That One Person

My Grandma

She is not only the best grandma around, but also an amazing person.

Her name is Pauline. I was lucky enough to be given it as my middle name. She will be 91 in August. I live about 20 steps from her front door.

My grandma gives everyday her biggest smile and whole heart.

She goes to bed early and rises when the sun does, like a true farmer's wife I suppose.

Breakfast is on the table when my dad, uncle and I come in after chores, all made from scratch; pancakes, eggs, bacon, oatmeal, blueberry muffins. Cooking has always been her joy in life, luckily eating has always been mine! :) Her chocolate cake is my favorite. I didn't even know pancakes and cakes were made out of a box until I was 12! She doesn't make lunch much anymore, but she's 90, we tell her she can do whatever she wants.

My grandma never says anything bad about anyone and always turns to God for advice.

My grandma tells me it can always be worse, no matter how bad it gets. She is a constant reminder of great of a life I have. 

My grandma is my entire life. Her silly laugh and smart a** comments can make a smile break out onto my face in one giggle. 

My grandma sends cards nearly everyday, usually with words of wisdom, never just a generic signature. 

My grandma never forgets a birthday or to ask how you are doing. The only time you'll see her look sad is if you don't eat any of her cookies, cake, or pancakes.

If I can grow up to have her heart, faith, wrinkles and positive attitude my life will be complete. She raised 5 kids and many grandchildren all while keeping house and helping on the farm. 

I hope those are the reasons wrinkles begin to form and my hair turns grey. 

Me: Grandma I don't need another cake (after I finished a whole cake in less than 24 hours and she offered to make another). Three cups of sugar is not good for my health.

Grandma: Oh Amanda! It's only two cups of sugar!

Grandma: Well I figured I better make a chocolate cake incase the power goes out. We are gonna need something inside the house to make us smile with all this weather!

Follow your heart

For the Love of _______

Cows. Farming. Challenges. Family. 

This week has been...to put it lightly....terrible. Our entire barn of cows has been sick. 

They have dropped in milk, some stopped eating, most have diarrhea. Let me tell you, it is not fun to milk cows that aren't milking and don't feel good. I would rather be sick and still care for them rather than have them sick.

Because of that, I figured something out this week. I absolutely love this "game" (pick your own word, but I feel like farming is a game, just when you think your getting ahead, you lose a turn!) I get paid for working on my farm, but its not based off of performance of the animals, or hourly. I just get a stipend. 

What does this have to do with anything?

I still want the cows to get better, I have stayed late in the barn every morning and night this week taking care of the sick cows. Doubling checking there aren't cows that have gone unnoticed. 

I don't get paid extra for staying outside. 

I don't get a bonus when they begin to get better. 

I simply get the satisfaction of caring for healthy cows. 

I get to enjoy milking cows. 

I get to spend time with my family not stressing about what we did wrong or how to fix it. (By the way, this wasn't anything we could have prevented; simply a virus that spreads, similar to the stomach flu. And I guess I should be honest, there will always be something I want to fix and improve :)

So, for anyone who thinks farmers are in it for the money or don't care for their animals, stop thinking, it's obviously not something your good at. If we were, our cows would have been gone on Tuesday. We care for them 24/7 (especially in silly weather like this!!) I'm more likely to call our vet than I am to go to the doctor myself. 

If you ever have questions about why something is done on a farm, something you've heard, or something you've seen, please ask! If I don't know the answer I'll find it for you, just don't assume. 

Here's to hoping the girls feel better next week! Have a good weekend folks :)

Me and Pa giving my calf a bath on a hot summer day. Yes, I am in a dress. Dedication at its finest!

Livin' the Life

Alright....I've decided I am going to write my "about me" post. For the simple fact that I don't know what this blog is going to be about or what my next post should be for that matter!

First things first: I started this blog because I need to write, I'm an average writer, I want to get better, practice makes perfect, and I'm not a diary girl. 

I don't want to share every time I do laundry. If you care that much about my life I guess you could ask...? So, my other option is to write something I'm passionate about. If you haven't already figured that out, it's agriculture. Specifically my cows  :)

Next conflict: Agriculture is my life. I live and breathe it everyday. To keep my personal life out of this blog and only write about agriculture is impossible.

I am a 21 year old UW-River Falls graduate as of December. I majored in Agricultural Marketing Communications with a minor in Dairy Science. However, my degree makes no indication of this. Pretty disappointing if you ask me! But I digress....I have been incredibly fortunate to have a family farm where I have been promoted from volunteer to (something close to) herdsman/manager....It only took 21 years....I am NOT girl that can sit around and do nothing. I would be more insane than I already am! Maybe a post dedicated to my farm is in order?...hmm...

I am job searching at the moment. I want to find something where I don't have to "go to work" everyday. I know what I like to do, what I don't. I just haven't found the right combination yet. 

So here is what I do to stay busy....

I was elected to church council

I substitute teach

I'm involved with the Farm Bureau Farming Today program

I work on the farm (responsibilities will be in a different post!)

at a restaurant (Wiederholts)

and have an internship with Group Leaf. 

Again, I don't like being bored :)

I'll share some pictures, I hear they are worth a thousand words, and I don't think you want to read that much. 

I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions to make this blog fantastic! I'll leave you with three quotes I have started to live by:

Everything in moderation

Strive for excellence not perfection

Stop talking and start doing