My parent's green thumbs

A couple of weeks ago, I traveled up to Michigan to visit my parents. They are getting ready to renovate their kitchen, which I can't wait to see when it is done. I helped them pack up items in the cabinets. I know this process can be an overwhelming feat, so having an extra set of hands to clean and pack items so they can be unpacked and ready for the new cabinets in a few weeks was probably pretty helpful. Like a lot of homes over time, kitchens can get dated, but what they will soon get to experience will most definitely make their cooking and family entertaining experiences very enjoyable. It will certainly have a modern country look, which makes it all the better in my opinion.

I haven't been up to Michigan in a few years, so it was a nice visit. It was certainly much cooler than we are experiencing in North Carolina.

Backyard beauties

Ma and Pa put in a new back deck a few years ago, which is really nice. It is made with composite materials that can stand those brutally cold winters and doesn't require painting. But what I was most impressed with was the flowers they have growing in the back yard around the deck. I've got to give it to them for their green thumbs. I didn't realize they had cut a piece of honeysuckle from our old farm in Ohio and have it growing in the back yard. And the peonies....oh my! So pretty.

Surrounded by floral experts

I am fortunate to have an extended family of floriculture specialists in the family. Ma has two associate degrees -- one in floriculture from The Ohio State University Agriculture and Technical Institute in Wooster, and one in fine arts from Lansing Community College in Lansing, Michigan. Pops has a degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University, but does a pretty good job keeping those flower beds maintained. My husband used to teach floriculture at Randolph Community College in Asheboro, NC, and worked at a florist for several years. My daughter was on the nationally recognized FFA floriculture team at Chatham Central High School in Bear Creek, NC, where her team was 4th in the nation in 2013. Being surrounded by floral enthusiasts and having a creative itch, it came pretty natural for me to learn how to tie bows for wreaths and arrangements, as well as learning a few (and yes, only a few) botanical names of plants.

As I mentioned, I have a lot of creative interests and photography is certainly one of them. I happened to have one of my cameras with me while in Michigan and decided to get a few close ups of my parent's floral beauties. I think you will agree, they are doing a pretty good job. Enjoy!

Hand fans and Asian treats

I never thought I'd be so slack when it comes to keeping up with my own blog. I guess when you are a writer by trade it can be hard finding time to sit down and write for yourself, right? I guess it is time to pick up where I left off.

Yesterday I was on a  mission. The hot and humid weather we are experiencing so early this summer in North Carolina has been brutal, to say the least. After going to a Durham Bulls baseball game earlier this week in the 100-degree heat, I sure wish I would have had one thing: a hand fan!

My daughter's hand-painted hand fan
from Puerto Rico in 2009.

I was going to take this one shown on the left; a hand fan I had purchased at The Linen House for my daughter while on a family cruise trip that stopped over in Puerto Rico. However, I decided not to take it because it is hand painted and too much of a special souvenir from our trip. If I broke or lost it, I would never have forgiven myself. So I started thinking about where I could get an inexpensive hand fan. The light bulb went off! The Grand Asia Market in Cary, NC, would have them!

Found them!

The Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina near Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill has a large cultural base of Indians, Africans and Asians. I have never been in this particular market that specializes in Asian food and non-food goods. It is pretty good size, and I wasn't sure what to expect. As soon as I walked in, I saw what I was looking for: a basket full of different styles and colors of hand fans nestled on the floor. I was in luck! The best part was that the fans were under $5! I picked up a few $2 fans and a couple of $5 fans. I hit the jack pot! As I was digging around to find my favorite colors, a lady from Nigeria stopped and joined me. She said that she was getting ready to go on a missions trip to Haiti and needed one of these to keep cool from the heat. She, too, grabbed a $2 fan and off she went to finish her shopping.

Here is part of my stash of new hand-fans from
 the Grand Asia Market. Aren't they pretty?

Ducks and sweet treats

After gathering my pretty hand fans, I decided to take a few minutes to browse the store. Wow...it sure was eye opening! I headed down a whole aisle that was dedicated to various types of noodles....and then there was an aisle with nothing but sauces! Now I know where to go when I can't find that unique Asian ingredient for my Chinese or Thai recipes at my regular grocery store. As a hobby cook, I felt like a kid in a candy store!

And then there was the butcher shop: Every kind of meat imaginable, including lots of duck, chicken hearts and fish. It reminded me of my trip to Chinatown in San Francisco many years ago. However, the only difference was that I really believe the Grand Asia Market is pretty sanitary compared to the many Chinatown shops hanging duck carcasses in their windows instead of coolers. I watched the Grand Asia butcher's prepare meat, and in such a popular store that attracts many cultures, it became apparent to me that this place had to be pretty sanitary or they would get written up by the health department. This is sad, but I have never tried duck, but I am tempted to try it sometime at the Grand Asia restaurant located in the store. It looked pretty good.

As I headed to the checkout line, I noticed a snacks aisle. I can't read Chinese, but I can see pictures that looked pretty tasty! Last year at Christmas time, my local Vietnamese nail salon ladies gave all of their customers a box of Asian wafer cookies. I'll admit, while it was a nice gesture, I was a bit apprehensive about sharing them with my family because I didn't know where they came from! Now I do! I saw a whole pile of those cookies at the Grand Asia Market.

As I was getting ready to get in line, I noticed a treat called a Choco Roll, so I got a couple and shared one with my husband. The product is made in Taiwan. We both agreed it was a really nice treat. The biggest thing we noticed is that it tasted like a classic strawberry wafer cookie wrapped in chocolate, but the taste wasn't like what we experience in the U.S. The strawberry wafer middle and the chocolate outside weren't nearly as sweet. To be honest, it was really good! Not having an over-powering sugar taste was nice for once. I need to go back and get more of these to have them in the house when we get a sweet craving. It was very satisfying.

Opening my horizons

For about 30 minutes I felt like I was in a different country. Every time a store clerk made an announcement, it was in Mandarin, which gave my experience more authenticity. It is amazing what a little cultural diversity can do for you....and who knew it is right in my back yard along.

    

A Family First

Some parents talk about that first baby step or tooth, but I have a unique mommy first -- my daughter is the first person in our family to recieve the American FFA Degree. On November 1, she walked the big stage at the 87th annual National FFA Convention to receive her honor.

What is the big deal about this? Well, our daughter is a third generation FFA member and this honor is the highest bestowed to an FFA member. Less than one percent of FFA members receive this honor each year. My husband and I earned our state FFA degrees, but never got to experience this achievement.


