Sunset view at a stop on Illinois Interstate I/39

Select for larger view of panoramic  photo of the sunset

Enjoy:

Here is the farm I grew up on, it has some of my favorite memories from my childhood, everything magical seemed possible on this place.  I took my friends out here and even stopped by with my friend PJ on our senior trip across America when we saved up our own money to drive from Washington State to North Caroline one summer.

I had the opportunity to share this magical place with my children this Thanksgiving and thought you all might like to see some of those memories as well.

My Grandfather’s farm (the kids’ Great Grandpa) was over 2000 acres before he sold it about 5 years ago.  The name of the farm was Mantua Farms and he had everything from barley for beer to sugar beets, alfalfa, and cattle.  My grandpa is one of the most wonderful male influences in my life, he served in WWII, and raised 3 kids on his farm.  He was tough and loving all at the same time.

Grandpa, I love you

I asked my friend Kyle what I should write about on my blog, and he said “me!”. So here you go Kyle, I hope you’re happy!

Once upon a time there lived a boy named Kyle. He was born atop a mountain, and spent his youth eating pies and working on his Grand-Pappy Earl’s pig farm. Grand-Pappy Earl had several ribbon winning pigs. He even imported fancy pigs in from China. They always made the best bacon.

One brisk autumnal eve Grand-Pappy Earl invited Kyle to join him in front of his wood burning stove to share some cherry pie and a glass of Bourbon.

“Kyle,” Grand-Pappy Earl growled, “It’s time you find yourself a woman. You can’t stay up here on this ol’ mountain forever. You need to git yourself on down to that there city and swoon yourself a pretty young girl.”

“But Grand Pappy! Who will take care of all them pigs on this here pig farm? And Grand-Pappy! The air down there, I hear it’s black as tar, and thick as molasses, surely my plethora of random allergies will not be able to handle such things. I’ll be dead within a week!”

Grand-Pappy Earl scratched his formidable grey beard and slowly sipped his Bourbon, mulling over what Kyle had said.

“Kyle, you know I wants nothing but the best for you. And the best for you is in that there big ol’ city. I know it’s scary, but I hear there’s what the fancy folk call modern medicine, they have them pointy needles that they stick into your arm, and such. You’ll be fine boy! Now pack up, I’m taking you down with me, we’ll show our pigs to them city folk at that big fair, and then, I’ll come back up here and your brother Willis will stay and run the farm. It’s settled.”

Kyle stared longingly into the embers, clutching his pie plate, his stomach knotted. He wasn’t sure he was ready for such a step. What is a young foolish pig farmer supposed to do in the big city?

The next morning Grand-Pappy Earl and Kyle loaded the show pigs into their pig truck and rumbled down the mountain. Kyle had packed one suitcase filled with belt-buckles, photos and his toothbrush. In his pocket he carried his lucky sow’s ear. It once belonged to their prized pig Beatrice. She garnered over $50,000 in prize money over her years in the show ring. That was, until the accident.

Once in the city, Grand-Pappy Earl stopped at the corner of Sherbourne and Adelaide.

“Out you get there boy. Be good. Find yourself a wife.” Grand-Pappy said, holding back tears as he stuffed a $100 bill in Kyle’s breast pocket and patted him heartily on the back. “Get  now, get!”

Kyle stumbled out of the truck, gathering his bearings. He stood and watched his Grand-Pappy drive off, wiped a warm tear from his cheek and walked into the first unlocked door he could find. Then he walked up many stairs until he found the second unlocked door.

It turns out Kyle has wandered into the office of a Graphic Designer. He hung about awkwardly in the doorway with his suitcase until finally an older man came over.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

“I’m looking for some work, I’m quite the hard worker and won’t let you down!” Kyle declared enthusiastically, punctuating the end of his sentence with a fist pump.

Kyle was hired on the spot. Pig farming is exceptionally similar to Graphic Design in many ways, so it was only natural that Kyle excelled quickly and became one of the city’s most sought after designers.

But with the all the distractions his successful career had brought, he had forgot the true reason why his Grand-Pappy had dropped him off in the big city: To find a beautiful lady. Kyle knew what he had to do. He had to take two weeks paid vacation, clear his schedule and find a kind, warm-hearted woman to share his life with.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and purpose driven life on this Thanksgiving Day.

