Just Some Summer Happenings

Just a hand full of some summer photos-

A few more Jamaica photos-

Trip to Tennessee
(FYI, pics of a DEAD pig below)

Pickin' onions-

 Tram ride to Ober Gatlinburg

Chair lift ride to Alpine Slide

Smoking a whole pig.  I forget how many hours it smoked, 10 hours?  I know it went all night and Dad had to keep getting up through the night to put wood in it.

Dad and brothers pulling the meat.  Probably the most delicious and flavorful meat I have ever eaten.

My brother's dog Sterling.  He is a rescued pit bull mix and a big, sweet boy-

And photogenic-

This is my old dog Boss, still full of energy (we think he is 16 years old, but we stopped counting).  Mom and Dad are letting him live at the farm where he gets more attention than I am able to give these days.  Kids want him to come back and live with us though.

Another reason I miss home (this table is stocked by the church community, sharing with their neighbors from their gardens, I thought it was a great idea)-

Some pictures of us enjoying Douglas Lake-

Yes, little man was as hesitant at first as he looks here.  He ended up liking it though.

My Dad (he's 64) showing us all he still has IT.  My sister-in-law, Kalissa, was quite good too.

Back home, enjoying our pool-

First face painting experience-

Double piano lesson.  Baby girl doesn't seem to be paying attention.

Rest up, summer isn't over yet. :)

Making Our Family Barn Mural

During our recent, yearly family get together we completed a family barn mural.  You maybe have seen barn quilts, we went with a symbolic mural design instead.  My family has owned and farmed the land my parents live on for over 100 years.  The mural shows some of the main crops and livestock that have been a part of the farming history:  tobacco, corn, cattle and pigs.  A tree was added in the middle to represent family.

First, the painting process.  Everyone chipped in on the painting-

And done!
The gray was painted around the edges to blend with the weathered barn wood.

I wonder if my great great grandparents would approve.

Picture Share - Beautiful North East TN

I don't have any house updates to share this week (sorry).  The kids and I traveled to Tennessee this past week for two special weddings and spending time with family.  Forgive me if you are tired of seeing pictures of their farm.... I never get tired of seeing it.

I forget how pretty the sky and clouds can be there.
Sunrise-

Sunset-

Blue skies all around (she took her first steps while at my parents :)-

Enough clouds.... around the farm-
Neighboring farm cutting tobacco.  If you want to experience physical labor, try it.

 My parent's white potato and onion harvest, way better than mine-

 Sow and piglets in a farrowing crate.  Some people say these are inhumane (she can stand up if she wants) but they help protect the piglets from the mommy laying on them and crushing them.

 Todd's fainting goats-

 Zues

 Considered ok where I come from (I don't go on the road)-

 Transferring weened piglets to a new pen.  I think they had about 30 some piglets when I was there.  They are hard to catch.

 He loves big equipment (hay rake)-

He loved these kittens too until one "spit on him from its mouth".... not sure what happened down at the barn that day but it changed his perspective on cats-

Dad finishing a small plot of hay baling before the rain comes (even after the baler broke and had to be welded)-

 Mini sunflowers in mom's garden.

Huge oak tree at church-

He thought they made good back rests.?

Hope to have more house updates to share soon.  Goal is to fully finish the dining room.... curtains and all!