Jeep Playday in the Mud

Seven CNY Jeeps and their respective owners went out to explore two areas the other day.  The first play area included a mud pit that some of the guys just had to go through giving it their all - kind of like little boys with barefeet stomping through mud puddles.  Some things never change.

This was the top of a really steep hill with a  tricky area at the top.  A few fellows had to give it more than one try.

 

These trails sure haven't been trimmed!

The limbs began getting even bigger!!

A sea of mud - and we have been having a dry spell.  Just imagine....

 

This owner had the time of his life as you can see.  Now some mud couldn't be avoided but......

It was difficult to get decent photos of flowers,, etc. with the wind gusting to 25mph but I did try.

The soybean fields are beginning to turn a pretty gold.

And finally, a friend who will crawl under your Jeep dripping with mud to fix your linkage can't be all bad.

Morning Exercise - A Walk in Our Woods

Take a walk with us this morning to and through our woods.  Enjoy what is highlighted by the heavy morning dew.

First let's cross The Bridge of the River Kwai Big Brook using the bridge Vic built for me many years ago - two telephone poles donated by a neighbor and 2 x 6 pressure-treated lumber.

Butter-and-Eggs is in the Snapdragon family.  The orange path on the lower lip is a "honey guide" for hawk moths, honey bees and other insects.

Look at the amazing spider webs. 

Vic and our grandson Daniel built this tree fort for Dan when he was a little guy.  It hasn't seen any activity in many years.  Dan is 18 and a college student now.  Webs galore here too

The dew is so heavy it looks as though we have had rain.

The webs are such complex structures.  Spiders are nature's Frank Lloyd Wrights.

The master (or mistress) of the house is poised and ready for breakfast.

Spiders, frogs in the pond, birds and these two guys were the wildlife experience for today.

Isn't it peaceful?

Heading back to the house - the fog hasn't yet burned off entirely.

                                     Webs in the trees are visible too.

The return includes recrossing the arched footbridge between the house, the hangar and barn.  I have always loved them and this property needed one at least seasonally. Vic built it years ago for me as a birthday gift - I'm not saying which one!   Lucky girl?

Hints of Autumn in CNY

Although we are currently in the midst of another heatwave, small signs

of autumn are all around.  This was the temperature two days ago in Binghamton.  Heat this high is very rare here.  But fall is coming and with it cooler temperatures.  Prior to this heatwave we had several nights in the 40s which was unusual so early in August.

This is only one of the many joys of living in the country.  The neighboring dairy farmers grow corn for their herds.  They also grow sweet corn to sell.  And it's always sold on the basis of trust.  Choose the ears you want, take a bag from those provided and leave your money in the box from which you make your own change.  What a nice place this is to live - where people can be trusted to do the right thing.

 Some of my view from the kitchen window - so peaceful and pretty.

Spring was early and unusually warm as summer also has been.  As a result the crops and flowers have been at least two weeks ahead of the norm.  A second cutting of hay has been one of the benefits.  While farmers in other parts of the country can count on at least a third cutting we are not so lucky.  Our summers are far too short.  Typically farmers cannot depend on getting this second cutting.

Round bales behind the house.

My hops are beginning to dry.

  Dewdrops in a spider web. Morning dew has been heavy during this heat.

This is possibly a starflower which is blooming abundantly in our woods.  The plants surrounding them show traces of autumn color. 

It's almost time to clean out the bluebird houses.

Round bales on a recent foggy morning

Caught redhanded storing food for the impending winter.