Family Jensen

St. Joe cousins come for a farm visit...

I loved every minute of Haley and Torren's summer visit to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  They are really neat kids who love adventure.  I was working on cleaning our CSA barn while they were here.  I was sweeping out the old hay/dust/animal poop out of the hay loft.  Haley asked if she could help me.  I debated because an old hayloft is not the safest place to work...but I was not making a lot of head way and I needed help!!!  She worked her little tail off!  She was sweeping and scooping just as effectively as I was!  I was so thankful for the help and company of my sweet little niece.  A couple of my favorite quotes were..."This is the best!  At the farm, I got to work 9 feet off the ground and play 9 feet off the ground." (in Evan's new tree house)  Then while referring to how bad it smells...."I'm used to bad smelling things (I'm thinking 'yea right, city kid'), like when my dad cleans out the coffee pot (with vinegar) it smells really bad!"   HAHAHAHA!!  I don't know what I would take vinegar or an old hog barn!!!  : )  I could go on and on about all the things I love about them-their kind hearts, how good of eaters they are, how well the kids played together, how funny they are, what a good reader Haley is....Thanks Matt & Becky for letting us spend a week with them!!!  (& thanks to Grandma Johnson who is always up for loving her grandkids and allowing them to enjoy the farm)

Chore time~

Checking out the pigs~  

Feeding the sheep~  

Swimming!  

Garden time...
the kids did help in the garden but I didn't get any pictures....but here's one hard working farmer!  

Farmer, Farm Dog, Little Farm Boy.  

Yup, "Farm Dog."  I still haven't let myself truly accept it.  Mainly because I'm not a dog lover or animal lover for that matter.  (This is not a secret)  I like animals and I can tolerate them but they need to be useful and pull their weight!  : )  Phillip, on the other hand, loves animals...especially dogs.  So back to the farm dog....Sam was given to us on a trial basis from a couple in church.  He is a cocker spaniel and a pretty darn cute one.  Phillip had a cocker spaniel growing up and was attached the second he saw Sam.  Sam is 4 years old and a nice dog.  He does not jump or attack the kids.  He loves the room to run on the farm.  Right now his kennel is overlooking the garden...and IF he keeps the little rodents out, we MIGHT keep him.  ; )   

**Yes, for those of you who remember, our first dog when we were married was also named "Sam."  The original Sam is still alive and kickin' (although a little slower after he was hit by a feed truck) at Phillip's grandma's farm near Rolfe.