Little Emmy's 1st shearing. She was such a trooper! I love to finish them off with a little lion tail. 😂 Then there's Sam. Let's just say, I'm now ready to take a nap after that showdown. His wool is amazing but clipping around his horns is always a fight, and he hates to have his belly touched, so that's fun. Thank goodness it's only twice a year, my back and shoulders couldn't take more than that. I'm in awe of the professionals who do that daily. You would never have to hit the gym!

Well now that the kerfuffle is calming down on my window tint warning, let's improve the timeline with a picture of our calf munching on hay when we finally made it home.

I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life. We just got pulled over, not because we were speeding or had a tail light out or even expired plates. But because our window tint seemed a little dark for the state of Iowa. So he gauged it and is giving us a written warning that we cannot travel through Iowa if our windows are this tinted. We bought this car brand new off the lot 6 years and 129,000 mi ago. These are stock windows. This guy is just an a****** looking for a reason to stop someone from out of state.

Good morning Wisconsin. 🌅

All of these innovations and we still can't tell the GPS that we're stopping for gas and snacks. No, we don't need to make a u-turn.

HEY! IOWA! We are driving through 35mph sustained winds. Why are these monstrosities standing still?! Over 100 turbines not moving.

Warning, blood guts and gore. We are supposed to leave today for our annual family get together in Minnesota. Hubby is getting off an hour early so we can leave by 5:00 and drive a few hours tonight. I had 8 hours today after my chores were done to finish packing, make a giant gift pack for one of my customers to pick up while we were gone, bathe the dog, and get road snacks and the car clean and ready. At 12:30 the hubby popped in to have a bite of lunch and finish packing his bag. He says, I think we have a dead sheep. There's something white on the other side of the fence not moving. I'm thinking, really? Now of all days? So, sure enough, we get down there and there's a dead sheep. Our 2nd flock breeding ram. It appears he and the other ram were fighting through the fence, which is woven wire and barbed wire. The other ram must have hit him just right in the head that it split his head open and broke his neck. Through the fence!!! Remember, I'm supposed to be leaving on vacation. So we haul the ram back up with the side by side, my husband chains his feet to the bucket of the tractor and lifts him in the air. Then says sorry I can't stay and has to go to work. He felt terrible. By 2:30, the ram was skinned and quartered. I still have to go rinse off the meat and put it in my garage fridge to air dry and age while we are gone. But before that, I have to make some damn cinnamon rolls for the gift package for my customer! Oh, and my bag is still not packed. The dog is dirty. The car still needs cleaned. And the only thing I can do is laugh about the whole situation because it's so stupid. Have a great weekend. I may need extra wine tonight.

Growing well! He and his 1/2 sibling are going up for sale this week.+-500lbs at 7 months. I am loving these smaller dairy beef cross cows.

My milking helper today.

Look at this beauty. This is the third year I've grown one cotton plant. Just one. The first year was a dud, last year it was pretty but only produced three cotton bolls. This year there are nine on one plant! It's just for fun, but I'm pretty excited about it.

Special agent ham and beans just doesn't have the right ring to it. 😂

Last night in the tent., Thunderstorms will be rolling in tomorrow so I have to pack everything up. The hubby came out to sit by the fire with me for awhile, but said he's not staying for a sleepover 😂 It's been nice reconnecting with nature. I won't wait so long next time.

I adore our local meat processor. When I picked up my two lambs today, not only did he package the bones for me separately, and the organs, he also threw in two beef hearts and five packages of sliced liver for my dogs. Then, said he found an open slot for me to have our steer processed at the end of December instead of mid April (because we missed the window.) He didn't have to do that. He could have made me wait, but he is an excellent businessman and he knows who his good customers are. I see some lovely Christmas gifts in his future...

The grandson is playing with my hole saws while I'm working on these cast iron pans. Fully OSHA approved child toys.

Happy National Farmers Day to all of the wonderful farmers on this app!

Yes, I slept great in my tent, thanks for asking! 😂 Cow is milked, chickens are fed, pigs have fresh water, everyone has hay. Dishes are done, laundry is started, and I am off to pick up two processed lambs and a couple bags of corn. Have an amazing Monday!

I'm sleeping in a tent. I would take a picture but it's dark, because, well, I'm sleeping in a tent. Why? Because camping is my happy place. And it's been too many years. So yesterday, I pitched my tent and now I'm sleeping under the stars.

Found in a Rubbermaid tote full of water!!! 😭 They had a thorough bath and a scrub down with a nylon brush. Now for the serious facelift with the drill and assorted wire detail brushes. Then another washing, a heavy coat of oil, and into the oven. Fingers crossed!

Justine cracks me up.

This perfect, tiny apple is a red delicious. No wax, no polishing, no gasing to make it more red. Straight from a tree into a crate for me to then select as my perfect apple. 55 cents a lb today and tomorrow at the local Dutch store. 10 varieties to choose from. I am now 30 lb of apples richer. Soon, we will be flush with apple butter.