Thank a Farmer

Wow it has been two weeks already since my last post, I think this blogging thing is going to be harder to keep up on than I thought!

I've been meaning to write a post about agriculture and try to utilize one of my minors from college (Ag Comm) haha...Steve and I both said the other day it has been such a long time since we've had to write a paper for school I think we've forgotten how to properly write one so bear with me on my posts :-)

My soon to be Sister-In-Law sent me this video the other day about why God made farmers, I thought it was a really good reminder of all the things farmers do on a daily basis. It also reminded me a lot of my childhood because the narration is done by Paul Harvey and his was one voice that could always be heard in my house around lunch!

Thinking about my childhood I'm reminded that life on the farm wasn't for me; I was always to far away from my friends and I didn't understand why we couldn't live in town too. I always told my dad that I would never live on a farm when I grew up, ya that idea totally backfired on me huh?! I met and fell in love with a farm boy in college and in less than a year I will be a farmer's wife just like my mom. I've since grown to appreciate all the things farm life can teach you and started to embrace my roots. Steve and I lived in Fargo for 5 years and that was enough 'city' life for the both of us we are so happy to be living on the farm again!

This Thanksgiving I hope everyone remembers to thank the people who provide us with the gift of food...especially the North Dakota Farmers they are truly amazing, check out the following ND Ag Facts!

Oh and did I mention the average American farmer feeds 155 people http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4vvPPNyQ5g&sns=fb ... seriously go thank a farmer today!! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

- Laura Beth

Lumberjack Casserole

I'm surrounded by people who love meat, which isn't a big surprise considering we raise beef cattle and well, I'm mostly surrounded by men. Typically I could base every meal I eat around pasta (my soon to be father-in-law often wonders if I'm a vegetarian, I'm not, I like meat but I just enjoy pasta more). I'd have to say though this is one of my favorite meals to eat and make, because it's super easy!

I'm not crazy about the name of the dish but I didn't make it up so I guess I'll leave the name!

Lumberjack Casserole altered from Meals for 2 by Lindsay Siebert

This recipe feeds 4 hungry people!

Ingredients 

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 can (15 or 16 oz) pork and beans
• 1/2 cup honey BBQ sauce
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 10 refrigerator biscuits
• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
• Brown Hamburger and drain
• Add beans, BBQ sauce and brown sugar to hamburger
• Mix thoroughly 
• Grease a 2 quart casserole dish and put the meat and bean mixture in
• Place the biscuits on top and sprinkle with cheese
• Bake for 20 minutes

If you make this let me know how it is.

Enjoy!

- Laura Beth

Gunner's Mysterious Fall

Sunday was not such a good day...  

Recap:

It was mid-afternoon and Kayla came to tell us that Gunner fell and was in the basement.  In our house we have steps in our garage leading down to our basement; we aren't sure how it happened but Gunner ended up and the bottom of the stairs and was crying and really scared. It was probably about a 7 foot fall and he was in shock after the fall, he couldn’t walk and kept falling over; I was so worried he was either blind or had brain damage. The rest of the day he just bummed around the house but thankfully by the end of the evening he could walk without falling over.  I took him to the vet on Tuesday and he checked out great and did very well at the vet!!

Gunner is back to normal now, yep, back to his biting self haha seriously he’s so darn cute but I really wish he’d stop biting me! 

Gunner 10 Weeks Old

- Laura Beth

Halloween 2011

Sorry you won't be seeing any pictures of Steve and I dressed up this year but it was a treat to see Rylee and Kaylee all dressed up!! Rylee was a purple butterfly and Kaylee was cow.

- Laura Beth

Our New Family Member

We began the journey to get our puppy on Sunday morning. We knew it was going to be a long trip and 750 miles later it was indeed!

Steve, Tyler and I headed to Ray, ND to pick up the baby German Shepard now known as Gunner.  Steve and I already love him to pieces; he is starting to get his own personality and warming up to life on the farm.

He had his first bath on Monday and let’s just say he was not a fan…next time Steve is going to help so Gunner stays in the tub! 

Gunner isn’t going to be a house dog but so far that is what he appears to be, with us being so busy and the cold weather he gets to come inside a lot. I’ve come to the conclusion that getting a puppy during harvest and right before winter was not smart on our part! Oh well harvest is almost done and then Steven will have more time during the day to play and train him. 


We are trying to potty train him and some days I feel like he understands and other days I don’t think he gets it at all. So if anyone has any great potty training tips let me know!! Oh and if you have tips on how to get him to stop biting at our clothes and hands while playing let me know because, holy crap his teeth are sharp!


Gunner is two months old already, 9 weeks old yesterday (Friday 21^st) he almost has the sit command down but now we have to really work on getting him to come when we call his name. One of his favorite things to eat right now besides his dog food is gravel, don’t know what he tastes in it but he thinks it’s yummy!


All in all he is an adorable puppy, well behaved and we couldn't be more excited to have a German Shepard on the farm again. Check back often to read more about Gunner!!

- Laura Beth

** Update ** Our poor Gunner was killed and taken from us way to soon, he was 9 months and 13 days old and we miss him everyday. We don't know who did this horrible thing to our baby but I can only believe that in some way they will be punished for this terrible act. Rest In Peace Gunner Baby.