Now that fall is nipping the air, we know what's happened since the last blog entry. Here are a few changes and happenings at Pine Ridge Farm:
Mr. Farmer discovered this friendly fellow at the grain bin facility. After watering and feeding him 24 hours, we put his mug on Facebook and his family promptly found and retrieved him.
Rachael graduated from high school--and gifted each graduate with a marble to pass on to the high school principal, replacing the many he'd lost the previous four years:
We hosted a party for family and friends.
For Father's Day, Mr. Farmer started his journey to keeping cool and relaxed.
Matthew spent the summer in other people's weddings and working at IRBC (Iowa Regular Baptist Camp).
Grace worked and played at Higher Grounds Baptist Camp in Alaska.
Laura made a batch of homemade play dough for the nursery kiddos during Vacation Bible School and couldn't resist making a sculpture. It's one of those random pictures that scares you when you scroll through the camera roll so it's included here for your wonder and enjoyment.
We hosted young people...and fed them. As my sister-in-law Ka-Lee says, shoes= love. The more shoes, the more love! We were blessed.
When the weeds and bugs were under control in the fields and the borders were mowed, Mr. Farmer decided to overhaul the back yard. He built a fire ring, ripped out a concrete retaining wall, built a new one, and filled it in.
The most recent additions to the fire ring are the lamp posts, otherwise known as "The Tumnus Project."
As part of the renewal, David rented a high lift, trimmed dead branches and did overhead work, including the installation of the barn quilt Grace made last Christmas.
Laura picked up more Jersey calves.
The barn, shop and overflow are full of Ancient Chinese Secret--farm supplements and chemicals the mad scientist farmer mixes and matches for optimum results.
And, perhaps strangest of all is the chicken saga. Matthew and Miss Laura, his girlfriend, picked up 50 pullets last spring.
Within 2 weeks of being teenagers, we lost all but 1--most likely to the fox next door. That left us with a flock of 6 older chickens (5 hens and a rooster), Pa Rooster, and one lone chicken that roosted on the garbage dumpster.
Mrs. Farmer checked out craigslist. Lo, and behold! A Mennonite family was selling older hens to make way for new ones. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer drove down one Friday night, paid the asking price, sat on the woodpile until dusk, then slipped in, grabbed and boxed the chickens. They didn't stop laying, and now the entertainment of the day is--which hens will travel with which rooster? And wouldn't you know, the lone pullet is not a pullet after all. Reality TV is yesterday's news at Pine Ridge Farm. "Swapping Hens" has hit the air. Stay tuned.
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| Mr. Tuff |
Mr. Farmer discovered this friendly fellow at the grain bin facility. After watering and feeding him 24 hours, we put his mug on Facebook and his family promptly found and retrieved him.
Rachael graduated from high school--and gifted each graduate with a marble to pass on to the high school principal, replacing the many he'd lost the previous four years:
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| Courtesy: West Liberty Index |
For Father's Day, Mr. Farmer started his journey to keeping cool and relaxed.
Matthew spent the summer in other people's weddings and working at IRBC (Iowa Regular Baptist Camp).
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| Laura and Matthew: the violinist and the groomsman--what a deal! |
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| Ranger Grace |
Laura made a batch of homemade play dough for the nursery kiddos during Vacation Bible School and couldn't resist making a sculpture. It's one of those random pictures that scares you when you scroll through the camera roll so it's included here for your wonder and enjoyment.
 |
| Jonah |
When the weeds and bugs were under control in the fields and the borders were mowed, Mr. Farmer decided to overhaul the back yard. He built a fire ring, ripped out a concrete retaining wall, built a new one, and filled it in.
The most recent additions to the fire ring are the lamp posts, otherwise known as "The Tumnus Project."
As part of the renewal, David rented a high lift, trimmed dead branches and did overhead work, including the installation of the barn quilt Grace made last Christmas.
Laura picked up more Jersey calves.
The barn, shop and overflow are full of Ancient Chinese Secret--farm supplements and chemicals the mad scientist farmer mixes and matches for optimum results.
And, perhaps strangest of all is the chicken saga. Matthew and Miss Laura, his girlfriend, picked up 50 pullets last spring.
Within 2 weeks of being teenagers, we lost all but 1--most likely to the fox next door. That left us with a flock of 6 older chickens (5 hens and a rooster), Pa Rooster, and one lone chicken that roosted on the garbage dumpster.
Mrs. Farmer checked out craigslist. Lo, and behold! A Mennonite family was selling older hens to make way for new ones. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer drove down one Friday night, paid the asking price, sat on the woodpile until dusk, then slipped in, grabbed and boxed the chickens. They didn't stop laying, and now the entertainment of the day is--which hens will travel with which rooster? And wouldn't you know, the lone pullet is not a pullet after all. Reality TV is yesterday's news at Pine Ridge Farm. "Swapping Hens" has hit the air. Stay tuned.
