God's Favorite Color is Green

"God must really love green, I think it's his favorite color."

That was my response to the beautiful mountain views along the 

Blue Ridge Parkway back on a summer vacation with friends and family in 2007.

"No, it's not, Katie" my friend Leslie's dad replied with an annoyed voice,

 "it's called photosynthesis."

Forget the science, I think it's God's favorite color!!

And I am about to enjoy it more and more on an upcoming trip to Ireland 

with my sister and best friend, Carrie.

I feel like I have been surrounded by the color green my entire life.

Growing up in a big yard full of green grass that never stopped growing along with 

the tall stems of the sunflowers growing in a field down by the river.

My love for the color green started at a young age along with my sisters love for sunflowers.

 At a young age, we grew up in the middle of a green pasture surrounded by cattle.  

We traveled to town through green fields full of corn and soybeans.

And while we won't be wearing our bib overalls in Ireland, we will be prepared to put on our boots and move the sheep from the middle of the road.  It can't be that hard, right?

We hope to have lots of good sister time with many laughs and new memories to share as we grow old together. 

We decided it would be fun to take a sidekick on this sister trip, and who better than my crazy, Irish friend Carrie.

Carrie and I met on the Governor's campaign back when we were recent college graduates, broke and going to receptions every other night of the week including hog roasts from time to time.  

The campaign color was green.

We wore those green stickers everywhere.  A staple in our wardrobe at the time.

We went all out to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and our heritage.  

We might have gone too far at times for the color green.

We loved to wear green dresses.....

....and celebrate with friends long into the night.  

We plan to wear green on our trip and celebrate into the night too.

And Carrie loves Notre Dame and green tailgates while I like to be the 

supportive friend with a green drink in my hand.

So while I am surrounded by fields of green wheat and sprouting green corn and soybeans 

at the moment, I am looking forward to my green views in Ireland.

I'm ready to slow down for a week and breath some new, fresh air while sporting my new, green rain jacket.

When I return, the wheat will have turned a little brown and time will speed up again for the summer.

And I'm hoping my sister will catch some Irish rain for good luck like she did on my wedding day.  

I'm hoping the good luck will bring the good and steady rain for our farmers this summer, to keep everything green.  

I'll be back after a week off from writing when we return from our trip full of adventures and beautiful views of God's favorite color, green.

Take a Minute to Slow Down

We have started a new month, a summer month, and it's time to be outside and enjoy the warm weather, friends and family.  However, sometimes we plan too many things in the summer and then it's gone.  And when fall comes, we always say, "where did the summer go?"

I write for a local newspaper called Farm Indiana and have featured several of my articles on the blog.  See below for my most recent article that has been a good reminder for myself and for my neighbors, so they tell me when they remind me to slow down!

Remember, slow down for a bit and stop to be still to enjoy the moment before it's gone.

Take a Minute to Slow Down

It’s finally spring, and our farmers are finally in the fields, people are working in their gardens and kids are playing outside.  Finally!  We say “finally” these days like it’s a good thing, like we are trying to speed up time and our lives.  But is it always a good thing?

As I was rushing home recently, I got stuck behind a truck actually driving the speed limit.  I was mad and wanted to go faster after a long week of travel and meetings.  But then I decided to take a deep breath and enjoy my “leisurely drive” through the country on my way home.  I rolled down the windows, looked to my right and then to my left at the green fields of wheat and freshly plowed fields.  Then I looked up at the clouds that resembled lily pads sprinkled across a sea of blue. 

In that moment, I reminded myself to slow down.  I had to chuckle because I had just told myself the same thing a week before, “slow down and take a minute to embrace and give thanks for the blessings around you—the people, experiences and beauty on your right and to the left and up in the sky.”

That same night, I watched the movie Shawshank Redemption and while I was busy doing something else I heard this from the television, “I can't believe how fast things move on the outside.  The world went and got itself in a big hurry.”  Then I stopped, sat down and stopped doing that thing that seemed to make me feel so busy and rushed.

I think many would agree that we have gotten ourselves in a big hurry and are stuck in the hustle and bustle of each hour of each day.  And it’s day after day, finally here and finally there.

