We take care of the land...it takes care of us.

We're just a couple of country dwellers......

that love nature, hunting, fishing, gardening, campfires, crafting, cooking, canning, laughter and living!!

Ya just never know what I'll blog about next...

So visit us often!

Monday, October 17, 2011

Hunting With Grandpa

A boy grows up to be 
a man....

a man to be proud of...

a man of strength and dignity ~
like his father and his father before him...

each man has different
trials and tribulations
but, each man
strives for the same thing...

to carry out the tradition
and make his grandfather proud!



 What better
time or place
 to learn the lessons
than on a hunt with 
the masters,
the legends,
the dads,the uncles,
 and the grandfathers....





This year our friend's grandson, Hank,
watched the hunt from the truck
and tagged along with the hunting party.




With his toy shotgun,
he tagged along beside his 
parents, uncle and aunt,
and Grandpa...
an annual event for this hunting family.




Mom and Dad took turns watching
 the baby in the suburban...
while the other walked a field....




and lucky little Hank 
could hang out with Grandpa....









Hunting with Grandpa is a special time!






A Boy Needs A Grandpa
Author: Unknown

A boy needs a Grandpa...
For man-to-man talks,
To go hand in hand
On Conpanionable walks,

To fix up his toys
When they no longer go,
To tell him the things
Little boys want to know.

A boy needs a Grandpa...
To show him the way
To handle a puppy, 
To teach him fair play.

To impart bits of wisdom
He's learned through the years,
That it's no disgrace
For a man to shed tears.

A boy needs a Grandpa...
To sit on his lap
And if no one is loooking,
They take a wee nap,

Each wrapped in an aura
Of love and esteem,
Each smiling gently
At some special dream.





Happy Hunting!


Joining with Mary today
stop by if you can!

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Good Hunting Coming Up



Grab your fluorescent orange
and join us in South Dakota
for another fabulous pheasant hunt!!




























See you in the fields!

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Swing Your Partner!


"My grandfather would often stop here in the early spring to get fresh maple syrup.  
When I was a little pip-squeak, my grandfather would often take me along on his milk route with him.  
When we came to this farm, Grandpa would pull the old milk truck up the gravel driveway
 and we'd both hop out and walk to the door.  
Grandpa would buy our syrup and, if I was a good girl, 
the lady of the house would let me have a little maple candy.
                                                              
The Sugar Shack is located on route 118 
just outside of Nicholville, New York....

That is just one on the nine stories behind nine quilt blocks
that Mrs. Z stitched together and made the most 
wonderful Barn Quilt I've ever seen!



This was a "Block-of-the-month" kit
she found...
each month a quilt block
with a different barn scene
and a wonderful story or memory with each pattern

What a charming idea....



This round barn is near Arcadia, Oklahoma on historic Route 66...
the story with it tells how many barn constructions of the day
were built with funds raised at barn dances!...
Quilt Block #6 is called "Swing Your Partner"

Doesn't it just make you want to
throw on some banjo music
and start dancing?





Quilt Block #7 is called "Under Attack"....




It's patterned exactly after the one in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania...
HOLES and all...
(cannonballs made the real holes
in the brick barn that still stands today)




Recently Twila's family celebrated their farm
turning 100!
The barn behind the quilt is on
that farm south of Gann Valley, South Dakota...

A century of farming is a true accomplishment...
Congratulations Balster Family
and
Happy farming another century!






Mrs. Z's Barn Quilt is a work of art
and a tribute to that old building on the farm 
that does so much....






from Hoe Down 
to Bedded  Down....






My fascination with the barn will go on for many years...
along with my dream of having a barn dance at the Sall Farm!






Bring on the band and get me some hay bales...
Oh wait! I better move some junk out of the way first!

I'd probably have better luck learning how to quilt!

But, on second thought I'll just put on
an old Gene Autry album and go watch the ladies at quilt club!

I will stick to blogging 
and sharing my friends' talents
with anyone who wants to tune in....

Thanks for stopping by today
(don't forget to check the other
"barn charm" participants)!

