Farmers Daughter Notes// Morning Beauty// Animal Adventures

photo credit goes to katie at k-photography. 

It's early morning and I'm walking up to the house from the barn when I see Dad coming out onto the back porch.
"Will called - Piglets are out!" he says, slipping his phone back in his pocket. "Head back to help the boys get them in."
 My sisters Katie, Hannah and I start running back to help them. (I travel at a bit more leisurely pace as the farmhouse breakfast is still settled cozily in my stomach.) My, but its a beautiful morning! The leaves are a rusty red and yellow, there's a sharp little breeze that nips your nose and lends a rosy glow to your cheeks. The earth is damp and moist from recent rain and sends up a delightful fresh smell as you tromp down the lane.
As we near the scene of the crime I can see a few lone piglets rooting around and generally enjoying themselves. I  hear the boys further back in the woods urging the piglets on.
"Look, there's one of them!" Katie points to the lane on the other side of our tree line. Sure enough, through the trees I see the small herd of piglets trotting down the lane enjoying their contraband outing. We get them moving back in the right direction after Will fixes the fence. We herd them with branches and they are good little pigs and we're blessed to get them in more quickly than usual. After trotting back down the lane and insuring that the fence is on we head back up to the house and I imagine writing up a quick blurb about our little morning adventure in the next farmer's daughter notes.
-Morgan

Farmers Daughter Notes// Turkeys// Little Mercies// Thankful

photo credit goes to katie at k-photography 

Turkey pick-up day is less than two weeks away! Our family is hustling about to finish up all of the last minute details. We are especially thankful for all of the Lord's blessing, large and small during this busy time. The little mercies- protection as we work around large equipment, travel mercies as we make deliveries, His care and keeping of the turkeys (we're always a little harried at the end that somehow our numbers might be off and we won't have enough - but the Lord always provides) We're also so thankful for all of the helpful friends and family which He sends to pitch in and help us process the turkeys and prepare them for your table for you and your loved ones to enjoy. We're thankful too for the protection during the storm we had a few nights back. We moved the turkeys to higher ground and prayed that they would do alright in the cold and wet, and they did fine. A dear friend of our family passed away about a month ago leaving behind his dear wife and seven precious children. He is now forever rejoicing with the Lord, but his family misses him terribly. So this is a reminder to be thankful for the little things, you never know how long you'll get to keep that loved one in your life. Don't wait until it's too late to tell them, and show them, that you care.
-Morgan

Farmers Daughter Notes// Cold Weather// Turkeys// Community

photo credit goes to katie at k-photography 

Colder weather is settling in. We're pulling out the sweaters and jackets and eagerly anticipating cozy read alouds around the hearth during the cold winter evenings to come. Winter is the farmers slower season. The broilers and turkeys are done for the season and there are less chores and more time for relaxing. Of course there's plenty of planning and repair work to be done but we certainly enjoy the slower pace. Turkey Pick Up Day in November marks the last hurrah before winter. It's a lot of work but we love the community spirit that's behind it all. We have countless friends and family who pitch in to help us pull it together. We enjoy seeing the many cheerful, grateful customers who stand in line to pick up their fresher than fresh turkey and bless us with their grateful spirits. Such a satisfied feeling hits you at the end of the day as you collapse into bed after all the work is done. The winter stores are in, the busiest part of the year is over and the slower, restful winter months are ahead. 
-Morgan

Farmer's Daughter's Notes// Family Fun// Monopoly

photo credit to katie at k-photography 

Recently we were given the board game "Monopoly". We have never been much into board games: who is when you can play in the dirt, ride bikes or play "Crash" on the tree swings with your siblings? (don't ask, suffice it to say Mom says if you get a busted knee or lip playing a game with a name like "Crash" don't come crying for sympathy) 
Well, we kids decided to give Monopoly a try. After the first evening we were hooked! When we all tried to play at one time we had to split up into teams, which is fun in itself. You had to watch out for the sister who would always try to snap up Board Walk and Park Place and then plunk down a few houses to boot. And then there's that sneaky sister who tries to make you "awesome deals" to "help you out" so you won't have to mortgage your property when sister number one deals you a hefty $1000 rent on Boardwalk. And then there's the hoarder brother and sister who never sell their property until in desperation you offer them ten times the amount it's worth. Needless to say we've had a blast! We've never finished a game yet though. (who knew Monopoly was such a long game?) And sometimes the game is interrupted to go round up a calf or do the evening chores. Then we leave it precariously on the dining room table and come back to it afterwards. Good times.
-Morgan

