Christmas Eve Beauty

May God bless your families this Christmas with true hope - Christ abiding in us!

We went for a little beauty drive this morning. Enoch is sick and the ride helped him fall asleep. Here are a few shots from around the Shire this Christmas Eve. God's creation and some farm shots. The guys have been cleaning like crazy!

Our small pasture at home - some dry cows and a wee bit of snow.

This cat reminded me of the story Moses the Kitten. Such a great story we've enjoyed this year.

If You Can't Go Over...

Build a cow tube:). We've anticipated the first pass through The Tunnel all spring. Yesterday we got a call to come on over and watch. Yoohoo!! Who needs YouTube when you've got a Cow Tube, baby!

Click above to see Part 1 of the latest Shupe Dairy adventures.

Part 2. Reality tv at its finest:).

Part 3. Hallelujah! 

Way to go guys! The Dairy has beautiful grass to graze right next to the farm, only across a road. Due to some complications, crossing the road did not seem to be a peaceful option. So, my favorite farmers researched and researched and worked and worked and now these fine cows have their very own tunnel. How grand is that!  Much work still to be done, but a beautiful first pass through it was yesterday. The guys had some great helpers, too. Thanks Grandpas Shupe and Lang and Benjamin and SDI employees!

Farm Construction

The men are always thinking of something new around these parts...

This spring one project has been setting up a grain bin next to the parlor so the "ladies" can dine while they milk. Classy.

The spectators, quite focused on the construction...

Or...

Tickled to all be sitting on their Uncle's car and using it for a slide (just once Uncle Aaron!)

Don't (please) try this at home...

Definitely not this either...

Change in seating, this one a little messier...

I'll leave you with a little suspense!

Tractors

Uncle David - planting little bits of life in fresh earth...

The good team

Uncle Christopher - preparing the soil, fertilizing tired ground to make ready for fresh growth

Grandpa Shupe - rototilling

Mixing old earth and harvest long past to make a rich home for new seeds

Loved Farmer and Little One

Planting oats together, learning good work early

How's it goin', Daddy? Need your leatherman? Clunk! Here's your phone! Clunk! :)

Watching generations grow - amazing.

Commitment

Feels like -6 outside today...

Where might you find a dairyman?

Herd Check.

Imagine an annual OB appointment for a lot of bovine gals...

Vital to herd health...even when highly inconvenient.

And so they labor in home-grown, custom-designed, green, more-than-OK-today corral...

Layers upon layers...grateful for wind-cutting corral.

Grateful for sunshine...

Perhaps Doc has the warmest job?:)

Each role important...

Smiles warm the cold, and appreciation bring smiles...

My favorite worker and corral designer...

Cheerleaders (and lunch-bringers!) for family and the farm...

Wheat harvest

Some shots of Wheat harvest '09