Friday on the Farm

snow falls on a cow

A few hairs on a cow show through a layer of fresh snow.

Snow started to fall in the morning. As the snow fell, it was covering the backs of the cows standing outside.

Farm Chick Favorite

These mercury glass votives...I am in LoVe.

mercury glass votives

 

I love candles! You will see them throughout my home. Candles and candle holders are a fun and easy way to add color and character to a room. I found these beautiful votives at West Elm. They are perfect for my rustic farm chic home! The mercury glass coordinates with the theme of my home.

 

These mercury glass votives very classy and cozy! I am very much looking forward to lighting some candles after a day of work on the farm!

 

#farmchickfavorite

Friday on the Farm

frost on a foggy winter morning

It was a beautiful foggy morning feeding calves in the feedlot. A light frost covered the countryside. It was so pretty!

Brownies

1 cup      wheat flour
2 cups      sugar
2/3 cup      cocoa
1/2 teaspoon      baking soda
1/2 teaspoon      salt
4      eggs
2 teaspoons      vanilla
1 cup      vegetable oil

Combine flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. Mix well. Whisk eggs. Add vanilla, and vegetable oil. Mix all together. Pour into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Farm Chick Favorite

neon yellow fringe scarf

 

I am in love with this neon yellow fringe scarf from Giddy Up Glamour! My good cow chick friend, Keri gave it to me as a gift. Love it. It so much fun! I cannot wait to wear it!

 

 #farmchickfavorite

Farm Chick Favorite

This summer I bought my first couch! 14 years after moving to the home farm, I was pretty excited to own my first piece of furniture.

My rustic chic farm home is decorated in brown, cream, and black...with a few pops of color [ yellow, purple, turquoise ] in accessories. I found this cute turquoise pillow at Pier 1 Imports! I bought two for my couch.

love my pillows

I absolutely love the pop of color. The turquoise petals on the pillows add a little color and texture to my livingroom! To carry the color throughout the room, I used my Grandma Stevens' Ball jars I found in the basement. The turquoise jars add character I love in my farm home!

 

 

#farmchickfavorite

My wishes for the cattle farm...

I have quite a few wishes for the farm this year. I will need to work hard to make my wishes come true. But, it will be well worth it. I want to constantly improve.
 

. purchase barn cameras for the calving season

. build cattle sheds for calves and raising bulls

. plant trees around barns and in the pastures as windbreaks

. build a cattle shade for cows and calves in the pastures during the summer
. rebuild the corral in the pasture
. plant turnips for cows in the fall for extended grazing season

Friday on the Farm

snow has fallen

Snow has fallen on the farm. Fluffy, sparkly snow covers the farm and rural route roads. It is a pretty sight.

 

To prepare for the snow, we set out hay bales and cornstalk bales for the feeder calves and cow herds yesterday afternoon. 6.5 inches of snow fell overnight in northern Knox County. Calves were ready for feed this morning. And, the cows were content.

In 2015...

Today is my birthday! In celebration, I set a few personal goals for 2015...I am very excited for what this coming year brings!

 

In 2015, I will...

Enjoy every small moment in life...life is full of the small moments to cherish

Write and mail more notes to my friends...just because I love them

Learn how to box { I've always wanted to box }

Study to become a Certified Personal Trainer

Run a half marathon

Launch Cattle Gypsy® [ rustic . industrial . farm . chic . furniture ]

Follow my HeArT !

Farm Chick Favorite

so God made a farmer...

'So God Made a Farmer' was a 1987 speech by Paul Harvey. It is powerful and extremely moving. As a third generation farmer, it moved me to tears. Farming is a tough yet rewarding lifestyle and occupation. The speech was recently made popular by a commercial from Ram Trucks during the Super Bowl.

I absolutely love this shirt from Skreened! I had to have it! And, I am very excited to wear it this summer! This shirt would also be super cute with a black blazer, jeans, and heels.

 

#farmchickfavorite

Chocolate Peppermint Cookies

During the winter, I love making these cookies for friends and family! And when I bake, I make a double batch of cookies.

