agriculture – The Bless Your Heart Blog

Random Rambles

We all ventured out to the sale barn with daddy today. I needed a whole slew of random items from Wal-Mart and I always feel bad making hubby face the mad house after working all day.

Wryder shopped with me while sister stayed and collected money from all of the elder cow buyers to buy a pop to go with her popcorn. 😉 She’s kind of a hit around that place.

Brother and I met up with them a bit later and good gravy does that boy love the sale barn. He ate his fair share of popcorn, gave high gives, moo-ed at cows, double-fisted suckers and fell in love. This boy is ALL about tractors these days and he found a tractor house magazine…

Tractors and popcorn - a match made in heaven — Tractors and popcorn – a match made in heaven

He had a death grip on that magazine and cried when we took it away to eat lunch. He was reunited again once we got in the pickup and he fell asleep with it in his arms.

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Our sweet neighbors finished up corn harvest today and the kids snuck in one last ride around the field before next year.

I'm not totally sure what's going on here, but I LOVE this pic! — I’m not totally sure what’s going on here, but I LOVE this pic!

They were so excited to ride the combine in the dark and came home a bundle of loud, raucous storytellers!

Thank you, sweet Kruegers, for all the starts and stops so the Phipps kids could experience harvest!!

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Tomorrow is election day in Colorado. We’re gonna head to the local courthouse tomorrow and do our civic duties. The last time we voted, Sawyer thought we were going “boating.” She kept asking, “Where’s the boat??” Poor kid was slightly disappointed. We told her she would be grateful for the chance to vote one day.

Lately, she’s been playing Sesame Street and having words and letters of the day. The past couple of days, she’s been saying that “ridiculous” is the word of the day, but she pronounces it ree-dick-lee-us. It’s hysterical.

We’re not big supporters of Proposition 105 for a plethora of reasons. We were talking about it tonight at supper and we got her on video saying this tonight…

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Funny stuff.

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Speaking of funny stuff, Wryder has a new “trick.”

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WHY is poop so fascinating to children?!?

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Love this weather. Love this family. Love this life.

Mars Vs Venus

Our sweet neighbors are in the throes of corn harvest and the kiddos got to go ride in the combine this afternoon! They were FIRED UP! Wryder is all about anything tractor related and any time Sawyer gets to spend with Mr. Rick, she’s all about.

She got her cowgirl clothes on again…

and out they went!

I stayed home to finish unpacking and doing laundry since we were gone all weekend in Denver…and tomorrow is doomsday in my book. I have to go to the dentist and get at least one tooth pulled. Fun yes? NO. Pray for me…please.

I asked daddy to take some pics since I wasn’t gonna go this time…………and this is what he came home with.

That’s it. That’s all the pictures he took. Not one of the kids in the combine…or with Mr. Rick…or by the grain cart…just corn…that I see out every window of our house every day.

Sigh.

I mean, I didn’t specify pics OF THE CHILDREN or the experience, but I guess I thought that was a given?! Sawyer said, “I guess we’ll just have to go again!” I wasn’t quite that gracious. *ahem*

Funny how different we can be sometimes, yes? I just have to laugh…

85 Years Young

This handsome cowboy turned 85 on Friday!

The family got together this weekend to celebrate him and I had the distinct honor of supplying a little decor. I was inspired by a roll of newspaper print paper I picked up at a garage sale for a buck, so we went with a black and white “theme” of sorts.

I used the newsprint paper as a table covering and then set it with black and white ware. We used old records as chargers, I painted the silverware to match (remember that?!) and we found these black and white dishes at the good ole Dollar Tree.

I filled old soda bottles with baby’s breath, green hydrangeas and some black and white feathery balls.

We made paper fans for each guest, which came in quite handy during set up!

I used an old record as the “guest book” for the party. We used a paint pen and everyone left the birthday boy some good wishes!

By far, our favorite piece of party decor was the picture timeline we put together.

Grandma had previously given us some pictures of Grandad growing up. We enlarged them and had them printed, in black and white, of course. We then wrapped them around foam and made faux canvasses.

They turned out AMAZING (if I do say so myself!) and served as the thank you gifts for the party goers, as well.

Everyone was a trooper and wore black and white. We had the guest of honor wear red so he stood out on his special day!

It was such a fun night to honor a very worthy recipient.

I think he liked it! ;) — I think he liked it! 😉

Happy birthday, Grandad! We love you so much and are so proud of the legacy you have left (and are leaving) this family. You are one of the world’s true cowboys; a genuine stockman who knows the reward that comes from the work of your hands. Thank you for instilling the importance and love of production agriculture into your family. Thank you for serving our country (and looking good while doing it – just ask Grandma)! Thank you for raising some of the finest people I know and for loving the same woman for 59 years. You are a treasure. We can’t wait to party at number 90!

County Fair 2014

The Phillips County Fair was this past week and we had high hopes of letting Sawyer enter a few open classes; with our crazy week, it just didn’t work out. She has plenty of show years ahead of her, so no one was too concerned or heartbroken.

We went into to town on Saturday to watch the parade and check out a little bit of the fair.

Always fashionable in her official parade watching chair... — Always fashionable in her official parade watching chair…

This was Wryder’s first parade and since he’s a pro-waver and kiss blower, he thoroughly enjoyed himself!

Sawyer’s candy snatching skills have improved greatly over the past year. Instead of just sitting in her chair while sweet kids shared some with her, she went for it this time!

