22 Quarts of Sweet Corn

Today we put up sweet corn.

Today we also introduced Aiden to shucking sweet corn.

He found it to be a little labor intensive for his tastes.  You do know you can buy this stuff in a ready to steam bag, right?

And the goats got a hold of a couple of the ears he was supposedly shucking.

Then there was a distraction - this is an entirely different story of how we became Free-Range Goat Farmers....

And when goats are loose it is Aiden's responsibility to corral them and get them back in the pens.
(or just chase them willy-nilly until daddy puts them back in the pens....)
Did I mention that when shucking sweet corn - pants are optional?

I'm not wearing pants?

And boy do those goats get around!  Before ya know it they are moving into your camper!

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, the shuckers are still dutifully shucking.

Sarah is an old hand at this sweet corn business - she does not distract easily.

She even shows Aiden that he is to only feed the husk portion to the goats - not the entire ear.

Random comment - did I mention what great forearms the Farmer has??

Everyone loves sweet corn time, and everyone shows up for a snack. (until Aiden chases them away...)

He did finally come back for another go at it, and he did pretty well.

He does not have his Daddy's forearms yet, but if he keeps up the hard work he will be well on his way.

In the meantime, he will still be my sweet, hard working, slightly ADD, little boy.

New Project Underway

As some of you may know, we have been kicking around the idea of transforming one of our outbuildings into a photography studio for quite some time now.  Well, this weekend we finally began to tackle this humongous project!  I have to admit - I have had a hard time envisioning what the finished product might look like.  It is the Farmer who kept pushing onward - ready to make this dream a reality!  He has plans of vaulted ceilings, a heated floor, new drywall, and electrical grids.  He is a man on a mission.

And now, with his ideas and "Grab the Bull by the Horns" mentality...I can finally start to see it.  Can you see it?  It is there - underneath this large pile of junk, but it is there!  Is that my bike?...

Now you can see why we have been procrastinating....But I can start to picture some lovely overstuffed chairs....An antique trunk table....Maybe some can lights....Hummmmmmm

 

Oh look - there is the Farmer back for another load of junk!

But right there - that is why this is going to make a beautiful studio - do you see those skylights!?  6 skylights and 8 windows - what more can a Natural Light Photographer wish for?!?
And so the process begins.  Today we emptied the building and burned all the burnable junk.  Tomorrow we start ripping down plywood!  Good thing the Farmer specializes in demolition work!

Dashing Through The Snow

The Farmer has been working hard to bring in the crops, despite the snow that we have here. So far it has been going very well and they have been able to make considerable headway.  We still have a long road ahead of us, but he is carrying on like a trooper.

REALLY Good Apples

More Tractor Pics

Behind the Wheel

Aiden seems to be drawn to the tractors around the farm. The other day we took a trip down to the shop to see some of Grandpa's newest finds, and had a hard time pulling Aiden away. He has even taken to trying to remove anyone's hand that tries to hold onto him while he is in the driver's seat.
Today we had an all out battle over whether or not he was going to spend the afternoon perched atop his father's loader tractor out in the yard. I had to pry his little fingers loose from the steering wheel and pull him, kicking and screaming, from the seat in order to go in to make supper.
I am thinking this fall Aiden will be logging some hours out in those combines!

Welcome To Your New Home

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed the newest additions to our farm. The Farmer has already named them - but they are horrible names that I need not share with you-all, so we will be giving them new names. Names that are a little more friendly and a lot less carnivorous...

Invasion

There are certain things that come with the farm life, this I understand. Bugs in the house, gravel roads, an occasional loose goat...But waking up to this in the morning flying directly at your house, can unnerve a girl!
The komakozie crop dusters arrived this morning to spray our fields around the house. I was first aware of their presence when I heard a loud buzzing sounds outside my bedroom window. Chalking it up to trucks driving by, I didn't pay much mind. However, while blow drying my hair I saw a yellow streak fly by my bathroom window, which immediately sent me outside to investigate, bathrobe and all.
I managed to get a couple pics as they buzzed over and around the house (wonder if he saw me in my robe and towel...?), but when he came within feet of our large barn I was planning my escape! I was tempted to run back indoors and pluck the sleeping baby from his bed and run for cover. I did not. I toughed it out.

The Farmer's New Toy

All good boys should be rewarded.




Complete with Driver (when she is tall enough to reach the pedals...)




Oh No! Not another woman driver!

The Farmer's Latest Project

All last week the Farmer worked on the horse barn roof. Correction: MY horse barn roof, as I was reminded many a time...He did recruit some good helpers though (Uncle Pat and Farmer Dan...Oh yeah, and the boys!)

See, doesn't he look happy doing his wife's bidding? Not sure what Micheal is looking for up there though, maybe his replacement?We did have to keep a close eye on David though. He tended to fall off the roof quite a bit...Slight lack of spacial awareness there... Please note in the picture above that his father, Farmer Dan, seems to be watching his son slide down the side of the roof with utter disbelief. Have no fear - he lived through the week! He did come away with a sun burn and a nail in his foot though. I think I will owe him a trip to the comic book store as repayment...

Izzy

Here Chicka Chicka

On Friday of last week we had twenty-five new additions to our farm arrive. These adorable little creatures were received at our local Post Office at 7 a.m. on Friday morning, I know this because as soon as they come in, the Post Office is on the phone to us to let us know that we need to get on the ball and get up there and get them right away. I don't know if it is the incessant chirping that annoys the Postmaster, or the slightly musty odor of a small box that has been stuffed with baby chicks for three days... And you wonder what your mail goes through when it leaves you, and why it looks the way it does when you get it...
Anyway - they are here now, and doing well! Sarah has been in charge of their care and she is sure to hold each one each day...How she knows the difference between twenty-five chickens is beyond me, but, OK. They have taken refuge in her kiddy pool for the time being and will be introduced to the chicken coop before long.