Image copyrighted Martha Lochert. Reproduction, copying and file sharing prohibited.

A stately home stops plans for an eight turbine wind farm being built in Northamptonshire…. From BBC News. Full story

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Happy Thanksgiving.

Bronze Turkey

Pilgrims at Plymouth probably didn’t have turkey either. Nor did they have the stuffing ‘the dearth of flour meant there was no bread to make it with’, no rolls either ,no  potatoes ‘most Europeans still thought they were poisonous’, pumpkin pie ‘pumpkin and winter squash were served boiled’ {yuk}, or cranberries ‘they’d yet to be introduced’ that we now equate with the Thanksgiving table.

We know for sure that in preparation for that first feast in 1621, Governor Bradford sent “four men fowling” after wild geese and ducks. They may or may not have returned with a turkey or two as well, and possibly a swan, but they definitely augmented their bounty by copious amounts of venison (Bradford was presented with at least five deer), cod, clams, and lobsters.

Until about the middle of the last century, most of the turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving would have been the Standard Bronze, Bourbon Red, White Holland, Naragansett, and Jersey Buff varieties. These turkeys are gorgeous, hardy creatures, developed in Europe and America over hundreds of years and rich in flavor. Though they are the ancestors to the Broad-Breasted White, a sort of made-up breed that arose in the 1960s with the advent of industrial turkey farms they bear little resemblance to that now ubiquitous bird in taste or texture.

Bourbon Red Turkey

Small specialty turkey farms to the rescue! Their turkeys, we are told, “scratch, eat clover and grass, chase grasshoppers,” and receive rations of noncommercial feed mix devoid of antibiotics. Their meat is finer and denser, and because they develop a thin layer of fat between 6 and 7 months of age, they are also “self-basting.” Try one, you will like it!

Keep it simple. Cooking scratch, heritage turkeys, the recipe is refreshingly simple: season the turkey’s cavity with salt, pepper, sprigs of thyme and/or sage, and a quartered onion; rub the outside with oil and salt, put it in a 500-degree oven for 30 minutes; cover the breast with foil and roast at 350 until an inserted thermometer reaches 161 degrees.

Why is Common Sense so Uncommon?

Em tempos nos quais se discute fervorosamente o comprimento de uma saia, me deparo com esse look!

Pra mim não existe nada mais sexy que ombro e colo(vulgo saboneteira xD) à mostra, com caimento bem natural, como quem não quer nada!(querendo tudo…rs)

Na minha humilde opinião, o ser sexy, na medida obviamente, está nisso…nos detalhes, no natural, no QUASE! Muito mais implícito do que explícito!

Portanto, se joguemmmm nesse estilo de blusa…olhem como ela fika perfeita casada com muitos colares e jeans skinny!
Agora, claro que uma sainha curtinha não faz mal a ninguém…apenas use com moderação(e sabedoria)…pois existe uma linha bem tênue entre estar linda e estar vulgar(e isso não é nada trendy)!

Beijossss

PS: Acho absurda a proporção que o caso Geisy tomou, desprezo qualquer forma de preconceito e violência…

Imagem retirada do Blog Adoro da Farm!

Campaigners object to plans for a wind farm in Cheshire, disputing claims about the amount of energy it will provide…. From BBC News. Full story

This site may contain information about: farm. The blog is also related to: farm.

As this new day dawns—Thanksgiving Day— I think it’s appropriate that I take just a few minutes before the busy hustle/bustle of this holiday weekend takes over to give thanks.

In short, I’m thankful for:

• Four generations of family members to celebrate the holidays with
• An 87-year-old mother who inspires me on a daily basis
• A grandbaby on the way (OK, you’ve heard this before!)
• My wonderful husband who supports me even when he thinks I’m crazy (as in currently pursuing my Doctorate)
• Three grown kids who make me intensely proud!
• A career (working with kids and adults) that I love
• Purposeful work at school and home
• Our family farm full of animals and adventures
• Friends who “hold me up” and occasionally, let me “hold them up”
• A positive attitude despite everything around us in the news–and world–that could make us pessimistic
• “Enough” of all of the above!