Life is so good with these three... — Life is so good with these three…

After the parade, we drove down to the fair grounds and took a peak around the barns. Wryder was a HUGE fan of the hogs!

He did NOT want to leave to look at any other species…

I don't want to leave...and there's a fly on my head! — I don’t want to leave…and there’s a fly on my head!

Sawyer was NOT impressed with the hogs at his age.

That was as close as she was willing to get and she kept saying, “Scary! Scary!” She did better this time, but still preferred the goats and chickens.

Ah, yes...much better! — Ah, yes…much better!

The highlight of the fair was the ride in a miniature grain cart! How cute is this little train?!

It was a good day!

Worth 1,000 Words: Petting Zoo

We had the privilege of assisting a ministry with a petting zoo this week! (I know…we had NOTHING else going on, why not?!) Apparently, it’s common knowledge that the Phipps’ always have a small menagerie of animals around and, of course, we jumped at the opportunity! We love kids…we love livestock…we love doing things that the whole family can participate in – it was a win win!

We had a ton of fun talking to the kids about they animals and THEY had a ball petting them, feeding them and begging to take them home. Here are a few pics from the evening…

Rabbits and cats and lots of chickens! — Rabbits and cats and lots of birds!

The kids LOVED these little chickens - they're so gentle! — The kids LOVED these little chickens – they’re so gentle!

MeMo the rabbit his debut and even let a little boy carry him around sans injury!

There were bottle goats and a bottle calf... — There were bottle goats and a bottle calf…

We COULDN'T leave Ozark at home! — We COULDN’T leave Ozark at home!

And there was plenty of feed for everything! — There was plenty of feed for everything!

These guys have made their home in the barn... — These guys have made their home in the barn…

And the kids loved them so much (as did we), our cousin Courtney gave us two more! There were two excited littles around here this morning!

I think he likes her... — I think he likes her…

Yes, he MUST touch it's mouth... — Yes, he MUST touch it’s mouth…

Thank you to the Royal Family Kids Camp for allowing us to be a part of your week and thank you to Courtney for our sweet new additions!

Fun, Fuzzy Surprise

We woke up to a really fun, fuzzy surprise! Out of habit, I peaked out the kitchen window to see if the baby calf had made it’s way out of the womb and into the world…and turns out – he did!

Isn't he adorable?! — Welcome to the world, little guy!

Sawyer and I ran to the bedroom to get daddy and we all threw our shoes on and ran outside. All of the other ladies came to dote on the new baby along with us.

Isn't that what WE do with a new birth, too? — Isn’t that what WE do with a new birth, too?

His momma is a little ~~snarly~~ motherly. This picture was her charging at me for the umpteenth time. She did NOT want me anywhere near him and was prepared to take me out.

I was armed and ready with my sorting stick…and a fence.

Not a big fan of being walloped. — Not a big fan of being walloped

Daddy got her away and got iodine on the baby’s navel and off we went to church! He had sucked before we’d even gotten out there this morning but showed us he knew how just so we felt even better about leaving him. She seems a little embarrassed about nursing in public (note the ear) but she stood for him.

New life of any kind is an absolute miracle and man, I need life. This world is so full of injustices; injustices that are hard on my heart. Satan’s on the warpath out to kill, steal and destroy and as hard as it to comprehend, the Lord allows some of this to happen. In His sovereignty, He could stop it…but for whatever reason, He doesn’t always. In our little world alone, there have been moms and babies taken too early, cancer found too late, kids in the system who end up in abusive homes, brain tumors that are growing – and those are just the biggies (in the past WEEK, mind you) that have been weighing on our hearts and minds. I’m the first to admit that I.don’t.get.it. I don’t understand…and maybe I won’t this side of heaven. So I have to turn to what I believe as true. I have the Word. And it says the He comes to give life and life abundantly. Lord, I need that life…and I needed to see this little life this morning. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

The Visitors

We have some visitors out here on the plains.

Their mommy and daddy are at Disney World with the other kids, so we get to babysit. Sawyer named this calf Cinderella way back when she was purchased…and it stuck. I LOVE big, fuzzy-eared cattle. She’s my fave.

She had a calf this past year which is named Gus Gus. Rightfully so.

This little momma’s name is Daisy. We raised her as a bottle calf when we lived in Denver. Wrex’s boss’ family showed her some and then sold her to her new home. She’s as sweet as pie. (Elise – this is the one you fed when you lived with us. You called her Precious, but regardless…)

They’re all gentle ladies. Sawyer likes to treat them (aka entice them to come her way) with a little nibble of corn.

Ozark the pony has been sharing his space with such grace. They’re constantly checking him out. They don’t have much to worry about out, though. He can’t steal their feed as he has no real teeth left. He gets a special senior horse feed which takes a special line in our budget. He’s totally worth it though. More on him some other time. He’s a dandy.

It’s been fun to have a few new projects around. One of the heifers is due to calve any day now and we can’t hardly wait. Hoping I can catch that one on camera. Wish me luck!

Anyone?

Can anyone guess where Sawyer spent part of her Monday while mom and little brother bought groceries?

You got it – the sale barn! She loves to “buy cows” with her cards and her calculator. Her favorites are “the white ones” (Charolais) or the “buffaloes” (Longhorns). Anything with crazy colors or small in stature always catches her eye, too.

Here’s her other favorite thing about this barn…

They always have free popcorn! And since daddy’s afraid of the ~~nasty, old, rusty pipes that never get used~~ water, she gets to drink pop. Now, I know why she never chooses to go to Wal-Mart…