Life has changed….I’m now married and have a son, I live away from my parents, my brother lives in another state, my Mamaw Irene is with Jesus and my Mamaw Betty now has dementia, my Papaw is grumpy and suffers from a bit of dementia too, and I have In-laws that think Rob could’ve made a much better choice. Life has definitely changed! My birthday isn’t really a big deal anymore…to anyone but me. Don’t get me wrong I’m not forgotten on my birthday. My husband and son took me out to dinner last Saturday for my birthday and they gave me a BEAUTIFUL necklace, but today when I woke up….my birthDAY…the house was quiet. Lil man and my beloved were sleeping (Rob is currently working nights). I noticed a card from Rob laying on the arm of the couch, I read it and the words were beautiful, but the house was quiet. My parents called to wish me a Happy Birthday and so did my brother and nephew, but the house was quiet. No birthday cards came in the mail because of one reason or another they didn’t arrive today, but the house was quiet.

If you know me, you know that my birthday isn’t just January 24th but it lasts the whole month of January…or at least that’s how it used to be. There is never too much celebration in my world….oh, how life has changed.

So, today as I realize that I am another year older, my family and most of my friends live far away, some of my family are gone and some are gone but still here…I will be grateful for all those wonderful memories that I had as a child, for family and friends, and for a Mom that always wanted my birthday to be special. I have such fond memories of growing up and for that I am blessed. I won’t be sad, I’ll be glad for all the life I had and I will continue to make special the birthdays of those I love…because you can never have too much celebration!

Robs Farm Girl

The job my husband had in SW Ohio was going nowhere fast! So, he applied for a job in NW Ohio at a steel factory and he got it! We have been living up in the flatlands for just over a year now. This is not unfamiliar territory to us since this is where we lived before moving south to my parents farm and this is where Rob is from. I am still managing all the farm stuff, selling grass fed beef, and pastured Large Black Hogs, managing our website, facebook and advertising…now just from a distance. So far it’s going well. We are living on my husbands family farm in his Grandma’s house…WOW, is it a work in progress! This is not the kind of farm I am used to. It is conventional agriculture and I have a Father-in-law that isn’t even interested in hearing what I have to say about it, but that’s life or at least my life for now.

We do have a Registered Large Black gilt here with us. She was born on my parents farm and due to bad weather and a first time mom, she is the only survivor. I bottle raised her and lil man named her Hamela. She is growing like a weed and eating like a pig. We also have some dogs and cats that live here with us and we plan to get lil man some chickens this spring or summer. I have another Large Black that is at my parents that will be exposed to a boar shortly so hopefully I’ll be adding a few more Large Blacks up north.

That’s mostly it for now. I will be updating more regularly now that I have more than an iPhone to use. If you are or have been a customer in the past…never fear about our move. Most of you probbably had no idea that it even occured. My parents are still on the farm in Adams County raising grass fed beef and Large Blacks. Hopefully we will be able to offer Large Blacks at both locations.

So, I guess the idea of this post was just to inform you a bit and to say that even though this isn’t perhaps a move that we absolutely wanted…it was needed for the job and it is all working out. I guess it’s true…Through All The Ups And Downs Of Life it really is easier if We Choose To See That God Always Puts Us In Greener Pastures!

Rob’s Farm Girl

The Large Black pigs are native to Southwestern England. The breeds popularity peaked during the 1920′s. After World War II, however, the shift toward intensive husbandry of pigs led to the decline of outdoor breeds that were not competitive indoors.
The Large Black nearly became extinct during the 60′s, and it remains one of the rarest British pig breeds. The Large Black is best known for its foraging abilities and maternal qualities. Large Black sows are able to raise and wean large litters of piglets out-of-doors and these survival characteristics give it genetic quality.
Mature boars weigh 700 – 800 lbs and sows 600 – 700 lbs as an adult.
In our quest to raise animals that thrive on grass and still know how to live and be animals without our assistance, we chose to raise Large Blacks. They are very much able to survive and thrive outdoors. These pigs are so interesting. They will eat grass like a cow and really do not root up the ground as I thought they would. Petunia is a great mom. She was up all night before giving birth, gathering nesting material for her new piglets, and while we are so impressed with them they really are just pigs acting and living the way God intended.

Pretty much all the vegetation that you see in the above picture is what Petunia gathered to make her nest.

Petunia is a young sow and still growing.

These pigs are a true joy. They are very docile and enjoy a good scratching. If you are fortunate enough to have space where you can raise a few animals, I highly recommend Large Blacks!

Rob’s farmgirl

Picnics, BBQ’s, family, friends, parades, fireworks, and red,white, and blue. I love this weekend! I love the patriotism folks have and display on this weekend, and quite honestly we should do it far more often than a couple of times a year. I enjoy thinking about this weekend and what it means, the lives that have been sacrificed, the families that have been forever changed, our flag flying high and love for God and country.

