iowa farm girl...

late september in iowa...

the boys of harvest start getting the 'itch'! this year the itch was irritated by the fact that they were one person shy of a 'team'. who was going to run the chase wagon? one night brad asked me if i would want to learn. i hesitated at first, then said, "sure, why not!" i can do it, and the challange would be good for me. so, free minutes i drove that tractor around the farm and just got comfortable! then the day came for me to head to the field! I THINK I COULD HAVE THROWN UP! i was so nervous, scared to death, afraid i would run over something or someone. i survived day one and i must admit day two was much easier!

we had a picture perfect fall...no rain...no 'major' break downs...2 1/2 weeks of long days and finally the crops were all hauled to town! what a great feeling of accomplishment! we did it! we worked together & succeeded! mom's great meals kept us nourished to keep going!

i have always had a high respect for my dad & husband and the work they do, but that respect is through the roof now. they are hard workers...working around the clock to provide for their families & the world! farm life can be 'romantisized' by many, it's a life most could not handle but it's a good life, a great way to raise children and the only life i want. i hope to be out there doing my part again next year! we'll see....

until then i have alot of 'catching up' to do! all those duties of mine that got put on the back burner for the past 2 weeks!

...42...

yesterday was my birthday...

i celebrated last week with my mom, figuring we would be doing field work by now! then the rains came. no field work. so....

woke up to the girls with a package! that was fun. amanda was so excited! got them off to school....then i enjoyed a 20 minute shower, did chores & then made homemade noodles! being grandpa joe's most favorite i phoned mom and invited her to meet me at the care center...we had chicken & noodles, garden tomoatoes & apple pie with grandpa. this was wonderful. followed by an afternoon of piddling around the farm - picking pumpkins, gathering eggs, my husband coming home with a beautiful card & delicious cake! i decided life at 42 is going to be nothing short of splendid! the kids came home from school and were still all giddy about mom's day - then mel was off to a powder puff football game...teenagers!!! ended my day with a wine cooler & just sitting alone...my life has been blessed with a storybook childhood, parents who still love eachother and me (despite all my shortcomings), an adoring husband, 2 beautiful daughters who continue to amaze me and make me proud, an immediate family that is beyond wonderful, a life on a farm that many dream about, chickens, a puppy named sophie, a kitty named lulu, cows, barn cats, the abilities to appreciate what God has given us, self-employment and the best friends a girl could wish for. i don't know how i did it, but i DID! i accomplished the life i dreamed of...happy birthday to me!

...fall's splendor...

some people pay 'big money' for the view of the bay, or the downtown sky-line or even a glimpse of the beach. me? i'd rather have this! this being the view from my west facing bedroom window...fall's spendor in all her glory. soybeans turning the vibrant golden hue saying 'we're ready,come & get us'! :)

this does not hold a candle to their multi-million dollar 'views'. at least that's how i feel. God's glory with the changing of the seasons is a miracle. living off the land, feeding america.

now i know, farm-life is certainly not for everyone. but everyone needs to experience it at least once in their life. we're not simple, we're not hicks, we're not under-educated...we know how to grow miracles that feed america in iowa's black dirt.

give the farmer's a break when their tractors are going slow down the road this fall...don't get upset - take the time to thank them!

and to think i was nervous!?!

well, it's monday morning! the kids are on the big yellow bus and here i sit - lots to do! most of my weekend chores didn't get done! saturday and sunday were filled to the brim ~ but it was ALL GOOD!


i taught my very first class at prairieland herbs in woodward on saturday afternoon...i was so nervous...BUT WHY? i knew the craft i was teaching - papermaking - and all the friends of maggie & donna's rock! so why was i nervous? well, i was! i woke up at 5 am and baked my danishes! i figured if they didn't like me they would like my food! :) they turned out perfectly! i topped them with my violet jelly and raspberries from a local farm - they were a bite of heaven!

but you know, us women are too hard on ourselves. i worried and worried and really did not need to! 8 lovely ladies arrived for my class. i was humbled that they would spend their hard earned money to listen to and spend the afternoon with me! **see there i go again, so hard on myself** i talked, and talked and talked some more. we made a sample run of paper....then i cut them loose! they were fantastic! some brought flowers, grasses, tree branches, fibers....all to add into their paper to make it their own! i learned more from them then they from me! i have 8 new friends that i cannot wait to see again! and i've heard they've requested a christmas ornament class & would love to learn how to bake those danishes!



so ladies, strap those belts on. angie's on a roll! let me get through fall harvest...and we'll try to get that recycled ornament class fit in! and you know i'll bring the treats! it'll be great....



thank you with my heart wide open....
it was one of the best afternoons this gal has had in a very long time!

...love at first sight...

MEET SOPHIE!

we made a new addition to our family! sophie is a 7 week old yellow lab. she is perfect, hysterical, sweet, calm, loving, attentive, sleepy....i could go on and on.

the girls love her and them being 10 & 14 they will be the perfect ages to take on the 'molding' of sophie's personality! i have a feeling she will become our dream doggie!

today she spent the afternoon with us on the pontoon!

she loved it!

she slept...

the girls were worried she was too warm so they gave her an ice pack from the cooler to lay upon...she loved that! she also enjoyed licking ice cubes!

we love her...

we don't know what we did without her...

and, my family is happy that i now have something new to photograph ...

other than the chickens!

which...by the way...left us 14 beautiful eggs today!!!

....life is sooooo good....

...my head is spinning...

so many new ideas my head is spinning. let's just say i sat at the machine so much today that i broke my last needle. so spent the rest of my time cutting and preparing for when i have that new package of needles! :)

"reuseable snack baggies" - fashioned like the 'flap top' baggies. perfect for dry snacks ... nuts, dried fruit, cookies, cherrios, candy treats ... also great for organize your bag or anywhere for that matter! i think (and hope) they will be a hit at this weekends des moines market day!!!

then, owls...who doesn't love owls???

big owls, little owls...they're all so adorable!

then our afternoon was finished with hay baling! usually done on the hottest day of the summer. not today! it was a beautiful afternoon. now we have lots of good winter feed for the 3 calves that reside in our barn!

...fabric scraps...

***new item***

i have all these fabric scraps...what to do with them? so i sat in my work studio & came up with these super adorable fabric rosettes. attached 3 together and added a large pinback and 'voila'! darling added to a scraf, fall sweater or jacket or the front of a pillow! these will be available at the next des moines market day on august 28th! moral of the story...never, never throw anything away! it has the opportunity to be something beautiful!