Humane Society of the United States Revealed

The Dairy Farmer received this link from one of his daily dairy industry updates.  He feels it gives a pretty good perspective on the true identity of HSUS (Humane Society of the United States).  He feels this is very important for our industry to get the facts out about the differences between your local animal shelters or humane societies and these country wide extremist groups. 


It's The DF''s opinion that the reason groups such as HSUS and PETA have so much support is largely due to the misconception that they are part of local animal shelters across the country.


Please view this video below.   It was created by Missouri Farmers Care Coalition, who felt compelled to try and shed some light.  






Do not get us wrong.  We do support our local animal shelter and we do realize that there is mistreatment of animals all over the world, whether it is house pets, wildlife or farm animals.  This is not in any way acceptable.  There are many groups out there who do take on the voice of the animals and make sure that they are always treated humanely.  

 Our concern is that many people watch the ad's on TV, with the gut wrenching music and the sick, injured, homeless dogs and cats with the ginormous liquid brown eyes and their hearts bleed for them.  Huge donations are made to the HSUS and PETA, hoping that that poor skinny dog gets help and finds his forever home, when really, VERY little money goes to help those pet/shelter organizations, in fact, less than 1% of their budget.  That is absurd.    

If  the HSUS continues spending over 25 million each year trying to shut down "agriculture," and if they continue spending millions to try and end "hunting"  we are going to sit in our houses and starve to death while our front yards are taken over by wildlife!  You do realize that deer will not stop breeding, just because humans were forced to put down their weapons, right?  

 I am an animal lover.  I love my dogs, cats, horses and sometimes, I love my calves.   But, I do realize that our cows are livestock.  I also realize that animals are just that....they are not human, they do not think like me, talk like me and luckily, for many of you, they don't act like me.   It is humane to allow our cattle to live in a barn.  They are not on pasture.  Do you think they are thankful in the summer, when it is 95 degrees and 100% humidity and we have cool air blowing on them and sprinklers misting them to keep them from overheating?   I sure think that's the better alternative to huddling under 1 tree out in the middle of a pasture trying to stay cool and going insane because they are covered with biting flies. 

In reality, we keep our cows comfortable, because we need them.  We need them to provide for our family and for every one of you.  They are here for a purpose, to feed the world.   If we take away the dairy/beef farms, hog farms and chicken farms.  We are back to eating macadamia nuts with Roseanne Barr and it won't be too darn long until PETA starts advocating for the rights of the nut.   We will continue to keep our cows healthy, comfortable and content......but they are livestock, not house pets. 


You can find some information at HUMANE WATCH   which is a "watchdog" organization for HSUS.  Take it as you will, but I found a lot of interesting information just browsing their blog.  As like all things you read on the web....some things may be misleading or mistruths.  You do need to be careful about what you are reading.  The quotes mentioned above can be found in the listed articles.  The financial statistics can be found on the HSUS tax return.


But, the bottom line is this, if you want to help homeless, abandoned, mistreated animals.  Contact your LOCAL animal shelter and ask what you can do.  When you donate to your LOCAL animal shelter, you can be sure that your funds are being used to help those animals who really need it.

Read more...

Look who's coming for dinner

I've blogged before about the Brechland Farms birthday tradition of naming a calf after our family and close friends if it's born on their birthday.  You can check it HERE.  Well, about two years ago, we had a cute little heifer born on my sister's birthday, which happens to be March 1st....in case you want to send her a card. 


Farm Boy, Jr Edition, who we sometimes refer to as Amelia Bedelia because he takes things so literally, realized that we could name the calf after his aunt,  Michelle.  Now, you would assume that we would name the calf, Michelle, right?  But, my adorable son called that calf "Aunt Shell" from day one.  It was so stinkin' cute when he'd point her out to everyone and say "see that one there?  That's Aunt Shell."   My sister  had to come visit "Aunt Shell" and it was even funnier when my brother in law picked her out of the line up because she had the same hair style as my sister in elementary school. 


Here she is at just a few days old:

And, when my daughter was taking pictures of Brown Sugar, guess who she saw?  Yup, Aunt Shell came walking around the corner.

Now, as I'm writing this and posting the pictures, I realized.....this really isn't Aunt Shell.  You can tell by the spot under the left eye.  I just don't have the heart to tell Taryn, she was so excited to have her back.  Actually, I don't know who this stranger is. Well...really, I do know.  It's 2879, duh!

