So i'm starting to worry. Hank actually yelped in pain when he got up yesterday. So i called and talked to my friend denise who works as a vet assistant at a vet clinic. we have an appointment on friday to see what steps need to be taken now. we have him on a low dose pain medication, but im afraid its not doing the trick. I am so worried about how he will do this winter. so i have my fingers crossed.

Sometimes, the best things come in small packages. This little heifer came out of Mark and I's first Red Angus calf. We have had her for 9 years and this is the prettiest calf shes ever given us. Mark thinks this will be her last year with us, so he doesn't know it but this little girl is gonna stay here.

I'm so sad sometimes when we have a cow for a long time then we have to get rid of them. Last fall we had to get rid of our first Angus cow we bought together. I cried for days. You miss seeing them out there in the morning. Sappy me! Mark makes fun of me, but i think he misses some of them to.

This morning came early. Its been a long week at the fair. I once again donated my time and took pictures for the kids that showed livestock. I helped all day in the show ring for the cattle show. And then instead of going to bed early last night, i stayed up till after 12:00 Big mistake, I took a few pictures for a friend. He showed friday and his steer is getting butchered tommorrow and he wanted pictures of it since he placed with it. It was such a pretty morning and i saw these flowers on the barb wire.

This is another Bob Cole pig. The kids had so much fun, and it ends a long day with something fun. Mahlia was really excited that she had a pink show stick. She gets to do the runt class for two more years. Then she will be in 4-h. They are growing up so fast!

Thank you to Bob Cole. He lent us a pig for runt class. This is Garretts last year. He will be an official 4-h er this fall. He loved showing the pigs. He got penned and chosen to come back for the drive for his age division. But no luck. He got a ribbon and a dollar and he was excited.

This is the official ruler of the house. Princess. This is a barn cat we got from neighbors when garrett got potty trained. we told him he could have any toy he wanted and he wanted this cat. she is awesome, because very rarely does she require petting. she goes to the basement during the night and mouses and sleeps on one of the kids beds during the day. and she loves to pick on harley since they are the same size.

Kimber is the baby of the group. Yes, I know i have lots of animals. But I love each and every one of them. And I would have more if my husband wouldn't have a heartattack. Kimber was a pup that when I worked at the Buck Creek Vet Clinic I helped deliver by C-Section. She is the hyper one of the group. She is like a ball bouncing around everywhere and the energy of a 2 year old child on sugar. Mark uses her for a wrestling buddy.

And then there was Harley. We got Haley when Garrett was 8 months old. She weighed a whole 4lbs. She now weighs 10lbs. I think our cats weigh more than her. She is the Queen Bee of the farm. If there is a rat, mouse or small animal that needs killed or run off, shes your girl. And she is Marks girl. She wines and cries when he gets home until he picks her up and shows her some love. SPOILED! But she is funny to watch, she thinks shes a rottwieler most days.

So, I've been very reflective lately. A lot has been going on. Two of my very close friends have had trouble with close pets. One friend lost a pet of 12 years, the other was told her pet may not be with her for very long. This is THE MAN! This is Hank. He is an Australian Red Heeler. Mark and I got him the month after we got married. He is our first child. He has lived for a long time, as most dogs of this breed, especially ones that live on a farm only have a life span of 1-3 years. Last fall he had a run in with coyetes here on the farm and suffered some major injuries. After several stitches, 1 night spent at he emergency clinic in Indy and 3 days back and forth from the hospital, and 2 months in a clinic he is healed. As with people comes the aches and pains of old age and meds. So needless to say he has slowed down a lot lately. So it reminds me that not only do i love this dog as one of my children, but when he is gone i will also mourn him as one.

this is Ladybug, shes mahlias heifer that we got her this year. she is a charlois. which is weird because all of our other cows are black or black and white. we had a little trouble when we first got her because none of the other cows wanted anything to do with her. we decided to start giving the kids a heifer every year till they are 18 to start their own herds and give them money towards 4-H projects. then when they head off into the big scary world they will have their own little herds..

heres Ladybug making nice with one of the new calves. hopefully she is that interested when she calves next year.

well, it is that time of the year once again. the kids are out of school, crops are in, hay needs to be baled and its almost fair week. we are busy getting my pictures ready, the kids are both in cloverbuds and i have decided to enter one of my baskets. i am also once again going to volunteer my time to take the 4-h ers photos at the fair.

this is my favorite time of the year and it goes by so quickly. the kids are growing up, the cow herd is expanding and we have more than ever to keep us busy.

this is diesel, my newest love. he is an 8 yr old paint gelding. i haven't been able to ride him due to have surgery a while back. but i still love to go out and talk to him and love all over him. hes so awesome!

summer