It is the time of year when I start thinking about whether I need to get my hair cut before spring field work. I know that once the tractors get rolling, there is very little time to schedule appointments for that. I have learned that if my hair hangs in my eyes and I can't get to the salon to have it cut properly, I do it myself with less than desirable results. I would rather take the time now and have it done right than live with my own hack job.

I have always enjoyed going to the salon. I like having my hair washed and styled by someone else. I also like to hear what my stylist suggests for a new style. She has never steered me wrong. I guess you could say that I like to be pampered and I like to make a change. I have another reason to spend some time in the salon, in less than two weeks my oldest daughter gets married! I must look my best for her special day. 

Pampering comes in many forms. It can be a day at a salon doing our hair, or getting our nails done, or it can be a massage and/or facial. It is something that many of us women do not take time for. Many of us put the needs of others before us. We deprive ourselves pleasures; we feel guilty if we spend time on ourselves. But guess what? our loved ones want us to take time for ourselves.  

So much good comes out of a bit of pampering. For me, I removed some of the gray from my hair and I feel good with a new hairdo. I feel revitalized. It is especially nice when our spouse and other notice as well. 

Whether you pamper yourself with a day at a salon or take time to do something just for yourself, it is all needed. We encourage others to do things for themselves, we need to take some of our own advice and take care of ourselves as well.


Stop back in a couple of weeks to hear about the wedding and maybe I'll get a couple pictures up for all to see as well!

Finally, the weather has turned warm! In Iowa, this was the 3rd coldest and snowiest winter on record. Even with all that snow, It did not take long to see all the snow and the 8 foot high snow banks melt. Now it is the time that farmers look forward to.... Playing in the dirt. Farmers are ready to get their hands in the soil after months of planning. To be completely honest, I really like to work in the fields myself!

In my prior life, I enjoyed working in the field with my husband. I would haved like to be more involved, however, to help with our living expenses, I was employed off the farm as a business analyst. Meaning, I found the fastest, cheapest, and best way to electronically route work through the office. I liked my job, but there was something missing and it nagged at me... I wanted to be more involved in farming! Funny how life changes isn't it.

At my job, co-workers asked me why I like working on the farm. My reply was that I couldn't touch and feel my work. I could see peoples' tasks lists for work to do and I could read reports indicating how successful things were going, but I couldn't touch and feel it.

Working on spring planting is another activity to work as a family. One person is in the field cultivator, another is running the planter, and another is our gopher or Girl Friday. The Gopher involves getting seed corn, fertilizer, fuel, and anything else that is needed. When someone brings lunch to the field, it is another time of the year where we get to tailgate. This is where we gather out in the field and have lunch. Lunches can be as simple as sandwiches and salads to steaks cooked on the grill.


The technology that is now on the farms is something that few of us could have imagined when we were growing up. We use GPS to steer our tractors and seeds with traits to ward off insects. These two pieces of modern farming allows us to be better stewards of the land. We use less fuel and fewer chemicals. This lowers our costs and raises production.

Please watch for large machinery on the road, it is time for farmers to be going to field. Please wave to the farmers in the tractors. Who knows, one of the tractors you meet or pass could be me up in the cab! 

I hope you have a great week.
  

It is spring time and our thoughts turn to babies. Many animals have their young in the spring. However, here at Cinnamon Ridge, we have our dairy calves through out the year. Even though newborn calves happen almost everyday, it is still magical to watch a calf being born. I is a site I do not get tired of watching. The cows maternal instincts kick in and she starts tending to the calf. Other cows will come and help the new mother as well.

In addition to the dairy cows, we have Angus beef cows. Soon they will begin to calve. Some of them will have Angus calves and others will have a Jersey calf. We use some of our beef cows as surrogate mothers for our really good Jersey cows. Another species we have at Cinnamon Ridge is goats. They started having their offspring earlier when it was much colder. Despite the cold weather,  we have a new crop of young goats.

Not every calving goes as nature plans. Sometimes the cow needs help. This is where our daughter, Amy is there to help the cow. Even with Amy's expertise she sometimes needs to call her father in to help. A farmer will work hard to save a calf and each time a calf is saved, there is a sense of joy. If we are unable to save a calf, we all feel a sense of loss. 

So while calving can be stressful and cause us to have late hours, it is one of the miraculous things we are treated to on almost a daily basis.