Calving Season

The calendar says it’s spring, but here on the ranch it’s calving season. This season is a busy time for us. The cows require a lot of attention as they have their new calves.

The older cows, that have calved before, are looked at three times a day. We drive through the herd and look for any difficulties in the birth process, such as a backwards (or breech) calf. In that case, we would bring the cow into our barn, restrain her, and help her deliver her calf. While checking the cows, we also observe the calves already born to make sure they are up and sucking. It’s important that baby calves get a good start in life.

The two-year old heifers, that are having their first calf, demand much more attention. We monitor them around the clock, because they are more apt to need assistance. Heifer problems are mostly a matter of getting everything stretched without stressing the calf. We do breed our heifers to low birth weight bulls to minimize troubles. With this being their first calf, motherhood is all new to them and they need to be watched.

So while we are tending to the cows and the new calves, spring is happening. The green grasses are starting, trees are budding, and meadowlarks are singing. The renewal of life is upon us and it is a beautiful season!

Healthy Eating

There is so much talk these days about food, nutrition, and health. Have you been watching Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution? He makes some good points, but he also blurs the lines on other points. I will agree wholeheartedly that school lunch rooms warm-up too much already prepared food. And I will agree that our meals should be colorful and varied. However, pizza and sloppy joes alone are not bad foods.

I come from the old school of approaching everything in moderation when it comes to eating. If our plates are filled with foods from each of the food groups, have texture, and contain color, most likely we have prepared a well-balanced meal. This should not be a complicated task, but rather an enjoyable responsibility.

Do schools still teach home economic classes? Those classes provide valuable food skills and nutrition knowledge. I remember writing weekly menus in class and using the food guide to see that each food category was included. We learned portion sizes, food budgets, and table manners. And we learned to cook and clean up after ourselves.

Eating and cooking should be a fun adventure for everyone. I fear that our society might be demonizing food. Food is not evil nor is food the enemy. Food provides us with the energy we need to live.

So, rather than single out certain foods or blame food production on our bad eating habits and unhealthy lifestyles, let‘s each begin by consuming size appropriate, balanced meals and engaging in activities that get us moving.

Cookie Memories

What goes better with a cup of coffee, than a cookie? Somehow a cookie just makes us better! And at our house, we are “cookie monsters.”

Each person in our family has their own cookie story. Take for example, my Mom, she makes the best applesauce cookie in the world. One day I found a note in my cookbook, “If you want a good applesauce cookie recipe, ask Jo Ann.” Indeed, I got Mom’s recipe and never used the cookbook recipe again. --- Our daughter’s specialty is double chocolate oatmeal cookies. It’s a chocolate drop cookie with chocolate chips and oatmeal. She keeps the hayfield cooler well stocked with her delicious cookies and we love her for them!! --- Then there was our Uncle John. He was an old timer that always had his cookie can filled and he expected you to have a cookie when you came to see him. His oatmeal peanut butter cookies were special because he pressed a few chocolate chips into the top of each cookie, he said they were less messy that way.

This week our Uncle John would have been 102 years old, but we lost him last May at the age of 101. We miss our uncle, but we celebrate his long and kind life. He was a Christian, pioneer, cowboy, friend, and cookie baker. In memory of John, here is his cookie recipe:

John’s Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie

1½ cups packed brown sugar
1 cup chunky peanut butter
¾ cup margarine
2 eggs
3 cups oatmeal (either quick or old fashioned)
1½ cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat brown sugar, peanut butter, and margarine until fluffy. Blend in eggs. Add oats, flour, and baking soda; mix well. Cover and chill 1 hour. Shape into 1-inch balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Using bottom of glass dipped in sugar, press into ¼-inch thick circles. Press a few chocolate chips into each cookie. Bake at 350º for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Celebrating Agriculture

This week, March 14 - 20, we will be celebrating National Agriculture Week. I’m not sure if Hallmark has included cards for this celebration, but I think they should. Celebrating Agriculture is a big deal for everyone. We all eat; it’s a necessity of life.

Today, in the United States only 2% of our population farm or ranch. That means that fewer people have their hands in the dirt than ever before in our history. Through excellent land management and improved technologies, today’s farmers and ranchers are able to feed this nation.

As consumers, we are blessed to have grocery store shelves and meat counters full of food. We can pick and choose what we want to eat, while serving our families well balanced diets. Yet, we still have Americans that struggle to make ends meet and put food on their tables. We salute those who donate to the food banks and help their fellow man enjoy our bounty.

It breaks my heart when I hear some food “elitist” claim that farmers and ranchers don’t have a conscience when it comes to producing food. These “elitists” advocate to put burdensome regulations on agriculture that will limit our production and raise consumer costs. We take pride in the fact that America has the safest, most abundant, most affordable food in the world through good management skills of American farmers and ranchers.

I raise my cup of coffee and say, “Here’s to those who raise the food and here’s to those who eat the food. May our tables always be full of delicious foods.”

Coffee and Cattle

Since I'm new to blogging and new to coffee, this seems like a perfect avenue to begin. I must confess that I am an iced tea drinker; the kind of tea that is sweet, southern, and brewed. I come from a family of coffee drinkers, and I think sometimes Mom wondered what happened to me. But no longer does she have to worry, I like coffee!

So pour yourself of cup and let me introduce myself. I'm a ranch wife and mom. I love country living. I love the cattle, the land, and the lifestyle. Working with my family everyday excites me; we work well together and we love each other.

Right now on the ranch we are feeding the cattle daily. Our cattle are a hereford/angus cross. Cattle selection is important to us. We need cattle that adapt well to the rough terrain, have vigor, and are easy fleshing.

I look forward to sharing a cup of coffee and a story with you from time to time.