Concrete Pad Work

Paul took a couple of days off

since the rain has stopped for a bit

and the concrete pad is finally dried out.

Everyone was out there early yesterday and today.

The steel posts all got set in concrete.

They stopped in time 

to get to Waconia 

for the first night of 

Jack's baseball tournament.

They were back out there early this morning 

making forms for the concrete walls.

It was an all day project again

 with lots of figuring and measuring.

Hershey and Tess were there for moral support.

Yeah, ok, we'll go with that!

We called it quits about 7:00.

Baseball games start early tomorrow morning again.

Watching all the hard work really took a toll on the poor dogs.

They had to call it a day early.

Kittens and Chickens

Tess took her kittens out to play 

on a gorgeous summer night a couple of days ago.

Actually, Hershey has taken over the raising of them.

Hershey loves morning chore time when it is time to move the broilers.

The first batch was butchered yesterday 

and we are taking orders for the second batch now!

Simple Happenings

The wagon full of bales is still in the shed.

People haven't been home long enough to get it unloaded yet.

So the chickens found a new place to nest.

And Tubby guards the entrance to their new home.

Do you see the chicken back there?

When there has been too much rain

yet the bales still need to be moved

sometimes things don't go as smoothly as you wish they would.

It was a simple pull-out though 

and then Luke went on moving the bales.

Hershey is always anxious to "help" with broiler chores twice a day.

She herds the strays back in 

if they get out when we move the tractors.

More Baling

The temp went up nice and toasty hot this afternoon.

What a great day to bale some hay.

Ben made some round bales. 

 Then Jack took over the baling for the square bales.

They only stacked one wagon load.

Ben also made the ditch bales.

Even in the heat,

a mother's work is never done!

Elsie and I finished off the day

with tamping in some clay around the water pipe

at the never-ending concrete project,

while the others brought the ditch bales home

and parked equipment.

Fresh Corn

Ben, Hannah, Molly, and Jack

started chopping the rows 

out of the cornfield 

to make picking and chopping easier 

and less wasteful.

The cows and calves love the fruit of their labor!

The Last Calves

Well, that took long enough!

Our last two calves were finally born on the 6th and 7th.

Roxanne had Acacia on Friday.

In the muddy pasture!

And then Saturday

Ramona had Oak.

The 2018 calving season is FINALLY done!

Putting Up Bales

It was finally the day 

to put up the bales 

from a week ago.

The first wagon load went in the little barn.

When I went out to the shed hayloft

Hannah was taking a break on the wagon.

Then Jack went down to take a turn.

Ben, Hannah, and Molly did the stacking.

That corner wasn't quite as empty when they were done!

Moving the Broilers Out

The newer batch of broilers was moved out of the barn today.

The chicken tractor 

needed to be moved to the alfalfa 

to house them.

Hannah drove the Viking with the front part of the tractor.

Ben followed on the 4-wheeler with the back half of the tractor.

Elsie and Molly helped support it.

And now all the broilers are happily living in the alfalfa.

Hauling Bales

Luke, Ben, and Hannah 

hauled bales home yesterday.

Ben's in the lead on the 3020.

Hannah's following in the 7400 with two wagons.

And Luke brought up the rear in the truck with the gooseneck. 

They left one farm

and went to another to load up there.

They left the 3020 at the second place.

Hannah got in the truck with Ben

and Luke drove the 7400 and wagons home.

Just Some Fun Pictures

Ben used the WD45 to pull the wagons in Friday night.

Hannah got this beautiful picture

Thursday evening while she was tedding.

Tess and one of her kittens

 rode in the Viking

 to pick up some fresh-cut alfalfa 

for the horses.

 Elsie got these great pictures of 

Mama Tess and her baby.

The boys took the duals off the 7400 

and leaned them against the tree.

Elsie saw a creative pictures and took it.

Molly came running in to get me this morning 

so I could see the kittens.

Our poor, confused kittens

who nurse off a dog

are now sleeping in the box that the baby chicks arrived in.