Water, or the lack thereof

At dinner this evening Daddy said that he had talked to one of the guys at our local co-op. This man said that we are in (or in for) one of the worst droughts ever (for around here). Daddy mentioned a seven year drought period. I think back to the year we built our house; it was unusual to have a day without rain! Last year was a dry year, but we're drier earlier this year. I've also been thinking back to the years we spent in a little, dead-end road subdivision. Things have changed so much since then! We were pretty city-fied compared to where we are now, although we did have 6 or so acres. We didn't really know what to do with it! In the last two or three years there we did have a few laying hens, three dogs, and a large garden spot. We had a big, fenced-in, back yard and a wonderful playground. I remember us talking about the weather only occasionally. It didn't really affect us! We actually enjoyed long dry spells! That meant less mowing and more outside play to us. Things have changed! We certainly don't take the weather for granted as often anymore, and the weather is not just a boring, safe subject to resort to when there is nothing else to talk about. It is a constant reminder of how God has control over all things, and we really can't do anything.

Turkey Tractors, Smoke Houses, Pig Fences, etc.

Our dear friends, the Fish family, came up for the weekend!!! The men accomplished SO MUCH! It was a great time of fellowship and productivity. Unfortunately, we were having such a good time that we didn't get too many pictures.

The finished Turkey Tractor. We used the hay ring for the main structure. We never really used it how it is really intended to be used.

Mr. Fish did some mowing for us!!!

The men and boys built, or rather assembled, the smoke house in about twenty minutes (that's the number I heard at least). The harder part came later when they built the brick fire box.

Our tired piggies! They are really getting big, and they're starting to smell a little. The men and boys (all along with support from the ladies of course) put in the t-posts, so we can enlarge the pigs' area.

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Mama was having a brainless day Saturday! She couldn't think of anything for us ladies to do! We girls helped Grammy make a few jars of strawberry freezer jam, but other than that we just supported the men. This morning, after the morning chores, the men and boys did a bit of shooting, and we ladies did a bit of sewing. We ladies wished we had thought of that Saturday! The Fishes left after lunch. We are already looking forward to their next visit, and hoping it will be soon.

I will try to get our photographer to get me some more pictures of the smoke house and other stuff. I better stop; Daddy's been telling me to be done for the past five minutes!

Our Version!!!

Daddy, Kyle, and Luke have been working on our version of the Lingo's layer house. They finished it up this evening, and the cornish cross broilers are enjoying a bit more freedom now.

Another Piece of Media Fun

I really don't search for this stuff. Mama found this one and the Muppet Show/LOTR thing; I did somehow find the Meatrix thing, I admit. You may have to search for the title: "A Kosher Cowboy Song."

The Meatrix

Those who have seen The Matrix may get some of this stuff more than I do, but I thought it was pretty disgusting without having the context.

That Other Stuff

Finally! We have some pictures of what all is going on around here.

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We acquired four "gobblets," as we like to call them. I don't know what kinds they are, or if they're hens or jakes. All I know is that they're turkeys, sorry.

Here are our three geese and some barred rock layer chicks. Don't know anything about the geese either.

A big silly goose examining the real goose. By the way, the geese are actually a week younger than the turkeys!

The pigs are getting quite large now, and they love getting into their water trough. We have to keep several in their pen so they will still have some left to drink!

The new mower. Daddy can answer any questions about this, but, again, I don't know too much about it.

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We have a batch (25, 30, I don't know the exact number) of freaky birds (cornish cross) in the basement. They are so nasty. We're getting 50 more broilers in a week or two from Freedom Rangers; I think we got the Grey Rangers, but I'm not sure. We are quickly approaching our busy season with canning, calving, milking (when Clarabelle decides to calve), mowing, etc. I love this stuff! It's all so exciting!!!

Here's something you might enjoy!

Until I get around to that other stuff, of course. :)

Post Coming Soon

Really... I'm going to try. I've been meaning to get up some pictures of the turkeys, geese, layers, and broilers. Unfortunately I haven't taken any recently. Hopefully tomorrow, or the next day, or sometime!

They're Gone

The Tent-dwellers are gone, and once again we are all alone on our own little island of reformed thinking. I am very excited for the Tent-dwellers, but we're all alone now!!! We're back to where we were a year ago! Whining and complaining won't get me anywhere, though.

Pictures from the past few days

Setting up Monday morning.

A little while later.

By lunch, or, in three or so hours!

Look!!! Interior walls! Near the end of the first day, or perhaps the beginning of the second.

Hmmm.........

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The next few will be just pictures of the men working.

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I guess I ought to stop now.

An Interesting Article

I linked to this article from Mr. Saenz blog. I found it rather frightening from the little I understood. I liked one of the quotes that the writer had: "Don't believe them, don't fear them, don't ask anything of them." It's from Alexander Solzhenitsyn (don't really know anything about him, but his saying is good.).