Adventures in Hay Baling

Baling hay is a lot of hard work, but it sure is fun! After several days of this endeavor, we have most of our hay baled! We have been working for over 10 years to return our fields to a healthy condition. The first year we baled, we only got a few bales consisting mostly of weeds. Nevertheless, as the saying goes, "A goat will eat anything!" This year we are starting to reap the fruit of our labor and are proud of the amount of grasses and forbes that made up the large wind rows. Compared to other years, they looked like big waves coming into the shore!

Trey got the baler in working order and we began!

The weather was hot the first day, but the low wind kept the dust to a minimum.

We finally worked the kinks out of our faithful old square baler, and it began to tie off every time! Yeah!

Our first load of hay was almost finished, stacked to the top!

We unhooked the wagon from the baler, and proceeded to bring the hay down to the barnyard. Rachel took care of backing the truck to the wagon so we could bring the hay home.

Everyone was worn out from throwing bales of hay.

When we returned to the field to get a second load before dark, the sunset was just gorgeous. As Amanda crossed the field to the perfect spot to capture the image; we saw her bounding over wind rows at top speed toward the truck. She seemed so full of joy! Later we found that she had encountered a nest of Red-tailed Bumblebees! Owww! Needless to say, she sat out the rest of that round of baling as her rear end was a little sore from bee stings.

The next evening we began baling again, with enough time for only one load. We stopped to clean up and present a musical program at Heritage Woods. What a wonderful break! We arrived home and unloaded that wagon-full before it was dark.

Friday was filled with hard work and of course its bit of fun as well. Mark and Trey had a little Cowboy/Indian skirmish on their break. What fun!

Maggie was enjoying all of her time riding on the wagon. She is such a fun farm dog!

It's break time. We're checking out who the person in the car is. We always wave in the country.

The tractor needed a little tune up before continuing on, so we fixed it all up and then continued on our merry, busy way.

Look at those strong muscles at work!

It was a beautiful evening again, and thankfully there were no bees this time!

Ryan joined us for a day of hard work on Saturday. We tried to get Little Gray (our 8N) to start, but as he was being finicky this morning, we decided it was time to start baling.
We have yet to have a barn raising. Hopefully someday soon. . . In the meantime, we stack our hay on pallets and cover it with large tarps. So, some of the family went to pick up some more pallets, while some worked around the farm, and others raked hay into wind rows.

It was nice to have an extra person around to throw those heavy bales of hay!

We ended up having some trouble with the baler, and had to stop for the evening. A little hay remains in the field awaiting baler repair. We'll be back at it again soon. Our last count was 650 bales and considering that's a whole lot more than our first year, we are pleased!! God has blessed our fields and hay production!

A Trip to the Fabulous Fox Theatre

A surprise trip took Amanda to the Fox with Ryan and his family. The event was Jamie, his sister's birthday. Happy Birthday, Jamie! What was on the playbill? Mary Poppins, starring Gavin Lee and Ashley Brown, Broadway's original stars!

We do believe that Amanda enjoyed a "jolly holiday" with Ryan and the rest of the Cox family.

DCC Swim Party- A Tribute to Bill

What a fun evening we had fellowshiping with those of like precious faith on August 21! Kay and Fritz were the first to arrive among the guests and we visited with them while making sure supper preparations were finished. Much to Amanda's delight, Ryan arrived next, soon followed by Teresa, Bill, and his friend Whitney. Steve and Ricki were next in line, then the Maxwell family and the Hutchesons and Durbins arrived not long after. We all prepared to go swimming and had a splendid time in the pond.

Adrianna enjoyed the water daisy.Kay even got in on the fun again riding the zip line! We are so impressed! Way to go, Kay!

There were several "riders" each with different variations across the zip line. Maggie waited eagerly for each rider and raced them around the pond to beat them to the other side. She is such a fun farm dog.

Ryan and Amanda accomplished a duet.

Steve and Ricki gave it a try!

Trey and Bill each attempted climbing the line backwards! After a grueling struggle, Trey made it! Hooray! Cannonball!
The air finally began to cool off, so we all came inside for a delicious meal. We then gathered in the living room to watch A Tribute to Bill that Rhonda had designed for Bill as he is leaving for the Air Force in just a few days. Mark charged Bill to be strong and courageous and we gathered around and prayed earnestly for strength, fortitude, and protection for him. We wish him the best of luck!

Following that we all played several rounds of Bingo and each person was lucky enough to win one of the intriguing prizes!!

The evening soon ended and a grand time was enjoyed by all.

At the Top of the Tree

It has been said that ladies are like apples on trees. The best ones are always found at the top of the tree.

Most young men don’t want to put forth the effort to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling or getting hurt.


Some just don’t have the strength to climb for the good apples at the top, while others are just too lazy.


Some are so hungry for any apple that they settle for the ones that aren’t as good, but are easy to get.

The apples at top think there is something wrong with them since they sit at the top feeling alone, but in reality they are the most amazing.

They just have to wait for the right man, one who is brave enough to climb to the top of the tree.

Take a peek at what Amanda is doing to the apple that Ryan brought her.

One of these days, it will hang as an ornament to adorn their home at Christmas.

All His Splendor

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

~Matthew 6: 25-30