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my daily life on a cattle farm, my love of agriculture, and stories behind my photos

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Bedding...wood chips

loads of wood chips delivered to the farm
 
A couple years ago, we accepted a few loads of wood chips after a tree service trimmed trees nearby for our power company. We found the wood chips made great bedding for the feeder calves. It kept them very dry and comfortable through the fall and winter. Since then, we have loads of wood chips delivered each year to use as bedding for the calves. 

The wood chips are piled and stored outside. And, we use from that pile as needed. When we need to bed down the barn with woodchips, the loader tractor with the bucket attachment scoops them up and dumps them in the barn to be spread out on the floor. It works out pretty well. For calving season this spring, dad had me load the manure spreader with wood chips. I backed into the calving barn and spread the woodchips onto the floor of the barn. That was pretty amazing!

Yesterday, eight loads were hauled to the farm for the feed lot. We are very happy to be able to use the wood chips!

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Farm Chick Favorite

 * mjs *

ear tag necklace from the classy trailer
 
I am absolutely in love with this necklace! This adorable ear tag necklace is from The Classy Trailer. It is so perfect for this cow chick! The necklace is in silver with my initials...MJS. So excited to wear it! 



Friday, December 25, 2015

Friday on the Farm

At dusk

working late one evening
I decided to work a little later one evening bringing in hay bales and cornstalk bales for the cow herds. It was a chilly, peaceful, beautiful night.
 
 
[ agriculture photos @ monicastevens.photoshelter.com ]

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels

Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels are a season favorite of mine. I love packaging them up as gifts for friends and family to enjoy!



thatch pretzels
1/4 cup      oil
1/3 cup      sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons      cinnamon

1/2 cup      cinnamon sugar

Combine the oil, sugar, and cinnamon together in a bowl. Add the mixture to the pretzels in a crock pot so they are completely covered. Stir the pretzels until they are all warm. Pour the cinnamon sugar over the pretzels and let cool.

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Farm Chick Favorite

A little something from Bishop Hill...

sailor whisk

I live 5 miles from a historic Swedish community, Bishop Hill. It is such a quaint tiny town! Bishop Hill is rich in Swedish history. Bishop Hill is such a special place. And, it has a special place in my heart. Since we live so close, my parents and I visit often...mostly to eat at our favorite restaurant, the Filling Station!  
 
On a recent visit to Bishop Hill during Julmarknad, I found this handmade sailor whisk at the Prairie Arts Center. The Prairie Arts Center has beautiful and unique handmade pottery, brooms, and wool items.

I love my sailor whisk hanging from my farm office shelves!