The good life in rural America

Another beautiful summer day on our farm in the Ozarks - green pastures and trees, blue skies with white puffy clouds, and our red buildings.

Time to spoil the cattle with grain and minerals, and a chance to spray them to help control the flies that pester them.

Clearing the banks of brush has gained us more grazing land for the cattle and has improved the views. I now have to remove a few stumps and boulders this winter, so I can get the tractor and bush hog in to mow down to the water line.

One of my favorite views is this giant red oak tree that fell in a mighty storm last year and gives us a bridge across our stream. The rock bottom stream is spring fed and cuts our 40 acre farm in half. It's the dividing line between our flat pastures and house to the right of photo, and our hill pasture and forest to the left of photo. 

The view from the oak bridge back toward the county road and our concrete bridge. Have not seen any copperhead or cotton mouth snakes along stream this year, and saw only one non-poisonous snake in the hill pasture while mowing last month.

"Red" and part of his harem.

Attended the Texas County fair last week to hang out with friends who were showing animals at the fair. Besides having a good time, we also had good food - delicious homemade ice cream for dessert after eating brauts or BBQ!

K7 decided to stay all day with his good friend Forest who was showing and selling his pig.

Forest had good reason to smile as his pig sold for $580. K7 and K8 were so impressed that they both want to bring animals next summer. Some of the sheep sold for $500, and beef steers were selling for $3,500 - $4,000. A small Dexter steer sold for almost $2,000! The boys started getting dollar signs in their eyes and asking if they could each have a steer from our herd...Good way to raise money for Missions and college.