Welcome to Wyoming!

The girls and I decided to go up to Wyoming to see Bill's parents in Cheyenne. Wyoming knows that I left because I am no longer a Winter person! However, Wyoming decided to teach me a lesson. So...when we crossed the state line from Nebraska into Wyoming....sleet started, which shortly turned into snow. In the next 48 hours, there was 12-18" of snow, depending on where you measured. We stayed with my good friend Cheryl, who loaned us alot of winter gear. We had had brought coats but not much else. The temperature dropped to 16 degrees at one point. All this in early October. we didn't get to visit as much with Grandma and Grandpa as we had hoped. But the girls have now experienced serious winter. After a couple days snowbound, "Blanche"my Southern Belle car (rear-wheel drive Mercury Marquis) managed to creep down the driveway and took us home to rainy Oklahoma! A great adventure!

When in Doubt Visit the Canyon

One of my brothers lives in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lucky him, lucky me! I get to visit once in awhile, and I don't leave before I've made my trek to The Grand Canyon, which is about 70 miles away. The kids and I decided a trip out there with my folks was just the ticket for post-deployment doldrums. If you've never been...well...I am sure you have been told before that you simply must go. I have been fortunate to do a fair amount of traveling on this beautiful Earth God made for us. And it is my humble opinion that Grand Canyon is the world's largest cathedral.

It is life changing to see it.
It never gets old, or boring.
There is no "off season" for the beauty there.
All ten of us made the trip up, and four of us hiked about 2 miles down Bright Angel trail, one of the more commonly used trails, with plenty of beautiful views. I have never gone all the way to the bottom, which takes time, and a serious committment to preparation. My brother Ben and I are planning to try for such a trip next year. A special treat this time was getting to observe wild mountain sheep at close range. Four grazed near the trail as we hiked back up. As we watched them, Ben turned back in time to see another vault from the highside of the trail, over the footpath, and down to the slopeside, where his friends were.

Please see the Canyon. You will never regret it.

Leavetaking

I have not posted in awhile, things have been so busy...first the preparations for Bill's deployment, the long goodbye at his unit in Texas. Then the readjustment period we go through trying to become a family of four instead of five. He arrived safely, and is adjusting to his new job as a Civil Engineer manager over numerous projects on the Base. He is enduring sandstorms and heat, while we are in our 7th day of rainy weather. Two extremes, that somehow pattern how our life feels now.

Last Walk for Now

Bill and I took a last "lake walk" before he leaves for Iraq. The girls decided to fulfill a long held dream of riding the horses in the lake. I was doubtful the horses would share the enthusiasm, but I was wrong. They seemed to enjoy it, and would even put their muzzles under water and snuffle around.

The only downside of wet horses in the hot summer is that they attract nasty, huge, horseflies on the way home.

Why did God make horseflies? One of those questions I will ask him someday.

The frogs that eat them will no doubt have a different questions!

Neighbors

My husband's upcoming deployment would be so much harder without our neighbors. We don't see each other alot, wave hello when our cars pass, mostly. My nearest relatives are 80 miles away, so it is a blessing to know there is someone nearby to help when we get in a jam. To paraphrase Dave Ramsey, when the deployment starts, Murphy (of the notorious Law) moves in!

Today after feeding the goats, I noticed that my neighbor's longhorn cattle were lounging near our shared fenceline. Longhorns are fascinating animals, an older breed that is not a hothouse flower. They do not need pampering. I took the opportunity to get close to them for a few photos. One of the calves was curious, as was one of my Great Pyrenees livestock dogs. They shared a "tete~a~tete" through the wire.

Needing Peace

Today is the beginning of another chapter. After work today, my better half heads off to Texas for his last drill with the Reserves this weekend, before his active duty and 4th deployment begins Monday. A month down there preparing, and then a long plane ride to Iraq. So the waiting begins. We do hope he can come home for some weekends in August, but the fact is life has again changed, and March seems a very long way off.

God gave us animals for many reasons, not the least of which is their ability to calm and center our hectic pace. Sitting down at one of our ponds always helps me, and I need to make it a regular part of my routine now.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you might have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."

John 16:33

UP!

There is a new movie out called "UP". I have not seen it yet, my children all gave it positive reviews. The other night I went out to do chores after dark...it has been so warm that sometimes I am willing to brave the random nocturnal, tree-hung spider webs to avoid working in the worst of the heat. I had decided earlier in the day to let the aforementioned Super Mom hen and her kids free, as keeping them in their "chick box" in the barn was just too hot. Chickens know that after dark, "DOWN" is bad and "UP" is good. So this inventive gal found a place to take herself and her offspring "UP!" Occasionally with a frightened peep, one would tumble down, only to clamber back up. Too cute!

