Indian Summer

It is that time of year again... Indian summer arrived after an September frost. A bit early for the first frost this year.  The combines are sooo big, it takes no time at all to harvest the fields. I am enjoying the return of my countryside view from the kitchen windows. 

Corn was the crop grown next to our yard this year. It was fun feeling all cozy tucked behind the corn for the summer. It is true that on a hot summer night you can hear the corn growing. It squeaks and pops as it works it's way skyward. Very entertaining experience for our city guests. Sitting on the patio, talking on their cell phones to those back home "What are you doing?" the person on the other end of the phone must be asking, "Sitting on the patio listening to the corn grow" they answer.

I had forgotten how closed in I was feeling, until I looked out this morning and could almost see New Hampton, 7 miles east of my kitchen.

Just when I thought I could no longer breath, a nice rain came along and washed all the harvesting dust out of the air. 

Life is good.

Frost! the start of Fall 2011

 Ready or not, it is here. Fall came a bit early for this part of Iowa. We had our first frost Sept 15!!  Donya saw the frost and hit the deck running to get the entrance to the patio decorated for the season. This is her favorite season, although she does it up pretty good when spring comes calling.


                                                   
We picked up the windfall apples for a treat for our horses, Dude, Skipper, Red and Bud. The horses will soon be moving into their newly repaired barn. The wind had almost destroyed it so the horses have been lounging in the old cattle shed while the repairs were under way.
                                                        
   Yum! apple pie will soon be on the menu for our guests.

Moving in.

                                                     YUM, if you are a horse.


Great weather for hay making, IF you can beat the rain. Rain was forecaste for the next afternoon

                                                   

So what if the barn is not completely done. The roof is on, and that is way better then trying to put a tarp on the hay to keep the rain off. Fred worked in the new hay loft stacking the hay while Don loaded it on the bale conveyor.
                                                   
2 loads done, with 3 more to unload. They can wait until the barn is finished since there was room to pull them in the cattle shed before the storm.

                                                  

 Howdy everyone,

 I've been told that it has been a long time since I updated my blog. How did that happen?!!  Lots has happened, but we survived it okay.

We are thrilled to announce that our silky chickens have successfully hatched out 7 little chicks. One of the hens is still sitting on a clutch of eggs, so there will be more to come.

                                                                                                                                                                     

We were unfortunate to experience a 'micro burst' that damaged our horse barn. We housed the horses in the lower cattle shed until we could 'get around' to repairing the damage. Happy to say, it is almost completed.                                                                                                                                            

                                                 

Don's new hip is working great, and is almost 6 months old. Waiting for the hip (did you know that when you get old they put you on a waiting list?!!), and then the therapy so he could learn how to use it, kind of delayed the progress on the barn.  He certainly is NOT climbing on the roof, leaving that up to Fred.

 

 

I've misplaced my camera, (they are so very small) and no way to call it.  Donya used her iphone for these photos. It is convenient to call the iphone when it is misplaced. I hope to locate the camera before we leave on our much anticipated vacation next week.  We are leaving our animals and pets in good hands with Donya, Fred and Michelle.