Pheasants

We took a little getaway last week and headed up to Schaumburg for a couple of days.  We did a little shopping (Ikea, LL Bean, Half Price Books, Uncle Dan's, Trader Joe's) and some good eating.  The highlight of the trip though, 😄, was attending the National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic at the Convention Center.  It involved a huge trade show, seminars, demonstrations, and even a dog parade.  Just about anything to do with upland game bird hunting was there; hunting dogs for sale, dog training, dog clubs, dog food manufacturers, habitat management, seed companies, small farm machinery, ATV's and UTV's, gun manufacturers, ammo companies, hunting clothing and boots, hunting lodges and outfitters, hunting guides, Taxidermists, butchering equipment, hunting magazines, real estate sales, and numerous government agencies that deal with natural resources and conservation.  There was a clothing company from the U.K. that was selling traditional gentleman's hunting clothing; Harris tweed shooting jackets and waistcoats, wool knickers, tall leather boots, and tweed caps.  We could have outfitted ourselves to fit in with a hunting party from a Jane Austin novel!  The old farmer's wife (being the good sport that she is) was pleasantly surprised that she enjoyed it more than she thought she would!  We brought home a whole bag of dog food samples for Gus from the various manufacturers, along with other expo swag.

The oldest farmer turned 94 last Sunday, so we siblings took the folks out to eat at a Mexican restaurant.  They gave him a free desert and sang happy birthday to him.  I feel very blessed to still have both parents available and in reasonably good health for their age!

The people asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
Psalm 105:40

Ending and Beginning

Our neighbor Paul, had a farrow to finish hog operation about the same size and age as ours.  He got out of hogs for a while, then turned his buildings into a wean to finish operation.  We started working with him in 2009 putting weaner pigs in his buildings.  He did the chores, we made and delivered the feed, and loaded the pigs out.  His buildings were not in as good of shape as ours, so last summer he informed us that he was retiring from the hog business as well as retiring his buildings.  Last week the last pigs left the farm.  He has already started dismantling the buildings and equipment so he won't be tempted to put pigs back in!    We've had a very good working relationship over the years and we will miss not working with him anymore.  I won't miss the extra work load though!

Last pig going down the aisle toward the chute.

Last load ready to leave Paul's farm.

Last weekend we had the oldest farmer and his siblings over for an evening meal.  Our house is where the three of them grew up, and they hadn't been together here for several years.  I believe they had a good time with us in the old farm house, and there was a lot of reminiscing.

The siblings and spouses.

We received this photo from son#2 and wife a few weeks back.  We thought it was a very clever way to make an announcement!

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8