It's Veggie Time!

     Our garden is growing and growing and producing some veggies, so we are in full garden mode. It's a daily family activity to go check the garden and see what's ready to be picked. Cooper especially likes  finding the 'big daddy ones' and helping us pick them.

 My garden models, always eager to help out

      Right now we're knee deep in zucchini….we have one plant that has grown to be a monster! We're also getting squash, cucumbers, okra and bell peppers.

 The monster zucchini plant

Okra

     The tomatoes are finally starting to turn so we should have our first tomato this week sometime. And the cantaloupe are making their appearance. Can't wait until one of those is ripe!

Yummy! 

He'll be ready before too long

     One fun thing we got to do this year that we haven't done before is dig our potatoes. Last year the bugs got them all before they were ready, but this year we actually had a 'crop' to harvest. It was a big moment since Cooper and I had been waiting for about 3 weeks now to get to those taters.

Proof I do garden work (excuse the outfit)

Getting potatoes from the roots 

Love those chubby hands

     We dug around each plant, lifting it with the shovel and then grabbed all of the potatoes from underneath. It was really a lot of fun and the boys enjoyed digging for the treasure. Even though we didn't have many big ones, we had a good amount for our first year.

Found one! 

     Today we started officially picking the corn. We have picked some for the last couple of weeks but now it's all ready to be harvested. But I'll make a whole other post for that vegetable.

    It never ceases to amaze how things grow from the tiniest of seeds into a very productive plant. God's ways are so neat and I love how it all points back to Him as we look at creation.

    Dalton and I are more convinced that ever that kids should grow up with a garden if possible. Not only does watching the whole process show us God's creation; it shows us His love for us, in that we are dependent on Him for the seeds to sprout, the sky to send rain, and the plants to produce. It's also a great tool to teach how everything works together and is dependent upon each other; we need the food to eat, the plants need the bees to pollinate, we need birds to eat bugs, the plants need rain from God, the earth needs worms and the worms need the earth. You get the idea. Gardening also teaches hard work and patience. Even at this young age the boys are learning how to put hard work and effort into something, and they are getting to see the rewards each time we pick veggies. Even though the waiting is hard sometimes, it's always worth it when things are ready, just like in every area of our lives. And of course gardening is great because it gives us family outside time. We get to be outside together enjoying a family project.
     So that's my 'go grow a garden' speech. I hope that we keep our enthusiasm about it through the years and that the kids enjoy it too.

"Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable." Isaiah 40:28

Mutton Bustin'

    This week Cooper got to experience something new and exciting. He participated in the Mutton Bustin' at a local rodeo. We saw the ad for the competition in the paper and thought it would be fun for him, so we mentioned it to him and he said he wanted to do it.
     A week passed and we didn't talk about it again and then when Cooper overheard Dalton and I mentioning it to each other he spoke up and said "I want to ride a bucking sheep!" He was pretty set on the idea so we thought we'd give it a go. The tryouts for the rodeo were this Tuesday, so we practiced at home and at GG and Papa's to get ready. He would get onto Dalton and Garrett's back and hold on like a little monkey while they ran as fast as they could on their hands and knees around the room. It was very very entertaining!

     Tuesday dawned and we asked Cooper one more time if he wanted to ride the 'bucking sheep.' He said yes and so that evening we all loaded up and headed to Jacksboro, picking up Mere Mere and Popsey on the way. Jett was kind enough to lend Cooper his spurs for the big event and Cooper made sure to wear his belt and cowboy hat.

The cowboys waiting on the fence.

     We pulled in and signed him up. The tryouts were for anyone 6 years and under, with the top 15 coming back to the rodeo, top 5 Saturday, next 5 Friday, lowest 5 Thursday. We went in with the assumption that we wouldn't be coming back to the rodeo. He is only 3 after all.

Getting some tips from Daddy

     After he got signed up we waited and watched the others go. There only wound up being about 20 kids, but we were towards the end. Cooper watched intently with Dalton and Popsey as the other kids rode and Ace laughed and laughed each time a sheep ran by.

 Finally it was his turn. He put the vest and helmet on and Dalton helped him get on the sheep in the chute. I was a little nervous, hoping he'd do good and enjoy the ride. Camera ready I waited for him to come out of the chute.

Watching one last one go

     He did and rode the sheep a little ways before crashing down and doing a little sort of flip. He seemed a little stunned when he got up and wouldn't say much, but he also seemed happy. We gave him a big thumbs up and high 5 and headed back towards Mere Mere and Ace. He had a victory juice box while we waited to see if we were coming back.

 Go, go go!!

That was hard work!

     When the announcer started calling names we were surprised to hear "Cooper P" for Friday night! Woo hoo! That meant he made it into the top 10. His time was 2.7 seconds.

     We celebrated with some Mexican food and then headed home and waited for Friday to arrive, hoping that he didn't change his mind about wanting to ride another bucking sheep in the real rodeo.

