Christmas 2016 Part 2

Livestock has moved into the house, according to Doug.

He brought home this Siamese cat from the feed store. In keeping with old lady names (RIP Blanche and Lois), she is named Viola. And Tobias, the abandoned cat Mo bottle-fed, has developed a propensity for the gutter on the garage.

Both cats keep Doug company in the evenings on his chair, where he keeps up a running dialogue with both. I think the man needs some grandchildren.

Duke lives on into his 13th year- my perky little shadow.

I continue raising chickens and provide eggs for my neighbors. And the ducks live on....a few years ago Doug got me a dozen baby Mallards (thinking they'd fly off)... they were the domesticated larger breed, and they and their offspring have been here ever since! The kids keep threatening to shoot them but, no one really has the nerve to cross Momma! Here's a video of the newly hatched last spring, because who doesn't like a baby duck video.

Accidents

In June, Mom (83) decided to try mowing under the grape arbor, got herself tangled up and broke her back and 8 ribs. There were several trips to Ohio for us as she spent two different weeks in the hospital and 6 weeks in rehab. The physical therapist said she's a real fighter, and she'd rather work with mom than a 24 year old!

She is doing great now and feels like she's got her life back. Oh, and she has a lawn mower for sale!

One winter Sunday morning, an accident on the road in front of our farm sent one vehicle into the barn and out the other side. The folks in this car weren't hurt, but the 18 year old neighbor in the first car that caused the accident wasn't expected to live, He eventually surprised everyone and pulled through and is doing fine now.

Mo bought a truck and was looking for a buyer for her car... Naturally, this meant Brent drove it to college (!). One morning on a doughnut run, he had a "failure to maintain assured clear distance" accident. No one was hurt, and the other driver told me I have a very kind and compassionate son. He even offered them a doughnut! And Mo thinks she actually got more from insurance than otherwise!

Doug turned 60 this year in September. Neighbors
helped us celebrate with a small tractor-cade around the neighborhood!

And finally, what Christmas blog is complete without a pic or two of my flowers. This year, the clematis was awful showy, and I had raspberries at the end of November!     

We were grateful for a good year and look forward to another.

May you and your family be blessed with peace and joy in 2017  

Christmas Newsletter 2015

The biggest news of the year....

Maureen is a new graduate of Iowa State University as of December 19, with a major in agronomy. She's looking for work helping farmers figure out weeds and soils and growing conditions (I think that's what she does). If you need an agronomist, call!!                                                                                                                                  

Mo & boyfriend Troy Schlabaugh

Brent went off to college after his gap year of work. He found an ag program at Muscatine Community College that has 6 weeks of class followed by 6 weeks of internship, which suits him just right. He and a friend are living with his friend's family and trades farm work for rent.  

So this is us on the first night alone with an empty nest.  Who will tell us what to do? Where to go? What to wear?

A big venture on the farm this year was the building of the HUGE hay shed. We took down an old machine shed to make room. The neighbor construction company Brent works for built it, so Brent did an internship with them and got to help build part of it. It's 100 x 60, for those of you for whom that means something. To me, it just means, it's big. Machinery is also stored in this shed, and I wouldn't be surprised if a few cows wandered in, too.

Crop yields were outstanding this year, about as good as the weather to harvest was. We continue with growing pigs and cattle.

I started working at the Children's Hospital at University of Iowa in April as  a family navigator. My job is to help families of children with special health care needs: listen, get them connected to resources they need, advocate for themselves, etc. It's part time (but with full time benefits!) so I can still tutor and farm. Usually we don't ride adult trikes, but there was a contest for the opening of a new parking ramp so.... I won my heat of course. And, there's a video.

Had a blast this October returning to Archbold with friends to play in the Bluestreak Marching Alumni Band. Hopefully my sister Rachel will join me next year.

Christmas Newsletter 2014

This year was filled with "last things" for Brent during his senior year in high school.

  He did well at the fair with his Advanced Feeder Pen of 4 cattle.











For his last prom (IMS Banquet), he and his buds decided to go all out in dressing up and asking dates.... not!




In his final baseball season, Number 18 got in the record book for career steals! Doug and I managed the concession stand at the beautiful school ballparks- great community event with lots of friends we will miss!

      A highlight of graduation was that Grandma Zaerr, Aunt Rachel and Cousin Katie came. Those three make anything a party! I also spoke at his baccalaureate service - ask him how glad he was!

 His party was at a community center with friends Ben and Spencer on Memorial Day. Kathy, Steph and Sara joined us! The frame around their picture was made with Mt. Dew cans- and yes- they drank ALL THAT POP!

  Brent had such good guy friends in his class. Sometimes got into trouble, but so much fun to have around. Our house got real quiet this fall when they all went away to college. Doug says when you put more than 5 guys together, they're going to get in trouble.Clear thinking goes out the window!     

 Oh, yes, we DO have a daughter, too! Mo had a Monsanto internship this summer in Redwood Falls, MN. She had her own apartment for the first time. We worked hard on "the professional outfit" for her St Louis corporate presentation. Doug and I went for a tour of the soybean plant.

Doug and I are youth group sponsors, so lots of shoes are a frequent thing at our house. Last summer after service trip, we stopped at Bubba Gump's Restaurant at Mall of America. An anonymous couple heard us talking about the trip and paid our entire bill! We have 20 great kids in our group, and are planning to go with them to Youth Convention at Kansas City next summer.  

I taught 3rd grade for the last 6 weeks of school. Rotten time to sub, yes, but I got to try out some of my farm unit plans and brought baby animals to school on Friday as a reward for good behavior.

 

We are grateful for the many things that continue on... like the farm...

and my flowers and birthdays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Brenneman Christmas Newsletter 2013

In April, Brent got all dressed up and went to the banquet (IMS version of prom). He even let his friend bejewel his tie to match her dress!  

 Brent is a senior this year and is weighing colleges vs. farming. He keeps an active social calendar and it’s hard to find him ON the farm.

 

May 2013 saw Mo graduate from Hesston (KS) College with an Associates in Science degree.

  

 August 2013, we deposited Mo at Iowa State University to study agronomy. Now Doug and Diane will finally learn how to farm!










Diane worked 6 months as an interim director for a Wellman preschool. Staff was a challenge, but the kids were adorable (well mostly) and my knees got daily hugs hello and goodbye!

Doug and Diane kept busy tending pigs, cows and chickens.

Doug spied a tractor at Duwa's Auction just like the only one his Grandpa Stump ever owned. Doug had inherited his grandpa's tractor but it was later burned in a machine shed fire. I encouraged him to buy it, but he thought he didn't need it. So the kids and I arranged for our friend John Dale to buy it at the auction. Later, we had Doug's birthday lunch outside, and Brent came driving down the road on the tractor!

 The year of reunions for Diane. In July  in Philadelphia with college friends Tim Johnson, Joy Lapp, and Carol Martin Johnson.

And in Archbold for 35^th high school reunion in late September, complete with paper cutout of principal shaking our hands! Both were quite enjoyable..

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!