Farm Logo Design

We are looking for design ideas for a logo for the Whipple Wanch. Something we can put on letter head, t-shirts, business cards, etc.

If you have some ideas, please let us know. There's definitely a free t-shirt in it for you!

Thanks,

Mac & S

Turning downed trees into useful products

A storm damaged the big sycamore tree in the background, so K2 cut it down. K6 and K7 are using a friend's gas-powered log splitter to get the big round pieces down to the size that fit into out wood burning stove. We can heat the entire house with this wood and our stove during any electric power outage.

This giant red oak regretfully had to be removed when we built our house last year. K2 is now helping our neighbors with a portable saw mill to cut several beams from it for the house they will be building this summer. Pretty cool.

Any and all scrap wood gets gathered and...

...burned into ash and returned to the soil. K8 and K7 had fun with these brush piles.

K8 Makeover

K8 complained about his shaggy hair, so he accompanied Dad to the barber shop.

Alan is a great barber.

K8 is very happy with the results (and the free sodas).

My next stop was to buy 20 Triple Crown thornless black berry plants from a 72 year old farmer. He was a soft-spoken, friendly, down to earth, patriotic guy who had this sign in his front yard. Not an uncommon sentiment or practice here in the Ozark mountains - I have seen several large signs in yards or in front of businesses along these lines.  

The story of Stewie's rough day.

The Tool

The Chase

The Capture

The Procedure

The Deed Is Done!

Happily reunited with Mama. Yes, the fact we "banded" this little ram means he is on the path to the freezer later this year (after he eats lots of grass and gets big enough).

The End

Dancing goats!

You may have heard of the "Tennessee fainting" goats, but here at the Whipple Wanch we have Dancing Goats...

These girls prefer cedar over grass.

Unplanned family gathering

Three of our daughters came in for a quick visit last week, so we had 7 of our 8 children at home. Plus 3 grandchildren, 1 potential son-in-law, and 2 extra dogs. Quite the crowd. Great time.

We waited a few hours for supper, but the roast pork took its slow time. Everyone was so hungry that S whipped up biscuits and pork gravy to accompany the salad, green beans, and something else....can't remember, but it was a good meal. Unfortunately S forgot the roast pork and it got a little over cooked. K2 and I shared it with Jimmy and the dogs over next few days.

S was not happy with the amount of "processed foods" and "sugar" that were smuggled into the house by certain people. Obviously this little guy is happily enjoying the contraband without any ill effects. Reminds me of myself at that age and look how good I turned out.

Tiny "Belle" got carried around...a lot. She looks worried because the tiny human carrying her has her shoes on wrong feet.

It wasn't all fun. We got a little work done. K2 installed plexiglass doors on the inside wall of the barn so we can watch the chickens lay eggs. 

And our very first fruit tree was planted in the little orchard area. It is a self-pollinating plum. Very soon it will be joined by apple, peach, and pear trees.

One crazy weekend. Just wish K1 and a few son-in-laws could have also dropped in unexpectedly. Oh, did I mention that S's brother, wife and 3 daughters were also squeezed in the same weekend? Thank goodness we added a few hundred square feet to our original floor plan.

Another baby lamb arrived!

We didn't think "Shaggy" was even pregnant, so you can imagine our pleasant surprise when she had this tiny little girl at sun-up a week ago Saturday.

At least its a girl, so she will be joining the flock as a future Mama and will not have a date with the butcher.  There are two more ewes expecting later this month (Yogurt) and in April (Snow White). Really hope to have two sets of twins - three girls and one more boy for the freezer would be great.

Any suggestions for a name?

"Sweet Land"

I have never talked about any books or movies I have been enjoying each day (books) or weekly (movie). Friday nights are Movie Night here on the Whipple Wanch, and after watching this little gem last night, I have to tell you I absolutely loved it. It lingers in the mind. No super star actors, no fast paced action with explosions or jetting around the world, just a wonderful story about family and friends on a farm. Well told by a talented cast. Also a good movie for Date Night with that special someone...

Chloe the puppy

We found this cute little girl at sunset one evening three weeks ago. She came out of the grass along the frontage road headed for the highway. What were we supposed to do? Let her get run over? No way! We brought her home. Next few days we knocked on doors along frontage road - no one owned her. We took her to the Vet clinic - no one recognized her. Checked paper for weeks - no lost puppy ad. 

She is very sweet and fit right in. 

Even looks like the big dogs with whom she lived on same porch...well, at least the similar black and tan coloring. It was so cute to see her working her short little legs when trying to keep up with these 2 big giants when running around yard or out in the pasture.

She is a great pup, but we already have 4 dogs. We were all starting to think about keeping her, but finally found the right home for her. Our daughter K4 arrived for a visit with our grandchildren. Here she is in the arms of granddaughter L. Looks like a perfect fit! They named her Chloe and took her home.

I love happy endings.

What happened the past two weeks?

The weather warmed up, so we spent a few afternoons shooting at milk jugs.

Daily time with the animals.

On most days there is usually something to make you smile.

Ordered top soil to create a backyard with grass.

Trenched 800 feet for a freeze-proof watering system for the pasture. Next step is to cross fence our big pasture into six smaller paddocks so we can do Management Intensive Grazing (rotate the cows and sheep to a new field of fresh grass every week).

Burned pasture to build-up soil with potash.

Had a few big thunder storms.

Finally used the portable gas generator for the first time.

Concrete pads for the water bubblers (drinking stations for animals).

Cut and grind 13 stumps in goat paddock and pasture, so we can spread grass seed this week.

Rented a Bobcat last Saturday to push dirt, and move logs and stumps into a massive burn pile. Wish I had a picture of the fire...it burned for two days!

A fun way to multi-task. Each hand and foot is controlling a different function, and the eye and brain is looking 360 to avoid hitting a tree or fence, or running over an animal. Better than a Disney ride. 

This was just the start of building the burn pile...eventually had six stumps, one large round bale of hay, lots of brush and several long logs. K8 lite it up with just one match. 

New improved wifi signal!

We have been plagued with poor Internet signal for the past few weeks. I kept calling and saying, "don't charge me today because...". At first they thought it was their tower, finally they came today and after an hour of fiddling around, took my antennae off the roof and said,"we'll have to give you a full refund". "Maybe if you install a 100' tall tower (at the cost of $1,000) you can get a strong signal". I suggested maybe they could put my antennae up on my neighbor's barn at the top of the hill north of my house. Lo and behold, they did and I now get a strong and steady signal. I just have to hope my neighbor's kids don't unplug my power cord in their barn...

Lights, beans, cheese, veggies, action!

Sunday's dinner was black beans and rice smothered under shredded yellow cheese, green bell peppers, purple onions, and red tomatoes. This ranks as one of our family's all time favorite dishes. Easy to make and so very delicious. Soak the beans in water over night, cook in crock-pot during church, chop veggies, add salt, pepper and jalapeno to taste and then enjoy...2 or 3 bowls. S does not make desserts, but I create my own cake by splitting a big slice of her homemade cornbread, melting lots of butter over both halves, and then applying a thick layer of sweet honey - times 2 and I'm ready for a nap.