A Photo Scavanger Hunt

We've enjoyed a few Photo Scavenger Hunts in the past and so this past weekend we did another! A few new faces, a few new ideas and a whole set of new pictures.
*if you want to see some of the older scavenger hunt pictures check out Sept. 2013 and Oct. 2013*

We split into three teams. Each team had a camera (or a phone camera in the case of team 3) and designated one member to take all of the pictures. I had the privilege of being the photographer for Team Uno, but I'm not sure who the other two photographers where. The goal was to attempt to only take one picture to demonstrate each number on the list. Then we'd judge to see whose picture turned out best in portraying each objective.

It was such a challenge for each team to come up with creative ideas and we agree that everyone did a great job. Which is why....

We need YOUR help to judge the photos! Please leave a comment and let us know which group you thought captured the best shot for each task. Normally I would say that anyone who participated in the hunt cannot vote, but I think this time around we'll open up voting to everyone. I'm trusting that if you participated you'll vote without bias or favoritism.

Each team's photos will always be listed in the same order: Team 1, Team 2, Team 3.... as I'll demonstrate in the first set of pictures:


1. "We broke it!"

Team 1:


Team 2:

Team 3:














2. A creation in sand.




*person in sand is named Sandy*



3. Shadows.


*photographer also made it into this picture*




*the shadows are "<3 br="" love="">
4. Everybody with someone with a birthday in July.


*the sign says "Happy Birthday", and
Patrick the driver turned 16 in July, hence the vehicle*


*Rachel was the July birthday girl and if you didn't notice,
those bodies on the lawn spell "J U L Y"*


*the signs say "Happy"  "Moo" "Day" as the calf was born in July*

5. A Bible verse.


2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,*the bags say "SINS" but it doesn't show up in the photo very well*



Acts 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.


Matthew 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6. Wedding.


*a bunch of the adults were awesome enough to join in this photo*






7. A song title.


 The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock


Rescue The Perishing


Give Me Thine Heart


THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN OUR SCAVANGER HUNT!!!
*cast your vote in the comment section below*

Hello, August.

Hello, August.

It's a beautiful morning here on the farm. I'm sipping coffee and listening to the sound of applause coming from bacon on the kitchen stove. As I peak out the window I can see the robust rays of August sun lighting up my bed of zinnias. Zinnias are, without question, the best flower.

My employers gave me the morning off even though I'd already asked for tonight and tomorrow off! A whole two days free of milking, cows and the excitements of the farm life. It's very kind of them! I'll be camping over night with my two friends, Sandy and Jae,and thankfully we're blessed with nice weather. It's more of a domesticated camping trip. We're paying for a plot on a campground a few miles from my home were there will be people and bathrooms and electrical outlets. Not that I mind the conveniences but it just isn't the same as roughing it in the sticks. Maybe we'll try that next year.

Yesterday was my friend Rachel's birthday. A ton of friends came to surprise her at church from various parts of the state. It was a really fun day and it was also nice to make it to church for the first time in weeks.

We haven't been to church since we've been working every weekend to get the dairy ready for inspection. The inspector came on Friday and we now have our grade A license! We aren't shipping our milk yet because we're waiting for the organic certification to go through... and that process was on hold till we had our grade A license. Maybe we'll be ready to rock and roll by the end of the week?!

Leela resting on her mommy.

Yesterday also marks two years since little miss Leela went to heaven to be with Jesus. I can still see her cute, pale cheeks and her wisps of red hair. I can hear her little coos that she'd make when she was glad to have company. I miss her and if I live to be 100 I will see her in 76 years.

Well, it's a beautiful new day that the Lord has made. I need to get ready for camping and maybe get lost smelling flowers outside for a while. ....and the beans need to be picked. Couldn't be a better morning for gardening.

Until next time...

Free... just like this land.

The Summer Solstice

And so the longest day of the year has arrived.



I've had the what's-your-favorite-season conversation with a lot friends. Usually I hear Summer or Fall. Spring is the best, I say. Everything's growing... the length of day, the tree leaves, the grass, the warm air. From now on out it's downhill, at least as far as daylight is concerned.

Oh well, I don't mind. Summer is long and luxurious... and Fall isn't too terrible either.

Yesterday, I went out with Mr. Isaac to a wheat field and a plot of oats for a photo-shoot. Mostly because the wheat was whimsical and the oats were cheerful. And also because the evening was slow and warm and we desired to go for a walk. Walks are always better when there seems to be a purpose to them. At one point Isaac took the camera from me and said I should be in some pictures, too. He has a pretty good eye.

Oh, did you know that tonight is the "strawberry moon"?? Pretty much it's simple the full moon occurring at the same time as the Summer solstice. I popped outside to capture a picture. Yep... it looks just like the other moons. I have noticed, though, that often it's cloudy on the night of the full moon so it's only every few months that you get to behold the moon in it's exact fullness.

Anyway, it's neat because a strawberry moon hasn't happen in 30 years. If it wasn't Monday I'd call up some friends and have them over for a bonfire. Then we'd watch the moon rise into the indigo sky and take a midnight walk down the gravel, country roads. Instead I shall go to bed since the farmers are haying and I'm supposed to wake up extra early for milking.

Canon D5 Mark II

 For some, the calm comes before the storm. For others, it comes after.