400th Blog Post

Celebrating my 400th Blog post with a new name, new look, some self-reflection and a giveaway! Read on!

What does celebration look like?

When you live on a farm, sometimes confetti comes in the form of freshly harvested wheat berries spilling and jumping out the back of the grain truck as it dumps into the augur.

We don't drink a ton of champagne around here, either, but sometimes a light beer at the end of a hard day tastes as good as bubbly. Celebratory balloons are the kind of puffy clouds you see dotting this part of the Big Sky State on a clear day.

The cheering section is comprised of curious cow faces, tongue-out farm dogs, and our farmer family members' crooked grins.

No matter what form it comes in, I'm celebrating my 400th post to this blog.

Yes, this is it. I've been blogging for 4 1/2 years and 400 posts. I started writing as an outlet for sharing about the unique lifestyle of living on a dryland wheat farm and ranch in North-Central Montana. Over the years, and the posts, I've learned a lot about what being here is all about. I've learned about the day-to-day operations of farming and ranching, how everyone contributes, how I contribute, and how we get things done. I've learned about family, legacy, sustainability, and pride. I've learned about the unique ways of small town communities. I've learned what it means to have and to be a neighbor. I've learned about myself- my own strength and ability to adapt. Writing in this blog has been a means to explore all of those topics, and to share them.

I think I've grown a lot as a person over the past four and a half years. Growing up in Iowa, I never would have guessed I'd end up here. At first, it was hard to see my future here. How would I eventually figure out who I am in this place? First off, how do I figure out WHERE I am when all the landscape is so similar- flat and treeless? Now, I see and appreciate the nuance of the land, and I feel like I have found more of who I am and what my role can be in this place. It has taken time, but I think I have found my spirit, my voice, and my identity here. The blog, as an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, has been an invaluable tool in this discovery process.

As for the new name, Prairie Sun Life, and the new look, well, it was about time. I found that I was tired of using canned Blogger themes and I wanted something more representational of this place and also of my spirit. The new name and new URL come from the corporation name that Tom and Carol chose many years ago- Prairie Sun Farms. I've always loved the optimism and cheeriness that name implies. The new name and new look of The Prairie Sun Life are not a complete departure from the old Prairie Ponderings MT, but rather I think build on that foundation and move forward. Just like I've grown and changed, it was time for the blog to grow and change, too. The new graphic, expertly done by my friend Joellyn, embodies exactly the spirit I was hoping for: optimism, cheerfulness, sunshine, and a strong sense of place.

And now, let's talk about YOU. If you're reading this, thanks for coming along on the ride. Sure, there have been ups and downs and long breaks. There have also been high times of many posts. If you've stuck around this long, thanks for continuing to read, learn, and discover along with me what this Prairie Sun Life is all about. If you're new, welcome! Please stay!

I did mention there was a giveaway involved, didn't I? Here's the part where I explain it. Currently, I'm reading a wonderful young-adult fiction book called Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson. It's about a young woman who moves from Iowa to Vida, Montana to homestead in the 19-teens. (Hmm...why do you think this book piqued my interest?!) There is much in this historical fiction piece that I find I can relate to and many passages that stand out, including this one about getting to know the land:

When I first arrived, I thought this country flat and dull. Now, I see each roll and dip, each cutbank and coulee, through fond eyes. (p. 271)

I'm giving away one copy of this book, and YOU could win it! First, you can enter by commenting. I've got three discussion questions below. Answer one of the questions below in the comments section on the blog OR by leaving a comment on Facebook. Second, you can enter the drawing by SHARING the link to this post or to my blog on Facebook. I'll give until Tuesday, March 8 at midnight for the contest and then I'll pick a winner at random and announce on Wednesday, March 9.

Here are the discussion questions-

• What have been some of your favorite blog topics?
• What would you like to see more of on the blog?
• What is a book you really connected with that you would recommend?

Again, comment below or on Facebook to be entered to win a copy of Hattie Big Sky, and/or share this post on Facebook to be entered! 

Thanks everyone for reading, and for celebrating 400 blog posts with me! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go great my cheering section of curious, pregnant cows and their calves!