I grew up near streams, ponds, lakes, and rivers. I learned about oceans in school, but I never really knew about the ocean.
Currently, I live on an island. This island is bordered all around by the Atlantic Ocean. If I want to get to the city of Boston, I must take a boat. If I want to buy food or other supplies, I also must take a boat. If you miss the boat, you don't get to leave the island until the next boat.
Its a funny thing, this being surrounded by the ocean.
Oh, and oceans have tides. High tide. Low tide. Before now, I never thought of tides, but they can be so crucial to know about depending on where you live or what kind of work you do. Here on the atlantic, tides come in and out about every six hours. However, the really crazy thing about tides is that they don't actually happen the same time everyday. Yesterday high tide was around 11:00 AM and low tide was approxiametly 5:45 PM. Today? High tide: 12:15 PM Low tide: 6:30 PM
The wonderful things one can learn! And about the ocean no less!
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Around New England
Before August 30th, I had never been to New England. This area of our country is filled with rich history, quaint towns, and beautiful scenery. Over the past month, I have been able to enjoy so much of Massachusetts, just one of the states that make up wonderful New England.
One weekend I was able to take a solo drive to new places in MA I hadn't visited yet. I stopped at Middlesex Fells, a reservation with loads of hiking trails and outdoor scenery. Middlesex Fells is only about five to eight miles north of Boston, but offers a great woodsy setting.
Along my solo drive, I meandered through many small towns such as Arlington, Lexington, and Concord. A major difference between Wisconsin and Massachusetts is the location of the towns. At home we have so much farm land and space. It always seems to take at least seven to ten minutes to get to a different town, passing fields, pastures, and tree covered hillsides. Here in the northeast, I drove continually from one town to the next without realizing I'd entered a new one! The whole state isn't completely covered in towns, however, they do all seem to be interconnected in some way.
I stopped at Concord, MA to visit the Minute Man National Park. Being one of the major sites of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War and along the Battle Road, Concord is a well known historical place. At the visitors center of the national park, I learned all about the happenings of 19. April, 1775 when British and American soldiers came head to head starting the fight for independence. Not only is Concord important because of war history, it is home to author, Louise May Alcott. I drove right past the home of the Alcott's as I made my way through town.
Wachusett Mountain State Park is another wonderful place I've visited. Just a little ways off of the major HWY 2, Wachusett Mountain is a peaceful refuge of trails and elevated views of the beauty around. I only took a small walk up the mountain, but enjoyed it just as much as a day long trek. There were streams along the trail, lots of trees, and a wonderful lake to view at from above.
Even if I didn't have a special destination, driving around the middle of Massachusetts is as good as stopping somewhere. The roads weave in and out of massive trees shadowing the way as well as continually going up and down large hills and valleys. I can't wait for the colors to change, it will be completely breathtaking all around the northeast.
Although driving around is great, I usually do have specific destinations and I ended up in the center of Mass in Amherst. Over the past few years, my little sister has kept in contact with friends, A and W, she met through a 4-H trip out here. I also know these friends of hers and they both go to school at UMass-Amherst.
Amherst is this crazy little town. It is really small. But its got people everywhere! Like so many towns out here, Amherst has a thriving downtown with many shops, cafes, restaurants, and local businesses. A and I got ice cream, so tasty! We also visited nearby Northhampton. This town is filled with interesting folks and was so neat to walk around and check everything out. They even had an Art's Night Out happening that we enjoyed! After chilling with A, I met up with W and we headed out to get a taste of the nightlife. Not much different than any other college town...chilling with friends, some dancing, late night pizza, and head back home!
The center of the state was super, but then I headed southwest to Granville, MA. This more rural area is home to no other than The Scoop. W's family is the owners of this super tasty ice cream shop. I got to enjoy the great ice cream, had some roasted pork, played with baby puppies, and chilled all afternoon. It was a great time in southwest MA with delicious grub and fun folks to chill with!
Returning to Boston, I was able to enjoy many more pretty views and sites along the road as I drove. In one town I saw a lady riding her horse down the sidewalk towards downtown. That was interesting for sure!
Massachusetts is such a small state but seems to be filled almost to breaking point with fantastic place to go, things to see, and people to learn about! I can't wait to see more!
One weekend I was able to take a solo drive to new places in MA I hadn't visited yet. I stopped at Middlesex Fells, a reservation with loads of hiking trails and outdoor scenery. Middlesex Fells is only about five to eight miles north of Boston, but offers a great woodsy setting.
Along my solo drive, I meandered through many small towns such as Arlington, Lexington, and Concord. A major difference between Wisconsin and Massachusetts is the location of the towns. At home we have so much farm land and space. It always seems to take at least seven to ten minutes to get to a different town, passing fields, pastures, and tree covered hillsides. Here in the northeast, I drove continually from one town to the next without realizing I'd entered a new one! The whole state isn't completely covered in towns, however, they do all seem to be interconnected in some way.
