Hair Cut

It was recently Morton's 1st birthday.  Morton would be our dog.  How else do you celebrate a birthday other than by getting a haircut!

Before

After

Like any little boy Mort enjoys running, playing outside and getting very dirty.  And, like any little boy after his bath and buzz cut he headed right to the shop, rolled around in the dust and rubbed up against the grease guns.  He's just like all the other males on this farm.

The Passing of the Chickens

It's that time of year once again when the boys need to make room for their 4H broiler chicken fair projects. That means the old layers get booted out of their coop so the new layers can move in and the baby broilers have their own coop when they arrive. What it comes down to is that we do not have enough suitable buildings for all of our fine feathered friends. So, sons #1 and #2 need to find new homes for their lovely, feathered ladies to the dismay of their egg customers. It is ashame as the hens are just over a year old and in their prime egg laying stage.

But, never fear! Number 1 did some wheeling and dealing with a friend of his to take a few as well as neighbors of ours decided it's time for their kids to take on a little more responsibility. So, Sunday afternoon the last 21 chickens took a short trip down the road.

I believe these three are wondering what
their parents got them into this time.

#1 giving a lecture on the color of chickens ears.  Did you
know that you can determine the color of the egg a chicken
will lay by looking at it's ears?  A chicken with brown ears lays
brown eggs and a chicken with white ears lays white eggs.

As you can see these chickens are on the tame side. 








                                    The ladies checking out their new digs.













 

 

 

This picture has nothing to do with the chickens

but I thought the lush green pasture and the red barn

looked nice.



Maybe Spring Is Going to Arrive

It's still chilly outside this morning but signs of spring are starting to come through the long purgatory between winter and spring.



  

Thunder and Lightning are a week old. They
were born within hours of each other as a
low front went through. I love how
new borns are so shiny!

Derk helped me to get safety equipment installed
in the seed treating room.



The chicks are now in that teenage/awkward stage. 



The feather peonies and day lilies are
starting to slowly peek out.

 

 

 

 

 




Friday's Favorite Farm Recipe

"Remember June Dairy month is coming, but dairy is great all the time!" says Leslie, this week's recipe contributor.  Leslie and her husband Trent are dairy farmers here in Northeast Iowa.  When I was thinking about what I wanted to write about Leslie, three things came to mind - Holsteins, 4H, and Iowa State University.  To be quite honest I can't write about one without including the other two.  Leslie and Trent are Iowa State Dairy Science sweethearts.  Leslie is originally from an Illinois dairy farm, but being a smart lady she came over the the light side and graduated from Iowa State.
 

Leslie, Leah, Matt and Trent with one of their gorgeous cows.

Leslie and Trent were also both very active in 4H while growing up.  And, of course dairy cattle were part of the 4H experience.  Today, Trent and Leslie have an extensive embryo transfer program and have cows and bulls all over world!  In the summer they stay busy with tour groups visiting their farm. 

Leslie and Trent have passed these same passions on to their children.  Leah and Matt are both majoring in Dairy Science at Iowa State.  Last summer Leah was the Clayton County 4H intern and this year Matt is the intern.  I credit Leslie, Trent and Matt for cultivating Sons #1 and #2's interest in dairy.  Leslie, Trent and Matt have been great coaches for the county 4H Dairy Judging Teams as well as the 4H Dairy Quiz Bowl Teams.  Their passion for 4H and dairy is contagious and appreciated!

Matt showing at the World Dairy Expo last fall.

Leslie is sharing a cheesecake recipe today.  I love cheesecake. Cheesecake should be considered another food group.  If I take time to snap a picture of this cheesecake when it comes out of the oven I'll post it, otherwise know that it is wonderful and I'm busy eating cake!


Almond Cheesecake

 1 1/4 c crushed vanilla wafers
3/4 c. finely chopped almonds
1/4 c. sugar
1/3 c. butter, melted

 FILLING:
4 8oz. packages cream cheese, softened
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2 t. almond extract
1 t. vanilla extract

 TOPPING:
2c. sour cream
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. vanilla extract
1/8 c. toasted almonds

In bowl, combine crumbs, almonds and sugar; stir in butter and mix well. Press into the bottom of a greased 10 inch spring form pan; set aside.

In large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in extracts. Pour into crust. Place on baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees for 50-55 minutes or until center is almost set. Remove from the oven; let stand 5 minutes(leave oven on). Combine the sour cream, sugar and vanilla. Spoon around the edge of cheesecake; carefully spread over filling. Bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour. Refrigerate overnight.


Just before serving, sprinkle with almonds and remove sides of pan. Refrigerate leftovers.

Serves 14 to 16

Thank you, Leslie, for sharing your recipe!

Matt and Trent giving Son #1 pointers before showing
at the World Dairy Expo in Madison.

Friday's Favorite Farm Recipe

My friend, Glenda, is this week's recipe contributor.  Glenda grew up in Barrington, Illinois - a suburb of Chicago, however, today she is a livestock farmer in Northeast Iowa.  So, how does one get from the burbs to rural Iowa?   Glenda's family had a farm in Wisconsin, that they visited often when Glenda was growing up.  Glenda knew she always wanted to be a farmer.  But, cruise director schooling and art classes called.  Then, one day Glenda and her husband Keith (He's an architect) were watching Orion Samuelson on the US Farm Report after watching a clip about feeding cattle they looked at each other and decided they could do that but better with their own twist. 

Today, Glenda has her own Red Angus cattle herd, hogs, goats, sheep, and chickens. Glenda and Keith direct market their products to the consumer.  During the  farmers market season Glenda and Keith along with their two teenage stay very busy selling and delivering!   Glenda is contemplating artesian cheese production.  I definately want to be one of her taste testers! 

Here is one of Glenda's favorite recipes.

Three Cheese Pasta

     1 (16 oz package) ziti pasta
     2 jars Alfredo sauce
     1 cup sour cream
     1 (15 oz container) ricotta cheese
     2 large eggs
     1/4 cup grated Parmesan
     1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
Preheat over to 350F.  Cook and drain pasta as instructed on package, stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with pasta.  Spoon half the pasta into lightly greased 9X13 baking dish.  Stir together ricotta cheese, eggs, Parmesan cheese.  Spread evenly over pasta mixture.  Spoon remaining mixture over ricotta cheese layer; top with mozzarella.  Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes.

Thank you Glenda for sharing your recipe and pictures of you lovely red angus ladies!

I can't resist another picture of one of Glenda's cows.  She has some
of the most beautiful red angus I have ever seen.

Daisy's Calf

This morning we woke to a new baby calf!  Daisy, Son #2's cow, had her calf early this morning.  She had a little bull calf (a boy).  After a lot of discussion between the brothers, #2 decided to name him Winter since it is the last day of winter.

Daisy and Winter this morning.

Winter & Daisy this afternoon.

All of the animals on our farm are 4H projects.  Since the boys are the owners they do take pride in their animals and new babies are always exciting.  When #2 did chores last night he reported that Daisy of the cows was starting to act different and she was holding up her tail.  So, we all marched out and  agreed that Daisy was going to deliver soon.  Joe and I visited her around 11 pm and decided that she would deliver in the morning.   The boys were out bright and early this morning to check on Daisy and like #3 said - It's Christmas!

Wordless Wednesday

The clock is ticking.  Only 28 days until county fair entry day.

Kernal is somewhat stubborn

Hot Rod Fireball loves a good bath.