Shocking!

Today we prepared for getting some ponys by setting up a fence...an electric fence. It was fun. First Dad mowed a path throught the tall grass where the fence was to go. Then Dad, the Boys, and I pushed in electric fence poles. Next Dad, Charity, James, and Michael put the shock rope (rope with very thin metal wires woven through) on the poles while I chopped up stray grass that was touching the rope with a machete. When that was done we hooked up the fence to electricity.

In these pictures James, Dad, and Michael are putting up electric fence holders.

Here Michael is testing the electric fence...yup, guess it works...and Charity is taking a music break.

Don't worry, Michael didn't really test the fence that way. But we did test it (see video). That zapping sound means it works. We had lots of fun with electricity and machetes today. Bwahahaha!
We still need to fix up a few things in the shed and get a water tank before we'll get any ponys. For now though we have a good pasture for them.

Pyromaniacs

This post I'm going to try bigger pictures. Comment on whether you like it or not. Today's topic is of course about our annual shoot-um-up...of fireworks that is. Here are some of the participants...

"Bond, James Bond!"

Sarah(me), "Light the fuse and run!"

Munitions Specialist, Charity,"Fire in the hole!!"

Mom, James, Heather, Derek, Sarah(me), and Charity. "It ain't done till its burned to a crisp,"

Anika, "I need more ammo!"

As always the 4th of July was really fun. No one was hurt...badly...and what can go better together then food, family, and controlled explosions?

A Post for Post's Sake

Nothing much has transpired since my last post. I did bale hay with Al, Cal, And Randi, which was fun though.
For those of yu who don't know, my uncles Al and Cal have one of the few working small square balers. A few times every summer they bale their hay feild. What happens is first they cut the tall grass and let it dry. Then they hook up the baler to the tractor and a big hay wagon to the baler. This time Al drove (and then Randi when she came), and Cal and I were on the hay wagon. Our job on the wagon is to stack the bales so when it gets to be 6 or 8 layers high it won't tip over. Oh, and a tip...wear long sleeves and jeans because otherwise the dry straw scratches up the skin on your arms and legs. In the end we got 3 really full wagons filled and some straw scratches.
Other then that I've been to some of Becka's softball games which are fun to watch, especially if Becka is playing.

Free Kittens! (Well, some of them anyway)

We have a whole bunch of kittens this summer. If you know anyone who wants a kitten they should talk to us. Not all of them we are willing to give away though. They are all really nice cats, but if we keep them all our farm will be wall to wall in cat carpet.

Skitter and Handsome : Both of these kittens are up for grabs. Skitter is a very friendly all black cat, but does enjoy climbing up the nearest available pant leg. Handsome is splotchy all over in an interesting non-pattern and is also very friendly.

Hector and Andrew : Hector is very cute and stripey but is Rebecca's kitten so is probably not for sale. Andrew is splotchy with distinguishing splotches on his face. He is very nice and is for the taking.

Lassy and Bandit : Lassy looks like Skitter except she has a white neck spot and doesn't climb up your leg. She is also free for the taking and very nice. Bandit is Charity's very nice kitten and is a patchy grey.

Pepper and Angel : Pepper is my kitten and is stripey grey and Angel is James' kitten and is stripey black. They are both Houdini's babys so they are very fuzzy and shy like her.

Spike and Sock : Spike has really, really long fur and is white with grey ears, feet, and tail. He is Micheals's cat and is not for sale even though he is very nice. Sock is the cutest of the three splotchy cats with a distinguishing white foot. He is for sale (or free) and is very friendly.
So there you have it. If you are in need of a kitten come to us.

Ain't Misbehavin'

Here are some pictures from the Vanderlugt Reunion. I keep asking myself..."Self, are you really related to these rambunctious rapscallions?..."

...Yup, guess so. (Featured relatives clockwise from top left: Ethan, Isaac, random head, Dillon, Michael, Derek, and Derek)

Day 5 : Pandemoneum! (or the Program)

Well this is a little late but, oh well. We got out early to day (5 days ago) after much cleaning and the petting zoo, and the horse rides, and playing operation, and the slushies, and the tavern with chips and pop, and do you think this sentence could be any longer?

Then at the program we signed every ones shirts and sang our songs to the parents. The program was really fun, we were more efficient than other years I think (Good job Judy!) and Helen VV signed my VBS shirt! Yay!!

Oh...and here's some pictures of the weather of VBS.

I love the clouds.

Day 3 and 4 : Heat and Rain

Wow, yesterday and today were complete opposites. Yesterday it rained a little in the morning and was really hot the rest of the day. Today it was dry in the morning and down poured afterwards.

We have only one more day to go. I hope tomorrow is dry, it gets pretty chaotic when hundreds of kids are cooped up inside.