A Blustery Saturday

Windy today, while I took eggs down and then did a subsequent errand that took an hour or so in intermittent rain sprinkles.

 

The food pantry was very busy this morning, and there were volunteers there I had never met.  Usually there is the same group on Saturday, and the same manager.  Today there were numerous other volunteers working.  There was a crowd going in and out, and I found out that some folks were already picking up their Thanksgiving boxes.  I was so glad I had walked in with the eggs as they were getting boxes together for several families.  I ran downstairs to the "Christmas Room" and did some shopping.  You see, I am trying to get a few things to transform for our Christmas this year... and today I found a Christmas cookie jar for 1.00 (with only one chip in the rim!) and a lovely little bowl that will hold M and Ms, and matches a lamp that is going to be the subject of a blog post in December.  I was very pleased with my 2.00 purchase today. 

 

I got caught behind this at one point:

 

There must be something wrong with me, because I was fine meandering along behind him for a couple of miles, it gave me time to enjoy the view, albeit a cloudy one.

The trucks behind me in line were not so happy, and as we got to the bottom of this hill, they sped around us one by one.

 

 

Here are two of the calves that live in the field next to our yard (who were the llama's buddies).  One of them has managed to pull through the fence a cement sack that blew across the yard, and I stupidly did not get out and get it as I left this morning.  These calves are getting huge now... and I did go over and try to distract them and get the sack... but one of them carried it away.  Of course, now I'm worried about the calf's digestion. 

 

There is still some color around us. 

 

 

 

 

These clouds came over us tonight... we are supposed to have thunderstorms and then a rapid drop in temperature, from the 70's to the 30's.  So far, it is 73, and the clouds appear to have gone by.  How we still need moisture! 

 

I've always loved cattle.

 

Several of you commented about Ranger and his pictures last night.  Yes, he has developed hip dysplasia, but it has only really started bothering him in the last year.  He had a full dental this spring, and during his sedation, the vet checked his hips, too.  He is on tramadol and meloxicam, but I am now starting to wonder if he is getting all the help he needs.  He had a good day today, and has been peaceful most of the day, and was able to get up and go out and eat twice with no trouble.  He spent many years running up and down the fenceline... and this pivoting tore his hips up.  We try to discourage it now.  For months, he would sleep in the hallway at night... we would literally fall over him while we got up in the middle of the night... but he has not done that now for a month.  I think it's just too much effort to get up and down.  During the day while Keith is at work, he does come and sleep in the hall, by the door of the office, where he can keep an eye on me.   We love him so much, but we also know that our dogs are gifts to us for a short while... and someday he will be joining Addie Mae, Hannah, and Oscar in our pasture and in our hearts.

 

A Trip to the Real Country

Today, we made a trip down to Baldwin City to Heritage Tractor. 

That's the salesman on the seat.

And here's yours truly going for a practice spin.  Flattering photo, huh?  However, I can tell you this tractor ran like a .... dream!  We are thinking of getting it in the spring, along with a couple of implements, including the bucket on the front.  We need something a little bigger to cut the pasture, and something to till up a new garden area, you can't say we were discouraged by this summer's weather.

By the way, it dropped 20 degrees in the last hour, and we have had some sprinkles, other parts of the Kansas City area are actually seeing showers!

I love my husband.  He makes friends with all the animals everywhere we stop...like the feed store here.  He wasn't always like this... he has mellowed considerably in the last ten years, and I am so glad for it.... I definitely married a keeper!

Hope everyone around us gets some rain!

Saturday Nearly Mended

On the mend today, and we went to a farm show early in the morning, after dropping off the eggs.

The Western Farm Show is held down near Kemper Arena, in the American Royal buildings.  There was a tractor pull in the arena on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.  There was a huge crowd.

There were tractors large and small.

I took this for one of my oldest friends, this was her maiden name!

There was even a pink tractor, owned by Harold Denholm of Tonganoxie.

However, we basically walked quickly through this entire large show, as there was nothing aimed at hobbyists, hobby farmers, or small animal keepers.  Nothing.  We were very disappointed in that respect.  There was nothing "chicken" to be seen anywhere.

So, after a two hour walk for excercise, we started home.  We did stop at Big Bob's restaurant in Bonner to have some barbecue... delicious food but big mistake for me, as my stomach is still not right.

So, we came home to watch the Iowa State game... (they won) and then to watch the KU - MU final regular season game.

As you see, Keith had lots of company watching the game.  I was in the recliner with Bessie behind me.

There was great rejoicing in Lawrence, tonight, by the way.

Then we went out to do chores... as you see, the llamas were lined up waiting for Keith.

And he even did the chicken chores, since I'm still pretty tuckered out.  Our poor henhouse, you can see what cleaning we have to do in a few weeks.  The rafters are nasty from the starlings.

Here is Lil on the deck in the late afternoon sunlight.  Just a few hours after this picture, Keith had gone to bed early, and I had taken the little girls out to go potty.  The night is cold but very clear, and you can see the stars forever.  In Troy's back yard, a group of coyotes began to yip and call, very, very close (there is a pond there).  I ran into the house to get the good flashlight that illuminates far away, but by the time I got back out, they were far down the road to the south.  They don't often come clear to the pond in the dark... it is only about 50 feet from the back of Troy's house, so I had hoped to get a glimpse of them.

I was going to blog-hop tonight, but today's trip reminded me that I am still not completely over this virus, so will go to bed early again, and hope to sleep a little later in the morning.  Keith is on vacation this coming week... lucky dog...so will get completely caught up on his rest.

Though the farm show was a disappointment for us, next week is the home and garden show in Johnson County.  I went to this two years ago and got some great ideas, so we will give it a try.  We're getting very close to planting potatos and starting seeds.