Totally thought growing watermelons would be so fun!

My Goal was to have the biggest watermelon like the huge watermelons at state fair, so far I have the “tinniest”
.....of course it’s just starting to grow, we shall see!

BABY WATERMELON ALERT!?!?

Take a moment and check out the view!

Lots going on in this photo!

Combines have just cut the wheat, and got the seed from the head of the plant and then the seed goes into the tank of combine! While this is happening all the other parts of the plant are being thrown out into a windrow (if you are planning to bale behind) if not you can cut the wheat and put a chopper on back of combine, where it distributes the remaining parts of the plant all around (no windrows)

The Howton’s have been coming behind combines and baling the windrows(what’s left of the wheat) for straw!

After that,the bales of straw are hauled off and the planter comes back into the field, to plant double crop beans.

I love how mostly all parts of wheat plant are used!

Most people love weekends to sit back and relax after a long week of hard work

But for any farm, a weekend of nice dry weather, is a weekend spent working, and this weekend happens to be cutting wheat!

I’ve loved taking the boys supper these last 2 days, seeing all there hard work and dedication to get the wheat out of the fields and cannot wait to be in the combine tomorrow! Enjoying the amazing view!

So thankful the rain stopped for a little while for them to get in the fields!


​

Lots of varieties of squash in my garden...

As you can tell I LOVE ALL TYPES OF SQUASH!

Can you guess what type of squash this is?

Growing up and still to this day my granny, encourages everyone to eat veggies! With dinner at least one or two are served with the meal.

I still remember the day, I first tried a Brussel Sprout!
Granny had cooked a stew for lunch and Brussel Sprouts!

Granny knew how much I loved cabbage, so she decided to tell me that what was on the plate were tiny cabbages and of course I believed her! Took a bite, and they were delicious! After lunch she told me they were actually Brussel Sprouts!

While searching for things to put in my garden I decided I had to try and grow them! So far, growing good, cannot wait to get produce off them!

The only vegetable: I cannot convince myself I like is asparagus!

Whats your favorite vegetable? And least favorite?

Here we go.. sheep jokes
see even chops thinks they’re funny🤪

what do you call a sheep covered in chocolate?
candy baaaa-r

what do you call a sheep with no legs?
a cloud

what kind of car does a sheep like to drive?
a Lamborghini

​what did the deaf barber say to the sheep?
i can’t shear you

what did the farmer say when the sheep threw up?
ewe

Meet the new ewes!

Dorper Katahdin cross

Normally I love naming my animals but this time i want your help!

Interactive blog👇🏻
Comment some names here or facebook

I don’t know about you, but I love zucchini!

My favorite way to cook it is so SIMPLE
Just add a little butter (and note by a little I mean you can never have to much), then salt and pepper!

Do me a favor drop your favorite Zucchini recipes in comments

Soybeans are growing more and more everyday, and about to love the rain we are about to get.. well that is if the weather people made the right predictions.

Stay tuned for new blog post
Topic: stages of soybeans

Next: planting double crop beans

Sunday afternoon, we had a nice fathers day lunch at the house, Papa gave all the boys off even though they could've been working, and I'm glad everyone was able to relax and enjoy their day off. Because Monday, Wheat Harvest 2019 and planting double crop beans will be in full swing weather permitting.

What we had for lunch?
​Apricot Curry
Steak Kebabs
Grilled Mushrooms
Grilled Onions
Grilled Bell Peppers
and 
Most importantly
Fresh Gem Squash

A little more family background, we love CURRY.​

Gem squash kind of reminded me of a spaghetti squash 

How did we cook the Gem?
Poked holes in squash and boiled on high, once it was finished cut in half and added some butter and salt and pepper. Quick and Easy, but don't worry more recipes to come:)

How did we make the Curry?

Ingredients

• 2 lbs of beef stew meat
• 2 onions, chopped
• a medium sized bag of carrots
• 5 potatoes peeled, and sliced
• 3/4 a cup of apricot jam, We ended up adding a little more.:)
• 3 teaspoons of garlic
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tsp  of paprika 
• 2 tbsp.of curry powder
• 1 cup of beef broth

All mixed in crockpot and cooked for 4 hours on high, the house smelled amazing and curry tasted even better, over a bed of white rice and some nice hot fresh bread with butter, and chutney.

Dixxie had her first combine ride when she was 10 weeks old in December 2018 during bean harvest.
Today, she was able to run through the wheat field, ride in the combine, and officially made the buddy seat her spot, or right next to Aaron's feet. 

Dixxie's breed is meant to hunt, although she loves a good bird chasing, she also loves all things agriculture like her mom and dad. She loves chasing the sheep up and down the fence, head-butting the ram "chops", and loves cows, combine and ranger rides, all you have to do is say "let's go".
​Dixxie now has a new favorite hobby eating wheat haha.

