Christmases Past

Some of my favorite childhood memories are visiting my dads family. We were the part of the family who lived away from the rest. About two hours away. 

My memories of Christmas at my Grandma Angles are filled to the brim with family. Cousins, lots of cousins. My first cousins and my dads. 

I remember ribbon candy. Receiving special dated ornaments. Lots of games played at the kitchen table. 

Did we exchange gifts? Of course. But the love of family is what I remember the most. I am the only granddaughter out of nine grandkids on that side of the family. So that being said, the games were SPORTS. I had to be able to hit a baseball and hold my own with the boys. 

I remember the ride to Grandmas. Counting certain colored cars on the interstate. There was the year that the roads were very bad and it took twice as long as usual. 

The meal at Aunt Olivia's. Aunt Ethel's bubble lights. Aunt Ginny forget how many cards she bought in the game and after counting realizing she bought too many. Uncle Hank loudly rooting for his team in the game. Dad meeting us in his semi at the edge of town and then dropping him off so he would drive his next load to who knows where. Visiting tons of great aunts and uncles. Them visiting my grandparents when we were there. 

Ornament at the bottom was first my Grandmas, then my aunts, now mine. May it become part of my own kids Christmas memories. 

Enjoying the fact that my Christmas tree is my seasonal trip down memory lane,

From Tulip~

KH

😊

Advent Season is upon us.

Social media creates trends in posting and sharing our thoughts and feelings about everything from political issues that are far reaching to the smallest social issue so personal that without the prompting most of us would never address. 

For several years it was the IN thing to do Thankfulness posts for the entire month of November. I played along. After a year or two I felt like I was repeating myself year after year. Now with Timehop on my Smartphone it became abundantly obvious that was certainly the case. As I met other bloggers, I tried to take it a step further. I added a Thankful Thursday post to my blog. Last year, I really went nuts and attempted to blog for 30 days about something I was thankful for. As if that was easier than a sentimental Facebook status update. 

This year I decided I wasn't going to participate. Not that I am not Thankful for the many blessings in my life, but I wanted to remind myself and others, thankfulness isn't a season, it's a lifestyle. 

With all of that being said, I am going to attempt to try my own version of being Thankful, sharing a little about myself and what's special to me. At the bottom of this post is an ornament. There's a picture of my family. This represents many of the things I am most thankful for. 

-A hard working husband. 

-4 happy healthy kids. 

-A beautiful farm to raise them on. 

-An awesome childhood friend who took the picture. 

-A magazine article that allowed us to share our life with its readers. 

-A beautiful Christmas ornament that at a glance reminds me of love, friendship and blessed life on our farm. 

Advent started at church this past Sunday with the lighting of the first candle and this morning with the first door opened on Seths calendar. And lastly as a blogger my sharing of a quick story about us. Will I accomplish blogging everyday of Advent? Maybe? I pray that this personal challenge accomplishes my goal of slowing down in the hectic holiday season, taking time to be thankful and savoring the moments. 

May your entire Advent and Christmas Holiday be Merry and Blessed,

Hope to see you back tomorrow,

From Tulip~

KH

😊

Calving Season or Off Season

For many cattle breeders, fall is their chosen time for calving. At H&K, our herd is primarily late winter/early spring calvers. Reading social media yesterday, a fellow blogger, Laurie Link, of Country LINKed asked her readers to weigh in their guess as to whether the latest arrival was a bull or heifer calf.

This instantly took me back a few years to when our little cattle whisperer was maybe 6 or 7. She helped her daddy check cows, especially when we are calving. Honestly she'd be happy to go to school later in the day and help him everyday, but alas, she's hindered by law to only helping on weekends and off school times. 

It was one of those times, on a cold brisk morning as my Farmer and the whisperer were headed to check cows at a neighboring farm where we take care of a herd of Saler/Red Angus cross herd owned by a veterinarian who lives about 60 miles away. 

As they drove, of course the conversation was one of bovine in nature, as most conversations are with our sweet JH. Out of the blue, she asked the Farmer,"Do you know how to tell the difference between a bull and heifer calf?"

Assuming he knew the answer and interested in her take on this subject, my Farmer asks,"How?" To which, Miss Sass, the Great JH, rolls her eyes, lets out a disgusted sigh at what she must deal with and commences to schooling her daddy. 

So it seems, according to our local cattle whisperer, who at the time might have weighed 75 pounds and likely stood no more than 4 foot tall; that her father had no idea the proper procedure. While my poor simple Farmer was basing assessments purely on checking for the presence (or of course absence) of notably "hangy downy" parts (my ha ha spin and politically correctness); our sweet JH instructed him to simply look into the animals eyes.

