Wordless Wednesday: Been building a bin

You may remember my post about the many summa projects around our family farm - well we can check one of em off our list as our grain bin (used to store all of our corn used to feed the piggies) is now up.

Check it out ... did you know they build those big shiny grain silos from the top down, rim by rim ... pretty neat!

Hot Lil Piggies!

Does anyone else feel like when you walk outside, you're standing directly on the face of the SUN?!

It is so flippity-flipping bright out and H-O-double-T!! The heat index in our little part of the world has reached ridiculous record highs at 110 degrees. Yowsers! It's times like these when I'm A) thankful that I don't have to work outside and B) for the wonderful man that invented the air conditioner!

Unfortunately, the pigs on our farm don't have it quite as easy. Did you know that piggies can't sweat? Here in the last several weeks, Big D has been working his fanny off keeping the pigs as comfortable as possible in the summer heat. Everyday, our folks are spraying all of the pigs with water hoses to try to keep them cool, also - every one of our momma sows has her own individual box fan, ontop of the ventilation system installed many of our barns that keeps the air moving constantly.

And just like you and me - water - oh my goodness - it is absolutely critical that our pigs have an endless supply of fresh water to prevent dehydration. If a water line breaks or if we lose power and the ventilation system shuts down - it's crisis mode to get things back up and running - because pigs just can't survive these unbelievable temps.

I can't imagine how much they really suffered being outside. I remember when my hubby and I first started raising hogs on our own - we were still using some older buildings that allowed the pigs to go outside. The poor things got severely sunburnt - it wasn't too long after that that we were able to move all the pigs inside where we could better control their climate and make it as comfortable as possible for them out of the sun.

Afterall a happy pig is a happy farmer. And a happy farmer is a happy farmwife!





Our Trip to Pure Michigan Begins Tomorrow!

Cool breezes, sand between my toes, fun with family and friends and Baby Ray Ray's first trip to Pure Michigan. And it all begins on Saturday ... 

Every time one of these commericials comes on the radio - I'm ready to jump in the car and head up to our family cottage on Houghton Lake - the state's largest inland lake. And guess what ... the time has finally, finally come for our first family vacay, and in fact, the first vacay that Big D has taken since March 2010 (our Babymoon) - no joke! So if you need me in the next several days - I'll be playing another endless round of Putt Putt golf, teaching Baby RayRay how to make sand castles, reading a good book or floating around the lake sipping on a cold one in Pure Michigan, baby!

Our view from the cottage at Houghton Lake

I see a day trip to Mackinaw Island in our future

Every year, my family gets up to the lake - this year, we are bringing two of our best friends and their kiddos!

No cars on Mackinaw





Downtown Mackinaw

Harwick Pines

it's time to turn on relax mode in Pure Michigan!

This is in no way a paid endorsement for the Michigan Office of Tourism or the Pure Michigan campaign. However, all the photos, thoughts and opinions expressed in this blog post are that of my own free of charge and just pure compliments and expression of my love for Michigan!

Wordy Wednesday: Bringing the Cows Home

Ever since I was 16 years old, I've been pulling a truck n' trailer to cattle and horse shows. Who ever said girls can't drive a big ol' farm truck, too! I just love the looks I get on the highway when drivers take a doubletake when they realize it's a chick driving that rig!

Picture it now - I've got my J.Lo shades on (that's what Big D calls em), baseball cap, jeans, Justin boots, a little foundation, blush and mascara (cause I gotta keep it fabulous!) behind the wheel of a one-ton diesel Dodge for a day-trip hauling cattle between my family's farm in Ohio and then back to our farm in Indiana.

No doubt, it was a long, hot (did I mention it was hot, I mean scorching!) day yesterday, but it couldn't have gone any smoothier. Trucked one of my milk cows that just had a baby down to my friend's farm who milks my cows and then brought my show calves back to the home farm ... all. by. myself. Yes, I rocked it just a little!

Rig ready to roll - let's put the hamma down! Copy that?!

Ok, I'm sorry I couldn't help myself - I think we need a little "Convoy" interlude in Wordy Wednesday ....



Four heifers and one big ol' momma cow loaded!



Dad carried the newborn baby to the trailer - she was so cute I wanted her to ride in the cab with me! By the way, this little sweetie needs a name that starts with a "C." Got any suggestions?

Gated the baby off so her momma wouldn't smoosh her.

If you look close (on the right - next to the W) you can see it says 104 degrees F. SO FLIPPING HOT!!!

Got my new babies home just before dark!

Hi blogsphere ... my name is Petra!

Hay hay! My name is Charlize! ;)

Pizzeria Bake: Recipe #5 from Ready, Set, Eat!

All the recipes that I've cooked up thus far from the Gooseberry Patch's Ready, Set, Eat! (as part of a series I'm doing with the Real Farmwives of America called "In the Kitchen") have been delish, but I must say that this Pizzeria Bake is by far my fav(although I really loved the Easy Cheesy Enciladas). And I still have 5 more recipes to cook up before I'll be giving away my second copy of Ready, Set, Eat! to one lucky reader!

But, seriously, this Pizzeria Bake is so simple and so yummy and so not low-cal, mmm .... all this talking about it is making my mouth water!

Pizzeria Bake

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
2 cups cooked elbow macaroni
14 oz. jar of mushroom spaghetti sauce
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
3 1/2 oz. pkg. Pepperoni, chopped

Directions:

Brown hamburger and drain fat. Meanwhile cook pasta in boiling water.

 Mix together ground beef, one cup mozzarella cheese and remaining ingredients. I used turkey pepperoni to cut down on the cals a little.

Spread mixture in a lightly greased 13" x 9" baking pan; top with remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8 Enjoy!



Wordless Wednesday: Picnics, Parties and Cows!

Weekends for this farm family are starting to get super busy and this past weekend was no exception. Saturday was packed full of picnics and parties - beer and pulled pork - laughter and hugs. Now that's my kind of weekend!

Gorgeous sunrise on Saturday morning to begin the weekend off right!

Early Saturday morning, I visited a beautiful little Jersey farm in eastern Indiana for a picnic with my fellow Cattle Club members. And of course, I had to get some pics of these brown-eyed beauties!



Not a Jersey, I know ... but a very cute puppy nonetheless! 



I basically fell in love with this farm, and especially this fabulous house built in the 1800s. It has been completely restorated to what it may've looked like when it was built. LOVE IT!

Original hard wood floors throughout, two claw foot tubs, gorgeous mahogany trim, multiple fireplaces ... ahh I only wish I would've gotten some pics from inside!

 

The dairy barn!

Second party of the day - wishing some good friends off as they move to Texas.



Baby RayRay gave the lawn a good inspection! LOL!



How was your weekend? :)