Farm Report: 3.29.19

March 29, 2019 - Mel

Picked up my bike from its fresh tune-up at Rassy’s (newly-outfitted with a sweet new rack and pack for extended outings and insulated storage for Farmer’s Market picks) – and I am ready for warmer weather outdoor adventures. I am a huge fan of winter, but this one really bummed me out. Conditions were often not fun (or safe) to be out and the amount of snow and ice we received held a lot of barriers for outdoor access. Last weekend, I was FINALLY able to do one of my long training runs outside for the first time in this half marathon plan. I am SO READY to be outside more regularly: more skating, more running, more biking, more hiking, more general adventuring without 18 layers of clothing.

MOOtube

I’m a little obsessed with live animal cams PARTICULARLY around birding breeding season. I was pretty excited to learn of a live cow cam from Iowa Dairy Center… until I attempted to log-on and error boxes screamed all WRONG BROWSER (only compatible with Internet Explorer, which… who uses that besides work organizations and what workplace is going to allow you to watch live cow cams?). So, if you’re at your work computer reading this, let me know how it is!

Cow Cam selfie — Feeling cute. Might delete later.

come to the corn

I recently celebrated my third anniversary of moving to Iowa. And while I’m not originally from here, moving away from a larger city was… a relief. We can endlessly argue whether Ohio – where I am from originally – is actually the Midwest (FWIW, I don’t). But one thing’s for sure, I am positively in love with this state I call my new home.

extra credit: Moving back to the Midwest {via Vox}

midwest shenanigans

80/35 announced their festival line-up for this summer, and I. Am. PUMPED.

Farm Report: Extreme Chance of Giggles

July 2, 2018 - Mel

Special edition of the Farm Report to bring you BABY GOATS.

If I had my choice of a therapy animal, it would probably be a baby goat.

Last weekend, as part of my mission to become less of a city girl and more of a suburban wannabe farm girl, I had the pleasure of meeting and hanging with the some of the cutest animals: BABY GOATS. As part of a summer series at Howell’s Farm in Cumming, Iowa, and a collaboration with Illuminate Yoga and the wonderful instructor Lynn Marie Nelson, the “Goat Yoga + Giggle” event was something I was geeking out about FOR WEEKS.

via GIPHY

This is basically how it looked when they unleashed the goats in our enclosed pen for the yoga class. I was basically squeeing in excitement from the moment I unrolled my mat. You cannot be in the presence of baby goats and not be positively impacted. And if you don’t have a smile reach across your face, then we cannot be BFF.

BABY GOATS

BABY GOATS CHEW ON EVERYTHING!

BABY GOAT MAWING ON MY TOE

BABY GOAT ON MAH PLANK

(Special thanks to Howells and Lynn for the most perfect action shots!)

BABY GOATS TAKING SAVASANA WITH ME AND ALSO PERFECT SELFIE PARTNERS

It surpassed all my expectations and I left feeling so joyous. And yes, I giggled the entire time. There was definitely more goats and giggles than yoga, but that just meant all was balanced with the universe.

And yes, BABY GOATS EATING MY HAIR. 🤣

(And then I went to meet and feed some BIGGER GOATS – one of them made that hilarious screamy goat noise, but I was laughing so hard that I couldn’t record fast enough on my phone.)

I’m not sure of the availability of remaining classes, but check out Illuminate’s event page and BOOK IMMEDIATELY if you see an open spot.

Farm Report: 3.30.18

March 30, 2018March 29, 2018 - Mel

While we await the return of the starlings…

’tis the season

Tyler (‪@TylerJRoney‬) forgot corn season. Pothole Season is so real right now though.

mooooove along, nothing to see here

Guess I only have a few days left for my husband to surprise me with a farm animal. YES I’M STILL OBSESSED WITH COWS.

midwest shenanigans

Are there any Easter traditions that are specific to Iowa? We have our cultural food customs (ham, pickled eggs, hrutka aka “egg cheese”) that aren’t really homeland specific, but I wonder if there are regional differences in how Iowans celebrate (or eat during) the holiday.

Share your traditions in the comments!

Farm Report: 3.16.17

March 16, 2018 - Mel

Rain and snowy sleetish shit today… and of course, WIND. There’s never not any wind here in Iowa. Chicago, the declared Windy City, can bite me.

so cornfused

Based on the number of birds and deer grazing in the fields (and my front yard) over the last week, I would have assumed that the seeds have been planted for the upcoming growing season. That may be true for my grass, but corn is not seeded until early April (the more you know! *ding*). I learn something new every day living in this great Corn King state.

cows in ponds

I hurt my ankle somehow yesterday, and I SWEAR that I am not on any drugs (unless you count an entire box of Honey Nut Cheerios as medication), BUT I am positively entertained by images of cows in ponds. They stand in leg-deep water and just… chill. It’s hilarious!

SEE?!

midwest shenanigans

Did you pick a Midwest team in your Final Four? MIDWEST IS STACKED. I don’t know, that’s something that ESPN says. I picked Cincinnati to win. If we go by the Ohioan standard, they technically claim themselves to be Midwest (though NCAA does not), so however you need to reconcile that is fine by me. But also know that I have never won a bracket challenge when I didn’t pick Kansas.

Heartland Transplant

animal farm

Farm Report: 3.29.19

Farm Report: Extreme Chance of Giggles

Farm Report: 3.30.18

Farm Report: 3.16.17