nancy's space

Yes, I know, it has been way too long. Just trying to keep up with everything here, at the Jobe’s family farm, has been way overwhelming recently. It just has been hard to get on here and write about what all has been going on, but here is a little update….

First of all, my last blog was about learning Face book. Well, I have it down pat and love it. It is such a nice tool to keep in touch with family and friends and know what is going on in each of their lives. I find myself on it daily, and that is one reason for not writing on here more.

Let’s see, I bought a new car. Well, it isn’t “New”, but it is to me. It is used Impala, 2008. I love it and I have my moon roof and self starter I wanted to have. I am not going to carpool this year, and I needed a car that wasn’t in the shop more than out. My old car was in the shop being fixed more than out, so it was time for a new one.

We had to also replace our dishwasher and washing machine this year. Both broke! We have had Murphy’s Law here for some time, and it can go away anytime! It has been a very expensive summer here on the farm.

 Not only is everything breaking, but we have had 5 grad parties, 2 weddings, and now a funeral. Then, Nathan had wisdom teeth pulled, needs a crown, and so do I. I also have grad pictures coming up yet! Where is that money tree?

Then, farming is not a money maker at all, and we seem to be pulling out money for parts, oil, gas, paying for renting land, twine, every time we turn around. I know, that is farming, but for some reason, it is getting harder by the year. I keep telling my hubby we could buy a lot of beef for what we are putting into those beef cows. Yet, it is his hobby he loves, and wants to keep doing it.

Then, if that isn’t enough, a very good friend and neighbor died this week of a rare cancer that took him in just days. It is such a sad story, and he was only 53, and leaves behind a wife, and three children. They had a dairy farm across from us and we have been friends and neighbors for year. They of course had to sell their milk cows; which was their main income. He is certainly going to be missed and was a good man. We use to see the barn lights on over at their farm every morning while we drank our coffee, and now it is dark over there; just seems so unreal it happened. Darn Cancer!

I have been to the campground, but not enough to make me happy. My schedule has been so busy that every day I have something to do, and can’t seem to get my butt out there. We did have our annual 4^th of July potluck out there this year, and that was great! We have been swimming only a few times because our weather has been so bad this year. Then, when it is nice, I can’t seem to get there! Next week I have something going on every day! Monday, I have a girlfriend come to visit, Tuesday, I have a woman coming out to help Nathan with some things, Wed. Nathan has a doctor’s appointment, Thursday, Nathans has his grad pictures taken, and Friday we are going to the county fair. However, the weekend is open so far, and I intend to get there after the fair on Friday! Then, I want to stay for a few days, but I do have a dentist and hair appointment, but that is it that week! So, FAR….Summer goes way too fast.

Then, it is back to work the 8^th of Sept. I do miss the kids though and I sure could use the money! It will be different for me this year as I am going to be in the high school and not the elementary, and a new boss in the EBD room. We also have some new staff members joining us this year, too.

It is funny, at the end of the year, you can’t wait to leave and need that break, but by the time school comes around again, you are ready to do it all over. That is way it is important to make sure you take that break during the summer so you don’t get burnt out. Special Ed/ EBD is a hard job, and the burn out rate is high, so those summer vacations are important to us.  

I didn’t even grow a tomato this year, only flowers and I am glad I didn’t because as busy as I have been, I don’t know when I could do it all. But our family will not be short berries this year. We went out and picked bowls full of raspberries at my mother-in-laws, and then we found a blue berry patch, so we have lots of wild blue berries, too. Then, yesterday, my husband came home with two crates of strawberries! Our freezer is full of berries for this winter.

My hubby and the boys have been cutting the wood for winter. Yes, we are doing that again. We bought enough wood last year to heat the house this year as well. I hope this winter isn’t a cold one, and I see our crab apple tree has red coming on the apples already!

Haying this year was not good. Our hay crop was very thin and it looks like we will barely have enough hay for ourselves this year. Usually we have some extra to see, but it looks like we will not have that this year. Again, that will hurt us some. It has been such a weird year; our hay was so thin, that our baler didn’t even want to bale it. It has been so bad; we had to feed hay to the cows all summer!

