A Long Day's Work

Thank heavens for Good Neighbor Troy, that's all Chris and I have to say. 

The huge pile of weeds and branches from last week... plus today's... 

was being dragged to the bottom of the pasture (through the high grass) in 

handfulls. 

Troy saw us, and offered us the use of his truck. 

The dryer parts closer to the camera were from last week's... and we cut down a

group of saplings along the side of the old henhouse. 

Look!  All hauled off and the henyard usable again! 

These two got to go with us.  See how bad the saplings on the side of the henhouse were?  

The pile on the right was from last week. 

And now! 

We couldn't even see the pump for the last two months. 

There is something very unusual about the walnut tree you see here...

there were VERY few walnuts this year.  Very few. 

\

We made six or seven trips down to the brush pile. (without getting the truck stuck!!!!) 

Which has now grown by leaps and bounds. 

This is the cottonwood that fell from Troy's side onto our fence. 
It will be the last thing we do. (fixing the fence) 

And there, at the top of the pasture, is the big tree that split and fell... it's hard to see in this picture.  Troy is eventually going to cut this up for firewood. 

Chris is working here in the goatyard... you couldn't even walk in here when we started, and we 
still can't move the gate.  Now we can finally see the little barn. 

We got most of that row of weeds down, but there are some left for me to work on 
this week.  

A few weeks ago I showed you that a swallow was repairing the next above the front door. 
Can you believe this?  A little head kept popping up while we were going in and out. 

We never saw mom and dad swallow... they are usually swooping around. 

I am praying they are feeding the babies now, because the peeping was getting softer and softer, and I told Keith I HAD to leave, I couldn't bear it. 

I have never, ever, seen swallows lay such a late clutch. 

I pray that the parents haven't left, and abandoned the babies. 

That gives you an idea of what the goat yard looked like. 

Even though it was in the 70's, we had to take some breaks from the cutting and pulling. 

Keith got there and tried out the color we are going to paint the house. 
It will have white trim.  
That's "Chamois" by Behr. 

Nephew Brandon has the two long sides finished, and will finish the north end next week.  Keith will start concentrating on the railings on the decks this week.  

I'll finish up inside except for the trim. 

Then we'll tape the windows and blow and go with the painting... and then put the trim back up. 

The dogs had to be locked up in the house for a while as we were moving the truck around so much. 

Here's our girl coming up from the pasture as we were getting ready to leave. 

Stinky was already in the car, ready to go. (he rolled in something really, really stinky and dead) 

Both dogs were worn out. 

We got home and watched these guys for an hour while their parents did an errand. 

But here's the best news of the weekend! 

Our new granddaughter, Haley Kay, born yesterday afternoon to Andrea and Nick (and big sister Brynn).  Keith got to hold her last night for an hour... you can see from the expression on his face 
how happy he was.  

We're so glad to meet her!