Last week assorted pics

Opening a new bag of dog (and cat) food.

Weather got cold, so time to light fires in the stove.

Never ending chore - dishes.

Moving one of the "wild" chickens in with the tame flock. 

A visit to Grandpa Joe's Chocolate factory.

Too many choices.

K7 took a tumble off the truck onto the gravel road - ouch! He has several more bandages elsewhere.

K8 chopping wood with a hatchet.

K7 throwing his hatchet.

K7 and K8 chopping together.

Dad's faithful helper

Last Wednesday afternoon. K7 removing the chains from the tractor so we can connect the bush-hog, and get back to mowing brush.

I mowed around the new pond and reclaimed about 2-3 acres of brush, brambles, and saplings that will now be grass for our animals.

Gee, must be getting cooler, because K7 was not wearing his coat a few minutes ago.

While I mowed, K7 spread more grass seed. This is about the center line of our land on the hill side - it is mostly grass to the left, and used to be mostly woods and brush to the right, but while we'll always have lots of woods, we're opening up a little more grass lands.  

I finally hit and ran over a sapling that was a tad too thick for the bush hog to handle, which caused the safety shear bolt to break. At that point the bush hog stops functioning until I can install another safety bolt. K7 drove the truck and followed me back to the house, which was a good thing because it was 5:15 P.M. and we had to be at church for Boy Scouts by 6:00.

Sunrise on the paddock

Taken earlier this week when K7 and I returned from morning seminary class (runs from 0630 to 0725). Mom, the cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and dogs are always awake long before the sun rises, i.e. before we even depart for class. 

The many faces of K8, as photographed by K5

Black snake

Last Thursday afternoon, while driving around up on our farm's hill side, I spotted a long black "stick looking thing" on the pond bank. I suspected it was a snake since there were no sticks on the bank a few days ago. It's head is on the right. 

I sent K7 to take photos. It looked to be about 4 feet long, and started down the back of the bank.

Not a poisonous snake, so he gets to live. He better find a hole for his winter hibernation, because the weather is about to get cold in the Ozarks. 

Hay there

Winter is coming and we need more hay for our animals, so we went hay shopping.

"This one looks good - nice and firm, smells good, no bugs."

"Was that bale #98? #99? or #100?"      "I don't know...I thought you were counting!"

The hay team.

Riding herd on the hay.

K8 always celebrates our hay days with a fun jump. 

Time to unload.

K8 multitasking.

"Come on, work faster. We don't have all day".

My idea of a Father/Daughter date.

K5 with her dog "Jack".

The hay crew is finally done...well, almost.

Except for sweeping the trailer clean of loose hay to Momma's satisfaction.

Momma petting "Booboo".

Took Momma and K5 on a driving tour across the stream to look at all the improvements on the farm. 

Brook, creek, stream...

Regardless what we call it, this little autumn robed rivulet of water is beautiful, and makes a lovely tinkling sound as it flows over the rocks. 

"Gee, is that a tiny trout?"              I seriously doubt it.