What Christmas Break? Get outside and work!

Tuesday, 27 December dawned sunny, so I had the boys do a road clean-up along the two roads that border our property. This is our haul. Mostly beer cans and beer bottles. Sad. Scary. Nasty. Good reason to buy a silencer for my rifle and spend a few evenings watching with night vision goggles.

Thank you boys for a good morning's work. Now what else can we do today?

Lets go across the stream and cut logs. We found this large heavy box-shaped metal tank in the brush, so I got the tractor and chains. 

The boys had to cut a lot of thorny brush so they could wrap the chain around it.

I had time while they hooked up chain to watch K2 return from further up stream where he was cutting up logs.

Yes, he already cut this big one into several sections.

We could not have bunged this chunk of metal without the tractor's muscle. Not sure how we are going to load it on a trailer and take it to the metal re-cycle place, but if and when we do, we'll get a chunk of money!

No, K8 did not cut these with his Kaybar knife. Check out the stream in the back ground.

Day after Christmas

We had a cold rain last Monday, 26 December. Late in the afternoon I looked out my window, and what did I see? Our sheep and cows were all in the new loafing shed together for the first time. The ewes and goat are in the first section (1/4 of the shed) and the cows and ram are in the larger back section.

K Boy Pics

K7, K6, K2, and K8. You can tell by the hairdo who was jumping on a trampoline just before the photo shoot.

Very good - 3 out of 4 showing their nice smiles.

Which one do you think has a future in hollywood?

Good looking, happy guys.

The End

Later on Christmas Day, Mom wanted a photo of her 4 sons...

...but she had to go find them.

The 2 youngest were on the trampoline wearing a mix of church dress and new pajama pants.

Fortunately the photo is from waist up only, so no worries on pants. The Photographer gets them organized and...

...gives her final instructions.

"What did she say?"

"Just look at the camera, keep your eyes open and give a natural smile." How hard can this be?

It's a moving photo shoot with multiple back drops. Let's try the gate to paddock #2.

And the mug shot line-up against the basement's rock wall.

So, how did the pictures turn out? You will just have to check back real soon!

Christmas Day 2011

We celebrated Christ's Birth by first attending Church and afterward exchanging a few gifts at home. But first, K8 went around the room taking pictures of the attendees. He started with me...

...then his Mum...

...K2...

...K7...

...K3...

...K3's hubbie Danny...

...K6...

...and finally himself, with a self-portrait.

Good books and movies were given. 

As was food, in this case K2 received his favorite cereal from K7 (along with other items).

Clothes were happily received.

And what is a Whipple Wanch Christmas without weapons being given - he holds in his hands a chocolate grenade!

Somebody is really happy with his Irish national rugby jersey.

Mom prefers that only one gift is opened at a time.

Danny and KT received lots of baby clothes in preparation for little one's arrival in April. It was a happy and peaceful Christmas. Hope you had the same.

Christmas Eve

After a great turkey feast with all the trimmings, the big boys played chess, the little boys cleaned up, and the ladies played the piano.

After which K3 sang several songs. Very nice evening.

The days before Christmas

Son-in-law Danny (up in the walnut tree) and K2 did some tree pruning and removal.

K8 had animal chores. Here he is sanitizing the equipment after milking.

Jimmy and Lizzie always get some fresh milk.

We started halter training the two baby heifers. 

I sat and chatted to them during their initial session. "Sandy" was the first to relax and start eating. "Forsella", on the left, took a little longer - you can see how taunt her halter rope is. Don't worry, she did eventually relax and start eating hay. Did you notice our Christmas week weather? Blue skies and cool temps.