tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67339494526397783822024-03-13T09:34:35.811-05:00Anna-Lisa SmileAnna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-37031401414508892292015-08-17T13:37:00.003-05:002015-08-17T13:43:45.710-05:00We Started a Sheep Dairy<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Two years ago we set out to start a sheep dairy. When we
started the farm, we had two employees named Scott and Anna-Lisa. Anna-Lisa
also had a full time job off the farm, so there wasn't much time at all for
blogging. Fast forward two years later, Scott still works full time on the
dairy, Anna-Lisa still works full time off the farm, but we've added an
additional full time employee, so I finally have time to start sharing our
story. </div>
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I'll spare you the general overview of our experience and
what we do, but if you want to read about it, our friends at Nevada Farm Bureau
wrote a great story for their magazine: <a href="http://goo.gl/Jr09jj" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://goo.gl/Jr09jj</a>. </div>
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A couple of disclaimers as I begin to transition this blog
into writing mostly about our life and our farm:</div>
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<i>1. T-Swift won't stop asking and you're probably wondering
too, we are only in our second full year of business and no, we aren't out of the
woods yet. However, our farm is very successful thus far. </i></div>
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</i><br />
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<i>2. We aren't expert business or farm consultants. I'm sure
can find somebody to pay a ridiculous amount of money to fill that role if you
think you need it. </i></div>
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</i><br />
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Now let’s begin.</div>
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<b>You started a sheep dairy?</b></div>
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My husband Scott is definitely the visionary of our
household. He has an ability to see potential in things other people wouldn’t
think twice about and I’ve known that about him the entire 8 years we’ve been
together. So, it wasn’t difficult for me to agree to help him start a sheep
dairy when the idea came up. He spent a couple years trying to figure it out
and then it was time to pull the trigger. </div>
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We left our cushy jobs in corporate
America, moved to the Oasis of Nevada and did it. </div>
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So he got a loan through FSA’s young farmer program, rented
an old dairy facility in his home town and bought a couple hundred sheep and we
haven’t turned back since. </div>
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If you’re starting a business, here are some things I think
you should keep in mind.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>You don’t have any money. You need to live like
that.</li>
<li>Your time isn’t worth that much money either.
Anything you can in-source and do yourself is going to help you cash flow at the
end of the year. </li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>You don’t need anything that’s new or nice. We
feed our sheep with a pocket knife and pitchfork, hardly the capital investment
you see on many dairy facilities. That wouldn’t work if we were milking cows,
but it works for us. </li>
<li><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"></span></span></span>Learn how to be frugal. See number 1. Maybe at
some point I’ll blog more about being frugal and what works for us.</li>
<li>You can’t stop believing that you will be successful.
Even when it’s 10 degrees outside and you can’t feel your fingers and toes you
can’t give up. It’s amazing what the body will do if the mind will let it. </li>
<li><b>Team work makes the dream work.</b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b> </b> </span>I have ALWAYS worked off the farm, but that
has never meant that I don’t pitch in and help at the dairy. (Some seasons more
than others.) The same goes for Scott at home. He’s my best floor sweeper,
chopper and breakfast chef!</li>
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Do you have a dream of something you’d like to achieve? You
can do it! We were told over and over again that our idea was dumb and that it
wouldn’t work. But guess what? We are heading into our third milking season and
doing just fine. Most people who are negative and try to convince you that you’re
not going to be successful are just jealous. They are going to talk about you
no matter what, so you might as well give them something to talk about. </div>
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<![endif]-->Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-70066293764512692112014-02-24T12:39:00.004-06:002014-02-24T12:39:49.188-06:00You ARE Making ItI have been clinging to this blog post from my "friend" Becky. I say "friend" because we've never met, but if we did I know we would be fast friends. If you need some encouragement, read below and then be sure to head over at follow her blog <a href="http://www.scissortailsilk.com/">Scissortail SILK</a>. The Lord is doing some amazing things through this young momma from rural Oklahoma.<br />
<br />
"When the situation that we are in overwhelms us, it feels impossible
to see past today. It doesn’t matter if someone offers the advice that
it won’t last forever. We don’t really care that somewhere someone is
wishing for our struggle. We don’t think twice about how sad we will
feel when this stage is a memory.<br />
<br />
It feels impossible to see past the moment. We only want relief from
the exhaustion. We can be sad about how we will feel when it is over…
tomorrow. It is today that seems to overwhelm our hearts.<br />
So, to you in your moment, I won’t say any of those things. I won’t
say you’re going to regret wishing this away. I won’t remind you how
short this will really be… especially when today feels like an eternity.<br />
<br />
I will just say this.<br />
<br />
Girl, I feel ya.<br />
<br />
I understand right where you are.<br />
<br />
<b>You don’t have to feel guilty for being overwhelmed. You don’t have
to feel inadequate for just barely making it. You don’t have to feel
like a failure if it isn’t turning out like you thought it would.</b><br />
<br />
You’re not alone in how you feel.<br />
<br />
You are going to be okay, but until then, a reminder that God sees
you. He doesn’t sit on a throne far away chuckling at your problems. He
isn’t disappointed with your feelings of defeat. He isn’t surprised by
your situation. He loves all of you. He cares for all of you – and that
includes right where you are today.<br />
<br />
He is right there with you.<br />
<br />
He is a constant encourager – the cheerleader for your soul.<br />
<br />
Can you hear His words today? Can you hear His heart?<br />
<br />
He says He loves you. He says <b>you’re doing a great job</b>. He says that
