Late Summer: You Win Some, You Lose Some

It's the end of summer, and things are changing at Pine Ridge Farm--coming, going--yep, changing.

Laura added three calves to the Millage Menagerie.

The Welcoming Committee

 

Hello

 

Getting to Know You

Not only did we add to the pasture and barn, we added a new driver and car as well (to the insurance roster as well as the garage).

 

 

 We lost another child to college somewhere along the way...

 



But the wonderful thing about children is they're much like boomerangs...and they come back every so often (and bring friends).

 

When they do, it's PARTY time!

And learning time...

 

 

Some of our new additions are quite cute and cuddly....

Our friend, Fredrick, with a new bunny capture

Mary, Fredrick's wife, Laura and Kirby after a rousing game of tag in the barn.

Then there are the not-so-cuddly creatures. The ones that, as The Farmer says, are "follicle-challenged."

Life on the farm. You win some. You lose some. You learn some. You learn that you didn't know what you thought you did. And you try again.
Coming soon to an Iowa farm near you: Harvest!

The Farmer's pre-harvest to-do list



Summertime...and the Livin is Easy

Summer arrived--a bit late, a bit cold, but it's here!
For Mother's Day, Grace put together a couple of pieces of hardware she found trolling the riverbed behind Mrs. Hawley's:

The Mommy and Baby Bike Duo Planter

The week after school was out, this Iowa farm family took a trip to California. We visited the ocean and glass beach:

the Redwoods:

and Golden Gate Bridge:

 

 

The following week, the older girls, a friend and I traveled to Florida to compete in the National Talents for Christ competition. This is what happens when Iowa farm girls see geckos:

 

And pose for a trip to the beach:

Since arriving back in Iowa, the Farmer has cleaned, repaired and stored equipment. Now it's on to outdoor maintenance and keeping up appearances.

We've also added a few kittens (9 as of this writing--the highway has a way of changing things) and a puppy:

 

 

Our puppy remains unnamed--although Mr. Farmer is pulling for Kirby. Scrap-eaters and vacuum cleaners have a lot in common....so they say.
 

Spring--We Thought it Would Never Come

It's here! It came. Some of us thought we were going to live in perpetual winter, but here's proof it didn't pass us by:

It's coming....

Touches of Spring

 

 

 

Babies--did you say babies? Bunnies, and chickens and lambs, oh my!

 

True love

 

On the crop-front, our farmer has been hard at work--days, nights, days, weekends... no, we do not get a kick back for promoting Mountain Dew, although we should.

    

 



 

 



Easter made itself at home somewhere in middle of our comings and goings. We celebrated our risen Savior with worship, fellowship, relaxation and family fun.

 

Making ice cream with Janine, our Austrian friend

 

Really, Easter Bunny? In the grill?

 

Throw in a spring play, mother-daughter activities, birthdays, high school graduation and prom. Spring has arrived... or gone. We're not sure which.

 

 

 

The Heart of Pine Ridge Farm Part II

The last post had pictures of our early years at Pine Ridge Farm--but wait, there's more. It's just too hard to choose...

 

Who says carpentry isn't glamorous?

 

Digging for worm-friends

Roadside bake stand