We've been doing some neat things lately.

It's been a few days since the last post because I've had family in town from North Carolina. We've been doing all kinds of neat and interesting things, though, so it's definitely time for an update. First, the chickens became free-range early this week, cutting down on the amount of feed needed and giving the eggs a rich natural taste. They seem to enjoy it too.


Yesterday, we all went out back to the lower pasture to do some skeet shooting. The Winchester Defender (the shotgun with the pistol grip) really packs a punch. It'll buck back into you if you don't have a strong enough grip. Our results were rather dismal, though, and few skeet met their maker.

Cousin Tim shooting the Defender.

Me shooting the Defender.

Dad taking aim at the skeet. He had the best overall number of hits.
Even Aunt Julie got in on the action!
So did Cousin Ashley!

Yesterday morning, we all piled into my station wagon (utilizing all three seats, even the one in the cargo bay facing backwards) and drove over an hour to see a fort being built in Southern Illinois. The builder decided to construct a brand new colonial-era fort around his home about thirty years ago. Working with bought, found, and donated supplies, he has gradually built up a little over half of the walls so far, and a number of historic structures within the walls. Keep in mind while looking at the photos that this is actually the man's home.

The gatehouse is rather imposing with its heavy wooden doors and armaments.
One of the cannons guarding the front entrance.
The house at the center of it all.
One of the guard towers along the front wall.
The Livery, full of 19th century wagons.
Conestoga Wagon awaiting repair.
A wonderful cabin on the bank of the creek.
Sleeping arrangements are rather rough.
Laundry facilities are a bit basic too.
One of the two corner towers along the front wall.
A French Colonial post-on-sill dwelling.
A rail mounted cannon in the second-floor of the gatehouse.
View along the front wall from the gatehouse's second-floor.
Wouldn't want to be tossed in that jailhouse.
Who says that elaborate chandeliers have to consume a massive amount of electricity?

As you can see from the photos, just a handful of the hundreds I took, this was an awesome fort and a huge undertaking for just one man. He has done an amazing job, though, and is well prepared in case Indians attack.

Today, we got our exercise by loading hay bales onto a trailer in the field, then unloading them in the barn. Two horses consume one bale of hay everyday, so a minimum of 100 are needed for winter. We loaded 250, just in case.

Hay is first raked then baled by tractor.
Then we load the hay onto the trailer.
Ashley enthusiastically jumped in to help load bales.
We stack the trailer quite high.
Then we toss the bales up to be stacked up to the ceiling of the barn.

Anyone who tells you that tossing bales is easy is lying. It's hard work. Thank goodness it was cooler today with a slight breeze. Can you imagine doing this in 100 degree weather?

After tossing bales, we headed in to shower for dinner with the entire family to celebrate mom and Uncle Dale's birthdays. Good food, good company, but ran into problems with my grandfather's car, which had a dead battery. Leave it to the men in the family to fix the problem. We all stood around the front banging on the starter, jacking the car up, and finally charging it with a portable battery charger to get it started. Five guys ranging in age from 28 to 82 trying to get the car started while my 100-year-old great-grandmother waited inside to go home. After about half an hour, they were on their way. Crazy days, but tomorrow everything will be back to normal and the sidewalk project can resume. Stay green!