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All I can say is this has been one strange winter so far. While parts of the West were hunkered down with snow and ice, we were out and about in almost 70 degree weather. Granted, we had some lovely rain and wind to go along with those warm temps, but it still wasn't bad enough to need a coat. The winter mud has returned, and the cows are just as confused as we are. We had to dig out the fans this weekend because the cows were just too hot to eat. 
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We didn't ring in the new year and decade with any fan fare or big parties. To be honest, we all came home and took naps, warmed up left overs for dinner and then headed back to the couches for another nap...then off to bed long before the ball dropped. It was a glorious evening of staying in and catching up on sleep we didn't realize we needed. I don't know about you, but right now I am a little overwhelmed by 2020. It seems that every time I turn to TV, internet or social media, I am faced with goals, resolutions, organization and plans to master 2020 and start the decade off right. It's all a little exhausting.  2019 was a good year for us. To be quite honest...I'm not sure I am ready for it to be over.
I know big things are ahead for us in 2020...but I am still savoring 2019. I spent New Year's Day scrolling through pictures on my phone. Those that have been around here for a while have seen many of the highlights of our year, but there is so much more that happened in between all these moments.  All I want for Christmas is a new show heifer A new show heifer A new show heifer Gee, if I could only have a new show heifer A new show heifer Then I wouldn't ask again until next show season It seems so long since I could say, "I won Grand Champion" Gosh, oh gee How happy I would be All I want for Christmas is a new show heifer A new show heifer Just a new show heifer Gee, if I could only have a new show heifer Then I wouldn't ask again until next show season Mom and Dad used to bring me lots of cows But now when I try to call their names They say the barn is too full All I want for Christmas is a new show heifer A new show heifer Just a new show heifer Gee, if I could only have a new show heifer Then I could wish you a Merry Christmas Adaptation of Donald Yetter Gardner's All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth by Heather Wiley. You might also like... You have seen some of the recent highlights of our life and activities. For all the things that I share here, there are many other things that are going on behind the scenes. Sometimes, it is the ugly things that just don't make for good blog posts and other times, it just isn't quite as exciting.  This year, we have intentionally and unintentionally made some changes in our herd. We have had babies, sold cows and lost some others.
We have used Mitchell as our herd bull for several years now, but that also means that we have more and more cows in our herd that he has sired, meaning we have to use a different bull. We aren't quite ready to get rid of Mitchell, so that means we have to change up the cows in our herd. With Christmas just around the corner, there is always that one person that I have trouble finding a gift for. The person that has everything and needs nothing. I am a huge fan of leather. After all, leather is a product of the cattle industry. Leather stands up to the test of time and gets better with age.  I have compiled a list of hand made leather items that can be purchased from Etsy. I love Etsy, because...it is online (my favorite)… and it supports the cottage industries and craft makers.
Last week we were in Louisville, Kentucky for the 2019 North American International Livestock Expo. Since I put the show program together, I knew that there were going to be an incredible set of cattle in the show ring. We didn't expect to do that well this year. We have good cattle, but there were some amazing cattle in the show ring. We took our two bulls, Smith and Wesson, and were hoping we might win something in the division and possibly in the pair of bulls, but that is all we could hope for.  The unexpected made it so much more fun.
Facebook and Instagram are full of picture perfect moments. Even life on the farm is usually beautiful and clean.
But is it really like that in real life? Farms are working operations. We have messy stuff and piles of things that we may need some day. Broken pieces and parts that need to be thrown away...or when you live in the country...hauled to the dump. There isn't time to do it all, so something has to give. Usually, that pile stays until Spring. I have a pretty amazing life. I love my family and this farm we live on, but I don't want you to think for one minute that my life is all picture perfect. Today, there are some pretty pictures, but I also step back and turn around to show you what is on the other side. Cameras and photo editing can make things seem better than they really are.
Am I the last person on Earth to jump on the Amazon Prime bandwagon?
About this time last year, I realized that I was pretty much the only person who didn't have Amazon Prime. To be honest...I thought it was pretty dumb. Why pay a fee to get my orders in 2 days, when I can get my order in 5 days if I meet the minimum order? Besides, how hard is it to find $25 worth of items you want to buy from Amazon?
This post contains affiliate links.
But then, my wonderful husband ordered a Christmas gift for me off of Amazon. He promptly told me I was not allowed to look at the Amazon account or open e-mails sent from Amazon (the trials of buying your spouse a gift).
He then went on to tell me that he got a free offer for Amazon Prime. I asked him when the free offer expired? "I don't know...I didn't look at that part." One of the best ways to promote your farm is to attend cattle shows. At cattle shows, the best of your herd is on display, both in the show ring and back at the stalls. Even if you don't win in the show ring, you have to opportunity to expose your farm and promote your animals. We just want to be farmers, but what good is farming if we can't sell our products? Whether you like it or not, you have to be in the marketing business.  There are several things you can do at the show to market your farm. Some cost some money and take a little pre-planning, and others are very cheap and easy.
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AuthorHello! I am Heather... the city girl turned mom to manure loving country boys. My husband and I both grew up in the city, but spent weekends visiting grandparents in the country. We are first generation farmers who learn best by almost always doing things the hard way. I hope you enjoy following along with our adventures down on the farm. Archives
March 2020
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