Murphy's Law #3,478

Murphy's Law #3,478, which I believe states "If you spend alot of money and time doing a car repair at home, there is an inverse effect on the car's life expectancy". The corollary to this law states, "if said car repairs where done in 99 degree weather, the life expectancy of the vehicle is even shorter". Here at Rock Farm we are blessed to have the man of the house quite talented in the repair of all things motor. In preparation for his upcoming deployment, he spent the entire weekend replacing the brakes and struts on my Taurus, so it could continue to be the dependable vehicle it has always been. Being far more familiar with things four legged than wheeled, I had no idea how complicated replacing struts can be. He labored for the better part of 2 days, and also had to spend time after work Monday. All in 99 degree heat. At last the job was finished. Today during an errand run to town, I returned a special tool to help install struts that we had rented from the car parts place. When we left for home, our 17 yr old decided to drive. At the curve on the dirt road close to home, with a Y shape "intersection", tall weeds, and limited visibilty, the Taurus met its fate. In what felt like a long time, but was probably a second, we collided head on with a Lincoln Continental. Seat belts are mandatory in our family, and they did their job. Both vehicles were demolished. We walked away with very sore necks and chests, praising God that we were intact.

On the other hand, maybe it was Murphy's Law #4,653 "If you try to bring four Sonic Route 44 drinks home (extra big) you will get exactly what you deserve!"

They are not designed for high impact crashes.

A Case of Mistaken Identity...Or Home Delivery?

Here is the problem as I see it. I have a chicken who thinks she is a cat. Or....she is extremely helpful and wants to provide us with home delivery of her eggs. This carpeted cat hideaway is right outside our door. Now the hens love to try and steal cat food in the morning. A couple enterprising gals either identify too strongly with cats now, or they are trying to convince me that is alright for them to hang around the cat bowl...by providing Home Egg Delivery.

Hard Time in the Garden

Boy do you pay a price if you do not stay on top of those garden weeds. Yes I should have mulched better....it would help alot. ThursdayI spent two solid hours chopping/hoeing/pulling weeds, all of which the goats dearly loved. I thought it might be interesting to see what I brought in from our little farm that evening. Martin the bottle baby goat wants to be involved in everything now. This will buy him a place in the goat pasture with the rest of the caprine gang very shortly.

Anyway, the Chinese pea pods are still producing but tapering off. The broccoli and cauilfower is still making. The hens continue to do their duty. There were blueberries, a few from these new little bushes, and very sweet. They did not last long enough to be photographed!

As for the violet blossoms, who would have thought potato blooms could be so pretty? Clearly I am enjoying beginner's luck, as my potatoes did not rot in the ground like those of so many more experienced potato growers.

Summer Walks Of An Evening

"Of an evening" was term I had not heard before I moved South. It seems most often be used in conjunction with "I'm going to sit on the porch (of an evening)" or "why don't you come by sometime (of an evening) and we'll visit awhile". Well, in this sweet part of early summer, we try hard every day to "take a walk of an evening". The walk usually involves all four (yard dogs, two or three kids, and at least one goat. The smell of wild honeysuckle is in the air, birds are calling, and the occasional cow is heard lowing off in the distance. The slanted light is cooler, and makes the green so brilliant.

Yes, that is baby goat Martin her arms. His little hooves got tired.

She Could Have Been an Easter Bunny...

.....because she sure can hide eggs! Yesterday after a fast errand run into town, we got out of the car and heard peeping sounds. Now it had rained hard the night before, so I was wondering what chick had gotten loose, and lost, in the rain. Well, under the carport, under a kid's wagon, was a secret place. One of the Buff Orpington hens had hidden, and after 21 days successfully hatched, 15 chicks! That is a new record for Rock Farm, and they all look alike which is unusual. Usually other of our free range hens will also lay in an already started nest. Even though it was a complication I did not need for my busy morning, who can't smile about new chicks! We caught them and their grumpy mother, and put them in an old empty horse water tank with feed, water, and a hunk of old cattle panel to keep the cats out, although it would take a brave cat indeed to go up against this protective parent. You can't see them all in this pic, some are hiding under her skirts. I can't help but think of the Bible verse, and God's love for us, His hardheaded children:

..."how often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling..."

