Chickens and Sheep

This summer I raised our broiler chickens in the hayshed.  Once they had grown large enough I let them into the sheep winter yard.  The sheep have been outside the yard for most of the summer in various pastures enclosed with portable electric netting.  Since this area is richly fertilized by manure and waste hay during the winter, the grass grows thick and lush.  I periodically bring the sheep back inside for a few days to mow down the grass.  This was the first time I have ever had sheep and chickens together in the same yard.

It worked out very well.

Both the chickens and the sheep seemed curious about each other and showed no antagonism toward each other.

In fact it seemed that the chickens became more confident  and began ranging more freely about the yard.

It almost seemed that the chickens felt greater security in the presence of these large creatures.  Hey, these big guys go all over, so can we!

Our pond at sunset.  During the summer I swim in it nearly every day, and several times a day during hot weather.

Goldenrod gets unjustly accused by many people for causing allergies, but it does not. It relies on bees and other insects to disperse its pollen, not the wind.  It is actually an excellent late summer nectar plant for honeybees.

Late August

August brings colder mornings, heavy dew and sometimes fog.  The day length begins to shorten noticeably.  At some point it hits you that summer is ending.  Funny as it sounds that realization always comes as something of surprise.  It is one thing to know it in your head and another thing to accept it with your heart.  I allow myself to feel a bit of sadness, it is similar to the feeling you have when you listen music that is so beautiful that you almost want to cry.

Yeah, I know I'm getting all gushy and sentimental here. But don't worry, it'll pass.

Our grandson stopped by for a visit.

along with his dad, mom and big sisters.

This kid knows where the milk bar is.  Marja and I babysat him for an afternoon. I fed him two bottles of momma's milk one after the other and then Marja put him to bed.  He slept 12 hours straight.  And he's only 4 months old!

Alina and Jonathan enjoying breakfast.

Leave it to a cat to find the most comfortable place to sleep.

Babies sleep best outdoors in the fresh air.

David reading the paper.

Clouds

Twas a warm afternoon and thunderheads were rising.

I was fascinated by how this cloud was backlit by the sun and glowing at the edges.

This could have turned into a thunderstorm for us.

But it passed south of us.  We heard lots of thunder.

When I see clouds I often hum Joni Mitchell's song , Both Side Now. It's kind of a sad pessimistic song, but nevertheless beautiful.  Somehow the first four lines seem to overcome all the rest of it.  It's like they win the argument that follows.

Rows and flows of angel hair 

And ice cream castles in the air

And feather canyons everywhere

I've looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun

They rain and snow on everyone

So many things I would have done 

But clouds got in my way

I've looked at clouds from both sides now

From up and down and still somehow

It's cloud's illusions I recall

I really don't know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and ferries wheels 

The dizzy dancing way you feel

As every fairy tale comes real 

I've looked at love that way

But now it's just another show 

You leave 'em laughing when you go

And if you care, don't let them know 

Don't give yourself away

I've looked at love from both sides now 

From give and take and still somehow

It's love's illusions I recall

I really…

August Flowers

Our meadow was particularly beautiful this year because the sheep had not grazed all summer.  It always amazes me how wildflowers always seem to complement each other in color and form.  They bloom at just the right time, in harmony with their counterparts.  I have read that in Japan they even teach classes on flower arranging.  I remember my father remarking about flowers he had seem while fishing out in the woods at remote beaver dams.  He said he used to wonder why God created such beautiful flowers in places where no one was ever likely to see.  Then occurred to him that God Himself enjoyed seeing them.

I believe my father was right.

A bumblebee on a spotted knapweed flower.

Spotted knapweed is considered an invasive species, but it is a wonderful nectar plant and my honeybees put up a lot of honey when it is in bloom.

My sheep like it too.

Mmmm.....

In a few days the flowers will be all gone.  That is why I took these pictures when I did.

Single Track Flyers

This summer our granddaughter joined a Monday night group mountain bike group for all ages.

The youngest use pedal-less strider bikes, which are must easier and faster for young children to use that the old-fashioned tricycle.

The kids are divided into groups by age and ability with coaches for each group.  Seeing this group I couldn't help but think how times have changed.  No one would have thought of organizing such a group when I was a kid.  We all rode bikes every day just to get around.  There were no mountain bikes or single tracks, but we explored logging roads and went camping with our bikes.  We generally spent most of our time outdoors in the summertime because there were no video games or internet then.

Lining up

...and heading out.....

...onto the single track.

When the coach says "red light" you stop, and when she says "green light" you go.

Once the kids learn the proper swinging gait, they can really move on these striders.

The green shirt group.

Dinosaurs.

One of the drills had the kids negotiate a course marked with cones.

Starting the course with a determined look.

Raspberries!

The height of summer is the strawberry season.  As long as strawberries are ripe,  I am firmly resolved that summer, notwithstanding all the pessimists and naysayers, will last forever this year.  Some hold this to be an illusion, but that is because their shriveled imagination cannot conceive of eternal summer.  But just because something has never happened before doesn't mean it can't happen, so I remain an optimist, at least until the raspberries ripen.  Raspberries are a gentle sweet reminder that once again,  summer won't last forever this year. I accept their verdict, because raspberries are some of the most delightful fruit God put on this earth. 

Our raspberry patch is producing abundantly this year.  Two years ago they were afflicted with fruitfly larvae that looked like little white maggots and gave the berries a mild sour taste. This threw a lot of  people into a panic, but we just boiled them up into jam.  The presence of a few bugs certifies that the fruit has not been sprayed with poisons.  Most people would rather eat poison than worms, but give me worms any day.

Fortunately, this year we have not detected any worms.

Fun at Bible Camp

This little guy was at Bible Camp for the first time.

As was this little girl.

This was my third time!

Third for me too.

Ready to go!

Wheee!

Climbing back up.

Bible Camp is a wonderful time of learning God's Word and enjoying the company of old friends in a beautiful setting.  Of course, once we got home we noticed that most of the pictures were of the grandchildren.  Funny how that works, isn't it?