Knolltop Farm Wife

Last evening, Luke played a double header against Reading. He pitched the first game and had 10 Ks. They won 2-0. The second game they won 5-4 and Luke caught the whole game. Jake and I were doing chores, Sarah had a game in Reading and JW had a basketball tournament. Shortly after the cows were milked, Bobby called and said they won the first game. At that point with the cows milk and all the rest of the stock were fed and watered, the rest of the chores could wait and Jake and I high-tailed it to the ball diamond to watch the second game. If there's anything Bobby and I hate is missing even one of our kids actitivities! It's a beautiful morning here on the Knolltop where the work for the day is dehorning calves, cleaning out calf pens and yard work. The wheat is a deep golden color, word on the street is harvest will begin by the end of next week! Another piece of good news is that Dieter Kreig, publisher of The Farmshine Newspaper in Pennsylania has decided he will r...

Last night we had no baseball games, and no baseball practice, the only thing going was JW's basketball practice. So after chores, I came in and relaxed! It was so wonderful to enjoy the company of my children...well actually I had to write my column because I didn't get a chance to do it earlier in the day. Today I get to go have lunch with a bunch of girls from church. I can't wait! The kids have to help Bobby clean out calf pens. My sweetcorn is tasseling!

It's been a busy morning here on the Knolltop. After Bobby, Luke and Jake left for basketball camp, where they have only lost one game...I finished up chores. The vet stopped by to check Holly and to pregnancy check the neighbor's heifers and he took note of a cow calving. He offered to help pull the calf, but I said, no, we can handle it. I should've taken his offer. After I finished up chores, JW left to go work at the neighbors and I decided to check on this cow. When I reached in to check on the calf, oh my..what big feet I felt! Knowing full well this calf would not be born without assistance I put some string around the feet of the calf and began pulling. Forty five minutes later, I made a desperation call to the neighbor and he wasn't close enough, so then I called Sarah and she came out to help. We pulled and prayed and finally this huge bull was born...alive! I was so thankful for Sarah's help and God's provision of strength! Now I've got t...

It's day two of Luke's basketball camp and they are having a ball! They won two out of three games yesterday and will go at it again today. Last night at JW's baskeball practice, Luke was invited to play too, he loves to play with the older boys. Sarah's team won their game, she got on base twice and scored two runs. It was a late game, we didn't get home until 9:30 pm. It's been so hot lately causing Holly to go off feed for a day and dropped in milk. Boy was that nerve wracking having to think about her all day and wondering what was wrong. But as soon as she got out of the barn and into the cooler night air she began eating again and talk about a relief! She was eating well this morning too. Today, Jake and Sarah and I will travel down to one of Luke's games, I shouldn't because I've got so much to do, but since the mountain of laundry has been reduced to a hill and I vacuumed up the hay chaff in the corners of the kitchen, I feel a little ...

Yes, my sister and her family left to head back to Montana today. On Sunday we had a big day of eating and celebrating my parents anniversary. We had to leave the party early of course to come back home and milk the cows, but we came back with a bonus...my nephew Tom. Tom is 18 and has one Ayrshire cow that he breeds and milks. He has a big customer base of buyers for Betsey Lou's raw milk. He takes a load to the local town, where his grandma lives and puts the milk in her fridge and people come and get it from there and then he also takes a load to Billings where he meets people and they pick up their fresh milk. He fetches a pretty big price for this ranch product...the locals pay $5.00 per gallon and the urbanites in Billings pay $7.00 a gallon. Talk about a niche market! Because Tom loves dairy cattle, he wanted to come to our house and spend some time with his kindred souls. We had a great time and he helped JW and I milk the whole time he was here. Milking a barn ful...

We're pretty hot and humid here on the Knolltop. Yesterday the family gathered to celebrate my parents 50th anniversary...I'll have pictures tomorrow. After the party I left my two younger kids there and came home with my 18 year old nephew, Tom. He has one cow out west that he milks...more about that this week. Consequently, he wanted to come to the dairy farm to milk our cows with us. When we finished chores last night we went to a bigger dairy where they milk 1500 cows, so he could see the other extreme. This morning they worked on fence, then I took them swimming over lunch and now they are back to work on the fence. I've got to fix dinner and then chores and Jake has a game. My sister is going to bring Jake and Sarah home this afternoon, hopefully in time for the game and Sarah's practice. Tomorrow, Bobby and Luke will spend the day at basketball camp, so I will get some things done around here...like laundry!

The westerners made it to the great lakes last night. My sister and her family showed up at Luke's ball game last night and were able to sit and watch most of his game with us. It was such a treat to have them here, sharing one of our passions with us. The boys have changed so much, but have also stayed the same. I enjoyed watching all of the cousins interact with each other, especially John the college student and my daughter. They sparred the whole time they were together...too much alike maybe? They left for Grandmas house about 9 or so, but they are still on Montana time, so it was early for them! I'm sure they will be tired this morning. It sure is good to see them! By the way, Luke's team lost the first game and won the second. Luke pitched the second game and caught the first game. Sarah's team lost, I wasn't able to see that, it was at 5 pm...right during chore time. Today, we're fixing fence, every night when we come home from a ballgame there ...