2 1/2 cups    wheat flour
2 cups      sugar
1/4 cup      light brown sugar
2/3 cup      cocoa
1/2 teaspoon      baking soda
3/4 teaspoon      salt
4      eggs
2 tablespoons      milk
1/2 cup      butter
1 teaspoon      mint extract

Mix flour, sugar, brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl. Add eggs, and milk. Stir all together. Add butter, and mint extract. Blend well. Roll cookie dough into balls. Place onto a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Allow to cool before icing.

Icing:
4 cups      powdered sugar
1/2 cup      butter
6 tablespoons      milk
1 teaspoon      mint extract
1/4 teaspoon      salt

Mix powdered sugar, butter, and milk together in a large bowl. Stir in mint extract, and salt. Blend well.

 

Ice cookies and sprinkle with crushed candy canes. Enjoy with a glass of milk!

Farm Chick Favorite

hereford

 

Keri and I were shopping and found this painting by Diane Whitehead. I love it so much! Being a cow chick, I thought it would be perfect for my home. It goes well with my rustic farm decor. And, I love the touch of turquoise in the painting.

 

#farmchickfavorite

2014 is down the path

2014 was an amazing year. I am truly thankful and blessed!

I had the incredible opportunity to write a month long journal for Farm & Ranch Living! It was such an honor! I am so blessed to be able to share my love of our family farm with others. After publication, I was approached for radio interviews to talk about agriculture, farming, and my experience writing for Farm & Ranch Living. So much fun!
 

farm & ranch living

 

I traveled to San Antonio, TX to visit my friend, Keri for a few days! We had so much fun!  It was nice talking, and shopping. Along the Riverwalk, we enjoyed a Coronarita..so very good! We also toured the Alamo...it was pretty amazing!

coronarita

 
A dream come true...I was elected to the Knox County Farm Bureau Board. I very much look forward to representing farmers in Knox County. It is such an honor!

 

I started renting hay ground this year. It was an exciting farm kid moment! It is such a great feeling!

In May 2014, I chose two bull calves to raise as breeding bulls...I love them so much! I haltered my bulls. They were absolutely wonderful! I loved being in the barn and working with them. They have great dispositions. Paperwork was completed to register MJS Burning it Down 4M08 and MJS Dirt 4M80 for pedigrees with the American Shorthorn Association. 

my 2014 shorthorn bulls

My friend, Julie and I enjoyed the Jason Aldean and Florida Georgia Line concert! We had a wonderful time! Glad we were able to have a fun night of singing to our favorite songs.
 

40 farmers from Brazil toured our family farm in September. It was so amazing. I was so absolutely excited to share my love of agriculture and family farm with farmers from Brazil! Even though we didn't speak the same language, we all spoke agriculture. In November 2013, I traveled with Illinois Farm Bureau Young Leaders to study agriculture in Brazil. I was blessed to have the opportunity to share my family farm with them. It was so special. I will forever remember it.

brazilian farmers visit our farm

 

My friend, Ryan and I had a blast at the Florida Georgia Line concert at the Illinois State Fair! We had such a good time!!

It was an exciting farm kid moment...I bought my first tractor! In September, I bought a CaseIH JX80! My heart fluttered when it was delivered to the farm. I absolutely love it! It has been a great investment for my cattle and hay farm. So far, my tractor has been used to cut hay, rake hay, move bales, haul and spread manure, haul corn and soybeans, and feed cattle. 

In partnership, I bought a Shorthorn heifer. A friend and I formed a cattle partnership. I am pretty excited! And, I look forward to our future!

Cattle chores were done, and my car was packed. I was on the road to Texas! In December, I drove to Texas to visit Keri. It was such a fun road trip! I absolutely love Texas. I enjoyed the drive to Texas...my heart smiled as I saw more cattle grazing! It was so great talking, shopping, and hanging out with Keri. So many memories were made. What a fun adventure! I look forward to going back!

god bless texas