He is proud of you and reminds you that you’re not alone. You’re not
unseen. <b>You’re not inadequate</b>. He promises that <b>He won’t leave you</b>. He
promises again and again and again… continually reminding your soul of
His presence.<br />
<br />
He quiets the storms before they come. He calms the chaos before it begins. He is your constant friend.<br />
<br />
Maybe this sounds like something I have written before, but I will
say it as many ways as I can until it reaches the heart that needs to
hear it in this moment.<br />
<br />
You’re doing okay, momma, friend, wife. <b>You’re not only going to make
it, you ARE making it. </b>Today, I pray for the grace to let that be
enough." - Becky Thompson, <a href="http://www.scissortailsilk.com/">Scissortail Silk</a>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-57297334183018268522014-02-20T17:43:00.000-06:002014-02-20T17:43:04.108-06:00#LambWatch14 - Light At the End Of the TunnelThe busiest time of the year on our farm is without a doubt lambing. This winter we have spent the last 45 days lambing in 300 ewes. Here's the thing. Our ewes live outside and since we live it the desert it gets really cold at night. Therefore me and the farmer take turns getting up in the middle of the night to make sure new lambs are cleaned off and warm. This also means that the farmer can't get all of the chores done by himself in a timely fashion so my schedule is a little bit crazy. I spend my mornings and evenings bottle feeding around 100 lambs that aren't weaned yet. My future sister in law does the same, so we are a pair of exhausted girls! <br />
<br />
We recently counted the ewes that haven't lambed yet and there are only around 60 left! About 20 of those are smaller framed yearlings and will probably end up open, which means they won't have lambs this year. Therefore, the long days and sleepless nights are nearing an end ad I have a new found respect for mothers of infants. <br />
<br />
What is the winter like on your farm?Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-45871414379378178602014-02-19T09:23:00.002-06:002014-02-19T09:23:52.182-06:00Farm Girl Beauty SwapThis month my friend Crystal over at <a href="http://www.crystalcattle.blogspot.com/2014/02/beauty-swap-janfeb-beauty-swap-link-up.html">Crystal Cattle</a> teamed up with the lovely Courtney Nolz of Cowgirl Crush to organize a beauty swap!<br />
<br />
Here's how it worked, those who wanted to participate sent Crystal our information and she paired us up randomly. As it turned out, my swap partner and I have quite a bit in common.<br />
<br />
Annaliese over at <a href="http://moderndayfarmchick.com/">Modern Day Farm Chick </a>is also spends a lot of her time on a dairy farm, although she and her husband milk cows not sheep. Therefore, we like a lot of similar products including nail polish!<br />
<br />
I was so excited when I received my package which included new eye shadow, new lip gloss, a new Redkin root booster, a new favorite nail polish and a yummy valentines day treat! I've worn the nail polish and the new lipgoss by Victoria's Secret hasn't left my side since it arrived even when I'm just headed to the dairy to feed lambs. Seriously love it!<br />
<br />
Thanks for everything Annaliese, I haven't tried the root boot booster or eye shadow yet but can't wait.<br />
<br />
Thanks for organizing the swap Crystal, it was a great highlight of our tiresome lambing season! Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-47833463301095730722013-11-07T13:10:00.001-06:002013-11-07T13:10:24.484-06:00Four Days Later: Life Happened in Rural NevadaSo there you have it. Day THREE and I fail at my 30 consistent days of blogging. I blame most of it on not having a plan and the rest is just life. While my life is busy, so is everyone else's so I'm not going to dwell on that. I'll just give you some highlights from what's been going on around here and then tomorrow I'll write about something educational. So you know, you can actually learn something about Nevada.<br />
<br />
- My sheepherder shot his deer on Sunday and we are going to cut him up tonight. I'm told it's a nice dear, its horns are not too big, but it had a huge body so I will probably have to spend some time this evening cleaning out my freezer. Now the question is to mount or not to mount. Honestly I don't know much about hunting but the thing looks big enough to hang on the wall from my perspective.<br />
<br />
- Yesterday with the help of the sheepherder's brother sister-in-law and three nieces we moved all of the sheepherder's sheep to new fields. In the winter time sheep can graze alfalfa stubble that is left from the last time they cut the fields for hay or silage. Grazing stubble goes fast, the good news? The sheepherder and I now have a standing daily date. Hey, who says moving fence and drinking hot chocolate isn't a date!?<br />
<br />
- APPLES, APPLES, APPLES.... they are still on the counter two weeks later. Fortunately, it's been cold, even in my kitchen. Unfortunately, if I don't get wedding dress rehearsal pie fillings made soon the apples will be too soft. Yes I'm already making pie fillings for our wedding rehearsal dinner next summer. They freeze well and it is absolutely un-American to celebrate anything on the Fourth of July without apple pie and apples are in season (cheap) now. I'm truly not that organized, I fell into this one.<br />
<br />
- I'm gearing up for another stretch of business travel over the next two weeks. My office is a wreck, I have more laundry to do than the dry cleaners and I haven't done my floors in a week. However my ErinCondren.com life planner came in the mail yesterday so I'm pretty excited to plan my life. I'm making it a personal goal to prove the sheepherder wrong and use it diligently for more than 3 months. <br />
<br />
There you have it, there is life in rural Nevada this week.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgToFoycefI/UnQUbpy94TI/AAAAAAAAAcU/v5XswEWuNF4/s1600/30+days.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgToFoycefI/UnQUbpy94TI/AAAAAAAAAcU/v5XswEWuNF4/s320/30+days.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Tomorrow I'd like you to meet Nevada's first brandy. Get excited.<br />
<br />
<br />Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-5702591520038169142013-11-03T22:15:00.000-06:002013-11-03T22:17:27.262-06:00Rotational Grazing in Nevada<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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I have mentioned before that my husband-to-be is starting a
sheep dairy.<a href="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/hunting-in-nevada.html"> Yesterday,</a> I posted about doing the chores while he is away. Aside
from hauling water to the pasture they are grazing, my other job while he is
gone is to let them eat more of the pasture. We use a system called rotational
grazing. Basically we give the sheep a certain amount of grass to eat each day
and then move the fences so they can eat another piece. </div>
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We have about 180 sheep in this group, so they get moved
every day to every other day depending on the section of the pasture we are in.
