And Just Like That...It's Fall...

What a difference a few days can make!

The past weeks have been...IMHO...horribly uncomfortable.  The humidity has been so thick you could just about cut it, and the temps just couldn't come down.

Yesterday we spent the day at Eric's final home cross country meet.  How did he become a college senior so quickly?!  It was a beautiful day for running...overcast and in the mid 70's.  First day we've had weather like that in a very. long. time.

He had a great race...

...and the team had a great finish, winning the invitational.  He's 3rd from the right...

Afterwards, as tradition has it, the team and families held a tailgate potluck.  My fingers were freezing by the time we were finished, but I'm not complaining!  As long as there's a blanket to throw over me or a sweatshirt to put on, I'm good.

This week we finished our silage harvest. With all the rain we've been having, the guys have been burning the candle at both ends.  They've been putting in really long days, trying to keep up with all the farms that they need to get to before the corn gets too dry.  The equipment arrived at 1:30 am, and sat waiting until they arrived around 8 am...

For some reason, the silage pipe kept getting plugged up.  Jim is up at the top, and Mark is sitting on top of the blower, working at getting it open...

The last load of silage...

The guys moved on to the next farm quickly, and took the blower with them.  Silo gas, which can be deadly, forms when fresh silage is put into a silo.  To deliver fresh air into the silo, farmers usually run the blower when working inside the silo for the first day or so.  The gas doesn't form right away, so Jim quickly leveled the silage and we set up the unloader after lunch. I was at the bottom of the silo inside the silage room, lowering the unloader at his instruction.  I found our kids' handprints in the concrete, where we had reinforced with shotcrete years ago.

Eric...

...and Jenna...

Things change so quickly!

For now, we hope to enjoy fall!  The West Lampeter Fair is this coming week, and I'm sure we'll be spending a lot of time there.  It might be a muddy mess (it's raining, again!) but it will happen regardless!  It's one of the highlights of the year for us. Goat, sheep, pig and dairy beef shows, baked goods, contests, fair food, and much more bring the community together for a great time.

Fall Is Back...

Ah...the cool breeze is once again blowing through my windows!  It's actually a little chilly, but I'm not going to be complaining after the week we just had...90+ degrees and high humidity in September is just. not. ok!

This morning I was thrilled to see this...

...and I was thrilled to do this...

Jim mowed the last few acres of fifth cutting hay, and after milking we spent the evening at the West Lampeter Fair!  I watched the dairy beef show and Jim spent sometime looking at the old tractors and watching some of the happenings in the arena.

This is my brother-in-law Marty's tractor...a 1936 John Deere D...one of the many antique tractors entered in the fair this year...

It sat in the middle of a field in western Kansas for years until he convinced the owner to sell it to him.  He had it hauled east and restored it in my Dad's "shop".  A bunch of the family was around to cheer him on when he started it up for the very first time, and his Dad in western Kansas was listening in on the phone. Over the past number of years he's spent a lot of time working on this old tractor. Not too shabby for 81 years old!  (the tractor, not his wife!  :)  )

The only problem is the color...

It's Feeling Like Fall...

Over this past weekend, the weather has made a big u-turn, and it's beginning to feel like fall.

We'd had a long stretch of dry weather...it was beginning to feel like a drought, but that's sure changed.  On Thursday we had 4" of rain...and on Saturday another 1" +.  Along with the much needed moisture, a lot of the humidity has disappeared, and temps yesterday and today have been in the 70's.  It's wonderful!

We're in between projects right now...Jim just mowed the first fields of fifth cutting hay yesterday...and we're hoping to refill silo at the end of the week. The quiet has been nice.  Fall things are happening, and it's nice to be able to enjoy them.

I began cleaning up my "garden" yesterday...

My pepper plant and two late tomato plants that didn't die still look happy, so I left them standing.  Everything else went into a pile in the middle of the garden and will be fodder for a big bonfire in a few weeks.  When we clean up leaves this fall, I'm hoping to spread them all over the garden as mulch for winter.  I was really happy with how few weeds I had this year by mulching instead of rototilling, so I'll try it again next year.  Keeping the clumps of grass at bay is the biggest problem...but with lots of mulch, they pull easily if I get them when they're small.  That's the challenge!

The chickens have decided that they like table scraps after all.  Here they're chowing down on an over ripe watermelon and some pumpkin waste...

Speaking of pumpkin...our neighbor gave me a big neck pumpkin last week. This morning I chunked it and cooked it up.  Now it's cooling and hopefully I can make some pumpkin whoopie pies out of it later today.  I've eaten them often, but have never made them before, so I need to find a good recipe...

And last but not least...and not nearly the most exciting...the birds have ruined our sidewalk!  The second half of this summer, they've begun roosting in the maple tree right beside our house.  This is what everyone who comes up the walk to our door gets to walk through.  Lucky them...and how embarrassing for us!  I try to sweep it often but I would have to get on my hands and knees several times a day with a bucket and scrub brush to thoroughly clean this mess up, and that's just not feasible.