When my mom was a little girl, her family that lived in town would pile in their car and every time they drove through the country, she would turn to her two sisters and say, "I want to own a plowed field someday."  Eventually she did own a plowed field when she married my dad and became a part of a family farm.  When we were younger, we used to always give my dad a hard time for always looking out the window at his fields instead of the road as he drove us from the farm to town.  He was looking at his blessings while we watched him, not really knowing what he was doing.

When he passed, my mom told a group of young farmers that story from her childhood about her owning those plowed fields.  Those fields that were my dad’s blessings, now were my mom’s just like he was a blessing to her.  

So now when I actually think to slow down and look out the window to my right and left, I see those blessings that my farmer and I are surrounded by and then look up and give thanks. 

So what’s to your right and to your left that you need to take a moment to slow down and appreciate?  When you stop for a minute, you can actually slow down and look up above to give thanks too. Finally.

Adventures with One Year of Fancy in the Country

Remember, time flies, especially when you are living your life to the fullest.

Today, my Fancy in the Country blog turns 1...ONE!  

It really just feels like yesterday when I started this blog and told you, Why Fancy in the Country?

Just like I feel like this photo wasn't really taken that long ago either.

And what do you know, jellies are back in style!

It's been quite the year and I have tried my best to document my thoughts of this Fancy in the Country life I live on our family farm.  It has been challenging, to open up and tell you about so much in my life but it's also been really rewarding.  

One of my favorite posts was about the Farm to Table Movement.  

As I was picking radishes with grandpa last night in his garden on our family farm, I was again blessed that the ground beneath my feet can produce such beautiful and tasty food.  

We are so very blessed to live in a country where we can grow our own food and buy the food we want.  

I hope you appreciate this blessing and learn a little about agriculture and where your food comes from on this blog.

After grandpa and I worked in the garden, I hopped in the gator with him to explore the farm.  

We talked about the history of the farm and the all the houses everyone lives in.  

Then we passed this bench.  It's in the middle of the woods next to a tree facing north. 

I don't know the history of this bench but will be embarking on a new adventure to find out.

I have a feeling whoever sat on this bench together talked a lot about life and love.  

And I bet they were forever committed to each other just like my husband and I have been in our adventures together.

The blog has been about finding out new things about myself and the stuff I am made of.

I found this new view last night and have a favorite new tree.  

It's going to be a great place to have another harvest festival this fall while the farm is bustling with activity and I try to be still for a moment.

While my farmer husband and I have been on many adventures together over the past year, I have been on my own and he has supported me along the way.

Last year I was on a Pie Adventure and this year I am just on an adventure in the kitchen to make things I am too scared to try or make.  It's scary, baking especially, but I think this blueberry cobbler turned out just fine!

Much of what I do in my life and the adventures I have been on are because of my of mom and dad.  

Dad has been gone for five and a half years, remember,

 "he'll take you when he wants you."

It's been hard but as he would say "that's just part of it".

And then there is mom, the woman who taught me about fancy things and to walk in great shoes and have passion for every path you go on in life.

Also, today is mom's birthday.  

We are celebrating her and the one year birthday of the blog, passionately of course!

So thank you for reading and staying by my side during this adventure in this great life of 

Fancy in the Country!

The Many Shoes of a Farmer's Wife

They say that a farmer wears many hats.

But what they forget to tell you is about the farmer's wife and her many shoes.

As a farmer's wife, you have to learn how to walk and run in anything and everywhere.

You must be prepared at all times.

Well, at least somewhat.  

I had an extra pair of boots in my car for this one but was in a dress at the time.

Sometimes you have to do what you have to do in your many shoes.

As a farmer's wife, sometimes you get a call before you even get home to come and pick-up one guy in the field and take another to the farm.  And during those critical times, like planting and harvest, you have no time to change your shoes.

Heels in the fields, it happens.

Other times, you are prepared, especially on rainy days.

Other times as a farmer's wife, and hunter's wife, you notice some red stains on your once nice boots.  Then realize you have worn them around the city and to meetings all day.  But that's just part of this fancy in the country life.

As a farmer's wife, we do get off the farm and live our lives at times.  

Walking in heels around at events......