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR ON THIS DAY OF THANKSGIVING?

I can remember the first moment when I first realised the connection between eating meat and eating an animal. I was in Year 5 and our Social Studies unit was on food. Each week we had to research a particular food and create a project on it. Always the academic achiever, I jumped into these projects with great gusto. One week it was peanuts, and I learned that Kingaroy was the peanut capital of Australia. Another week it was pineapples, and another macadamias.

I remember going to the local newsagent and buying information packs on these foods as well as coloured pens and pencils to make my project really shine. (My love of stationery stores began early…) I would take these info packs home, absorb everything that I read, then cut out the pictures to glue onto my project sheets. (And I can only imagine how inconvenient that must have been for Mum, a single mother on a tight budget.)

Then the week came when I was required to research beef. There, inside my project information pack, were photos of cows. Dark brown beef cattle stared out at me, huddling together in feedlots. Although I must have known it on some level, it was the first moment I remember of having such a strong, visceral reaction to the connection of cows and the steak that I ate.

The information focused on the number of head of cattle and the major farming areas in Queensland. It didn’t even mention the act of slaughter or butchery, but I turned each page with an ever-increasing mortification: I had been eating cows.

“What Carbon means to Farmers”

Great evening good presentation and heated debate afterwards. Thanks to all the speakers  Dr Glenda Thomas Director FWAG Cymru, Dai Davies President NFU Cymru, Andrew RT Davies AM and our panel chairman Julie Thomas for a very enjoyable evening. There was definitely some food for thought and I am certain some CO2 released in debate. I am sure that our carbon sinks on the farm offset this.

Outcome was that farmers need to promote the positive effects on climate change and advertise the reductions we have made so far.

The startling fact that the carbon footprint of the potato is most when in the home and being cooked …….

This subject will be continued at future events I am sure.

Farm visit by Jill Evans MEP  at the neighbour’s on Friday

NFU GLAMORGAN ON FARM MEETING – FRIDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2009

I write to extend an invitation to you to join us for our forthcoming meeting with Jill Evans MEP.  The meeting will be hosted by Mr and Mrs S Williams at Pantycornant farm, Blackmill, Bridgend. The meeting will start at 11.00 am this Friday, 27^th November.

This meeting will provide us with an opportunity to discuss European issues with the member of the European Parliament, such as food labelling, EU budget/CAP Reform, Climate change and sheep EID.

Dai Davies and Edmund Bailey will also be in attendance.

Please note this is an open meeting so please do encourage friends/neighbours to join us. Please see directions below. 

Yours sincerely,

Stella Owen

Farm Policy Adviser

NFU Cymru

Directions: 

From West (Sarn) : Head for Blackmill (A4061), Turn right for A4093 Tonyrefail, continue on this road up to Glynogwr. Go past a church on the right hand side – after 100yards turn left onto a lane – continue until you reach the farmyard.

From East: Get off M4 at junction 34, take A4119 for Tonyrefail, take A4093 (Gilfachgoch). On entering Glynogwr, see bungalow on the right and turn right onto the lane – continue until you reach the farmyard.

Today, we celebrate Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving- a holiday which we’re told was initially celebrated by the Pilgrims and the Indians to give thanks for bountiful harvests.  Today, Thanksgiving is typically a celebration with friends and family where we stuff ourselves full of turkey and other delicious food till we’re in a food coma.  Damn that tryptophan.  Those still awake watch football or plan where they’re going for the Black Friday deals.

Over the last few days, I’ve been contemplating and reflecting over the things that I am thankful for this year.  Some times sarcasm creeps– what can you be thankful for when your world is turned upside down and you’ve lived through the darkest, loneliest, saddest times you’ve ever been through.  I’ve then given myself a mental pep talk.  After several days of  thinking, I’ve found some light in the darkness.

Basically 2009 has just plain sucked since February.  Life was so good before February- I had a husband whom I loved dearly and we were such a happy family with our new son.  Everybody was healthy.  Life was good.

Then along came February and the stage IV diagnosis, followed by our fight and culminating in our lost battle.