   But, I already had the post written and I can't disappoint my daughter and I think it's pretty funny that we have a cow named Aunt Shell somewhere on the farm, we just have to find her.  When I do, I'll replace this picture.  Shhhh.....don't tell.   

Read more...

Health Update

Father bless me for I have sinned.  It's been 7 weeks since my last confession.  Wait...what?  I'm not Catholic.  It's been 7 weeks since I was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome.  Seems like a lifetime ago.  If you want to familiarize yourself with my drama, check it out HERE.  The reason I am bringing this up is because I went to see my cute, Lithuanian doctor last week for my very first check up since being released from the great hospital o' chambersburg. 


I knew I was doing pretty well.  Every day, I am getting a little better.  The "tingles" in my hands and feet seem to be coming and going.  My vision is improving, I still get tired pretty easily and I require a daily afternoon nap.  I'm not sure if that is due to the illness or the fact that I'm 40 now and maybe that's what 40 year olds do?  I have not found myself watching The Wheel at 7pm each night, but I guess that will come?  I do have some pain, which is new, but nothing I can't handle.  It comes mainly when I have overdone it.  It hurts like when you hit your funny bone?  Which isn't funny....so, why do they say that?  I guess maybe because people try to laugh it off so they don't swear like a drunken sailor when they whack it on something hard.


Anyway- I visited Dr G and he was pleased.  I can blink, swallow, smile, touch my nose with my eyes closed and balance pretty well on 1 foot.  Basically, I am not inebriated.   My reflexes in my legs are coming back, but a little slow in my arms.   My numbness comes and goes and seems to be positional, like when I sit or stand for long periods of time and he was ok with that.   Here is an interesting fact  for ya:  when I sit for long periods of time, my nose gets numb.  Weird, huh?  Makes you believe in reflexology a bit.   Like when my massage therapist touches parts of my feet and my hands itch.  That God, he sure knew what he was doing when he created the human body. 

Dr G, who is my new favorite person, told me that I am not to be doing any heavy lifting or strenuous work.   I asked him if moving laundry from the washer to the dryer was "strenuous"....because I might need a doctors note.  He didn't think so, but he did think that feeding calves on a dairy farm was a bit too strenuous for my brand new nerves.  I got a pass.   The punks weren't thrilled, but they'll do what they have to do.  They have been amazing through all this- working hard despite the chilly weather and rain we've been having, working tirelessly with only one day off each week.  God Bless 'em.  They'll thank me for it when they are older.  Or they'll quickly move out when they turn 18 and leave all those calves to me. 

Dr G did tell me that where I am 6 weeks post diagnosis is where many people are 6 MONTHS after their diagnosis., so I got that going for me.   I can't imagine what could've been.  He told me that when he saw me in the ER Sunday night, he was sure I would be on a ventilator the next day....the symptoms were coming on rapidly.   So, I had to mention my prayer warriors:  my facebook friends, my "real life" family and friends, people in churches all over , who don't know me at all, who continued to pray for me.  I was blessed by the God of the universe who provided  healing so quickly.   He is the ultimate physician and it is so humbling to know that he cares so much for all of us.  And, when you feel His peace and His healing.....you know that things are gonna be just fine. 

Read more...

Give me some sugar....Brown Sugar

I married The Dairy Farmer in November of 1996.  I was a young veterinary technician with a twinkle in my eye and not much money in my pocket.  In 1998, I found out we were expecting our very first bundle of joy and after MUCH (and perhaps heated) discussion, I was convinced to quit my job and become a stay at home mom.  I milked that gig for about 10 years.  It's darn near the best job you can have, but the pay is in sloppy wet kisses and sticky fingered hugs.  They make your long days worthwhile, but it ain't pretty on your bank account. 

 Enter 2009....the year the economy tanked and it was brought to my attention that I might have to start looking for a "real job,"  one that actually might require me to shower and dress each morning, one that might actually supply me with a weekly paycheck.  Two punks in private school, a farm trying desperately to stay afloat and a husband who wasn't taking a paycheck was adding up.  In an effort to cut costs, it was decided that we would start raising our calves at the home farm.    Hello....welcome to your new job.  And, as luck would have it, I didn't have to shower or get dressed each morning!  I still haven't seen a paycheck, but The Dairy Farmer assures me that we are saving lots of money. 

