Camping out on the Muscatatuck River

Andy brought his two older boys, Mark and Bob along with a big tent, enough food to feed an army, and they set up "camp" for the night.....Luckily the rains missed us Sunday night, and they built a campfire and roasted weiners, with all the trimmins......

Bill came and helped Andy set up the tent, as it was getting dark, but they got it all together. Andy had a camp stove and made them all breakfast of sausage and eggs......Memories are made!

The smartest one in the bunch......she was tired and came to the house and went to bed......

The sky opened up and down came the rain........two little imps standing under the porch drip - as if they weren't wet enough!

And then it stopped raining long enough that the crew decided to take the boat out.......however, they came back in to the dock in pouring rain. Needless to say, they were all wet, but it was warm, and they were wet anyway.....a fun afternoon.

All in Bloom at Woods Branch

"Batchelor Buttons" trying themselves. Amazing what a little 12-12-12 will do, along with a daily watering.

An "Old Fashioned Rose" - these roses have to be root-started from old bushes, many are found in old cemeteries, old farmsteads, and this particular one, Bob and I dug up a start out of a ditch along a county road up in Shelby County. There use to be a fence alongside a house here and we had admired the rose bush over the years. They tore down the house, and ultimately the fence, but some of the rose bush was still growing out in the ditch, so........

Another Old Fashioned Rose.......Found the start from an older lady that took a root-start from her bush, dating back to her parents on the farmstead. This rose opens to a pinkish color.

Another "Old Fashioned Rose".....this one is pinkish buds that open in to a beautiful white rose.

Yellow Roses, all bloomed out

An old farm shoe full of "Hens and chickens", nestled in the roses and geraniums.

Living on the Muscatatuck River

This photo is the little falls outside my bedroom window...........After a heavy rain yesterday evening, and another heavier one this morning, it has finally stopped. I remember my grandfather saying a farmer must keep his fences up and his ditches open. That is what I did last evening after the rain - cleaned the leaves out of the ditches along the driveway........

Woods Branch ......drains the farm plus part of Selmier's Forrest, and areas back to the Airport.

Needless to say, it gets interesting after a heavy rain

The Muscatatuck River......just beginning to rise. It is beginning to move - the channel is deep and drop significant enough that it will pick up momentum and really roll, picking up anything loose on the banks. Living on the river is interesting, to say the least. The river changes every day.........

Happy Birthday Andy and Bob

Andy, first in line at the wonderful spread of food of hamburgers, sausages and hot dogs, plus all the salads and home cookin'......Cousin Amanda grabs a birthday hug.

Andy was born May 9th 1978, and Bob May 9th, 2005. Quite a birthday gift for Andy!

Out of the mouths of babes - Bob, all excited with his own cake, trying to decide what to wish for.......finally came out with "I wish my mommy and daddy don't get lost." He had quite a 4th birthday party with his little friends and cousins....plus all the family.

A Housefull of Grandchildren

Wednesday evening - Bill and Andy were out to take the Snow Plow off the Farm Truck. Hopefully the snows are over for the season.......Andy, Bill and Mark went up the valley later to try their luck at "Skeet Shooting"........don't know the results, but Mark told me he retrieved some of the pieces out of the branch. Guess he had his boots on for a reason.......

Kelly, Amanda, Leia, Ashley and Bob were along - Bob got "left" with the girls while the big boys did their thing, and the girls dearly loved doting over him. We got out an easy puzzle to keep Bob busy - thought we would teach him how. But did he ever surprise us - he whipped it right together, told us they worked puzzles at Day Care. And the big girls dug out a harder puzzle, but it took Bill to finish it for them.

We polished off a BIG pot of chili and a Berry Pie from the Heritage Week-end.

Strictly a COUSIN evening.......

Farm Pleasures

Kinda been busy - trying to stay ahead of the grass, taking care of farm business, you name it - sometimes it all hits at once! Anyway, there are bonuses now and then. Last night, I stepped out on the deck to listen to the night, and heard in the distance a Whip-poor-will. Haven't heard one in our valley for several years........but he was very distant. So, Bear and I took the 4-wheeler and went on top of the hill above the pond and listened to him for awhile. He was down in the valley, and sang for us as long as we were there. I might add that we scattered a few deer who had already bedded down up around the pond.......

Many, many years ago, when I was staying with my grandparents, there was a whip-poor-will that sang at night outside our upstairs bedroom window. A beautiful memory.

Oh yes, the soybeans are sprouted and peeping up. Our farmer got the crop in before these last rains.