Dave asked me yesterday if I remember Valentine's Day 15 years ago.  

I don't.  

I really don't remember a Valentine's Day before Dave.  I remember Valentine's Day 14 years ago.  There were no surprises that day at work.  It was a Thursday, and we had made plans to have dinner on Friday.  I had to wait until the 15th. 

14 years ago he asked me to marry him at Lake Bloomington.  He took me there after work. I don't remember any snow on the ground but it was a chilly afternoon. Engaged in February and married in December. 

 

Some Valentine's Day we go to dinner, sometimes I get roses.  It is never the same with Dave.











 This year it was Valentine's Day dinner with the whole family. 



 Our family is complete, and now we have our own home. So many projects in store for us this spring/summer.

Have you tried their milk? It is heavenly! Chocolate is my favorite!  So delicious. It is totally worth it.Vanilla is good, but I have always preferred chocolate milk. Let's take a look at the nutritional values of both fairlife and Dean's milk. 



Both servings shown are a cup.  Protein in fairlife is 13g, 8g for Deans. Sodium and carbs are the same.  So if you want to increase your proteins in your diet, and decrease sugars, fairlife might be something  you want to try.   I like the idea of fairlife milk because this milk is being "made" a few miles from my house.  It's  not hard to find in stores around here.

Now, let's head to the store. Let's talk about price.  It's our job as moms to be price conscious when we are figuring out our monthly budget.  What is more valuable? Better price or healthier?

December 2015 I participated in the Christmas in the County blogger exchange for the second time.  


Christmas in the the country is a huge undertaking for the other bloggers who put on this exchange. The girls who work hard to get bloggers matched up, and make sure they were not matched in the previous years exchange. 
 
15009 Farmhouse
This Uncharted Rhoade
My Other More Exciting Self

It is a great way to meet other bloggers in a different state.  

I sent my package to  Rebekah Gustafson in Wisconsin, check out her blog.


I received a box from a very special Naomi Loomis from Nebraska.  


Naomi was very thoughtful and included everything in the package for everyone in the family! There is one thing missing in this picture. It is a horse necklace for my daughter, but she took that for herself!  The boys have lassoes, and my youngest really loves playing cowboy! Perfect gift. The camo knife is for my husband, and he really appreciated it!

CROCKPOT ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICHES

1.5 lb.  rump roast
1 16 oz jar of Mezzetta Pepperoncini Peppers
1 48 oz jar of Swanson Beef Broth

Use a roaster and set rump roast in roaster. Add salt and pepper and 48 ounces of beef broth.  Cook until done. Remove from roaster and wait until it's cool enough to shred.  Set into a  Crock-Pot and add peppers.  Set on low for 2 more hours.  Serve on sandwich buns, top with mozzarella cheese if desired.

Print Recipe

I am bringing out this Champion Beginner Microwave cooking recipe Macie exhibited at the 2014 Jasper County Fair.  Payday Chex Mix is a fast snack to make for kid's lunches or for the husband to throw in his lunchbox to snack on while spending time in the tractor this fall.




Harvest is going by so fast.  There have been no rain delays yet.  I haven't had much time to spend in the kitchen.  Most time in the kitchen is spent at the kitchen in the office.  Meals at home are far and few between. Last weekend Ryan spent some time with his dad in the field.


A snack like payday is enjoyed by everyone in the house, and simple enough the kids love helping make, and lick the bowls!


Payday Chex Mix
6 cup Chex Rice Cereal
1 cup Peanut Butter
1 cup Light Corn Syrup
1 cup Sugar
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Peanuts (optional)

Mix 1 cup Light Corn Syrup and 1 cup Sugar in microwave safe bowl.  Microwave for 3 minutes.  Stir. Microwave for another 1.5 minutes.  Stir.   Add 1 cup Peanut Butter and 1 tsp Vanilla. Add peanuts if desired.  Pour over Chex Rice Cereal. Mix carefully, make sure cereal is completely covered.  Pour over wax paper to cool.  Cut into small pieces or tear off and enjoy!

Mrs. Wages Salsa mix is on the of easiest things to can. Approximately one bushel of tomatoes will fit into a large pot, and just add the mix. I also like to add my own veggies from the garden as well.  I add jalapeno, onions and garlic. 



We enjoy this salsa all summer/ winter long! Chips and salsa are my comfort food! Can't live with out it!

