Deer oh Deer

The weather has been so Hot--> Humid---> and miserable that I've had to put off all that riding on my pretty little mules that I had planned.

I put off my hiking at KVR too.  I've decided to just go with my favorite trails and explore the off trails the rest of this year. I've done all the trails and know which ones are my favorite spots to visit with cool things to find.

So, I have been walking the gravel road just an hour before sunset and enjoying some different scenery.

Last night I was rewarded with some deer play. Two young bucks were playing in the alfalfa and oats. I was slightly below them on an incline so they didn't see me for quite a while. 

The video is 30 seconds long.

Eventually they noticed me. 

and....

they took off. 

On my way home I noticed what I think it High Bush Cranberry. Not sure, so I didn't taste it. But I did grab some wild grapes and chew on them while walking home.

Looking up the driveway after I got back, I saw someone else is enjoying the new road.

Time to get my butt moving in the mornings again as we are getting some nice views on the ridge for sunrises.

August through October usually has some stunning skies and fog.

Driveway, Gravel, Jobs and Heat

It has been ... well, rather warm and humid and since I like cool to cold weather... you guessed it. I haven't been up to much.

I've walked out in the evenings to my neighbor's 

cropland on the ridge

to watch the evening activities.

The deer are ferocious on crops

this year. The surrounding forest

has a lack of undergrowth due to 

the severe dry conditions.

A few of my neighbors who have orchard 

trees are noting that the deer are 

hard on their trees.

The photo below has two does and beyond 

them, one of two Folsom churches.

I took a break with Olive and Aiden on Tuesday. We went on a short hike and since it was so hot, I took them down to the 'beach' next to Bridge 8.

The Kickapoo River is low and it made for a perfect spot to let Aiden loose and let him play!

The rock formation just across from the 'beach'.

Below? The driveway!

The culverts are operational again.

Both neighbor Justin and I will be seeding the waterways and 

ditches to hold the dirt in place.

A job very well done by Frank.

I offered Frank a deal in mostly cash for this large job.  

When I asked for my winter plowing bill he just smiled and said, "Oh gosh, just forget that! Besides, you hired me for this big job and its close to home for me. And you got me extra work where I didn't even have to move my equipment."

Frank doing a job at the neighbor's...

My long range plan from last year worked as expected. I know from experience that Frank is a hard working fellow. He raises cattle, he raises crops, he also does excavating and bulldozer work. He must have gotten all the GO juice in his family. His brothers are nothing like him.

Others told me I should have shopped around and maybe gotten lower bids. True, but now I have a fellow that dealt with all our driveway issues and rebuilt it himself. And he will continue to plow for us in the winter.

He said it was a winning situation for him and I feel the same way.

It will be a very long time before I have to deal with the driveway again. Well, at least I hope so!

One more Big Job taken off my list of things to get done!

Walking the kids...

What can I say?
Play time with Sven and Charlie.
Always fun.