Nathan had a birthday and is now 18 years old! I keep teasing him that he is an adult now! One more year, and all my kids will be out of high school! Wow!

We took a nice trip to see the grandkids last weekend and boy are they getting big. Kyle starts school this Fall, and the other two grandkids are much taller than I am.

Well, for now that is it. I will try to get on here more often and keep this updated better than I have been. If you like, get on facebook and join; be part of my friends list to know more day by day what is going  on at the Jobe’s Family Farm….~Nancy

Learning To Use “Facebook”

First of all, if you don’t know what Facebook is, it is a popular social networking site that gives people the power to share and make the world more open and connected. Millions of people use Facebook everyday to keep up with friends and upload an unlimited number of photos, share links, videos, and learn more about the people they meet.

It’s becoming more and more important for us “older” people to understand new technologies like Facebook and social networking. If you’re clueless about technology, you will be lost in just a general conversation a fifth grader may be having with his buddies. Believe me, I know. I work in a school district, and those kids know what they are doing when it comes to a computer and social networking.

I often hear my students throw the words, RSS Feed, My Space, Facebook, Dig, and they “tag” to each other. I just listen to them and feel real OLD, because for the most part, I have no clue what they are talking about. To me, it is like a Morse Code they use to keep the enemies out of their worlds; which by the way is us adults! They carry IPODs with them and watch TV shows, listen to their music, and they even have pictures they uploaded on them for all to see. Yes, my daughter gave me an IPOD for Christmas, but she uploads all my music on it, because I have no clue how to do it. When I ask the students about their little devices they so firmly hold in their hands, they just tell me I needed to “get with it” and snicker at me, shaking their heads.

So, where am I going with this? Well, it happened one day. I was invited to join Facebook by a friend.  Now, after dealing with months of peer pressure, I finally decided to sign up and see what this whole Facebook thing was, and join into the more “techier” world.

Well, I joined, and that was easy enough, but the first thing I seen on my friends “Facebook” site was she had a “wall.”  This wall was for her friends to write message to her on. After looking around some more, I seen I had my own   “wall” to be written on, too!

As soon as I distinguished this, the first thing that came to my mind was that writing on walls is sort of a graffiti thing gangs do on buildings or trains, isn’t it? Also, my mom always told me never to write on walls, and now I need to, in order to communicate with my friends?

But, after looking around some, I seen that was just about the only way to send her a message, and all her other friends were writing on her wall, and it was the norm thing to do. So, taking a deep breath, I put a “hello there” message on my friends “wall” and I felt kind of naughty doing it, too; if only my mother knew I was writing on someone’s wall!  But, I got over it, and started to search around her site some more and took a look around.

Wow! She sure has a lot of friends. Lots! I feel kind of inferior to her with all the friends she has. I don’t have that many friends outside the Facebook walls!

Now, feeling pretty friendless, I started to read other people messages to my friend on her “well written on” walls. The messages all seemed really short and I hate to say it, but dull. That made me feel better; I might not have as many friends as she has, but at least my friends are not so humdrum!

Well, if someone can post they drank coffee in the morning, I can certainly surpass that! Then I seen I didn’t have a picture for my “profile” and EVERYONE else who sent my friend had a picture for their profile, so I thought I better get one so she knows who wrote on her wall.

After looking for 20 minutes through my pictures I had on my computer, I decided to use a cartoon looking one I had found on another site that actually looked like me; in a cute, cartoon way.  After uploading my profile picture, I started to feel more Facebook worthy, and now I had a picture of my profile, I could write on my friend’s wall.   

Once I started to write a message; I had a lot to say to my friend about this whole “Facebook” thing; and how lost I felt about using it. That’s when I found out I couldn’t send long messages, only a few lines at a time. Gee, I could only write short messages on these walls? Well, for heaven sakes, why would they do that? If you are going to be allowed to write on someone’s wall, why can’t they make it so you can at least write a substantial message?

