Swimmin' Hole

Who needs a pool when there's a perfectly good pond out back?
Last weekend we enjoyed our first family swim at the farm.
Well family minus Mom.....I preferred to operate the camera instead of jumping in.
I think I did enough pond swimming in my younger days.  I don't have a great need to revisit that part of my childhood.

Happy Hot June Day!!

The ducks did not stick around long when their space was invaded.  They headed for the safety of the grass.

Preparing to jump...

The dogs joined in the fun too.

Lots more pictures, but can't post them because some of the swim attire was not suited for public viewing on a blog.

*grin*

Still Playing

John's baseball season is still going.  The team, the Diamondbacks,  finished the regular season 10 and 5.  That tied them for second place in the tournament.  The other team they were tied with had beaten John's team twice so they were given the higher bracket on the tournament.
The top two seeded teams were both knocked out early in the tournament leaving John's team still in the race for the winning title.

The Diamondbacks lost their second game of the tournament, but due to a double elimination bracket were still playing tonight.  The game tonight was a winner for them so now they play again on Wednesday.

Still playing.

Go team.

Making a Buzz - Making a Splash

This frame was new (and empty) when we put the bees in the hive a week earlier.

The bees have been busy doing their job.

This is one of the frames that we brought home already filled.

Here it is a week later with new brood showing in some of the cells.

To our untrained eyes, they seem to be doing fine.

After our check on the bee population,

David went to check on the pond.

After careful observation

ummmm, yeah.....

he decided to check on the pond from IN the pond.

I'll stop posting pictures right there.

Goodnight!

ICE CREAM MAN!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF!!!

Nothing Sweeter

What is the best possible thing kids on bikes could find at the end of a country lane?

Puppies...

big fat sleepy droopy puppies.

Nothing sweeter than that I say.

Nothing.

Nope - Nope - Nope

Nope

This is not a picture of three kids playing in a campfire.

It is their version of a lake and dam being constructed behind the bleachers....

at John's ballgame.

Nope

I am NOT swimming

It is too cold for me to get in if I don't have to.

The cold temps haven't stopped this guy from loving it though.

Nope.

This is not Paul Bunyon's rollerskate.

It is a car made to look like a rollerskate in front of the skating rink near Grace's school.

Nope

This is not the local fireman coming to save our house from going up in flames.

It is David along with many neighbors enjoying a visit from the local firefighters who are out raising funds for the local children's hospital last week.

Goodnight!

CEB

Emily has really stepped up this year and is helping me out in a big way.

She is helping with a lot of little chores around the house in addition to her regular chores she is supposed to do.

I noticed with her at camp this week all of those little things she does for me in a day.

The biggest help she has been lately is being my CEB (Chief Executive Babysitter).

With David working at the farm and office so much lately, I have inherited his job of running John to ballgames and practices.

That means Emily has inherited my job of watching the younger two kids.

Many nights it is pushing eleven o'clock before we get home from one of John's games if it was a late starting time.

Emily will have Grace and Grant in bed.

 Often I will find her reading or texting friends or playing on her computer.

Occasionally though we find her like this.....

I think she is worn out some nights after watching this guy.......

I know the feeling, Emily!!

Thank you, Emily, for all you do!

I love you.

Gettin' Our Art On

Grant foraged through the craft box one day looking for things to make rainbows.

He found a few.

This one didn't make it on the fridge.  It was too heavy!

Then one night I went into the kids' bedroom at the farm to find this creation on the floor.

It was made from craft sticks.

Of course there is always the tried and true art of sidewalk chalk.

I love looking at their handiwork.

Notice the cowboy boots and shorts together.

Farm Progress

The new fence is done and you can see part of the hay had been mowed on the hill here.

This was taken the next day when all of the hay was down.

Hay up along the road looking toward the back fields....

Raked.....

Baled.....

Hopefully, good hay

will make good beef!

A look at where he cut the hill down for a run-in and water trough...

Tobacco barn restoration underway...

boards replaced and doors added....

Next will be a good coat of paint and some road work....

Anyone like to paint?

You're invited.