.....and enjoying a fall weekend out with the farmer and our families.

Farmers' wives become experts in the many shoes we have to wear and the sacrifices we have to make.  

We learn how to run in heels through gravel and muddy barnyards (well at least I do), and we realize that work boots and rain boots don't stay clean very long on the farm.

But it's worth it, knowing that we are supportive and stand strong no matter the type of shoe we wear.

Sometimes the farmer's wife has to step into the shoes of the farmer, 

just like my mom did when my dad passed away.

While the farmer may wear the hat, you can't really go anywhere without a great pair of shoes!

Thanks to all the farmers' wives and farmers' daughters for wearing many different shoes!

On a Path to Pinterest, Passion, Politics & Patience

It's been awhile, again, since I have blogged.

This post was supposed to go live a few days ago, but my husband asked me to go on a walk after dinner. 

When your significant other asks you to go on a walk, you go.

Even if it's through a field with a cow path full of cow pies.

You go so you can listen to your husband talk about the ground beneath your feet, and tell you about his favorite cattle and the genetics of his favorite calves.

Well, that's why I go on walks with my husband.  

I hope you have your own reasons for your walks and the path that takes you there.

So the walk along with a trip to DC with women leaders in my state delayed 

my post regarding our Mother's Day Celebration and my wonderful mom.

I have written about my mom a few times, but have I told about how she IS 

Pinterest, has passion, taught me about politics and has a ton of patience?

When we were younger, my mom did lots of creative stuff on her own, without Pinterest.

We had a HoBo Party once and even though they weren't fancy invitations (we were HoBos.....), you should have seen the creative spin she put on this party in the country.  

She even made my sister and I pick up sticks in the yard to make hobo sticks we gave away as party favors.

The woman taught me about presentation.  It's all about "Presentation, Presentation, Presentation" she says.  I think that's apparent with the various parties we have hosted over the years and mom is at the center of it all.

She also taught me about patience and that you must always have it.

It's so, so hard......especially with this crazy nephew and my husband telling him to push my buttons every time we are together.  They are cute though, weird, but cute.

Mom always said to pay attention to the details and have passion with what you do. 

So I always make sure to have a full bar at my parties.  I'm passionate about making sure everyone has a good time!

And that would include a dessert bar.  

This Mother's Day we had a float bar because mom loves Root Beer floats (and so did little boys, apparently).

It's nice to display your affection but we must always remember to have love when doing it too.

Just like my mom tried to make celebrations special for us as kids, I try to do the same with the nieces and nephews.  They got their own "Kids Only" section in the yard along with a chair for whoever was princess at that moment.

My  mom always allowed my sister and I to run free.  Even though it stressed her out with the amount of things we committed to, trips we took to strange places and crazy things we tried, she was always supportive of us running free to figure out what we wanted out of life.

On this Mother's Day as the kids were running free in the field, I was reminded that mom gave me the opportunity to run free and find my own path.

I ran free a lot and down a lot of paths with a lot of passion.

One even led me to love public service and politics so much that I am considering running for office someday.

Not sure what or when, but someday.

I thought a lot about it last week when I was in DC with wonderful, passionate, involved women graduating from a women's political leadership class.

I thought of my mom and said a little prayer thanking God for her.  

Then I laughed because at random moments one of my favorite memories of my mom pops into my head.  

We were young kids and she was a young working mom who wore red business suits.  

One night we got home and the calves were out in our yard, again.

She yelled, "Katie!  Sarah!  Get out of the car and go run through the yard and chase them back in!"

We did as we were told but the next thing I knew, she was chasing the cows with us....in her red suit!  She had kicked off her heels and joined us, running free in the yard chasing those calves back into the pasture.

So I wonder, will my passionate, political life take me down the path full of cow pies where I have to kick off my heels and chase cattle out of my yard while wearing a cute, green dress?  

Well, I hope so.

May God grant me the patience to be as great as my mother someday.

And thanks, mom, for giving me the passion to try.

Perfect, Dirty Floors & Springtime Mottos

It's springtime on the farm and it's perfect.

Well, except for the floors in our kitchen and laundry room because the farmer can't take his boots off to walk across the somewhat clean floor.  