The punks and I started in February of 2009 and not long after, our first red and white Holstein calf was born.  The kids named her Brown Sugar and they loved her.  They loved her a whole lot more than the hundreds of black and white calves that came before and after her.   I admit, she was a cutie:

We raise our calves here until they are about 6 months or so and since there are so many of them and so little space on this farm, we send them to another farm for a year or two.   We stop over to check on them now and then (of course, they aren't left unattended, there is someone at that farm who takes good care of them).  We visited one day and the punks were so excited to see good old Brown Sugar run over to the fence to say hello. She was looking good and healthy and ready to start dating.  We began the "interview" process to find her a lovely "virtual" husband. 

Well, guess who's back?  Yup.....Brown Sugar is home and ready to have a little baby of her own.  And, let me tell ya, she's ready....oh, she's ready.    Ready any minute.  Can you tell?

Oh momma, I feel for you.  When I looked like that people told me to drink herbal tea, eat spicy food, take a nice healthy dose of castor oil and go for a ride down a bumpy road.  I'd tell you the same thing, but since people giving me all kinds of facacta labor advice used to irritate the  living  daylights out of me.  I won't say a word.  I'll wish you Godspeed, my sister, and hope when we check on you tonight, you'll have a lovely little red and white baby by your side. 

Read more...

Super Sleuth

In case you hadn't heard, I had a birthday this week.  I decided that I'd like to have dinner at one of our favorite places in our small town.  On Tuesday night, we hopped in the pickem up truck and headed to town for the big birthday feast.  We were driving along, I'm yakking in the DF's ear and he's doing what he does best...ignoring me, when suddenly we zagged right when we should've been zigging left.  The truck was slammed into reverse and we were heading backwards, from whence we had already come and on the wrong side of the road.   Of course, we're all yelling..."what's going on?  What are you doing?"  And as cars started coming toward us and swerving around us, one of us may have said "what the frick, man?  Have you lost your mind?"  But, he wouldn't  hear our cries, because he had already abandoned the truck and left the door hanging wide open.

Now, seems strange, but The DF always seems to know what he's doing....he has it all figured out in his own mind.  But, what he neglects to do  is let the rest of us in on his grand plan.  So, many times, we are left sitting in the car on the side of the road while he checks on a crop, or, in this case....picks up a bolt he spied lying on the ground.

Yes, that's right.  He saw a bolt about 4 inches long, lying on the side of the road.  Who cares you might say?  And, let me tell ya, I was thinking the same thing.  So what...a bolt, what's the big deal?   We are to be watching a Japanese man spin an egg on the side of a spatula right about now.  He jumped back in the car and said "I think it came out of one of the tractors."    Um, ok .  What makes you think that some random bolt lying on the side of the road about 1 and 1/2 miles from our house, came from one of OUR tractors? 

 Seems that they had been hauling manure all day- yes, on my birthday....it's how he rolls...he loves to create a big neighborhood stink, in my honor, because nothing says happy birthday, darlin' like gagging and retching when you walk out your front door.   Anywho- the tractors had been running to one of our other farms most of the day and taking this same path we were traveling, so when he spied a bolt on the road, he put 2 and 2 together. 

 Now, once he got in the truck, he did indeed confirm that it had fallen out of one of our tractors and just a few minutes earlier.   Ok, Sherlock, how on earth do you know that?  And, like some kind of Native American Indian Tacker, he held it, rolled it around in his hand, licked the end of his finger to test the wind and  took a long sniff and said  "because it's still warm."   I kid, a little bit....he just held it.

I guess at this point, I'm kind of in awe.  This eagle eyed man is forever pointing out deer, fox and various birds of prey on the side of the road when we we are out driving around and I....never....see....a...thing.  I guess it's all those years of hunting? Or maybe they are right there and I am that blind?   Or maybe I'm that self involved that I don't take the time to "LOOK OUT THE WINDOW AND ENJOY THE VIEW!!!"   That's a private joke- it's what the DF is always yelling at the kids when they start asking "are we there yet?"  His tirade continues with bits and pieces of:  "...never had movies in OUR car or...no such thing as ipods when I was young" yada, yada, yada. 

On we go to our other farm where we see one of the tractors waiting on it's next load.   The Dairy Farmer walks up and tells the guy he found this bolt on the road and figures it's from one of the tractors.....well, just so happens it was.  It was an alternator bolt and the guy had just put it on.  Had the DF not found it, they may have had a bit of an issue later on that night.  The guy running the tractor looked at me in the truck and shrugged his shoulders as if to say "what the heck?"  And I did the same thing back.