Just like any other crop, some sections of the field are denser than others. The
electric fence is connected to a car battery. We have two batteries and rotate
them from the fence to the charger in the house. There are many types of fence
chargers, but we use this simple one because our ewes only graze for the time
when they aren’t milking.</div>
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Here is a good picture to explain rotational grazing. </div>
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The left side has been grazed the right side has not been. They are left on it long enough to eat down to just below where you could harvest it with a swather. We use this system
because not only does it allow the sheep to get the most out of a pasture, but
it also allows the pasture to rest. It is grazed, aerated and fertilized and
then rests for a few weeks which allows the grass to grow back thicker than it
was before. </div>
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<br /></div>
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It is also an economical option for us in terms of feeding
the sheep. As a grazing dairy farmer friend in California says, “They harvest
it for ya, store it and feed it to themselves. Then they fertilize and aerate
the grass while they’re at it.”</div>
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<br /></div>
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Rotational grazing isn’t huge in Nevada yet, but my
sheepherder and his brother have both had good luck with it. Maybe it will
catch on with time, but most likely only for dairy sheep. Most range sheep in
Nevada still run on desert ranges taken care of by Peruvian sheepherders that
live in sheep camps and only come into the headquarters every few weeks. They are truly
a living symbol of Nevada’s history and most of its families’ past. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/30-days-of-life-in-rural-nevada-starts.html"><img alt="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/30-days-of-life-in-rural-nevada-starts.html" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rgToFoycefI/UnQUbpy94TI/AAAAAAAAAcU/v5XswEWuNF4/s320/30+days.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-2567867868119943922013-11-02T21:58:00.000-05:002013-11-02T22:00:33.364-05:00Hunting in Nevada<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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No topic seems more relevant to kick off this blog series
than to write about the hunting in Nevada. You may have seen my <a href="http://instagram.com/p/gLYER2rK4E/">Instagram</a> about
packing food for my sheepherder to go on a hunting trip yesterday. This is his
fourth hunting trip since September 1, whether for his own tags or those of
relatives. Hunting is very common here, whether for elk, deer, antelope, goats, sheep or birds, lots of families spend their fall weekends seeing the wilderness of Nevada. This might turn out to be one of the most memorable hunts of the
year, aside from the once in a lifetime mountain goat hunt he went on with his
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This weekend he is hunting to fill his mule deer tag up in
the very northwestern corner of the state, close to both California and Oregon.
Along on the trip are his uncle and grandpa. His brother, mother and oldest niece
drove up to join them today, it should be full of memories for certain. Meanwhile
here at home, while I usually love to go with him, the sheep are too pregnant
to be left alone. </div>
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Someone has to pack water to them and feed the guard dogs
and this time, that someone is me. We have a few sheep that aren’t feeling too
good, they have upset tummies. Leaving me in charge of the sheep once in a
while is really good for our relationship because you don’t realize what kind
of pressure your farmer is constantly packing around until all that pressure is
on your shoulders. Putting myself in his size 17 shoes helps me to be more
patient when he’s cranky or upset. It’s only been two days, and I’m terrified
that something will happen to the sheep while he is gone. Fortunately, my best
friend married a vet. Thank you Dr. Z for being on speed dial. </div>
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Hopefully the hunting party is having a blast, fingers
crossed they fill the freezer. </div>
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What are common fall activities in your area? Do a lot of
people hunt?</div>
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Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-40045274050738319222013-11-01T15:57:00.002-05:002013-11-07T13:14:46.129-06:0030 Days of Life in Rural Nevada: Starts TodayI'm kicking myself in the pants. Getting my act together and dusting off my blog. I've been on a hiatis for who knows how long. July is what blogger tells me. It's kind of like not going to the gym, once you stop it's easy not to start. I typically work out 4 days a week at least. Monday came I didn't go, it's now Friday and I still haven't gone. Anyway back to kicking myself in the pants.<br />
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My dear social media friend Holly, you probably know her from her blog <a href="http://farmprogress.com/blogs-30-days-five-things-five-things-7778">My Generation</a>, has a November tradition of writing on a certain topic or series of topics for 30 days straight. She challenged me (and the rest of her readers, although it was definitely a Sunday sermon preverbial finger pointed at me kind of moment) to use the 30 days to develop better blogging habits or in my case to actually do it.<br />
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Since moving to Nevada I haven't really shared a lot about my life here. It is sometimes strange, often hectic and generally interesting in our neck of the woods, so I decided for 30 days I'm going to write about my/our life in the Great Basin of Nevada.<br />
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You can expect topics to range from what it's like for my Shepherd husband-to-be to start a sheep dairy, our 3 in. avg annual rainfall and irrigation, Nevada's agriculture commodities and farmers, and really anything I find interesting about living in the desert. I hope you'll enjoy this journey through the Silver State and possibly actually learn something about the largest, smallest state in the Union and the farm families like ours who live here. <br />
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<a href="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/hunting-in-nevada.html">Day 1: Hunting in Nevada</a><br />
<a href="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/rotational-grazing-in-nevada.html">Day 2: Rotational Grazing in Nevada </a><br />
<a href="http://anna-lisa-smile.blogspot.com/2013/11/four-days-later-life-happened-in-rural.html">Day 6: Four Days Later Life Happened</a> <br />
<br />Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-26897816926618989932013-07-02T12:58:00.004-05:002013-07-02T12:58:31.322-05:00She's back.....So it's been a few months since I have taken the time to blog. Not because I don't miss you, but because life has been crazy. I finally have my house settled, my lawn growing, flowers in the flower beds, a garden producing and the farm is coming along slowly but surely. My goal is blog frequently from here on out so hold me accountable please! Stay cool, drink lots of water and love the life you live!<br />
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Happy Trails!Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-35940666926045950052013-04-17T12:13:00.000-05:002013-04-17T12:13:08.720-05:00Frozen in AprilSo the house is coming along, but I'm not ready to share pictures with you yet. The yard is still a work in progress, but grass is planted, grapes are planted, garden is rototilled and the Iris bulbs are chilling in the house for a few more days. This is why...<br />
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Yes those are icicles hanging from my grape vines. I returned from my morning at the gym to find that when the sprinklers came on at 6:30 am (while I was in town) it was too cold for morning sprinklers. See in the desert, you never really know what the weather is going to do. Yesterday it was snailing (hail that falls like snow) but Sunday I got a sunburn! What the April!? Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-32474103998745347162013-03-11T11:30:00.004-05:002013-03-11T11:30:58.309-05:00Looking for LoveSo I'm in the process to moving into the most adorable farm house. Well, it will be adorable when I'm through with it. It's got the necessities: good bones, a beautiful view and a homy vibe. What it lacks is LOVE.<br />
