Category: blogging

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Blog Post Blogger blogging Christmas

The Country Christmas Connection 2017

This is my second year that  I participate in a fun, Country in the Christmas gift exchange. I love surprises and this exchange was full of them.
The Christmas in the Country Gift exchange was organized by two awesome bloggers, Jenny at Keeping Ag Real and Darlene at Guernsey Dairy Mama, which I had a privilege of meeting at AgChat. These two ladies are my dairy heroes. Be sure to check out their great blogs.

Meet my Secret Santa, was Dawn Carlson!! I was so excited when I opened my box. Dawn had sent some fun bottles of sprinkling drinks.

~WINE~SWEET RED WINE~WHITE WINE~PRAIRIE PUMPKIN WINE~WINTER WARMTH~WINE

Dawn include a awesome letter about all these items.

It truly made my day.

 I appreciated Dawn’s note inside! It was thoughtful and full of wine history; Illinois. I enjoyed reading the history of Illinois. I learned that Illinois is the leading producer of pumkins in the US. Illinois is also know as “The Prairie State.”  In addition to her note, she also sent a couple bottles of wine and her mother’s pumpkin pecan pie. Also included in her note she told be that she lives in DeKalb County and that is where DeKalb Seed Corn was founded. The most exciting part, except for the wine!!, is that DeKalb is known for the invention of “Barbed Wire.” Dawn’s letter was very interested and I am glad that she shared it with me. I look forward in getting to know her a whole lot more.
Thank you Dawn for all your gifts.
Not only did I love getting a “Secret” box, I loved shipping a box of goodies to my “Secret”blogger. My secret blogger was Jenny Holtermann! I had fun, stalking her and getting to read about her and her family on her blog, Almond Girl Jenny!
She lives in California and is an almond farmer! I recommend you all heading over to her Facebook Page. Anyway, if you are interested in seeing what else I sent her, head over to her blog.

Check out all the other posts from the Connection.

As I read posts from ##TCCC17 I thought about this quote,

“God knows who belongs in your life and who doesn’t. Trust and let go. Whoever is meant to be there, will still be there.

I am definitely going to try this out!
Love this Wine Shirt!!
These may or may not be empty.
Categories
Anne Burkholder blogging Shine On Shine On Series 7

Shine On ~ Anne Burkholder

Shine On Series #7

Shine On, Shine On Series
Anne Burkholder and her family.  Thank you, Anne for all you
do to help me Shine On!!
Shine On, Shine On was the subject of a blog that I did a couple months ago. Did you see it? If not, here is the link Shine On, Shine On!  I have decided that there are a lot of people that help me “Shine” and I am going to feature them on my Shine On, Shine On series.
Today’s Shine On features: Anne Burkholder

Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am a wife, mom, cattle feeder and volunteer youth athletic coach. I am a lover of great food and fitness, and my true passion is creating sustainability for rural America through both agriculture and youth mentoring. I originally hale from urban South Florida, although for the last 19 years, I have proudly called Cozad, Nebraska “home”.

What does your daily routines look like? 

My day at the feed yard starts early as we “read bunks” at 6:00 in order to have breakfast delivered to all of the cattle by 8:30. In addition to reading bunks and calling feed for the day, I also often exercise and acclimate newly arrived cattle about dawn. Add on vaccinating/processing cattle, being the main “cattle buyer”, and doing the book work, and that typically fills up my day until about 4:00. After that, I am often found coaching a local athletic team, cheering on my girls in their athletic endeavors, or running/swimming to keep myself fit. It seems that we eat dinner about 8:00 each night, after which I am generally looking forward to sleeping 😊

What inspires you to be you? 

My husband is my rock of strength, my daughters are my sunshine, and my desire to reach my God-given potential drives me to search for excellence each day. I believe that our past develops our character, our present is a tool for learning, and our future is a combination of hope and action that drives continuous improvement. The desire “to make a difference” runs deep and inspires me to work hard every day.

What do we all need more of? 

We all need a little more dirt and grit. There is something wholesome and peaceful to be gained by working with the land. Digging in the dirt and learning how to use it’s resources wisely is a skill that everyone should acquire. Grit and determination are important components to a meaningful life. “The only place you find success before work is in the dictionary” (May Smith). We all need a little bit more grit to ensure that our communities will sustain.

What do we all need less of? 

We live in an increasingly “entitled world”. This worries me. I believe that the secret to sustainability can be found in an altruistic heart and a strong, hard working body. How awesome would the world be if we all focused on using our gifts to make a positive difference instead of carrying an self-absorbed mentality?

Do you have any advice for ranch wives or any women? 

I try to teach my daughters to be strong and independent, while also holding strong to a dedication to compassion. A woman brings a unique perspective — it is important that we use that strength in a positive way. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box, go with your gut, and use your faith to help you persevere.

How do you stay so motivated?