Now, for some reason....I find this story hilarious....I don't know why, maybe because it's so...odd?   But, that is what it's like to live with the super sleuth of Brechland Farms.  I think I just found him a new hobby.  All he needs is this:                                                                    

And I totally call Daphne!

Read more...

A tale of two cakes

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away......I made a smart "beep" comment on facebook.  I know, it's very unlike me, but it's true. 

See, I am a CAKE WRECKS junkie.  I love a gal with a good, old fashioned, snarky sense of humor.  Her husband's pretty good too.  But, then again, how hard is it to mock the stupidity of some humans?  Anyway, my birthday was approaching and I saw this on her site:

And I said to myself.....oh yes.....I must have you.....you will be mine!  There is nothing better than a big ass cake to start your birthday off right.  And, the challenge was accepted by none other than my berry best friend.

Now, it is all in how you say it, or you could have a dilemma on your hands......and that is where the fun began.  See, I was thinking I wanted a "big ass" cake......but my "oh so tricky" bestie figured, why not a big "ass" cake.  And here is what she made for me:

How appropriate, right?  A big ole cow butt.....just for me.  So round, so moist, so delicious.  We ate that butt for days!

I must tell you a little bit of the back story behind these cakes.  See, I don't bake (or cook or whatever) and so when one of the punks birthdays roll around, it's our family tradition to schlep their little butts over to The Wal Mart and let them pick their cake out of one of those books covered in greasy finger prints over by the bakery.  It's how we roll.  Ok, it's how I roll.  

Now, my girlfriend, she's a baker and a cooker and  loves to do all that stuff...so her lucky duck kids always have a homemade birthay cake in the shape of:   A PURSE,  A BASKETBALL,  MARIO.....WONDERTWIN POWERS- ACTIVATE!

So, we were celebrating one of her kids birthdays and as she brought out this cute as a button Hello Kitty cake, my son took one look at it, his eyes bulging out in amazement and said, "where did you get that cake?"  And, my BBF...in her oh so sweet mom voice said,  "oh honey, SOME mom's actually make their cakes."  Good Lord, I love her.

Fast foward.....my 40th was quickly approaching and I was perusing Cake Wrecks, as I do every day and I happened upon this:

Oh yes! Challenge ON, baby!  I want this cake....but I want it to say "Farmin' in the Ville,"  you know, cuz that's my blog and all.  As more people started to weigh in, they decided a nice lava cake would work too....you know, as  the manure pit.   Like a good best friend should, she took on the challenge and last night after our dinner together, we all crowded around the back of her mni van to see what she had created:

Oh my stinkin heck!  It's the cutest thing I've ever seen!  I mean, look at the barn!  Look at the animals!  Look at the pretzel fence (which is broken just like ours!!!) and the manure pit, my kids can't wait to dig into that.

We brought this baby home and cut 'er wide open!  It was soooo good because it was handmade with love.

Read more...

A perfect storm

So, this morning, I wake up to the younger punk standing beside my bed holding a tray of food....indeed, breakfast in bed, again!  I do have to say that I knew it was coming when I heard The Dairy Farmer and Jr. Edition discussing how to fry bacon.  As a mom, it did make me a bit nervous to know that the child who has never used the stove was going to attempt to cook eggs and bacon all by himself.  I had a visual of spending my birthday morn in the ER with a child who burnt his retinas with hot bacon grease.    Luckily,  the DF decided to hang in the house a bit before work and cook up said eggs and bacon and let Jr. make the toast.  And it was dang good toast at that....about a pound of butter on each slice!  A girl can get used to this!


Guess what else he did? Laid in bed with me while I ate and we watched I Love Lucy.   I love Lucy, I really do.  When Aidan was little...wait....I feel deja vu.....like, I've said this before?   Here's another interesting fact....did you know Lucy first studied acting at the John Murray Anderson-Robert Milton Dramatics School along with classmate, Bette Davis?


She left the school after 12 months because they told her she was not talented enough to be an actress.  If I was Lucille Ball...you know what I would've said?  "HOW YOU LIKE ME NOW?"  BOOYAH!  She happens to be the first female to own and operate her own Hollywood studio....and that's saying something back in the 50's. 