I stopped at Concord, MA to visit the Minute Man National Park. Being one of the major sites of the beginning of the American Revolutionary War and along the Battle Road, Concord is a well known historical place. At the visitors center of the national park, I learned all about the happenings of 19. April, 1775 when British and American soldiers came head to head starting the fight for independence. Not only is Concord important because of war history, it is home to author, Louise May Alcott. I drove right past the home of the Alcott's as I made my way through town.
Wachusett Mountain State Park is another wonderful place I've visited. Just a little ways off of the major HWY 2, Wachusett Mountain is a peaceful refuge of trails and elevated views of the beauty around. I only took a small walk up the mountain, but enjoyed it just as much as a day long trek. There were streams along the trail, lots of trees, and a wonderful lake to view at from above.
Even if I didn't have a special destination, driving around the middle of Massachusetts is as good as stopping somewhere. The roads weave in and out of massive trees shadowing the way as well as continually going up and down large hills and valleys. I can't wait for the colors to change, it will be completely breathtaking all around the northeast.
Although driving around is great, I usually do have specific destinations and I ended up in the center of Mass in Amherst. Over the past few years, my little sister has kept in contact with friends, A and W, she met through a 4-H trip out here. I also know these friends of hers and they both go to school at UMass-Amherst.
Amherst is this crazy little town. It is really small. But its got people everywhere! Like so many towns out here, Amherst has a thriving downtown with many shops, cafes, restaurants, and local businesses. A and I got ice cream, so tasty! We also visited nearby Northhampton. This town is filled with interesting folks and was so neat to walk around and check everything out. They even had an Art's Night Out happening that we enjoyed! After chilling with A, I met up with W and we headed out to get a taste of the nightlife. Not much different than any other college town...chilling with friends, some dancing, late night pizza, and head back home!
The center of the state was super, but then I headed southwest to Granville, MA. This more rural area is home to no other than The Scoop. W's family is the owners of this super tasty ice cream shop. I got to enjoy the great ice cream, had some roasted pork, played with baby puppies, and chilled all afternoon. It was a great time in southwest MA with delicious grub and fun folks to chill with!
Returning to Boston, I was able to enjoy many more pretty views and sites along the road as I drove. In one town I saw a lady riding her horse down the sidewalk towards downtown. That was interesting for sure!
Massachusetts is such a small state but seems to be filled almost to breaking point with fantastic place to go, things to see, and people to learn about! I can't wait to see more!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Best Cow Ever
After a year abroad in Austria, I came back home to my family's farm in May 2008 and fell in love with one beautiful Jersey gal. This one perfect animal had her first calf in December 2007 and had freeze damage to her teats. Because of the damage to her teats, this first calf heifer was not the friendliest to milk in our 62-stall stanchion barn.
The story continues as my Brother and Dad used all of their energy each morning and night to milk this new girl and care for her precious damaged teats. This gal also had loads of personality and made every milking an experience for everyone involved.
After many months of caring for and putting up with this difficult to handle beauty, she eventually mellowed out. By the time I arrived back home in May, she was the friendliest, sweetest, funniest, most beautiful Jersey on the farm. This was of course not the opinion of everyone at home.
Time went by and my new favorite cow continued to by the sweetest in the bunch. She would always look up when I called her name. She would also stand still and endure my overbearing hugging and petting of her. She'd patiently lie there or stand wherever as I wrapped my arms around her large middle behind her front legs and over her back to squeeze her tight.
Not only was this cow such a great friend to me, but she was a great asset to the herd as well. Contrary to what my Brother and Dad may say, she always pulled her weight. She bred back every year within months of calving and would calve the next fall between September and November. She would average above 60 lbs of milk/day right up until the end of the lactation. She was a great mom, a super milker, and she even scored in the upper 80's as well-this beauty had it all!
When we moved into our new freestall and parlor in 2008, my favorite baby took it all in stride. She was still up to her way or no way and continued to have a special spot in the parlor where she wanted to be milked. It usually didn't matter if she got milked at the beginning of her pen or at the end, but she more times than not was the first girl in on one of the sides. If she didn't want to get milked at the beginning of her pen, she'd just hang out by the gate and watch the other cows go through until she decided it was time to get milked and she'd start her side out first.
Never wanting to be last in line or the bottom of the totem pole, this fantastic lady kept everyone on her toes. From fooling around in the stall barn to always deciding to calve on holidays or important dates, this girl was always there!
If you haven't guess it yet, you don't know me very well. The best cow ever is no other than NIMBLE! Beautiful, sweet, and such a great cow, Nimble will always be my favorite.
It is still hard to come to terms, but after calving last Wednesday, Nimble endured some complications and is no longer with us. Her beautiful and feisty new baby, Nantucket, will continue to grow and become another part of the herd-always to be known as a part of Nimble.
Nimble. You are the best cow ever.
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