tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:18:19 +0000Join in the saga as a former farmboy, many years removed from his country roots, goes back to the country life. Covering various aspects of the "country life", Getting Back to the Country will be your cyberspace place to relax, learn, and hopefully enjoy the chronicles of beef, vegetables, ranching, mortgages, and hopefully, a more serene and peaceful life.http://getbacktothecountry.com/index.htmnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)Blogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1857490233474063553Wed, 24 Feb 2010 01:02:00 +00002010-02-23T19:18:19.632-06:00Yes, I know. We're enduring one of the coldest winters on record here. The snow has been blowing through this part of Missouri...AGAIN. We've had snow on over half of the days this month. Snow has been on the ground since Christmas Eve! Snow is piled up a couple of feet deep over parts of our garden. Yet, it's time to be thinking about spring, and getting ready for the gardening season.Once http://getbacktothecountry.com/2010/02/5-reasons-to-grow-your-own.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-2807793115045772069Sat, 09 Jan 2010 17:39:00 +00002010-01-09T11:51:13.541-06:00We're snuggled in, with the temperature at a balmy 6 degrees, and about a foot of snow on the ground. We're at the end (I HOPE) of two weeks of some of the most cold and wintery weather that this part of the country has had in the last 25 years. So what's on my mind today?Spring! I know it's a wyas off, but I close my eyes and imagine the soft touch of the warm spring subshine on my face. I http://getbacktothecountry.com/2010/01/frozen-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-4211199827977212121Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:00:00 +00002009-12-21T16:00:58.414-06:00Here we are, just four days until Christmas. I hope you're as happy and excited as I am! I'm mostly just a big kid at Christmas time, and this year is no exception. I can hardly wait!I've managed to get a few days off from my "day job" for the holidays. I've been doing a few little projects around the house, catching up on some correspodence, and may even work a nap in sometime this week. http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/12/winter-is-for-birds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-4901543425790433399Thu, 21 May 2009 02:16:00 +00002009-05-20T21:21:13.400-05:00Early spring gardens in Missouri will almost always have one crop in common....lettuce.Before the time of Christ, lettuce was grown and served. There is a wild lettuce from which the cultivated probably came. There are a number of cultivated vegetables which have wild ancestors, carrots, turnips and lettuce being the most common among them. Lettuce may be tucked into the garden almost anywhere. http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/05/let-us-grow-lettuce.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-136308493354149840Wed, 13 May 2009 01:31:00 +00002009-05-12T20:42:10.298-05:00Although by now, you've probably already got your garden started for this year, it doesn't hurt to do some thinking about form and function in the garden at any time of the season.The layout and form of your vegetable garden does not have to be entirely functional. It should also look and feel good. Building some decorative arches and some tomato cages not only makes your garden look good but http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/05/some-thoughts-on-vegetable-gardens.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-2903305939134331843Fri, 01 May 2009 00:33:00 +00002009-05-13T12:41:07.914-05:00One of our big goals here at BoLaura, our little farm home in the country, is to become more self-sufficient. Raising our own meat and our own vegetables and fruits is part of that plan.Another part, and one that is coming to fascinate me, is the idea of producing part, or all, of our own electricity. I had some interest in wind and solar electricity when I was a kid, but kind of let it get http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/04/solar-101-here-comes-sun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-574962823321192409Sun, 19 Apr 2009 21:25:00 +00002009-04-19T16:32:45.660-05:00It certainly seems like it's been a long winter here in the midwest. Spring seems to be exceptionally slow in getting here. We've had some days into the upper 70's, only to be followed by a hard freeze, cold rains, and more blustery weather. I'm not sure when I've longed for spring quite as much as I am now.But, once again, it appears to be "right around the corner". The weather-critters are http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/04/spring-is-comingslowly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1196736290840884596Fri, 17 Apr 2009 01:25:00 +00002009-04-16T20:29:37.840-05:00We're working on getting the garden going..... if it ever dries out enough to work in it! Hopefully, we'll at least grow more than we did last year. Our ONE pepper plant produced ONE pepper before the autumn frosts ended it's efforts. I've been doing a little reading on plant varieties, and have become interested in "heirloom seeds".Heirloom seeds have made a dramatic comeback in recent years.http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/04/gardening-old-seeds-or-heirlooms.