Monday, August 18, 2008

Grinch Grows Up





We had a fun night with Grinch, Cindy and ClaireAnna tonight. Claire rode Cindy for the first time since Grinch was born and Ted and I walked Grinch along. We went all over the farm and into the creek bed and around the cows. He got a good lesson in new things! When we got back, we loaded Cindy in the trailer and Grinch followed right in. Then we gave him a lesson in lifting his feet. And for all his good learning, he got a pan of grain. Isn't he just beautiful?

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Twenty Four

What a perfect day it was! It is hard for me to believe that is was twenty four years ago today. It sure has been an adventure! And God has blessed us as a couple more then we ever dreamed. You are it for me, Baby! And I am yours yesterday, today and tomorrow. 2-gether, 4-ever! Happy Anniversary! I love you bunches!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Puppies???

Bocephus on the left, Shani on the right.
This is Shani with her goats. She holds her head down like this and I think she looks like a wolf.


I know I promised regular update of the pups. But hay...I mean, hey, I live on a farm....I'm busy! They were 8 months old on August 4th and as you can see, they are HUGE! Shani has a wolf like look to her, sort of lanky and hunched. She is VERY affectionate and submissive to people. She is one of those dogs that lays down and rolls on their backs for a belly rub almost every time you pet them. Bocephus is much larger then his sister, more filled out and bigger boned with a square head and upright, rectangular body. It is amazing how physically different they are. He is also very affectionate. They are both very smart. I taught them each how to sit, down and come in just 10 minutes. As you can see, they are very good with ClaireAnna. They don't jump or nip or anything. These are some of the best dogs we have ever had and we just adore them!

A Sad Trip to the Sale Barn

We took a full load in the new trailer to the sale barn Friday. Ted finally purchased a really nice stock trailer so we don't have to borrow from Uncle Charles anymore. We weaned the whole spring calf crop and sold them along with a couple of older cows. Here is the new rig fully loaded.
Here is the corral full of sale animals, waiting to be loaded on the trailer. The black cows are Bossy and Star, 2 of the original 4 recip cows we bought before we even moved here. They say you should not keep a cow past 10 or 11 years. These two old girls are at least that and maybe older. We have had them for 6 years and they were as old as 6 when we bought them. This is Star, in the middle of this picture, the big black cow with white on her head. She is scarred and ugly, but she was a fun cow. She had a funny personality that just made you chuckle. When ever we would go out to check the herd, Star would lift her head and moo really loudly. She was asking, "Have you got anything for me?" If we said nothing, she would go back to her grass. However, if we gave our "come and get it" call back to her, she would come running like a banshee. She would go anywhere and do anything for food. We have had Star GALLOP after us behind the 4-wheeler, following a bucket of grain, all the way from one end of the farm to the other. She was hilarious! Star is the mother of my beloved Annabelle, ( Annabelle is one of 2 cows I have taken as my own and who will never be sold) and because of that, she is special to me. I never thought I would cry over a cow, but I did. The guys at the sale barn had a good laugh. But Star was special and I really enjoyed her presence on the farm. I will miss her.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Pride

This is not a post about Harmon PFarms or the Family. It is just a great poem I heard the other day and I thought I would share it.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because you demand your own way.

I cheat you of contentment...because you "deserve better than this."

I cheat you of knowledge...because you already know it all.

I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of me to forgive.

I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to admit when you're wrong.

I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look in the mirror than out a window.

I cheat you of a genuine friendship...because nobody's going to know the real you.

I cheat you of love...because real romance demands sacrifice.

I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you refuse to wash another's feet on earth.

I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince you to seek your own.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.

You like me because you think I'm always looking out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.

God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...If you stick with me You'll never know.