Farmer's Daughter's Notes// New Dairy Calf// Name Suggestions?// Turkey Orders

We had a little calf born at the farm this week! She's a good size and is a creamy brown color with gentle dark eyes. One day she will join the milk herd, Lord willing. She doesn't have a name yet, any suggestions? 
We have had a great season as far as rain goes, but as fall is coming on the pasture naturally begins to slow in growth. Since we raise our animals on pasture, obviously we want to use up every bit of pasture space we have which usually results in turkeys ranging through the front yard. Mom has reconciled herself to this and as a result the yard has been much greener than it's been in the past. We're over halfway through the turkey reservations so if you haven't placed your order yet, maybe you've been procrastinating, maybe you still haven't called your mother to see who's coming so you know what size to order. Don't delay much longer or you might find yourself up a creek without one of your favorite all-natural GMO free turkeys! 
-Morgan 

Farmer's Daughter Notes// Bella// Animal Adventures

Things have been busy here on the farm. Praise the Lord for all of this rain He has been sending us! The pastures are doing well for this time of year allowing us to get more millage per acre. The chickens and cows appreciate it very much. Speaking of chickens, we've recently had some owl trouble; a great big Horned Owl had been helping himself to a chicken dinner every night. Since we recently implemented a new open air shelter for the chickens, they are more prone to this type of air predation problem.  We have been very impressed with how much better the poultry does when they have more room to roam and more fresh air so we decided to get a Great Pyrenees guard dog to help offset this predator issue. At the beginning of the year we traded a calf to some farming friends for a fat, roly-poly little Great Pyrenees pup. At eight months’ now, "Bella" is not much of a puppy anymore in looks. (She’s a huge, shaggy little bear!) However in personality and disposition she is still very much a baby. She is friendly, fun loving and clumsy, finding particular delight in antagonizing the older dogs and helping to hunt escaped rabbits with William (14). But we found that Bella alone was not enough to keep the owl away. So we recently adopted a hound dog from the SPCA. (We named the sweet little dog "Ginger Pye", after the book). This unlikely duo has proved to be the perfect match for Mr. Owl. With Ginger to guard one end of the poultry range and Bella the other, they have kept the Great Chicken Terror at bay.
-Morgan

Farmers Daughter's Notes// Farm Busyness// Animal Adventures// Day in the Life of a Farmer

Summer is fast approaching! You can see it in the deep, green foliage and feel the warmth in the air.
There’s a lot happening on the farm these days. Processing weekly, new chicks arriving and going out to pasture. Lately, the pigs and cows have become frisky and mischievous. (Who can help it in such nice weather?) And have been making frequently break outs from their pens. The other morning we were awakened by a neighbor at our door to let us know our pigs were out and hightailing it down Manning Road! Jumping into cars and hoping onto bikes, a crew rushed after the renegades to bring them back while another crew ran back to fix the broken down fencing and make sure the fence was hot so as to guard against any further early morning escapades. A farmer’s life is never dull, that's for sure! You never know what a day might bring. 
-Morgan

Farmers Daughter's Notes// Dairy Cows// Animal Adventures// Farm Life// In Case You Thought Farming Was A Cup of Tea

