Bloom Where You're Planted Farm

I don't think there's anything that says "America" quite like a parade.  The community spirit, the families, the anticipation and excitement of the children...you just can't beat it!  Our small hometown of Weeping Water held its annual Limestone/Independence Day celebration this past Saturday, so we loaded up our antique high-wheel wagon and headed to town. 

We've had a major heat wave here which broke just in time for the celebration.  It was a little cloudy and breezy, but it felt great after the heat and humidity of the past week.  Terry and I rode in the wagon and tossed out candy while our brother-in-law, Greg, drove.  I didn't get any photos of our float this time, but here's a photo from our county fair parade last summer.  My dad is driving one of the antique John Deere tractors he restored.

 I had a unique perspective from my perch in the front of the wagon and was able to get some nice crowd pictures.   

Our next trip will be to Murdock, NE for their parade July 4th.  We wish you and your families a safe and happy Independence Day!

Well, we survived a very hot and humid field trip yesterday!  48 students from the Tara Heights Kids Club, part of the Papillion-LaVista school district, visited the farm for our first-ever summer field trip.  They were a nice bunch of kids, ranging from first through sixth grade, with a few high school-aged helpers along to supervise. 

The kids ate sack lunches in the shade of the big Hackberry tree in our yard.  After lunch, we split them into two groups.  One group stayed back and played, explored the farm buildings, and visited the horses.  This was Abbie's first exposure to a large group of kids.  She was safe behind her fence, but it freaked her out a little when twenty-some bright green clad youngsters all ran toward the pen at once.  After that, she took it all in stride.  She'll be an old pro by the end of our first fall weekend.

We took the other group on a farm tour, talking about the field corn on our way to the pumpkin patch.  We came back on the nature trail, where the kids got to see deer and racoon tracks and water striders on the creek.  As a born-and-raised farm girl, it continues to amaze me how horrified and/or fascinated kids can be by bugs...and poop.  One of the horses took a poop while the kids were watching, and you'd think the world was coming to an end!!

We gave the second group a tour, and after the kids filled up their water bottles and took a trip to the restroom, they were on their way.  It all seemed to go by too quickly -- there was much more about the farm which we would have liked to share.  But, it was in the lower 90s and extremely humid.  One little girl told me "Kids don't get hot"... however, teachers and teenaged helpers do. 

It was a lot of work to get ready for the visit, but we had a good time.  Hopefully the kids learned something from us and took a little knowledge of farm life back to the big city with them.

We had a productive weekend and are looking at a busy week ahead of us.  Things are really happening fast around the farm these days!

The health inspector stopped by Friday morning to look at the Schoolhouse Cafe kitchen and help us make sure we're heading in the right direction.  We learned of a few code requirements we didn't already know about, but overall there were no big surprises and it went well.  After a visit to three different home improvement stores in Lincoln on Saturday evening, we now have most of what we need to really get rollin' on the kitchen project now!

On Saturday morning we painted most of the barn loft floor a nice, bright shade of tan.  This really lightened up the place and will hopefully show less dust.  It is all finished except for the corner of the room where we stacked all the furniture.  We probably won't get up there to finish for a few days, as the temperatures are forecast to be in the high 90s with heat advisories issued by the National Weather Service.  A stuffy hay loft is nowhere to be in those conditions!  After lunch Saturday we got all the flowers planted/transplanted into our new butterfly garden.

Sunday we celebrated my aunt & uncle's 40th wedding anniversary in the early afternoon and had my family over in the evening for a Father's Day supper.  It was a fun day.

As for this week, we really need to tend to the weeds in the pumpkin patches, heat or no heat.  When that's done we'll spend some time getting ready for a field trip group that's coming on Thursday afternoon.  They're from Papillion-LaVista schools and we're planning on 45-50 elementary-aged students.  A summer field trip should be fun -- we'll focus on the growing pumpkins, field crops, and livestock.  Temperatures will still be hot and humid, but the really bad stuff from earlier in the week should move out just in time (we hope!)

I'm planning to post some photos soon of our farm-improvement projects, the field trip, and maybe even our first parade of the season, Limestone Day June 27 in Weeping Water.  Until then, stay cool!!!

