A Heart-full Christmas Eve morning

This morning Emily, our dear friend Penny and I embarked upon a Christmas Eve journey.  As I have said before and I will say it again, I love LOCAL - local food, local people, local businesses and local experiences.  We enjoyed all this morning.

Our family is truly blessed to have our friend, who is really family, spend Christmas with us.  Our Christmas is extra special because Aunt Penny is here.  Em, Penny and I loaded up the van and headed to Odon.  Odon is a sleepy, tiny town about a half hour northeast of Vincennes.  One may ask what would draw us to Odon on Christmas Eve.  Well the best soaps and lotions in the state in my opinion.  Our destination was Pure Hearts and Clean Hands Soap Company, a small business that began just 5 years ago in the garage of Adam and Heather's home who own and operate this wonderful gift of a store.  They began making soaps to cut down on costs and also for a more natural, healthy alternative to the store bought version.  What they have created is pure heaven.  To quote them, "Our handmade natural soap is made using the cold-process method; each soap batch is being made by hand with wholesome vegetable oils and ingredients with integrity and hard work."  I hope you visit their website soon (http://www.phchnaturalsoap.com/).

This was my second trip to Odon and "the soap shop" as we fondly refer to it and it didn't disappoint.  I wish these pictures could capture the feel of this little piece of heaven and the wonderful aroma of soaps.  I just smile and relax thinking about it.  Such a special time with Emily and Penny and learning about the benefits of natural soap.  

All this shopping made us hungry so we had to swing by the Donut Barn on our way out of town.  Holy cow did I have an amazing glazed twist donut!  I am salivating thinking about it right now.  



Emily and I both agree that we are going to have to make this an annual tradition.  Now off to rest before our evening of fun with the rest of the family that will include caroling, eating yummy Mexican food and playing games.  Could get wild and crazy on this special and first Christmas Eve as residence of Vincennes and Knox County.

Calm in the midst of the storm

Picture taken by Jill Frey of the tornado that went through Decker, IN

As many of you saw on Sunday, the Midwest was hit hard by severe weather.  Knox County, where we live, had quite the storm blow through.  My sister-in-law even captured a tornado as it plowed through farm fields just two miles north of our family farm.  Thankfully, everyone was alright and damage was minimal. When you see a tornado for the first time, fear isn't always the first thing that comes to mind.  It is this creepy, weird, mesmerizing feeling where you can't seem to walk away or turn your head (of course, this only holds true if you know that the tornado is not heading your way).  Harvest is over for most farmers so the fields are bare again and you can see for miles and miles. Let me just say that that tornado had quite the "hay" day in those fields.

When unexplained and uncontrolled events like a tornado happen, it serves as a reminder to me of God's great and almighty power and the constant lessons and gifts he gives us.  We really don't control much and what will happen, will happen.  We can stress and fret over things but what good does it really do but rob of us of another day that we are blessed to have on this earth.  I have said this before, but will say it again.

We are guaranteed only two things in life.  We are born and then we die.  

What we do in between is up to us.

Now, the above sentences I have said over and over in my head more times than I care to admit so please don't think that I don't worry or stress.  In fact, I do it everyday and too much.  I am getting better about taking pauses and deep breathes.  Living in Vincennes has helped my stress level greatly and forced me to slow down.  My personal storms are thankfully fewer than most.  Like right now, I have this awesome boot on my right foot because I thought I was superwoman and could run through throbbing pain in my heel and everything would be alright.  Nope, not a good choice.  I am not actually sure what is wrong but it has something to do with a possible stress fracture/planter fascias/bone spur/some crazy lady running all over the place knowing perfectly well that she should stay off her feet.  My storm was navigating a major life change. Having successfully made it through harvest, my storm is over for now (my foot pretty much guarantees no more running around and crazy multitasking).

We all have storms and while it rages through our lives, it is hard to see the sunshine or rainbow on the other side till you get there.  We just have to remember to hold on tight and know that God's plan is greater than any plan we have for ourselves.  His path may not be the path that we would choose but there is a reason. Now, if we can only hold on, keep our chins up and have the faith needed to see that rainbow on the other side.