MY NAME IS PRIDE

a poem by Beth Moore

Sunday, August 3, 2008

2008 Second Cutting

Our second cutting came in the middle of July this year, a bit later then usual due to so much rain. We round baled it all this time. We pay a guy to cut, tedder and bale it and then we use the truck, flatbed trailer and tractor to pick it up out of the field and put it in the barn. Ted finally taught me to drive the tractor so I could give him a break from the heat.
(The truck is air conditioned, the tractor isn't!)
It goes like this. Ted uses the tractor to pick up 5 bales and load them on the trailer. Then he grabs another bale and we both drive up to the barn. He unloads all the bales onto the ground in rows. Then we switch vehicles and I drive the tractor down to the field while Ted drives the truck. Then we switch vehicles again and start over. It took 17 trips and about 8 hours. We did this ALL DAY! The next day, Ted's dad put them all into the barn, all 103 of them!
ClaireAnna rode on her Dad's lap some and when she was hot, kept us company in the truck. Ted says he'll have her driving the tractor by the time she's ten. Once there were enough bales in rows, ClaireAnna had the best time jumping from bale to bale and even got Mom and Dad up there to run with her. ( Sorry, no picture of that!)



Saturday, August 2, 2008

Snape the Snake

The girls have a new pet. It's a ring-necked snake Ted found in the yard. Ted actually picked it up himself. I was so proud! He's scared to death of snakes but he wanted to show the girls. Oh...and he did have leather gloves on.......and the snake IS only as thick as a pencil....but I was proud anyway! Here's Snape...isn't he cute!?

Friday, August 1, 2008

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Days Seven and Eight

If you want to read about our July 2008 Trip to Chicago in order, just click on the Vacation label at the right, scroll to the very bottom and start there. Or, go to the archives and click on each post individually.

Well, I haven't mentioned so far that I was sick the entire trip. I coughed up a storm and am still at it today. I didn't sleep well and just really tried to make the best of everything while drugging myself up on cough medicine.

We packed up Wednesday morning and left Waukegan about 9:30 AM. You can't leave any earlier or you hit rush hour. (unless you leave about 4:00 AM which I just can't do) So, off we go into the worst construction on the tri-state tollway that I have ever seen. My first on ramp was at Grand Avenue in Gurnee......I know it is the normal ramp for North 294, but now the sign says North AND South 294. The construction is so messed up, all the ramps are changed and I had no idea ........so I took it.....right into Wisconsin for miles. OH MAN I was mad. It took me 30 minutes and $3 in tolls to get off, back on and then back to Grand Avenue again. So, we really left town about 10:00 AM, which means if all goes well, we wouldn't be home till about 10:00 PM.

Well, all didn't go well. About half way through our vacation, the air conditioning in my van started to fail. The air coming out just got warmer and warmer through the week. By the time we were headed home....I had nothing left....hot air blowing in my face. So, I'm sick, I'm tired, I'm hot.....It's not looking good......but I made a valiant effort. I made it to Ozark, just 3 hours from home....and then pooped out. So the girls and I got a hotel room and stayed the night. We finished the last leg of our trip Thursday morning and went straight into Russellville to see Daddy. We had a reunion lunch at Mulan's ( great Chinese buffet for you Yankee's). Then I came home and took a nap!

We had a great visit to our old home. We will be back next year....no more 4 year intervals. It was wonderful to see everyone and especially my girl, Jes. Miss you tons, see you in December! There were many people I would like to have seen but didn't connect with. I surely hope to see you all next time.

July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Six

Tuesday was our last day and we just wanted to relax. We slept late and then hit the beach near the Kenosha Marina. This is a lovely park with a very nice, sandy beach and the girls enjoyed a swim while I talked with my girlfriend, Judy. ( Why didn't we take a picture, Judy??)



After a couple of hours at the beach, I told ClaireAnna I was going to take her to the coolest park ever. Bowen Park in Waukegan, is a place we have been going for many years. Jessie had her second birthday party at a picnic table there in the woods. It has always been a great playground too. But little did I know that while we were gone, they redid the whole thing and made it way cooler then ever!