No Pictures of Fireflies

This is the the of year that fireflies just love. Do you remember them when you were a child? Did you ever try catching them in a jar, and watch as they flickered on and off? I don't know if folks in big cities ever get to see these little marvels. Last night my husband and I were coming home from a quick Wally World run. As we turned off the highway onto the dirt road near our home, we pulled over for a minute. The meadow was alive with little sparkles, it was God's version of white Christmas lights. I grabbed my Canon PowerShot and made an attempt at a photo...it was dusk and I knew it was unlikely but I tried...to no avail. The camera may be capable of those types of shots, but until I force myself to read the owner's manual I won't know how! Those are the times I wish I had the old Canon AE Program 35mm in the car. I knew how to monkey with F-stops and speeds and such. I am less certain with the newer Auto-Everything cameras. So I will leave it to your imagination, that lovely green field bordering the Lake, and the thousands of fireflies winking on and off in flight.

I'll attach a couple pictures if the Iris , they are history now, but oh, what a show we got this year. My friend Sydney gave me starts of ever so many iris about three years ago, and this year they were gorgeous.

Unidentified Snake

Addendum: This snake was photographed in the bottom of a five gallon bucket...that will help give you an idea of his comparative size. He was a long but not "big" snake.

Memorial Day, Summer Weather and Snake

As a Veteran and wife of a current Air Force Reservist, Memorial Day is very meaningful to me. My sacrifices for our country have frankly been minor in comparison to those of so many that have gone before me. I enjoyed my time in the National Guard, and am glad I was able to serve, but I have not suffered the tremendous losses that other military members and their families have endured. My humble thanks and prayers to all of them.

Here in southeastern Oklahoma, we have a lovely window in Spring , where the temps are comfortable, the winds generally no more than breezes, and the humidity is low. Today however had that humid feel of summer, when one is very grateful for air conditioning. I have learned to respect the way homes were designed years ago in the South, long /tall windows on both sides of a home, that allowed for cross ventilation. Relatively high ceilings. Big covered porches outside to sit "of an evening". Most newer homes to not have these features. If electricity becomes alot more expensive thanks to proposed "cap and trade" laws, I will miss the air conditioning and have to learn to live with fans! Pictured above are Catalpa blooms. Catalpas are a marvelous tree that I did not know about before I moved to Oklahoma. They can be very tall, although our tree is not. They have huge heart shaped leaves, and in the Spring the blooms are lovely and quite fragrant.

Although we live on a rocky hill here at Rock Farm, we rarely see snakes, which is strange. Now it could be that the abundance of yard dogs, chickens, and cats play a role in the distaste of snakes for our property, I don't know. I can count on one hand the number of snakes (OK, two hands) that I have seen in our almost eight years here. Today my husband found one traversing our brick footpath. We caught it, put it in a bucket, and all took a look before letting it go. I grabbed my snake book but could not get a sure I.D. of this fellow. I will post his picture next.

The Return of the Sun

It could also be "The Return of the Son" I guess, it sure does feel like it some days. Uncertain times everywhere. I am grateful to be in a place where I can have the freedom to raise at least part of my family's diet. Spring's bounty has brought a set of twin goats kids (Tristan and Isolde) now two weeks old, and last Thursday, a singleton. In strict accordance with Murphy's Law, while racketing about trying to get ready for a UMW church women's luncheon and battling an ant invasion in the kitchen (evidently the ants were flooded out by the incredible amount of rain we have had and chose to move inside) I went out to feed goats and noted one doe with telltale signs of recent birth. I went looking, and found her tiny son staggering to his wobbly legs in the mud. She claims to know nothing about him and that she was never pregnant, and who the heck do I think I am, anyway? So...we have a bottle kid on our hands. Olivia named him "Marty" after his undeserving mother "Marta". This makes the second infant abandonment for her in two years, I think Marta needs to find employment in a brush clearing line of work.

As for the garden...the potato crop survived the two week deluge to my great joy. The lettuce, spinach, peas and broccoli are quite merry. Squash and tomatoes look depressed, hopefully now that the sun is back that will change.

Life at Rock Farm

We call this place "Upon a Rock Farm". Partly due to one of my favorite Bible verses

"For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock." Psalm 27:5

Partly due to the fact that we DO live on a rock pile. I learned this when I tried to dig a hole for a peach tree, soon after we moved here. I got about three inches deep and realized that what was needed was dynamite. Of which I had none. The peach tree ended up being planted essentially above ground, with soil piled up around it. It actually did OK, until someone backed over it. Fortunately, the former owners, (lovely people) were dedicated gardeners, and amended the soil on a different part of the property. This makes it possible to plant vegetables without explosives or a heavy equipment operator.
On the agenda for today, potato planting. Peas, spinach, lettuce, beets, a few squash, watermelon, and cucumbers are already in. Also on the agenda: making friends with skittish new Oberhasli goat that arrived last night. Her name is Giselle. Pics to follow.
Welcome to Rock Farm.