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This poor house has been through the renter ringer since the time the boy's cousins bought the farm. It has huge, gorgeous windows in the dining area that over look the fresh pen. **Side note: One of life's blessings is watching new calves be born and I have the joy of watching that happen daily. <br />
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As you can tell from these before pictures, the house could use a fresh coat of paint, new flooring (which will have to wait) and some junking. I'm going to have to work with the green carpet.... for now. <br />
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We spent the weekend cleaning, painting and repainting. It's a good thing the boy is tall because the "popcorn" ceilings, yes I repeat "POPCORN" ceilings required THREE coats and 5 gallons of paint. I chose one bargain bin accent wall color for the kitchen/dining area and brightened the master bath with some leftover Southwestern Turquoise paint I had mixed a few months ago to refinish some table legs. With the help of the boy's sweet mommy we were able to get everything painted sans one last coat on the ceilings in the entry way, hallway, bathroom and kitchen. We plan to finish painting and cleaning tonight so maybe tomorrow you can see progress pictures. <br />
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<br />Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-7270315758163431982013-03-07T10:17:00.000-06:002013-03-07T10:17:47.241-06:00Sage henSo, a month later I'm doing really good at keeping up this personal blog, not. You may have heard I moved to the desert, this is true. I now call Fallon, NV "The Oasis of the Desert" my home. As the boy's grandpa put it, "You've become a sage hen." I'm not really sure what this means, but from what I can tell it has something to do with spring chickens and desert rats.<br />
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A few notes about living in the desert:<br />
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Closed windows in the windy spring are a must - can you say lots of sand on my window ciels.<br />
*side note, what did the pioneer women who didn't have vacuums do to manage this?<br />
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Lotion, lots of lotion is absolutely necessary. I'm turning from grape to raisin rapidly.<br />
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Even when it's delightfully warm in the afternoon it will be cold once it gets dark.<br />
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Despite it all, nothing beats little girls running across the room screaming your name in excitement when you first get to town. Or the fact that with a 30 minute drive you can be surrounded by nothing but nature and peace. Yes, desert living is good.<br />
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<br />Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-30429039378410108012013-02-04T22:08:00.004-06:002013-02-04T22:08:40.383-06:00Whatever is PureSometimes I wonder what is so magical about writing and then it occurs to me that there is absolutely nothing magical about it. It's simply putting your thoughts into words and those words on the page. Sounds simple right? Well today my thoughts are pretty jumbled up.<br />
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It seems that at a time like this when the entire world was encouraged to root for agriculture on national telivision we should all be excited. Everyone who is a seat at the table for agriculture's stakeholders should be rejoicing, but that isn't the case. Some refuse to believe that what happened yesterday is a good thing. The fact is haters will hate and the selfish will seek self glorification and self righteousness. As for me, I want to say thank you Dodge Ram! Thank you for showing the world what we in agriculture mean to you! I realize you're probably going to get a few trucks sold out of this deal, but I believe in my heart that your motive was pure.<br />
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I was reminded of this verse by one of my <a href="http://everydayepistle.com/2013/02/04/god-made-a-farmer/">favorite bloggers</a>; "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Philippians 4:8<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/AMpZ0TGjbWE" width="560"></iframe>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-26931940362187699812010-12-10T10:39:00.007-06:002011-10-23T21:47:27.701-05:00Homegrown Green Chili SauceI love homegrown foods. I am reading a book called "The Dirty Life" by Kristin Kimball. If you want to have a better understanding of the emotional ties behind the local food movement I suggest reading the book and although I don't entirely agree with every statement made in the book (which by the way I haven't finished), reading her descriptions of cooking with homegrown foods reminded me how very lucky we are. Most kids raised in the agriculture industry are raised on homegrown foods. Whether that's the spare calf you raised as a 4-H project, or the garden you tended with your Pappa, homegrown foods abound on farms and ranches across America. <br /><br />One thing that I love most about gardening is the canning. This past summer I had the chance to be home and took advantage of Momma and Daddy's garden. I put up peppers, cherries, pesto and dried basil. Unfortunately most of the produce was not in full when I left in late July. There is nothing like cooking with those ingredients knowing that they came off the land of my home.<br /><br />Another thing that I have come to realize is a major blessing is giving away produce. Dear friends of my grandparents live in Crow Mountain, Arkansas and they have a huge garden every year. Mary loves to take produce to church for to give to whoever wants it. She sent jalapenos and squash with me in August and just the night before last I again enjoyed delicious butternut squash. (you can freeze almost anything!)<br /><br />Homegrown foods from friends are always delicious. This past weekend I visited a friend in New Mexico and his mother sent us home with a few sacks of homegrown, fire roasted then frozen green chilies. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJa6chx_DI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/4gvWfrC35YU/s1600/IMG_1699.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJa6chx_DI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/4gvWfrC35YU/s320/IMG_1699.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549097651010665522" /></a><br /><br />Amazing. I used them to make a green chili sauce that and I'm going to share that recipe with you right now.<br /><br />I used frozen fire roasted chilies. If that is your situation too, remove the skins and dice them. You can also used canned chilies that you get at the store already diced. <br /><br />In a large bowl combine the diced chilies with a few tablespoons of lemon juice. <br /><br />Using your potato masher mash the green chilies until the mixture is relatively smooth. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJbPXhh2HI/AAAAAAAAAKY/XDTr74eEpT0/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJbPXhh2HI/AAAAAAAAAKY/XDTr74eEpT0/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549098010444683378" /></a><br /><br />Add a dash of salt, a dash of pepper, a touch of garlic, and a pinch of love. Mix well. <br /><br />You can use this thick sauce on steaks, eat it with chips, burgers, eggs, really just about anything you can think of. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJbbF0GxyI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KPsL_JP_h0w/s1600/IMG_1709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TQJbbF0GxyI/AAAAAAAAAKg/KPsL_JP_h0w/s320/IMG_1709.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5549098211849193250" /></a><br /><br /><br />Wonderfully out of the ordinary and very budget friendly. ***Using store bought chilies will cost about $2.00***<br /><br /><br />America's Ranch & Farm families provide us with an abundance of delicious, safe and quality foods.... we certainly are blessed.<br /><br />Until We Meet Again,<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Anna-Lisa<span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">For The recipe that is pictured visit my other blog, <a href="http://beefonabudget.com/">BeefonaBudget.com</a><br /><br />Anna's Quick Tip: To help frozen vegetables maintain their bright color steam them instead of boiling them!