Picture Perfect Harvest

Corn, glorious corn

The boys are winding down Hinkle Heritage Farms harvest for the year.  It has taken just 2 1/2 months (seems like a long time to me but what do I know).  We started in short sleeves and ended with a thermal layer plus a jacket.  It has been a good year.  Good enough that the guys will be able to buy some much needed equipment for planting and harvest next year.  We are very thankful to God for this blessing and hoping we can get the very best price for our corn, soy beans and milo.  Words really can't describe our harvest so I thought I would share it through pictures.  Enjoy!

Start of harvest at the end of September

Soy beans

Getting ready to head to the fields in the Yochum "buggy."

Dumping beans

Soy beans ready to be cut.

So happy to see daddy and ride the combine.

Harrison driving.

Mac riding

Time to store the beans in the grain bin.

Off loading beans into the grain bin.

Our wonderful herd of grassfed cattle

Quite Simply Simple

With the long hours that Tony is putting in harvesting, one would think that I had all this free time on my hands to scrapbook, clean, organize, craft with the kids, etc.  Umm...no none of that friends.  You would think my house would be organized, the floors so clean that you could eat off of them...you know a home right out of the Pottery Barn catalog.  Well, I am not cleaning and wish I was organizing more.

We have lived here since May and I have finally had ENOUGH and am going through the rest of the boxes that have not been unpacked.  I have set a goal to go through and find "homes" for stuff in 2 boxes a week. Not unreasonable but up to this point, I just haven't been able to make myself do it.  The transition was a little more overwhelming than I had planned but I am over it and ready to get settled and move toward a more simple life. 

Yes, my hope is to move my family to a simpler life.  

My definition of simpler is to get rid of and weed out that which we don't need.  

If it doesn't serve a purpose, then it is gone.

Easier said than done I am finding.  We moved to Vincennes for a simpler more stripped down version of our city life.  Surrounded by family and living our lives for today, not what can happen in the future or what has already taken place in the past...embracing the here and now is where my heart is trying to go.  I am learning to love that I don't have 4 things on my calender each day to do or go to (I am a girl who thrives on multitasking. The more on my calender the better) I have time, yes time, to watch my children play. To watch the boys throw leaves at each other, to play in the mud and then eat it. To watch Emily ready to her brothers and then ask them what the story was about (she hasn't quite grasped the idea that they are just not at her level of reading yet).  To watch as all three kids break out into tickle fights for no reason and then crawl around on all 4s playing puppy dog.  We don't have anywhere to be or nothing pressing to do.  Yes, Emily is doing swim team, piano and Daisy's but it doesn't occupy every waking minute of our lives.

The joy on Harrison's face

Sweetness in Mac's eyes

My fierce daughter

The big question I find myself asking is how long can I keep up this simple life?  Time will tell but my kids and husband are loving that we don't have places to go or things to do.  We play games, read books and watch Amazing Race.  What I am learning is that we are less stressed and more happy.  I used to be so overwhelmed by everything to a point that it was crippling me. I think that we may be on to something... Does it mean that I won't want more?  Nope, I am having to talk myself down from buying everything in the Athleta and Title 9 catalogs as we speak.  I am human, not perfect, but I will try to hold on to that question of "do we need that?  Will it make our lives better?"  

Farming, truly a way of life

Tony and the guys are still harvesting.  We have been harvesting for a month now and it just keeps going and going.  Late planting, weather and the breakdown of equipment has caused what would be a normally long harvest to be even longer (at least that is what the other farm wives tell me).  Tony is working on week 4 of 12 - 16 hour days.  He leaves by 8 am and isn't home before 9, 6 days a week.  The boys don't farm on Sundays, thank goodness.  It is God's day, family day and a day of rest.

So, I love the Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummand (http://thepioneerwoman.com/) .  I watched her show on Food Network weekly and I thought when I moved to the farm, my life would be just like hers.  Yeah, not so much.  First of all, I don't live on a ranch in Oklahoma.  I live in a small town in southern Indiana.  I have a tiny kitchen and three picky eaters who would rather have chicken nuggets or pizza instead of lasagna or a yummy chicken dish.  There are days that I feel like I live in the middle of nowhere, like she says, but I don't have leisure time to frolic around my kitchen and house creating amazing dishes.  I work hard, from sun up to sun down.  I am not really sure what all I do but it goes something like this:  wrangling children, helping with homework, changing diapers, running Em to her activities, and sometimes cooking and cleaning.  On paper, my life seems busy and full but one thing that I am learning is just how lonely it can be as a farmer's wife.

