Family Getaway

     I began my retirement with a short family vacation.  I got up Friday and started tending to my list of things to do before we were to leave town.  I had to really scramble all morning.  Dan and Valencia arrived at lunch time, Courtney came shortly after, and we loaded the Expedition and hit the road.  It was a quick drive to get to Carol's near Crawfordsville.  Joe and the three "kids" checked in to the B+B, Vintage Reflections, in Ladoga and were back to Carol's to enjoy a dinner with her and Chris and Travis.  We played a board game "Ticket To Ride" getting slaughtered by Daniel.

     Kaysha and I slept at Carol's for the night and were up fairly early Saturday morning.  Carol and I can really chat away the time.  We then joined the other four back at Vintage Reflections for the Breakfast.  Here is what our dinning room looked like.  It was a great meal, with candlelight even.  Bidding Carol good bye, we hit the road for Ohio.

     It was a long (almost 5 hour) drive, stopping for gas and then lunch.  We arrived at the park in Ohio right around 3:30, with Dave and Patti right behind us.  Click on picture for information.

     There was a water problem with one cabin which caused some confusion with check in, but was soon resolved with handy man Dave willing to fix a leaky toilet if necessary.  So, we were able to get two cabins side-by-side. 

    With 95 degree heat, we were thankful for well air conditioned cottages and opted to visit the pool first, rather than "play" outside.  Here is a view of the lodge and pool, which had a handy (although expensive) bar right on the deck. 

     Most of these remaining photos Cathy took.  Here is our cabin, well actually they were called cottages.  It was right next to the Sidenstick's. 

      Like always, getting the group organized to go anywhere, takes time and waiting, on some people's parts.  We only had one bathroom and with the five of us sharing one bedroom, we had to take turns changing. 

     Here we are congregating to walk to the pool together.

      Daniel strikes a pose... silly young man.
And we were finally off to the pool.












     The pool was crowded, but the water refreshing.  We had to seek shade on the deck because the sun was so hot.  The refreshing slushy drinks helped also.











     Dave grilled while Patti and Cathy cooked and I fixed raw veggies.  We enjoyed a great meal eating at the picnic tables outside.  Nicole cooked
                                                      marshmallows over a fire and JJ
delivered Samores to each of us according to our order.  Then the "boys" got down to some serious poker playing.






     I can't believe how well I slept, considering there were five of us in one room. We had two bunk beds, kind of like this photo, only the double bed had a single bunk above it. 

     It was a lazy morning until we decided to go hiking... then there was some scrambling for several to get breakfast and dressed to go.  

     Kaysha is ready at the word "walk".   Here Michael is givin' her some lovin'.

     And A Hikin' We All Went.








     We did a two mile loop and stopped mid way at "Look Out Point".



      Enjoying a snack with the view.  The first photo on this blog was taken here.  We had most of the family together, minus Britney and Valenica.  Courtney and I liked our Krispy Treat.

     Being hot and sweaty from the hike, the pool was our next destination after lunch.  Some of our clan spent the day there, others went back to the cottages for a nap or to watch TV (the Indy 500) and play computer games.  I discovered that even one alcoholic drink by the pool side was enough to zap me.  So I joined the nappers. 

     There was a lot to do at pool side and in the lodge.  Sidenstick's played Corn Hole and Shuffle Board.  There was also a game room, and an exercise facility.


     Behind and to the right of Michael and JJ you can see the bar stools.

     Memorial Day Monday was a hot one, just like Friday and Saturday.

     I'd like to take time to solute our military men and women and thank them for their service to, and sacrifice for this country.

     We had a noon check out, so the morning went fast.  Back on the road, we were headed west into the hot sun and an almost seven hour drive.  I don't know how riding in the car can be so tiring, but we were exhausted when we arrived home. 


     Everything was hot and dry.  The house was 84 degrees so we turned on the air conditioning.  Joe and I took to filling water buckets and bowels outside.  We put the horses in the barn to give them a break from the sun, and then Joe went to Jack's to pick up our carry out dinner.  Marty and Elliot came over to get the chicks, which had really gotten big, and take them home.  I was relieved to have that food and water chore over.   