</span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-90929868574436607642010-12-08T12:21:00.004-06:002010-12-08T12:51:04.554-06:00Homemade Holiday SwagsI love homemade Christmas decorations. When I was a little girl, my sister and I had the task of going in the pasture behind our house to pick the mansanita, cut the pine and collect the pine cones that Momma would use to decorate the house. Currently I find myself in a place that is absent of mansanita and certainly absent of pine. So my first winter here I decided to make my own version of Momma's classics and I created this swag that will hang in my house for years to come. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_S-ndtzAI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Nba_8zaLdfA/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_S-ndtzAI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Nba_8zaLdfA/s320/IMG_1711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548385239131081730" /></a><br /><br />The steps to creating your own are simple and budget friendly, get out your toolkit and get to creating!<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />You will need:</span><br /><br />3 Strands of Green Swagging from the Dollar Store)<br />Pine Cones (You can find them at any WalMart or Dollar Store)<br />Fake Red Berries (Also at the Dollar Store)<br />Floral Wire<br />Pliers<br /><br />Step 1: Braid the 3 strands together loosely to make the swag look full and not so cheap! Tie the ends together with floral wire.<br /><br />Step 2: Stick red berries throughout the swag, staggering them so there isn't very many bare spots. You can attach them with floral wire for additional security as well.<br /><br />Step 3: Place the pine cones throughout and attach them with floral wire.<br /><br />Step 4 (Optional): I found this cute berry star and wired it to the center of the swag. You can choose to leave this out! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_TGxcx8zI/AAAAAAAAAKI/7RreOKPHVtw/s1600/IMG_1712.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_TGxcx8zI/AAAAAAAAAKI/7RreOKPHVtw/s320/IMG_1712.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548385379250467634" /></a><br /><br />Hang them anywhere in the house using small screw hooks. You know the kind that come with a picture hanging kit? They don't do much damage to the wall and they work great cause you can just hook one of the strands of swag on there and it will stay up beautifully. I have hung them over doors, over entryways and this year it hangs over a mirror in my living room! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_S-ndtzAI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Nba_8zaLdfA/s1600/IMG_1711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP_S-ndtzAI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Nba_8zaLdfA/s320/IMG_1711.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548385239131081730" /></a><br /><br />Hope you enjoyed this homemade hint!<br /><br />Until We Meet Again,<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"><br />Anna-Lisa <span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br /><br />Anna's Quick Tip #23</span>: <span style="font-style:italic;">To add a holiday homey feel to any table just put some pine cones in a basket as a centerpiece. You can thread ribbon through them or even mix in some Christmas bulbs. Super easy, really cheap and you will love it!</span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-58991224172611970632010-12-06T12:01:00.005-06:002010-12-06T14:58:35.313-06:00Make the World StopYou look out the kitchen window as you are preparing coffee, and you notice one of the close up heifers laying down to calve. She looks as though she just started so you continue about your morning fixing breakfast and preparing for the day. Nearly 30 minutes later you realize that she hasn't calved yet. Suspecting something is up you head out to check out the situation. You realize that she isn't going to calve on her own because the calf is too large. <br /><br />You call for help and slowly ease her into the corner of the pasture where you can keep her still while you help pull the calf. When help arrives with your tools and a bucket of warm water/disinfectant, you carefully loop the calving chains on the feet of the calf; above the footlock with a half-hitch at the pastern, double looping them to take the pressure off the bones. You tug one foot at a time with the slightest pressure helping the heifer to push her calf out. She's not real pleased that you are up in her business during the process, but as the calf comes out a sigh of relief comes over all those involved. For those few moments in time nothing matters but ensuring the safe arrival of the calf and the health of her momma. The world stops for a while and then seems refreshed. <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP1OT8q_CKI/AAAAAAAAAJw/654g6qbV2E8/s1600/20138_649709954087_20618886_37701800_3116118_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP1OT8q_CKI/AAAAAAAAAJw/654g6qbV2E8/s320/20138_649709954087_20618886_37701800_3116118_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547676420601219234" /></a><br /><br />Cattle ranchers care for their cattle every day. One very important time to care for cattle is when cows are giving birth to their calves. This is an important time because should something go wrong with the birth of the calf, those problems could endanger the life of the mother. We call this dystocia. Because I grew up in the cattle industry, often I compare happenings in my life to the life cycle of cattle. The one thing in my life that I can relate to helping a heifer give birth to a calf is sitting in church every week.<br /><br />As I walked up to the little church building on Wednesday night I experienced something very similar. I was in a panic because after services I was expecting a house full of guests, my house wasn't anywhere near clean before I got home that evening with only an hour to clean it before church. The pumpkin bread that I had baked for my guests was not all the way done baking when I left the house, flying to church and running late. I was so late that I didn't realize until I was nearly there that I had dried pumpkin bread batter on the side of my face. Classy right? <br /><br />Never the less I made it to church and as I walked up to the church building the sound of my church family singing hymns stopped the world in the same way as helping a struggling heifer calve. For that moment in time, nothing else mattered, I realized that I was at church walking in to be fed by the Lord's word and the guidance of our church leaders. The world stopped as I spent an hour sitting in the pew and when I walked out those doors I felt refreshed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP1Oay7Jo2I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3IZSYubW_ts/s1600/154385_732832770297_20618886_40133958_6879053_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TP1Oay7Jo2I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/3IZSYubW_ts/s320/154385_732832770297_20618886_40133958_6879053_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547676538243752802" /></a><br /><br /><br />In life it is the little things that matter, those moments the world stops. For me those moments not only include the birth of a calf, or an hour in church, but also a beautiful sunrise or sunset, a crisp fall morning horseback or sharing a delicious Sunday dinner with loved ones. What are the things that make your world stop?