Coyotes vs. Deer

Coyotes won. 

I don't know when they actually made the kill, but saw at least three coyotes working on the carcass.  While tugging and pulling it apart, they eventually moved it behind a big tree so we were no longer able to observe.  However, the buzzards are observing.  Two of them have already landed in one of the big trees.  I have seen eagles chase coyotes away from their fresh kill, but don't know if these buzzards are hungry enough to take on this bunch. 
Of course, I feel bad for the deer, and hope it isn't leaving an orphan fawn!  But, coyotes are coyotes, and they too must eat.  Around here sometimes it's like watching National Geographic.  Or Marlin Perkins, on Wild Kingdom.  Wow!  That's really dating me!  Anyone reading this remember the Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom with host Marlin Perkins?

May Days

Only two days left of May 2015!  Can't believe how quickly the days pass.  It's true, the older you get, the faster time seems to fly!  We often hear young people say "I can't wait until...(whatever)".  I remember even saying so myself!  I couldn't wait to turn sixteen so I could get a driver's license!  Now, at my ripe old age, I don't care to rush to the next stage.  I'm just thankful for every day.

None of us know which day will be our last here, but it's true that each day I live brings me closer to the end.  That's true for all of us, regardless of our age.  All of us will pass from this life into eternity.  I'm so thankful for the saving grace of my Lord, Jesus Christ.  He was born to die, so that through Him, I can live....forever!  That almost sounds like the Christmas song, Ring the Bells.  Maybe Christmas thoughts seem out of place in May, but to me, Christmas (Jesus' birth) is the beginning point of God's plan to redeem His people.  For God so loved, that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life! 

 We've certainly been staying busy.  Dennis has spent every morning for the past two or three weeks hauling rock home.  We have about a mile of "roadway" to maintain on our property.  Travis has also been hauling rock for his own long lane, but he delivered a big load to us one day too. 

 Rusty is always around, overseeing every job, and keeping watch over the place.

 








The birds are a constant source of enjoyment.  We keep feed out through the summer as well as winter.  These bluebirds (or a pair just like them) raise a family in this same box every year.  We enjoy watching them feed their young and teach the fledglings to fly.  We have numerous other boxes, but this one seems to be the favorite.  Fortunately for me, it's also nearest to the house and perfectly situated for viewing from my office window.

Here's a little "bluebird" of a different variety!  That would be Wyatt, off the rope and diving into the water.

Over the Memorial Day weekend we enjoyed having friends over for a cookout one evening, and family for the afternoon on Monday.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the food, fellowship and fun on the rope swing in spite of the uncooperative weather. 

We've had an abundance of rainfall!  The garden isn't looking so great, but the grass continues to grow, so I mow.  I've seen several reptiles.  I don't mind the turtles, but I hate snakes!  We believe we have a fawn somewhere nearby.  One afternoon, as I was coming down the lane, I saw Rusty following me as he usually does.  However, as he came through the wooded portion of his trail, I saw a deer.  Normally, the deer run when Rusty comes through, but this one actually stood it's ground.  Rusty thought it was playing the way he does with our cows, but this deer eventually convinced Rusty to move on....quickly.  I'd never seen anything quite like that before, and I can only assume that somewhere in that area is a hidden fawn.

Well, that's it for this time.  Enjoy the day!

Have I Ever Mentioned...

I love where we live!  I'm so thankful for our home.  We moved to this property in September 1981. 
I love living in the heartland.  I enjoy the seasons....sometimes two or three seasons all in the same day.  It's an actual fact that I have, on numerous occasions, ran the air conditioner and the furnace on the same day.  Admittedly, it's not the norm, but it happens.  I enjoy being right in the middle of the United States.  We're far enough away from the rat-race in the big cities, yet an easy drive to just about anywhere between the Rocky Mountains and the Smoky Mountains.
More specifically, I love the location of our home!  We're close enough to town for convenience, yet remotely located enough to not hear the traffic.  This afternoon I took my coffee out to the deck after mowing the yard.  It was so peaceful.  Not quiet, but peaceful.  I heard birds of many kinds.  Closest, and loudest were the wrens nesting in a box on the deck rail.  I heard robins, cardinals, orioles, chickadees, towhees, and tree frogs singing.  At a distance, I could hear red winged blackbirds, a woodpecker pecking, doves cooing, and way off I heard crows cawing. 
Looking around, I saw cows grazing in the pasture, a squirrel flipping it's tail on the gate near the pond, bluebirds, nuthatches, a bumblebee, and a pair of brown thrashers in the honeysuckle bush.  I also saw robins, orioles, cardinals, chickadees, wrens, goldfinches, and many other birds. 
I could smell the freshly mowed grass, and the scent of the sweet little flowers on the cardinal bushes.
What I did NOT hear---highway traffic, barking dogs, wind, thunder, mowers running...I heard none of that!
Yes, it was a most pleasant time sipping my coffee out on the deck today.  I am so thankful for our home!

