The Weather

Snow in May!

Now at home in Washington we have some crazy weather, last year it snowed in May, the year before June. In the summer time it will be in the 80/90s and freeze at night time. I thought my crazy weather would prepare me for Kansas…but I was wrong. #1 it is always windy here, no matter where you try to hide the wind finds you. #2 one day it will be 55 degrees the next 85 degrees. Then #3 there are these things called tornadoes. At home we don’t really have “natural disasters”, unless you include my bedroom like my mom does or Mt Saint Helens (which was in the 80’s).

Just over a week ago I got my first taste of tornados, well tornado warnings. Needless to say I was that girl freaking out and checking the weather channel every 27 seconds. My roommates and others tried to calm me down but I am a West Coast Worry Wart!

Luckily the storms avoided us here in Manhattan, but many communities surrounding us and throughout the Mid-West were not as fortunate. I would ask that you keep all those affected by the storms in your thoughts and prayers.

Clouds from the storms

Cheers to the crazy, wonderful, scary, stressful, pleasant, relaxing, dreadful, happy, and beautiful weather around our world!

-Paige

Time Flies--Enjoy It!

Time flies when you’re having fun! Well, really it flies all the time—especially as we get older. I always heard people say this when I was younger but didn’t really understand what they meant…I think I’m starting to catch on :)

As a busy college student it is easy to get caught up in all the homework and school activities. However, as I get older I realize the importance of taking a step back and enjoying the small things in life.

I was fortunate enough to get to go home a few times this semester (and take Paige with me!!) and it reminded me how enjoyable and peaceful the country life is. So I just want to share some of the fun times we had through these pictures.

Beautiful Kansas sunset

Didn't catch any fish, but we had fun trying!

Paige meeting Tamale, a bottle calf at my house

I certainly enjoy being a college student as I expand my knowledge and experiences but it is always good to go home and especially to share it with friends.

Kassie

Farmer Gets a Smartphone

There are things in all of our lives we picture never happening, like going to the moon or owning an airplane. More often than not we are surprised by what life hands us. For me this came in the form of a smartphone.

My parents when they came this fall to visit!

The surprises all started a few years ago when my dad mentioned he wanted to use the internet to find a new pitching machine to put in the shop for my brother. So being the good daughter I am, I taught him a few tricks on the computer, which was harder than I thought! From there it just escalated. A year or so later he learned to send a text message. Now fast forward a couple years to the present. This Christmas, my parents purchased an iPad. Yet again my dad got the hang of it quickly.

What happened next probably surprised me the most; my dad got a smartphone. Not just any smartphone, an all touch screen, 4G smartphone. With that he also set up an email account! My dad having an email? SAY WHAT?!

Thinking about it now, none of this should shock me. My dad, a farmer, is one of the smartest people I know. He has taught himself, along with the help of my uncles and grandpa, everything he knows. He uses tools every day that are way more sophisticated than a smartphone or iPad. In both his tractor and combine, there are touch screen computers that monitor and operate the machines. He also uses a GPS system that maps the fields out to assist in the planting and harvesting of crops. Along with those, he uses many more pieces of technology I could only dream of understanding.

Since getting his smartphone and email, my dad has been very crafty and put them to use in everyday life. Just the other day I caught him (see below) using it to find a diagram to assist him when wiring new lights in our shop!

His smartphone is action!

-Paige