I had my mind made up right then and there, this “Facebook” thing wasn’t going to be for me. Yet, not quite ready to give up, I shorten my message up in a shorthand way, and sent it to my friend’s wall. Pressing, “Enter”, I held my breath. There, it was sent! Now, I am an official Facebook, techy person, which writes on other people’s walls, and has a cartoon “Facebook” worthy picture of herself for a profile, for all my friend’s humdrum friends to see. Does that make sense? If it does, you’re doing better than me!

Next, I looked for a blog to write on or something else where I could send my friend a message that was a little longer than a few lines. After clicking on this and that, I couldn’t find any blog or page to send her a longer message on.  In order to send my friend a long message, I would have to send her an email, which I could do right there on her site. Well, I did that before I was on Facebook! So what is so special about writing on a wall? I knew there had to be more than this for everyone was doing it.

Going back to my friend’s page, I noticed that now everyone could read what I had written on my friend’s wall. Yes, it was public! Everyone was going to see who had written that message on her wall, which said I was totally lost at this Facebook thing! I felt kind of stupid, and naughty, and a feeling that said, “big brother is watching you”, all at the same time. Gee, it was a good thing I didn’t write anything bad!

After that, I decided that was enough for one day. This all took me hours to do, and I really didn’t have the time. So, I got off the site and decided to wait for the next day and hope my friend will write on my wall and explain a few things to me about all this.

Well, before even having my first cup of coffee the next morning, I booted up my computer to see if my friend had written on my wall. Yep, there she was, on my wall! I now had a couple messages on my wall. Yippy! I am doing it!

That kind of gave me a smile and a jump start.  But wait, what is this? My friend had sent me a tree?  Yep, on the right hand side of my page, right on top, there sat a nice green tree. Not only a tree, but and a “hug”, too! Under the tree it said I needed to harvest my tree! What the heck was I going to do with a tree? I had no idea why my friend would want to send me a tree to harvest. How was I to harvest it or where was I supposed to put this tree once I harvest it?

Deciding it was safer to leave the tree and not kill it; from the lack of not being able to plant it somewhere. I wanted to forget the tree, but send my friend a “hug” back. If she can send hugs, I should be able too! But, where are the hugs? Finally, after much searching, I found that if I clicked on the hug she sent me, it went to a page where I could pick out a hug to send my friend one too! Oh, there we are! Okay, I will just do that! Maybe that will make her feel better for not harvesting her tree she sent me.

Looking at all the hugs, I wondered which hug to give her. Gee, there are way too many of them! How does a person pick? Shrugging my shoulders, I just looked for a pretty one, and clicked on it. Oh, no! I see it takes points! I don’t think I have any of those. How do you get points? Gosh, I hope I don’t have to pay for them! Looking further down, I seen I could have sent her some hugs that were FREE! Darn! I didn’t see that. I better see if I can take that expensive hug back and give her a free one. I managed to delete the expensive hug, but couldn’t make the free hugs work, so I just decided to not give my friend a hug after all. Besides, my family was starting to ask what was for dinner. Was I on THAT long?

The next day I decided when I got home I couldn’t wait to see if my friend wrote on my wall and answered my question about this tree she sent me and how am I to harvest it. I hate to see any tree die from the lack of me not taking care of it, especially if it is from my friend! I wouldn’t be happy if a friend did that to me, much less not even able to give her a hug back; because of the lack of points that I didn’t know how to get. Are you still with me?

I went pass the family and straight for my computer to booted it up. Gee, this Facebook thing is actually getting to be time consuming. Yes!  My friend sent me another message on my wall telling me I better harvest my trees or they would die!  Looking over to where that tree and hug was she sent me that last time, I seen not only the tree and hug still there, but now I had about 7 more trees, and now I had a Holstein COW standing there, too!!!

What!? How am I to take care of a cow, if I can’t even harvest her tree? I am guessing that is what she wants me to do with it. Right?  I will have to put it in a barn and feed the darn thing. Really, I don’t have time for this, my friend!  Maybe, I can find some hay on the page where they keep those hugs for points. Yes, maybe there will be some FREE hay, too. But where am I going to get the barn? I’m I going to need to milk this cow now and then?

