cocoa

it is beginning to be that time of year! 

[ i love a cup of cocoa in the winter ]

1 cup        cocoa powder
2 cups        instant nonfat dry milk
2 cups        powdered sugar
Andes

Sift the cocoa powder, dry milk, and powdered sugar. Combine the ingredients in a bowl. [ I ground Andes and added 1/2 cup to the bowl ] Mix together well. 

Add 1/2 cup of cocoa mix to 1/2 cup of hot water for one serving of cocoa. Enjoy! This cocoa mix also makes a great little gift! Place the cocoa mix into a cute container for a heartwarming gift for friends and family.

farm chick favorite

  grit + grace

This tee. I love this tee from A Thousand Hills! It is perfect. As a woman raising cattle, these are my words... grit and grace.

When I saw this grit + grace tee, I knew I had to have it in my life. I bought two... one in white and one in navy This tee is perfect by itself in the summer or with a cardigan, jean jacket, or blazer in the spring and winter. 

This tee in navy is perfect with a favorite pair of jeans and boots. A great necklace will give it a sweet touch.  

My faux leather leggings and black strappy heels will be so cute with the white tee. Style it with some great jewelry... and it is edgy and adorable!

a barn find

 [  an old rope halter  ]

The absolute best barn find! This halter was something I was hoping to have found. It brought tears to my eyes when I spotted it hanging up in a barn. From the barn to my cozy rustic home... it will be loved. 

This halter has passed through the hands of my grandpa and dad. And, it has adorned heifers that built our cow herd. It was incredible to find. It makes my heart happy. It makes me proud. History of the family farm should be cherished. And, I do.

At first, I was not sure how I was going to style it in my rustic farm home. But, I knew it would be a focal point. I decided to hang it as wreath in my entryway. So, I smile every time I walk into my farm home.

baling cornstalks: 2020

On Friday, my dad mowed cornstalks to prepare for baling them. After a few years of baling cornstalks for our cows, we decided to mow them before baling them this year. Mowing the cornstalks would shred the corn residue. This would also make the cornstalks more useful for bedding and feeding.  

Saturday morning, I raked the cornstalks in the field dad had mowed. Shortly after I finished raking, they were custom baled for us.

Mowing the cornstalks before raking, created more volume to bale. 

Those cornstalks! A nice windrow was made after raking.

80 bales of cornstalks were rolled up on Saturday afternoon. The cornstalks will used as bedding for cows this winter and and for cows and calves this spring during the calving season. 

The cornstalks are also fed in a ration with hay, and corn silage to our cows over the winter. The cows love them.