Our daughter, Kaylyn, recieved her American FFA Degree on November 1, 2014 at the 87th National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

And, what is even more special is that our daughter is an animal science/agriculture education double major at Oklahoma State University. Meaning, she grasped what she learned on our family farm and in her high school agriculture classroom and is pursuing an opportunity to teach the next generation of agriculturalists. For this ol' farm gal and FFA mom, this is very special. Congratulations Kaylyn!

My Junk Gypsy Soul

You know how the old saying goes: The shoemaker's kids have the worst shoes.Why? Because the shoemaker is too busy making shoes for everyone else. Same is true for this ag communicator. Why haven't I written a new blog post in quite a while? Because I am writing "stuff" for everyone else! But that's okay. It keeps the creative juices flowing.

Recently I have become addicted to the Junk Gypsy show on Great American Country (GAC). I think I am so fascinated by it because they have a knack for taking old stuff and making it look cool. Plus, they do it cost effectively. My own Junk Gypsy soul has me excited about a couple of my own new projects. One involves testing out Annie Sloan chalk paint to redo an old rocking chair that was out under the old shed on the farm, and the other involves taking a pair of 1880s Singer sewing machine legs and redoing them so they support a table top. If the chalk paint project works out, I am using it again in the color white ochre to paint my parent's old bedroom suit that my daughter will use next year at college. (She also gets the teal rocker for college, too.) Not sure what I'll do once I refurbish the Singer wrought iron legs with some oil, but it should be snazzy and a great conversation piece when it is done. I like to sew, and this type of item will be one I can really appreciate. I am thinking of using old barn siding for the table top to make it personal. Reader friends, do any of you have suggestions I should consider?

Never a dull creative moment at my house. Stay tuned for the before and after pictures!

NC Cooperative Extension Service -- Celebrating 100 years!

My husband, Sam, has spent over 20 years working for North Carolina's Cooperative Extension Service -- first as a horticulture extension agent, next as a livestock extension agent, and finally as director of our county cooperative extension service. But, those job titles don't really define everything that he does and the hours that go into his job. In fact, most of our state's extension agents wear many hats and participate in a lot of night meetings and educational programs. For example, not only does Sam oversee our county extension office, its agents and support staff, but he also has livestock, pesticide re-certification, and pasture management responsibilities, to name a few.

It still amazes me that this year is the program's 100th anniversary in North Carolina, yet many people have no clue how important this organization is or exactly what it does for our communities -- particularly those in rural areas.

What is the Cooperative Extension Service?  My definition.
The easiest way for me to explain what this organization does is by giving a logical definition. To me, cooperative extension is just that -- a teaching and service "extension" arm of our land grant universities. Here in my home state this includes North Carolina State University in Raleigh and North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro. Extension agents serve as teachers. They are specialist in various disciplines and can help lend a teaching hand to people in our communities who are eager to make things better. For example, if you are a farmer and need to learn about how to get soil testing completed for your crop fields or better understand how to treat certain weeds in your pastures, your local extension agents can help answer those questions -- free of charge! University professors and specialists can't be everywhere all the time, so this is where our extension agents come in to provide a valuable service. 

4-H is a part of the Cooperative Extension Service
A lot of people don't realize that the youth organization, 4-H, has a long standing history as being a part of the Cooperative Extension Service. If you grew up in 4-H and are now working in agriculture, you can probably thank your local 4-H cooperative extension service program for giving you a start. Whether it was going to a 4-H camp or raising a pig as a project, 4-H helps to develop our youth so that they can make a difference in their communities. To see how 4-H has grown over the years in North Carolina, check out this clip from our local PBS channel that was recently featured: 4-H link on PBS

What do you appreciate the most about your local cooperative extension service? 

Pressure cookers can be a great tool in the kitchen

Back in my younger days I can remember going into my Grandma Hines' kitchen on Saturday mornings to be greeted by the rapid "tick, tick, tick, tick" sound of the pressure cooker on the stove top. The pleasant smell of a beef roast cooking consumed the air. Noon meals on Saturdays at grandma's were usually reserved for beef chuck roast, mashed potatoes, Amish noodles, homemade apple sauce and green beans with a little bit of half and half poured over them. It was a classic, hardy meal for my family who usually needed refueling after a hefty round of morning chores and to prepare for the next round of work in the afternoon. Anyone who ever had the chance to eat this particular meal always raved about it -- including me!

My grandmother passed away a couple of years ago, but her classic meal lives on. Every time I cook this same meal in my kitchen, the aroma takes me back to her kitchen. Funny how music and food tend to take you back to a special place in time.

Grandma's Techniques
Right after I married, I was visiting back home and asked my grandma if she would show me her techniques of cooking her classic Saturday noontime meal that was always so tasty. As I watched, I notice that she had the prep down like clockwork to ensure the meal was ready by a 12:30 p.m. serving time. At 10:30 a.m. she'd started her roast. Even if it only took an hour to cook, she knew how to keep the roast warm by letting it stay in its juices in the cooker until her sides were prepared. 

She could have chose to turn from her traditional ways and use a slow cooker to make a beef chuck roast like many folks do today, but it wouldn't have been the same. There was a graceful madness to her method, which included the amount of salt she used. Grandma loved her salt! As grandma guided me through the roast prepping process, I was amazed that I couldn't see the top of the roast as she prepared it for cooking. It looked like snow! I don't use quite as much salt as she used to, but you do have to use some salt to get the right flavoring.

One of the pluses of this particular recipe is that it is a feast you can complete in a timely fashion, and it taste delightful. I hope you enjoy what I consider some of the best comfort food around!

Step One:  The Pressure Cooker
I recently had to purchase a new pressure cooker. Between my husband and I, we wore out our other one. In this recipe, I am using a 6-quart, stainless steel, Presto pressure cooker. For cooking food, I prefer using stainless steel. Period. I save the aluminum pressure cookers for canning. Personally, aluminum is just too thin for me when it comes to cooking raw food in a pressure cooker, but it works good for hot water baths for canning.


Presto, 6-quart pressure cooker.  Do you notice the little black pressure valve on the right on the lid and the little hole in the handle?  Those are safety features! Don't let the pressure cooker intimidate you! The weight is in the middle.