I remember reading a blog before we moved from a fellow farmer's wife. The one thing she said was that it was important to have a hobby or activity that you can focus on and keep busy with during the farming season.  From April through November, you become a farming widow, left with hours upon hours to yourself and you will literally go crazy if you don't have something to focus on daily.  I thought she was crazy, I mean how busy could one farmer be.  I expected the long days but what I wasn't prepared for was losing my best friend for many months out of the year.

Tony works so hard 12 hours a day.  The man is bone tired when he gets home.  The last thing he wants to do is sit down and have idle chit chat.  Of course, that is exactly what I want to do.  I haven't had an adult conversation all day and I am just bursting to speak with someone about what the kids did or didn't do, what our plans are for the weekend, or just sharing how my day was.  I am learning to adjust  my expectations and find different outlets to fulfill my social needs.  I recharge my batteries by being with people so being home all the time with kids, day in and day out, can be a struggle.  I love the gift of being able to stay home but I do miss being with other adults.  Thankfully, I have joined a few groups here that allow me to socialize with other moms.  I am learning from my fellow farm wives that farming is a way of life and you adjust and get used to it.  Your life is put on hold to take care of your man and the farm.  The true challenge lies in finding ways to take care of yourself and your kids without losing your mind.

A woman said to me, "we farm wives, well we are a breed of our own.  We live a life with much uncertainty yet we are expected to keep the home front going no matter what is going on around us.  Life goes on and our families are counting on us.  Farm life is hard.  But there is no better life to live because you are working God's land."  So true, so true.  So many lessons I continue to learn on a daily basis.  The quote below is one of my favorites and is how I choose to tackle each day.

The Good - the laughter from children

The Bad - Harrison and Mac screaming at breakfast and throwing food because they didn't want pancakes, they wanted cereal 

The Beautiful - watching Tony help Em with the piano

The Ugly - Harrison's biting Mac in the store, Mac biting him back and the woman in line asking me to control my children

The Not-So-Glamorous - potato soup on the front of my shirt and side of my cheek that had to have been there for awhile and I didn't even notice it (ran several errands like that).

 

Apple Obsession

Pure apple beauty!  Apples ready to go to market.

My heart is full at the number of friends and family supporting local farmers. I love hearing stories from you all about visiting your local farmers markets or stopping at a road side stand to purchase local goods.  Keep it up.  There is nothing better than fresh, local fare and supporting those who work so hard day in and day out.  I know that I have struggled with this in the past.  I would have to plan to go to the farmers market and hope that they have what I needed to make a specific dish or dishes over the following week.  Prices were sometimes higher or I would get there and not really like what I saw because it didn't "match" what the veggie or fruit looked like in the store.  Oh such the city girl I was.  Wait, who am I kidding?!  I am still that same city girl but I am wiser, now that I have gone country.  I now let my trip to the market decide what I make, not determine it ahead of time.  Imperfect looking veggies and fruit are truly perfect because they have literally come off the farm that day or day before.

Right now apples are in season, so I am planning dishes using them.  I am kind of obsessed with apples and wish I was baking and using them more (picky eaters and a husband who isn't home makes it hard to experiment with lots of apple dishes but I am trying).  I was blessed to go on a field trip with Emily's class to our local orchard, Apple Hill (http://applehillorchard.webs.com/).  There were apples everywhere and such a variety.  We picked, we cored and pealed them and then we ate.  Not only did we eat apples, but we ate donuts, specifically apple spice donuts that make my heart melt.  When we walked into the store, all I could think about was, "when I die and go to heaven, this is what my heaven will smell like with maybe a hint of bacon on top."  The warmth from the apples baking in apple pies and turnovers hugged me as I walked in the door and my nose was filled with the smell of yeast, cinnamon and yes, more apples, coming from the homemade donuts.  Aaah, just awesome!

We are so blessed to have Apple Hill orchard just down the road from us and I will be so sad when apple season is over.  Just trying to embrace it as much as I can right now.  Oh and one baked good you will probably not see coming from my home is an apple pie.  My niece, Hannah, makes THE BEST apple pie ever and I am not about to even attempt to make one because it will never compare to her apple pie greatness.

Demonstrating apple picking.  The basket is so cool because you just drop the cloth
that covers the bottom to let the apples out.

Washing and sorting through the apples.  The apples that are bruised or that might
have a small bad spot are taken out and chopped up to be used in pies, applesauce and cider.

My little apple picker.

