The Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch with my friend Audra and her kiddos Adia, John & Ella.  It was so much fun and a good excuse to get outside and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.  There was so much to do the kids went bonkers!  They had trikes to ride, gold to mine, haunted forest trails and mazes, a corn maze, haunted buildings to explore, a petting zoo, bounce houses, tractor rides and even a pumpkin cannon!! 

Eureka!  Luke struck gold!

Emry was loving up this kitty.  She'd love to have one of her very own...but I'm allergic...it's a tragedy at our house.  Carley was holding her kitty so still and tight I was afraid she may have hurt it.  The lady in charge assured me that it was fine and that if it really wanted to get away it would...so it was held tight and smothered!!

Last Days of Autumn

This is probably one of the last, if not the last, nice weekend before the weather will turn cold and rainy in preparation for the arrival of winter.  The kids and I went out for a walk and played along the way.  Exploring the nooks and crannies of the woods that surround my parents property.  

The leaves this year weren't spectacular in color, too much rain, and they fell to the ground very quickly.  We were only really able to enjoy them for about a week and a half.  I guess anything is better than nothing. 

The kids have been busy helping Grandma Kris to get the backyard ready for winter too.  They cleaned pots and picked up all the outdoor summer toys.  They even raked up leaves for a pile to jump in one day.  We've all had fun watching the farmers harvest their crops of soybeans, potatoes and corn.  Now the fields around us are empty....the kids are already asking when it will snow.

It's fun to see the kids get excited about the seasons changing, but I hope the snow doesn't come too soon.  I'm not quite ready for winter to begin.  Not quite yet.

Happy Birthday to ME!

I had a great birthday this year!  My mom and I spent the day shopping and then I came home to this...

If you don't know what EmmersonMade is then click here.  Their products are super unique and cool...especially the flowers!  I am in love.  Anyhew, Trent knew I liked them and I was smiling soooo big as I opened his package and saw the yellow box.   

I also received these beauties.

 

Thanks for all the phone calls, emails, cards and birthday wishes.  It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed myself...and the ice cream cake too!!

Field Trip to Windmill Dairy

2 of my high school friends, Pat & Audra got married, and Farmer Pat helps run his families farm called Windmill Dairy.  Audra was kind enough to give us a tour and let the kids check out all the cool moo moos!  I took tons of photos b/c it's always so fun to visit a farm.

AROUND THE FARM:

 

THE PARLOR: Milking goes on constantly because of the number of cows at the farm.  Each cow gets milked 3 times a day! They pump around 8100 gallons of milk into the bulk tank each day!  Incredible!

THE BARN:  I didn't take any photos of the outside, my bad.  These barns are huge.  They have a total of 1000 head of milking cows at the Dairy.  These barns are state of the art too!  The cows can sleep on waterbeds if they want!  They are large pads that lay in the stalls.  They help protect the cows joints and keep vet bills down.  They also have a special genetically perfect (I don't know what you'd call it, maybe if Audra comments on this she can correct me!!) lady Holstein and she's worth $100,000 smackers!!  I'm calling her, "Holstein Royalty".  Schweet! 

Halt.  Cows Crossing.

Here's our groupie.  Cesar with Sabine & Marlo.  Carley and I.  Audra, Pearl, John & Hugo.

That's farmer Pat in the background, he was busy working.

A Jersey cow

This baby was just born...and I mean like 2 minutes before we walked past.  It was still wet and and hadn't gotten up yet.  Pretty awesome!

Ella Pearl

John Patrick

Whoa There Partner.  Checkity check out that gargantuan utter!  This cow got overlooked somehow when it was her turn to get milked...OUCH!  Someone call the lactation specialist!

Audra

This Holstein has some serious reach!

This was my most favorite part of the barn.  A new instillation since I've been to visit.  It's a massager!  When the ladies feel a little stressed and life gets to be too much for them, they can line up and get relief!  How cool is that!  They just have to bump it and it starts to spin and...Ahhhhh!

JUVIE:  About a half mile away at the site of the old farm, is where the juvie males hang out.

THE NURSERY:  Just beyond the juvies is where the babies are kept.  It was sad to see them without their mamas, but you have to respect the process.

Apparently this calf has nipple confusion.

Carley was in love with this little calf.

The calves have their own milk tank.  They can get milk anytime they want by walking into these little stalls that have a nipple waiting.  The stalls look simple, but they are fully automated by computers so they know exactly which calf is eating when and how much...gotta keep 'em healthy!!

  

The End.