Back on track.  So, the punks gave me their gifts this morning too.   I got Black Heels to Tractor Wheels from my lovely, lovely daughter.  If you are PDub fan...you know my excitement.   And, my son....oh, my son.  He is so good at getting me what he wants, that I just gave in this time and received Just Dance 2 for Wii.  They'll be playing it all day. 

The Dairy Farmer sang Happy Birthday to me loud and off key and told me that's my gift......and my card....so enjoy it.  I also logged on to facebook and had over 25 messages from my FB peeps and you know....dag nabbit, I got a little verklempt.  Please....talk amongst yourselves.....
 

If all goes according to My Big Birth Day plan....I will go see my neurologist and he will be in shock and awe of my amazing recovery.  I will come home and take a nice nap and then meet my most favorite people at Aki for a nice hibachi dinner complete with the little man that pee's out the fire and plenty of yum yum sauce.   Then,  I will share some comfort food at my momma's house on Thursday, hopefully see my small groupies from church on Friday and.......oh mylanta....go visit my better than sliced bread niece this weekend.  That's right....I said it.....we'll be fist pumpin' jersey shore style with my sis, bro in law and boo.   We might invite Snooki...we'll see. 

There you have it.  My birthday is lookin' pretty darn good.   I thought I'd be a little more worked up at the 40 thing, but, I don't feel 40.  Maybe a little health scare puts a new perspective on things? 

Read more...

Queen for a day

The punks are on spring break this week, so last night at dinner, they played rock, paper, scissors to see who would have to get up and feed calves with their dad this morning.   Well,  Taryn won.  I guess, if you call waking up early and feeding calves in the rain on your week off school winning, then I guess she did.  Later on, after much discussion, they decided to trade. 

This morning, at 7am (on my week off school) a certain someone started pounding me on the shoulder.  "Big Toast,  since I have to work tomorrow morning, on your real birthday, I want to make you breakfast in bed."  Why she calls me big toast, I do not know.  If you ask her, she breaks down in a fit of giggles and can't answer.  So, we're going with it. 

A few minutes (and a lot of banging around) later and I had breakfast in bed, made specifically for me by my 12 yr old daughter.  I had a dippy egg (cuz those are my favorite), toast, a banana, yogurt and hot chocolate because she couldn't find my Chai. 

She even stayed in bed with me while I ate and we watched I love Lucy.   I  love Lucy, I really do.  When Aidan was little and the show came on, he'd yell for me to come watch.  "It's the show you love, Mommy.  It's the show that losted it's color."   They were both baffled at the black and whiteness.  I was baffled at the twin beds.   Here's a bit of trivia:  did you know that since the show aired in 1951, it has NEVER been off the air?  That's good quality TV right there.  And, they never played any tricks on us either, like subsituting a new Ricky all Bewitched style.  Narcotic addiction or not, I liked the first Darren the best.  

Now, my favorite character subsitution was Becky on Roseanne....I loved when they just made it part of the gag.   Too bad Roseanne Barr/Arnold/no last name, just Roseanne is living the dream in Hawaii....on her macadamia plantation and planning a hostile take over of the world with her nuts.  It's true, I saw her on Regis and Kelly and she claims that she will put farms out of business solely with the macadamia nut....it's the perfect food.  You won't need to eat any meat or dairy....just her nuts.   I can't wait, because when that day comes, we'll be selling these cows, buying us some macadamia nut plants...bushes....trees...whatever the heck they grow on and living the sweet life on the big island. 


Whoops, train derailed again.......

Read more...

Egads! What is Happening Around Here?

I taught a class last night and when I went into the refrigerator to get my cold dinner, I saw this.   In MY refrigerator!  And, I'm guessing I don't need to remind you all that we own a dairy farm for Pete's sake!  My poor guy, it's finally happened, he cracked under pressure! The Dairy Famer has gone mad! <insert mad cow joke here>

I said "what in tar nation is THAT doing in there?"  It took me by surprise, because anytime a commercial for soy "milk" or almond "milk" comes on the TV, the dairy farmer has to yell..... "you can't milk an almond!" 

He then informed me that we were doing "market research."    And, it just so happens that I have a  blog.....a blog about farming......and, just like any other random blogger on the Internet (and trust.....I've been researching them today)....I can say whatever I want.   I can  say what I want, whether it's true or not, whether it's based on fact or fiction, whether I am educated in this area....or not.   Hell, I can even call myself  DOCTOR and state that milk is one of the most harmful liquids you can put in your body and call it a carcinogen.  And when you research me, you'll see that I "might" be a psychiatrist.  


