Kansas State Fair After Hours

I'm not very good at math. (Let's not tell the Kansas Master Farm Homemakers, shall we? I'm currently serving as their treasurer, which begins the rotation through all the offices. I told them I'd be secretary three times if I didn't have to be treasurer, but they didn't go for it.)

Oh well, I may not be very good at math. But after Charlie Daniels told us that he was 5 years old in 1941, I eventually figured out he was 81 years old. (He revealed his age during his prelude to performing a song in tribute to our military, something he's found important since growing up during World War II.)

Charlie Daniels performed at the Kansas State Fair Tuesday night, and we Kansas Master Farmers and Homemakers had the chance to go to the concert.

He and his entire band are quite the instrumentalists. I may not have been singing every word to their songs. In fact, I'm not sure I recognized any of them except "The Devil Went Down to Georgia," though he did do a rendition of "How Great Thou Art." I could definitely sing along with that one after my growing-up years at Byers United Methodist Church, when it seemed we sang it every week while waiting for the preacher to arrive from his first service in Iuka.

But even if his "brand" of music isn't my usual go-to, I was thoroughly impressed with his musicianship and that of his band. He played fiddle and guitar. The band members' fingers flew over complicated riffs. I'm lucky if I can hit all the notes represented on a page of piano music.

It made me a little ashamed that I was feeling my age after a day of exploring the fairgrounds. And Randy and I are still trying to figure out who is going to tell Jill that we need a "time out" when we're at the fair with her family tomorrow.

Back when I worked for The Hutchinson News, I was there every single day. I was much younger then!

Afterwards, I snapped a couple of photos from the grandstand before we left for the night.

There's just something magical about the scene - even if you never set foot on a ride.

I think rides will be on the agenda on Friday. However, Kinley and Brooke will be doing the riding, though I wouldn't mind a trip on the State Fair Railroad or a view from above on the tram. I don't think we'll make it to dark again though. Time will tell.

On the Sudan

August 16, 2017

The Central Kansas weather this summer hasn't quite been like the desert of the African Sudan.

We did miss the rain that made for this beautiful sky in the middle of August. Those storm clouds were to the east of us and didn't bring any rain to our farm.

We don't have the "Sudan" with a capital "S." But on The County Line, we do have sudan - with a small "s."(Now I sound like our favorite kindergartener.) In our case, it's a crop - not a desert.

After a small rain shower in mid-August, Randy planted some after-harvest sudan. 

Though we're not a desert, drought conditions this year haven't made for a particularly favorable growing environment. As of the September 5 Kansas Drought Monitor, we are in the moderate drought category.

Sudan is a fast-growing hybrid that goes from seed to feed source in approximately 60 days. But it still needs some rain to get it from seed to harvest. We got 1/2 inch of rain on it a week ago, which helped a little. Sudan can be grazed or it can be put up for hay. We'll likely do some of both.

It's higher in TDN - total digestible nutrients - than alfalfa. However, it is lower in protein. So it's a cheaper ration for maintaining weight in cows, but it's not desirable as a growing ration for feeder cattle.

By August 21 - less than a week after planting - the sudan was starting to emerge.

It looks bigger than it was at this close-up angle. But I did tell you that it's a fast grower!

My farmer is out standing in his field. (I can't resist the pun.)

Not quite a month later, the sudan is making some progress.

But the lack of rain is definitely showing.

While our sudan still has some growing to do, the guys did a custom job of swathing, raking and baling some sudan for a neighbor. He planted his sudan in June.

I missed the swathing and raking photos, but I did snap a few photos of baling on a meal delivery to the field.

They got 110 bales off that field. We hope ours will do as well. We shall see!

So ... What Are You Doing?

"So ... what are you doing right now?"

Any farm wife knows that's code for "I'm about to change whatever you were doing right now!" Randy had gotten a phone call that we had a fence down and cattle out in the Ninnescah pasture. So we loaded up the 4-wheelers in the cattle trailer and headed south.

We pulled into the neighbor's pasture, intending to push the cattle back to the west and through the fence.

We saw lots of beautiful wildflowers, the blues and yellows hiding under a blanket of green grasses. We could see the tiny things ... but the cows and calves were playing hide and seek. And they were winning.

Once we got to the fence, we could see where they'd started their adventure. Evidently, recess was over, and they had already made their way back into our pasture.

While Randy went back to the pickup to get fencing supplies, I stood guard at the fence. It was an easy job, since the cows and their calves were nowhere nearby.

So I took pictures. Big surprise, right? The delicate blue dayflower was a vivid contrast to the barbed wire fence on the ground.

There were tiny yellow flowers.

 

And bigger sunflowers.

I had almost run over this little purple flower with my 4-wheeler. I didn't see another one like it as I wandered and waited. 

Randy returned and started making repairs, piecing the fence back together.

 

With the fence repairs made, we took off for the pickup.

It was one of those times when I was probably worth about what I was paid. But a willingness to drop everything to help has to be worth something, right?

Behind the Scenes at a 3 Year Old Birthday Shoot

Behind the scenes at a 3 year old's birthday photo shoot:

Because said 3 year old is resisting photos, have her become the photographer. Help her take photos of her sister and two of her cousins with the rainbow backdrop designed to fulfill her own request for a "rainbow party."

Add 1-year-old cousin. The 3 year old discovers photography of small children is no easy task.

The 3 year old still resists the photographic process.

Add Mommy to the mix to try and appease 3 year old. It appears to be working.

Oh wait! Maybe not. That's a pretty sad face for a birthday girl.

Try adding older sister. We may not be centered among the "rainbow," but at least we're happy!

OK. Back to trying a solo shot. Wait ... is that a hint of a smile?

Yes! Yes, it is. 

The balloons are moving, but the girl is in focus. We'll take that as a victory!

The smile is getting a little cheesy. It must be time for the paparazzi to give it a rest ... at least until it's time for cake. 

Our Labor Day weekend included a birthday celebration for our youngest granddaughter, Brooke Jaylin Ladd. Three years ago, she arrived at 6:57 AM, Thursday, September 4. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and was 20 inches long.

My, what a difference 3 years makes!

A colorful parachute added to the rainbow theme.

Yesterday, on her birthday, her Mommy described Brooke as "spunky, sweet, sassy and someone who pushes all boundaries."

 

And we love every bit of her!

Happy Birthday to our favorite 3 year old!

Her Mommy made her a rainbow cake.

Brooke added the candles.

She got a little shy about being the center of attention during the song.

She got a little bit close to the flame to suit parents and grandparents. (Kinley appeared ready to help her blow out the candles. The rest of us were ready to grab her away from the fire.)

She discovered all the beautiful and yummy rainbow layers inside. (Job well done, Mommy!)

We are blessed to have these little people (and a bunch of big people from both sides of the family) in our lives! There were parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, all there to celebrate a special day. Here's to an amazing year, journeying toward Year 4!