Actually eyelashes to be specific.

Based on her intensive research during her many years as a cattlewoman, the most discerning of ranch folk could deduce from simple observation of the eyelashes of a newborn calf. And if one were to follow this philosophy the result would be quite simple. Long eyelashes, heifer calf obviously, and well those short eyelashes, were those of a bull, for sure. 

While my Farmer concentrated on keeping a straight face and not driving off the road while laughing hysterically (which he was thankfully able to hold inside), my first response to this report was much less muted, and I quickly retorted, 'has she ever looked at her own brothers eyelashes, apparently this scientific data she's collected doesn't carry over to other species.' (I think somedays, or MOST days, my Farmer is glad there are ONLY two of us GIRLS in the house) 

Since then she's decided that while her method mostly works for her, that there MIGHT be a few other more sure fire obvious ones. But she still likes to check the cows and calves with her daddy, calving season or not. 

Not calving season for us, but there is ALWAYS something to keep us busy,
From Tulip~
KH
:) 

Clutter

http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying-up/

Here's another clutter busting article I recently read. There's something reassuring knowing EVERYONE has clutter. Knowing it's okay. Within reason. I have been taking steps daily to reduce ours. 

Some things that seem to be working:

~reading mail at trash can

~only buying what we are 100% out of at the store. I am in town daily anyway. Great excuse to indulge in one of my guilty pleasures and that's visiting with people I know in the grocery aisle. 

~set the table(s). Our kitchen and dining room tables have been catch alls. I have the kitchen one sat for next meal and dining room seasonally decorated, so far that is keeping the majority of things from landing there. 

~being a "FlyLady" follower, I try to shine my sink at night. For me that's not actually the sink, it's a 30 second pick up in the living room, kitchen and bathrooms but those things help make mornings a little brighter. 

If you've read the book, let me know your thoughts,

From Tulip~

KH

:)

Takin' Care of Business

That is one of my favorite songs ever..........takin' care of business. I have decided to add a new feature to my blog and it will become a tab that you can click on and get direct links to ways I am takin' care of business around our home and farm.
I will never ever win any clean house awards, but its certainly not because of lack of effort. And while some areas need work, some are a work in progress, others are a work of art. So thanks to social media and elbow grease, I plan to share with others both the successes and failures. We are all human, and will never be perfect, but maybe if we work together, we can find some peace and happiness in our homes that are free of clutter and chaos.

The first link I would like to share is this:  List of things to Dispose of this was a link and article shared on Facebook by Real Simple, a favorite magazine of mine. If you strictly want to print 'the list' pages 3 and 4 are all you need. No sense in making EXTRA clutter!

Have a great day and please check back often to see us 'Takin Care of Business' and look for the tab to appear in the coming weeks as I gather more posts.

From Tulip~
KH

Change

Over the last several months there have been many changes around our place. I went from working a lot, to barely working. Two part time jobs that are neither one consistent have both ceased to need me. One because of its seasonal nature and in theory it should pick up next month again. Thought I had the opportunity to change that last month when a full time position became available, but alas it wasn't meant to be either.

Recently learned of a longtime business who is considering shutting its doors. One that I have a great interest in. Have made plans this week to meet with owner and discuss the possibilities. Don't know if we can handle being multiple business owners, but maybe this is the answer to WHY the other things haven't panned out. 

This isn't my first venture in the business world. The first one was with a partner and didn't work out so well. Thinking it may have happened to prepare me for this. Sometimes it takes a long time to find the lesson in things. If that was the WHY on that experience, guess I will take that. 

Don't normally ask for prayers in this blog as its normally my place to be thankful for prayers answered and blessings to be counted, but the enthusiasm of potential has made me think maybe prayers and support of my friends and followers could be needed. So if you feel so moved, please add us to your prayers. We are praying for peace and understanding throughout this process.
From Tulip,
KH 