When I come home and find chunks of dirt that have fallen from is filthy boots, I take a deep breath and realize that taking your boots on and off takes time.  

And farmers don't have a lot of spare time in the spring to take off their boots.  They are too busy worrying about the weather, running to the fields to plant a new crop, checking the pastures for new calves and more.

In their mind, spring is a perfect time to start doing what they 

love again--caring for animals and planting a new crop.

So I guess I can have a little patience and accept that my floors will be dirty for spring.

And it seems like we have several mottos on the farm during this time of year.

One of them may just be for me as a reminder to slow down and enjoy being outside surrounded by cows and farmers in the fields.  This towel hangs in my kitchen to remind me to chill out.

And it's in the kitchen because I spend a lot of time in there making sandwiches for the guys on our farm.  I get so prepped and organized before putting their lunch and dinners together that the farmer says I "compose meals" instead of make them.  

It's just one less thing for them to worry about and a perfect way for me to give back to the farm and farmers.

When you live on a farm, each day counts during the various seasons.  

And as a farmer's wife you have to stay positive and upbeat about each day. 

I found this mug during the move, showed it to the farmer and did a little cheer for planting! 

He then shook his head at me, gave me a kiss and walked away.  

At least he didn't say anything and make fun of me, right?

This year we expanded the cattle herd on our family farm and there have been great days and not so great days.

One cow delivered still born twins early this spring.

Another had twins several hours apart and she abandoned the second one.

And another cow died several weeks after giving birth.

But the good days are when the mom that lost the twins survived, and when other mamma cows tended to the abandoned and orphaned calves.

And the great days are when the calves are running around enjoying the open fields and spring weather, and sometimes really enjoying their photo op!

So on the farm, we try to keep calm because calving's on.  

In our house, there are lots of springtime mottos but most importantly it's patience and love.  We must have patience with each other to get through the spring, just like the fall.  And we continue to have love and passion for what we do--taking care of the cattle, digging and planting the new crop and making sure to care for each other along the way.  

Do you have a springtime motto?  

If you don't, appreciate your perfect, dirty floors and it will come to you.

I Needed a Minute...Do You?

It's been too long since I have blogged.
Two weeks to be exact.

But I needed a minute.
Do you ever just need a minute?

This winter and the month of March took it out of me, and it caught up with me the past two weeks.  With travel, the move, work, changes in friends' and family members' lives and a never ending to do list and involvement, I just needed to sit, be still and take a minute.

I needed a minute to call my grandma and discuss flowers.

I don't have a green thumb, she does, so she is my go to for all things flowers.
And sometimes you just need to call grandma.

I needed a minute to transfer these hens & chicks from the bungalow to our new house.  Grandma gave these to me when I graduated college and they have followed me to four different houses growing more and more with each move.

I needed a minute to come home, relax and actually read one of the 15 magazines stacked up on my coffee table.

I needed a minute to catch up on my handwritten notes that I love to send.

I needed a minute to really embrace what an honor it is to be a part of a leadership class for women that encourages them to run for political office.  And in that minute realize that I have always had two women in my life supporting me through everything I do.  Thanks to my mom and my sister who remind me to take a minute with them sometimes and embrace the moments we have together.

I needed a minute to realize that spending time with little boys can be really funny.  

Like when my husband left the house with a lawn mower and came home with a nephew, a dirty nephew.  

"Eli, why are you so dirty?" I asked.

He replied, "I don't know Aunt Katie, sometimes I play and get dirty." 

Well there you have it, that minute when you love him but hate his dirty feet in your clean kitchen.

While he enjoyed his watered down orange juice, I enjoyed my orange juice with champagne to celebrate that minute.  Then I sent him back outside....

As I took a few minutes the past couple of weeks, I noticed things I had forgotten.  And I discovered new things that I would have overlooked had I not just stopped to breath and take that minute, that moment.

This tree bloomed and then was gone a week later.  

I would have regretted not taking those minutes to stop and enjoy it. 

And by writing this and telling you, I hope I'm reminded to just take some time to slow down a bit every so often.  Those minutes always make me appreciate how blessed I am and discover new things to be thankful for.

So....do you need a minute?