Spring Green

View from my office window this morning.  Everything is green and growing!  Our garden ... too wet to work today!

There's light rain falling today, which will add to the 4.2" rainfall we've already received over the past two days.  Our pond was at a very low level until the rain.  It's now full, and will likely be running over after today.  I've been in it, just to check the water temperature.  It was cool, but refreshing, not too cold!

Before the big rains, we planted peas (my favorite) and two rows of bush beans.  The peas are up and looking good.  We're still waiting to see the beans sprout.

Between the thunderstorms and gully washing rains, the sun was hot and the humidity high.  The calves stayed cool in the shed.  We have four heifers and one steer.  I call them Beefy and the girls.  We've had them since they were weaned.  They keep the pasture mowed for us.

Beefy is the big one in the middle. 

 Since school dismissed classes for five consecutive days over the Easter holiday, Zach, Wyatt and I went on a cruise.  We drove to New Orleans, boarded the Serenade of the Seas and cruised to the Bahamas.  We enjoyed perfect weather and had a great time.  I'm posting just a few of the pictures from our trip.

Our first meal on board...lunch at the Windjammer Cafe

Basketball!

Foul???

The line was two blocks long to stand beside this landmark for a picture, so we hopped up on the wall and snapped this, then rode around in our electric car.

Our transportation while in Key West.  Zach drove us all over town.

We left home on Good Friday, boarded the ship on Saturday, and got home the following Saturday night.  The boys would like to have our whole family go on a cruise together next winter.  I'm all for that!

Yesterday, just before the big afternoon thunderstorm, Dennis and I straightened up the light pole that was leaning.  Actually, he'd already dug around it to allow room to straighten it up.  All I did was help pull it in the right direction, and then shovel the dirt back into the hole while he tamped it.  I intended to get a before and after photo, but just as we were finishing up, the rain came.  Heavy rain with lightning.  I didn't try to get a picture of the finished project at the time! I went back to get a picture later.

Another "project" we'll be working on later is cleaning up the creek crossing.  When ever we get enough rain to cause Sugar Creek to run full or flood, it backs up our little creek.  When the water goes down, it leaves lots of sand and mud sediment, which makes our "Missouri crossing" impassable. Actually, I did drive through it on the four wheeler in four wheel drive, but the tractor and baler won't make it through, nor will my mower. I haven't done any mowing around the back field yet, and won't until the crossing fixed.

 June 9 update: The Missouri crossing is fixed.  Now I can mow the back trails. 

The Sweet Williams have been blooming all over our place.  Of course, they are blooming all over the tri-state area, but I particularly enjoy seeing them here.

As I was going through the back pasture, I noticed holes drilled in a tree.  Who or what does this?  It's not a dead tree, but it might be soon if it keeps getting holes drilled into the trunk!

Well, it's still raining, so I'm going to get ready to run into town and do the shopping and errands that need to be done.  To me, the perfect days are those days in which I never have to pass through our gate!

I'm Learning That....

• Being wise is better than being rich.
• Wisdom and money can get you almost anything, but only wisdom can save your life.
• Criticism from a wise person is better than praise from a fool.
• Anger is the friend of fools.
• Finishing is better than starting.
• Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding.
--- Proverbs 9:10
So, what does "fear of the Lord" mean?  I've been pondering it for a while, and I believe it could be comparable to a fear of fire.  I'm not afraid of fire, because I understand (at least a little) it's power and also it's nature.  If I'm sitting around a campfire, contained within a fire ring, I have no fear of it.  I like to sit near it and enjoy the warmth, the light it gives, and even utilize the heat to roast wieners or toast marshmallows. It's restful, relaxing and makes a very cozy atmosphere. 
However, one day, there were dry leaves too near the flame, and the fire left the containment of the ring.  It spread quickly and grew in intensity, consuming everything in its path.  Fortunately, I was able to regain control, but not before burning up about 4 acres.  I can assure you that I had great fear of that fire!  I knew it could get into our neighbor's bean field and ruin his crop, or go as far as the house and consume our home!
So, I would say, yes....I have a "fear" of fire.  I know what it can do!  Now, I don't sit around worrying about fire, but I do respect fire and act accordingly.
I think it is a little like that to "fear the Lord".  I'm not afraid of Him, because I know He loves me.  I know He is good, merciful, forgiving, and  gracious.  Yet, I also know that He is just, jealous, omnipotent, and does not tolerate sin. 
Hebrews 12:28b-29  .....Let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.  For our God is a consuming fire.
So, I hope I'm developing wisdom.  I've started, which is good, but as stated above, it's better to finish. 
I want to finish well!