Step Two:  Beef Chuck Roast
I have found that Costco has wonderful beef chuck roasts. They are huge! And yes, they will cram down into a 6-quart pressure cooker. You can even throw a frozen or partially frozen roast into the pressure cooker (if it isn't too stiff to stick out the top). It will still get done in an hour.

 

Step Three:  Preparing The Roast
Once you have your roast in the cooker get out the salt! Like I mentioned, I don't use as much as grandma did, but be sure to thoroughly salt the top of the roast. A good salt dusting is key, especially for a large roast. Next, pour enough hot water over the roast to cover it. If your roast is big and you are worried about water running over the edge, don't worry if you can't cover it all the way with water. It will do fine. See, I don't have mine fully covered.

 

 

Step Four:  Put the lid on and start cooking
Once you've prepped your roast, put the lid on securely (with rubber seal in place) and put the weight on top of the lid. I don't use the bottom rack that comes with the cooker, but you can if you prefer. You'll notice there is a safety valve on your lid. This is a good thing! Today's pressure cookers have safety features my grandmother's didn't, so don't worry about the lids flying off unless you are really careless!

Put your roast on medium high until you start to hear some steam working its way out of the weight on top of the lid. You'll also notice the lock on the handle will seal and secure (another good thing!). Once the weight starts to tick (and it may start ticking really fast), don't freak out and run for cover!  Just turn down the heat to medium or medium low until the ticking is steady and constant -- not wild! Once the ticking is steady, set your kitchen timer for one hour. After the hour is up, the roast is done! It is that simple! Here is what my pressure cooker sounds like when it is cooking steady:

Step Five:  Cooling off
Pressure cookers have safety features so we don't get hurt. When your kitchen timer indicates your roast is done, you'll need to let the pressure cooker cool. You can set it to the side on your stove top. The lid will not unlock until the steam is fully released. To speed up the process, I sometimes will run cold water over the top of the lid at the sink. I also will gently tap the weigh on top to see if the steam is out of the pot, but be careful doing this because it will be hot and you could get a steam burn.

Step Six:  Removing roast from the pressure cooker
Once the lid lock releases, take off the lid. You'll be pleasantly surprised to see a perfectly tender cut of meat ready to serve. Sometimes I'll brown the roast on each side in about two tablespoons of melted butter in a skillet -- assuming I can keep the roast together, because it will be wonderfully tender. In this case, the roast was just right and didn't need any additional cooking. See the nice color? Grandma always said the browning helped to warm the roast, but I think it was because it gave it some additional flavor and a nice brown color. This step is optional.

Step Seven:  Don't get rid of the beef broth
After you remove your roast, keep the broth because you'll need it to cook your Amish noodles. The broth is already nicely salted and has rich flavor -- perfect for cooking noodles. Just add more water to the broth in the pressure cooker (no need to dirty another pot) and bring the liquid to a boil. Add the noodles and cook for about 8 minutes. If you can't find Amish noodles in your area, you can find decent comparatives at your local grocery store. I prefer thin Amish noodles from Troyer's in Applecreek, Ohio. A few of the larger farm markets in North Carolina even carry the Amish Wedding brand noodles.

 

 

Step Eight:  Serve!
The nice thing about a tender beef chuck roast is that it is easy to pull apart with a couple of forks to get rid of some of the larger pieces of fat. After breaking up the meat and getting rid of the extra fat, you can place it on a plate by itself or add it directly to the drained noodles. Either way you can't go wrong.

 

Although I don't show it here, the best way to serve Amish noodles is directly on top of mashed potatoes! Yum -- a Dutch classic! Grandma, here's to you!

    








  

I am not lazy...just busy with life!

Back when I started my blog, I told some friends that my goal was to post several times during a week. Well, I obviously lost touch with reality! Here it is March 26, 2013, and the last time I had a post was May 22, 2012!  Yikes! Am I a slacker or what?

Being a writer by trade makes it tough to find the time to write for "fun," but I am going to try to do better. After all, there is always something interesting to write about, right?



ARC members watch as an Express Ranches employee
selects the best embryos from a beef heifer. Express Ranches
was one of the stops on our educational tour.
 

Last week I attended the Agricultural Relations Council (ARC) annual meeting in Oklahoma City. The group is made up of agriculture communications professionals from all over the U.S. During the meeting, several attendees said that they usually go back home feeling "recharged." You know what? I think they were right! When you get a room full of creative minds together, it helps you to feed off of each other to spark new ideas. You learn what works and what doesn't work, and soon you adapt those thoughts and changes to your own way of thinking. I believe we get caught up in the day-to-day world and forget that basic common sense and simplicity can often fuel a creative fire within us. 

So, I hope what I learned last week will "recharge" my battery so that I can be more consistent in my blog writings. I've got a few things up my sleeve...stay tuned!

Hogs, Beef...now Chickens!

I grew up on a farrow-to-finish hog farm in north central Ohio. As part of my 4-H projects as a youngster, I also had the opportunity to experience raising beef steers. And today, my family raises beef cattle. But who would have ever thought I'd get into chickens?!

First let me point out, I am by no means a big poultry grower.  I only have six chickens as a test trial to see how it works out. With this said, I still think my small flock is...well...cool!

Ever year around Easter time, the local farm stores supply dozens of egg-laying biddies for people to purchase. For the past two years I'd just watch them in fascination every time I'd go to the store to pick up farm supplies. Finally, this year I broke down and bought six of them.

Back in March I purchased six Ameraucana hens (at least that is what we think they are -- they weren't marked at the store). These are the kind that lay blue eggs. They are just about 10 weeks old and later this summer -- say September -- they will start laying eggs. 

My chicks at two weeks and five weeks old.

Every night when I get home from work, the first thing I do is water the flowers in the backyard and tend to the "ladies of the roost."  I call them my "diva chicks."  I make sure they have enough feed and clean water, and then I kneel down beside their coop and just watch them. They are such fascinating little critters!

I took one Poultry Science class at Ohio State as an elective just so I could learn more about a part of the agriculture industry I never knew before. I don't remember a whole lot from the class since that was 25 years ago, but what I do remember is the variety of breeds that are out there.

My "diva chicks" at almost 10 weeks of age. They are getting pretty feathers!

If my six birds do well, and I stay interested in this endeavor, I'd like to invest in a bigger coop and then get about 15 birds. Have you seen the creative coops that are out there? Maybe that is why I am so taken by the chickens; they can live in some really creative housing!  I am a creative person who likes to draw, sew and build things, so maybe this is part of the attraction. Whatever the reason, it sure has been enjoyable having the divas. I can't wait until they start squawking when one of them has the first egg. I might even squawk, too! The anticipation is killing me!

