Life On The Farm

Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back
Ain't much an old country boy like me can't hack
It's early to rise, early in the sack
Thank God, I'm A Country Boy
John Denver's  song -








     Sunday we arrived home at 4pm.  Mike came and picked up Courtney and then Brian came to cut hay. 

     I unloaded and unpacked and took care of weekly chores like watering and pet clean up.  It was good to be home, where life on the farm resumed as if it had never been suspended.

     The heavy fog Monday morning was going to slow down the hay drying process, but it did create some interesting looking spider webs.











     I bought the bare necessities of needed groceries on the way home from Water Lilies.  The inside pool had been drained for repairs and cleaning so we were outside.  The water was a little cool, but the sun, fresh air, and outside surroundings were lovely.

















     I did four loads of laundry, mostly containing the seven sets of sheets from vacation and visitors.  The Iowa travelers dropped in at noon, delivering Britney and having lunch here.






     Nathan was joking around as usual.  After they left I headed back out to work.  The tractor got too hot while mowing so I had to quit for awhile.  I was rather hot and tired myself.




     Capturing Monday
     evening's sky...

 
 and sunset...
 
over about an hour's




period of time.

     Tuesday morning I had a work and riding session with Amiga and Roni.  Both horses did well, are quite different, but fun and very nice. 

     Our horse vet (Emilee) was here for 90 minutes in the afternoon taking care of all three horses and the two barn cats. 

     In these photos, she is floating Zorro's teeth.  My bill (not counting Zorro) was over $600.00.  Yikes


     Brian came to rake the hay and Joe and I continued more mowing of the tall grass in the two pastures that did not get cut for baling.



     We also started tree trimming, calling it quits after the wheelbarrow was filled with branches.



     Brian moving on to the front
pasture to rake it.

















     In the evening I walked with Britney and Kaysha, to get more sky and sun set photos and try to stay awake longer, but I still went to bed once we got home.  You can see the hay neatly raked in the upper left photo.

     Wednesday at Water Lilies the outdoor pool was freezing.  I spent much of the morning searching the internet for info on Fairfield Glade and looking at several houses in that community.

     Beck's monster "truck" was out doing what ever it is, it is designed to do.



     Dan came to mow the yard and after picking up sticks, I worked at trimming more trees.  I hauled three wheel barrow loads of branches back to the big burn pile by the tracks.  I noticed this snake skin while I was back there.  I have rarely seen live snakes so they must be pretty shy.

     Brian came to bale hay.
The cows barely took notice.



























     As Brian came around through
the barn yard to go out to the front pasture, Joe and he had a quick chat.

     The ties from the peach tree (left) to the apple tree are to help hold the peach tree upright.  It was leaning so far over, its boughs were touching the ground.   We trimmed its branches which also helped.
<= Betty and Hercules


     As Brian finished up and the Earth continued to rotate, the sun was being moved to other corners of the globe thus ending our day here in Illinois.




 



    

     Thursday morning Britney helped me give Zorro his medicine.  I left for Moraine View about 8:30 and didn't get home till 1:30.  Lisa and Darek met me out there and we had a lovely ride together.  We kept it nice and easy, mostly walking.  Roni did very well.  When the Wiggin's turned to head for camp, I continued on my own with Roni.  He hesitated to leave the other horses at first, but then did great.  I tried gating him some, but he is kind of pacey and does more of a trot.  Each time he tried to go into a lope (which wasn't too often) I got him to slow right back down.  Back at camp I let him graze for a while.







  Ready to ride.




















     Above, Leo and Scout getting ready to go.       Left, Darek on Leo.

     I was exhausted for the rest of the day, not having energy or motivation to work out in the yard.  I watched TV with Britney.  Once Joe got home from work, we all went to the Replex to swim.  We grilled lamb chops for dinner.  I spent the rest of the evening looking for housing at Fairfield Glade. 

     After a delightful water exercise session with the Water Lilies Friday morning, I was back to house hunting on my computer.  I also spent extra time moving horses.  Because they are really over weight, especially Amiga, I have really been working hard at reducing pasture time.  Also with the hots days, I have been moving them into the barn during the middle of the day.  I have been putting the grazing muzzles on Amiga and Roni which slows down grass intake while grazing.  Next I need to get them out working and riding more. 

     Loren came to trim hooves and just as he was finishing up, Brian came to get his hay.




     There was a storm brewing, so Brian was hustling.
 


     After Loren left I ran to open the front gates for Brian and the rain started.



     I had to run inside to close windows.  Britney was taking a timed test in preparation for taking the GRE in 6 days, so she couldn't stop to help.

     The wind picked up to 40mph and  it poured.  It didn't last long and was simmering down when Britney and I left for the Relay For Life. 





     We stopped at Courtney's first, for water, and by the time we got to the track it had cleared off.

      Britney checked in and then we took a look around.


  

     There were many water logged campsites and all the Luminary bags had been removed because they were ruined by the rain..


     I joined Britney (as her guest) at the survivor dinner, and then watched and cheered for all during the survivor lap.


     The NCWHS marching band led the way, followed by all the survivors.

     Next, Britney and I took a look around all the camp sites, hoping to see some familiar faces.  We only ran into a handful of people we knew.







     She thought these banana guys were funny.

     Strike up the band and keep walking.  Britney and I did several laps.




     We got to see another beautiful sun set...

...but left before the Luminary Ceremony because they would not be lit this year.

     Britney took this windmill photo as I was navigating my Vibe towards Wal-Mart.  We got home late, unload and put away groceries.  But I had gotten a second wind... so caught up with friends on Facebook.

     I was up at 5am Saturday morning even though I hadn't gotten to bed until after midnight. 

     These 8 round bales still need to be delivered.




     I worked on this blog until mid morning and then went out to weed.  This Hollyhock was growing near the round pen, too pretty to be removed.  In less than an hour's time, I got rained out... or actually rained in.  (I came inside due to the weather.) 






     I spent the afternoon blogging and discussing homes in TN with Joe.




     Then, Britney, Joe and I drove to Peoria... to find the test center where Britney will be taking the GRE test next Friday.  She wanted to do a dry run first.

     After locating the test building, we went down to the river front to have dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.  We sat outside, enjoying the festive music and boating activities on the river.















     Needing to walk off dinner, we strolled along the river bank walkway.  Above is the I-74 bridge, and to the right is a war memorial.  I saw the photo below and included it because I think this pack of pups is cute.

     There is nothing laid back about farm life and Border Collies, but every now and then you can catch a farmer, and dog, taking time off and relaxing for a minute... even though there is always work to do on the farm!  As for me?  It's usually early to bed and early to rise, and I always take time to lay back when I get too tired, too hot, or too lazy to continue working.