But through it all there are things to be thankful for.

Nathaniel.  I have a wonderful easy going delightful son.  He is a pleasure to be around and his growth and development is nothing short of amazing to witness.

John got to be a father and he was a great one.  Some men never have the opportunity to become fathers.  Of the ones that do, not all of them are great.  John enjoyed fatherhood as much as he physically could through his illness.  Mentally it gave him a reason to fight and a reason to live that stretched beyond self.  John loved his boy so much.  He told me that Nathaniel’s laughter was his most favorite sound.

I had a great marriage and was married to a wonderful man.  I’ve been able to experience true love.  There are lots of people who can’t say that.  I have enough wonderful memories to hopefully last a lifetime.

John’s illness has taught me to stand up for what is right and to fight for those you love and to pick up the pieces and carry on.  The Mary of years past, wouldn’t have stood up to the well known and credentialed doctor and told him that we weren’t done fighting and if he was, then he could be forever referred to by name as “the doctor that gave up on daddy and the doctor who let daddy die.”  The doctors and nurses have other patients and rooms to visit.  The patient has one life.  Sometimes you have to stand up for those you love and insist on the best treatment for your loved one.  In the end maybe the outcome isn’t the most important thing, but rather how you life the life you have and the memories that you leave.  We’ve all been born and we’ll all die… really it’s the parts in the middle that we need to really make count!

John’s death has left me with a hole in my heart- grief, heartache, and loneliness like nothing else I’ve ever experienced.  But, I’m getting through it… not over it, but through it.  Some days are like walking through a nice grassy meadow with the sun warmly shining.  Others are like fighting my way through thick mud and slipping, sliding, falling, and getting up and pushing on.  The sun rises.  The sun sets.  Life goes on.  If I choose to live life or not, it still continues- better to enjoy it while I can.  Nathaniel, the horses, and the cats have kept me going.  They all need me and they all love me.  I’m working or re-building my life.  It won’t ever be the same or the happy home and strong fortress that it was with the three of us, but we’re making it.  It’s not always easy, it’s not always pretty, and it certainly isn’t always clean, but we’re making it…. one day at a time.  Life goes on.  We never know how short or long our life will be.  To me it only makes sense to enjoy it to it’s fullest and be happy as best you can.

For some reason, John’s death has chilled me out more and I don’t usually get upset over the little stuff.  In the end, the little things don’t matter.  It’s the big picture.  I just want to relax and enjoy simple pleasures- hug my kid, ride my horses, take a walk, pet the critters, and just enjoy life.  I’m very fortunate that I can do all of those things without even leaving Leaky Creek!  I love my farm, my house, my horses, my cats, and my son.  I truly feel like there is something else out there beyond our realm.  I do think that John has given me signs.  It’s reassuring and gives me an inner peace that I need.  Attending church has been helpful.  I used to fear dying terribly.  After I held John’s hand as he died, my fear left.  Someday, I’m sure we’ll be together again… as long as he doesn’t hook up with some hot angel in the meantime…

Annapolis Fire Department.  They were absolutely amazing during John’s illness and they (along with Community Fire Company of Rising Sun) made his funeral a fitting tribute to a wonderful man and amazing firefighter.  AFD did so many wonderful things that I know I can’t mention all of them.  They covered John’s shifts, so he received full pay.  They allowed him to retire on disability.  They came to visit him in the hospital and were there for his 2nd round of IL2 treatments at 6 AM & 10 PM.  They transformed our half bath into full bath with a shower that John could use.  Sometimes when you’re sick… the ability to get clean just means so much.  Sadly, John was only able to use his shower a few times, but it was very much appreciated!    AFD built a ramp, so we could get the wheelchair in and out easily.  They mowed our grass and did assorted maintenance jobs.  They went with us to many doctor’s visits so I didn’t have to worry about driving on little sleep or in unpredictable traffic.  They sent meals.  They held a fundraiser in Annapolis.  They participated in Team Smitty for the LiveStrong Challenge.  In, short, they took care of their brother.  John truly worked for a topnotch organization.  He loved working there and they loved him, too.  I miss them.