 

Southern Cooking Staples

It is hard to believe, but I have now lived in the South the exact amount of time I had lived in my native Ohio (22 years). And, over the years I have learned to do some Southern cooking. I didn't even know what a collard green was until I moved to North Carolina!

In recent months, I have discovered the infamous "Crock Pot." I have used crock pots on occasion in the past, but now-a-days I keep my biggest one on the counter top at all times. It is a cooking staple for folks with busy schedules. Over the weekend I cooked beef tips and gravy. The weekend before it was the ever-so-popular pintos and ham hocks -- very much a Southern thing and a family favorite. 

There is nothing like cooking meat in a slow cooker, too. The slower the better....it will just melt in your mouth.

Tip:  Looking for a way to save money when you cook?  I read recently that if you use a crock pot for 10 hours of cooking, it will only cost you 50 cents! 

Julie's Pork and Pintos -- I use a large crock pot like this one to make hearty meals.

For this blog post, I thought I would share the pork and pinto beans recipe I mentioned earlier. Now, to make the meal complete, don't forget to include a box of Jiffy cornbread (or your favorite recipe) to go along with it. I will warn you that if you are watching your salt intake, you might want to hold back on the cured ham hocks and choose a different pork option, but according to my family this is what makes it so good. What I love about this recipe is that it is easy. Just toss everything in and forget about it -- and walla' -- a hearty meal for supper! Enjoy and get crockin'!

Julie's Pinto Beans and Ham Hocks
(Cooking Time:  8-10 hours)

Items you will need:
1 lb. bag of dry pinto beans
2 meaty cured ham hocks
One medium onion, chopped
2 Tbl. Garlic (minced)
2 Tbl. Ground Cumin
Plenty of coarse ground black pepper to taste
7-8 cups of water
(I use my bigger Crock to make this recipe -- see picture)

Prep the night before:  The night before you start cooking, place the pinto beans in the crock to soak overnight with plenty of water.

Cooking: 
In the morning after beans have soaked in water all night, drain the water off and place the beans back in to the Crock Pot. Add all of the ingredients, including the 7-8 cups of water, and stir. Put the lid on and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours. The mixture will thicken nicely as it cooks. About 30 minutes before your cooking is completed, take the ham hocks out and remove the meat from the bones and place the meat back into the crock pot for the remaining cooking time. Discard bones. While the meat warms back up, bake your Jiffy cornbread (takes about 15 minutes).

Now how simple is that for a hardy supper?! 

As I try new Crock Pot recipes that are really really good and really really easy, I'll be sure to share them.  

Lessons learned from the meat science lab

Isn't it funny how memories of your childhood never leave you?  Between me and my brother, Jeff, we just don't forget things that happened many years ago. In fact, my parents are amazed at some of the things we bring up when we are able to get together. My short term memory is not like it used to be (I blame information overload and social media on that one), but my long term memory is...well...incredible!

Those farm kid memories have often come in handy when I address others on how things have changed in the agriculture industry. I reminisce a lot about my responsibilities on the farm as a young person, and I have some pretty good tales about my days in the College of Agriculture at Ohio State, too. Like the time we toured a meat processing facility in Columbus as part of my 500-level meat cutting class. What do I remember most from that tour? I remember how skilled the workers were at cutting meat and how they processed every part of an animal to benefit us. It was amazing!

The Little Food Science Guy

Animal Science Building, The Ohio State University.

I also remember the little guy who was majoring in Food Science that had a hard time getting over the sound of bones cracking when we would be working on carcasses. He was just a little fellow and he always stood in the back of the class when a demonstration was taking place. As the class would start watching the instructor demonstrate how to cut a particular section of carcass (beef, in most cases), it wasn't too uncommon to hear a "bang" and then a "boom!" This usually meant we lost the little food science guy.

Like clock work, the little food science guy would be out cold on the floor with his knives strewn close by him. At first we were shocked and feared for his safety because we thought he had a medical condition. But as time went on, we soon realized what was up. He was just weak-kneed over certain sounds. We actually started taking verbal bets as to how long it would take for him to pass out in the next class. Poor little fellow.  We all thought he'd never be able to pass the class, which to my understanding was required for his major.  But our great meat instructor had a tactful plan to fix that habit!

Processing Demo Day

There is no other way to get really great training than doing something hands on.  And when it came time to learn every aspect of properly preparing an animal for processing, processing demo day was it. And like most of my fellow classmates, it also meant you didn't know what to expect. You had to react quickly. You see, our instructor didn't preselect who would be doing the different roles on processing demo day. He'd just point and say, "Do it now!"

It was nerve racking, to say the least. But honestly, looking back it was the best way to learn. It was also on processing demo day that we feared for the little food science guy. Nothing would be worse than to see him pass out in the processing area.   

The Test of Endurance
It was 5:30 a.m. in the morning when all the students gathered in the meat lab to prepare for processing demo day. The instructor told us we would be putting down an older heifer and went over each procedure we would experience that morning. While we were excited to learn the processes, we also feared where he'd place us for our specific job. Nobody wanted the sticking job. Period. Mostly because we didn't want to screw up. But who we really feared for was the little food science guy.

As the processing started, the instructor went around the room pointing one by one to individuals to start doing certain procedures. Then, he turned to the little food science guy and said, "You....you are doing the sticking...step right here and hurry....NOW!"

We all stood in silence as we watched, waiting in fear that this was it -- that the little food science guy was done for sure.

Behold how wrong we were! After quickly taking the sticking tool from the instructor, he did a picture-perfect procedure that would make any butcher proud. We all breathed a sigh of relief. But the most exciting part was that on this day he broke his fainting habit for good. (Well, at least in the meat lab!)  And I am happy to say, he passed the class with success.

This class was one of the hardest but most rewarding classes I ever took at Ohio State. It taught me a great appreciation for food animals and what they provide for us. We not only learned how to process animals the way they should be processed, but we also learned a lesson in facing the fear of the unknown. The little food science guy sure did! It was a class I'll never forget.   

In search of the ultimate mattress

I had every intention of being a regular contributor to my blog. I even told a friend I had hoped to write something as least three to five times a week.  Good one, eh?