Every Day is a Gift

This morning my littlest and I got up well before daylight, dressed and drove to town. We stopped at the 'wrestling room' and he stepped on the scales. 2 pounds over. Calls were made and we headed home.
Some readers know what that means, but for those who don't here's the rest of the story. My boys are wrestlers. Oldest wrestled throughout his club/little league years and our middle son  has wrestled since he was in 1st grade and continues to as a Sophomore in HS. He's 35-4 for the year, is creeping up on some school records.
The littlest one is trying it out. I let some bad advice influence my better judgement and signed him up for a weight class lighter than what he's been weighing in after practice---my bad. He only gets the chance to wrestle on the weekends that the HS boys have off, so to not be able to go today, really stunk. But here comes the beginning of where the 'gift' is in this post. I was probably more upset than he was. He didn't realize that I had signed him up in the 'wrong class' then failed on my 'sworn-in wrestling momma oath' and didn't monitor his weight. His answer was, okay, so I wrestle in the heavier class next time. Then that smile that melts my heart broke out across his face.
We came home, scrambled eggs and went on about our day. I am appreciating the gift of an unplanned day off. Playing catch up around the house. The kids got a cooked breakfast, something that RARELY happens at breakfast time.
And while I am missing our wrestling family today as they sit those long hours on the bleachers, I am reminded something that has been the underlying theme since the moment I knew Seth was on the way into this ol' world. I thanked God for unanswered prayers then and again today. After four kids, I like to hope that I have learned to savor the moment more and quit being so busy looking forward that I forget to look around and enjoy the here and now.
Seth is my walking, talking, SMILING example of that everyday.
We will likely only do things like house cleaning and errands today. but we won't have to rush and we can do them together. He still likes to hang out with his momma.
Sitting at my desk enjoying the sunshine (from inside in the warmth) and savoring THIS MOMENT,
From Tulip~
KH
:)

W4DW----Easy Apple Coffee Cake

I love experimenting when I get the chance in the kitchen. And when those experiments go well, I obviously have to share. For several years, I was a stay at home mom and I had a lot of time to bake, sew, do whatever I wanted honestly. Looking back, I am not sure that I appreciated just all the time I did have. I  have entered the working world a couple of years ago and I will admit all day long every day how much I miss being at home. It's not because I don't love working, I do. I am a social person, being around others makes me smile. But I really miss have the time to spoil my family like I  used to. Baking has always been one of those ways that I spoiled them.
My Farmer's birthday was this week. He has a sweet tooth, but recently had a check-up that ended the way a lot of them do at our age, with the words...........you could really stand to lose a little weight. Sigh. No German Chocolate Cake this year. (note: make sure that appointment happens AFTER his birthday next year)
Well, doctors orders or not, I couldn't NOT bake him something. So a few weeks ago on Pinterest I noticed a recipe that I thought would be a hit at this house. So I pinned it, of course. I am such a visual person, I am not always good at checking back at the instructions, especially when I think I know what would work. So while in the grocery store, I made a point of buying the 'canned' cinnamon rolls. Just so happens this particular can had caramel icing, bingo, great compliment to my apple plan..........
Before baking I did head over to Pinterest to check out the instructions. I was surprised to learn that the original recipe was for home made dough............well, recipes are just a suggestion, right? I grabbed a couple of apples, the can of rolls and the experiment began.
I am the proud owner of a Pampered Chef 'Deep Dish Baker' I am not sure if they even still make those anymore, but boy do I love mine! I sprayed it generously. I peeled and sliced two apples. Popped the can open and began. I unrolled the first roll almost all the way, and slid an apple slice in between the cinnamon roll layers. I kept doing this and adding more strips of cinnamon roll dough until I had filled the pan, used the apples...........
I set the oven, per the instructions and planned to bake like I would regular rolls. I checked at the end of that interval and the dough wasn't quite as golden as I felt like it needed to be. Thinking that I ended up baking this about 15 minutes, but that could be my oven. Please watch yours closely. When it came out, I drizzled the caramel icing across the top. MMMMMMMMMMMMMM
What a quick, easy and inexpensive surprise for your family!
Smelled so good as it cooled and hoped I'd be able to wait for the Birthday boy to come inside so we can test taste it,
From Tulip~
KH

The Farmer

Today is my Farmer's birthday. How will we celebrate? Well so far............we were up till after midnight last night, so I got the honor of being the first person to wish him a Happy Birthday. This morning slick roads meant the kids didn't go to school until 10AM, late-start, as the district calls it. So he got to leisurely eat his bowl of cereal and browse craigslist. Then, when he went outside, he unfroze the car doors, and scraped most of the ice off the windows. Popping his head back in the door to remind them that they would still need to start the car early to finish the thawing process. Then it was off to feed the cows.
His birthday is like most days, he's working. He's taking care of us. He regularly carries a heavy weight on  his shoulders-------us, this farm, the future. He takes it all in stride. It awes me and amazes me. How did I get so lucky?
Next year is a 'big' year, birthday-wise for him. While I would be shouting it from the rooftops and throwing my own party, that's not his style. It will be another day to him. He will continue to take care of us, amaze us and if he's lucky..........eat his cereal and browse craigslist in the peace and quiet.
Since he doesn't like me making a big deal about him on this blog, I better stop with this,
Wishing my Sweet Farmer a Happy 49th Birthday,
From Tulip~
KH