   Or I can call myself PINUP girl and say that " all processed milk is pumped full of drugs, such as antibiotics and growth hormones."   And, guess what?   SOOOOOO many people will believe exactly what I say!  Isn't that crazy?  People actually think everything they read on the Internet is TRUE....all of it......totally TRUE and they go off spouting their mistruths to other people and those people believe it too!  

So, I have a fire lit under my butt today- and with some help from The Dairy Farmer, I'll give you a little information about what you may or may not be reading when it comes to milk.   Now, this is a VERY hot topic right now and you can choose to read on or you can choose to delete.....your call.   Just like choosing to drink raw milk, organic milk or even milk from a nut.  It's a personal choice, it's your call....that's why so many options are available. 

I do understand that some folks don't enjoy bloating, farting and massive diarrhea and therefore need a dairy substitute.  I also understand that some folks enjoy a vegan lifestyle.  But, please....EDUCATE yourself on why you are choosing not to partake of anything animal.  You may or may not have a valid reason for your choices.   That is why we live in America people....the land of the FREE.   Which includes your choice to eat a big ole juicy new york strip (which I will this evening) or you can eat your tofu veggie burger (which I agree...there are some good ones out there) 

Off we go: 

here is Webster's definition of milk:

a : a fluid secreted by the mammary glands of females for the nourishment of their young; especially : cow's milk used as a food by humans b : lactation <cows in milk>

2

: a liquid resembling milk in appearance: as a : the latex of a plant b : the juice of a coconut composed of liquid endosperm c : the contents of an unripe kernel of grain

So, based on Webster, it's not really "fair" to compare actual cow's milk (which comes from mammary glands of mammals) to the liquid that comes from a pulverized nut (which is mixed with water to make it look like milk)  but, we are and that is where a large misconception occurs.

Now, here is my half wit knowledge of almonds and their "milk."  Almonds really are one of the healthiest nuts you can eat.  But, I do know that they run a tad pricey.  So, if you actually figure out the amount of almonds in almond milk, you might find it on the low side.   So, you might be better off actually eating the almond itself than drinking it's "milk" that doesn't have nearly the nutritional value and contains a lot of additives and sweeteners.  Because......here is where my market research comes in:    I had almond milk for breakfast today. 

Here is what I can tell you from MY experience:  It poured out of the container like a  very thick, sort of gray milkshake. I'm thinking to myself......yum!  I can't wait to put this in my mouth!    The smell wasn't all that bad, kind of.....sort of......well.......almondy.   I took a nice swig and hmmmmm.  How to describe it?  What to say?  Well, it would be like drinking milk that you poured down the front of a dusty chalkboard, allowing it to puddle in a large pile of dirt, then scooping it up and pouring it in a glass and THEN drinking it.   Yep, that's exactly what it tasted like.    And, guess what else?  The taste lingers!  Yes....it actually stays with you for quite some time after......it's .....lovely.  Again, totally my opinion.  But, I sure do feel sorry for you lactose intolerant people. 

So, I researched a little on the world wide web of complete and utter (or should I say "udder") truths.  Now, most hits that came up were people's personal blogs....and most of them were anti cow's milk.  Shocking, I know.  Many of them were comparing the protein value, sugar content and fat content of cow's milk and their soy, almond, oat, hemp and whatever else they could get "milk" out of.....turnips, perhaps?  And they were SHOCKED.....SHOCKED I tell you- that cows milk was higher in protein, lactose and fat than their beloved "milk."    They wanted less of all these things......now, here is why I love my Dairy Farmer so much:  he said.......wait for it.........wait for it.........

"WHY DON'T THEY JUST DRINK WATER THEN?" 

 Good Lord, I love him. 

Yes!  If you don't want protein, sugar and fat in your milk....than, for the love of nancy.....drink water and stop yer bitchin.

Ok, this has gone on long enough and I do want to address ms pinup's blog about cows milk being pumped full of drugs and hormones.  And, I will do it quickly, I promise.

1)  our milk has hormones in it....so does every stinkin gallon in every single grocery store across the WORLD.  Because, my friend, milk comes from a living thing and ALL living things have hormones!  There are hormones in your brocolli and in your oranges.   Be educated.....what consumers are worried about is artifical hormones...which is another topic all together and one the Dairy Farmer feels very strongly about.  We'll tackle that another day.    