Maybe it is the life of a writer -- always writing for others but never has time to share her own thoughts. Maybe it is my busy life in general as a wife, mom, farmer and employee of a corporation. I also am a migraine sufferer. I believe all the above play some part in my slackness.

But today I am in the mood to write. I have had a brain fog in recently weeks, and for some reason, today it was "slightly" lifted. You see, I often lack a good night's sleep, and I definitely keep too much stress in my life.  But help is on the way -- or at least I hope so! My husband and I just made a purchase....a new Sleep Number Bed!

The i8 Sleep Number Bed....it can't arrive soon enough!

I got the call last night that our new bed will be delivered in a few days and I can't wait.  The bed price was more than what I wanted to pay, but my hope is that it will be the last one we ever have to purchase. What makes me so excited over the thing is that it is adjustable!

Age and Sleep Habits
Funny how you age, isn't it? Things just change, and for me, sleep is one of them. I haven't slept through the night in months. I had been shopping for a new mattress for a couple of weeks, and my husband told me I should check out a Sleep Number Bed to see if I like it. He had received good reviews on it from friends and neighbors, so I decided to go see what was so special about them.

Finding "My Number"
Last week over my lunch break I went to a Sleep Number Bed store. I sat on the first bed that wasn't being tried out by other curious mattress buyers. My initial impression: "What is so great about this thing? It is just a bed, and it cost a lot!" When the sales clerk came over, she said, "Ma'am, you have to try this [bed] out the right way."

The right way? As I pondered over what she said, she had me to stand up.

She proceeded to put the bed on the firmest setting (100) and had me lay on it. "I want you to find your sleep number," she said. Taking the wireless bed remote in hand, I started lowering my number in hopes I would get that "squishy plushy" number I had always dreamed about, but had yet to find.

And then it happened. I got to "45." All of the sudden, this tranquil feeling came over me. Was I in Heaven on earth?

Then, to make things even better, the clerk gave me the adjustable base remote. First she showed me how to lift my legs and then my head -- and then she turned on the massaging feature. I was sold! In fact, I literally couldn't move because I was so comfortable. I wanted to fall asleep for the first time in days -- and in a store, no less! I didn't care who watched. All that mattered was that I was comfortable.

Now, my intent of this blog entry is to not sell you a Sleep Number Bed. But I will, however, tell you how important a good night sleep is, especially when you get older. I wouldn't call myself "old" by any means, but my body is definitely changing. Nothing is worse than waking up like a zombie.  I wake up with headaches all the time, and I can't breath because my nose gets stuffy at night.....it is just no fun at all!  I've been to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) doctor and even had one of those sleep apnea test. Everything came back okay - no nasal issues and no sleep apnea.  So what is my problem? 

As my last resort, the only thing I can attribute to my poor sleeping habits is a lack of a good mattress (and our dogs that like to get us up at 4 a.m.).  I am crossing my fingers that Mr. Sleep Number Bed will do the trick. It can't arrive soon enough! 

As I left the store after making the bed purchase, the sales clerk said, "The only thing you'll have a problem with is getting out of the bed in the morning."

I surely hope so....I surely hope so.

Elected officials learn about animal agriculture by showing cattle

You've probably heard the saying:  "If we build it, they will come."  Same is true for teaching non-ag folks about animal agriculture.  If you can provide a unique opportunity for them to learn, they will come listen -- and have some fun, too!

This weekend is our second annual county 4-H livestock show where kids from 15 counties in North Carolina will show meat goats and beef heifers.  Last year we invited our local elected officials, including the N.C. Speaker of the House and a state senator, to show beef heifers.  It isn't everyday that you can find a state Speaker of the House -- and a county manager -- who actually knows how to show beef cattle!

N.C. Representative Joe Hackney leads his borrowed beef heifer in a special elected official showmanship class at the 2010 Chatham/Randolph County 4-H Livestock Show. 

Since this special event was so successful last year, we've brought it back this year.  All five of our county commissioners, the county sheriff and our area's state senator plan to be paired up with 4-H members tomorrow to receive a crash course on how to show a beef heifer.  Elected officials will lead a beef heifer in a special showmanship class created just for them.   

Chatham County Manager Charlie Horne looks for the judge as his 4-H partner, Matthew White, watches closely to provide showmanship tips.  In addition to his job as county manager, Mr. Horne is a registered Angus cattle producer.

This opportunity provides 4-H members and parents a chance to share their experiences raising and showing cattle, as well as talk about their farming operations. While we are fortunate to have several elected officials who have ties to agriculture in our area, those who are not as tuned into the industry should come away from the event having a new appreciation for what agriculture provides for our community and young people.  In fact, in our county, agriculture continues to be the number one economic driver.  Unfortunately, sometimes local residents tend to forget this fact.

N.C. Senator Bob Atwater visits with his show partner, Harnett County (N.C.) 4-H member, Mason Blinson, to learn more about her beef cattle projects.

I encourage those of you in other states that work with 4-H and FFA youth to find ways for them to interact with your local elected officials.  Even if we don't always agree with the opinions of our elected officials, building relationships at the grassroots level is still very important.  Plus, it is a great way for our young people to hone their communications skills by getting them out of their comfort zone.

Rep. Hackney (left) and Sen. Atwater proudly display the honorary 4-H medals they earned by taking part in the show.

When you consider that the U.S. has only around 219,000 full-time farms, it never hurts for our young people to remind big decision makers where their food comes from!   Sometimes information that comes from "the mouths of babes" can make a big impact.

The Pioneer Woman on Food Network

Howdy folks!  I have been on the go quite a bit over the summer, so I've been slackin' on the blog.  My hope was to write a post at least once a day.  When this didn't happen, I thought I'd blog at least three times a week.  Well, this didn't happen either so now I hope to make it happen at least once a month!  A friend warned me it is hard to keep up just doing three posts a week.  I didn't believe him, but he was right -- especially when you keep a schedule like mine!

Ree Drummond.  Food Network photo.