We are always looking for new ideas and inspirations about how we can improve this business.  This past weekend we took a road-trip to Osceola, Iowa, to the Harvest Barn Marketplace.  I'm not sure how I first heard about them, but they do have a listing on this site:  http://www.localharvest.org/farms/M19115.  I've been receiving Amy's emails for awhile and finally saw an opportunity to visit on Saturday.

It took about three hours to get there.  I love driving through the rolling hills of western Iowa, and Rocket enjoyed riding along with Terry and I.  

The store is located inside this neat, renovated barn.  They specialize in homemade fudge (it was YUMMY!), hand-poured candles, meats raised on their family farm, and ice cream from a nearby creamery (it was YUMMY too--this was not a low-calorie trip!) 

We enjoyed our visit and left with a full shopping bag.  On the way home we talked some ideas that inspired us and goals for our own store.  We decided we needed to brighten up a few areas with more lighting and fresh paint.  We'd also like to make some of our own product.  Our new concession kitchen will allow us to try some new food items -- I'm thinking homemade pumpkin pie, gourmet dipped pretzels, and apple & pumpkin crisp mix made from my Grandma Brandt's recipe.

We continue to learn, grow, and be inspired, and look forward to sharing the results with our customers soon.  Sounds like a lot of work -- I'd better get busy!

We have babies!  Hundreds, probably thousands, of baby pumpkin plants! 

It's been eight days since we finished planting.  When I went out to the fields Friday I saw several seedlings emerging (see above), and by Sunday afternoon nearly all of our hills and rows had sprouted.  The weather last week was warm, and the 2+ inches of rain we received over the weekend made them very happy.  We got a really good germination rate, and it is always nice to start the growing season on a good note.

Squash bugs and cucumber beetles love the little seedlings, so diligent bug control will be our next task.  No matter how many plants we have, it is always heartbreaking to lose one to bugs! 

When you have horses or other livestock and you don't want to feed them hay and grain all summer long, you're always putting up or taking down electric fence.  This was the case with us last night. 

The horses had polished off most of the grass in their latest pasture and needed to be moved.  We're in the process of fencing off a big meadow on my parents' property, but in the meantime there is some lush grass in the windbreak that we wanted to take advantage of.  So, we quickly put up some electric fence so they could spend a couple days "mowing" that area for us.

With most of our fencing projects, you work with the old...

and the new.

 The end result is always happy horses! 

We started our planting last Thursday (5/28) and finished up on Sunday evening.  This is record time for us -- maybe after six years we're finally getting the hang of it! (KNOCK ON WOOD...I wouldn't want to jinx it for next year!)

We planted four "patches".  One of the two big patches south of the house has all of our specialty colored pumpkin varieties, along with all the gourds and squash.  That should be a fun one to watch.  We planted a new pumpkin variety called "Knucklehead", one new large/bottle-type gourd variety, and three new, very decorative kinds of squash.

We're excited about offering hay rides for the first time this year!  The second large patch to the south will be where we stop to let hayrack riders choose their pumpkins.  It has the small pie pumpkins, the giant Big Max pumpkins, and two Jack-O-Lantern-sized varieties.  I don't know if anyone will choose the giant pumpkins from the field (they weigh 50-150 lbs!) but it should make for some great photo opportunities.

Two more Jack-O-Lantern varieties went into the north patch by the Chicken House.  The small patch by the schoolhouse will again be a U-Pick patch and has pie pumpkins, Turk's Turban squash, and some funky-looking Blue Hubbard squash.

The seedlings should start coming up this week, and then the bug and weed control begins.  It's a labor of love for sure.  We'll grow some good ones for you!

Terry planting in the north patch.  He finished up just before a surprise hail storm hit!

 Rocket gets excited about planting time, too!

It is hard to believe that it was a year ago already that our filly, Dash, was born.  She came into the world on Memorial Day evening, May 26th, 2008. 

Most of our animals are adopted and we don't know their actual birth dates.  So, I got a little carried away and stopped at the store to pick up some party hats to celebrate.  I knew it would make for fun photos, and let's face it -- I'm a dork.

Nearly everyone on the farm (Rocket, the cats, the cows, and two out of four horses) took their turn to be humiliated.  Here are a couple of the highlights:

Sully

Molly

 Dash and her mother, apparently the two smartest of the bunch, wouldn't let the hat anywhere near their heads.