     It wasn't long after dinner that I was up in bed reading the novel that I had been working on during much of the day's drive.

     This morning  I sat on the front porch, here at the computer, to catch up on E-mails and Facebook.  I have also started some "Words With Friends" and felt compelled to take my turn with each friend and add a word.  Abbey was busy bird watching, which kept her out of my way.  I needed to get this Blog posted, but by 9:00, the out doors and horses were beckoning me.  Family "Getaways" are nice, but I love being home.  Going for a ride is my
"At Home Getaway."

School's Out Forever!

     This week marked the end of the school year and of my teaching career.  I have been feeling so happy, like a ton of bricks has been lifted from my load.  I was not going to get sad!  Happy dance all the way!  No tears, no sentimental emotions. And then it hit me.  Each of the hugs, well wishes and kind words from fellow teachers, staff and students caused me to reflect on how much I really appreciate and love them all, and will miss teaching.  My emotions have been ALL over the place. 




     Last Saturday was a busy day.  Oh, it was also Armed Forces Day!  Click here to see a cool video of the 2nd Force Reconnaissance Co. Yuma HAHO...  Jumping.  Thanks all you soldiers (past, present and future) for your service to our country.

     Oh... I also forgot to mention that I got crushed last week.  Our school colors are black and orange... so for the spirit award each week, winners get an orange crush.















        After a leisurely morning on the front porch I took Roni for a long ride.  I brushed him up all nice looking first.  The flies have been really bad, so he got a heavy dose of fly spray as well.

     As we headed down the east side of our property, we glanced over at the field of hay waiting to be raked.  I rode Roni to Marj's. Here we are in the water way by the side of Brian's road, about half way to Wellgreen Farm.


    


     Marj was busy up at the house, so I only worked Roni in the indoor arena for ten minutes.  He did well so I gave him a break, letting him graze for awhile.  Bridle back on and off we went down Brian's road toward home.





     When I got to the creek, we turned and followed it west to this farm road I ride on regularly.  I like to take Roni across this old wooden bridge for practice.


     This road comes out at Becks, so I rode around there for awhile.  They always have different gadgets and various pieces of equipment sitting out.  This machine was something I have never seen before.  It was huge.  I don't really have any idea what it is for.




     At first, Roni was sure it was a monster goin' to eat him.  But I got him to walk up to it so I could have a closer look.


     Back home, the hay guys were raking / turning our hay when Roni and I came up the drive. 



     Joe took my car in to get the window fixed.  The glass wasn't broken, but the window has been stuck part way down for over a week.  I decided to move the stinky chicks off the front porch.  They had outgrown their tub anyway.  So into Greta's old dog crate they went.

I put the chicks on the grass in the sun, which they really seemed to enjoy.  I also put roosting perches in the crate which they appreciate.


     Tiny re-surfaced from under the corn crib.  I watched her go back under it (photo of her tail end just about to disappear through a hole) and now know exactly where she is hiding out.  Courtney and Dan gave Joe a ride back here.  Courtney helped me with my G-mail issues, messed with the horses, and left back for town.





     The hay bailer came at 3pm, our hired helper Will was dropped off by his Dad, and we started "making hay."  Here Will is helping Joe get the hay elevator off the wagon and set up.

      Hercules, in an effort to warn off the strange people and equipment, was kept busy all afternoon.

   
     The wagon of grass hay from out front gets dropped off from the baler.



     It needed to be pushed back and then pulled forward into position for unloading onto the elevator.


     It was a hot day for bringing in hay, but that is what helped dry out the hay so quickly.  Dan and Will were great help.  We were able to easily keep up with Luke, Levi, and their helper...

partly because their baler was much slower than Mark's.  Luke brings a wagon from the side pasture...

we get back up to the loft...

And Joe starts unloading the bales and up they go to be stacked and stored.

     We did get most of our hay in.  The tractor pulling the baler broke down, so we had to quit before getting done... but that was at 8pm... quitting time anyway, if you ask me.

