July & August Update

Early July, we celebrated K7's 18th birthday with a trip to one of the 3 Mexican restaurants in our little town. He is on Mom's left. Nothing fancy, but a tasty meal and fun evening. Brought along one of his good friends, Taylor. (in yellow) Soon after, both K7 and Taylor received their Calls to serve as Missionaries for The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints - K7 leaves late Oct and flies to Ghana in West Africa! It will be a while (24 months) before he eats Mexican, Italian, American, etc food...Taylor is headed to the Dominican Republic, speaking Spanish.

Turned these girls into a new paddock with lots of fresh grass - happy, happy ewes.

This is what the view has been out our windows since March, all the way through August - Rain! But I shouldn't complain because it's not a typical hot August - the temperatures have been in the 70's during day, and down to 50 at night! Wow, I'm loving it, especially after driving to south Texas for K5's wedding in 107 degree heat (more about wedding in next post).

No shortage of water or green vegetation this year.

My neighbor had to wait for the water to recede before he could cross our bridge.

After 5 years, we sold our registered bull, Red. He usually loads up in the trailer quickly when offered a bucket of sweet grain, but....

....took a little longer this time because there were a few cows in heat on the other side of fence, which kept distracting him. He was reluctant to leave his harem, but there is a new group of girl friends awaiting him in Kansas. We'll be buying a polled, red bull this winter or spring. Keeping our horned girls, but want to add the polled gene to our herd.

We have a small, but beautiful National Cemetery an hour away. It was started during the Civil War due to the many battles and skirmishes fought in southern Missouri. 

There are many head stones that say, "Unknown Soldier", both U.S. and Confederate,

And a few Indian Scouts as well.

K8 turned 16 last Tuesday, and after five fun years of being a Boy Scout and all the many hikes, camp-outs, merit badges, and service projects, he finally finished all requirements for (and filling out the tedious detailed paperwork) the Eagle rank. Congratulations K8! Stay tuned for announcement of his Court of Honor date which is still to be determined. He is the 12th Scout in our Troop to earn this rank in the past 5 years, but only the 2nd to get it so young - K7 got his at 15 1/2. The other 10 Eagles got it the week they turned 18. Quite an accomplishment for K8!