Okay, so we had a bunch of random pictures that don't really make up a post, so I decided to lump them together. Elijah made this guy out of modeling clay, stuck to the back of the glass panes . . . guess it was supposed to be a reminder to close the school room door.
A friend of ours gave Ben this old wooden desk. It's in need of some TLC... Ben isn't sure whether to fix it up or just use it as a work bench in the shop. Guys always need more work space, don't they?
Every winter we have a big project awaiting us as soon as cold weather arrives..... processing a cow. Whew! We all work together(no one is exempt!) and usually it doesn't take us very long. Betsy got the job of weighing out the hamburger for each package.
We had a thankful and blessed Thanksgiving on Thursday, and hope you did as well. Thanksgiving Day comes in the middle of hunting season here, and today as the big boys and Dad went back to hunting, the younger boys and I did some hunting of our own . . .
Our youngest went with me across the pastures, while his next older brother took the four-wheeler around the lane and across the hayfield, just in case we got a big one.
Here he comes, over the hill to meet us. It looks like we'll need his help quite a bit, as we have sighted some really good possibilities.
Now, where was that one that we saw a few minutes ago? We don't want to lose it . . .
Ah ha! There it is! Don't let it get away -- it's just perfect!
Good thing we remembered our hunting weapon! And a good thing someone's been growing a lot this year, to be able to use it well. I don't think I could do it anymore by myself . . .
He sure is strong, isn't he? And so cheerful and willing, too. I remember when it was each of his three older brothers' turns to do this. How time goes by -- sigh.
Well, we sure did get a big one this year. Isn't it a beauty? My helpers head back on the four-wheeler with our trophy, while I walk back across the fields, happy and sad -- this tradition of hunting on our own land has been going on for 17 years now, and so much has changed, although much remains the same.
Well, I guess we'll have to do a little butchering on this one! It's just too big to fit into the living room without a cut or two. Our family does enjoy many traditions at Christmas, including a tree. But we make sure that our true reason for celebrating the season is the birth of our Saviour. God Incarnate, a babe in a manger, doesn't really have anything to do with trees, I know. But the lovely lights lift our spirits, and they bless others who visit our home. We take time to reach out to the "least of these" in many ways during this time, and we pray that we may please the Lord in all we do this year.
Last Saturday was opening day of rifle season here in Wisconsin. The guys were in their hunting stands before the sun was even up. They spent most of the day in the woods. So far Dad has gotten two does and Elijah one, but no bucks yet. Ben's waiting for a big rack. :)
Yesterday when Dad and D.J. went out to hunt, I tagged along to get some pictures. D.J. put corn out for the deer.
Dad's hunting stand completed -- just in time! This is the one the boys were working on this past summer.
Have you ever seen pants that orange?! No mistaking him for a deer!
Getting set up in the stand, and trying to make as little noise as possible.
Leaving the two hunters...D.J. sits on a chair with two pillows to see out the shooting window. :)
We've been having warm, misty days. It hardly feels like November! At least the guys stay warmer while they hunt. 
The final steps of harvest....delivering the potatoes to the buyers. These potatoes are bound for St. Luke's hospital, about 45 minutes from our house. They are trying to buy locally grown produce for the cafeteria. Ben sorted them, checking for any rotten ones.
St. Luke's usually buys about 150 pounds a week. This year we won't have as much to sell, due to a poorer crop, but we are thankful for what the Lord provided.
Here's what happens!
The basement became guy's territory. (These are rubber band guns.)
They played "President", a rendition of a paintball game, where one guy is the President with secret service agents trying to protect him from snipers. Everyone but the President has a rubber band gun.
Some were in full paintball gear, others just wore sunglasses or goggles.