Karen Peck and New River Song:
Click to listen:
Finish Well

FINISH WELL
There will come a day
I know without a doubt
Around the throne the saints will bow
And lay down every crown
How glorious that moment
To see Him face to face
To hear Him say "well done my child"
You've finished your race
But for now the sun's still rising
There's work to still be done
While we're waiting for the promise
Of what is yet to come.

Finish well
Every day that we are given
Finish well
For the glory of His name
Finish strong
Until the Savior finally calls us home
Give it everything we have
Finish well.

There's no truth in saying
We've seen our better days
These are the days to be courageous
Bold and full of faith
So wherever He may lead us
Whatever it may cost
Let the Church arise and lift
The banner of the cross.

Finish well
Every day that we are given
Finish well
For the glory of His name
Finish strong
Until the Savior finally calls us home
Give it everything we have
Finish well
Finish well
Finish well
Finish well…

The Secret to A Long Life...

A tough old cowboy once counseled his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a little gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning. The grandson did this faithfully and he lived to the ripe old age of 93. When he died he left 14 children, 28 grandchildren, 35 great grandchildren, and a fifteen-foot hole in the wall of the crematorium. 

I laughed the first time a read that story, and again today when I saw it again.  Although the cowboy's secret is pretty funny, I know the true secret to longevity.  It's found in the Bible.  Two particularly come to my mind at the moment:

My child, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever.  Fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you, when you sleep they will watch over you, when you wake they will speak to you. These commands are a lamp, these teachings a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life.     Proverbs 6:20-23

 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, that your days may be long and that it may go well with you ...         Deuteronomy 5:16


It makes good sense to me that we would all live better and longer if we'd honor our parents and listen and heed their teaching and instructions.  That's assuming that parents fulfilled their responsibility to train up their children, I guess.  Mine did!  And, I'm very thankful!  Of course, none of us is guaranteed tomorrow.  We don't know how many years we'll have here on the earth, but when my life here is over, I'll be living in a different place.  We are all eternal beings, and will either live forever in eternal hell, or eternal life in heaven. Thanks to Jesus Christ, His sacrificial death and shed blood to atone for MY sin, I will live forever with Him in heaven.  I've decided to trust Jesus...just as my mother and father taught me!  

All have sinned and fallen short .... The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ....for it is by grace through faith that you are saved...not a result of works, so that no one can boast...God so loved that He gave His only Son so that whoever believes should not perish, but have everlasting life....      Romans 3:23  Romans 6:23  Ephesians 2:8-9  John 3:16

So, if you're interested in longevity, try Jesus! 
  

 

Fall Fun

Another frosty morning!  The foliage isn't as colorful as some years, but it's still very pretty.  Twice in the past week I've seen a pair of bald eagles in our big sycamore tree. After all the fall rains, our ponds are overflowing.  Harvest was put on hold because of the saturated ground, but we're going now.  Most of the beans are out, and we'll be starting on corn today. I love the colors and crispness of autumn.
Again this year I attended the National Quartet Convention, but this time Dennis went too!  Our friends, David and Sharon Johnson went with us.  We rented a cabin and had a great time.  Not only did we enjoy the NQC concerts, but we did some sightseeing in the Smokey Mountains as well. 

We even walked on the Appalachian Trail...although it was an extremely short distance.  We stopped at Clingman's Dome, which is the third highest point east of the Mississippi River according to the information we read.

