Thursday, April 14, 2011
Here's to the Butler Community Ag students!
I wish ten years ago I knew what I wanted to do with my life. When I walk into the classroom, I look at the kids I have class with. I say "kids" because I'm on the average about 10-12 years older than they are. But they've got one up on me! They've got it together at 19 years of age. I think the ag students are setting the bar for all ag students to come. Not only are they going into professions that will help better the world and sustain our food chains, and not only do they have the brains and braun to do it (yes, even all the girls!) but they have the most awesome personalities. Class is always full of laughs with integrity. I feel lucky to have class with this group. I'm sure the students behind them were just as awesome and the students to come have the most awesome footprints to walk in. They are like a family to each other, I have noticed. They all have that "downhome" atttitude toward everyone. I can't post this without giving props to my ag instructors. They are simply the best; what can I say. I've had 12 years of school plus a previous degree from Butler Community College. Not one instructor I've ever had compares to them. If only I had them to learn from ten years ago.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
April 1st is WHAT WHAT?
Yeah, you knew it was turkey season didn't you. Of course you did. You better have! I've been counting down the days. Although, I failed to scout things out yet. And, I failed to restring my bow. I have enough faith I'll make it through one more year before I have to restring it. I must, I must, I must call Mr. Dub this weekend. He's got to give me the go ahead. No babies, no homework, no obligations. Just me and God's green Earth. And turkey's lurking. They are waiting for me you know. It's their passion and their number one goal in life to elude me...as they have since the beginning. But not this year. Oh no. I will provide my family with their turkey dinner this year. Maybe. Fingers crossed. And a little a prayer. Off to get my tag. Good luck with your hunt this spring. Oh, and here's a plug for my new friends: Have you thanked a farmer today?
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
What I would Facebook today
So I deactivated my account on Facebook. We haven't been meshing lately. I really wanted to get on my blog more. So now, I think of facebook posts in my head all day. Here's a few...
1. Wow, I feel great this morning after being sick with strep the last 4 days.
2. I'm pretty sure I totally bombed that presentation. I hate presentations. And I hate Microsoft Publisher, for now anyways.
3. So, I found out my friend is blind in one eye. Now I know why she was always looking at me funny! (sorry Lauren, I had to, lol!)
4. Dear people at the grocery store, I'm teaching my 17 month old manners, so when she says "hi" to you, say "hi" back. Is it that hard?
5. Wow, I guess I tried to do to much after being sick with strep for the last 4 days, I feel like crap.
6. Tekoah busted her lip on the concrete today. And, her new favorite word is "sock."
7. Bullriding this weekend! Alone. But that's how I roll.
8. Dear guy fixing your car in the street who's always trying to impress me: Your butt crack is hanging out from under your car.
9. So I'm going to blog more, even though no one reads it.
10. So I went out behind the ag building and hung out with the calves for awhile between classes. I drooled the whole time. And longed for my own.
11. This "living in town" thing is really hard to get used to. It's been almost 8 months and I'm still trying to get used to traffic and trains and other peoples dogs. I'll never get used to it.
12. I heart cows.
1. Wow, I feel great this morning after being sick with strep the last 4 days.
2. I'm pretty sure I totally bombed that presentation. I hate presentations. And I hate Microsoft Publisher, for now anyways.
3. So, I found out my friend is blind in one eye. Now I know why she was always looking at me funny! (sorry Lauren, I had to, lol!)
4. Dear people at the grocery store, I'm teaching my 17 month old manners, so when she says "hi" to you, say "hi" back. Is it that hard?
5. Wow, I guess I tried to do to much after being sick with strep for the last 4 days, I feel like crap.
6. Tekoah busted her lip on the concrete today. And, her new favorite word is "sock."
7. Bullriding this weekend! Alone. But that's how I roll.
8. Dear guy fixing your car in the street who's always trying to impress me: Your butt crack is hanging out from under your car.
9. So I'm going to blog more, even though no one reads it.
10. So I went out behind the ag building and hung out with the calves for awhile between classes. I drooled the whole time. And longed for my own.
11. This "living in town" thing is really hard to get used to. It's been almost 8 months and I'm still trying to get used to traffic and trains and other peoples dogs. I'll never get used to it.
12. I heart cows.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Grow!
Spring is coming! Spring is coming! That means new growth. Do you know how to grow your own vegetables? Have you ever tried? Do you live in a city or a neighborhood and think maybe it's not for you, that it would be easier to just go down to the grocery store and buy them?