DOSEY DOE and Have a Great Day!


Linking with:
Bluff Area Daily         kimklassencafe


My 7th image was processed with Kim Klassen's textures, Pourvous and Autumn Burst.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

Eye on the Skies


Lately I've felt like a well trained hound dog...

my eyes, ears, and nose have 
been on high alert!

High winds and RED Flag Fire Danger
keeps you on your toes when you live
out in the middle of nowhere!

I know there will be no siren or tv
news alert if some farmer sparks a
fire in these parts!  It'll be up to us
and Him to keep us on track for 
more of the same here at Sall Farm!

Lord, how did those pioneers survive the dust bowl days????




There wouldn't be enough wine in 3 counties
to keep me sane through that!


I'm happy to report the winds 
have let up and we did get a little bit of rain
to settle the dust for a day or so!

I've calmed down and unpacked my suitcase
PHEWWW!

The skies are once again 
a beautiful blue
and I can go hang out another load of laundry
(yuck!)






Thursday evening when the wind was still howling
there were grass fires to the southeast 
and storms and tornadoes brewing 
to the southwest....

last night the wind was letting
up and we stood outside and watched 
the most amazing lightning show!
Mitchell was getting pummeled with rain
and we were mesmerized by 
mother nature's fury....






that was our evening entertainment...

much better than anything on television!

Hope you are safe from the storm
and enjoying blue skies wherever you are!






this ol' hound dog is takin' a day off....

Have a super weekend,

Friday, October 7, 2011




Some golden moments
from the prairie....



















Happy Fall Y'all!

I'm linking this post to some
fun parties...
so grab some cider
and consider joining
the fun...

(my photo entry for this challenge
is the 3rd photo from the top)
and lastly

Duck Hunters On Canvas


Another windy day here on the prairie....


a good day to sit inside and paint!

I have plenty of actual paint projects
I could be doing,
but
this morning I thought it 
would be fun to do
some virtual painting
with Corel Painter on the computer....

FIRST....
an oil on canvas
I'll call it "Quiet On the Water"



Another oil on canvas....

"The Cold Walk Back"
(I know, imaginative right?)





My favorite subject 
also done with oils

"Max, Happy and Wet"




There you have it,
three oil paintings done in about an hour
no drying time whatsoever!

I'll top it off 
with a nice collage 
of the complete
HUNTING experience....






And one final greeting....








from us duck hunters!
(and us duck watchers)

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Earth Wind and Fire



It feels like the wind 
has been blowing for weeks now!

It's really getting old...

the dust is flying,
which means my
clothes dryer is 
out of commission...

and the laundry is piling up!




taking a walk in this wind
is just hard work,
so I stick to driving...



The neighbors are combining the 
bean field next door...

keeping the windows closed
is a good idea
until the last load
goes down the road!





the whole state is on high fire alert...

harvesting beans and sunflowers
is a dangerous task this year!

this was a field fire yesterday....

fire crews were busy all day
yesterday and into the night!




Be careful,
and don't blow away!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Autumn Inspirations

I followed my beloved duck hunter
to the duck slough this weekend...
There was a cold wind 
blowing up my tailfeathers,
but I finally managed 
to get some pictures of him and our Max
in the field!

There's been a lot of 
heavy duty wind lately,
taking it's toll on the 
beautiful fall foliage.

I've been trying to catch the 
brilliant colors before
they all blow away,
but there just never seems
to be enough time....









 Our latest job site is a brand new log home
just over the hill a few miles from our house....

We are both spinning with creative
ideas and artistic techniques...
all inspired from the fall colors
of the South Dakota prairie...

I've been working on sample boards
to show the homeowners before I 
put any paint on the walls.

So far so good...

as soon as the sawdust is cleaned up,
I'm going in with paint, brushes, rollers,
and some good tunes...

Sall's hand textured walls
and my faux finish...

I can't wait...
this is going to be fun...



To be able to create
and
get paid for it?

It doesn't get much better than that!!!!

I'll be keeping you posted
on the progress,
Happy Wednesday!