     An hour later, while putting Zorro in the stall, I heard a loud thump over head and then hay bales cascading down from the loft.  We had one stack I had called the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  Guess gravity got the best of it.  Luckily no one was in the way.




     The top photo is what it looked like from above, and to the right what the barn floor looked like, after I moved 2 bales to get out of the barn to go get my camera.

     Let that be a lesson on the importance of careful hay stacking.  We had three different categories of stacks: straight grass, straight alfalfa, and a mix.  But we had started running out of room.  
   
     Joe left for work at 4am Sunday and I was feeling the toll from yesterday when I got up just after 5am... sore and tired even after a good night's sleep.  I couldn't even imagine what Joe must have felt like.  I enjoyed another relaxing morning on the porch, watching the horses graze out front and the cows out back.  There was also a mamma squirrel showing her 
                                                      two young babies around the yard.
"Here's the grass where many an acorn is buried, the tree with the corn feeder, the bird bath which usually has water in it, and these Day Lilies for a quick hiding place."  She would stop and stand up on hind legs looking for danger and they would grab a hold of her back or arm.  It was soooo cute. They frolicked and played and chased each other too.

     9:30 I got a call.  Ann's brother Troy was coming for hay at 10 am.  I decided Church was not going to happen, dressed into my farm clothes and went out to straighten the bales of hay that had fallen down.  Troy and his friend got 50 bales loaded, but the other bale pile out on a wagon in the field we were going to pull from had too much alfalfa and was too wet.  The elevator was in the way of the loft window, so Troy said he would be back for
more later.  The Kabota battery died
again so it was parked in the way as the hay guys were coming in to re-rake alfalfa that was down and still needed drying.  They had to measure a cable on the tractor that burnt yesterday and run to Farm and Fleet to buy a replacement.  They also picked up some rock salt for us to use on the wet bales.

     We had a third hay man (Brian) comment about how great our alfalfa is.  I was complaining about it being so thick.  He said people who try to grow straight alfalfa can't get it to grow this pure.  It is an alfalfa grower's dream he said.  But I don't want straight alfalfa.  We need to find some buyers for it.  Most horse people want a mix.

     This is Luke and Brian.  They were back to baling just after lunch time.  They helped us store the dry bales up in the hay mow.  We had run out of room as usual, and at the end were kind of cramming bales here and there. 

     We put the wet alfalfa bales in the corn crib.  To dry them out, we stacked them very loosely with the stems up.  And we put rock salt on the top of each as you can see here.



     By 3pm we were done.  This is Levi, Luke's brother.  I was fascinated by this old tractor, especially the seat.  It did not look very comfortable... and I wondered, how many butts sat in it. 

     The guys got the elevator down and loaded onto the trailer.












     Once packed up, they headed down the drive.




            

        Notice how nice our peonies look.








     Joe and I planted the willow tree out in the pasture, knowing if we went in to sit down, it would never get done today. 










     After that, we were exhausted.  We tried the hammock for a rest.  Joe decided the bed would be more peaceful.  I didn't fall asleep in the hammock, but rested listening to sounds

on the farm... birds chirping, chicks
peeping, chickens clucking, turkey gobbling, leaves rustling, and then Brother sitting beneath me meowing for attention.  Up and at'em... I needed to give everyone fresh water.  The chicks needed more feed.  Betty is always begging for food.  I don't think she can forage very well with her messed up beak.  Then I planted this little Dogwood tree.

     By 7 pm the skies and forecast were certain of rain.  The winds had shifted out of the SW and picked up considerably.  Joe helped me battened down the farm yard and head for cover as the rains came down during our late super.

     Today was a spectacular solar eclipse that could be seen in the skies of the western United States. This image (Credit & Copyright) by Jimmy Westlake, was taken of the sun at the moment of maximum coverage by the moon.


 
     Monday morning I was euphoric.  This was my last teaching Monday ever.  I had one exam from 11:30 to 1:10.  Then there was the traditional "Faculty Roast" that they do at the end of each year for all the retiring teachers.  Ashlee Johnson put together a very nice video for me, on behalf of the science department.  I enjoyed the jabs and joking around and was touched by the sentimental words.  I have posted it here, but it may be whipped out soon because of copy right issues with the music.  It got deleted from Facebook and U-Tube already.