Last week, I enjoyed the 47th Annual Fall Festival at Meramec Caverns in Stanton MO.  Nancy Rockhold went with me, and we had quite an adventure.  Let me just say that I would never stay at the Super 8 in Sullivan MO again!  Our room reservation was made online, and when we arrived to check in, we knew right away that we made a poor choice!  We did eventually move across the highway to a very nice, CLEAN, comfortable Comfort Inn.  We enjoyed all the singing in the cave.  There were many different groups there and all of them were great.  We particularly enjoyed Karen Peck and New River in the small cave.  The cave setting was cool...literally!  Inside the big cave was about 60 degrees.  The small cave was even cooler.... about 52°.  In spite of the cool temperatures, the atmosphere was warm and intimate.  The crowd was small (compared to other venues) and we were able to interact with the artists.  It was a lot of fun, and we expect to make it an annual event. 

Old Paths.  The piano player is a 17 year old kid!  WOW!

Karen Peck & New River.  We didn't get a picture in the cave, so just used this one from the brochure.

Mom and I have been making routine trips to Burlington every other Monday for her chemotherapy treatments. She's doing very well, with minimal side effects.  We'll be going back to Mayo sometime in December for a re-evaluation to see how the chemo is affecting the cancer.  We hope to learn that the tumors have shrunk and that surgical removal will be possible.

Well, I've been "drafted" to run the auger wagon, so I'd better get myself ready to go! 

Wow! Time to Update!

Summer is all but gone.  Officially, autumn doesn't start until September 22, but we've already had night time temperatures of 40 degrees, so if feels like fall to me.  Looking back over the past four months, it's been a really busy time.  Of course, just keeping up with the grass takes up a good bit of time, especially with all the rain we've had this year!

The last day of school, back in May, was my last day of work for school.  I have officially retired.  I've applied for my IPERS benefits, and love being no longer employed!  My favorite day of the week now is Monday, because I get to stay home while the working world returns to work after the weekend.  I enjoy Monday mornings way too much!

June was busy with baseball games and swimming at the pond.  Toward the latter part of June, we learned that Mom had colon cancer.  After surgery to remove the cancerous section, she went through numerous tests to find that the cancer had gone to her liver.  On September 8, she had her first round of chemotherapy.  It went well, but she's already seen some unpleasant side effects.  Although she doesn't know what the future holds, she's well acquainted personally with Him who holds the future.  She has chosen to trust the Lord, regardless! She's a trooper though, and after her first chemotherapy session, she helped me make two batches of pickles!  We encourage you to pray for us as we walk with Mom through this cancer battle.

We spent a week in the Ozarks in July.  What a great time!  Dennis' goal was to ski with his "new" leg, and he did!  It wasn't without problems though.  Long story short, his first ski ride ended up breaking the valve on his artificial leg.  Because the valve was broken, his leg filled up with water and wouldn't stay in place.  He called the prosthesis guy, hoping there would be an APO office nearby to make repairs.  However, they said just tape it up with electrical tape.  So, that's what he did, and it wasn't quite right, but it got us through the rest of the week.

Dennis water-skiing at Lake of the Ozarks.

School resumed in August, and I reveled in my "retired" status!   I considered agreeing to being a sub driver, but after some consideration decided not to commit even in a very limited way.  I'm enjoying being available to go with Mom whenever and wherever she needs to go.  

On September 7, the Schulte posse (Travis, Dennis, Tyler, Wyatt and me) went to Little York, Illinois to participate in our first official Cowboy Action Shoot.  We had a good time and learned a lot.  I took the camera, but was so busy shooting, I didn't get any photos.  We hope to go again in October.

That pretty much brings the old blog up-to-date.  The most recent  "news" is quite an interesting story.

Back in the early 80's, Dennis bought an International 656 tractor.  We used it for everything around our little ranch with never a problem.  Then, a year or two ago, we bought a JD 3020.  Travis thought we should sell the International since we no longer needed it and since it was still in pretty good condition.  We figured we'd take the advice, but before we actually got around to advertising it, we got a call from a farmer who was interested in buying it if we still had it and would sell it.  Turns out that this family bought the tractor new and then traded it in at Nichtings.  We bought it used at Nichtings.  The folks that bought it new went to Nichtings to see if they could track down their old tractor, and Nichtings gave them our name.  They came to look at it earlier this summer, and when they left they said they'd be thinking about it.  Last week the younger son called and said if we still had it and would still sell it, they would buy it.  He came to get it Monday!  So, the little IH656 has returned to its original home.  It was a sentimental day.

Baled a lot of hay over the years!

Winter time feeding chores.

This is the last of many post holes the 656 made on our place!

Doug of Hilltop Dairies drives it away.

Loaded and ready to go back to the dairy!

