Fence

The goat fence has been finished for a week or more Grandpa. (At least the woven wire part.)  You should be proud of us. :) We're pretty happy we're done....

                           

The Old Ford

The Smelting of Iron

Derek found a bunch or rocks containing Iron Ore. He built a forge out of clay from the farm and smelted a bunch to make some steel.  I don't know much about it and the pictures are kinda crummy because I don't know how to use my camera in the dark, however, you can get a good feel of the process... and if you are a little lost don't worry... you'll still be a bit fascinated.

Pounding the Iron Ore

Adding the pounded Iron Ore

The little forge in the daylight... it actually worked! I was a little surprised. I had been rather rolling my eyes at the whole idea. ;)

Breaking it open the next day to get the steel pieces out.

Sorting

So I guess there's lots of pieces of steel in that but also a ton on impurities and slag so it'll need a lot of refining.

And this is how I left him.... :)

From: Daddy To: Mom

With Love

The Roses of Summer

Marshmallow Smudge Grows Up

Remember Little Marshmallow Smudge? Well... she's been growing!  This week she was weaned and yesterday she officially started her halter training and was an extremely well behaved little cow.  Doesn't she look snappy with her halter?

30 Days Hath November

We've been busy! November 3rd we celebrated my dad's 49th birthday. The week following we had grandparents visit from out of state for a week during deer season.  Sad to say but all that HSP (Hunters Strategy Palaver*), time off work, early mornings and coffee guzzling didn't bag a deer.  I mean come on... it was pretty windy and the weather just wasn't good for it.  No deer means a bigger one next year right?

(Definition of the word palaver: 1. profuse and idle talk; chatter. 2.a conference or discussion)

We did get in some quality Family Time though, lots of Rumminkub was played (thank goodness for directions to quell all traditional rules and add new ones!).

We fit in several games of the new Phase 10 version (it's so much better!)

All this was accomplished while nibbling Chicago Popcorn.... by the bagful I admit; that stuff is outrageously scrumptious.

We had a wonderful time eating and talking and eating more.  Grandma brought her officially famous Bun Candy Bars. Unfortunately you aren't even allowed to see a picture of those as they are SO delectable everything about them is a family secret.

And then, there was Thanksgiving and all the goodness that goes with it.

And every minute in-between everything else, I scrambled to get over-due things on my to-do list done and taken care of.  So much fencing and repairs that has been put off and this wonderful weather has just been begging to get out the work gloves and wear some callouses. It's such a great feeling of accomplishment to finish one fence row at a time and look back and know all shorts are fixed, the tension is just right, brush is cleared and those sore muscles and blood blisters have something to show for themselves. Best of all the neighbors cows don't have a lick of a chance getting to my 'greener grass'. I know ranch work is never done... there's always a new short in the fence and the brush keeps growing.  Everything breaks in its time (which seems to always happen in prompt succession to getting something else fixed)  but there's something to be said for working with your hands outside in 60* weather with only the cattle for company, hawks soaring overhead and being ready to hit the hay by the time the sun slips past over the horizon, setting the higher woods ablaze in golden color. Yeah. There's something to be said for that.