"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

"Gather ye rose-buds while ye may." Robert Herrick

Hello Friends!

Friends, Romans, countrymen...y'all. Foodies, gardeners, artists and collectors - let's gather together to share and possibly learn a thing or two in the mix.

Donna Baker

Thursday, July 6, 2017

Done For Another Year


Went to the farm for the fourth.  Such a different year in weather.  Lots of rain, but we did get in a bonfire and fireworks.  I stayed in the house with baby and didn't get pictures of the display.  The fields were full of purple loosestrife, but just a few wild plums and blackberries this year.


Since Bella and I drove the Ranger through the garage wall, knocking it off the concrete slab, the littles have had to be happy driving the lawn mowers around the place.  It seems to appease them, though they are always asking Nonna to drive them around the farm.


Ollie caught the first fish; it is always a competition, especially if one gets a bass and the other doesn't.


And, Oliver almost caught the biggest fish when I saw him looking and tugging for his hook and bait.  Ollie STOP.


Sweet Wonder Woman, Bella, is still at the age where she doesn't care about her hair or dress.  I asked her if she was wearing deodorant or a bra yet.  She was rather insulted.


The kids built teepees with leftover bois d'arc posts, also known as Osage Orange.  During the old west days, settlers used bois d'arc wood for fencing in cattle and many of the trees still grow along fence lines.  Speaking of cattle, my husband got two young heifers to fatten up for fall sale.  They were only there one week before cattle rustlers cut the fence in three places.  Problem was, the young cows are so spooky, the rustlers couldn't rustle them.  We found them nearly two miles down the road  days later.


Though rain was threatening and the fishing wasn't very good because of all the rain, the grandkids had a good time.  Even bigfoot couldn't dampen the little's time at the farm.

28 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

It looks like a WONDERFUL time.
And I am so pleased that the cattle rustlers failed.

donna baker said...

Me too Child. Just wish we could have caught them. Seems cattle rustling is still going on since beef prices are up.

Joanne Noragon said...

Pretty hard to spoil a holiday for a kid. Had it rained, they would have been on a porch, or in the living room, playing cards.

Michelle said...

This looks like the perfect time to me. I LOVE Bella's Wonder Woman outfit. Days of bras and deo will come soon enough.

RachelD said...

What a wonderful holiday for your Littles!! I declare that your Bella and our Sweetpea were separated at birth, right down to the haircut! Remember the snow angel that I said was an exact picture of Sweetpea about five years ago?

We're not rushing any kind of maturing (except we hope that GANNER's sense of humor will age past TEN), and encourage all sorts of imaginaation and fantastic stories and beings and angels and fairies. The latest one is the wonderful new light in the kitchen---don't tell the kids it has a dimmer, for Ganner's having too good a time magically making it brighten and dim merely by pointing a magic comb at it. They can even wave the comb themselves, and voila!!

And ain't cattle rustlin' still a hangin' offense?

ellen abbott said...

hopefully Bella will stay unconcerned for a good while yet. looks like a kid paradise. not too shabby for adults either.

Out on the prairie said...

Looks all like a good time. I call that first plant Liatris or Blazing Star. Gorgeous in bloom, that is really a good stand.

angryparsnip said...

Goodness it looks so green !
I have bright, sunny, hot and dusty.
Sounds like you had a great 4th.

cheers, parsnip and thehamish

donna baker said...

You are right Joanne. We did the fireworks the night before just in case...

donna baker said...

Funny, since you are a teacher. She told me before the end of the school year, her teacher announced to the class that they all needed to start wearing deodorant.

donna baker said...

I wish Rachel. These heifers are so wild, we had to wait two weeks to load them up and bring them back to the farm. The place where they showed up have cattle and the lady started locking them in the pen at night with the others. I do remember your Sweetpea. They are growing up so fast.

donna baker said...

They love to run around in their underwear, but I had to tell Bella she needs to put a shirt on now. Why, she wanted to know. Same reason they can't pee outside. They are growing up now. She didn't like that reason.

donna baker said...

Yes, liatris is the exact same plant they sell at the flower shops for much more money. I have acres of it, but would have to haul it to the nearest flower market which is in Dallas. The kids love the farm. Look like little dirt balls while there.

donna baker said...

It has been a late and mild spring and summer. Very unusual as it is usually in the hundreds and drought.

A Brit in Tennessee said...

The grandchildren have such a wonderful place to roam, and enjoy time with each other, they are some of the fortunate ones :)
Looks like it was a grand time !
~Jo

The Weaver of Grass said...

I love Bigfoot. Who is he or aren't we supposed to ask?

donna baker said...

Thank you Jo. We try. They grow up so fast.

donna baker said...

He is a nine foot tall steel silhouette I bought for my husband for Father's Day. The weeds have grown up so high, Sasquatch doesn't show well. Something else to weed eat around. The kids believe in Bigfoot and there is a festival they've been to, but they know this one isn't real. I've taken them out in the fields at night to see the stars and Ollie tries to call up Bigfoot which scares Bella. We usually have to leave then.

Ry @ Sotto Il Monte Vineyards said...

Sweet memories for the grandchildren! Looks as if you had a wonderful holiday. When did you run into the garage wall?😂

La Table De Nana said...

You have a great place there:)
Oh Bella reminds me of me young:)..and 100 yrs ago..my daughters had the wonder women undrewear..they would spin around lol..

great memories..
I think Bella rocks the dress.:)
Oh I remember whn a bra was mentioned to me.I was insulted.
I do remember the feel and look of my first vividly..like a stretch cotton and I loved the scent..all grown up...not..

The Ranger and the wall..is that an untold story? I al like Ry..I forget!

OMG Ollie and the hook..my dad's friend was an ophtalmology surgeon..very specialized at Ste-Justine's hospital..100 yrs ago..not pretty the stories:(

They have grown up so much nonna:)

donna baker said...

A couple of years ago or so. It was a stunner. Bella was driving and I sat next to her doing the pedals. Unbelievable how much power those Polaris Rangers have. Boy, did I get in trouble. It knocked the wall about 2 feet off of the slab. Hope they always remember the farm days.

donna baker said...

I wish I could be about 10 years younger and have more energy. They waited till we are too old and now a new one, a two year old and new one coming. Oh well. The Ranger incident caused considerable damage to the garage wall. Though it took a long while, the wall is back resting on the slab, though still needs work. That Ranger hit it like a Mac truck. Who knew they were so powerful. We have four wheelers too, but still don't let the littles drive those only ride. I have let Bella drive my truck out in the field, again with me assisting, but at least there is nothing to hit. Except for a few pine trees we steer clear of.;) Ollie actually caught Bella too, but it only stuck in her dress. It would have been the end of the world if he had actually hooked her.

troutbirder said...

Most interesting blog. I love eclectic...thus enjoyed perusing. Thanks :)

Stephanie Faris said...

How FUN!!! I want one of those Wonder Woman dresses. Do you think it would be okay for a 46-year-old woman to wear? Don't answer that!

donna baker said...

Troutbirder, if I am anything, it is eclectic. Thank you.

donna baker said...

On you Stephanie, yes. Would look great.

Sandra Cox said...

What a wondrous time.
I did try not to chuckle about the Ranger:)

donna baker said...

I have pictures, Sandra. That wall must have weighed tons.