Well, let me challenge you this spring. Whether it's a tomato plant in the back yard, herbs in your window, or beans in the flower garden, just try to grow one vegetable plant. Watch it, nurture it, then enjoy. Try it just once. Don't have any idea what you are doing? It's simple. Pick something you like...something you know you will enjoy first. If you buy an already established plant, I'm sure the local greenhouse you buy it from would love to tell you about how to care for your plant. If you want to start from seed then START NOW! Get a few seeds of the same plant started in some potting soil so if one doesn't take, you'll still have another to transplant. Get it in the window and keep it moist. Once you see your little buds emerging, you will be excited about it. I promise. If you take my challenge, let me know! It's rewarding to eat vegetables you grow yourself. And if you have any questions about it, I'd be glad to help you with it. Some of you will choose to go completely organic. Some of you will choose to use chemicals when the pests set in. Whatever you decide will be perfectly awesome, if you just try. Happy planting!
Well, let me challenge you this spring. Whether it's a tomato plant in the back yard, herbs in your window, or beans in the flower garden, just try to grow one vegetable plant. Watch it, nurture it, then enjoy. Try it just once. Don't have any idea what you are doing? It's simple. Pick something you like...something you know you will enjoy first. If you buy an already established plant, I'm sure the local greenhouse you buy it from would love to tell you about how to care for your plant. If you want to start from seed then START NOW! Get a few seeds of the same plant started in some potting soil so if one doesn't take, you'll still have another to transplant. Get it in the window and keep it moist. Once you see your little buds emerging, you will be excited about it. I promise. If you take my challenge, let me know! It's rewarding to eat vegetables you grow yourself. And if you have any questions about it, I'd be glad to help you with it. Some of you will choose to go completely organic. Some of you will choose to use chemicals when the pests set in. Whatever you decide will be perfectly awesome, if you just try. Happy planting!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Wind Farms
Property Owners and the Debate on Wind Energy
In today’s age of energy crisis, we are constantly looking for new ways to supply our energy needs. Using up all of the resources we currently have and pollution of air and water are major concerns. Wind energy is emerging throughout the world. It requires turbines of all different sizes, depending upon the need of the energy, ranging from one home or small business to entire communities. These turbines have propeller like projections that can sometimes be 200 feet long mounted on towers that reach high into the sky. They catch the wind, which turns the propellers, which produces energy when the turbines go to work. These larger than life windmills are sometimes by themselves and other times in groups we sometimes refer to as wind farms. There’s a great debate on these “wind farms” since they have to be placed somewhere. Who’s going to give up the land? Who’s going to pay for it? What are the pros and cons? These questions will continue to decide the future of wind energy.
Scientists do a lot of research finding out where the most proficient wind is, and then decide what the energy will be used for. Whatever they decide, there is always a property owner who will or will not want it happen. If it’s farmland, the space used for crop production will be given up. If it’s grazing land for livestock, that much land must be taken over for the wind turbines. Some landowners see the benefits, others see the downside. Some scientists think that offshore wind energy could account for the energy that could supply an entire nation. . Wind energy is clean, producing no green house gasses, renewable, and as long as there is sun, there is wind, therefore never running out. The wildlife hazards and other environmental concerns are minimal compared to other sources of energy.
What’s the downfall? It does ruin the view of a beautiful setting off of your back deck. The noise and construction is another nuisance. The space taken up by one wind turbine is roughly an acre, but must include an access road. However, during the construction of setting one up, the landowner loses more land during that time. Some are worried about the hazards these turbines provide for wildlife such as birds and bats. The cost to set up the turbines is incredibly expensive, but once the project is completed the energy cost is minimal. The cost of electricity is about 4¢ per kilowatt-hour The government does have tax incentives for land owners housing the turbines but one must decide if it’s worth it to live under three or four 200 foot long turbines. I think it’s definitely something worth it that should continue to prosper, but we shouldn’t be reliant on only one source of energy. As you see, there is much more research to be done.
In today’s age of energy crisis, we are constantly looking for new ways to supply our energy needs. Using up all of the resources we currently have and pollution of air and water are major concerns. Wind energy is emerging throughout the world. It requires turbines of all different sizes, depending upon the need of the energy, ranging from one home or small business to entire communities. These turbines have propeller like projections that can sometimes be 200 feet long mounted on towers that reach high into the sky. They catch the wind, which turns the propellers, which produces energy when the turbines go to work. These larger than life windmills are sometimes by themselves and other times in groups we sometimes refer to as wind farms. There’s a great debate on these “wind farms” since they have to be placed somewhere. Who’s going to give up the land? Who’s going to pay for it? What are the pros and cons? These questions will continue to decide the future of wind energy.