<br /><br />Until We Meet Again,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">~ Anna-Lisa<span style="font-style:italic;"></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Photos via <a href="http://www.agricultureproud.com">AgricultureProud.com<span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span></span></a> </span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-90736003507679683342010-11-30T21:16:00.006-06:002010-12-01T09:54:21.912-06:00Safety Pin AngelAdvent is the four weeks leading up to Christmas. Each week has special meaning and as a child each week a different family in the church lit a candle on the Advent wreath and read a scripture that would help us to prepare our hearts to celebrate the Lord's birth. Christmas is probably my favorite holiday, I think it is so special that we celebrate the birth of the one person whose death has allowed us to live! <br /><br />I have decided that for the rest of the Advent season Wednesdays on Anna-Lisa Smile will be dedicated to some sort of craft, recipe or idea that reminds me of my childhood. I think that these timeless traditions are fun to revisit and are also great to pass down to others. <br /><br />I was a 4-H nerd as were many of you, and turns out 4-H nerds stick together because my roommate and most of my friends were actively involved in 4-H as well! I strive to live the 4-H motto each day pledging "My head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and health to better living." The great thing about 4-H is that not only did we learn a lot about livestock and agriculture, and gain immeasurable amounts of leadership and personal development opportunities, but through 4-H I was able to learn many life skills that will help me to be a better wife and mother. <br /><br />One club that I was very involved in was the home arts, we did things like knitting, baking, sewing, floral arrangement, cooking you know girl kind of stuff. On Sunday night my roommate Amanda and I decorated our house for Christmas and went back in time to a 4-H type craft while we watched You've Got Mail... Classic! So I wanted to tell you about this little gem of a craft that you can do with your children or if you are single nerd like me you can make them with your roommate!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXCJXwDEEI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9tZtoNwgASo/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXCJXwDEEI/AAAAAAAAAIg/9tZtoNwgASo/s320/IMG_1639.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545551982426787906" /></a><br /><br />This is a very easy craft. All of the supplies come in a package that you can buy at WalMart for $1.87. There are even instructions included.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXCc4CYzjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Gyu5RFrMDpE/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXCc4CYzjI/AAAAAAAAAIo/Gyu5RFrMDpE/s320/IMG_1648.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545552317511159346" /></a><br /><br />My advice to you is to separate the beads into piles according to size. You will appreciate this hint when you are trying to tell a 10 mm bead from a 12 mm bead. Follow the directions! It will be great!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXC2PwSmWI/AAAAAAAAAIw/rA39jCmYWrk/s1600/IMG_1652.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TPXC2PwSmWI/AAAAAAAAAIw/rA39jCmYWrk/s320/IMG_1652.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545552753374435682" /></a><br /><br /><br />Rumor has it you can even enter these little babies in the county and state fairs! Hope you enjoy! I'm looking forward to Food Friday this week!<br /><br />Until We Meet Again,<br /><br />Anna-LisaAnna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-30179715896300320402010-11-25T08:04:00.001-06:002010-11-25T08:08:22.902-06:00Harvest of Thanks!Thanksgiving is here again and my goodness do we have a lot to be thankful for. As I reflect back to Thanksgiving as a little girl, tons of pumpkin pie, ravioli, beef and even turkey fill my food memories. Accompanied by dinner table memories are memories of chores, cutting wood with dad, or branding calves over the holiday. From a young age, my family instilled in us children the importance of working hard and returning thanks daily. Returning thanks for our blessings is an everyday occurrence for most ranching and farming families. I am thankful for the producers that produce the safe and delicious foods that I get to consume daily. Not only am I thankful for their hard work, but I am also thankful that my friends and family have the ability to earn a livelihood producing food to help feed a hungry world. Unlike many in the world I have never experienced real hunger. My family has been blessed to never be in a situation where we ever went without a snack. In fact I am not sure that I know very people personally who have ever experienced hunger. I am not referring to that feeling of, “my goodness I need to eat” after a long day branding calves or playing sports. I am referring to the many men, women and children who go to sleep at night with hungry bellies not knowing whether sustenance will come with the new day. Today there are thousands of people in America who don’t wonder what will be for supper as I do, but wonder instead whether there will be supper at all. American agriculture is helping to end hunger in our country and around the world. The men and women of American agriculture receive my food thanks this year. Because, even though we have different interests, produce different products and come from a variety of backgrounds, we have this one thing in common… Farmers & Ranchers care, we care about our land and animals, we care about helping to reduce global hunger, we care about YOU. <br /><br /><br />I<span style="font-style:italic;">f you want to know more about what we do, just ask us! I encourage you to contact a local farm and ranch to arrange for a day trip to learn about what they do day in and day out. I encourage you to read more about agriculture from my friends listed in the left hand column. For more information about how American farm & ranch families are helping to aid world hunger check out <a href="http://www.agweb.com/farmersfeedingtheworld/">www.farmersfeedingtheworld.com</a> and tune in to <a href="http://www.agweb.com/multimedia/agday-harvest-of-thanks/">AgDay</a> on RFDTV Today, Thanksgiving Day, for a special episode about the farmers that feed us <a href="http://www.agweb.com/multimedia/agday-harvest-of-thanks/">"A Harvest of Thanks"</a>. <br /></span><br /><br />I hope that you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving! God Bless,<br /><br />~ Anna-LisaAnna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-41386338840813969132010-11-08T09:38:00.002-06:002010-11-08T09:42:30.109-06:00I am Ag - ThankfulI am ag proud and certainly ag thankful! I was asked to write a post for the <a href="http://agricultureproud.wordpress.com/">Agriculture Proud</a> blog... Read about it! Also, be sure to read the other Ag-Thankful posts on Ryan's Blog! <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Continuing with this month’s Ag-Thankful theme, Anna-Lisa Giannini share with us today why she is thankful for Agriculture. Anna-Lisa is Co-Founder of Beef on a Budget, AgBlogger, and a soon-to-be graduate of Oklahoma State University. She is very passionate about encouraging people to learn more about beef production by connecting with cooks in the kitchen through her “chef-on-a-shoestring” approach to cooking beef products. I hope you enjoy this California-raised Cattlewoman’s perspective of being Ag-Thankful this November.<br /></span><br />America is the land of opportunity; Agriculture is the opportunity of the land. Every morning when my feet hit the floor I thank God for American Agriculture. For the men and women who work day in and day out to provide food and fiber for all Americans and peoples worldwide. I am thankful for their humble lives and hard working lifestyles that allow me to enjoy life to the fullest each and every day. These families, like my own, work hard day in and day out in service of others not because they have to, but because they choose to. I am proud of American agriculture and thankful that American farmers are helping to feed a hungry world; but even more than that, I am thankful for the person that I am today because of the opportunities American Agriculture has afforded my family.<br /><br />My Daddy’s Grandfather came to America from Switzerland in the very late 1800s. In 1903 after spending some time milking cows around San Francisco, Grandpa Augustus bought the ranch that I was raised on. My family has clung to our roots and Swiss-Italian tradition is part of our daily lives and especially Holidays. Grandpa Gus was proud of becoming an American. An example of this is that he wouldn’t allow his children to speak Italian because they were not Swiss; they were Americans. He was also proud to be part of agriculture making his living ranching cattle in a similar manner that they did at home in the hills of Switzerland. A sense of pride in American Agriculture was instilled in Grandpa Gus’ children and has trickled down generations to my sister’s and my heart.<br /><br />My Mamma’s family was involved in the agriculture industry too! As a young man, Grandpa Larry followed the fruit harvests in California and recalled the days of his childhood on the farms some of the happiest of his life. My grandfather went to work the family farm in Arkansas right after marrying my grandmother and that was where my mother was born. Some of my Grandpa Larry’s favorite memories were on the farms in Arkansas and Oklahoma. He was proud of his agriculture roots and was proud of his grandchildren’s involvement in agriculture. The agriculture industry certainly afforded my family opportunity.