Last week I was walking out to the car when splat...something landed right on my face.  It was horrible! I guess we should put up a sign..."walk at your own risk!"

Maybe we should have started slamming the door...or started making some kind of loud noises weeks ago to scare them away.  I guess maybe it's a matter of pride...but it's embarrassing!

Next week is the Lampeter Fair, and we always look forward to that week.  I'll be busy there on Tuesday and Wednesday...and hopefully we'll all get over there a few evenings for supper and seeing friends.  I can't believe it's actually that time already!

It's Been a Long, Busy Week...

It's been a long, busy week here.  I've been neglecting the blog...and many other things, like laundry, dishes and sleep.  So, since it's Saturday...and the fair is over...I can actually sit and do a little catching up!

Here are just a few random thoughts from the past week or so...

1.  I'm ready for the week to be over.  I've had a headache and felt a little crummy since Monday, and it can't last much longer...can it?

2.  This was West Lampeter Fair week.  It's been very busy...seemingly more so than other years.  Why?  I'm not sure, but we are all exhausted!  Last night we said good bye to Jenna's goats.  This morning was clean up, and it was so quiet and empty there without all the animals.

3.  Last week Jim and Eric went to a Philadelphia Eagles game with our brother in law and nephew who are big Kansas City Chiefs fans.  Two of them came home happy, and two came home a little disappointed, but they had fun...

4.  We're still enjoying beautiful fall weather.  It just doesn't get much better than this.  I've actually seen a few leaves starting to turn, and if what I've seen so far is any indication of the beauty to come...it's gonna be a gorgeous show this year!

5. The harvest is in full swing.  Chopping corn is almost finished, except for the ag bag which will go out hopefully at the beginning of next week.  The rest of the corn, and the beans are getting dry.  I saw this view of the west side of our barn on my way home from an errand this morning, and just had to grab my camera and drive back to snap the picture...

Now it's on to face the day.  There's a mountain of laundry to do...a ton of redding up to do...and a whole lot of weeds that need to be pulled out of my flower beds.  If the caffeine kicks in soon, I just might get some of it done!

West Lampeter Fair 2012

Fair week is always busy, and almost always fun.  This year was no exception.

Tuesday...entries were accepted for judging...flowers, veggies, baked goods, quilts and other sewing items, photography, crafts, canned goods, and of course...animals.  Various food stands prepared for the crowds...milk shakes, french fries, funnel cakes, sausage sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs, pizza, baked potatoes, and more.

Wednesday...entries were judged and awarded ribbons and prize money, and the fair officially opened to the public at noon.  

Throughout the rest of the week, lots more took place...auctioning of the baked goods, the Fair Queen contest, animal judging, antique tractor parade and pulling contest, horse show, FFA contests, and I'm sure I'm missing a lot.

Our focus was on the goat show yesterday aftenoon.  Jenna's goats were lightweights this year, weighing in at (Dilly) 70 lbs and (Pickles) 77 lbs.  Her goals had to be adjusted a little bit in the last few weeks, because Dilly had a recurrence of the Urinary Calculi that he had in June.  As a result, we had to cut way back on the grain again, so both goats lost a little weight.  However, Dilly once again made a surprising recovery, and was able to participate in the show!  

Jenna had a cheering section...my aunt and uncle from NY, and my aunt and a friend from Colorado were visiting, so they came with my parents to watch the show and eat some good fair food!  I have to point out the lady second from the left.  Her name is Eileen, and she is a friend and co-worker of my aunt.  She has a blog called Little House Quilting.  We've been reading each others' blogs for a while now, and what fun it was to meet her in person! Check out her blog when you get a chance.  My sister and my niece were there too, along with some other friends.  It's nice...the kids who show always seem to have such support from family and friends...

Jenna and Dilly waiting to enter the ring...

The judge, checking out Pickles...

Pickles did well, and placed second in his class.  Dilly didn't do as well, and placed fourth in his class, but we  are thrilled that she was able to bring him alive and healthy to the fair.  He's energetic and has a great appetite, which indicates he's feeling much better!

I've collected a variety of other pictures from the week.  Enjoy!

Finishing touches before the judging begins...

The two girls in the blue FFA jackets are sisters, and friends of ours.  They placed first and second in their respective classes with their dairy beef...

Antique trucks, tractors and farm equipment...

Whoopie pies...

French fries waiting for the fryer...

A duct tape dress, from the youth division...

Tug of war...

I was over to feed the goats this morning, and squished through the mud.  It rained last night, but now the sun is shining and the birds are singing outside the window.  Hopefully it will be beautiful for the last day of the fair.  We'll head over again tonight for the livestock sale...Jenna will have to say good bye to Dilly and Pickles, and that will be sad.  But it's been a good week.