Okay, FRIEND! I am having problems leaning how not to feel guilty for writing on someone’s walls, much less leaning how to harvest trees and take care of cows on here! I decided I had enough of my “friend” for one day. I shut the computer down, and went to bed. Besides, I was spending way too much time trying to figure out how to get around on this site; and do all these weird things like harvesting trees, when I should be making my family dinner and washing my clothes. However, as I tried to sleep that night, I thought about those darn trees and that poor cow, and how I had no shelter for or hay for it. I hate to see anything living die because of me.

First thing the next morning, before coffee or even getting dressed, I opened my Facebook site. Sure enough, there was my friend again. She had the gull to say good morning to me, after giving me a cow, all those trees to take care of!  She also explained to me that the trees and the cow were part of a game she plays on here called the “The Farm Game.”  She said she plays this game with all her friends on her Facebook!

Looking at the clock, I decided to write a VERY short message to her before going to work. I asked her to please stop sending me trees, and cows, that I didn’t have time to play the “farm game” and if I did, I wouldn’t know how to play; to just stop sending any for now! Then, I signed off and went to work; with a headache.

Later, I got home, booted the computer up before even looking at my mail on the table, and signed into my Facebook. There my friend posted a message on my wall, saying she would stop sending me anymore trees and cows. Thank goodness! But I still had the darn trees and the cow sitting there on my page and that really bugged me; I still felt unfeeling for not taking care of them. So, after playing around some, I found out I could click on them, and bring up a menu to “ignore them.” Good, out of sight, out of mind. I did just that, and they disappeared! 

Now, not feeling like a killer, I had time; and a clear mind, to go on with my research on how to work this site. Reading more messages, and Goggling the words, “What is Facebook?” I found it was a site where you should put up messages on your wall throughout the whole day on what you’re doing. This was to keep your friends more “connected” with you. Gee, isn’t that kind of invading someone’s privacy? Plus, my days are just humdrum, what would I put? Oh, that word, “humdrum” sounds familiar, doesn’t it? I guess I am just as humdrum as the rest of my friend friends. The light is starting to come on….

I sent another message on my friend’s wall; that I didn’t really know what I was doing and I was having a hard time learning how to work this program; and I didn’t know if this “Facebook” thing was for me. Well, I wasn’t going to get out of it that easily because she sent me a message back, asking me to please not to give up, but to just give it some time. After thinking about what she said, I thought, you know, she is right. I tell my students all the time not to just give up easily, but to keep trying. What kind of representation would I be to my students?

So, I could at least give it more time, and keep making an effort at it. Right? So, I went on trying to be a good Facebook Buddy, even if it felt like I was losing my pirvacy. I started posting what I was doing during the day, where I was going, what I was make for my meals, and what chores I did during the day, and my friend and I wished each other a good day every day. Soon, I was beginning to look forward to knowing what my friend was up to, and I bet she was looking forward to what I was up to, too. Plus, just the pleasant good wishes of bring in another day was a nice change and welcome for me.

Soon, after getting on my Facebook page each day; posting my boring days, and looking at all my friends boring days, I started to get it! I started to feel more “connected” to my friends, and I even found a couple of my other friends on there, too, and they too, joined my Facebook world. Even my daughter-in-law is now on my Facebook, with all my wonderful grandkids pictures posted up for me to see! I even had my sister’s join me on my Facebook because we do EVERYTHING together. And just the other day, I had my hairdresser join my Facebook, too. Isn’t that cool?

Now, after a few weeks of trying to learn Facebook, my walls are now covered with graffiti from my friends, and I don’t even mind, or feel guilty for writing on someone else’s walls. I post my daily “doings” a couple times a day, and a lot of my friends, do too. We all know who is doing what, and when their doing it, and with whom. We pass nice messages, wishing each other a good day, and even what we are eating for our meals. Pictures are passed on to each other; that we would normally never have seen with out Facebook, and recipes are exchanged with one another, along with some interesting links. I even found I could chat live with my friends on the site.

