Grill personalities

This Saturday, local auctioneer John Hillman is holding his annual farm equipment consignment auction. We love John’s auctions — whether he’s selling farm equipment, estate furniture or 4-H animals.  He and his team always run a good sale — fair, fast and fun. My favorite line of his: “I’ll let you know when the price is too high.”

We headed to the auction site in Cheney yesterday to check out trailers ahead of the sale. While V. was comparing, I was wandering. I love seeing vehicle grills from different decades. Some look menacing, some serious, others just plain goofy. Take a look:

2002 IHC 4300 Truck

1964 GMC Wheat Truck

1962 GMC Wheat Truck

1975 Chevy Wheat Truck

Case 830 (1960s)

Kansas wind: 2, Cattle shed: 0

I’m supposed to be blogging about TEDxICT or my new logo, designed by my artist friend, Barb.

Instead, I’m back to a familiar topic — Kansas weather.  I was just talking with V. that we were almost put back together after the August, 2010 storm. We had replaced our cattle shed, built new seed bins and added a new machine/hay shed. Next up, rebuilding (for the second time) our red barn.

Not yet. A storm two days ago — with winds reaching 70 mph — destroyed our cattle shed, again. It was one of those times when we’re reminded that farm life – even though it’s amazing and fulfilling – is also really tough.

So, what are the lessons learned? One thing’s, for sure, we won’t build in the same spot. V.’s grandpa’s shed, which we rebuilt two years ago, lasted for more than 50 years. We had two destroyed in 18 months. Maybe it’s bad luck, but we’re not interested in proving the theory. Instead, we’ll shift the shelter and handling facilities to the other side of the cattle and horse pen, to an area that has some wind break. As long as we’re reconfiguring, we’re rethinking fencing so we can link this pen with our sheep and goat pens.

In the meantime, the cattle are out on tasty wheat pasture and will take shelter in the tree row. Brandy (our horse) and Raji (D.’s 4H steer) will have a makeshift sun shade for a while.

And, V. and I are headed to the co-op this afternoon to look at new building options. At least the sun is shining — and the wind is back down to about 20 mph.

 

Do home-made: Whole-wheat flat bread recipe

Here’s a whole-wheat recipe I’m sharing with my TEDxICT friends tonight. You can make it even more “home-made” by buying wheat berries from a local whole food store. Then, use a blender to grind the berries into whole wheat flour. (Be sure to refrigerate any leftover flour.)

Hope you enjoy.

Makes: Eight individual flat breads or pizza crusts, or two large pizza crusts; Prep time: 20  minutes, plus rising

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 cups warm (115 degrees) water

2 packets (1/4 ounce each) active dry yeast

1/4 cup oil, plus more for bowl

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons coarse salt

2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for kneading

2 cups whole-wheat flour (spooned and leveled)

STEPS:

1. Place water in a large bowl; sprinkle with yeast. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Brush another large bowl with oil.

2. In bowl with yeast,  whisk sugar, oil and salt. Stir in flours with a wooden spoon until a sticky dough forms. Transfer to oiled bowl; brush top of dough with oil. Cover bowl with plastic wrap; let stand in a warm spot until dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.

3. Turn dough out into a well-floured surface. With floured hands, knead until smooth, about 15 seconds; divide into two balls.

To freeze 1-pound balls:

Set balls on a plate (they should not touch); freeze until firm, about 1 hour. Then freeze in a freezer bag up to 3 months.  Thaw overnight in refrigerator.

To freeze individual shells:

Divide each ball of dough into 4 pieces. Using your hands, stretch each piece into a 5-inch disk (if dough becomes too elastic to work with, let it rest a few minutes). Freeze shells on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Stack frozen shells between layers of parchment paper. Freeze in a freezer bag up to 3 months. Bake from frozen.

(From “Martha Stewart, Everyday Food.”)

Wordless Wednesday: Newborn lamb

This ewe lamb (female) is just a few hours old. She is a cross between the Hampshire and Suffolk breeds. My 4Her plans to show her at the county fair this summer. Boy and lamb will spend lots of hours together until then.

Wordless Wednesday: Moved away

Abandoned farmstead near Glasco, Kansas

Blue skies and fresh lumber

Our farm is getting a major addition: a new shed. It’s a milestone for our operation, since coping with the destruction from the August, 2010 storm.

It’s not fancy by today’s standards — a wood-framed pole barn. However, we’re already impressed with the quality of the structure and the expertise of the building team (ESH Quality Structures of Haven, Kan.). The shed will store a variety of equipment and has a lean-to for hay storage.

It’s been a strange experience for V. to watch others complete the construction. He, his dad or grandpa built almost every other building on the farm. However, the size of the shed was beyond what our equipment and tools could handle. Plus, it’s a huge boost to see the building constructed in just four days.

The crew has worked in unseasonably warm weather — 51 degrees today. Onlookers include the sheep and cattle grazing on wheat pasture nearby. Today, a naughty goat doeling (young female) escaped her mother and headed over for a visit. Her nanny cut the escapade short.

We’re looking forward to moving in equipment next week. I’m sure we’ll spend more than a few hours just hanging out inside.

I live in someone else’s house

This is how I know. I never hung that mirror that is so handy in the utility room. That dining room wall clock is not my style, but I would never think to move it. There are canning jars and baby bottles that were stashed in the cellar before I was born.

I am the third generation to live in this old farm house. I am the third mother that cleaned after her kids and worried about her kids and thanked God for her kids. I am the third wife that loved her husband with all her might.

Sometimes, I wonder about living in a house that was only mine, that I helped design or pick out. But, then, especially at the holidays, it’s so warm to share Darlene and Marie’s home.

Wool coats

Our farm animals are putting on their winter coats. No one does it better than our sheep, though. Don’t Molly and our other young ewes look warm, even fashionable in their wool coats? Our sheep are mainly a cross between the Hampshire and Suffolk breeds. D. shows lambs at the county fair for 4-H.

We shear them once a year, in the spring, and deliver the wool to our area sheep association. They pay 29 cents a pound — a little spending money for D.

Wordless Wednesday: Graffiti jeans

Population Density: 4

An article I read recently mentioned population density — people per square mile. The term left my brain until the other day when I was driving into town. Our farm is on the northeast corner of a section, which is 640 acres or one square mile. Population density for that square mile: 4. Us.

Head a mile north. Population density: 0. Head a mile south: 0. East: 0. West: 0.

We do have neighbors, who live just outside the sections around us. But, “aloneness” is one of the reasons we love our rural life. And, it quiets the soul to look at land free of electric poles.