Gone Country

Enjoying Summer at the Houston County Fair!

Hello Friends!!

I’ve decided that the county fair is the epitome of country life. While enjoying the events of the Houston County Fair last week, I once again realized that I’ve gone totally country!  The fair contained loads of excitement from bull riding, mutton busting, wild cow milking, fair rides, bingo tournaments, tractor pulls, serving dairy treats in the “Udder Place” and trying to figure out what makes a champion pig/goat/horse/cow/sheep/chicken/rabbit. I'm proud to say I joined the ranks of the ribbon-winning county fair bakers when Sarah and I entered a batch of chocolaty chocolate cookies. What color was the ribbon? ... Let's not focus on the COLOR of our ribbon... we're just excited that we got one! My ‘city girl’ side had to smile as I realized that this is HOME and the Houston County Fair is absolutely the place to be!! What FUN!

In other news, we passed our second electrical inspection which means we can start sheet-rocking the walls!!! YAY!! We’re finishing up the plumbing and hopefully getting the walls put back together. The trusses for the new addition also came yesterday! We’re still waiting on the addition foundation to be poured, but it sure is fun to look at the pile of trusses and dream about what will be happening soon!

We will be saying “see you later” to sister Jeana who is headed up to the cities for college tomorrow. We will all miss her SO much… so I may tie her to a chair in the basement to keep her from leaving :) We continually tease 14 year old Sarah that we aren’t EVER going to let her leave home for college after having the twins leave this year. She thinks we’re kidding…I’m pretty serious :).

I visited the farm this morning during chores to marvel at my “Farmer Jon” and snap a few pictures. Among many other things, Jonathan is the resident feed master. Every morning he prepares a specialized mix of 7,500 pounds of feed for the day in the ‘TMR’ or “Total Mixed Ration” which is basically a giant-tractor-sized blender. After perfecting a scrumptiously delicious blend of corn, alfalfa, protein, cotton seed and corn silage he drives thru the free-stall barn and empties the TMR into the feed bunk. P.S. He is also the manure master, which means he gets to clean up the other end of those 7,500 pounds of food everyday! What a guy!

Gone Country,

Jonathan and Liz

Corn Bingo for 'Freedom Flights' - A Houston County Fair MUST

Beware Bakers - We've entered the Ranks!

The Milk Maids... Served up "Dairy Goodness" all day long at the fair! Try not to covet our hats.:)

Manning the shake & smoothie machines at the Udder Place

Lumber Jack Contest! The winner cut three slices in 11 seconds!

YAY for the beginnings of the new addition!

Working on one of MANY doors that I am refinishing!

Breakfast Time!!! 7,500 pounds of feed in one day!

Check out the TMR/blender behind the tractor!