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-6811499018232862129Sat, 07 Mar 2009 16:26:00 +00002009-03-07T10:38:05.490-06:00I've had a chance to spend a REALLY pleasant morning.It's still early March, and we've enjoyed 2 days of 70 degree weather. While this morning is in the low 50's, and cloudy, it still feels very much like spring. The new growth of green grass is showing beneath the tan and beige coat of last year's leftovers. There's a pretty sharp breeze blowing, stirring up the rich aroma of wet, fertile http://getbacktothecountry.com/2009/03/saturday-morning-early-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-8219067725540598197Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +00002008-10-08T19:08:31.183-05:00One of the reasons behind my move back to the country was the view of the sky from outside the city limits. I've always loved gazing at the stars, and the prospect of better stargazing was certainly exciting.To share a little of this fascination with you, I present:The Basics of AstronomyMost people find astronomy to be a daunting hobby, picturing the need for expensive telescopes, confusing http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/10/stars-at-night-are-big-and-bright.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-4214715491306055800Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:52:00 +00002008-06-18T12:56:06.192-05:00 There's been a new addition to our family!Rorri came home with us on June 16. We'd been looking for a dog to replace Dad's border collie, Radar, who vanished late last summer. Rorri, an Austrailian Shepherd mix, finally appeared at the Liberty Animal Shelter a little over a week ago. We took Dad to see her, but he wasn't sure that she was what he wanted. However, WE fell in love with her, http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/06/doggon-it-we-have-dog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-231135637265462428Fri, 16 May 2008 14:24:00 +00002008-05-16T09:24:56.811-05:00I recently heard a nationally syndicated "pundit" bemoaning how much gasoline it took to produce the traditional beef found in the grocery stores.  By the time you add up the fuel used to grow the corn to feed the steer, to haul the steer to and from the feedlots, to haul the processed beef to it's final destination in the supermarket, it's a significant amount.  This "expert" then coyly asked ifhttp://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/05/all-gassed-up.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1863021981499187426Sun, 06 Apr 2008 22:08:00 +00002008-04-06T17:10:45.086-05:00What is it?It's a lot of things, grassfed beef, country living, urban ranching, and more.Find out about it at:http://lowlinelifestyle.comhttp://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/04/lowline-lifestyle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-8423203138400781755Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:34:00 +00002008-03-06T16:34:25.957-06:00I was trying to chase one of the 500 pound calves out of a lot we have fenced off, and he had somehow gotten into.  Now, it's been years since I did much "hearding".  So it was kind of an adrenaline rush.  I mean, here I was, the "smart one", heading that dumb beast to the gate I wanted him to go through.  Suddenly, he darted and started to go around the pickup I was driving to herd him.  "AHA!",http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/03/watch-out-for-that-tree.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1109706416448937696Tue, 04 Mar 2008 19:31:00 +00002008-03-04T20:59:11.293-06:00I knew I should have let the sun thoaw it out today. But there was1/4" of ice on the waterer, and I decided to break it free. When Idid, I somehow broke the chain that holds the float ball to theshutoff valve. So now I had an overflowing waterer.The temperature was 24 degrees out, and that water was COLD! I founda rock I could wedge under the float valve to stop the flow. Then Ihad to bail http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/03/broken-water_04.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1818997116261267799Mon, 25 Feb 2008 19:40:00 +00002008-02-25T13:45:15.692-06:00Life in the country can be all about the timing...........As we were getting into the Jeep, I happened to glance down to the end of the drive. I spotted some movement on the other side of the road, so stood still a moment to see what was going on. Out of the small ravine came a buck, about a 12 pointer as near as I could count. Behind him came a harem of 4 does, followed by 4 young deer, http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/02/oh-deer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-7058945108714824651Tue, 19 Feb 2008 21:22:00 +00002008-02-19T15:22:52.757-06:00It was cold out this morning.The thermometer read 12 degrees. My hands were almost instantlychilled as I tried to work the clasp on the chain and then open themetal gate into the pasture. There was a 2 inch thick layer of"slush" on the top of the waterer, and by the time I'd scooped it outwith my bare hands, they were longing for the warmth of the heatervents blowing on high.But there was a http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/02/early-hints-of-spring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-6736558920713135413Fri, 15 Feb 2008 17:10:00 +00002008-02-15T11:10:21.791-06:00Hope you had a great Valentine's Day!   