So, did any of you catch the debut of The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, on the Food Network on Saturday?  It was a great treat for a farm gal like me to see some farming stuff on the Food Network channel.  They were working cattle, too!  Plus, she made chicken fried steak and mashed taters -- you know, the type of food us country folks like.  Be sure to check her out as she shares her family life on an Oklahoma ranch.  Personally, I want her kitchen!  Click here to see scenes from Saturday's show:  Ree on the Food Network

If you are looking for a simple and yummy meal for your family tonight, try Ree's Sour Cream Noodle Bake.  A friend posted this recipe on her Facebook page a while back, so I gave it a try.  She said it would be simple, fast and good....and she was right!  I didn't think my daughter, who tends to be anti-cottage cheese, would eat it, but it has become one of her favorite meals.  The only thing I did different was add one more can of tomato sauce and a small can mushrooms to the tomato sauce/meat mixture.  This way you can be sure there is enough sauce to cover all of the noodles.  The ground pepper, green onions and sharp cheddar cheese -- oh my!  They make this meal.  There is something about the combo that isn't overpowering, but just right.  Since July 4th, I've made this recipe about seven times and it has been a hit every time! 

Photo from www.thepioneerwoman.com  -- Sour Cream Noodle Bake.

And if you are watching your weight, I figured out that the Weight Watcher points for a hefty serving only comes to six!  To calculate the points, I used lower fat food items (93% lean ground beef, 2% sharp cheddar, low fat cottage cheese and fat free sour cream) and then divided a 13x9-inch pan into eight servings.  Wella!  Guess what I am fixing for dinner tonight?    

The "Albino" Heifer?

Today on the Beef Daily blog I posted a comment about the funny inquiries or questions we sometimes get from non-farm folks about cattle or farming in general.  I thought I'd share my comment with you on my blog to see if it might make you chuckle, too. 

Photo from cattlemanagement.com.

As show season picks up, I am reminded about last year's North Carolina State Fair.  One of my 4-H kids was showing a beautifully white, fluffy-haired Charolais beef heifer calf.  While the heifer was in the grooming chute getting a last minute hair cut, the alley was open for the general public to see the cattle up close and personal.  Two families happened to catch a glimpse of the calf and got all excited.  The mother of the first family that came by said, "Wow…hey kids…look at this albino cow! Can we pet it?”

It was all I could do to not giggle. I quickly explained that the white hair coat helped to indicate her breed. The second family that came by also asked, “Is this an albino cow?” I jokingly said, “Yep…can’t you tell by it's bright red eyes?” Once they looked at it’s eyes and realized they weren’t red, they gave me a deer-in-the-headlight look. They knew by my grin that something was up. My response made for a good conversation starter!

The second funny thing that happened at the state fair last year was when a fair worker got cow poo on his brand new white tennis shoe as he walked through the barn.  Talk about having a fit!  He then proceeded to a big puddle near a spigot in the cattle barn to swish around his shoe to get the manure off. What he didn’t realize was that about five minutes earlier, a heifer urinated to make that nice big puddle.  Sorry to say it,  buddy, but that wasn’t water!  (Well, I guess it was...but not the kind he was looking for!) I would venture to guess he probably realized this the next morning when his shoe didn't smell too fresh!

There is always something that makes us laugh when we show animals -- making it one of the reasons why we do it.  There is nothing like a good fun laugh every now and then.  But in all seriousness, what better way to learn about animals than to ask the people doing the growing, right?

What is your favorite show memory or funny moment?

Farm safety should be top of mind -- learn from me!

It has been a few days since I last wrote a new post.  I've been on the go running my daughter to end-of-school-year events as well as helping her prepare for a 4-H cattle show that was held last weekend. 

Now that school is out, I am reminded of the frequent summer time farm accidents that can often occur.  In church recently, someone said, "Let's be mindful to pray for our families as they begin their summer activities."  It is so easy to think about summer time fun, but so often we forget about being careful, too.  Not only should we be smart when it comes to camping, swimming, biking and baseball/softball activities, we shouldn't forget about what can happen on the farm. 

Tractors, silos, animals, gates, latches, power tools...while it is easy to go about our daily activities on the farm, we need to remember that we can't be complacent that nothing will ever happen.  I am a prime example of this statement.   

One of my nine lives?
Two years ago while setting up our cattle grooming chute, I experienced one of my worst farm accidents.  That's right....it involved me!  As much as I've preached to my daughter and my 4-H members about being careful when it comes to working on the farm, I should have been looking in the mirror telling this to myself. 

I've been very lucky over the years when it comes to staying safe on the farm.  I have had a few close calls, though, especially as a kid.  When I was nine, I nearly cut off my thumb when a pocket knife folded back on me as I was opening a feed bag (knives didn't have the safety locks like they do now).  Then there was the time my flannel shirt got caught in the PTO shaft on the tractor and ripped a huge whole in it.  How can I forget the time when I was sled riding down the barn bank and my sled turned backwards, forcing me back first into the bumper of our old Impala.  I thought I broke my back, but because of all of the winter clothes I was wearing, they padded the blow.  It still hurt like the dickens, though! 

I will never forget skidding on a slick spot of mud while rounding the corner of the house on our Honda 50 trail bike (with no helmet on).  The cycle landed on my leg while it was folded back under me.  Luckily enough, other than a sprained muddy leg, I was unscathed.  I still don't know how the muffler didn't tattoo a burn on me. 

And, the one that sticks in my mind the most was when I about 13 years old and I was bringing the tractor and manure spreader back down the road after unloading the spreader in one of our fields on the hill.  I was going way too fast coming down the road and couldn't slow down the tractor without it and the spreader swerving every time I'd hit the brakes.  Dad always told me to take it slow.  But did I listen?  Of course not...I decided to press it a little.  I was rushing so I could get done with my chores.  The feeling of no control on the tractor was horrible.  I soon passed our farm's driveway screaming for help.  I just remember the anxiety of whizzing by my dad and our hired hand who were running after me.  No one could help me at this point.  I was fearful that a car was going to pull out in front of me as I passed a side road.  Finally, as I started to go up a slight incline in the road at my neighbor's dairy farm, the tractor and the spreader started to coast and I was able to get them under control.  When I finally came to a stop, I remember breaking down in tears.  How I didn't flip that tractor with me on it is beyond me.  I truly believe divine intervention had something to do with it.

Grooming chutes hurt when they fall on you
But as for the grooming chute incident two years ago, this was a different story.  This was my closest call yet and I hope my last.  As we were lifting up (unfolding) the two ends of the chute, the front end slipped out my my husband's hands just as I happened to bend down to straighten up the chute's mat while I was still holding up the back end of the chute.  The front end nailed me right in the head at full force.  It hit me so fast, I honestly didn't know what happened.  I remember right before it happened, my husband yelled, "Look out!"  Although he tried, he wasn't able to stop it in time.  When the front part of the chute hit me, I saw a few stars (just like in the cartoons) and could feel immediate pain on the left side of my head.  I do remember screaming for help.  In a frenzy, my husband (who felt horrible at what just happened) gathered me up off of the barn floor and put me in the truck -- manure covered and all.  Off to the emergency room we went. Fortunately, the ER is only five minutes from our farm.