We finally made it back to Jes's apartment and got cleaned up for dinner. I have been dreaming about my favorite meal in all of Kenosha for 4 years and tonight was the night! Steak and Vegetable Kabobs on Rice Pilaf at Charcoal Grill HERE I COME! Ted and I had gone there many, many times and I had never ordered anything else. I told everyone that if they wanted to see me on my last night, that is where I would be and to come on out. Eleven of us met at 7:00 PM and sat down to order. Much to my surprise, the menu looked different. Ahhh......not good. I search and search......no steak kabobs. I ask the waiter....."we don't serve kabobs anymore".......WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I am not kidding either! I almost cried! I didn't have a clue what to order and finally settled on a ribeye with a side of rice and some green beans....close.....but no cigar. Oh well....we all had a great time and took the opportunity to finally take some pictures since we didn't Sunday night.
Barb and Dave and Lisa

David, Lisa and Laura
Laura, Nathan and Lisa
Lisa, Jes, Kate, ClaireAnna and Jason
Mom and her three kids
My friend Mary and Me



July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Five

On Monday, Kate, ClaireAnna and I headed back to Chicago on the train to go to the zoo. We were going to go to the Brookfield Zoo. In order to get there, you take the Northern Line into Ogilvie Station, walk 2 blocks to Union Station and then take the Burlington Line out of the city to Brookfield. We weren't sure of the times and we arrived at Union Station 8 minutes after the 10:30 train to Brookfield left. The next train wasn't till 12:30. So....Plan B. We hopped on the 151 bus and went to the Lincoln Park Zoo instead! We'd never been there and were VERY happy with our visit. It is a lovely zoo, just the right size for about a four hour walk. It had LOTS of animals in very modern, natural looking enclosures. We loved the monkeys the best, they have many species and two groups of gorillas. ClaireAnna loved the Zebras and Giraffes.

We got back to Waukegan about 5:30 and hit the local Jewel, ( ahhhhh, to be in a Jewel again!) and grabbed a rotisserie chicken and some veggies and fruit for dinner. Then we all went to the last game of the season for Cornerstone's softball team. And guess what? Jes is on the team! And guess what else? She played second base and made 4 outs and helped the team achieve their first win of the season! The small crowd of Cornerstone supporters went wild! It was too much fun. Way to go Jes!



July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Four

Sunday was a really fun day. We started off going to Cornerstone Community Church. This is a church we attended for many years, taught Sunday school, went on mission trips with, we were deacons here. It is a very special group of people in our lives and I was trilled to see some wonderful old faces. I only wish I had had more time and gotten to see more of them. The new building looks fantastic! And Mike is as cool as ever up there with his guitar.

After church, we went up to Barb and Dave's for a family get together that lasted the rest of the day. Thanks, Barb, for putting up with all of us and the mess we made. The food was great. We had fruit salad, chicken salad, tuna salad, BBQ burgers, deviled eggs, outstanding smashed potatoes with onion and some grilled egg plant. Yum! Yum! I can't believe I didn't take more pictures...this is the only one....Jacob and Nathan and Kate. Those in attendance at this "family reunion" were Mom, Dave and Barb, Laura, Paul, Nathan, Jake and Rachel with her boyfriend Mike, Lisa, Jes, Kate and ClaireAnna. (Plus a friend of Jake's) It was a great day! We got home late and went to bed.


July 2008 Trip to Chicago: Day Three

On Saturday, Jes was off work and we all went to the City on the train.
Claire was excited to take her very first train ride and bus ride! Below are the revolving doors at Ogilvie Station on Madison.
We walked to Millennium Park and saw the "Bean".

Here's ClaireAnna playing in the face fountian. These faces change and then spit water out. It's weird.
We stopped in front of the Art Museum but didn't go in. We walked to the Shedd Aquarium. This shot below is just outside the Shedd.

Beluga WhalesThis is inside the oceanarium, looking out across the dolphin pool, through the window at the lake. Our favorite things at the Shedd were the dolphin show and the sea dragons - very elaborate sea horses - crazy looking animals! After the Shedd, we walked to the Field Museum.
Looking out at the city standing on the steps of the Field Museum.
After the museum, we took a bus back to Olgilvie and then a taxi to Ed Debevics. For those who don't know, Ed's is a 50's type diner where the waiters are rude to you and dress up and act crazy. Every so often, they jump up on the counters to dance. Here's a shot of some of the wait staff dancing to YMCA.

Yummy! Cheeseburgers and Chocolate Shakes!
( Jes got a quesadia??)

The train ride home with an Ed Debevic's hat on.
We got home late, close to 10:00 Pm. What a fun day!