Family Retreat - Part III

Andrew loved the stairs.

This wasn't the sun rise, but I did get the sun through the trees this time.

We all had a very good time at the cabin, but the cousins especially enjoy getting together.
Gracie is showing us a cup trick below.

Wouldn't you love to hear what they are saying?

They seemed to enjoy the woods as much as I did.

The pine trees were just totally awesome.

The rye grass was really green and I am sure attracts the deer.

Saturday night we grilled steaks and enjoyed some entertainment
from Gillan, Gracie, and Rudy.

Nathan rolled himself up into the action...and was enjoying the music too.

This is a shot from the front, upper windows of the cabin.
I loved the view of the trees from all of the windows.

The kids were the first to jump into the hot tub.



The line up here is from the stairs leading up to the loft.
The master bedroom and private bath with whirlpool is up there.

Family Retreat - Part II

Saturday morning we made our way to the park area and we all rode the train except Grandpa.
We thought the ride might be a little too bumpy for him because of his recent surgery.

Rudy and Christy seem excited about our train ride.

Craig, Katie and Nathan were ready for the ride too!

These boys are fired up and ready to go!

These two get really excited about everything.

Gracie is searching for the deer and other wild life usually seen on the train ride.
We only saw a couple of deers from a distance.
We did see a really big bird....Josh thought it was a woodpecker and Gracie thought it was a bird she had seen in her "Bird Book". We weren't sure who was right.

The two pictures above and the two below were the start of a "real adventure."
Rudy wanted to find this great nature trail which was to lead to the largest oak tree
in Oklahoma, the U.S. or world, or some such place. No matter, he was determined to find it.
After all, he had the map...the map, the map, the map.....sound's like Dora the Explorer, huh?

We walked and we walked. We followed this body of water, and we saw trees, yes.
We saw the woods, yes. It was a strange trail, yes. It seemed to lead to no where.
Grandma eventually lost faith in her son and veered off alone....to find a bathroom.
It looks like Andrew took care of his problem somewhere on the trail.
Looks like Gracie had experienced enough and the others were wondering aimlessly.

Nathan seemed to have a great ride. But, by the time Grandma found her way back to
the main road, she was soon trailed by the whole bunch.
NO GIANT OAK TREE FOUND....but, such fun!
Rudy and I decided the tree must have died in the 1800's or so.
Awe, but togetherness....making memories.
Part III will soon follow if I can get the pictures to cooperate.

Family Retreat - March, 2009

We all went to Beaver's Bend State Park for a little family time during spring break.

This cabin is appropriately named "Cozy Corner". It was so cozy, relaxing, and peaceful.
The surroundings were just beautiful, too!

It was with great difficulty that we were able to get this picture of all of us.
There was no one available to take the picture, so we tried out the timer on my camera.
The fun part (funny, actually) was watching Katie and Craig run for their positions for the pose.

Rudy had the fire pit going when we arrived, so after grilling hamburgers and hot dogs,
we had to have Smores!

It was hard not to over char the marshmallows!

I was the first one up on Saturday morning--and I rushed out to the balcony from our bedroom in the loft to take a picture of the sunrise.
As you can see, the sun did not shine for me.

After a pancake breakfast, the kids and I took a hike.
All of the little roads led to more cabins.
I have an adventurous group of grandkids.

We arrived back at the Cozy Corner unscathed.

Eight pictures is enough for one blog post.....to be continued in the next post. I have way too many pictures...but, I am at least trying to give an account of the trip, somewhat in order.

Swinging in the Sunshine

I was gone today when Katie came to visit with David and the boys played in the back yard. Katie really took some cute pictures.....sorry, I got hold of them first to post. This was Nathan's first time to swing on the swing set...Whee!

Sheep in the Meadow, Cows in the Corn

I know you have all seen pictures of the animals around our farm before, but this morning was special. I have been needed to help out on the dairy for the past five days....you might say, "well you poor dear"....only five days?" Well, it is usually no small undertaking for me. I have to say, by this morning I was fitting back into the groove. After all, many years ago bottling, feeding, watering, and bedding the calves was my twice a day job. I know, I know, you have heard me whine about it before, but for those of you who may not know....the job is actually updated with luxury compared to the "good old days". Hey, the big barn protects you and the babies from the elements: rain, sleet, snow, hail, cold and heat. One only needs to walk a few feet to the pens now. A big stick is no longer needed to keep one calf from getting the other calves' bottle. It is still a big chore!

Wait, there must be an added bonus. I know my skin must look better now! You see, as you mix the milk replacer in very hot water and your face is straight on top of it to stir it all together in a bucket......warm, moist, milky steam goes straight to the face. Then as you fill the water buckets, the cold spray finishes your facial....is that not just amazing?....I bet you don't get a daily treatment like that one.

To the point.....when I finished my outside chores this morning....knowing this would be the last time for a while.....I drove to the house.....the temperature was great, my work was done, the sunshine was beaming..........so I ran in for my camera and went back to the barn.......taking pictures all the way.....I took pictures of everything on the place. So, if you care to take a look at only a few of the things I enjoyed, please continue. There are more pictures than I have ever posted at once and I left many of them off. Enjoy!

This is only a small bunch of the sheep out grazing this morning.

Contented milk cows

She wanted a close up view.


Some are always curious enough to come right up in your face.
Notice their bright colored ear rings (better known as tags).

If one comes, they all want to see what is going on.

She was just moovin' along.

This Momma sheep and baby paused just long enough for me to get a quick picture.

This big girl was removed from the calf barn yesterday....way to big to be bottle fed.

More sheep gathered around the old shed.


And, here is one of many of the little bottle fed babies.....a heifer. She gets her own coat to keep warm.

Every farm needs a few barn cats....she is a big one!

The Daffodils were blooming this morning in the front yard of our old home place.
They are always a welcome sign of spring soon to come.

And, as I am headed home again....here came my relief! Good bye barn, bye calves, bye bottles, bye poop, bye, bye facial....until next time.
For the rest of ya'.....get out and enjoy this beautiful sunshine.