When I got to the hospital, my husband checked me in.  He said to the ER registration lady:  "My wife is down here on the floor....she was hit in the head by a metal pipe!"  Well, this probably wasn't the best description of what happened and it just about got him in trouble.  His explanation did, however, make for a quick reaction to the medical team, as two nurses immediately ran out to get me into a wheelchair when they saw me sitting on the floor with a head bleed.  Of course, Sam had to be questioned after his response as to why I was there in the first place, as you can imagine.  Once our stories were confirmed as a match, he was then able to come on back to my ER room.  We joke about it now, but I imagine at the time he was worried he might have to post bail!   

Unsure of whether I had any neck injuries, the ER team quickly put me into a neck brace as a precaution.  After going through a series of CAT scans, the nurses and doctors came to the conclusion that I have one hard head!  Fortunately, other than just a cut on the outside of my head from where a bolt slightly penetrated the skin, I had no skull fractures.  Two hours later, I was released.  Once again, luck was on my side.

Here I am in 2009 in the emergency room following a farm accident.

But while I was in the ER, I made my husband take a picture of me in my raunchy state.  While it is not a very flattering picture of me at all, I  wanted to share it with you as a reminder to think safety first.  Innocent mishaps can occur so fast, as I experienced first hand. 

Be safe out there everyone!  Trust me, you don't want to end up like me in this picture.  By the way, I also learned that you shouldn't mess with a chute mat until the entire chute is put together correctly and set with lock pins.  I learned the hard way!

Scotty -- The All-American Country Boy

I'll have to admit I've been a big watcher of American Idol this year, at least when it came to the selection of the top 24.  And from the get-go, I loved watching the 17-year-old, Scotty McCreery, from Garner, NC.

I've made several trips through Garner since I've lived in North Carolina.  It is a town adjacent to Raleigh and has seen a lot of growth and transitions over the years.  Scotty sure has done a lot in the past several months to put Garner on the map.

I was tickled to death when Scotty won the 10th season of American Idol last night.  So was North Carolina!  Nearly 10,000 people packed into the RBC Center in Raleigh to watch the night's finale festivities, including a few of my daughter's high school friends. (Click here to see the fans' reaction at the RBC Center when Scotty won.) 

What is it about this young man that everyone loves?  Yes, he can definitely sing using those deep tones.  But I believe it is his wholesome, kind, not-embarrassed-to-show-his-Christian-faith attitude, and his all-American boy character that made me want to pull for this young man.

My family and I thought it was funny that there was this push on the show last night to show the pop singers.  But when a Raleigh t.v. news reporter interviewed the youngsters at the RBC Center, they all said they "love country music."  Hey Hollywood, did you hear that?  They LOVE COUNTRY MUSIC!

Now, I like some of the pop songs that are out there, but it always seems there is this push to try and get people away from country music.  Why?

My hope is that Scotty -- and Lauren -- will draw folks to country music and prove to the music industry that country really is cool!  Just look at all of the country singers that have come out of North Carolina, especially from the American Idol competitions.  I have to give credit where credit is surely due -- the churches!  Look at how many of those kids got their start in a church.

Kudos goes out to all the dedicated school and church music directors out there!  North Carolina has many terrific ones.  If it wasn't for my high school band instructor in Ohio and church choir director in North Carolina, I would never have dreamed to get up in front of hundreds of people to perform and actually enjoy it like I do today. 

Congratulations Scotty!  You represent Garner, the state of North Carolina and the country music industry well!   I look forward to seeing you in concert soon!     

What sound takes you back in time?

I am a big country music fan, but in my growing up years I listened to a lot of pop music.  Two of my favorite groups to this day are Journey and Foreigner.  If I hear one of their songs now, I immediately drift back to a place as a kid that I vividly remember -- like a high school dance, a school bus ride home from elementary school, a drive to the livestock market with my dad, a stroll through the grocery aisle with mom, or when I would just chill out in my bedroom. 

But there is one sound that still is my favorite.  The fan.  There is something about its cool soothing nature that takes me back to several places, like my Grandma Hines' kitchen.  In the summer, I would often walk into her kitchen on a Saturday afternoon right when the west side of the house was getting its strongest rays from the sun.  There'd be grandma peeling an apple at the sink and standing right in the path of the breeze.  The powerful fan would be humming its tune in the front hall doorway, which led into the kitchen.  And this wasn't just any fan.  It was one of those high-powered machines that could blow you over!  I'd sit on the chair next to the fan to cool off.  It was almost hypnotizing.  Our family enjoyed grandma's fan so much, we soon started sporting the same model in our farm house living room.  And like in grandma's kitchen, I began enjoying the soothing sounds while watching t.v., which pretty much always led to a quick summer time nap before the next round of farm chores.

Photo from Dover Projects.

Then there was the metal box fan that was in the hallway window upstairs in our farm house.  This fan scared me.  While it definitely served a purpose to cool down the upstairs bedrooms, little did my parents know that this particular fan brought fears to me when I was nine years old.  For one thing, I hated storms.  After all, we lived in the eastern-most section of Tornado Alley (see map below at red arrow).  Whenever the fan would start pulling hard in the opposite direction due to an incoming weather front,  I knew we'd be in for a bad one.  I started to believe that because I was getting so good at figuring out the fan's reactions, I had physic powers!  The hall fan was never wrong.

Early one night while in my bedroom, I noticed the hall fan started pulling direction.  I rushed to turn it off, took it out of the window, shut the window and then headed downstairs to be with the rest of my family in the living room to watch t.v.  Sure enough, the fan was telling me something.  A tornado warning had just come across the t.v. screen for the county located just west of us.  We were in the path of the storm. I can remember going outside with my family to watch the pea-soup colored sky just over the line of trees opposite from our house -- a definite sign that bad weather was coming.  The calm before the storm was eery.  No animals or birds could be heard.  It was if they knew the fan was telling them "to take cover now," too!  Everything was so still UNTIL the front arrived.