Every day is a gift — Every challenge is a chance for improvement — Every sunrise brings a promise of joy — Every sunset provides a meaningful contemplation as you complete one more day on the journey.


My Shine On message to Anne:

Anne~ I am thankful for your dedication to everything you do. I look up to you in the blogging world. I look up to you for advice. I appreciate your friendship and You. I appreciate your knowledge and example.

Here are a few more reasons that you help me Shine On:

 
🌟You are an inspiration to me. You inspire me to become a better advocate for Agriculture. 
🌟You are a good example. I read your blogs, look at your pictures, chat with you  and know that you are a special person. 
🌟You are a good wife, mom and daughter. 
🌟Your a hard worker. 
🌟You are Star in my book. Your light shines bright. 
🌟I love your story. I love that you share it. Keep up the good work.
🌟I am thankful for our chats, and your advice.  
🌟Thank You for your wisdom. 



My message to you, dear friend is Shine On!!
Thank you for being an important piece of my life.
Thank you for just being YOU!


Friends~ Please visit Anne and tell her I sent you:

on her blog Feed Yard Foodie
or her Facebook


Categories
#CITC2015 Blog Post blogging

Christmas in the Country 2015

Christmas in the Country 2015
The box that I sent to my “Secret Blogger.”
This year I participate in a fun, Christmas in the Country gift exchange. I love surprises and this exchange was full of them. My blogger friend, Robyn from The Ranch Wife Chronicles, invited me to participate. 

The Christmas in the Country Gift exchange was organized by three awesome bloggers, Jamie at This Uncharted Rhoade, Laurie at COUNTRY LINKed, Lara at My Other More Exciting Self and Kirby at 15009 Farmhouse. Be sure to check out these great blogs. 

Meet my Secret Santa, Taylor Shoot at The Aggie Hipster. Make sure you head on over to her blog and check her out. 

I received a fun, full box of goodies from The Aggie Hipster.  
I love getting boxes with the word, “Secret” on it!


I appreciated Taylor’s note inside! It was thoughtful and full of history; a horse shoe from her grandpa, homemade peanut brittle made by her Granny Marge who is 89, and fun homemade ornaments.  She also included in her note that her great grandpa was included in the Rose Wilder Lane Books.  How fun is that!!
 Thank you Taylor for all your gifts.  Make sure to check her out on Facebook.
A little note full of history and blessings.
Just what I needed for 2016!
My box of goodies from The Aggie Hibster! Make sure to check out her blog! 
Not only did I Love getting a “Secret” box, I loved shipping a box of goodies to my “Secret” blogger. My secret blogger was Crystal Kellner. I had fun, stalking her and her blog, Chasing Saturdays! Her husband, and their 3 kids, live in Indiana. One of the highlights of her blog for me was her recipe of Payday Chex Mix. If you want a quick easy snack, give it a try. 

Anyway, if you are interested in seeing what else I sent her, head on over to her blog.

In the end, I have to say that I loved this “Secret Blogger” exchange. If you want to see more posts about Christmas in the Country, follow the link-up bottom below. #CITC2015

http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=596199

As I read posts from #CITC2015 I thought about this quote from Pretty Chic, 

“She designed a Life she Loved!” 

Good job to all #CITC2015 Participants.

Categories
blogging Christmas Greetings Holidays

Happy Holidays from our Place to Yours!

Happy Holidays from our Place to Yours!

Wishing you all a Season of Gladness, a Season of Cheer, and to top it All off,
a Wonderful Year!!


Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:14

My thoughts today include this:

What is Christmas really about?


Jesus

The Bible tell us what we should be doing during Christmas season and everyday. Worshiping God. Thanking him for sending us his Son. And you know what? The Bible never mentions Christmas lights and glitter. It does however, tells us about the Light of the World and what He has done for you and me.

To live in peace on earth.
To live with good will toward their fellow man.
To help the world to come to know Jesus.

I encourage you to discover the true joy of Christmas by sharing what you have with others.
A word of encouragement or a smile can mean the world to someone.
Just keep your heart open and look for ways to be a blessing.
I want to have a giving heart.
This week my prayer is that I will let God use me in a special way this Christmas and every day of the new year!

I want to end with this:
What do you want to get out of this Christmas season?  I want to slow down and enjoy the season without going overboard.  Yes, we’ll still see lights, and other Christmas decor but at the end of the day I want to focus on my heart and mind on the one who made Christmas possible.

What’s on your heart today?
Sit a spell and tell me how you’re doing.  The hustle and bustle of the season will still be there when you go, but your heart and mind will be focused on what really matters to you.

 
Our Christmas Wish to you all.
That your heart be light as a Snowflake;
that your troubles melt away like snow.
And a drift of Blessings surround you and yours.

Merry Christmas from our place to yours.

Categories
ag community blogging Double A Feeds Sales Sales Women

I am a Feed Sales Woman and that is OK!

