Good Eaters

 My mom has cows on her land.  They get to eat her weeds.

 I wish we had cows on our farm.  We could, heaven knows we have the space and the feed.

 We just have one big problem...   it's a phrase.   GOOD EATERS

 One day last year, while I was petting this cow's predecessor, Boyd and I had a conversation that went something like this...

Me:  Let's get some cows like this. 
Boyd: Okay, they make good eaters.
Me: Yeah, and we have plenty of weeds for them to eat.
Boyd: (Looking at me weird and then laughing.) That's not what I meant.
Me: (Finally getting his intentions.)  NO!!!!!

 How could you eat these beauties after raising them?  They are so gentle.

 See the cockle-burs on her head?

 Now, you don't.  That's because she allowed me to walk right up and pull those burs off her head.  No hesitation, no fear, completely docile.

 I just love them!

 Yep, one day I will have cows on my rescue farm.

Setting the Sun

Coming Full Circle

Boyd's dad and mom drilled for a water well on the Craghead pasture (located on Watery Lane just across from the Autolive entrance).   They not only hit water, but gas also. It blew the drill bit out of the ground from 60-80 feet.  They thought they had literally hit it rich! Too bad it was marsh gas and not true natural gas.  They ended up with just a water well and not a million dollar natural gas line.   Too bad!

 A few years ago, someone decided that they could find natural gas in the area.  They offered deals to local farmers for rights to drill, etc.  We said , "No, thanks".  The person who owns what once was Boyd's family's land must have said yes. 

 Here is the original well, including the original casing. It is still running water.   It once pointed more southward, but Boyd's dad hooked on to it with a truck and turned it around a little.

FYI, this is also the same field where Boyd's dad parked his truck and horse trailer, went off on the horse only to come back and find the truck stolen.  He had to ride the horse home.   It is also the same spot where on Christmas Day 1983 Boyd broke his leg jumping off the hood of a tractor, landing on a frozen cow turd, causing his left knee to ram into his right ankle and breaking it. 
You guys think I am making this stuff up???  I couldn't if I tried.

 Anyway, back to the original story.  Where there once was a burst of gas when drilling for water, there is now the hope of hitting natural gas and not more water. 

Yep, life goes full circle more often than we realize.

I'm Alive

 The river is low.

 It's growing great microbes.  Too bad I don't have 32+ curious 6th graders to help me look for cool pond life under microscopes anymore.

 Squash

 And more squash.

 The squash above started out like these cantaloupe and watermelons, in an egg carton in the kitchen window.   The idea was great, but I didn't have enough Wall-o-Waters to plant them separately.  I have since bought more and transplanted them the other day.  I don't think they will all make it.  Oh well!  I can plant in a week or two when the frost is gone.

And my poor furry Golden Retriever cooling off.  Prior to this she was panting in the skinny sliver of shade provided by my raised bed box.  Not enough shade and so she got a well-deserved a trip to the river. 

I've set another goal to post more often.  We'll see how it goes.  Somewhere I have video of the land plane in its debut performance.  That should keep you all in a state of high anticipation!

Kenny's Senior Pictures

Take note everyone... unforced smiles...on Kenny's face.