An Oldie But a Goodie

Melissa Sandfort

At three years old and above average on the height scale, our son still has trouble reaching the pedals on his plastic tricycles. He can reach on one because the seat was adjustable but he can’t quite figure out how to push and keep his shoes on the pedals at the same time. His Diego trike is decked out with …

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Have you lost your marbles?

Melissa Sandfort

Being in the business of agriculture public relations and communications, I get to attend numerous trade shows throughout the year and visit with producers across the country. It’s always gratifying to me to hear their stories, be able to share my story, and connect with those who raise the food my family eats. My husband also likes it when I …

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Black and Blue

Melissa Sandfort

I’ll spare you the details. Let’s just say black kitty had a bout with my husband’s truck. May have been a fan belt, may have been the motor, we’re not really sure. But we found two large tufts of fur laying in the driveway and a black kitty missing the back 2/3 of her tail. Well, the fur anyway. She …

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Annual Pheasant Hunt

Chuck Zimmerman

Hello from beautiful South Dakota. It’s pheasant hunting time for the AgriBlogger and a small group of guys. We’ve got very marginal internet access so I’ll be a little “quiet” over the weekend. But things will ramp back up after getting home on Monday. Right now it’s time to start getting ready for another day of exercise and good fellowship!

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How many uses does one jar have?

Melissa Sandfort

I wanted to share with you my latest purchase…these oil rubbed bronze mason jar soap pumps. I ordered four of them for bathrooms and kitchen sinks and I must say, I haven’t been this excited for the UPS man in a long time. Now, I know there’s a way to make them yourself but my crafting abilities leave much to …

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The Horse Trainer

Melissa Sandfort

Have you seen Robert Redford in The Horse Whisperer? He had a remarkable way of knowing and understanding horses, and it seemed as though they had their own secret language between horse and man. I believe that some people are born with the gift of understanding animals, and I’m not one of them — shoot, I can’t even understand my …

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Can You Open This Jar For Me, Please?

Melissa Sandfort

Women back in the 1920s seem to have had the same problem as women these days – getting the bottle or jar lid open. And if your strong-hand husband isn’t within shouting distance, you try pounding on the lid with the end of a butter knife to loosen it, or along the edge of the counter…or… Maybe the inventor of …

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The Walnut Cracker

Melissa Sandfort

Remember me telling you about how Grandpa picks up black walnuts by the 5-gallon bucket full each year? They’re so potent you have to wear rubber gloves when you work with them, otherwise your hands smell like black walnuts for weeks. I’d hate to think what they do to your insides! Between the hours spent collecting them and the hours …

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Giving Walnuts a Black Eye

Melissa Sandfort

Some cookies and bars are just better with walnuts. English walnuts, that is. But each year, my grandparents spend countless hours collecting, sifting, shelling and selling black walnuts. This is also the time of year that, when Grandma sends cookies home with you, you inspect them first and if they pass the non-black-walnut smell test, they’re safe to eat. I …

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The Moonflower and Hummingbird Moth

Melissa Sandfort

In a rare moment, my Aunt was able to catch this stunning photograph of a hummingbird moth eating nectar from her moonflower. It’s rare because: 1) it’s gorgeous, 2) hummingbird moths are often mistaken for a hummingbird because of its coloration and how it moves, and 3) moonflowers bloom in the evening and hummingbird moths can be seen on clear, …

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