Grassfed Beef, It's What's for Dinner

I realized that it has been awhile since I have blogged.  The Hinkle house was out of commission for about 3 weeks with 3 sick kids.  Add that to harvest beginning and me running and completing my 4th half marathon and well, you can see why I haven't really had a chance to blog.  Oh, and I have been consumed with researching my new passion, grassfed beef.

Why Grassfed?

Why not?  My brother-in-law Troy has been raising grassfed beef for over 3 years for our family and close friends.  It is really hard to describe the taste and just how different it is from grainfed beef.  You have to taste it to truly experience the difference.  I have spent hours researching grassfed beef, what makes it so much better for our bodies, the environment and the animals and I have to share just some differences and facts that caught my attention.

• Lower in total fat and has fewer calories per ounce than grainfed beef.  It actually has about the same amount fat as skinless chicken, deer or elk.  Because of how lean the meat is, it can actually lower your LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
• Higher in Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E.  According to the book The Omega Diet, grassfed beef can give you two to six times more Omega-3 fatty acids.  Several studies even suggest that diets that are higher in Omega 3s and Vitamin E can reduce your overall risk of getting cancer and lower your risk of heart disease.
• Grassfed animals are healthier and have less stress because they are free to roam pastures and are not given antibiotics or growth hormones (or fed corn and other grains that are difficult for their bodies to digest).  They eat what God has intended for them to feed on and grow at a natural pace.
• Raising grassfed beef is far less polluting because waste is distributed over pastures and not in one confined space (the waste can then be used as a natural fertilizer for land).  Grainfed cattle are contained in a small area, actually confined, so waste builds up leading to not only land but water pollution. 

I gathered the information above from two great websites which I encourage you to visit if you would like more information on grassfed beef and other livestock as well information on poultry. 

Eat Wild  www.eatwild.com 

American Grassfed  http://www.americangrassfed.org/. 

So why this sudden interest?

Hinkle Heritage Farms will be raising and selling grassfed beef to local consumers.  I am beyond excited to provide grassfed beef to our community and those who live within 300 miles of our farm.  Our goal is to provide premium grassfed beef from our farm to your home.  We raise, process and then deliver the beef right to your door or you can pick the meat up from us.  More details to come. 

If you would like more information on how you can purchase grassfed beef, please let me know.  I never in a million years thought I would get excited about cows.  But, I am very passionate about health and ensuring that my quality of life as well as those around me is the best that it can be so I shouldn't be surprised that this is becoming my new crusade.

Harvest has begun

As I watched Tony leave this morning, I found myself almost tearing up at the thought that he would begin harvesting his bean fields today.  The emotion of knowing that we had made it through a move, planting of crops, settling in to our new home and life and finally harvest was almost more than I could handle without at least one cup of coffee in me.  I could tell that he had a little more zip in his step today.  The combine would be out and harvesting would officially begin, today, Thursday, September 26.  Hallelujah!

Now begins long days and shorter nights, racing to get the crops picked before the first frost sets in.  Prayers will continue that we have a great yield and that somehow prices of corn will bounce back up to where they were earlier this year.  Prayers that our farmers stay safe and healthy.  What I know is that I can't control any of this and THAT is something that I have to remind myself of day in and day out.  Just because you do the work and work harder than most people doesn't mean that you are guaranteed financial success or even survival. I am nervous and worried but know God's great plan will carry us through.  Blind faith, complete faith and hope.  So proud of the Hinkle men.

Just trying to find my place

While driving to Fort Branch yesterday, which is about a half an hour south of Vincennes to drop off play yards that kept the twins contained and me sane for many, many months, I found myself thinking and reflecting (always dangerous).  With much joy and sadness, my little tornadoes have outgrown those North States play yards and now another wonderful soul can enjoy the benefits of containment of little people who make our heads spin, our hearts leap with joy and cause us to collapse completely exhausted at the end of the day.  It is amazing how much one can process when you don't have kids screaming, tractor videos going on in the background or rounds of twinkle, twinkle being sung at a level that could be heard two counties over.

I LIVE IN KNOX COUNTY.  I LIVE IN VINCENNES.  

MY HUSBAND IS A FARMER.  

Yep, that is what kept shouting at me this time in my car.  How the heck did I get here?!  Oh, right, I made that choice a little over a year ago.  We made the choice to leave our lives in Indianapolis for better opportunities for our children and us.  Small town life, family and fellowship.