I remember my family rushing to their places when the storm got closer.  Dad starting yelling to my brother to go with him to shut the barn doors.  I ran inside our house to shut every window to keep the wind and rain out, and then I went back outside with mom on the front porch to anxiously wait for my dad and brother to return.  Just about this time, a state highway patrolman whizzed by our house to take post on the overpass bridge located up the hill so he could watch for funnel clouds.  As the winds started to howl and huge rain drops began beating down, pea-sized hail began to fall and trees limbs started breaking off.  Deep in the background, we could hear the faint sound of the tornado siren from the nearby town, along with an emergency alert on the local country music radio station (WNCO) to let us know we needed to take cover. 

All night long we listened and watched as storms hammered our area.  As for me, I shook in panic.  Luckily, we received little damage from this particular storm.  But it was during this same summer that we had to dodge several tornado-potential storms.  I believe the thing that helped prepare me for them was that ol' 20-inch box fan in the hallway window.  Would you believe I now own two of them and have used them in the upstairs bedroom windows even though we have central heating and air?  Of course, I only use them when the temperatures aren't too hot and I long to hear the humming sound again that takes me back to my childhood on the farm.  However, I do keep a small fan by my desk in my office at work that helps me cool off in the heat of the South and to get that special "sound fix" I enjoy from time to time.   

So, what is the one sound above all others that takes you back in time?  

Teenage ag students make excellent help on the farm

If there is one thing I've learned in middle age, it is that I don't move like I used to.  Now, I am not saying I've completed my "bucket list" and am on my way out.  I am far from it (hopefully).  However, when it comes to farm work, weekends are brutal.  But Monday's....well, they are the worst! 

You see, my husband and I work full-time, agricultural-related jobs off of the farm and we stay very busy with agricultural organizations.  During the week it is hard to do major farm tasks because in most cases we are too mentally exhausted at the end of the day to even think about picking up a hammer or chainsaw at 7 p.m.  Plus, daytime hours have diminished by the time we stroll in.  I have an hour commute to and from my job, and this doesn't help much either.   

Daddyman (my husband) and my daughter usually hold down the fort during the week.  A typical weekday involves feeding animals, making supper, watching a bit of t.v. and going to bed!  And when the next day rolls around, we do it all over again.  Honestly, sometimes the schedule can be a total drag.

Saturday means "go" on the farm
When Saturday rolls around, there is no down time at our house.  We are up and at it early to get things done on the farm.  First, there are things to go pick up like feed, farm supplies, groceries and dry cleaning.  Then there is the mowing, which requires the use of two riding lawn mowers going at the same time.  After two hours of mowing, there is weed-eating, followed by fixing things -- and I mean anything you can imagine!  This could include fixing a piece of equipment, removing old trees around fence lines or repairing holes in the barn.  It NEVER ends!  Why does it seem you can never get ahead on a farm?

We go so hard on a Saturday, it is pretty much a regimen for us to pop a couple of ibuprofen before we go to bed in the evening in anticipation of the next day's pain.  Sunday includes church in the morning, and then house chores in the afternoon that didn't get done on Saturday because of farm work.  It can be a busy cycle...and one that wears you slam out!

Monday is the worst.  It seems like the pains from physical farm activity on Saturday skips a day and hits us on Monday.  When you've gone at it all weekend with no down time and then Monday comes back around...oh my...it is tough.   

Young farm hands
The one thing that has helped our family both mentally and physically is hiring good young help.  However, we have been fortunate for many years to get some excellent help from a retired extension agent friend.  But ever since my daughter started high school two years ago and joined FFA, we have made several connections with area country kids that know how to work -- and I mean work without us even telling them to!  Now, no offense to the urban boys and girls out there, but there is nothing like country kids for working on the farm.  They know how to get it done and they require little direction.  Plus they love working on the farm!  There is something about the work ethic of country boys and girls that makes us adults smile from ear to ear.   

Last weekend my daughter and two of her ag buddies went to work on her show cattle pen, which needed some serious spring cleaning.  They did an awesome job and they didn't require any direction.  Now, I ask you, would I have gotten the same work ethic out of a non-ag girl or fellow?  Maybe.  But would they have griped the whole time about how the pen had a smell to it or that they got manure on themselves?  Maybe or maybe not.  We don't take that chance.  The country kids get first dibs on the jobs every time.  We don't have time or patience for whining.

To show our appreciation for hard work,  we always treat help to lunch at the local hamburger dive.  It gives them a chance to socialize and get energized for the second half of the day.  I try to throw in a treat in the afternoon, too.  And, of course, they get paid for their hard work.


Country Kids vs. City Kids
Don't get me wrong.  I know of many hard working, terrific non-ag kids, but when it comes to farm work, I can almost bet every time (from experience) that non-ag kids will be the first to ask if you if they are done with a project even when they are far from it.  You just have to sit back and chuckle at em' and hope that your effort to get them to appreciate the value of hard work will pay off with them later in life.

Photo courtesy of Proyecto Asis.

This reminds me of the time when a girl in my dorm in college was telling me she wanted to be a veterinarian.  She was a pre-vet student from a northeastern U.S. city.  She always dressed to the max and had those long pretty fingernails.  She wanted to be a small animal veterinarian because she loved pets.  I said to her one day, "You know that you are going to also have to get some large animal experience as part of vet school training even though you don't want to be a large animal vet, right?"  She looked at me in horror.  I went on to say, "Oh, you will love it, because you will get to do cool stuff like preg check cattle and everything...but you'll have to trim those pretty fingernails."  She looked at me and said, "Why?"  I said, "Because I don't think a mama cow will appreciate you scratching their hiney with them!  Besides, your fingernails will bust through the extra-long OB gloves." 

With a bewildered look, she went on to ask me more questions about raising farm animals.  Halfway through the discussion I replied, "Are you sure you are ready to be a vet?"  She said, "Not after what you've told me."  I said, "Did you not think poop, blood and afterbirth were not going to part of your veterinarian profession?"  She finally fessed up and said, "I have no idea what I am getting myself into."

As we finished our conversation and after witnessing her green facial expression, I told her that she might want to consider another profession.  She piped up and said that she loved fashion, which was very obvious by her obsession to look her best every day.   

Later in the quarter, she dropped by my dorm room to say hello and said, "Hey Jules, I decided to change my major to Fashion Merchandising!"

I just smiled and said, "I think that is a wise decision!"  And it was.  She would have been miserable as a vet student, but she makes one heck of a clothes buyer for a major department store!