I am ever mindful of the idiom "Many hands make light work", especially recently. Not only is the work load lightened, but it is a lot more fun, or merrier, when you are working with others. This photo of a barn raising is how the Amish still do it today. After the devastating tornado that leveled Moore Oklahoma a week ago, rescue crews and volunteers bringing aid, flocked to the site to help. I love the show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition". It is a reality television series providing a new home for less fortunate, but well deserving families. The cool thing about it though, is that the whole community comes together to build a home in just a week. "Many hands make light work" is also referred to as an old proverb. It isn't exactly biblical, but God does call us to come together in
fellowship, work, discipleship, and collecting money and
supplies. In Exodus 18:18 it says, "You're going to wear yourself out -- and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself". Moses goes on to instruct the people of Israel (and the people of God for all generations to come) to recruit help and work together.
Thursday morning Britney and I messed around at our computers and then
finished packing up to go visit Carol. Kaysha had her blanket and was
ready to go. I was mindful of the coming holiday weekend with the increased police patrol and gas prices. 
Once at Carol's, we took a look around the barn yard. Kaysha was focused on Britney's bag of chips in this photo.
Carol's sheep were watching us as we walked around and got a look at them. It was hard to see the lambs playing because the grass was so tall.
Carol and Ike hardly had to moil to move these two sheep back into their pen. Kaysha wanted to help, but was more of a distraction.
The dogs looking into the hole Carol was showing us, where two baby lambs had fallen in a few weeks ago.
It was rather cold (and kind of rainy) outside, so we stayed in most of the day. Britney worked on class homework while Carol and I gabbed away.
We all went to New Ross for dinner at a merry little Family Steak House. The sunset promised of better weather to come.
It was very cold (but sunny) Friday morning so we three girls took our time getting outside. We eventually went for a walk.
Once home, we all took a nap.
Finally, mid morning, we headed outside to work. Carol and Ike moved the ewes and lambs out to the large pasture.
Britney and I watched.
The flock was sent down the drive, where they could then go on either side to graze.
Then, with all our tools in hand, we dove into the moil. Our first task was to cut this large branch out of the prairie willow out front.
We took turns sawing, switching whenever we got tired. Once the wedge was out, I went up and tied a rope to help pull the branch in the direction we wanted it to fall.
Britney did the remainder of the sawing of the branch while Carol and I started on another project. We were slightly off on our calculations, but the limb came down without hitting anything, except the ladder Britney had been standing on.
Then the new flag was brought out and hung... now Carol is ready for Memorial Day. And the flag will no longer get snagged by the tree.
Carol and I had gone back to the barn to work on demolition and
burning of the shed that had blown over in September's storm. 
I continued taking care of the fire the next two days, since master pyro. Joe was back home taking care of our farm.
Britney
kept working on sawing the tree branch and hauling limbs to the fire and Carol and I kept breaking up, hauling
and burning boards from the old shed. 
Pan and a ewe with their most recent daughter were in the lot where we were working. 
They hung out near the barn door we kept going through. I didn't realize it, but this mom was looking to make a fast break to get with the herd of other mothers and babies.
This is the floor of the shed we spent most of the day taking apart.
We used a wheelbarrow to haul metal, glass, and shingles to a designated dump pile where the sheep wouldn't get into it.
We took a lunch break, putting leftover steak on our salads. Oh so yummy.
We also stopped several times to get photos or clown around.
I caught the two boys on the front porch during one of our snack, drink, potty breaks. This is a "no, no" for them.
While a hot fire was burning I trimmed Carol's maple tree and put those branches on the fire.
The herd of ewes and babies had eventually come around to the front of the barn and were messing around in it.
So I went out to chase them out.Kaysha got a head start on me, and did the job, although she had no idea about what she was doing.
She was curious and wanting to snoop around, and eat sheep poo.
Running out of energy and strength, we stopped to rest in the sun, have a drink, and reflect on the day.
Kaysha threw up and was not feeling too well, too much exercise
and eating nasty things.