Christmas in the Country

Through social media I have met many fellow bloggers. Most are like me, rural women. Some are very involved in the farm, some not so much. We are all alike in one way, we share a love of agriculture. We are passionate about our way of life. We agvocate daily to others in order to keep living this life. With that one driving force among us, we have a close knit community that stretches from Maine to California, South Dakota to Texas and ALL POINTS in between.
All year long we share each others stories. At Christmas time, we share with each other. We hold a gift exchange, 'Christmas in the Country' It's hosted by three or so of our group. We promote it on our blogs and through social media. Each participant is asked to share a gift with a few basic criteria in mind. It should represent items of your local area, things you love and things that you think the recipient would enjoy based on what you learned about her on her blog.
This year, I got Danielle, of High Heels and Shotgun Shells. The following is the letter I wrote her:
 Dear Danielle,

Hello, I am Kathy Hasekamp, of ‘Hasekamps of Tulip’ blog and H&K Farms facebook page. I am your Christmas in the Country secret Santa. I stalked your blog and facebook page. I will say it took me back in time a little, in many ways, some unexpected, which was kind of fun.

In my blogstalking, I felt like I learned several things about you, some that I found fun were. It looks like you are left handed, in a picture you were doing something with your left hand. If I wasn’t also left handed, I probably wouldn’t have noticed that.

Your mobile home, is almost the same exact floor plan as the one that my Farmer and I lived in when we were first married. I noticed funny things like the goofy light switch covers that aren’t like the ones you buy in the store, the trim on the walls over each piece of paneling, etc…… Your stories of remodelling it sound so much like some of the projects we took on. At the time ours was practically new, but young brides like to make their mark on things. :) 25 years into marriage, we have moved to another home now. But there were many memories in that mobile home. And I am sure you will make many in yours as well.

I love that we have the same last name initial, H. As I was looking for things for you, grabbing a letter H just seemed like something you would like. After seeing some pictures of you and your husband, I think with a sign that had your last name on it, I really wanted to think up a project using your last name. That never panned out, so I bought you a little black metal H that I thought might work into your decor somewhere.

As for your other gifts, they all come with a reason/story. First off after reading your blog post about canning, I felt like I needed to share something that I had canned. I read that you miss the ‘west’ so hoping that the jar of hot peppers will offer a little reminder. My pepper plants were ABUNDANT this summer and I canned salsa, pickled peppers and dehydrated them, plus giving away tons all summer long.

You mentioned that you have chickens and cattle. When I saw that cool ‘chicken wire’ ribbon, I just knew that was another item to add to your box of goodies. Then I know that every farm wife needs a cute and colorful tea towel to line her basket to go to a potluck dinner, so hence the two ‘cow’ towels. I made (did the machine applique) those. They were a project that I had on my blog back in the spring and seemed to be a popular one.

We were also instructed to add items from our local area. I added ‘Sticky Pig’ BBQ sauce and Mustard. That is canned right here in my town and is popular around here.  Hope that you enjoy it. I also added a small bag of peanut brittle. We have an Amish community about 2 miles from our farm and they make some wonderful candy this time of year. So I thought that I would share a little.

I also thought that I would share a product that I love. I sent Mary Kay Hand scrub. I know being a farm wife and mom, I sure don’t pamper myself much. That stuff is my one ‘guilty pleasure’ and in this season of giving, I thought I would share a bottle.

I hope that the items give you some things to enjoy, a little sense of who I am and add a little smile to your day. Really enjoyed participating in the Christmas in the Country gift exchange and look forward to seeing everyone’s posts.

Merriest of Christmases from Mid-Missouri,

From Tulip~

KH

While I was busy blog stalking Danielle, in another part of the country, I was being blogstalked as well. Sure makes you think, am I really portraying who I am............well here are the items I received from, Sarah at Hewitt Farms in Minnesota:

Totally spot on, I love things with 'H's' or our name on it. I am a scarf wearer, and totally switch out everyday for Christmas in my kitchen. She told me stories about her gifts and how they tied into her own story. I just loved it.

Feeling extra blessed and loved in the Christmas season,
From Tulip~
KH
:)