Farmer's Daughter Notes // Spring Storms // Not For the Faint of Heart

It's been a bit of harsh spring for the farmers in our area. We've had lots of rain which is good for the pasture, but flash floods can be detrimental for the poultry. We've had to dash out into the heart of several storms to move the chickens to higher ground. It's pretty awe inspiring to be out in the midst of a storm. The stiff wind is driving the rain into your eyes and mouth, and thunder rumbles in the distance as you snatch up a wet broiler and slosh through the puddles to put him in a warm, dry spot. All of the sudden, brilliant forks of lightening split the darkness and thunder that can be felt as it reverberates through the air. It's very humbling to realize how small you are against such might. It causes us to constantly put our trust in the One who controls the weather.
 While we’re finishing up outside, Mom is preparing hot chocolate and dry clothes and praying that the worst of the storm will hold off until the work is finished. After all of the poultry has been transferred to a warm, dry spot, the workers troop into the house and get into dry things themselves. As we sip our hot chocolate and listen to the storm rage outside we give a sigh of contentment and feel a deeper appreciation for simple things in life which we often take for granted; a warm, dry place to live, plenty to eat and family.
-Morgan

Farmer'S Daughter Notes// Spring // Chicken Processing

The pastures are really coming in after this recent burst of warmth! It's great to be able to look out of my office window and see the cows grazing up to their ankles in clover. The window is open and the sounds of spring are wafting in. I can hear the neighbor's lawn mower, the birds, the crickets, the sound of my siblings calling to each other and the wind in the tree tops. The breeze is cool and refreshing and makes the blinds rustle back and forth in the window frame. I have a pretty nice office.

    We processed our first batch of chickens recently. It was good to get back into the swing of things after our winter break. Processing seems to be something you never forget how to do. Just like milking a cow, I suppose. My sisters and I are sure we'll still remember how to milk cows when we're ninety.

    Processing chicken is one of those things that the whole family is involved in from start to finish. We get up early at about 4:30am. Drink our coffee and pray together for the busy day ahead. We enjoy getting to visit together as we work. After an hour or so, the sky in the east will begin to lighten and the stars begin to fade one by one. The birds wake up and begin chattering to each other. Then the sun begins to peek up over the trees and the sky is tinged with gold and pink. It's a beautiful part of the day to be outside.

-Morgan

Farmer's Daughter Notes // New Dairy Calves // Farming Adventures

We've had several calves born on the farm lately. A little heifer calf was born yesterday right after we got home from church.
Mom noticed that one of the cows was in labor and seemed to be having a hard time so she trudged out into the field in her Sunday best to assist. A few minutes later, out came the calf! This isn't the first time Mom has been called to play the midwife to a cow (and it's usually in her Sunday clothes too! Go figure.) She says she's lost several of her good heels that way, but it was worth it.
-Morgan

Farmer's Daughter Notes// Farm Chores// Spring// Family

Last Saturday one thing on the agenda for the day happened to be farm clean up. Not exactly everyone's favorite job, but one that needed to be done. It's the sort of feeling you get from putting off cleaning your room for too long and things begin to accumulate...
At any rate, we headed out to tackle the job. Dad drove the tractor and trailer and the rest of us walked or rode along beside to pick up old feed bags, string, stray wire, etc., which had blown around to the far ends of the property during one of the recent windy days. The weather was so very nice that day that the job lost its chore feeling in the joy of being outside on that warm sunny day. We laughed and poked fun at each other’s "pale" complexion as we rolled up our sleeves in the growing warmth. There was talk of getting a new family picture since the current one on the website is very old. (It seems we get around to changing the picture every five years or so.) But we all voted for delaying the picture until we had been out in the sun a little more. (Vain, I know. But true.)
We walked along practicing our sparring skills by spearing old bits of paper and trash with fencing stakes. We tested our muscles pulling up old hoses that had "grown" into the ground. We braved briers by careful maneuvering to pull out bits of paper and the like that had blown into them.
After we were finished, the farm looked heaps better and we enjoyed and also soaked up some Vitamin D, naturally. 

Farmer's Daughter's Notes// Dairy Cows// Spring// Why We're Happy

Though it doesn't feel like it today, it certainly did a few days ago. We were out doing chores a few evenings ago and one of my sisters was out rounding up the cows to be milked. She stopped for a moment in the field and inhaled deeply. There was something; some tantalizing, invigorating smell. Another sister was in the field checking on the calves, she too paused to take in a deep breath. In an instant it hit them. They turned towards each other and noticed that each was doing the same thing.

"It's Spring! Can't you smell it?" They said at the same instant, laughing with joy.

Yes. Spring is coming. The leaves are starting to bud with new growth. The pastures are greening up ever so slightly. Spring is a time for new life and growth. It fills you with such hopefulness. New beginnings. Fresh starts. The old life shed and the new beginning.
So it is with our Spiritual life. Life in Christ provides a fresh start. New beginnings. New life.

“ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

This is the reason we (our family) is happy. This is why we are joyful and have close knit relationships. Christ in our hearts. He makes us happy and fulfilled in Him. He gives us a hope for eternity. And anyone can have this peace and joy!  He says,

“ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

-Morgan

Farmer's Daughters Notes// Relationships// Celebrations// Homeschool

Mom and Dad celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary this past December! They recently went away to the mountains for a few days to relax at a favorite cabin. They try to get away at least once a year, during the winter, to reconnect and recharge. They always come back refreshed with a second wind and fresh perspective. It’s tough to run a farm, homeschool nine kids (two of which have graduated) and still make time to keep up relationships. One of the benefits of farming is that we get to work together as a family, but with all the different responsibilities, especially Spring through Fall (our busiest seasons) we’re often spread out and don't have as much time for visiting as we run from one project to the next during the day. Mom and Dad find these little get-aways indispensable and look forward to them throughout the year. 

We kids have fun at the farm while they’re gone. Sometimes we’ll watch their car disappear around a bend in the road and then jokingly holler, “Yahoo! Party!” 

Generally there’s minimal upkeep, the regular chores and a few extra things. Then we have fun. We might make a home movie, order pizza or have friends over. We’re a close knit family though, and are always glad to see Mom and Dad’s car drive up the driveway at the end of the week.

-Morgan

Farmer's Daughter Notes// Winter Break// Farm Projects// New Broiler Chicks

a recent picture taken from sharp top mountain. gorgeous, isn't it?

We have thoroughly enjoyed our winter break and are beginning to prepare for the new growing season. Our first batch of chicks is scheduled to come in at the end of this week so much preparation has gone into getting the brooder ready. It's a pretty labor intensive job which involves a lot of back muscle and fortitude. You and your team have to dig through a year's worth of pine-shavings and haul it off to the compost pile to be used on the gardens later. Then you have to make sure the waters and feeders are in good order, get the lights ready and see if the houvers need any repairs. About halfway through the project, during a lunch break, someone made the comment that they felt they had really "earned" their lunch. I know what she meant too. There's something immensely satisfying about putting in a good day's worth of hard, manual labor, working with your hands and then stepping back to survey the fruits of your effort even while your back aches and you have blisters on the palms of your hands. You go to bed bone-tired, but happy and satisfied.
-Morgan