      

      On Friday evening we loaded up and headed to Jacksboro. We were a little confused because the people told us to be there at 7:30 but the paper said the rodeo didn't start until 8. We figured that we just needed to be there early, but in reality the mutton busting was at 7:30. We got a hamburger in Graham and took our time getting to the rodeo grounds. We pulled in about 7:15 and were walking to the entry when we heard "Mutton Busters come to the chutes please." What?? We split up and Dalton and Cooper quickly headed to the front while Ace and I used the restroom and found our seats, with Popsey, Mere Mere and Nana.

     I barely got my camera out before they were suiting them up in vests and helmets, getting ready to ride. They called Cooper's name over the loudspeaker and it was so neat! Dalton got him fitted and he went second….not much time to prepare at all!

Suiting up for the big ride

     Unfortunately his sheep took a hard left out of the chute, making it really hard for him to hang on, so  he only lasted 2.1 seconds this time. (In his defense it was a bad draw ; ) He was a little shook up from not having time to prepare and the quick, wild ride, but he was fine once he got to Dalton.

"Alright, good job buddy!"

     We waved him over and he strutted up the stairs with his spurs a jangling on the metal bleachers. He was proud of his accomplishment but glad it was over I think. When we got to looking at him we found that he had some of the sheep wool in his spur! This was a hit with the guys….Cooper spurred that sheep all the way down.

  Shortly after, Cooper's friends showed up and so we had some more people to enjoy the rodeo with. It was a pretty good rodeo…Cooper's favorite event was still the bucking horses. Ace liked looking through the holes in the bleachers that he could fall through.

      About mid-way through came the calf scramble so Cooper and his friend went out to participate. When all the kids took off Cooper just stood there, confused. Finally he got the hang of it and ran around with the others. It was good practice for the Teague Rodeo July 4th.

Cooper's just now figuring out what to do

      Shortly after it was time to move the boys. They were getting restless and loud, so we walked down  the arena a bit and stood by the fence, letting the boys run around in the grass. I also found a frog and pointed him out to them, and that kept them busy for a while.

Watching the team roping

Frog in the hat!!   

     We finally left with only a couple of bulls still to buck. We loaded up our bucking sheep rider and his trusty sidekick and headed home, happy with the fun and new experience we got to have as a family. Now I'm, I mean Cooper's, looking forward to September when Cooper can ride again!

"For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." 1 Peter 2:25

Bones

     Last weekend we went to Mom and Dad's and had a little bovine adventure while we were there. During my last visit Dad had been waiting for one of his cows (an older one) to have her calf, but she never did. Well, it seems that she had the calf but when we saw it during our visit he looked horrible.

   Apparently he wasn't eating well and it showed. While we were out by the pool the old momma, Suki, brought up the little guys and kept mooing at us while she hung around outside the fence. When I saw the 'poor little guy' I was shocked at how skinny he was. He was just standing against the fence with his head drooping. Suki was still there mooing at me. I really believe she brought him to us because she knew he wasn't doing good and wanted help. It sounds silly, but it explains why she brought him right up to the fence and kept trying to get our attention.

    I had Dalton bring the calf in the yard and we decided to try and milk the momma and see if he would drink from a bottle. After lunch we set out. I had my camera and Cooper and the guys were in charge of the cows. Dalton grabbed the 'poor little guy' as Cooper took to calling him and hauled him to the barn over his shoulder. Dad was in charge of getting Suki into the pen.

    It all went pretty smoothly, really. They got the momma in the chute by dangling the calf in front of the opening and then it was milking time. I have to admit I was a little disappointed that there was no excitement, but it's probably a good thing that it was all easy and safe. They started milking her and quickly discovered why Bones (the name the guys gave the calf) wasn't growing or sucking. She had blood in her milk..I know, gross!

 Dalton and Dad pushing while Garrett entices her from the front.

 Cooper watched for a little while then was ready to go ride the 4-wheeler

     Then they attempted to milk another cow in the pasture. Didn't get any milk, but she didn't go crazy either. I went in to call feed stores to see who was open on a Saturday afternoon to sell us some milk replacer. While I was inside there was a little action. Apparently Suki was looking for a way out and Dalton was in her way so he got to run up the fence. Too bad I missed it.

     We got the milk replacer and Bones took to it pretty good. He's a slow eater, but got the general idea quickly, which was nice. I wanted to take him home and raise him up, but Dalton wasn't having it. I guess it would have been a tight squeeze in the back of the car. So now Mom and Dad have a new little friend to take care of.

 Baby calves and ice cream, what a combination

 I know the boys are a sticky mess but what a great shot of summer fun!

     The boys really liked him. Ace went right up and started petting him with one hand while he ate his ice cream cone with the other. Cooper even fed him a little milk. It was all pretty fun, love those little 'country' adventures.

 No ice cream for you, Bones!

 Come on little guy, drink some milk.

 Ace and Gus Gus have a special bond. Ignore the ice cream on his face and shirt please.

Cooper and Uncle Garrett got a bird's eye view from on top of the hay bales

"Then Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.'" John 6:35