Betsy's Backyard Blog

For years, this blog was full of my teenage daughter, Caroline, probably too full for many readers. That girl again?! Caroline went off to college in August and I've been trying to respect her privacy as an adult, and not be a Helicopter Mom. Everything seems to be going well. She lives in the same dorm (by accident) where Bob and I lived and met 30 years ago. The steps of that building are seared into my brain because I walked up and down them so many times as a freshman and sophomore. Dorm life suits her well, and she has made close friends. She joined the college's boxing club and works with a trainer three nights a week. Now she is talking about sparring in matches. I don't like that idea (her face, teeth, and brain, dear God!). But she will make up her own mind. She's not on the farm throwing hay bales or wrestling sheep, so she needs to use her muscles.

Here is a photo she posted today from the dorm lobby (Caroline is on the right). I looked at it and realized, Hey, that's my jacket! I think those are my jeans, too.

You go, girl.

Last week I visited a lovely acreage near Dallas Center, Iowa, and wanted to share a photo tour with you. I will put captions under the photos. Enjoy!

David and Loree Miles bought this late 1800s farmhouse as a vacation home, restored it, and then started spending more and more time here. Eventually, they moved to the 50-acre property full-time and put their house in the city up for sale.

David commutes to Des Moines each day for work, and Loree works from home.

Loree has a dozen hens in an enclosed pen. She gives away any extra eggs.

Electrified wire around chicken wire keeps every varmint out.

This huge treehouse is a favorite place for the grandkids.

The property has two ponds stocked with fish. Much of this upper pond has dried up in the drought. The water that is left is home to big bass. The Miles are adding an aerator to keep the water oxygenated this winter. The lower pond, unseen in the trees, is still doing okay.

Loree's garden is done for the season, but the produce has been canned and stored.

Loree has four bee hives, and gathers the honey on a regular basis. She gives away her honey and canned vegetables to friends and family.

A previous owner of the property loved model planes, and even had an airstrip to fly them. David kept one of the planes to show visitors.

I was backing out of the garage this morning when a pickup blocked my path. A man jumped out and said, "Hey, do you have sheep? They are in town." He gave a street name where they had last been seen, but it didn't ring a bell.

I called Bob, put on boots, grabbed a bucket of corn, and ran to the pasture. My cries were lost in the wind. No sign of our 40 ewes anywhere.

Bob arrived from the vet clinic and we drove into town, scanning streets. There are so many new developments, houses, and streets south of our 22-acre pasture, it's almost like being in maze. Finally we spotted the flock behind a house. The homeowner had watered his lawn to a lush green. Our pasture is the color of wool, thanks to drought, so the grass literally is greener on the other side of the fence. If the fence has a hole, there goes the flock.

Bob got out of the truck and called the ewes, rattling the bucket of corn. They followed him back to the pasture and are now locked behind the barn for winter. We have a new project for the fall: Build new fence behind the pond.

This was our pasture in 2011 -- a normal rainfall year. There is nothing green there this year.

Our family has had one goal for the past week: Get Grandpa Going Again. Bob's dad, LaVerne, had open heart bypass surgery and was finally moved out of intensive care last night. I visited him at the hospital over the lunch hour today and he is much improved. He has less pain and more appetite. It will be many weeks of recovery and rehab, but by next spring he will be on the tractor again. It wouldn't be haying season without him. Get well soon, Grandpa!