So, it took me a few weeks to “get with it” and I know I have a lot more to learn, too, but I am glad I did give it a chance, and didn’t give up. Like a lot of other things; it just takes time. The only drawback thing is, now my usual bedtime is two hours later than what it used to be. And, maybe, just maybe,I  will even be able to take care of trees and cows on my Facebook, too. In ending, I guess this old girl can still keep up with the times “somewhat.”   Now if I can only find out how to “Tag” someone!

Spring IS Coming

It's hard to believe that it's March already. This year is already off to a rapid start.  Last week was a really busy one. For work, we took the whole 4^th, 5^th, and 6^th grade skiing at Spirit Mountain in Duluth. The weather was perfect, and all the kids had a magnificent time. I do have to say, though, at the end of the day I was exhausted; and I didn’t even ski! The kids were all tired, too, and very sore the next day.

 Just think, next Sunday ends Daylight Savings time, and then spring really is just around the corner (21st). I don't know about anyone else, but I'm definitely ready for spring.

There are signs all around that spring is close at hand. Let’s see, those nasty Asian beetles are coming alive in our home, and yesterday, I even seen a fly spiraling around on the floor, trying to fly.  I can see dirt on our driveway again.  I can actually go outside during recess without having my big fur mittens on that go up to my elbows and downgraded to just gloves.

The seed catalogs came in the mail, and swim suit ads are in the paper.  My car is really dirt inside and outside, and needs to be cleaned, along with the windows in the house. The barn cats all going to have their kittens, and the beef cows are going to have their babies as well any day. Our deck outside the house is made of wood again, and not ice and snow! It is light out when I drive to work, and still light out when I come home.   Yes, the signs are there, folks.

I'm praying that this summer I can get some raised gardens built and put in. I'm so itching to feel the dirt between my fingers again. Last year I couldn’t do much with my hip replacement surgery, but this year I am ready to go for it. Besides,  with the economy, I want to do a lot more canning this year and stock up our pantry with homemade canned food.  

Yes, I see rows of dirt just waiting for the precious seeds that we will plant, and then waiting for the first signs of life. I hope I am able to have rows and rows of yummy goodness just waiting to be picked and either eaten or preserved for next winter.

I'm anxious to see the trees in full bloom again and to feel the soft green grass tickling my feet as I walk barefoot in the yard. I can't wait for the warm, days when we can go out and mow the lawn and hear the birds. And most of all, I can’t wait to get to the campground and sit around the campfire, visit with the neighbors, play cards, drink my morning coffee on the deck, grill food, walk,  and swim.

Don't get me wrong. I do NOT want this year to go any faster, I would actually like to slow it down, but this time of year always has me wishing for the time when I can get my hands (and feet) dirty, and open my windows up to let fresh air in, and have the sunshine’s heat hit my face.

 I guess, for now, I'll have to be content with dreaming of all that a little longer and make visions of what my garden will be like full of home grown goodness! I can't wait!

Monday, Feb. 16, 2009

Weekend/Monday

This weekend was wonderful! We slept in Saturday morning (not too late) and it was great! We spent our Saturday just kind of relaxing at home and enjoying spending time together. I did come up with a "to do" list for this week. I figure having a list where I can check off the things I finish will help to make me feel I have accomplished something that week! I made my menu up for the week, and  I will see how it goes this week!

Sunday, again, we didn’t do much.  Sherry & I did go to Super One and saved $41 in coupons on my groceries! I love to watch that cash register keep deducting the amount I owe them! Then, we came home and unpacked it all.  Later, I invited my sister and their family over for just some visiting.

There was no work for me today because of President’s Day! This morning I still woke up early because I had a doctor’s appointment in Duluth.  I had to fast, so there was no breakfast for me. Sherry came along, and later we went to Target to pick up a few things.

I had nothing but good news at the doctor’s office. My cholesterol is down to 136! Everything turned out great, and no need to come back for another year!

After my exercise, I did laundry, cleaned out my spice cupboard out, and did the dishes.  I still have some things on my to do list for the week, dusted the house, organized his another cupboard, put some earrings on E-bay! I have been not so good about doing that. So I feel I have had a productive day and hopefully will have a productive week!

It’s going to  be tough getting out of bed early again tomorrow morning!