Is it really Spring?

So we have been waiting for spring.  Suddenly, I am in a panic.  Spring means we have lots to get done in short order!  There is a tractor to be prepared with the new GPS system, there is fence to build, more clean-up to do, and don't forget the garden! 

Spring is always one of those hurry up and wait kind of seasons.  Actually, it's more like wait and then hurry up.  But it is so nice to walk out the door without a 10 minute bundle session.

Gas Prices

I am no politician, but I have been doing some thinking.  I don't really like paying so much for my fuel, and don't forget, my living is dependant on a lot of tractor hours.  I also would like nice clothes that don't cost much.  I would love my income to be high and my expenses to be nearly non existent!!!  But life just doesn't seem to work that way.

Should we use ethanol?  I know that when farmers make money on a crop, the next year they flood the market with it.  Look at how many farmers are installing irigation systems after last years high prices. I sure don't think we will starve because of it.  Plus, we only used half the fertilizer last year (to save costs) because crop prices have been so low, we won't this year.

Should we drill?  I don't, but I don't plan on going Amish right away, and I don't love getting it from people who hate my country.

Glenn turns 12

Glenn had his 12th birthday on Fat Tuesday.  Our meals included

 homemade Paczki, pizza, and birthday

 cake with ice cream.  Nothing like the diet of a 12 year old.

Yes he did find this cake pan!  I guess it didn't go too bad.  I was afraid it would stick in all the cracks and crevices in that pan, but no problem with that.  And frosting it wasn't all that bad either, not that it turned out perfect, I'm not a cake decorator, no fancy tools here.

We kept it small this year, but he did have a couple buddies over to enjoy his new Star Wars stuff with.  They ended the evening by watching a Star Wars movie.

Ethinol

I realize that corn prices are up.
Have you seen the price of fuel?

  My question is this, would you rather pay a lot for foreign oil, or more for local, renewable corn?  Keep in mind 2 things.  This country spends 10% of their income on food, while other civilized countries pay as much as 60%. Plus we export 20% of the crops we grow.  If crops can cover the cost of planting, American farmers will grow more.  We are not going to spend money putting fertilizer on a field for non-profit corn(nor would you).

You may not know that even though the cost of food is being blamed on ethanol or farm prices, the guy in the middle is currently bragging about the profits they are making.  Ask how much Dean is paying their CEO for profit margins.   Do you understand that their profit margin is equated by what we are paid, what it cost to get it to you, and what you pay.  Sorry you are also being squeezed by processors, but it isn't our fault, or under our control.  You might want to fire off some letters to your senator or  Monsanto, Dow, etc.

I don't claim to be a real political know it all, but I do know that we have American oil and American food.  I'd rather pay more for American than import from people who proclaim to hate us. 

Quite the "Watch Dog"

I just wanted to share something funny.  In our house there is plenty to share, but this was cute.  Sadie has her own dog, Sarah the sheep dog.  Being Sadie's dog is not always an easy task, so the rest of us are very grateful to Sarah.

Sarah is always getting dressed up and it doesn't really matter if the clothes are too big or too small.   She is also force to listen to the song B-I-N-G-O at full volume in Sadie's room over and over and  over and over and over and over.  Sadie has the CD player set on repeat and it can go on for hours.

Lucky for Sarah today she was just the watch dog.  The funny thing is, she had an appointment with the vet today and wore her watch to town.  As you can see, it was an exhausting day.