2)  our cows are treated with medications WHEN THEY NEED IT.  Don't you take your child to the doctor and get medication when they are ill?  When our cows are being treated, they are still milked (nursing mommas...remember what happens when your baby doesn't nuse for a few hours?  Hello!)  but, all that milk is kept out of our bulk tanks.   We test our tanks every day for antibiotics.  If it is positive....that tank of milk is dumped (and ...that ain't a pretty day on the farm)  Someone is in BIG trouble.....BIG......HUGE.

side bar from the DF:  it's been 4 or 5 years since we had to dump a tank of milk.

When the tanker, who picks up our milk and lots of other farms too, gets to the processing plant, the entire tanker is tested for antibiotics.  If it's positive....the entire tanker is dumped.   That ain't a pretty day either.  The driver has a sample from each farm he picked up and those are then tested to see who the contaminated milk came from.....and guess what?  You just bought yourself a tanker full of tainted milk and it just cost you about $8,000 to $9,000.   So, we are SO VERY careful when it comes to antibiotics in our milk.   Now, as the process continues, that milk is continually checked on farther down the lines in the production.    So, no......milk does NOT contain drugs such as antibiotics....pinup girl.

side note from the DF:  3.9 million tankers were sampled at the processing plants in 2009, only 1014 tankers were "hot" (and that is down 7% from the previous year) 

Well, I'm all hot and bothered now.  How about you?  Dairy Farming is a science....my husband is not Joe Bob out in his field wearing overalls and sucking on a piece of hay.  He has a degree in Dairy Science, he attends numerous meetings, he reads ALL the time to further educate himself on this very unstable business.  He is a quiet man, he doesn't "defend" himself when we hear the bigger voices out there touting why milk is bad for you or how dairy farms are destroying our enviorment.  So, when I have a chance to defend him, I will.   I am Mrs. The Farmer and I am his voice. 

This post has been approved by The Dairy Famer...thank you. 

Read more...

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Things around here are in "maintenance" mode.  We are buckled down for winter- waiting for spring to show up.  It is coming soon, right?  Right?  RIGHT?  I apologize for my lack of posting, but basically, I am hibernating.  Just hanging around the house, working on healing my nerves and making a "to do" list 8 miles long.  Seems when you are stuck in your house, for weeks on end, you seem to notice those little things that have been there, but you never really saw.  Like, how badly my hardwood floors need refinished, how there is a wall in my front room that still hasn't been painted in over 2 years and the dry wall mud is still showing, how I have 2 large holes in my ceiling from where we upgraded some electric.....the Dairy Farmer is loving all this, because as soon as his manure coverered boot hits the back porch, I'm jumping down his throat with all these questions.  How much does it cost to sand floors, can I do it myself, why can't we have these holes in the ceiling fixed, please repair the toilet paper holder in the bathroom...it's about to fall off.  when can we, when can we, when can we......in reality, I am trying very hard not to do this.   I do have all these things swirling madly inside my head, but I'm trying not to let them spew forth (at least until he has made me dinner and is seated comfortably on his loveseat)

Now, I love my DF very much....but there is one thing about him that holds true for the last 15 years.  He is no handy man, he isn't a "honey do" kinda guy.  He works very hard day in and day out and every blessed weekend...so when he comes in the house, he is done.  Until his blasted cell phone rings and he has to go back out to the barn.  Having said all that,  this post is about my dog, Jack.   Don't you love riding on my train of thought?  It has lots of twists and turns and many times it's derailed completley.   

 It's just that I haven't been working for 2 months and since my blog is mainly about our life on a farm, I haven't felt compelled to share in the tedious, boring, day to day humdrum that is my "house" life.     I get up, do laundry, clean a little, take a nap, watch tv and go to bed.  Sometimes, I unload the dishwasher and clean dog poop off the front porch.  That's it....that's what you do when you "recover" apparently.   You gotta do  what you gotta do.  Sadly, I am looking forward to leaving the house on friday to have bloodwork done.  I know....you're jealous.  Don't be hatin'.

