Riding

 Observing the beauty of the sunrise over a stock pond

while keeping an eye on the rear view.

Just Before Christmas

while making our rounds, we noticed the spring holding pond level had dropped.  A varmint had made his own path way.  The water was running under our over flow pipe instead of through it.

This job called for the Kubota King.  He did some digging in the levee and removed the culvert.

He dammed the exit to allow the water to fill to its maximum capacity.  We (I supervised) worked on moving rocks while the pond filled. 

These large rocks will turn most rain water away from the spring holding pond.

Time to break the dam

The water leaves swiftly flushing the holding pond.

The water follows the steam bed to the big spring pond.

The rocks under the ones to the right are ones my grandfather laid around an old oak barrel over the spring outlet.  Back then the water was carried by hand to the house.  The ones you see were added by Dad when the house was plumbed for water.  Now a submersible pump carries more than enough water to two houses with plenty left for the creek.  Although there are several bubbling springs within this area the main spring is inside the rock barrel.

After the pond flushed itself  Hubby did every thing in reverse.  Culvert installed at correct level to maintain the level we perfer.  Dirt placed and packed on culvert while keeping it level to drain.  Less than two hours the pond filled to the lip of the pipe and flows merrily on its way.

Once again crystal clear water at the correct level for the pump.  Gotta love tractors.  This used to be done by hand!  A spring that pumps hundreds of gallons a minute is simply a natural above ground well with sweet water from deep within Mother Earth.

Tiny Treasures

Reflecting on my blessings

Admiring the beauty in the small things.

Stealing Lines

I've always enjoyed shooting things
Preferably things that didn't die
If I shot something I didn't eat
I would be skinned alive

First I used a sling shot
Then I tried a bow
Wasn't nothing I couldn't hit
Draw back and let it go

Then I discovered guns
Man, was that a rush
Point and shoot
Kicking up some dust

I had this great idea
one of those that never is
Instead of shooting chickens
I could shoot some eggs

Mamma boiled out of the house
like a lioness with belladonna in her eyes
One thing I learned very quickly
Before I began to run

Never
ever ever
try
shooting eggs with guns

I thought I was free and clear
I hadn't killed a thing
But filling me with fear
Mamma shamed me

A egg is a baby chick
even if you ate it
the heart makes the simplest things
so damn complicated

The italicized lines are stolen, with permission, for Tuesday's prompt

at dVerse~Poets Pub

and for The Tuesday Platform 

at Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Trailing Purple

 Bonnie 

playing

 stick

a trick of the light leaves an illusion of purple by her mouth as she swims.

I can't explain.  I think it was a gift for me to see purple today in a surprise place.

Reflecting

on the beauty of every day life.

Canine Summer Camp

demonstrated their synchronized swimming skills.

Some participated in the log toss

as others just enjoyed watching the activities.

Joining Eileen

Reflecting

Reflections...

in water cause

me to wonder 

what mark, if any,

I've made in life

that will say

"She was here".

Find The Hidden Object...

I always loved those puzzles in Highlights Magazine and other places. Sometimes I would go cross eyed trying to see a picture.  Here's the farm version of Find the Hidden Object.  Actually bad photos that I wish were good ones.  Some are from the afternoon sun, others are hidden by reeds.  You may have to guess what it's SUPPOSED to be instead of finding the Dog...there's your hint.

Lil and Bonnie

Bonnie and Ki-Anne

Bonnie, Ki-Anne and Lil

Now wasn't that fun?

The dogs thought so.

Walking With Dogs...

A walk, a walk, a walk!!!!

I can hunt in the cat tails

I love chasing frogs .

I like the smell of rotten things.

Run, play!!!

Last one there's a rotten egg.

I'm winning!

Can't you smell that?

Mmmmm.

And then she shakes 

and morphs into the spring creek monster.

We all head home again

The home scene looks the same as it has for a hundred years.

Bonnie will sleep good tonight.

Sometimes, We Look...

instead of working.

We checked the pond to see

how many catfish were still "bedding".

I discovered it takes a special photographer

to take underwater shots.

There is a fish in this photo, right hand side.

This one, you can't miss.

A big catfish guarding her eggs swims away.

Another This N That

The Pond has cleared after the flood.

This is the natural clay I play with.  If I can find straight blue/green, it works very well.

I love to watch my babies when they don't know.

Charme sees me!

I have been spied by Arrow.  There will be no secret shots now.