My Dad was drafted into the Army and not only his life but the lives of his parents were forever changed. I can’t even imagine what was going through all of their minds when they got the news. I will always be grateful for not only the lives that have been given but for all who have served. My Dad doesn’t talk about it much and when he does it is very seldom the dark and dreary side of it. I will never forget the day I got married I was 19. My Dad was walking me down the aisle and told me how strange things can be. He told me that  when he was my age and on that very day he was drafted. How amazing is that? I love my Dad with all that is in me and I am so proud to have a Dad that rose to the call of duty. So on the weekend filled with all the fun stuff let’s not forget what the 4th is about. I am so thankful to live in this great country, grateful for all the men and women who have or are currently serving, and most of all I am so thankful for my God for blessing America.

I tried a new recipe that I thought would be nice for a picnic and it turned out really well. It is Gluten free, dairy free, sugar-free macaroni salad.

16 oz package of Tinkyada brown rice pasta

1 cup Spectrum organic mayo

2 tablespoons organic apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup Dijon mustard ~ I used 1/4 cup Annie’s gluten-free honey mustard salad dressing instead

1/3 cup honey

2 teaspoons salt

diced up veggies of your choice ~ I used 1 organic cucumber and 1 organic green pepper. Next time I think I’ll also add a red pepper and carrots to add some color.

Bring pasta water to a boil and cook the macaroni until al dente. Rinse, drain, and set aside

Whisk the mayo, honey, vinegar, mustard, and salt in a large bowl. I did not add pepper but instead a little bit of organic garlic powder and chili pepper.

Finely dice your veggies. I put some macaroni in a bowl sprinkled some veggies and then drizzled the dressing. I did this in layers so that all the macaroni had some veggies and dressing and I didn’t have to stir it mush and smash the noodles. I also sprinkled the top with more chili powder and raw kelp granules.

Put in fridge until ready to serve……

enjoy!

Wishing you and your family a wonderful 4th of July weekend,

Rob’s farmgirl

The hatchery hatches out chicks, sorts them and puts them into boxes and then they ship them all over the country at a day old.

We picked up some turkey poults to raise for meat and a few more layer chicks for lil man’s flock.

The poults and chicks have been moved to pasture. We provide them with shelter that is moved daily. When they get a little bigger the door to their shelter will be left open and they can them roam around in a large fenced in area. The fence is meant to protect them from predators. They are only being kept in the shelter for now because of crows and other larger birds that will kill them while they are small. They are able to forage on bugs, grass, seeds and non medicated feed.

This was our first visit to a hatchery and it was a neat experience and of course lil man is always happy to add a few more layers to his flock!

If  you live in a place that allows you to raise a few hens for eggs, I highly suggest it! It is a terrific experience for kids and there is nothing like having your very own fresh eggs…..

 We backed the trailer up to her and backed the tractor up to her side. My Dad and husband started putting straps around her, all the while she was just taking it all in. Watching us, rubbing her head on them and once when I looked she was licking my Dad’s arm.

They put some straps on her to get her raised up….

We had to try several different things to get her on the trailer….

but we finally did it!

We brought her home and gave her some hay and water.

The next morning I went to check on her. She was still alert and friendly.  I had some errands to run and Dad was going to make a sling for her so that we could lift her up and let her hang so she could get some blood circulating in her legs and maybe be able to get them under her.

When I got home that evening I could tell she wasn’t the same. She wasn’t as perky and alert but still had such a gentleness about her. Her leg appeared to be out of socket from her trying to get up and falling on it and she had infection from all the afterbirth still inside her. She had let us know she was tired. Tired of fighting and so we decided it was time to put her down. I sat in front of her scratching her chin and ears. She would stretch her neck out for me to scratch some more. I sat and petted her head and talked to her while she licked my face. I knew that even though her story didn’t have a happy ending we did all we could and somehow I think she knew that.

So you see there is a big difference in a cattle farmer and a cattle farmer that cares. When you care you do all you can, you do what’s right. We honor and respect life because God created it and He has asked us to be caretakers of His creation.

Rob’s farm girl

and as a side note….my husband informed me that the vultures are black-headed vultures not Turkey vultures. Turkey vultures are the ones with the red heads.

On Tuesday my Dad and I went over to the neighboring farm with a tractor and boom pole to try to lift her to her feet. This cow was such a gentle soul. She was so calm but very alert. Had not given up by any means. We tried for a couple of hours but just couldn’t get her to her feet. And by the way she still had not been given any water!

That evening our neighbor called, said if we wanted her to take her. If not he was going to shoot her. We headed over to his farm, this time with the tractor and a truck and trailer. We had no idea how we were going to get her on the trailer but after seeing her gentleness and will to live we knew we had to try.

To be continued…..