Fall is Flying

From this: 

(10/23) 

To this: 

(11/10) 

When I took this picture this afternoon, the dogs were running back and forth in the 

pasture in 71 degree heat, with bright blue skies. 

It was a gorgeous day. 

Jester ran and ran and ran. 

And he finally flopped down in the shade. 

Troy has cut the maple tree up that split in the storm several months ago, and has split the 

wood and taken it home to cure for his fireplace.   This is what's left... a pile of 

brush.  I started dragging it down to the brush pile.  I got about half of it dragged. 

Last week, I showed you some horses in this pasture.  These horses belong to a man who 

used to trim our pony and mini hooves for us.  I went back and looked at the first picture. 

I particularly liked that Appy mare with the loud pattern.  (He breeds Arab crosses)

I realized when I looked at that picture again that she does not look good... she almost looks lame, or in pain. 

I have not seen her since this day, and I've stopped and looked. 

I don't see her in the pens across the road at his homeplace, either. 

This handsome GIRL is named "Bob".  She was with this guy: 

And they were just across the fence in Troy's back yard. 

They belong to the Spehars, our neighbors to the east with the beautiful ponds. 

Lil was NOT HAPPY to see them. 

And boy, was I ever happy that Troy had pulled the fence up and re-attached where the tree had fallen on it from his pond-side. 

She would have gone straight on through last week. 

Tomorrow, it will be too cold to wander around and take pictures. 

The water will have ice on it. 

And though I have the game camera pointed to the fortex of water... I saw some birds still drinking there the other day... we are supposed to have winds to 40 miles an hour as the front blows in tonight, and I suspect that the camera will blow over during the night.  It's set for 24 hour pictures... so maybe I will get a few pictures. 

I have been listening to the local news while typing this post... 

and our temp of 71 will be a thing of the past for the week... they are now predicting 

18 as the overnight temp for Friday night. 

BRRRRRRR. 

Please continue to remember our little friend Macey in 

your prayers.  Tomorrow, she has another MRI... and her 

blood tests results have now gone to the Mayo clinic.  The family 

will be taking her now to Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines for 

follow up.  We are holding them in our hearts and asking God to hold them in His hands.  

What We Saw

Early  this morning, Lilly was at the bedroom window, next to my ear, quietly growling out the slightly-opened window.  I mumbled to her... I was really out of it for once... and after a few low barks, heard Keith get up and let her out.  He always put his glasses on before going to the door... and he said that she ran to the middle of the yard like a shot... then straight over to the fenceline where the little henhouse is. 

 

Ranger went with her. 

 

This morning, we overslept and I went to a later church service.  Before I left... we brought the game camera in.

 

When you look at these pictures, subtract an hour, because I forgot to re-set the camera clock last night.

 

Here's Mr. Possum, just after dark.

 

 

And Mr. Fox coming...

 

 

And going....

 

 

And Mr. Possum or his brother back at 9:49.

 

 

 

 

Look closely, folks, this is NOT Mr. Fox.  This is the first time that we have, for sure, seen a fine speciman of coyote in our pasture.  It looks healthy, doesn't it?  Notice it was 5:48 AM when it visited... and you can't tell but the little chickens in the pen behind it were already awake and up.  At least one of them was keeping an eye on it, you can just barely see the eye reflected in the light of the flash to the left of the coyote's tail.

 

I had the camera intervals set two minutes apart, so I don't think it was here for long... but I think Lilly could sense how close it was.

 

Another
"Christmas link" for you to look at....

 

Go here for a good idea to do with simple yard sale gift baskets... we have made these for years, but now are going to use the suggested tag on the post... and ask people to "Pay them Forward" in the spirit of fellowship!  What a grand idea!