My Changing View

I've been taking pictures of the view from my kitchen window.  I started in January, and have taken several since.  Today, I was looking at the pictures, and enjoying the noticeable changes in the landscape. 

January

February

 

 

 

March

April 15 Snowing again

April 21

Change is good.  I'm thankful for the changes in my life because of Jesus Christ. 

Here's a song I really like.  It's titled Ephesians Chapter One, and Karen Peck and New River are singing.

Ephesians Chapter 1

In the middle of the battle when all that really matters
Is a place where I can find relief
I even start to wonder if the stress I’m under
Is turnin my joy into grief
I’ve been beat down, backed down, found myself on the ground
Thought I would lose my mind
Then I opened up the Bible and found I could rely on
Ephesians chapter one.

          God says I’m blessed, I’m chosen, I’m adopted I’m favored
          Redeemed, yeah, I’m forgiven
         Makes me wanna sing, I’m a child of the king and now I’m a
         really livin’
         By the blood of the Lamb, I know who I am
        God said it and it’s already done
        When the devil comes in, I remind him again
        Of Ephesians chapter one.

I don’t mean to sound proud
’cause you know I’ve been down
When the struggle almost took me out
But I found that God was workin in the middle of the hurtin
So I trust him and I don’t have a doubt
That His fear takin’, way makin’ chain breakin’ life changin’
Power’s gonna see me through
So I’m never gonna worry, even when He doesn’t hurry
‘Cause I know what the Lord can do.

God says I’m blessed, I’m chosen, I’m adopted I’m favored
Redeemed, yeah, I’m forgiven
Makes me wanna sing, I’m a child of the king and now I’m a really livin’
By the blood of the Lamb, I know who I am
God said it and it’s already done
When the devil comes in, I remind him again
Of Ephesians chapter one.
I open up my Bible and I know I can rely on Ephesians Chapter One!

What A Roller-coaster Week!

Six days ago, we were all pumped up, excited about Dennis getting his new leg!  Since he was getting so close to actually walking again, we started getting our Cowboy Action Shooting (CAS) gear together and started thinking about the first "shoot".  The weather has been spring like, and the time changed making it light later into the evening.  It was all good!
But, in the process of gathering our CAS gear, I discovered that we were 500 rounds short on ammo.  I started looking for it.  We searched the whole house.  Three times.  Travis came down and searched our whole house again.  Still, they were not to be found.  Do you know how frustrating, aggravating, and stressful it is to be unable to locate something you absolutely KNOW you've put somewhere? 
In the midst of the prolonged search, Dennis was able to haul a load of rock.  We were pleased that he was able to get out and actually do something he enjoys in spite of his physical limitations.  The rock was delivered, and he even went to visit a friend on the way home.  Everything was fine, until he got to our mailbox.  He decided that he could get the Bonny Buyer without getting out of the truck.  He was correct.  He did get the Bonny Buyer, but he also hit the mailbox with the door doing serious damage!  I can only imagine how upset he was, since I wasn't here at the time.  I do know that he was sick to his stomach most of the night because of it. 
At the same time we were ransacking the house and racking our brains to think where we might have placed that missing ammo, we got the call from American Prosthetics.  They cancelled Dennis' appointment to get his leg!  It seems that the VA paperwork got stalled in "contracting" and there were no orders.  Without those orders, they would not issue the leg.  Even worse, they won't be able to reschedule it until next week at the earliest even if the paperwork comes through today.  And, Kelvin, our prosthetic pro, is going to be on vacation all next week.  Wow!  What a downer! 
So, with all that, one of my favorite "quotes" comes to mind:

Words can never adequately convey the incredible impact of our attitude toward life.  The longer I live the more convinced I become that life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.
I believe the single most significant decision I can make on a day-to-day basis is my choice of attitude.  It is more important than my past, my education, my bankroll, my successes or failures, fame or pain, what other people think of me or say about me, my circumstances, or my position.  Attitude keeps me going or cripples my progress... It alone fuels my fire or assaults my hope.  When my attitude is right, there's no barrier too high, no valley too deep, no dream too extreme, no challenge too great for me.  
               --- Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip
 
I won't say that we've responded well to the frustrations and disappointments of the past week, but we are choosing to believe God loves us, He's in control, and His timing is perfect. 
So, it's still all good!
P.S.  We found the missing ammo!  Yes, it was in the house...exactly where we put it. 
And, the truck is getting fixed....at Lem's Auto Body.
And, Evan called to say that the orders have been sent to American Prosthetics, so we'll have that leg soon!