My daughter-in-law Libby calls these next few months the “ber” months: September, October, November and December. It’s not just because they are the only months that end in “ber” but …
It is the time of year when harvest seasons from garden and fields crash and collide. It is time to start chopping corn silage, press grapes, process tomatoes and find new ways to use extra zucchini …
Whenever I walk into the shop at my family farm in Illinois, I see the sign that points out the way our family celebrates anniversaries of our country’s founding. Someone painted a white piece of …
Our grandson, Ethan, loves coming to the farm and hanging out with Grandpa, but spending the night hasn’t been on his priority list. Earlier last month, there was a week-long break in his …
Fair season is in full swing across the state. It is the same scene in any livestock barn: The cattle are clipped, clean and bedded down in a pile of golden straw, chewing their cud, oblivious to …
What’s the best thing on a hot, muggy summer day? A tall, cool glass of summer sips. Last week had me searching for ways to muddle through the heat. Here are some things I discovered. Simple …
We are finally able to hang up the sign: Gone Fishing. Over the years, we watched boats, campers and recreational vehicles head north on our road as we milked cows on perfect summer weekends. We …
I have discovered the deep secret of grandma cooks who can “whip up” anything — or else I have reached “that” age. I was somewhere in the middle of Iowa on my way back to Illinois for …
I’ve been waiting for this month to finally arrive, anticipating the moment I could share what I learned, why the fifth month is called May. It May have a heat warning. It May have frost …
The planters are rolling across the fields. The straw is pulled back from the tulips, and rhubarb leaves are starting to unfold. Spring is finally kicking winter to the back of the line. I’ve …
Knowing that God’s timing is perfect is easy. Accepting God’s timing as perfect is a harder step. Many would think Mark’s bummed shoulder at springtime would be lousy timing, but this year, we …
Lost Easter eggs can now be found as the snow recedes and new growth begins. The robins are happy to bounce around in the yard once again in search of a fresh spring meal. I’m getting excited, too, …
“In sickness and in health.” Vows Mark and I made to one another, fully aware of the possibility that we would be making emergency room runs with our children. We were both young, healthy and a …
The luck of the Irish; it always seems that we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day during Lent. Good thing Ireland is an island, so seafood is a normal part of the daily table. I discovered Irish seafood …
National FFA Week is a chance to recognize the importance of agricultural education and the impact FFA experiences have on youth. Papers, magazines and radio stations all jump at the chance to …
The northern winds pushed me home for a winter visit with my mom to check in and catch up. It also meant hanging out in her kitchen. Mom isn’t whipping up big meals of fried chicken or pot roasts …
Do you ever feel like you’ve hit a brick wall at the full speed of life? You know, you’ve been stopped cold in your tracks and landed on your backside? You’re dazed, confused, feeling lost and …
A blanket of snow wraps our farmyard in a new season. Sitting at my desk, the bright sunshine gives me a false sense of warmth outside my window. The subzero temperatures have brought a season of …
Snacking during the holidays is one of my guilty pleasures. It is too easy to grab a bowl of dip and chips, and soon I don’t realize where the time or the bowl of dip went. Of course my …
It has been a month since we shut off the lights in our dairy barn. I can’t tell you where the time has gone because I have no sense of time. It seems like just yesterday we were in the thick …