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!  

A Happy Weekend Post

Here is Ralph, Keith's dad, at the Hereford House yesterday with little Brynn, 

who was born the day of our family lunch last year!

The Hereford House is a Kansas City landmark, western-themed of course, and famous for 

it's steaks. 

This is the second year we have gone there, and the food was great as usual, and we had very good wait staff. 

As I waited for everyone, I was looking at the chandeliers... aren't they amazing?  They are all hand-tooled leather... as if they were made from saddle leather.  

Andrea, Keith's oldest daughter, and her husband Nick were our guests, because Keith's other daughter, Amber... was busy giving us THIS: 

Meet Carson Joel Sheets, and his big brother Jace... with their proud 

Papaw!  

Last year Andrea and Nick missed the lunch because Brynn had just been born, and 

this year, Jesse and Amber were missing.  Don't think that there weren't some jokes going around about next year's lunch!

So today, we celebrated! 

And here is the birthday girl herself, enjoying her cake! 

Keith's mom and dad drove down from Ames, Iowa, for the weekend, and we were so glad to see them. 

(notice the change of clothes after the cake!) 

And cousins Brynn and Jace loved the little schoolbus slide given to Brynn by another set of grandparents. 

As Keith said... these children are very loved. 

And then it was home to do chores after the Chiefs took a lead in their game this afternoon. How wonderful it was to be outside, scores of geese were going back and forth above me, as we are surrounded by beanfields on all sides.  I heard hundreds of them honking, but couldn't get the camera in my hand fast enough to get good pictures. 

And it got up to 40 again, and, as you can see, Icelandia is slowly turning back into Swamplandia. 

Wait... is that a goat in the pasture through the fence? 

Maaa Maaaa ... you forgot to let us in the yard!!!!

There are always chores waiting, and Soon-to-be-Skinny Minny was coming along with me.  I encourage her to get as much exercise as possible. 

Today is the third Sunday of Advent, and in all the beautiful home tours and 

gorgeous house dressing I have seen on the net this month, 

I have seen very little of the Reason for the Season....

The third Sunday of Advent invites us like this: 

"Gaudete"... which means

"REJOICE" as in the command to rejoice! 

Keith and I are doing that tonight, after a weekend of 

loving family... a new baby... seeing the older folks... celebrating a first birthday... and joying in the simple chores it takes to keep things going around here. 

Those are the things that are priceless, and that make us truly joyous. 

Happy the Duck

Last Monday, when Sierra and Josie went home to our friend, Theresa brought me a little drake to keep my three Duckie Girls, Martha, Mary and Mattie, company. Out from his cat carrier he came, into the big henyard, bustling with chickens. He was disoriented and didn't realize where he was. Bewildered, he walked around rather sadly, feathers sticking up every which way. Soon, Mattie and Mary came and discovered him, and there was much joyful quacking as they introduced each other. It was two days before he realized how to get out of the henyard, so he contented himself with eating and bathing in the swimming pool there. Now he is with his girls, going from yard to pasture and back, and swimming on the now full again pond. He IS happy... and the feathers are ruffly, so he must not be pure Pekin, though he looks it. He is a Happy Duck!