The Hollow in Winter

There is a hallow near us that has clear water and abundant trees.

It is very peaceful in the cold hallow. It will be fun to swim in when summer arrives. 

The water will still be cold but worth it.

My husband and hiking partner. 

Winter Farming Chores

Farm work never ends even in the cold of winter. We planted several Osage oranges along our fence line. The help them thrive they need sunlight. And we had several saplings blocking the sun. So this past week we had a few hours of daylight left for logging.

Many of these weed trees were growing into the fence wire.

We saved the thicker logs to season for next years wood stove fodder.

When we were almost done for the evening but we had a stubborn Sycamore tree to 

remove from the side of our garage. It has been growing quickly and needed to go. We put a chain on it from our tractor and nothing happened. The tree would not budge. We will have to remove it by hand on a very wet day. I will try to root the cuttings to have the tree grow on another part of our property. Some view these as trash trees. But I love the big leaves and the white bark and the sound the winds make in its canopy.

Blue Bunny

This is Larry, a female bunny. She is shy and my husband 

was handling her to get her more friendly.

Rabbits relax in this position. But is not good for long term. 

We were checking her teeth and nails.

So cute and relaxed.

Looking at her very large feet.

Getting good reception with the bunny ears. 

She spend the next hour in his lap while he worked. 

Larry is a soft sweet and quiet little girl.

Septic Story

This cold week we needed septic service. After 14 years of never having it 

pumped out the system needed it. Our 1,000 gallon cement tank needed to be located 

and unearthed. B&B was able to locate and uncover it fast.

The wax seal held fast and had to be worked open.

We will need to install a riser so the tank will not have to be dug up again. But time and weather was a factor and will have to wait until the springtime.

Pumping underway.

The truck was moved to get better feed. 

We were on the north side of the house and it was bitterly cold.

When finished these guys smoothed out the dirt and filled in the ruts in the yard. 

They were very skilled on the tractor.

Smoothing out the ruts in the driveway. 

They were fast, hardworking and friendly even in the bitter cold outside. 

Subaru and Sow

This week has been a challenge. Our Subaru has been overheating and needs some TLC. So we borrowed our neighbors trailer and loaded it up. It took a few tries to make sure the strapping would hold. 

The place we took the car also raises pigs. It was neat to see a sow and her piglets.

Here is the boar. He liked his snout to be scratched. I did this while my husband unloaded the car. The sun was setting behind a very steep muddy hill to the repair shop in the middle of fields. It was a very busy shop but if all goes well, our car will be usable again.

Happy Day

The photo of Larry the bunny has no relationship to my entry, it is just plain cute. Today, my husband drove me to the OB clinic that is 2 hours away. I was there to have another granulation procedure done to remove scare tissue after my hysterectomy. The last procedure was very painful and I suffered after the event. I took pain pills before going this time. But after getting a look the OB nurse exclaimed she could no longer see any more granulation. She look and prodded and the scar tissue was all gone. I 'd like to thank all my friends and God for helping me with this problem and pain. I am so glad this burden has passed. Now I can get going without pain as a constant companion. 

Tall Tractor Tale

My neighbor bought a big Farmall  tractor in Illinois.

He got it home and got it running, but it stalled several times. He drove home in the rain and water got in the gas tank. But he got it going enough to get it off his trailer.

He is sitting up high.

Big Red is home.

Narrow tires and high and wide wheel placement for going over crops.

 He sits higher than we do on our horses. We offered him some stirrups for mounting 

and dismounting his iron steed. He just jumps off the wheels instead.

Goat Flings

Here is my neighbors baby goats and their guard donkey.

Taking a nice warm sun nap.

Climbing the warm furry hill.

Avoiding the warm biting hill.

The Three Busketeers

Here is Moe who is not a doe but a buck. That means he is a boy bunny.

Moe is all about doing things all the time. Very active bunny.

To the left is Larry, a doe we guess and to the right is Curly, still not sure.

Larry is always spooked and afraid. But she is getting lots of hands on attention. 

She is very soft and the smallest of the trio. All these bunnies can fit in your hand.

Curly is very active and not as soft, feels like a poodle. Curly has curled ears and whiskers.

Curly, Larry and Moe

Winter Cat Nap

Snots and Daisy in front of the pellet stove. They are all tired after watching me put away decorations.

It is all about the warm wool quilt and the wool rug. Life is good.

Snow and Ice and Rain

Today is really rain then ice, but last week was about snow and ice. Lots of snow and snow drifts in the roads here in the Ozarks. Trips had to be planned ahead of time and sometimes no one left the house for days. Ice on country roads means some cars can't go there for miles unless they have 4 wheel drive. 

Only went out for farm animal feed runs. Cold cows.

Snow on top and ice underneath and very cold. Are we there yet?

Big drifts like sand dunes thanks to a lot of wind.

My truck hood and my road, they match!

Bumper-cicles

The good news is that it will be warming up during the coming days and all this will melt.

Then we will have flooding and high water on the country roads. So glad I have a truck with 4 wheel drive.

Silent Snowy Sunday

We got plenty of warning about the upcoming Sunday sleet, ice and snow. I spent all day Saturday stacking firewood, putting up straw for the poultry and putting away Christmas decorations. We also had our new hot water heater installed along with a water softener.It was a late night but Sunday morning it was worth it. All the animals were warm, we had hot water and we could watch the snow fall.

The roads were too dangerous to make it to church, so we watched our animals in the snow. 

Zilla loves napping in the snow. She is a winter dog.

Poppy taking a warm nap.

Not a single animal track nor human track on our road. All was silent and cold.

The sun setting this evening in a rich amber hue.