<br /><br />Thanksgiving is the holiday most associated with thankful hearts. I personally love Thanksgiving for everything it stands for, from the little pilgrim statues that decorate the tables representing each grandchild, to the pumpkin pie and ravioli. Ya know, I don’t remember a Thanksgiving that didn’t include morning chores, feeding cows, burning brush, cutting wood, or maybe branding calves. This taught me the importance of working hard so that we have things to be thankful for. From a young age I realized that in order for food to be on the dinner table hard work must be done to produce that food. Thanksgivings are full of traditional foods, the tradition of each family member saying something they are thankful for, and the tradition of being together as one very large, very loud, very loving and very thankful family. This Thanksgiving when you sit down to eat the foods your family loves to enjoy on Thanksgiving, be thankful for the families that are working hard to produce the food on your table. We will be at our own tables giving thanks for the opportunity to work hard, live simply, and produce the food helping you to give thanks.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Want to hear more stories like this one? Tune in all this month for guest posts and more on the topic of being Ag-Thankful this November. Send me your ideas, thoughts, and comments on this page or by email (agricultureproud@hotmail.com)</span><br /><br />Thank you for featuring me Ryan!<br /><br />Happy Trails,<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~Anna-Lisa<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-20156197373138123402010-11-03T17:13:00.004-05:002010-11-03T17:15:30.423-05:00Random LaughsA random collection of laughs!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHek87CXqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/oQtmBz1Jztg/s1600/funny_cartoon_farmer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 285px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHek87CXqI/AAAAAAAAAHg/oQtmBz1Jztg/s320/funny_cartoon_farmer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535450143425453730" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHeq8BZJII/AAAAAAAAAHo/DTHHzBkxyrw/s1600/00987-funny-cartoons-farmer-hoe.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHeq8BZJII/AAAAAAAAAHo/DTHHzBkxyrw/s320/00987-funny-cartoons-farmer-hoe.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535450246262891650" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHe3_kMt0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/9cCHkXVl9DY/s1600/cowboy-yogi.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TNHe3_kMt0I/AAAAAAAAAHw/9cCHkXVl9DY/s320/cowboy-yogi.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535450470552483650" /></a>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-33428540417405341192010-10-28T14:54:00.010-05:002010-10-29T10:44:37.202-05:00This One's For The GirlsWhy do it? If you are a cattlemen, why do you care for your land and cattle? If you're a mother, why do you take care of your children? Why do farmers take excellent care of their land and equipment? Why do teachers teach? What causes us to do the things we do? I believe PASSION is the reason! <br /><br />Cattlemen care for their cattle cause they are PASSIONATE about their health and well being. Mothers take care of their children because they love them and they are PASSIONATE about "raising them right". Farmers take excellent care of their land because they are PASSIONATE about producing good, healthy crops. Teachers write lesson plans because they are PASSIONATE about imparting knowledge to their students. Your PASSION is that thing that keeps you up at night, enthuses you in the morning, and pushes you through the day!<br /><br />Why Agvocate? Several young people (ages 20-25) across the country are advocating agriculture. These young people are passionately telling the story of Agriculture. Why young people? As young people we realize that the future of agriculture rests in our hands. It is our responsibility to help our generation stay connected to the farm. <br /><br />It is no secret that women do things with passion in EVERY area of their lives. Today, I want to highlight a group of PASSIONATE young women who are effectively telling our story daily through blogging, Twitter, and other social media outlets! This one's for the girls! <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Celeste Laurent</span><br /><br />Celeste is a senior at Western Kentucky University studying animal science and news editorial journalism. She grew up on a hog farm in Kentucky and was actively involved in 4-H and FFA. Celeste does a great job Agvocating all sectors of agriculture and writes a great blog called <a href="http://celestelaurent.com/">"A Farm Girl's Perspective"</a>. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMok3WZJxpI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UAbmGUX4PVw/s1600/ENprofilepic1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMok3WZJxpI/AAAAAAAAAHA/UAbmGUX4PVw/s320/ENprofilepic1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533275625500558994" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Amanda Sollman</span><br /><br />Amanda is a student at Michigan State University studying Agriculture Education and Communications. Amanda was actively involved FFA during high school and is involved in collegiate FFA at Michigan State. Amanda is very involved in the AgChat foundation and does a great job telling our story. Check out Amanda's blog <a href="http://sollmana.wordpress.com/">"On The Journey"</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMole5Z8roI/AAAAAAAAAHI/3vuihSy64ww/s1600/61980_162382630443740_100000160134144_587372_4680090_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMole5Z8roI/AAAAAAAAAHI/3vuihSy64ww/s320/61980_162382630443740_100000160134144_587372_4680090_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533276304914034306" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Crystal Young</span><br /><br />Crystal is a graduate of Kansas State University. She is originally from Alberta, Canada. She is passionate about the agriculture industry and works for the Angus Association. Crystal agvocates using her blog <a href="http://www.cdycattle.blogspot.com/">"Crystal Cattle" </a>as well as through her position with Angus. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMrrDSjZQwI/AAAAAAAAAHY/ZABRa9VYenM/s1600/Crystal_small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMrrDSjZQwI/AAAAAAAAAHY/ZABRa9VYenM/s320/Crystal_small.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533493533930504962" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Kelly Rivard</span><br /><br />Kelly is studying Interactive Media/ English Composition at North Central College in Illinois. She has a passion for agriculture, and corn, that runs deep. Kelly writes a blog called <a href="http://www.midwesterngold.com/">"Midwestern Gold"</a> a blog that celebrates Illinois agriculture. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMokpC0LiHI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yTq65jN5DhI/s1600/5811_100871613261509_100000160134144_21929_800953_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMokpC0LiHI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yTq65jN5DhI/s320/5811_100871613261509_100000160134144_21929_800953_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533275379727042674" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Whitney Wallace</span><br /><br />Whitney is a recent graduate of the University of Missouri. Whitney uses her personal blog to encourage and guide young women in their career pursuits. Whitney also works for Missouri Beef Council and is an agvocate for the beef industry. Take a look at Whitney's blog <a href="http://professionalinpink.blogspot.com/">"Professional In Pink"</a>. You can also get great tips and recipe ideas from Whitney at the <a href="http://missouribeefcouncil.com/">Missour Beef Council</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMol5PiTpwI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/B0HyWFD92Is/s1600/n15933829_37870269_9597.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TMol5PiTpwI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/B0HyWFD92Is/s320/n15933829_37870269_9597.