Scientists do a lot of research finding out where the most proficient wind is, and then decide what the energy will be used for. Whatever they decide, there is always a property owner who will or will not want it happen. If it’s farmland, the space used for crop production will be given up. If it’s grazing land for livestock, that much land must be taken over for the wind turbines. Some landowners see the benefits, others see the downside. Some scientists think that offshore wind energy could account for the energy that could supply an entire nation. . Wind energy is clean, producing no green house gasses, renewable, and as long as there is sun, there is wind, therefore never running out. The wildlife hazards and other environmental concerns are minimal compared to other sources of energy.
What’s the downfall? It does ruin the view of a beautiful setting off of your back deck. The noise and construction is another nuisance. The space taken up by one wind turbine is roughly an acre, but must include an access road. However, during the construction of setting one up, the landowner loses more land during that time. Some are worried about the hazards these turbines provide for wildlife such as birds and bats. The cost to set up the turbines is incredibly expensive, but once the project is completed the energy cost is minimal. The cost of electricity is about 4¢ per kilowatt-hour The government does have tax incentives for land owners housing the turbines but one must decide if it’s worth it to live under three or four 200 foot long turbines. I think it’s definitely something worth it that should continue to prosper, but we shouldn’t be reliant on only one source of energy. As you see, there is much more research to be done.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
school
I have found one of my passions in life. No, not school; but the agriculture classes I'm taking in school. First it was pre-vet, but I've recently switched to agriculture. I'm loving it! I still may switch over to Farm and Ranch Management, but either way I think my instructors will play a key role in helping me find my future career. Right now I have crop science, meat science, agriculture in society, microcomputers in agriculture and livestock nutrition. But I think I need to take a class in sitting up straight. Class all day starts weighing on the 'ole back and neck. I'm not used to looking down at a table with papers and books all the time either. And, I may possibly be as old as my instructor :)
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
writers block, perhaps
So...I feel the need to write but have so much going through my mind I'm not sure where to start.
When I feel this way, the best remedy is a good hunt. The holiday season is over, school has not started yet and bow season is coming to an end. One tree stand is kind of not safe right now and ensures a chiropractor appointment. The other stand I've never had any luck on. So today I'm going out to the deer blind...precisely where I almost died across the river 2 years ago. But, I did see good deer there that time so I will go back. Maybe they'll get closer this time. I should have kept up my hunting journal this year. I haven't journaled since 2008. The following year I was unable to leave Riverlyn with Jason, the year after that I only went twice because, well, you just can't nurse a baby in a treestand in 30 degree weather. I wonder why God didn't work that one out? Hmmm....
Here's to today! To save my sanity, my patience and to get a good dose of worshipping my Heavenly Father in all His amazing creation. That's possibly the best part; aside from the adrenaline rush. Goodluck me. I usually don't "goodluck myself" but right now, there's no one to wish me luck :)
When I feel this way, the best remedy is a good hunt. The holiday season is over, school has not started yet and bow season is coming to an end. One tree stand is kind of not safe right now and ensures a chiropractor appointment. The other stand I've never had any luck on. So today I'm going out to the deer blind...precisely where I almost died across the river 2 years ago. But, I did see good deer there that time so I will go back. Maybe they'll get closer this time. I should have kept up my hunting journal this year. I haven't journaled since 2008. The following year I was unable to leave Riverlyn with Jason, the year after that I only went twice because, well, you just can't nurse a baby in a treestand in 30 degree weather. I wonder why God didn't work that one out? Hmmm....
Here's to today! To save my sanity, my patience and to get a good dose of worshipping my Heavenly Father in all His amazing creation. That's possibly the best part; aside from the adrenaline rush. Goodluck me. I usually don't "goodluck myself" but right now, there's no one to wish me luck :)
Saturday, December 18, 2010
a ranch will be mine, this i know
The ranch is calling me. I can feel it. Besides, I got a really cool new vest I need to break in with a little red dirt...perhaps some cow slobber. I've decided on my lifes dream and I'm not going to let anything get in my way. At almost 31, I have plenty of time to make it work and for 31 years I have lived my life to please everyone else. My goals, my day to day activities, my schedule, my decisions, have all been made for as long as I can ever remember to please someone else. And never again will I be dependent on another human being. I only have 1 year left for my Pre-vet to be finished. I will either go on to vet school or major in animal science. I just wish I would have realized this, oh, about 10 years ago, but God had a plan for me, for some reason or another. I've learned NOT to ask God "why," but to wait patiently on the Lord so that I may mount up with as eagles. And for that promise of His, I'm so giddy with excitement I can't hardly contain myself.
My dream is to own a ranch. A working ranch. There's lots of things that play in to why I want a ranch. Is it the way I feel when I come back from western Oklahoma? Is it that I discovered the best show in the whole world on Animal Planet called "Last American Cowboy," or is the fact that my heart was stuck in western Oklahoma but my body was moving around in a military family and I never got the chance to bloom in the place my heart was planted? Or is it the fact that it's always been my calling from God but my own agenda and sin have stood in the way of me seeing it?