Year #2 of the Jasper County Fair is in the books.  Congrats mom and dad! We survived and as we are preparing for State Fair we are already making a list of things do different next year. Things we need to buy, and other things we need to improve on.

2015 family picture

There are days when you are wondering why are we doing this? Why am I getting up early and staying up late to do chores? Who's project is this anyway? :)

Mason front and center for the beef show.

But the moment the kid head to the show ring for the first time, this mom gets a little teary-eyed, but don't tell the husband.

Ryan showing in mini 4-H swine show

Watching Macie improve her showmanship skills every time she went back into the ring was very rewarding. There are so many showmanship skills to work on!

Macie placed 2nd with Duroc gilt

I think she's growing up too fast!

I know the best part about 4-H is friends.  It's priceless and a forever bond.  Sure, there is some fun competition. These smiles, and the milkshakes, and the late nights make it all worth it!

This post is for my daughter.  For when it's her turn to have kids with busy schedules and they may decide they "want" be in 4-H, she will understand that history has a way of repeating itself, and things are going to get a little crazy. Maybe all the craziness is self-inflicted, but you get the idea!

Sorry, but this won't be easy. Taking on a new project that doesn't get completed. This will happen.

Throw in a few late nights and early mornings. (chores)  Moments like these don't compare if you plan to have livestock year round on your farm. It will be more work but it will be worth it.

A few (many) evenings dad was home cooking supper while mom was doing chores with the kids!

Mason had chores figured out! Juice and his chair! He asked me if dad was home sleeping!

If you need clean laundry, until fair is over, go look for it in the clean pile. Simple enough!

If you are thirsty, get a drink out of the hydrant.  If you hands get dirty in the barn, wash them at the hydrant. Dirt on your boots? Rinse them off at the hydrant!  Need a towel? Wipe them on your jeans.

If you need showmanship practice, take them showing!

Throw in a couple of general projects in the mix.

Your dad loves to help in the kitchen.  Meat and potatoes kind of guy.  He wouldn't mind a dessert afterwards as well.  A batch of chocolate chip cookie bars doesn't last long in our house.

This year food project  was baking a muffin that contained Vitamin A or Vitamin C.  Microwave cooking this year was microwave fudge.

The muffins were a family favorite.  I even brought to work, and they were a hit. They were delicious enough that she brought home A's on her muffins and fudge!

Hope next week goes smoothly too!

Berry & Jam Muffins

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup whipped butter
2 egg whites
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups oat flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup strawberries, hulled and quartered
1/2 cup raspberries
1/4 cup reduced-sugar strawberry preserves

This recipe makes 12 servings

Preheat oven to 350°F. Fill cups of a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.
In a large bowl, mix sugar and spread. Add egg whites individually and mix well after adding each. Stir applesauce and vanilla into mixture. Add oat flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Stir until dry ingredients are just combined, but do not over-mix. Fold in strawberries and raspberries.
Fill each muffin cup halfway with batter and spoon a teaspoon of preserves into the center of each. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until muffin tops are lightly browned and a toothpick can be cleanly inserted and removed from their centers.
Turn muffins out on a wire rack to cool. At room temperature, store in an airtight container for up to 2 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Indiana Governor Mike Pence, Congressmen Todd Rokita, and Indiana Farm Bureau President Don Villwock. visited the Culp Farm Thursday, June 3rd to survey damage caused by recent heavy rains in Jasper County. The USDA says 19 percent of Indiana's 5.7 million acres of soybeans and 21 percent of its 5.7 million acres of corn in very poor or poor condition.

As you can tell, they are standing in a field, but there is a huge wash out.  There were many roads closed due to high water, which lead to wash outs on many roads.

The State Climate Office says 18.06 inches of rain was measured in Jasper County in the month of June.

The Governor also visited Cass County the same day to view their flood damage.  I am very interested to hear what assistance will be available for farmers, if any besides crop insurance.

Brownfield Network  interviewed Governor Pence, and he said that by they had accessed nine counties by the end of June, and they had submitted reports to the FSA Office. None of those counties reached 30% of damage to declare a disaster. Farmers are encouraged to submit crop damage reports to their FSA office as soon as possible to help measure the extent of the damage for this year's crop.  July may prove a different story for those counties.

Congressman Todd Rokita visiting with Jasper County Farm Bureau members. Photo Credit: Wayne Belden