Stuck in a Rut!

Bush-hogging around the pond today, Herb discovered a hidden rut when the tractor fell into it.

Even with 4-wheel drive, he couldn't get it out.

So I tried to help him pull it out with the truck, but nothing doing.

Here came neighbor Jerry Williams to the rescue!

He hooked up a chain, revved the dozer . . .

. . . and the tractor sailed up and out of the hole.  Jerry made it look so easy!

Most of the flatter parts of the fields didn't need bush-hogging since Tony just recently hayed.  The grass is starting to grow long and green again.

But all the rutted, brushy areas that Tony doesn't hay need to be bush-hogged.  Herb did all along the pond today, reclaiming new places to walk and access to the pond for fishing.  He also went up the creek from the pond almost all the way to the neighbor's pasture in front of our property.

He spared nice little trees when he found them.  This had been an area of solid brush over 5 feet high, and now it looks like it might become a field again.

He went all the way across the creek in the front pasture, uncovering and mowing the one place a vehicle can cross without getting mired down in the creek.

When I had finished cleaning the house within an inch of its life and Herb had finished the bush-hogging, we walked out along the pond to admire his handiwork.  (We couldn't admire mine because we didn't want to walk through the house and get it dirty again!)  The goldenrod is already in bloom, a harbinger of fall weather.

The bees were busy all over the goldenrod.  I guess it was just a day for busy bees all over the farm!

Beauty and Desolation

A quick update on the beavers, since we've been asked if they are still there.  All the rain we've had lately has caused the pond to rise and overflow their dam.  I think it's a safe guess to say they're gone because when they were here last spring, they repaired the slightest breach overnight.  The dam has been leaking like this for over two weeks now.  Sadly, I have to say I think the beavers have moved on.

 God's creation is just beginning its glorious spring display at Leahaven.  The pond is surrounded by lavender blooms and lush green grass which beautifully set off the red of the budding leaves on the trees.

The bright blue sky was full of fluffy clouds, and a gentle breeze stirred tiny leaves on the trees.  We cut through the woods looking for wild azaleas, but they aren't ready to bloom yet.  We'll have to check regularly so we don't miss their splendid display.

As we came out of the woods, we received quite a shock.  About two weeks ago when we came to clean the house, we noticed some ragged brush cutting had been done along some of the back roads.  We didn't have time to walk our property at the time, but now it is obvious that we were visited by the same devastating . . . TVA crews! 
This hill is normally covered with lush green grass, but TVA has sprayed something to kill it--and now the road is going to erode with nothing to keep the water from rushing away downhill.

Here is a close-up showing pine trees dying because they were sprayed.  Why?  we asked ourselves.  And then we looked up and saw that this swath of devastation runs along under the power line.  We still have to ask "Why?" because what TVA killed was grass, wild blackberries and small scrubby pines that would never in a hundred years reach high enough to bother the high tension wires overhead.  We were furious and sick at heart at the mindless devastation wreaked by the government.  "Spray!" says someone--and they spray, whether it is needed or not, heedless of the environmental impact.

We will try to find out how to file a complaint, but we don't expect much cooperation from the government. 

Walking back to the house, our spirits were comforted by a final glimpse of the beauty of God's creation.  How His heart must grieve at what we have done with His world!  May we Christians strive to be worthy stewards of what He has given us, which is so much more than we can ask or think.

Sing a Song of September

We spent Thursday evening and Friday at Leahaven last week, trying to get some work done before our next groups of guests arrive.  We needed some supplies, so we drove into Henagar to shop and eat an early dinner.  We had a very mediocre Mexican meal, but the country karaoke afterwards made it worthwhile.  There were some really talented people singing!  If you're ever at Leahaven on Thursday night, it's worth eating there to enjoy the local color!

After we put away the shopping, we drove the truck down to the stock pond to see if we could see the beavers.  There was no sign of them, but there were birds singing from the woods, bats zooming overhead catching mosquitos, and frogs plopping into the water.  The sky was doubly beautiful as we enjoyed its reflection in the water. It seems quite appropriate that my Sunday school lesson about the 6th commandment used the image of our own reflection in a pond to explain to the children about us being made in God's image!

It got so dark we could hardly see the sky reflected in the water, when Herb touched my arm and breathed, "Look!"  I peered around him and there, barely 10 feet away, was a possum.  He didn't seem very scared of us, although he froze when my flash went off.  Maybe it mesmerized him, because he sat for two portraits!

I enhanced this one so he shows up better.  I'm so glad God made possums!  As soon as we got back to the house, I read a children's book about them.  Did you know: 
They are the only North American marsupial and have more teeth than any other North American mammal--50! They usually have up to 16 babies, but the mother only has 13 nipples in her pouch. After birth each baby (which looks like an embryo) finds its way to the pouch, latches onto a nipple, and doesn't let go till it's ready to leave the pouch. Only the first 13 survive. Isn't that sad?

Our eventful country evening ended with a light show as the half moon (the glow makes it look full) sailed in and out of the clouds above our heads. (Yes, I know the clouds really sailed past the moon, but I'm exercising my poetic license!)

 The next day began with a stunning golden sunrise out the back door and toast made in the new toaster, purchased with a thank offering from a previous guest.  No more burning toast on the griddle!

While Herb mowed the lawn with the push mower, I drew bush-hog duty.  I consider that I got the long end of that stick!  :)  There's been a lot of rain on Sand Mountain compared to our home in Georgia, and the road to the lake had nearly disappeared under long grass.  I bush-hogged from the gate, around the barn, out to the cabin at the lake and around the grove of trees there, and on beyond the lake to the campground above it.

Here are some before and after pictures:

Meanwhile Herb had finished the lawn and started to work on the cabin.  He wanted to panel the inside walls to cover up the insulation, but first he had to add extra studs.  Tony seems to have spaced them very randomly when he framed the cabin!  Nothing ever goes as fast as you think it will, but Herb made great progress until he ran out of siding.  So he swept it all very nicely and headed back to the house.

By that time I was just about finished cleaning.  From tractor to vacuum, I do it all!  :)  One last touch was making the master bed with the new bedspread the Lord provided to replace the mish-mash of throws I was using before. I found this great "old rose" bedspread in a two-year old LLBean catalog and thought it would be perfect. When I called to see if they still had it, I found that they do and that I had almost enough money in LLBean coupons to pay for it.  Within a few days, a thank-you check arrived from a guest, enough to finish the purchase! What a joy to see God provide an "extra" blessing--unlooked for and unexpected--for our guests.

As we finished our work and loaded up the truck to head home, I couldn't resist photographing these last views that capture the peaceful ambience of Leahaven in September. Wind waving over the long grass in the field . . .

. . . and fall-tinted trees reflected in the lake refresh our spirits after a hard day's work.  May this beautiful corner of God's creation continue to bless His servants who come here to rest. 

Compliments of Connie

Here is a glimpse of the stock pond, which shall hereafter be known as the Beaver Pond, as seen through the eyes of a couple who truly love Leahaven, Raulices and Connie Fernandez.  Connie helped us find Leahaven almost three years ago, devoting countless hours (and, not to be indelicate, gallons of sweat!) tramping over hot fields in August heat.  She really grasped our vision for what we were hoping to do, and when she and I first saw Leahaven that hot August 2007, we both knew that our search was over.  How appropriate that Connie and Raulices took what I consider the most beautiful picture ever taken of this particular spot!  Thank you both for sharing your list of wildlife sightings (which inspired the Flora and Fauna page) and especially for sharing this gorgeous photo!