I have a need to work cows. I have a need to pull a calf. I have a need to drop feed and count head. I have a need to ride a fence line and check for breaks. I have a need for these things to be mine and not just go to my cousins, or grandma's, or a friend. (The secret bonus? I could hunt and fish on my OWN place and never feel like I'm imposing by asking permission or have to travel hundreds of miles to get to grandma's.) What's it going to take for me live this out? I don't know, and I really don't care. I think my 6 year old daughter has developed such a love of horses (and she's getting quite handy with them) that she's probably willing to sacrifice just as much as I am to get to the point where we can get up out of bed, go to the barn, hop on horseback and herd some cattle. One thing I lack is long time experience. Oh I havea little experience...with family. But having someone give you the time of day to let you do some labor for them just doesn't happen...especially when they see a single mom with 2 small girls and you weigh a buck ten. I won't lie, people judge a book by it's cover and for me, that's unfortunate. I love horses, any woman would probably let me come work with horses, but cows are my passion. Cattle and land is what I want in life. And I'm not willing to let anything stand in my way to get to that point, God willing. Umm, looks like I have alot of savin' up to do now. I guess I will head to western Oklahoma for a couple days sometime soon, get my fix and then buckle down because I have chemistry this semester...ugh.
My dream is to own a ranch. A working ranch. There's lots of things that play in to why I want a ranch. Is it the way I feel when I come back from western Oklahoma? Is it that I discovered the best show in the whole world on Animal Planet called "Last American Cowboy," or is the fact that my heart was stuck in western Oklahoma but my body was moving around in a military family and I never got the chance to bloom in the place my heart was planted? Or is it the fact that it's always been my calling from God but my own agenda and sin have stood in the way of me seeing it?
I have a need to work cows. I have a need to pull a calf. I have a need to drop feed and count head. I have a need to ride a fence line and check for breaks. I have a need for these things to be mine and not just go to my cousins, or grandma's, or a friend. (The secret bonus? I could hunt and fish on my OWN place and never feel like I'm imposing by asking permission or have to travel hundreds of miles to get to grandma's.) What's it going to take for me live this out? I don't know, and I really don't care. I think my 6 year old daughter has developed such a love of horses (and she's getting quite handy with them) that she's probably willing to sacrifice just as much as I am to get to the point where we can get up out of bed, go to the barn, hop on horseback and herd some cattle. One thing I lack is long time experience. Oh I havea little experience...with family. But having someone give you the time of day to let you do some labor for them just doesn't happen...especially when they see a single mom with 2 small girls and you weigh a buck ten. I won't lie, people judge a book by it's cover and for me, that's unfortunate. I love horses, any woman would probably let me come work with horses, but cows are my passion. Cattle and land is what I want in life. And I'm not willing to let anything stand in my way to get to that point, God willing. Umm, looks like I have alot of savin' up to do now. I guess I will head to western Oklahoma for a couple days sometime soon, get my fix and then buckle down because I have chemistry this semester...ugh.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Wow. Today is day I don't want to repeat, but as long as there is life on earth, it will someday happen again. Sasha died today. Riv was 2 years old when we got her. Sasha was 8 weeks old. I potty trained them at the same time. Sasha had a curious streak. She was the most loyal dog. Her only goal was to love you, no matter who you were; and she would knock you over to lick your face to prove it. But if she caught scent of a rabbit, cat, skunk or a pretty little flower her nose took over. Today she was hit by a car, and the hardest part was telling Riv. She had her break down. She wanted to see her one last time. She was upset the most that she didn't get to say goodbye. She wanted me to promise to never get her another dog again. (I just told her she would make that decision when she was a little older.) I told her time would heal our hurts and Loki needed our love right now. She decorated a piece of wood, Jason nailed it onto another piece of wood to form a cross to put under her favorite tree. And tonight, she lays sleeping with an 8x10 picture of her and Sasha, smiling and happy. And now, that everyone is asleep and the day is done, I will have my breakdown. Goodbye Sasha. I love you so much and we will never forget you.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Update coming soon...I promise
Wondering where I've been? I've been around, just not here...obviously. I will have an updated blog very soon. It needs a facelift. It's a little outdated. I'm sad to say, life has thrown a few curveballs lately and I will do my best to explain, maybe. Stay tuned...either for a detailed update or just a simple facelift. Not sure God will give me the words yet to explain my "life situation."
love you all...I'm without internet and can only get online when I come out to the house or take my laptop to the McDonald's parking lot to get Wifi. Yeah...I actually have to do that.
love you all...I'm without internet and can only get online when I come out to the house or take my laptop to the McDonald's parking lot to get Wifi. Yeah...I actually have to do that.
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