     I have been putting the chicks (in their cage) out of the coop during the day and in at night.  I turn on the heat lamp still if it is going to be too cold for them over night.










      I brought more junk home from school along with my exams that I needed to finish grading.  Dan still has a pile of his stuff (above) to take care of, and now I have my piles.  We had growth Group at Shelly and Kelly's this week. 

     Tuesday I had a 9:00 exam, so was done by lunch time.  This ended my last day in the classroom with students.  The whole science department went to lunch, and I was treated to a great meal.  They had also gotten me a gift card for golf and another for a restaurant. 
Their generosity is so humbling.  I had to go
back to school to get my exams graded, recorded, and continue with clean out and checkout procedures. I was at school until almost 5pm.

     When I got home, Joe was in his camo. coveralls spraying all our fruit trees.  Troy arrived to get the rest of the hay he had wanted.  It felt like a lazy day...




     But I had lot's to do.  It would be nice to join the ducks for a rest in the grass.  Hercules was working at chasing Troy off.  Guess what?




          Turkey Butt!

Meanwhile, little miss chicken is helping herself to some flower petals.  Bad Chicken!





     It was a beautiful Wednesday morning. My only school responsibility was to check out, so I did not rush off to school.



     Amiga and Zorro enjoying some fresh cut alfalfa.  We had several broken bales to feed as part of the clean up process.









     Last day check-out was a little more complicated than usual.  I needed to delete all my computer files, voice mail box, e-mails, etc.  I had a few last minute things to pack up before turning in my keys.  And I had to say goodbuy to many colleagues again.  But I made it to the Social Committee's Happy Hour by noon. 
We enjoyed beverages and lunch out on the patio
at El Toro.  It was a hot sunny day and many got "fried" in more ways than one.  What a wild and crazy group teachers are at the end of the school year.  This is a fellow chem. teacher glad to be done for the year.

GLEE - Full Performance of "School's Out"






     I unpacked more things once home, including this flower that was a gift from the social committee. 

     Then it was off to Gilmore's to do our usual Wednesday stall cleaning.  Some of them had been done already, so it did not take very long. 

     We had opened the south end of the corn crib and put up this cattle panel so the cows could get in out of the sun. 

   




     Well, they helped themselves to the drying alfalfa.


     Today I awoke with the realization that this was my first day of retirement.  I wondered, "Hummm... what shall I do today?  Read, ride, garden, landscape, clean house, do laundry, nap, walk, whatever."  Then I realized, I could do it tomorrow, or tomorrow, or tomorrow.  I have all summer, or fall, or winter, or spring. I think I am going to like retirement. 
                                                  I am free as a bird, like these two soaring
over head.  Although I think they are having a small altercation.  Reality hit as I remembered all the things that needed doing.  I worked at this blog till 8am.  Then I celebrated with a two hour ride on Roni.  We covered the same route as last Saturday.







     A quick shower and I was off to meet Ann for lunch.  We were celebrating my retirement and her moving (which happens in two weeks).  This is a cute bag she got me.  Click on it to read the fine print.  I like this motto and plan to do more to embrace it. 

     I did some grocery and farm shopping on the way home.  I unloaded and filled feed bins until Angie arrived to get farm chore instructions.  Next I did a lot of watering of plants and animals because it was 91 degrees with 30mph winds.  Everything was parched.   

     It is a relief to be done with the year and an even bigger solace to be ending my teaching career.  Up until going to part-time, my life was engulfed in teaching.  During the school year, just about every waking moment, I had 
                                                                teaching on my mind.  It even
filled my dreams.  Moving to part time and a year later this farm, my focus on life started to change.  However, even though I was only working at school five hours a day, I was still putting in about 60 hours a week... planning, preparing, grading, website construction, etc.  Now I am free to do what I want when I want.  I can take a vacation anytime of the year, not just summer or Christmas.  I can relax in the evening on Sundays.  I am sooo thankful I have reached this next phase of life. 

Turned out to pasture!