Favorite "dates"- combine rides, always will be

DIXXIE

Dixxie knows how to sit back and enjoy the view

Wheat harvest 2019 officially started TODAY at Lively H Farms. 

13.7 was the magic moisture number to get the combines rolling today.
GO! GO! GO!

Sit back and enjoy the view folks of golden fields and harvest

Look at those seeds, and think about things that contain wheat,

A farmer looks at those seeds not only as a source of income, but mainly looks at all the benefits it has provided for the ground it was planted on as a rotational/cover crop.


Benefits include:
preventing erosion 
helping decrease the amount of  weeds in a field 
increasing organic matter in soil and nutrients

After the rain stopped yesterday afternoon I decided to head out to the garden, and pick a few weeds.

Finding the gardens first squash, and guess what it was?
GEM SQUASH

So happy I could scream!
Not ripe enough to pick but so ready to try them!

Also found some zucchini growing, cantaloupe, watermelon, kale, tomatoes and sweet corn!

check out the photos


More things coming soon to garden starting this week
HINT- IT’S GETTING BIGGER

Many farmers, are in full throttle trying to beat the rain expected this week. Two days of sunshine means two days of hardwork in the fields.

In farming there are many challenges/obstacles each day, just like any other job, or life in general. 

Today on Lively H, that obstacle was a rock..
A few choice words ****

And..Just like that a good day can turn bad
With just 300 acres left of soybeans to plant and the weather forecast not looking promising to get in the field the rest of the week, one planter down.

Have you ever just had a really good day and then boom something goes wrong?
How was your attitude or outlook?
I am the worlds worst about being negative when things go wrong, rather than looking at the positive
Life lesson- when obstacles do get in the way no matter what the case is, do not let them bring you down, try and make the best of the situation 

         PLANTER VS ROCK

Lets think about the positive today rather than that rock:
1. We were able to get into the fields, many farmers in places such as Oklahoma aren't able to get in, and won't be able to  for awhile because of all the rain and storms they have received.  The damage on the crops already planted and the crops still not put into the ground is unbelievable and sad. Knowing their crops are struggling and the investment and time they put into their farm each day. Being cooped up in the house knowing they cannot change the weather, I don't know about y'all but I know first hand its hard enough to try and get my papa to stay inside  just on a day off because he always feels like something needs to be done on farm.
Farmers are one big family and  when a big group struggles the rest feel it. Pray for those affected by all the rain and their farms, and comfort in dealing with the obstacles they cannot change.
2. Its fixable and No one was hurt- although money doesn't grow on trees ( I wish it did), the planter is fixable and the damage could have been worse.
3. The timing- I know any farmer would agree, things always seem to break when your busy, busy busy, but luckily this year Lively H Farms is ahead of schedule (papa would say no, because there is always something to do and he never feels caught up) but only have 300 acres left to plant, the timing was better than the beginning on planting season. 

It's that time of year again, lots going on in the fields
farmers finishing up plating corn and beans, setting tobacco, hay being cut, raked and bailed, herbicide and insecticide, and even fungicide being sprayed depending on what farmers needs are and the timing or growth stage on the crop, 

Lots of equipment moving, smile, wave, slow down.

Soon farmers will be in the field harvesting wheat, rye, maybe even barley
Lively H has about 500  acres of wheat to harvest

Since I was little I have always loved harvest time of any crop. It's beautiful, and most of all I loved being right next to my papa's side, and still do till this day, Although these last couple of years I have been able to enjoy the time with my papa and my boyfriend, best date nights. Switching combine to combine, bringing snacks, drinks,  helping escort them field to field, whatever they need.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

It is amazing how quickly crops grow, and how much is produced from the tiny seed, farmers put in the ground.

Soon wheat, rye and barely fields will all  be changing colors from beautiful green fields to beautiful golden fields, ready to harvest while  beans and corn will continue to grow, farmers will begin planting double crop  and then it will be harvest time again soon for other crops planted.. and the cycle continues each year.

I challenge you..
On your way or leaving work, or school, or maybe just out for a drive or walk
maybe you had a stressful day and need something to cheer you up
It works for me..
Take a minute and admire the view
clear your head, take a photo 
watch the field for the color change
farmers and equipment hard at work
and most of all
Thank A Farmer

                                                          no filter, or caption needed for this view

Gem Squash Update:
HUGE and enjoying all the sunshine, even started to flower over the weekend

A little fact- squash produce both male and female blossoms, which means they are able to self pollinate well of course with the help of the exchange of pollination from insects such as bees, butterflies, even wasps.
(remember that next time you swat one)