Where was I?  Oh.....Jack.   As I was watching the punks at the bus stop this morning, I glanced over and saw my adorable mastiff,  Jack, making himself a little nest.  See, today is "clean sheet day" here at Brechland Farms......told you my life is boring.  And I am working on washing all our sheets.  My comforter is on the floor waiting to take a spin in Big Red (my washer machine) and Jack is a 180 pound opportunist.  He sees a blanket, a rug or even a sock and he runs over, makes a "nest"..circle, circle, circle, dig, dig, dig, circle, circle, lay down.    He's done it since the day we brought him home.  I have pictures to prove it.    The weird part is, I think he thinks he is a little dog.   I mean, seriously, he will lay down on a sock and be all happy and content that he's in his nest, like Big Bird.  It's cute and so sad at the same time.

So, without further ado.....here's "puppy" Jack (as he was known in the early days)

Now, Mount Washmore was a little too high for him to lay on, so he settled for hanging at the bottom of the mountain.  And, maybe snacking on a punk's dirty shirt. 




Here's Jack when he was 2.....he has, indeed, learned to climb Mount Washmore.

And here's Jack today:  He is 5 now and is on the slippery slope of middle age.

And, for sh*** and giggles as the Dairy Farmer would say:  Here are a few more of my favorite pictures from yesteryear:

Ahh....my boys....they are growing so quickly.  One is growing up and out and two are growing old and gray. 

Read more...

Snow Much Fun

For the past couple years, we have missed Ice Fest in Chambersburg due to our winter vacations.  We miss going downtown and seeing the amazing ice sculptures, sipping hot chocolate and we always enjoyed the ballet at the Capitol.  This year was no exception.   We were SO excited when we found out that Breckenrige was hosting their annual snow sculpting competition while we were there.  Teams come from all over the world to carve their creations out of huge blocks of snow.

All week, you can watch the progress as these 20 ton chunks of solid snow turn into beautiful pieces of art.....each sculpture has a money box and you can vote for your favorite one.  Now, they don't pay these teams to do this and their is no major award at the end.  All the money is given to charity.  They do it for shear fun.  And, they can not use any power tools.  They create these massive pieces using items from any local hardware or kitchen supply store.  We saw most teams using vegetable peelers for the fine details.  The other cool thing is that the blocks are "handmade."  Front end loaders dump piles of snow into wooden frames and then 5-10 people get inside and pack the snow down with their feet.....Lucy style.....remember when she was in Italy and stomped the grapes for the wine?  I'd imagine it was just like that....but with parkas and snow boots instead of peasant blouses and bare feet.

Here are some of the sculptures on display.....some of them weren't finished by the end of the week due to the fact that spring arrived in Breck a bit early and many days were 50 degrees.  They put up tarps to try and keep the sun off and would then sculpt all night when the air got cold again.

Read more...

Back to Reality

So, things are moving along here at Brechland Farms.  We got a taste of spring for a few days, the snow melted and the mud showed up.  Calves are showing up all over the place and inside the house....Mrs. The Farmer is on the mend.  I am getting better each day.   I still have numb hands and feet, but I'm up and moving around and have been out of the house twice.  The Dairy Farmer has made little remarks about me coming out and helping feed calves, but I pretend like I don't hear him or I remind him about "that time I almost died."  And so far, it's working.  Not that I am trying to get out of work, but just doing a little laundry and cleaning will cause me to be stiff/sore and very numb the next day.  Quite a reminder that, although I am feeling more normal, I still have a ways to go.

I hate for my illness to downplay our wonderful vacation in January, so I am going to backtrack a bit and blog about our family vacation.

We arrived in Breckenridge a few days after they had had a nice snowstorm.  I think maybe 4-5 feet arrived and we got to enjoy the benefits.  We had a few days of cold weather....but cold out there is much different than cold here in PA.  Mid week.....the sun came out and the wind stopped and we had gorgeous days!   Here are a few pics from out trip:

The whole fam skiing together on intermediate blues!  Blacks are in their future!

One tired punk!

The Dairy Farmer getting a little crazy!

This is how I find my punk up on the mountain.  Seemed like everyone had on a blue coat. 

Snow Beach at 10,000 feet - it was 40' and sunny and I forgot to pack sunscreen. 

I wasn't too happy with my pics this year.  I was using the kid's camera and was told to use the "snow" setting, but it washed out my pictures.  Thank goodness for my flip!  This is where I live....greens and blues....where it's safe. 

This is where the DF lives....on the edge....up high....above treeline.....so not me.   You can actually see some of the runs down below...that is where I hang out.   

Read more...