I’m thankful to the wonderful medical personnel that we encountered… from the friendly, familiar faces on the ambulance, to the caring hospital nurses, to our beloved home health nurses, and every smiling caring face in between.

I am thankful to the friends and family who have supported us and were there for John, Nathaniel, and myself.  During times of crisis, you find out who your true friends are.  Sometimes they are who you think they are… sometimes they’re different people.  I  have been very fortunate that no matter how alone I feel, I am not without friends to support me.  Some friendships have strengthened and I’ve even found new friends.  A simple phone call can make all the difference in the world.  Many people have also helped me out with everything from mowing grass, to checking car brakes, to babysitting, to installing ceiling fans, to watching Nathaniel while I got some equine therapy… and just being there when I needed to talk, needed a hug, or needed a shoulder to cry on.  This Thanksgiving, I’ve received so many invitations- thanks to everybody who thought about my boy and me and knew that we might not have a place to go.

I also have the world’s best babysitter.  I can’t tell you how amazing she has been with my son and how much I enjoy and value her friendship.  We’ve known each other since elementary school, but had lost touch through the years.  Facebook re-united us and I consider her to be one of my best friends, now.  We share conversations, hugs, and tears.  There is nothing like having the piece of mind that my son is being cared for as if her were part of her family.  Nathaniel helped carve his first pumpkin and made his first art project with them.  Her daughter is like a sister to him.  Nathaniel adores her husband and I think it is important for Nathaniel to  have a good male role model in his life.  I can go to work and have no concerns and no worries… to quote the credit card commercials.. “Peace of mind– priceless.”   I know John would approve.

I also hope that I can do some things in memory of John to help fight melanoma and fight cancer.  I don’t want his death to be in vain.  Skin cancer can kill.  We need more melanoma awareness and much, much more research.  I’d love to do a memorial bike ride, since he loved to cycle.

So, even in what has been the worst year in my 34 year life, there are things to be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving everybody.  Hug your spouse.  Hug your kid(s).  Pet the critters.  Eat up and watch some football.  And if you get a chance before the food coma sets in take at least a brief moment to remember what you’re thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving from Dunbar Gardens! We’re posting a slide show of photos taken at the farmstand. Hopefully you will be enjoying some tasty fruits and vegetables from your garden or a farm near you this holiday.

3103206    การควบคุมสัตว์และการจัดการฟาร์ม    Animal Restraint and Farm Management

เทคนิคและอุปกรณ์การจัดและควบคุมบังคับสัตว์ เพื่อตรวจสภาพร่างกายและให้ยา การทำนายอายุสัตว์โดยการตรวจฟัน สภาพสัตว์ที่สมบูรณ์และนิสัยที่ไม่ดี การขนส่งสัตว์ การทำเครื่องหมายบนตัวสัตว์ การจัดการฟาร์ม

(Handling and restraining techniques and devices for physical examination and medication in animals; dentition; soundness and vices; animal transportation; identification; farm management.)

(3103206 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

3103531    การจัดการฟาร์ม    Farm Management

หลักการจัดการฟาร์ม สถานภาพเศรษฐกิจการเกษตรโดยทั่วไป บัญชีฟาร์มและการตัดสินใจด้านการเงิน การประยุกต์ใช้เทคนิคการจัดโปรแกรมเชิงเส้นและโปรแกรมคอมพิวเตอร์ในการจัดการฟาร์ม

(Principle of farm management; general agricultural economics; farm accountancy and financial considerations; applications of liner programming techniques and computer programs in farm management.)

(3103531 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

A wind farm off the Kent coast has suffered persistent mechanical failure in the four years since it began operating, the BBC reveals…. From BBC News. Full story

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So, we are still on Tampa time and we woke up at around 5:30 am here in Powell (7:30 am Tampa time) and stayed inside until we couldn’t stand it any more.  Damn, it is cold outside.  We went to check out my cousin’s cows and the Old Mantua Farms sign that hung on my Grandfather’s farm for many decades until he sold the farm about 5 or 6 years ago.  I just thought we would share these photos with all of you.

Oh, and all the winding roads here in Wyoming scream for me to ride my motorcycle down them, but we flew so that is a trip for another day…