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5533276757531272962" /></a><br /><br />These young women, and many others, are working hard to tell our story! I am proud of them and proud to be among those who are passionately trying to make a difference with genuine hearts, diligence and dedication. Thanks for all you do girls! YOU ROCK MY SOCKS OFF!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"This one's for the girls who love without holding back, who dream with everything they have; all around the world, this one's for the girls"</span><br /><br />Happy Trails,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">~ Anna-Lisa </span></span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-44414230115917885172010-10-25T11:08:00.002-05:002010-10-25T11:36:07.779-05:00The Road I'm OnI am a very blessed girl. I have a family and friends who laugh, cry, support, tease, encourage and love me. I am pursuing an education at one of the best institutions in the country. Learning tons each day about cattle production, agriculture, business, communications and several other areas that will benefit my future. The problem with schools like mine are that they are located in TOWN! WHY.. this is an epic failure of the land grant system that these institutions are located in large towns, booming with people and the hustle and bustle of life off the ranch. This morning when I woke up, I looked out the window above my bed to see the sun reflecting of the clouds in the West as it rose. This sight was gorgeous pink and orange. My initial thought... if the neighbor's house was not there I could see this beautiful sunrise, should I be living on the ranch right now, I wouldn't need that tall back yard fence, those telephone wires wouldn't be there... I could enjoy the beauty of the Lord's creation to its fullness. This sent me into a downward spiral towards a case of the Mean Reds.<br /><br />What are the Mean Reds you ask? Well they aren't the same as the Blues. The blues are depressed, sad and for some they result in a dark bedroom. The Mean Reds on the other hand aren't necessarily sad, they aren't really depressed and when you've got a case of the Mean Reds, the last place you want to be is inside. Feelings of discontentment, restlessness, and the need for wide open western skies are common with the Mean Reds. Today I want to be on the South end of a North bound cow. I would love to be disgustingly dirty, sweaty and exhausted. But instead of getting up this morning throwing on grub clothes and a cap, I got dressed tamed my unruly curly hair and put on some war paint. Instead of feeling the sun's warmth on my face, and the fresh dirt under my boots, I will be walking on pavement and under the glow of light bulbs.<br /><br />I know that the Lord's path will lead me back down a dirt road to a ranch and with faith I will continue to walk humbly with my God according to His purpose, I just really wish that today the road I'm walking on wasn't paved with asphalt. <br /><br />"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11<br /><br />Happy Trails,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">~ Anna-Lisa </span></span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-39127077155142321782010-10-21T14:37:00.003-05:002010-10-22T16:12:01.457-05:00You've got choices!Grain-fed beef, grass-finished beef, certified organic, natural beef, naturally raised beef... the list goes on. As a consumer you have so many choices in the beef meat case. For some of you this can be confusing and for producers there are many misconceptions of this marketing opportunity. There has been a lot of talk in the beef industry lately about working together, uniting, and striving toward common goals. A post by Ryan Goodman (AR_ranchhand on Twitter) started a huge discussion about the need of the cattle business to stick together realizing that our commonality rests in the consumer. We cannot do away with niche marketing because without it there would be little to distinguish our products for marketing. So in reality the your choices not only result in your happiness but also better prices for beef producers.<br /><br />The national beef checkoff recognizes the need for you (the consumer) to better understand your options... there is a rack card published by the beef checkoff entitled "Beef From Pasture to Plate; Many Choices, One Commitment". This is most certainly true; while there are many choices for you in the meat case, there is only one commitment for all beef producers. That commitment is safe, nutritious, and budget friendly beef. No matter which type of beef you purchase ALL beef products are safe across the board. <br /><br />The American beef industry takes steps to ensure that U.S. beef remains the safest in the world. That commitment starts with beef producer diligence on the farm and ends with safe food handling practices in grocery stores, restaurants and in your kitchen. With proper food safety measures you can rest assured that beef is safe from pasture to plate. There are a few important tips to keep in mind. Be sure beef is cooked to proper temperature; remembering that ground beef must be cooked to a higher internal temperature than steaks or roasts. Keep your foods out of the danger zone (temps between 40 - 140 F) this helps prevent the growth of bacteria. The last thing to remember is to keep your hands, counter tops, dish towels and utensils clean; washing them with soapy water after they touch uncooked meat.Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-16135757134477652062010-10-19T15:40:00.001-05:002010-10-20T09:52:16.692-05:00Wacky Wednesday - A Cowboy's Guide To LifeI recently read this and laughed, A LOT, so I thought I would share it!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A Cowboy's Guide to Life<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"></span></span><br /><br />Never squat with yer spurs on.<br /><br />There are two theories to arguin' with a woman; neither one works.<br /><br />Don't worry about bitin' off more than you can chew, your mouth is probably a whole lot bigger'n you think.<br /><br />If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence, try orderin' somebody else's dog around.<br /><br />After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.<br />He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.<br />The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.<br /><br />If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin'.<br /><br />Never smack a man who's chewin' tobacco.<br /><br />It don't take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep.<br /><br />Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.<br /><br />Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.<br /><br />Always drink upstream from the herd.<br /><br />Never drop your gun to hug a grizzly.<br /><br />If you're ridin' ahead of the herd, take a look back every now and then to make sure it's still there.<br /><br />When you give a lesson in meanness to a critter or a person, don't be surprised if they learn their lesson.<br /><br />When you're throwin' your weight around, be ready to have it thrown around by somebody else.<br /><br />Lettin' the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier 'n puttin' it back in.<br /><br />Always take a good look at what you're about to eat. It's not so important to know what it is, but it's critical to know what it was.<br /><br />The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.<br /><br />Never miss a good chance to shut up.<br /><br />Happy Trails,<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><span style="font-style:italic;">Anna-Lisa</span></span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6733949452639778382.post-80955149914927156542010-10-13T09:40:00.001-05:002010-10-13T09:41:26.706-05:00Wacky Wednesday - Consumer Perception<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TLXE9mr4s1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/ghsTIIHylwc/s1600/IMG_0002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TLXE9mr4s1I/AAAAAAAAAGw/ghsTIIHylwc/s320/IMG_0002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527540680302834514" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TLXE50jTujI/AAAAAAAAAGo/EKKkEDMit7I/s1600/IMG_0001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 295px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_3DQirvtcb2o/TLXE50jTujI/AAAAAAAAAGo/EKKkEDMit7I/s320/IMG_0001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527540615305476658" /></a><br /><br />Hope you enjoyed the laughs!<br /><br />Happy Trails,<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~Anna-Lisa<span style="font-weight:bold;"></span></span>Anna-Lisa Gianninihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15356676489341003839noreply@blogger.com1