So...many of you have asked how we are doing, how is the adjustment, what is small town life like...?  So many questions and I love how mysterious our life seems to be to the outside world.  Well here are your answers from my perspective.

TONY - My husband is amazing.  He is thriving and happy.  His work is hard, never ending, challenging and also boring, annoying, exciting and fulfilling.  He gets to work day in and day out with his brothers and dad.  I can honestly say that I have never seen him more relaxed and happy in my entire life. Tony is your classic introvert, yet here he is my social butterfly.  He makes the introductions in social settings, he has the connections...talk about a role reversal.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't know that he is where is suppose to be.

EMILY - My adaptable child who can fit in no matter where she goes.  She seems to really like Franklin Elementary and has made a few friends.  She misses Greenbriar and her buddies but I think she is making her own little spot in Mrs. Allen's 1st grade class.

Em with her 1st Vincennes buddy, Caden, and Olivia, her oldest and dearest friend from Indy.

Em with Mercedes, her new friend from school.

She has joined the Vincennes Swim Club and is like fish (I think that we have found her sport).  What I realize is that everything she does, she does with purpose and persistence.  Time is on her side and she will continue to find where she belongs.

MAC and HARRISON (Tractor/Combine as we like to call them).  I think that if you asked them, they would say, "why didn't we move here sooner?"  Tractors and trains, lots of mud and cows and pumpkins.  What else do little boys need?

Seeing the boys and also Em with Tony's family just makes my heart smile.  So much love and support and I can see just how happy and blessed not only the kiddos are but also their parents.

ME - I am just trying to find my place in this town.  I feel like that new kid in gym class when you are picking teams, praying that I won't get picked last or that no one wants me on their team.  "Pick me!  Pick me!" my inner voice screams. Vincennes is a great town and the people are friendly and nice.  I know that with time, I will make connections and find where I am suppose to be and what my purpose is.  Right now, I am a mom and a wife, trying to raise 3 kids and support my husband in a job that few would ever take on.  God has put me here for a reason and I do believe that we are living out his plan for us.

SO I have to put on my big girl panties, be brave and ultimately have faith that I can let go of my city girl self to embrace the beauty that a country girl can see, live and love.

SO...

TRACTOR SHOW!

From the moment that Mac wakes up and raises his sweet little head, two words will ring out from his tiny little mouth.  TRACTOR SHOW!  It will start off soft and almost like a question, "tractor show?"  As I carry him down the stairs in the morning, the words get louder.  By the time we reach the hallway on our way to the family room, he has broken out into a full on chant including arm movements.  "Tractor show, tractor show, tractor show."  You feel like you are at a rally for tractors and this is a routine that we have gone through for the past two months or so and it continues today.  He never waivers on his request, even if I suggest music or possibly Curious George.  He will just look at me like I have three heads, cock his head and respond very flatly, "tractor show."

Well, when several members of our family suggested we take the kids to Elnora for the 29th Annual White River Valley Association Antique Show, you better believe we jumped at that chance (Elnora is another wonderful small town in the county over).  Trent, my brother-in-law, said that it would be a lot like the State Fair but with more local fare.  Man, was he spot on with that description.

So, let's just say that I spent the first half hour in complete and total amazement.  I have never seen so many tractors, combines and other farm equipment in one place in my entire life.  The little boys have been enjoying John Deere tractor videos and I felt like I was living them right then and there.  I saw tractors from 1914, a Johnny Popper Model D from 1924, John Deere 1954 tractor...man, I could go on and on.  And if you thought I was excited, you should have seen the little boys.  You would have thought that they would have gone crazy but they just stood and stared.  So many tractors in one place...what was a little boy to do?!

We arrived just as the tractor parade was beginning and spent a good half hour watching all different types and brands of tractors, combines, mowers and other equipment go by.  One word, AWESOME! 

We spent most of our afternoon with the tractors.  The boys and Em finally warmed up, literally, and wanted to get on every tractor that they saw.  Thankfully, a few kind souls allowed our children to live out their lifelong dream of sitting on an antique tractor (ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration but you can see the joy on their faces).

So excited that Aunt Penny could join us!

We did walk around a bit but it was hot and really, really crowded so our trip was a little shorter than I had hoped.  I had to laugh at this picture below because I look like such a city slicker with my sun hat and big glasses compared to the rest of the folks at the event.  Silly Leigh!

The event did not disappoint and we can't wait to go back next year.