you forget to be careful. Everything can change so fast! Be thankful for what you have and the blessings in your life. 

There will be an update next week on Dad's status. Have a great week!

Happy Mothers' Day

Most important this week, today is a special day for a couple of reasons. Today is my Grandma's 102nd birthday. 102...Can you imagine? What all she has seen in her years. Happy birthday to a great woman that means so much to so many people.

Another reason, of course, that today is a special day is the celebration of where we all came from, Mother's Day.

This is a favorite picture of mine from the wedding. It's where I came from. My grandma and mom, both great people that I love dearly.

I'm so blessed with amazing women in my life. I have so many amazing role models. First, my mom. She's always been there for us. She's an amazing person that's stronger than anyone I know. Short and sweet I know Mom, but maybe you'll get  chance to read it while you're so busy with calving. I don't tell you enough, but I appreciate you and everything you do. I wish you happiness and hope you have a great day! I love you!

My mother-in-law, Margaret, is the best mother-in-law a girl could ask for. Anything I need she has or will get. So thankful for her in my life. Margaret is so thoughtful, kind and caring. I appreciate everything she does for her baby boy and his wife. We're so thankful for her in our lives and often forget or neglect to tell her. Thank you Margaret for all that you do.

A whole host of other mothers are in my life as well...too many to list by name, but I appreciate all of you for the love and support you've given me in the last 23 years. From my sister and sister-in-laws to family members to my FSA co-workers to friends, you all are wonderful and I want you to know that though you remain nameless in this blog, you mean so much to me. I wish you all the best Mother's Day, you've ever had. May you be spoiled and pampered on your day.

About the farm work lately...we've been doing a lot of cattle work this week. It's been raining so much (I'm not complaining!) that we can't get in the fields. I hope it's not washing the crops out, just giving them some growing moisture. Taking the opportunity to get all rested up before the hard work really begins.

A short blog this week, but I'm sure all of you are busy with your mothers and not worried about reading blogs. Enjoy! Have a great week!

Planting is Done!

Several things happening on this NE KS farm. I know we aren't the only ones hopping at this point to get everything done. The guys were hoping to finish up planting tonight before it rains. I wasn't very involved in planting this year. They got a lot of the corn done one day while Margaret and I went to garage sales. Then I was gone Wednesday through Saturday of this week for another session of the Leadership KFB that I'm in. I helped some today, but I'm sure neither Matt nor Henry is very happy about my lack of participation in planting. I'm sure I'll make it up later in harvest. I've got quite a few pictures stored on my phone so thought that would be the easiest approach for this week. 

I think Miss Abilene may have been trying to tell me something. She went in the bathroom on her own and hopped in the tub just looking at me. I had just finished mopping and that's normally when she gets a bath. She's very smart and picks up on routines very quickly. She definitely has some blue heeler in her though because she can be very stubborn. Then again, maybe she's just picked up on some of my behavior. 

Couple shots of the planter. Didn't get very many. Again due to my lack of participation. If you look closely, you can see both Matt and Henry in the tractor. Matt's trying to teach Henry how to run the technology in the tractor. If you know Matt, you know that he's short on words most of the time and would rather do it himself rather than teach, so I'm not sure how well this lesson went. 

I'm not great at food shots, but am so thankful to Matt for grilling steaks for me one night when he came home. He was exhausted and would much rather have been doing something else I'm sure, but he took the time to do it. They were a little rare because he got tired of cooking, but they were still delicious. 

We got to see the twins last Sunday. They are growing like crazy! So much change happening in them. This is their mom, Matt's sister, Jenny with the boys in one of our tractors. 

I don't know what it is about having a clean kitchen table, but it just makes me much less grumpy. Ours is hardly ever used, which makes it a great place for piling stuff. But I got it cleared off and got some fresh lilacs to enjoy before I left for the end of the week. 

It's time to turn cattle out to grass. The grass has been a little late this year due to the colder weather, it wasn't growing as fast. Most of the cattle are turned out now. That means the summer pasture checking has started. They were thrilled to be turned out on green grass to eat so they wouldn't have to eat hay. 

This is one of my friends, Janae. She's getting married the beginning of June. She was so creative with all of the shower and wedding gifts she got for me so I tried very hard to do something homemade and crafty for her. Matt had to help me and basically just did it, but it's a heart barb wire wreath with her last name initial in the middle. If only I could get Matt to help with my Pinterest attempts, they would turn out much better then they do when I make them. 

Session 3 of the Leadership KFB class was held in Wichita this last week. We got to attend KFB's (Kansas Farm Bureau) event called Zest & Zing among several other tours and events. Zest & Zing is an attempt at bringing producer and farmers together to help answer questions. Not a great picture, but this is a picture of Tiya, one of the ladies in our Leadership class. She did a talk about her operation and why they do what they do. It was a great turn out and was an exceptional event. 

After being gone and in a city for a few days it was sure great to get home to the cattle. Got home early enough to go check some cows and spend some time with puppy before going to bed exhausted.

My oldest sister is also in this class and since she lived on the way, Autumn asked me for a sleepover the night before the meetings started. It was great getting to see her and all her new things that she was excited to show me. I hope they enjoyed their mini family vacation in Wichita after the session. 

Yesterday was also Matt's 25th birthday! Being the true planner and thoughtful person that I am (for those that know me, know  this is a straight out lie), but I did get him ice cream cupcakes. I braved the Saturday shopping rush of Manhattan to get him those and some groceries. That's about as much love as you can get from me after being in a big city for a couple days. 

Anyway, Matt just got home and I think my meatloaf is getting too done. Hope you have a great week!