I wanted a photo of Friday's full moon (thinking I was going to include it in my last Blog post) but I couldn't stay awake until dark. Carol took this for me Saturday morning, but was not happy with the quality. I was thankful for her effort and felt it was worth posting.
I had much difficulty rolling out of bed Saturday morning. The sunrise shows scattered showers in the air.
It was very cold (in the 40's I think) so we were again slow to get moving. Snuggling with Patch and blankets was much more appealing.
The drizzles stopped, but it remained cloudy most of the day. We walked first and then got to work.
This is the shed roof (underside) that happened to be a formidable monster. 
We took turns at thrashing at it until we eventually overcame and destroyed it.
It was too heavy to just lift and throw in the fire, and we really wanted
all the shingles off of it first.
The 2x4s were nearly impossible to get lose, but once they were off, it was easier to dismantle. The sledge hammer and pike came in very handy.
As the boards were removed...
...they were thrown in the fire.
There were two layers of boards and three layers of shingles, but we got through it all.
Once the shingles were off, the sections of plywood could be lifted by two or three of us and put on the fire.
This is the last section to be dismantled, de-shingled and burned.
During our lunch break, I "caught" the ewes and lambs playing on the stack of hay in the barn.
Then, just as Chris and Travis rolled in, I noticed the neighbors riding by, on horseback.
We took a break to say hello to the Baker boys.
And then Britney got the crazy idea to climb this ladder to the top of the silo.
I had Britney take the camera so she could get a bird's eye view of Carol's farm. It scares me just looking at these.
In the above photo, you can see the barn door that Travis was working on fixing so we could re-hang it. Chris had to run to the hardware store for more nails.
Like the sheep, I climbed the hey pile to remove a board that was in the way as Chris did the same from a ladder. 
A view of the ground crew from were I was working.
When all was ready, we hoisted the door up and started nailing it in. Once the huge nails hit the old oak beams, it was tough to get them nailed in the rest of the way. We took turns with this job too.
Another quick job before Britney and I were to head home was to get a big dead limb out of the maple tree.
Britney went up to see if she could un-tangle it from the tree while Carol tried to lasso it from the ground.
Britney's monkey genes were most helpful, and we got the large branch down (in pieces) and hauled out back to the burn pile.
Some last minute cleaning up, and moving the shed wall panel into the barn for a stall wall (seen below with the hole where a window once was) and we were done for the day.
It was a quiet drive home with Britney studying without the music on. Listening to the rain (it had started just after we left) hitting the roof and windshield and feeling so tired, I was surprised I never got sleepy. Luckily it was only a two hour drive. It was a good fatigue; from hard work, fresh air, wind and sunshine. Sitting quietly gave me the chance to reflect on life and thank God for all my blessings. We got home at 6:30 and I had to clean stalls and do other chores including feeding. Joe was in Iowa at Lauren's graduation party.
Sunday morning I worked in the nursery, getting moved up to the 6-12 month room and
then met Britney for second service. We ran through the rain to get to
my car that was way out in the parking lot. It was rainy and gloomy all day. 
Since it was a day of rest, and Britney and I were so tired and sore, we sat around all day, her studying and I working on this blog. Carol provided about half of these photos that you may see again on her blog.
I cut these somewhat wind blown iris and peonies to brighten the dinning room. Joe got home just as we were finishing our chick flick before bed.
It was a cold, windy, rainy Memorial Day. But I had a relaxing, 2 cups of tea, morning. Then the three of us went to the Replex to workout. Britney and I were still sore so did lots of stretching. 
I left the horses in the barn much longer than usual because of the rain and muddy paddock. They each went galloping out to the pasture when I let them out of their stalls.
Our Growth Group picnic had been cancelled because of the weather, so we took Britney, Dan and Valencia, and Courtney and Mike out to dinner at Chili's. Then we went to Courtney and Mike's to hang out for awhile.
I suspect it was not the most celebrated Memorial Day because of the weather. I am sure parades, picnics, and pool openings were cancelled or very poorly attended. I hope all our service men and women know how much we appreciate what they have given, regardless of weather, to protect our freedom. This is a pretty cool light display video done to a medley of patriotic songs. Thanks Veterans & current military personnel!
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