Farming in the shade

Dalvin Scheer traces the roots of his farming operation to a grandfather named, Henry. Back in 1902, Henry Scheer bought land 6 miles northeast of Arlington. Today, Dalvin and his wife, Betty, live on the farm. They raise corn and soybeans on 550 acres and own and operate a pheasant-hunting operation. For years, the Scheers have been active in farm and community organizations and their church. Read more about the innovative farming practices Scheer has used through the years.

A fellow etsy artist and homeschooling mom is hosting a giveaway at her blog right now. Enter by February 5 to win this lovely necklace: I love mompotter's jewelry. It's lovely and affordable. Here are some more photos to whet your appetite... Contest details here.

One of the very first shearings of our guard llama, Tamarin, was sent off to the mill and made into yarn. It sat waiting for several years for an auspicious time. Last fall I found a pattern I liked and started on a project for me.  I finally finished it (with very little yarn to spare).  Credits:   "Shawler" pattern from shelleden.etsy.com Wood button from thebuttonshop.etsy.com Yarn courtesy of Tamarin and some of our suffolk sheep, mill spun at Stonehedge Fiber Mill

Residents of Wayside Christian Mission sat down yesterday to dishes of prime beef, lamb and pork along with mashed potatoes and other trimmings during an annual Christmas event sponsored by livestock growers. "It's just beautiful," said resident Adrienne Berry. "I've been kind of down over the holidays, being homeless. It makes you feel good, like you're special." The meat came from two each of the champion steers, hogs and lambs from last month's annual North American International Livestock Expo, held in Louisville. Read more about about this story here.

Today, while driving my daughter to the dentist to have some work done, I heard the radio newscaster report that President Obama has lifted the ban on taxpayer funding of overseas abortions. It has begun. One of my homeschooling etsy friends is running a special on baby blankets. From now through February 10th, when the new lead law  goes into effect, Melody is offering to donate any of the baby blankets purchased (AND the money used to purchase it) to her local Crisis Pregnancy Center, if the buyer chooses.  Maybe this is a small thing, compared to the U.S. funding of abortions around the world, but it is a comfort to me to know that we can still do the small tangible things to help out moms who choose to carry their babies to term. If you'd like to help out in this tangible way, check out the blankets in Melody's shop.  Or if you would like to donate to purchase flannel for baby blankets for our church women's group (which also makes baby blankets for the local Crisis Pr...

I fielded a phone call from a sock-knitter wannabe (I'll call her B.) last week. She was almost giddy with excitement. B. had called us once before, after The Farmer was featured in the newspaper with his sock knitting machine. She wanted to learn how, and would he teach her? He spent some time with her, explaining the process, as well as what to look for and watch out for when buying a machine. So B. found one that she was thinking about buying, and told one of her friends about it. Her friend exclaimed that she had one of those old things in her basement and B. could just have that one!  At that point, bursting with excitement, B. called us. I had to laugh. Sometimes it goes that way--God blesses us with wonderful surprises.  She came to our house today with her new machine. The Farmer cleaned it up for her and got it cranking. He made one sock, while she watched, and sent her home. Happiness is an old sock knitting machine...

We may not cancel homeschool for snow days (much), but we did set the books aside today to watch the inauguration proceedings. Such an amazing thing--the peaceful transfer of power of such a large, complex nation. May God continue to grant us mercy and grace (mercy is not getting what we deserve, and grace is getting what we don't deserve)... Please remember to pray for our new president and his cabinet. Pray that God would keep their hearts pure from corruption. Pray that they would remember all those who are marginalized and cast off--even those who are not yet born. Pray that they would uphold the Constitution (I fear we continue to stray ever farther from those lofty ideals with each passing day). And pray that they would realize (as so few of us seem to realize anymore) that we must spend less than we take in... God bless America and her new President and Vice President!

It has been so long since we had a sunny day that I have to blog about it. Western Michigan is a grey world in the winter, and this year has been snow upon snow upon snow. I like snow. Grey days? Not so much. After a while, it gets to you. And then the sun comes out--and you realize that's been half the trouble all along. No sun. Of course! Everything looks a little better with sunshine on it... Despite morning temps hovering around 10 degrees F, I was so excited to see the beauty that I just had to run out and take a few photos. 

Show me your ways, O Lord,  teach me your paths;  guide me in your truth and teach me,  for you are God my Savior,  and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love,  for they are from of old. --Psalm 25: 4-6

Most farmers can tell you the main reason they farm; it's in the blood. The phrase "family farm" means a great deal to Alan and Stacy Spence, brothers who farm together and whose family was chosen as the 2008 Farm Family of the Year by the Statesboro-Bulloch (GA) Chamber of Commerce agribusiness committee. It's a family venture, with the children participating when they are able, performing chores such as pulling weeds. The wives help when they are needed as well; on a farm, everyone pitches in. And there are fun times too, such as when the kids get to play in the cotton boll buggy. Read more about these Georgia crop farmers here.

While the cat's away... The mice will play! Looks like the sock knitter(s) have been busy while I've been sitting in meetings. I'm so glad it's the weekend! What are your plans?

I'm trying to do the impossible. I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I have about 13 part-time jobs. And I recently added another--this one with pay. So after several years of being a SAHM (stay at home mom), I've joined the ranks of the employed-and-trying-to-do-everything moms (EATTDEM?).  When there isn't much of interest to read on the blog, just assume that I've got a mandatory 2-day training in a city up north (and the roads are icy) AND a special weekend meeting to prepare for.  The Farmer bought a new-to-us toy, which should make manure handling more fun and less work (if that's possible). I'll ask him to take photos soon. Stay tuned!

What do farmers do in the slow days of winter? Why, catch up with bookwork, of course! We've been phoning and emailing back and forth with the accountant (yes, I'm too wimpy to do the farm taxes), hoping she can get them done before the birth of her next child. Any day. The Farmer also had enough time to give lessons to a sock knitting wannabe. We are very thankful for a little bit of downtime before the next crazy wave of work hits. Maybe we'll even get the house cleaned...

I don't do resolutions. I find it's better to make small adjustments during the course of life, as needed. But I've been thinking about living in the moment  lately--enjoying what I'm doing, instead of wishing I were somewhere else. How about you? Any thoughts for the new year?