Sunday Evening Drive

I don't know if it was because of our hard winter, but the trees seem to be loaded with seeds this year.  Our Linden tree in the front yard is especially loaded with its "parachute" seeds.

We picked a gallon of cherries off of our cherry tree.  This was its most productive year so far.  The old farmers lovely wife made him a fresh cherry pie!

The cats have been prolific this year also.  I have found five litters so far (including the one in the combine).

A week ago Sunday evening we drove down to Fritz's lake to see all the work they have been doing there.  They have been having fish kills in the winter, so they decided to drain the lake and clean out all the sludge that has built up over the years from leaves, branches, moss, etc.  They worked over a month loading and hauling about two feet of sludge out of the entire lake.  Now it is starting to refill.  It was interesting to see what the depth/contour/shape of the lake actually looks like.
I spent a good deal of time there in my younger years; Young Group activities, Brother cookouts, winter camping, fishing, canoeing, picnics, and Father-Son camp-outs.  It is a beautiful spot and I hope I have the opportunity to spend more time there in the future.

Big boy toys!

From there we drove to Lake Evergreen and drove all around it, then on to Lake Bloomington and drove around it also.  We had intended to have a famous burger at Green Gables for supper, but they were crowded and had no empty tables, so we moved on.

Sunday, three of us drove down to Mt. Sterling to visit Phil.  The waiting room was full when we got their, and they seemed to be a little short staffed, so it took us a while to get checked in.  But we were able to have a two hour visit with Phil, and we found him in good spirits and with a positive attitude.
When we checked in there was a new question on the check-in sheet.  We had to declare if we had a concealed carry permit. On the way out I chatted with the guard about it.  They are thinking of having a special parking lot for those who carry so they can keep track of where the guns are (obviously you can't bring them inside).  He said most of the guards carry so they like the idea that they can now keep their personal guns in their cars.

We barely got home in time for our family "stay at home" picnic.  It was going to be at Eureka Lake, but since we wilt in heat and humidity, it was moved inside.

  And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
Luke 5:1

Ducks

When we ordered the ducks, I assumed that we would take them down to Arthur to be butchered.  But they don't butcher ducks anymore, and I couldn't find anyone else in the state that did either.  I was told that butchering them at 7 - 8 weeks of age would be the easiest time to pluck them (least pin feathers).  Saturday was the day.
We assembled the equipment; killing stump, cleaver, bleeding rack, scalding kettle, plucker, propane torch to singe, cooling tubs, knives, and work table.  Then we invited all the family to come and help.
We killed the first of the 15 ducks at about 10:00, and they were all plucked and cooling by noon.
After lunch, they were trimmed, gutted, and packaged, then sent to the freezer.

Gus watching the ducks on the bleeding rack.

The scalding kettle.

The old homemade plucker still works.

Got a little blood on the pants and shoes!

Plucking the pin feathers in the shop.

We are looking forward to a fowl meal.

We had a nice relaxing Father's Day.  Son #1 and FDIL took us out to eat at the Flat Top Grill.

 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, and wring off his head, and burn it on the altar; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar:

 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:

 And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

Leviticus 1:15-17

This Old House

Last Saturday we finally planted soybeans on the pipeline right-of-way.  They got the black dirt pushed over it, leveled it, and tilled it, and they gave us the go ahead to plant.

It was going to rain Saturday afternoon, so we unhooked the planter and parked it in its designated spot in the shed.  Then we unhooked the field cultivator and crumbler and parked them in their spots, then the tractors.  I had pulled the combine out for the rearranging, but pulled it in the shop rather than putting it back in the shed.  In a couple of weeks we will need to get it ready for wheat harvest.
Monday morning I walked into the shop and heard meowing coming from the combine.  Apparently, a cat had a litter of kittens in the sump hole of the grain tank and wasn't with them when I moved it into the shop.  I found two kittens and put them back in the shed and the mother claimed them.  In the afternoon, I walked into the shop and heard more kittens!  I found two more in the grain tank and moved them into the shed, where again the mother claimed them.  I thought that was all, but Tuesday morning I found another kitten and returned it to the shed.  My Brother's family adopted that one.

We did enjoy some nice rains this past week and the crops are looking very good and growing fast.

We have been spending most of our spare time this week at M & N's house in Goodfield, getting it ready for them to move into.  Lots of patching, cleaning, painting, and fixing is happening.  It's an old house, but fully remodeled and has lots of space.

I have no pictures, because my camera went to Alaska with Son #2 and Ned.
I'm only slightly jealous.

And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the Lord; wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels.
Genesis 24:31