It's hay making season again!

Mt. Dew keeps Joe going - or so he says...

Yes, I helped rake too... for about 5 hrs the first day.

Day 2 - Magnus helped by making sure Jack didn't get cold.

Magnus enjoyed covering Jack up until....

you could barely see him!

Day 2 - help arrives! We must have REALLY good friends!!

Tamela, Magnus and Jack

Well, folks, if you thought we were crazy for hand raking our hay last year, you would've thought we were insane this year! We let the grass grow even taller, and we raked the ENTIRE pasture (5 or 6 acres?). We got about 120 bales' worth of hay this time (quite a lot more than last year) which should be enough to feed the horses all winter! =) They really like this "special" hand-raked/stacked hay too for some reason, and will leave their precious grain to start digging into it. Joe worked hour after hour, raking, loading in the trailer and unloading in the barn. He spent two whole days furiously working on it before the rains came. I was good help for about 1/2 day, with pregnancy as my excuse to pardon myself. Then Melvin, Tamela and Melvin's brother Ben came for an evening and helped us finish. What a blessing they were! I can't believe what good friends we have - they have the blisters to prove it! =)

Memorial Day Feast With Friends

Joe and Magnus holding "Spring", the Boardmans' sweet little Italian Greyhound

The trampoline!

Backyard cookout and playtime.

The food - and oh, was it yummy! Chicken, burgers and shrimp on the 'barbie!

We went to the Boardmans' house for a Memorial Day BBQ with friends. The guys grilled some yummy meat, the kids played non-stop and Jennifer, Lisa and I talked pretty much non-stop too, when I wasn't too busy stuffing my face. =) We had more food than we could hope to eat, but we certainly gave it a valiant effort!! I thought I wouldn't want to eat again for a week, but today, not even 24 hours later, I'm thinking of that grilled shrimp and roasted corn on the cob... Ahh, what a wonderful way to celebrate and remember what our veterans and troops have done and are doing for our country. I definitely think we should do it more often!

You know spring is here when...

Little boys get dressed up for Easter Sunday at church.

The grass needs mowed - frequently!

The Goldfinches are back in town and hungry from their long journey.

One horse sheds this much fur in just one brushing! (Jake was the donor for this lovely pile.)