God bless my patient animals and husband for humoring me! 

Our farm website, www.bloompumpkinpatch.com, has been updated with all of the dates and new attractions for our 2009 season.  You can click on the home page to join our E-newsletter list, and there is even a link for quick access to this blog.  There is a new page for the Schoolhouse Cafe, and information about the hay rides we'll begin offering for the first time this season.

Information about our pumpkin patch parties will be updated soon.  In the meantime, you can email me at any time (via this site or by using the link on the website) and I'll send you the updated information.  We offer private evening campfire parties and daytime parties in our "new" party loft in the barn.   We can handle any size group, whether it is just your family or the whole company.

******************

Switching gears, I wanted to share a few photos from our recent vacation.  We spent three nights in Taos, NM, and I've never seen so many lilacs.  They were so pretty against the adobe buildings.

On our way from New Mexico to Estes Park, CO we visited Great Sand Dunes National Park.  If you've never been there, I highly recommend making the trip.  This is one of the coolest national parks I've been to.  It was absolutely amazing to see these desert-like dunes with snow-capped mountains in the background.  Our dog, Rocket, had a blast in the sand and the water.

We saw a lot of wildlife on the trip, including lots of elk around Estes Park, who must have been on their way from winter to summer quarters.  This guy walked into the yard of a convenience store across the street from where we were sitting.  Obviously, he wasn't phased by humans!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and safe travels!

I'm so sorry I haven't written a new post in so long.  Terry, Rocket and I just got back from a great trip to our favorite place, the Rocky Mountains.  We stayed in Amarillo, TX; Taos, NM; and Estes Park, CO.  It was a great trip, and I'll try to write more about it soon.

For now I wanted to share with you this photo of Sully and Dash.  Like father, like daughter!

 Dash is getting so big that it is hard to tell she and her dad apart when they're a distance away and we can't see her white forehead spot.

We got the horses' new fence done before we left, and this weekend Terry got the pumpkin patches all tilled up.  We're refreshed and revitalized and ready to tackle our to-do list.  It will be pumpkin plantin' time in about three weeks!

The horses are really shedding their winter coats now.  Our nearly one-year-old Dash has some of the softest, fluffiest fur I've ever felt on her neck.  And look, she's becoming such a young lady, with a long mane and everything!

 I'm usually happy when the shedding is done and everyone is looking glossy and shiny.  This year, I think I may be a little sad...

What a difference a year makes!  One year ago today, the 120-year-old Center Hill-District 94/105 schoolhouse made the move to our farm from the Cass County fairgrounds. 

We started out at around 9 a.m. when the schoolhouse, on the back of a semi,  first pulled out onto a narrow two-lane highway.  Several trucks from the house moving company and our local power company, OPPD, made the journey with us.  The move itself took around two hours, with another couple of hours spent shimmying the building into place and setting it onto wood block towers where it would await its new foundation. 

Terry and I experienced every emotion possible that day.  We were excited and relieved that moving day was finally here after months of planning.  We were worried, stressed, scared...  Would the windows break? How much work would the power company have to do (and how much would that cost us?) How long would it take?  Would the road be too narrow?  Would the bridges along the country roads be wide enough?...  The questions were endless.  When the moving crews finally pulled out of our driveway we were happy, relieved (again) and tired!

A full summer of work followed the move.  There was a foundation to build, and then the movers had to come back and slide the building onto the foundation.  There were many exterior renovations, including removing the white vinyl siding to reveal the original wood underneath.  That wood needed to be repaired and repainted, as did all the trim.  We replaced the roof, added new doors, replaced the original transom window, had a septic tank installed, built steps and a ramp, and landscaped around the building.  Inside we added a handicap-accessible restroom, repaired holes in the wall, painted, refurbished the original light fixtures, and hired a plumber and electrician. 

It was around 11:00 p.m. the night before opening day when we finally finished everything up!  This spring and summer we plan to renovate the original coat room into a concession kitchen, add ceiling fans and exterior lighting, and would like to build a bell tower if there is time.  

Here are some photos of the move and the schoolhouse before and after renovations: 

 At the fairgrounds

 We just hit the road and are already holding up traffic!