If you come to our farm and perchance decide to take a tour and visit the animals, your wanderings will probably lead you to the cow pen where the dairy cows are grazing. From this side of the fence, they look calm and docile, just grazing away as peaceful as you please. For the most part this is their life. However, every once in a while they get the wild urge to take a stroll through the neighbor’s garden or raid the feed barn. (Usually after the farmers have already gone to bed or are away for a few hours). When this wild urge hits them they might look around for a weak spot in the fence to make their break that way. But another option they have is “Dancer” one of the dairy cows. She has a special talent in that she knows how to open the gate with her horn on the sly when none of the farmers are around. Cows are pretty smart. Once, before we had figured this out, the cows were repeatedly getting out and we couldn't for the life of us figure out how the gate was getting left open. Everyone claimed to have shut the gate after opening it and we just couldn't figure it out. Just a few minutes after we would herd them all back in and shut the gate we’d look outside to see them triumphantly frolicking around in the backyard. Out again.
Finally, Katie and I decided to hide out and see just how they were managing this feat. We chose a spot where we could watch the gate without being seen. Sure enough after a few minutes we saw Dancer nonchalantly make her way up to the gate. After a moment or two she carefully and deliberately hooked her horn up under the gate handle and popped it off as easy as you please. We were shocked at this display of bovine-ingenuity. We jumped out of our hiding place and started scolding her loudly. She looked up at us as if surprised and mooed loudly at us, letting her tongue hang out of her mouth. We were bending over double at this clear display of her irritation at being caught red-handed. The mystery was solved. We have fixed the gate so that she is usually unable to open it, but every once in a while we'll look out to see the cows out and realize that Dancer has been at it again.
-Morgan

Farmers Daughter's Notes// New Broiler Chicks// Farming

It's always fun to watch new chicks in the brooder. They scurry around hither-thither, pecking at this and peeping at that. The slightest unfamiliar noise can send them scurrying into the far corners of the brooder in a panic.
They're fun to hold when they're real little. They fit in the palm of your hand and look up at you with dark, inquisitive eyes. They're soft and downy since their feathers have not grown in yet. The broilers (the chickens we raise for meat) are a yellowy, white color. We order them from a hatchery and they ship them to us as day old chicks in the mail. That is the only age at which they can ship poultry because for the first three days after they hatch, they are still digesting the yoke of the egg. Isn't that fascinating? 
After about two weeks they are old enough to go out to pasture and spend the next six weeks following the cows in rotation on our organic fields where they can peck for bugs, enjoy free choice, non-GMO feed and forage around in the fresh air and sunshine. This lifesyle makes for healthy, happy birds. This natural, animal friendly model is more labor intensive and costly but the quality of these birds is something the super market will never be able to beat.
-Morgan

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Spring Around the Farm

It means lots of baby chicks.....

Continued school work.....;)

Bella just got a shave (this is a pre-haircut photo) She's looking more puppish now and slightly 

poodle-ish;)

Snickers, the old farm mascot is still running strong

With the beautiful weather we've been having I have taken the opportunity to hang the clothes on the line to dry.

This is a little goat kid (which has since been sold) that when he was born, his mother rejected him. We had to bottle feed him and he got to spend his days roaming the farm and playing with the dogs and cats.

Cows love being out on the lush spring pasture!

The chickens are enjoying it too!

-Morgan

Wedding Shower

About a week ago we had the privilege of attending the bridal shower of a sweet friend we meet last year at a Family Encouragement Weekend Conference. Here are some pictures, (taken by katie) from that day.

The shower was hosted by the groom-to-be's family in Culpepper, Va. Most of the Wilson girls made a day trip to attend the event.

The decorations were lovely!

Pictures of the happy couple:)

This little girl looked like a doll in her sweet little pink dress and hair bow.

The women took turns sharing godly words of wisdom to the bride-to-be.

The bride-to-be on the left and her sister on the right.

"A" for Amanda, "M" for Matthew:)

Ice cream maker! The couple plans to have a farm.

It was such an encouraging event and so good to see our new friends again! Godly friends are such a blessing.

-Morgan

Picnic at Lone Star Lakes

A few weeks ago we went to a nearby park with some friends for a picnic lunch and an afternoon of daring adventures;)

After lunch, we climbed off the dock and waded (used dead logs as stepping stones, etc) out to a sandbar

Maddie picked up a interesting looking shell which turned out to be a crab.

"It was this big!"

"Are you sure this thing is safe?"

"Is it just me, or is the sandbar getting smaller?"

Washing the sand off our feet

Then we decided to explore some of the trails.

With much peril to life and limb we made it up the first steep hill;)

The descent was a little easier.

We had a great time of fellowship with some dear friends and hope to be able to do it again soon!
-Morgan