Same Ole, Same Ole

      My days consist of a two mile morning walk down and back the same old road; watering everything from flowers, to new trees, to chickens, cats, horses and cows; applying fly spray and fly masks, moving horses; feeding Stew three bottles; scooping poop and manure, weeding etc.



     Abbey loves to lie across the chair leg supports.  It amazes me how cats can look comfortable wherever they choose to sleep.
It was a boring, blah, blog Monday.  I worked most of the day on last weeks blog that I posted a day late.  I did do some laundry, dishes, and neatening up around the house... but how exciting is that?  I also did the
same ole, same ole.



     I had moved the grazing pen and put the horses out in the new area first thing before my walk Tuesday morning. 




     I let Stew out as soon as he finished his bottle and while I was getting Zorro and Roni in to feed, Stew started nursing off Amiga.  She stood there with her head down making a funny face.  I couldn't get her to move away and go in for her breakfast. So I moved Stew and then got her going.  It seemed quite odd I thought.

     I rode Roni, since he had had five days off due to heat.  The ride started out a little rough with Roni wanting to turn towards home or go too fast.  He eventually got the message that I wasn't going to let him run away with me and he settled down.  We rode around here and over at Becks,  We had
                                                      headed out fairly early, but we both
still got too hot.  It was already 89 degrees outside by 10 am when I was un-tacking.  See how sweaty Roni got?  I hosed him off and let him graze while drying.






     Below... Zorro looking on from the other side of the garden fence.  He seems to want to join in.  He is fond of hoses after all.

     I don't recall what I did with the rest of my day, but I was back outside helping Joe with the door and getting ready for visitors at 5pm.  Ashton's family came, bringing her cousin from out west, to feed Stew and see the  
                                         farm.  Several of them took a turn at feeding
Stew his bottle and they picked some peaches too.  A branch had snapped off under the weight of the fruit, so we needed to get some off the tree.  Ashton's cousin most enjoyed chasing down the ducks.  I was glad he finally caught one, because I was concerned he and the ducks were going to over heat.







     During my evening chores, I took a photo of Joe's work.  The door now opens, with great effort.  The springs still needed to be installed.

     July 4th started out hot and was only going to get worse.  Joe and I did chores, watered everything, packed, and left for Iowa shortly after 10am.  We always have a great time with his family, and this time was no exception... although the heat kind of squelched the outdoor activities.

     Dan had gone to Chicago to spend a week with Valencia so Courtney farm sat for us.  Dan and Valencia rode the Odessey ship, from Navy Pier, in Lake Michigan.  They enjoyed dinner, dancing, and fireworks.














     We sat under a large shade tree in Hills, waiting for the parade.  It and the picnic dinner were fun but I overate as usual.


     Tracy and Teresa's son Nathan is one of the six guys that will be Herky this year.  He was in the parade and came to the picnic to greet everyone.







   







With Aunt Holly                                                  And Uncle Joe

     Thursday, our 32nd anniversary, was pretty low key because it was so hot.  I walked three miles in the morning before it got too bad.  We helped dismantle and load all the tables and
chairs and then spent the remainder
of the day hanging out in the cool air conditioning.  This is the tent after all else was cleaned up.






     Here is a picture of Tracy and Teresa's garden on the left, compared to mine below.  Oh well.
I got a late start.

     Joe took Nathan and Ryan golfing.  Then we met up with Mike and Michelle, (He was Joe's best man) and had a tasty pizza and beer for dinner.  It hit 102 degrees today.







     Friday we were on the road fairly early so we could get home in time to feed Stew his bottle.  The chickens and horses were out of water so that needed immediate attention as well.  Late in the afternoon, Joe put the springs on the new door.  We had to make one more adjustment with the track because the door was getting hung up in one spot.  And finally, it was working pretty well.  It is done.  Now to finish the side walls.  The horses 
out on the back pasture, later came in very hot and sweaty.  The willow tree is growing, but gets watered almost every day.  Zorro rolling in the dry grass/dirt must think it feels good.






     It was 80 degrees when I finished my walk at 6:30am Saturday.  The day ended up being the hottest (104) thus far this summer.  Joe started cutting the boards for the side walls...

and then painting them.  I helped with painting some of the old frame work and boards. 







     The heat got the best of us and we quite before finishing.  Joe napped while I watered and then I napped while he watched golf.  Then we went to the pool.  It was too hot to sit in the sun, so we spent much of the time in the water.  I got in eight laps of swimming.

     Brenda (Britney's former roommate's mom) sent this: "I'm Farming and I Grow It" video.  I thought it was so cute I had to share too.  I love farmers and cowboys.  Click on the photo to get the article.  Scroll down in the article and click on the video (which takes time to load) and watch it.

     It had really cooled off over night and my morning walk today was quite pleasant.  I went to work in the nursery, but we didn't have any babies, so I went to early service and was home by 9:45.  I decided to take Roni to Moraine view since it was still in the low 80's. 
A storm was brewing, but I thought no sense in staying home because it usually doesn't rain anyway.  And who knows, if I go, maybe it will bring the rain. By the time I was ready to ride, it was thundering in the distance... but I headed off on my trusty "steed" anyway.







     I love this section of trail through the pine forest.  It did get quite dark and I thought it was going to pour at any moment.  My flash went off when I took this photo of me while pausing in the woods to let Roni rest.  So it looks darker than it was, but it was dark.

     It did rain some, but nothing more than a sprinkle under the cover of trees.  The storm went south and didn't really hit us.  When I got to this clearing I could see the green corn, golden wheat that has been harvested, and gray clouds.








     I had a great time on Roni and felt like he performed very well during the nearly two hours I was on him.  He did buck once when a thorny branch flung from his front legs and hit him in the belly or front of his back legs.  It was more like a jump of his hind end up and over the obstacle.  Another time at a nearby house they were digging a ditch and the machine really did sound like a monster on the trail ahead of us.  Roni stopped and would not go forward.  I put a little leg on him and he proceeded to back and back some more.  I circled him (although we were in a narrow spot) and kept encouraging him until he finally went forward.  Every step was tentative and I could feel him bracing, but we got up to where the trail widened and then he was okay.  Back at the campground he got his usual sponge bath and grazing time. 

     Returning home I was pleased to see that Joe had finished the barn/garage door project.  I will do a little more touch up with paint. 



     This will be so nice when the north winds blow in a winter snowstorm or we get a hard driving rain coming in.  Usually we will leave it open though.

     I also discovered that Joe had worked on my trail out back, cutting many of the branches that were in the way.  In the process, he picked this bowl of blackberries. 




     Roni is always last out of the barn because of his stall position.  As usual, he catches up with the rest.

     But then he stops to roll. 
You can see how dry our grass pasture is, especially compared to
the alfalfa.



     Zorro also seems to think rolling was a good idea.

     And then they are back on a mission...


















... which primarily was to eat. 
I was concerned they were going to bother the cows. 

     By the time I got over to check on Stew, he was lying down. 






     What cute little hooves.




     And such a sweet face.






     I did get Stew back into his stall, using his evening bottle to lure him.





    Well, not much new... just the same ole, same ole.  We didn't get diddly squat in terms of rain today.  So we are still waiting for the dust to settle.  Until then, I'll enjoy watching the horses kick it up.  Life is good and I am lovin' it.