I am a Feed Sales Woman and that is OK!

Strong Rancher Woman is what you will find in the Ag Community.
Cassie, myself, Megan, Christine, Terryn and Cary.  Five Ranch Women that I am proud to call my friends and family.
The Strongest actions for a Women is to Love herself, and Shine amongst those who never believed she could~
Author unknown

I don’t hesitate to try new things and in 2000 when I was offered a job as a feed sales WOMAN, I took it.  I have never looked back.

Double A Feeds, Inc. has been my home away from home for 15 years.  My four kids have worked right beside me everyday.  I have never really thought about being a feed sales Woman, until a conversation on social media talked about a sales Woman selling items, seed, chemical, feed etc to her husband.  To make a long post short, she thought it was wrong that the sales Woman should have asked her first if she could ride with her husband, I hope we all understand that this is a marriageable trust issue. You can not hold sales Women responsible for your husbands actions.

I see a lot more men than women on a daily basis.  I can talk feed, feed samples, feed ingredients, supplement tubs.  I can tell you what your mama cows need in the fall and what your bulls need in the winter.  I can tell you what to give a sick calf and what wormer your horse needs.  I am just glad for the opportunity to have a job that supports my family, our community and the Ag community.

My message today is quite simple:

I may or may-not sell feed to your husband.  I am not looking for a good time nor am I going to take your husband from you. I may have some long conversations with your husband, but it is about your animals’ well being. You see, I am simplying  putting food on the table for our four children and helping with the balance sheet of our ranch.  I am trying to do a good job so that your animals have feed.  I enjoy being a Sales Woman!! I am trying to do a good job and enjoy the science of animal feed and helping people keep their animals healthy. 

We all have Women friends that wear men boots.  It is ok. I wear men boots everyday!! I can load 50# sacks of feed and never break a sweat.  Don’t hold it against me.  All that I am asking is that we all consider what our place is.  IT is to encourage and understand.

I would like to shout out to two Women bloggers for their great words.  I encourage you to read their blogs.   I truly believe that we all need to work together.  We all have a story.

Please read Buzzards Beat Blog and UpTownSheep Blogs.  They have said it better than me.

To all the Woman that wear mens boots, keep up the good work!!

 

 

Categories
blogging Circle L

It has been 1 Full Year of Blogging at the Circle L!

It has been 1 Full Year of Blogging at the Circle L!

I starting blogging in January of 2012. I enjoyed sharing some of our stories. I wasn’t consistent in my blogging but did write some.   Some of my early blogs included:

A Blog About Brother Pete This blog about my brother Pete, is very dear to my heart.  You see Pete is disabled and he is very special to me.

A Horse I Will Never Forget This blog is about a horse that I will never forget.

With a little encouragement to keep writing from family and friends, I decided to work on it a little harder.  I did not know that blogging is a full time job.  My head throws around ideas every day.  I have enjoyed putting my thoughts down where you all can read them.  I am thankful for encouragement from blogger Anne Burkholder.  She is amazing and a great example to me.

Blogging has opened other doors for me as well.  I am blogging for the Western States Ranch Rodeo. WSRRA as well as writing WSRRA articles for Rodeo News, Working Ranch Magazine, Nevada Rancher, and Ropers Magazine.

A year later I am thankful for words of encouragement and all the support that I have received.

You Know You’re a Real Ranch Wife When  It is one of my personal favorites.
Here is #1.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

You know You’re a Real Ranch Wife when…………….

1. Your husband uses your hair dryer to warm a calf up.

So Cody and I purchased a calf warmer a couple years ago. It has come in really handy when we have a cold calf. It has saved more than one calf. Well the calf warmer has a built in heater but Cody decided that maybe it would be better to have two heaters! My hair dryer works wonders.

The truth is, I don’t write a lot of things that are all that extraordinary.  You guys respond because you feel, have felt, or understand a lot of what I put into words.
There is a thread that joins us – a connection that grows through the sharing of our humanity.
I am lucky to have a story…
a story that through the telling of my words, I can also echo or mirror some of yours.
As I look at all the times one of you has said “thank you for sharing”…
All I can think to do at this moment is grin through my tears,
and say
thank you
for
reading
it.

I am looking forward to 2015! I know that God has a plan for the Circle L.

Categories
ag community blogging ranch life

3000 Mark!!!

So my blog  has hit over 3000 hits!

Thank you for reading. 
Thank you for enjoying.  
Thank you for sharing.

I have to be honest with you, blogging sometimes gets frustrating, sometimes I loose sleep over it, but I also find it rewarding.  My goals in my blog has changed over time but I still enjoy sharing my story with you all.
 I want to inform you about how important ranch life is, how important the Ag Community and Beef is to all of us, and a little bit of humor, and a little bit of faith.

Thank you for joining me.

So here’s to the next 3000 hits and new stories!!