All done!

We had a happy Easter here at the farm and hope you all did, too.  Terry and I hosted sixteen members of the family (my side) for Easter dinner, the first time we've had a big indoor gathering like that since moving here over six years ago.  It was cozy, but we all fit.  I made rolls from scratch, another first for me.  They were a success and I kind of enjoyed it.  I like baking when there are other people to help consume the calories!

We have three little girls on that side of the family.  My cousin Kris has two daughters, Tenley and Whitley, and we have one niece, Grace, who recently turned two. 

The girls' dads hid eggs after dinner, and we all headed outside to watch the fun unfold. 

Tenley spots an egg but can't quite figure out how to get it...

 Dad to the rescue!

The Three Musketeers after a successful hunt 

Abbie and Sachi wanted in on the Easter action

We were a little worried about rain in the forecast, but the few sprinkles we had held off until evening.  All in all it was a fun but tiring day.  Hope you all had a special day filled with family and friends!

We often see two or three deer crossing our driveway as they head from one field to another.  Usually it is just before the last light is gone from the west and all we can see are their silhouettes as they go by.  Saturday evening they came earlier when there was still enough light to observe them better, and I sat and watched them for around 20 minutes.  At first we counted six in and around the yard.  One doe was braver than the rest and came within 25 feet of the house.  She got scared by our cat on the porch and ran away.  The others stuck closer to the tree line and we could see two lying down, one of which was looked smaller and younger than the rest.

Eventually they moved on, and as we watched them head south we saw that there weren't six, but eleven in all.  What a great way to end the day!

Terry and I went to a really neat event this past Saturday.  "Blue Jeans & Dreams" was a benefit for the Heartland Equine Theraputic Riding Academy (HETRA) and was held at Five Star Stables near Bennington, NE.  Here's a little bit about HETRA, taken from their website: 

   "Heartland Equine Therapeutic Riding Academy was started in 1989 by Steve and Janet Henthorn of Omaha, Nebraska. The program started with one student, one horse and three volunteers. We have grown significantly over the last 16 years, we now have 13 wonderful therapy horses, 13 NARHA certified instructors, and over 90 students. We also offer services in Therapeutic Riding, Hippotherapy and Therapeutic Carriage Driving. HETRA is a non-profit 501c3 organization, and was the first NARHA Premier Accredited Therapeutic Riding center in Nebraska!

HETRA serves a variety of clients including Children and adults with disabilities such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, brain tumors, head injuries, blindness, autism, and strokes. Last year HETRA served 90 riders (both children and adults) per week and our goal is to continue to expand the program this year. Also, in 2008 we completed 2841 individual student sessions and volunteers donated 12,576 hours.

Our students benefit from therapeutic riding in a variety of ways. The rhythmic motion of the horse at the walk helps to relax tight spastic muscles. Sitting on the horse encourages students to hold themselves up which strengthens neck and trunk muscles. Riding also stretches hip and thigh muscles, and improves balance. Interaction with the instructor helps students follow directions, extend their attention span and work on concepts such as right and left. Interaction with the horse allows the students to develop a bond with the animal that improves self-esteem and builds confidence. Each student rides for approximately 30 minutes one time per week, and most students are assisted by a leader and two sidewalkers throughout their session. Two of our instructors are Occupational Therapists who monitor the students progress throughout their participation in the program."

The benefit was a lot of fun.  Dinner was catered by Skeeter Barnes Barbeque.  Following dinner we watched a demonstration by Mark Lyon and his mustang Christian, winners of the 2008 Extreme Mustang Makeover.  Christian is an amazing horse who just a year ago was untouched by humans.  Mark, who is from Elkhorn, NE, had just 90 days over the summer to train Christian, and they ended up winning the whole competition.  To learn more about the competition and Mark's win visit www.extrememustangmakeover.com.

One of the tricks that helped win the Extreme Mustang Makeover competition

Later, some of the HETRA riding students demonstrated some of the therapy they do from horseback.  This is Kelly riding Skippy who was chosen by the students as "Horse of the Year." 

  After the demonstrations there was a live auction, silent auction, and dance.  We were told that 665 people had registered for the event--the place was packed!  To learn more about HETRA, please visit their website www.hetra.org.