Fran and Heather's Visit

Holly's grandmother Fran and niece Heather are visiting from the Seattle area and are enjoying the quiet of the farm. Fran is 90 and still game for just about anything, she never complains even in the heat. And Heather is just sweet young lady and ilke Jenny, seems to be fascinated with all of the wildlife. The original plan had been to use the golf cart so Fran could see all of the farm... and I had it running all over the place but its now having trouble starting again and I think I need either a new voltage regulator or ignitor. Sooo, we employed the garden tractor and trailer for a makeshift hayride.

4 generations in this picture, Holly, Judy,  Heather and Fran

I really like this picture of Holly, the sun is brining out her beautiful freckles.

Gassing up before the ride.

The gang is all aboard

Judy and Fran at the pond

Bandit had to get a free ride too

Good idea no?

We went behind the dam on the second pond so Fran could get a feel for the ticks (oh, and see the prickly pear and some blackberries)

It seemed to be a hit.

We found a prickly pear along one of the fence lines, not sure how it got to the Missouri Ozarks but it is now blooming and seems to be quite happy in this environment.

The blackberries are thick this year and should produce many gallons of berries for jellies and jams.

Holly and Heather at the main tomatoe patch.

Note the corn, 2 weeks since planting is about a foot tall.

Holly's pumpkin patch

These were started from seed when we first got here and have been in the ground about 3 weeks.

And my black eyed peas are comming along just fine as well.

Fire Dept Truck and Tractor Pull Fund Raiser

My first duties with the Volunteer Fire Dept was to help with the Truck and Tractor pull fund raiser last Saturday. We had never been to one and we had a blast. Unfortunately the camera batteries died before the pro-trucks and tractors came up but here are a couple of pictures....it was very loud (Nitrous, open headers etc.).

They pull a heavily laden sled that has a weight box that moves forward as they progress...they pull for distance (and prize money of course).

This is the weight box sled they pull.

This older truck with rust spots had a full course pull...looks can be deceiving.

Personally I like the tractors, some were highly modified and some drivers wore helmets but some of the older farmers just wore their bibs and a smile.

Maybe I have found a new hobby...wonder what one of those goes for?

Its even more red neck than NASCAR...we love it. Speaking of NASCAR, we have 2 NASCAR tracks within 25 miles and they have races every Friday and Saturday night (Jammie McMurry's home track...he wont the Daytona 500 this year and is a local hero)...we are going to check it out soon.

For being retired we sure are busy...I may have to get a job sooner rather than later so I can get some rest!!

Steve and Jenn's Visit

Number 1 daughter Jennifer visited for a couple of days along with her boyfriend Steve and we had a good time. Steve and Jenn brought down the F-250 and Allis Chalmers WC and Jenn seemed fascinated with the frogs, turtles and toads...but not so thrilled with the ticks.

Steve and Jenn with the horses (and Bandit)

Their puppy Lady seemed to like the farm.

Jenny and Steve

Boo Boo on his favorite perch.

Jenny, Holly, and Judy..three generations

The Gardens

These pictures are a week or so old and the gardens have just exploded but we have planted:

8 50 foot rows of corn, 4 rows of pole beans, 4 rows of peas, cantelope, 3 kinds of pumpkins, watermellon, cucumbers, 2 rows of tomatoes, sweet potatoes, raddishes, lettuce, various peppers, 2 rows of black eyed peas, beets, brussels sprouts, cabbage, 2 kinds of squash, bell peppers, Carrots and Okra. In addition, we have chives, oregano, lavender, thyme, rosemary, Mint and basil....and the blackberry bushes are abundant with berries soon to be picked.

Some of the lillies around the garden that Judy raises.

One of our garden plots, the corn is now about 6 inches tall so knee high by the 4th of July is likely.

The garden gets sun all day but we have a persimmon tree, Black Walnut and an Oak to sit under the shade in by the main garden plot.

Another view, next year we plan on putting a couple of acres into production, including significant corn and sorghum (for molasses).

Holly in the greenhouse. We plan on adding a large hoop house next year so we can grow through most of the winter.

Its very peaceful..I need that.

We used a hog fence panel for the pole beans.

Projects around the Farm

Its been a busy month, major re-roofing project, gardening, interior remodel, and comming in a week or so, new doors, windows and countertops.

We built a planter box across the front of Judy's trailer with some of the thousands of board feet of oak lumber in the barn.

It literally held 1800 pounds of top soil.

This was before we got the Kubota with the loader.

And we are in the process of rebuilding the entry deck to the back door of the trailer. Inside we installed an air conditioning unit and did some rewiring.

Still more to do on the deck including roofing it over.

Shingles comming off..all six layers

We are changing the old choppy roof line with 5 valleys (including one blind valley that was leaking) to a linear design that wiull result in 2 valleys. We are also adding 5 inch gutters all around (no gutters were on the house when we bought it with predictable problems as a result).

It has dramatically changed the look of the house while retaining the old fashioned appeal.

The existing oak decking was in good shape and only needed some minor repair

We have been fighting high heat and humidity and thunder showers but we are all buttoned up with 30 lb felt now so the biggest worry is over.

The old shingles were in terrible shape and we took this into account when we bought it.

Its really starting to come together, we now have a covered back porch which we will deck over and eventually screen in and the roof line is much improved (compare with the first picture).

The Hummingbird Feeder

We put up a Hummingbird feeder just outside of the kitchen bay window and we can watch then feed at eye level from about a foot away. Interestingly, Hummingbirds arent the only ones interested.

Barn Swallows partake..

Oriols seem to like it...

And we of course usually have multiple Hummingbirds.

The bird life on the farm varies from songbirds (Thrushes, Bluebirds, Eastern Blue Jays, Cardinals, Finches etc.) to Wild Turkeys (a flock lives in our woods at the back of the pasture), Doves, and lots of Quail. We also get ducks, geese, and herrons at the pond.