Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Chasing Chickens

We had the distinct honor of attending a B-B-Q on the farm of Brett's cousin over Labor Day Weekend.

Now, even though we live in the sub-burbs, we are generally unschooled in the ways of farm life, farm animals, heck - just about everything pertaining to farming. We do know, however, that farming results in delicious things like fresh eggs and tasty beef (we are not as dumb as we sometimes look). Therefore, we love visiting the farm, taking it all in, and learning a few things along the way.

Like, for instance, the fact that chickens (these in particular) don't like to have their picture taken:

See how they run? They are running away from the camera! Come back, chickens! Come back!

Well now, here are a few that stood still for 3 seconds so I could take their picture. Good chicken, good chicken . . . and, erm, rooster! See? I am learning more and more about these farm animals.

And then, there were these ones:

They were trying to hide from me.

So I took a picture of this duck instead:

He didn't mind standing still for the camera. He thinks he is a supermodel. Work it baby!

Haven't I introduced Jason?

Here is Jason:

He is next year's hamburger. He is a steer. A Black Angus to be exact. His mother was some sort of blue ribbon winning lady. I forgot what you call the females, but I did learn that a male is either a steer or a bull. The girls are either cows or heifers, I just get them mixed up (give me a break, I'm new at this farm stuff!).

Oh, uh, hi there Jason. How you doin'? Didn't your mama teach you about personal space?

Anyway, all this chicken chasing and steer gazing was making us hungry, so we decided to head on over to the chow line:


Some of us found a nice bale of hay to sit on, while others gathered around the fire pit for good food and good conversation.

After a satisfying meal of quite possibly the most delicious meat I've ever tasted (thanks for the pork loin cousin Larry!), I decided to go for a walk. It aides in digestion, you know. All the farmers do it. It is the thing to do.

I was walking along (digesting), and I saw this:

The sky was rumbling and the air was electric. You could feel the changing weather. But I pressed on, as any hearty farmer would do, until I heard a noise coming from behind me.
I turned, and I saw this:


Lo and behold, my man and my baby on some sort of motorized vehicle! The best part about this picture though is my parents, walking in the background - not a care in the world.

They went by me pretty fast, so I went back to enjoying the view:

Before I knew it, we were headed farther into the back forty (I mean, ten . . . as in acres) and into a vast collection of trails.

Mom? Hey mom! Wait for me!

After I caught up with her, we found this huge tree:

See Mike demonstrate just how mighty this tree really is by stretching his arms (and beer) out in front of it, and he has some long arms - by the way. Mike was our tour guide and I didn't check with him to see if he minded having his picture on the Internet, but trust me - he has eyes, and even glasses. If it weren't for Mike, we would still be wandering around on those trails!

Then, I heard a sound coming from behind us.

I turned, and I saw this:

I almost fainted.

Lo and behold, my first born, riding some sort of motorized vehicle! What's next, brain surgery? Climbing Mt. Everest? Diving with sharks? At least he had a helmet on.

We found our way out of the trails and back to the party, led only by the smoke signal they were using to help us guide our way (thanks everyone, for the smoke signal!):

Where we spent the rest of the day doing things like this:

And this:


Without a care in the world. (and yes, that dog is sporting a mohawk)

17 comments:

Susan said...

Looks like a great day!
Oh the babies on motorized vehicles. I feel your pain!
Thank you for pointing out the dog's mohawk. I don't think I would have noticed and that provided a great morning laugh. Someone has a great sense of humor over on that farm.

Kyla said...

Looks like a great day! I'm so jealous of the long sleeves and jackets!

Jenn @ Juggling Life said...

Pretty soon you'll be a regular Pioneer Woman!

OHmommy said...

Wow.

I think I could live on a farm. You had me at pork loin. Yum. ;)

Anonymous said...

That looks like a terrific way to spend a day. Except for the part about the chickens. I'm kind of afraid of chickens.

Anonymous said...

The pictures are beautiful. What great place to spend the day.

Our neighbors don't the street have chickens. They are pretty grumpy birds.

Becky at lifeoutoffocus said...

well these are just great and i heart the one of the rooster

Insane Mama said...

I love going to farms and seeing all the animals. Love that fire pit!

Kellan said...

What a fun post to document a wonderful day. Fabulous pictures and that rooster is very pretty and that dog with the mohawk is too funny!

Nice to see you Carrie - take care - Kellan

Valarie Lea said...

Rule number one on a Farm, Do not name things you might be eating. It just makes it easier on everyone involved. :)

Anonymous said...

That looks like a blast! My husband would be especially jealous of the 4 wheelers--he misses having enough land to do that sort of stuff (we only have our 1/2 acre piece of "paradise" here in suburban Cincinnati.)

Amanda said...

That dog looks like a very cute snub nosed Gremlin-Ewok mutt.

Birdie said...

Gotta love that dog. And Jason the steer. Too funny!

Girlplustwo said...

what a wondeful, perfect day.

Anonymous said...

I live in the suburbs AND I have chickens too. Those chickens are gorgeous!

Momisodes said...

You certainly taught me a thing or 2. :)
I'm not sure I'd make it on a farm. I've never been able to eat an animal I've met :(

LOVE the mohawk!

Anonymous said...

I want a roasted marshmellow now.. Great pics.. the mohawk is classic