The sunrise this morning was exceptionally beautiful!  The orange marmalade sky looked deliciously yummy, and made me think of warmer days to come.  The cows all looked content as they munched their hay, or lay quietly on the open ground.   Hopefully, the rain predicted for Sunday will not be too much or too cold.   ~BG http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/02/february-15-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-5645547476757699826Mon, 07 Jan 2008 17:49:00 +00002008-01-08T20:47:13.123-06:00I KNOW better, but the smell of spring was certainly in the air as we “did chores” this morning. According to the truck thermometer, one place in the pasture reported a temperature of 66 degrees! The brisk breeze, actually maybe more a wimpy wind, was carrying the smells of the thawing earth to my nostrils. The geese were flying in big circles, perhaps confused about which way direction to be http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/01/monday-january-7-2008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-4929787868781497321Fri, 04 Jan 2008 16:17:00 +00002008-01-04T10:18:53.853-06:00The cattle all looked fine this morning, prefering the shelter of a wooded area, where we have their hay rings set, to being in the more open pasture areas. The trees block the wind some, a wind which is blowing just enough this morning to let you know it still has an icy edge to it. Although the temperature is 20 degrees warmer than it was 2 mornings ago, the orange and pink glow of the rising http://getbacktothecountry.com/2008/01/friday-morning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-7720288512490409459Wed, 10 Oct 2007 19:09:00 +00002007-10-10T14:13:47.086-05:00What a FABULOUS morning!The early morning sunlight glistened on the dew covered pastures, creating the illusion of acres of sparkling diamonds.Three newborn baby calves were just beginning their wobbly journey to the nourishment awaiting them from their proud mamas.As I rode herd over the land, making sure all was well in the cattle empire, a beautiful white tailed doe sprang up from her bedding http://getbacktothecountry.com/2007/10/cowboys-love-clear-country-mornings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-3385685795033552103Sat, 29 Sep 2007 14:40:00 +00002007-09-29T09:40:35.102-05:00The food we eat should be tasty, nutritious and healthy. The way it is grown should help, not harm our environment. But can we really be confident that the fruit and vegetables bought from a supermarket meet these two simple criteria? Are we sure the levels of pesticides, insecticides and fungicides our food has been treated with will do us no harm? Organically grown foods are not sprayed with http://getbacktothecountry.com/2007/09/organically-grown-foods.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-1274601956071896143Wed, 15 Aug 2007 18:37:00 +00002007-08-15T13:40:58.125-05:00I was really psyched up for the Persied meteor shower!The Persieds are one of the best regularly occurring meteor showers of the year. This year, the peak was the night of August 12th/morning of August 13th. It promised to be especially good, as this peak coincided with the new moon, providing especially dark skies as a backdrop of the falling stars.Alas, that night was cloudy here! I didn't http://getbacktothecountry.com/2007/08/missing-meteors.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-7413061264631458323Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:47:00 +00002007-07-24T13:49:02.276-05:00A lot has happened since I last posted, and I promise to catch up later.Today we have our first calf! I haven't even seen it yet. Dad called me to tell me it had arrived. He said it was a dandy!I can't wait to get home and take a look at the new baby!http://getbacktothecountry.com/2007/07/first-calf.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29904963.post-6589232326570577458Tue, 16 Jan 2007 19:03:00 +00002007-01-16T13:07:27.245-06:00conservationHow often do we leave our vehicles idling in the winter, to "warm up"? According to Greentips, this practice is not a good one:Would you drive a car that gets zero miles to the gallon? Of course not. Yet that is your mileage whenever your engine idles.Idling wastes money and fuel, contributes to air pollution, and generates carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming.Some states even havehttp://getbacktothecountry.com/2007/01/idling-gets-you-nowhere.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (B.G. Roberts)2