If you're in the area, and haven't been there yet, you still have a little time to enjoy the fair!

West Lampeter Fair...Day 4...

It's Friday night, and there's a mixed bag of emotions...

We're tired, but had a great time at the fair this week.  Tonight was a tough one, though.

You see...all of those animals that were shown at the fair, with the exception of the dairy cows and heifers, were sold tonight. Each youth sent out letters to potential buyers for their animals over the past few weeks in hopes that they would purchase their animal at tonight's youth livestock auction.  Everyone hoped that their animal would turn a profit...

Family, friends and buyers filled the stands.  First, the steers were sold...then the pigs, lambs, dairy beef and goats.  There were lots of tears.  The youth spent months caring for and training their animals, and tonight they had to say goodbye...

We're going to miss these girls!  This is how April and Dot spent many of their days...curled up together on their platform that Grandpa made.  Maybe they thought it was a throne...

Thanks for following fair week with me.  I took pictures and wrote from my perspective, but there's oh, so much more than this!  If you've never been there, mark your calendars for next September!...it will be here again before we know it!

West Lampeter Fair...Day 3...

Today at the fair was different from any other day we've ever spent there.

This was the first time that anyone in our family was involved in showing an animal...and it put a
whole new perspective on fair life.  Now, when we walk through those dairy, pig, sheep and goat barns, we know how much work was put into raising and training those animals...all for one show in late September!

The day began by heading to the fair right after breakfast.  Jenna took the day off school, because we didn't know how long it would take to prepare for the show.  She fed and watered April and Dot, and then gave them a bath.  It was a little chilly, so she towelled them off thoroughly before we took them back to their pens filled with fresh shavings...

There were several 4-H'ers and FFA-ers from Church that were showing animals this week, and quite a few supporters showed up to watch and encourage them.  We are so thankful for the support that all these kids are given...they know they are loved!

Grandma and Grandpa were there looking on...

 

The goats were divided into classes according to weights.  Dot weighed in at 80 pounds, and was shown in the second class of the afternoon...

After the individual goats were judged, the showmanship judging was held.  The kids are judged on their poise and confidence, always keeping their eyes on the judge, keeping the animal between themselves and the judge at all times, the ability to answer individual questions asked by the judge, and more.  Jenna could chose which of her goats to show for this, and she chose April.  Here, the judge is asking her about the parts of the goat and the feed she used...

Here the judge is explaining the reasons that she placed them where she did, and giving constructive criticisms.  She was a very encouraging judge...told them not only where they could improve, but what they did right...

And the color of the day was...RED...both April and Dot placed second in their weight classes, and Jenna placed second in showmanship for first year participants in her age group!  We are proud of her! 

Raising these goats was a learning experience from day one... a lot of hard work and fun all wrapped up in one. (I'll ask Jenna to write about it someday as a guest blogger.)

My computer is giving me headaches tonight...it won't let me type underneath the last picture, so I'll wrap it up right here...I should have one more post tomorrow night..

The night was topped of by a delightful young lady that we know well, getting the thrill of the evening...GRAND CHAMPION DAIRY BEEF!  Congratulations Katie!!

West Lampeter Fair...Day 2...

Day two at the Lampeter Fair began quietly.

The fair grounds were quiet and empty, save a few people who came early to feed their animals or to prepare for a morning of judging exhibits.   It will look a lot different tonight...

 My first responsibility this morning was to make sure that the judging of the baked goods ran smoothly.  We have two great judges that come year after year, and a wonderful group of volunteers who helped to display the judged items and prepare them for the evening's baked goods auction.  One of the fringe benefits of this job is the taste testing...

We were finished soon after lunch, and I headed home to tie up some loose ends.  After evening milking, we headed back over to the fair.  We caught the tail end of the antique tractor parade....there's that 1936 John Deere D again!  We were hoping to watch Marty participate in the tractor pull, but it was just too muddy, so it was cancelled.  That was disappointing, but mud is mud...

While Jenna headed off to feed her goats, Eric searched out friends, and Jim meandered around and talked with old friends, I headed to the baked goods auction.  All of the items that were judged this morning were sold tonight, and the proceeds put into the fair's general fund.  Although the total amount of entries was down this year, we still had  a good sale.  This young lady baked the prize winning Hershey's Chocolate Cake, and will be eligible to compete at the State Farm Show in January.  Her cake sold for $47...

I bought this blue ribbon Apple Pie...and it is delicious!  That little piece that is missing is the part that the judges tasted.  They left us a lot to enjoy...

I'll leave you with this image of total relaxation after a long day...

Tomorrow will be another busy day at the fair.  Jenna will be taking the day off school to prepare for the goat show.  Above all, we hope she enjoys herself! 

Stay tuned for more pictures!