Archive for October, 2016

October Day on the Farm

This afternoon I rode around the farm, enjoying the beauty of a warm fall day and looking for photo opportunities.

This is the end of October and there is only a slight tint of color to most of the trees.  The leaves are just turning brown and falling without turning color.  I did find one brilliant red tree.

img_1809

img_1811

The cows were laying in the sun by the edge of woods contentedly enjoying the warm late afternoon sun.

img_1808

The Cowbirds were hanging out by the thousands around the cows that were grazing.  They were furiously pecking and eating seeds, bugs and shifting through the manure for goodies.  After a few minutes they would flutter to scavenge by another cow, rotating around the pasture.  It was fascinating to watch. They didn’t seem to bother or annoy the cows.

img_1806

img_1827

img_1830

A young calf just as curious as I was about what those crazy birds were doing!

img_1823

If I got to close they would take wing, circle around and land a short distance away. I wonder how they miss colliding in mid-air!

img_1831

 Several weeks ago Gene planted some annual ryegrass in the pastures to give some additional grazing for the cattle.

img_1813

img_1816

img_1820

A final resting place

Additional October pictures

October seems to be the “month of the spider”!

img_1524

img_1528

img_1627

Fire side and smores.

img_1680

Gene planting fall crops.

img_1654

Full moon shining through the boughs of the pine tree.

img_1621

img_1601

img_1608

img_1612

img_1615

Beautiful sunset.

img_1656

The beauty of God’s creation is all around us; every year, every season, every day.  The canvas may be the same but the artist’s brush paints a stunning, magnificent, oh so uniquely different, picture.

“O Lord, our God, how excellent is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens”.

Psalms 8:1

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork”.

Psalms 19:1

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–His eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

Romans 1:20

I Hit the Jackpot!

img_1539

I did it.  I did it! I DID IT!!!!! This morning when I stepped on the scales it banged, clanged, jingled and sang (not really but in my mind it did). I had hit my jackpot, the 50 pound weight lost goal!!!!..  I just stood and stared at the scales.  I wiggled around, moved my feet to see if the hand on the dial was stuck. I could hardly believe my eyes even though I was weighing myself every day and knew I was one pound from the goal. I’ve been claiming it for several weeks now as I was within a few pounds but now it official and there is no anticipating the fact. For some reason the last five pounds took a long time to come off.

I started this journey February 7 and I it took me exactly 8 months of daily recording ALL my food and drink intake on myfitnesspal.com to get to this day.

If you are struggling with  weight loss, I highly recommend myfitnesspal.com.  I did not deny myself any food group, go on a diet binge or buy special products. I counted calories, managed portion control and walked the treadmill.  I am so excited to say I went from a tight 14 jeans to size 6.

Now my concern is keeping it off and not letting that sneaky, creepy fat find its way back on. My plan is to stay on myfitnesspal and I anticipate that as long as I make myself accountable to “my pal-my best friend”, I will keep it off.  After all,  I talk to this pal several times a day. It knows my deepest secrets!

When I started this journey, I set my goal for 22 pounds. I didn’t want to feel defeated and said I would be happy IF I got to 165.  The unbelievable part for me now is that I am back to my “before having baby days”.  I never, ever dreamed that was possible.  I know, I’m a woman and I am not suppose to want any one to know my weight or age. But….at 63 I weighted 187 and now I am proud to say one year later I weigh 137.  How many years have I just added to my life? The bottom line is, I feel soooooooo good. This is so different from one year ago.  (See my blogs posted below). Most of my aches and pains are gone. Now when I pick up a 50 lb. bag of feed I can hardly believe I was carrying that albatross around every step I took.  Now it’s all I can do to lift and carry the bag!

For now, I am enjoying the winning of the jackpot. It is sweeter than honey and better than chocolate! (I think!!!)

My Fitness Pal

A Little Less of Me

Local Hertzler Get-Together 2016

There is just something about kinfolk that is extra special.  There are three family lines of Hertzlers living in Cumberland, Powhatan, Buckingham and Prince Edward counties. We all connect to the same genetic pedigree several generations back. We love to visit together, live within easy visiting distance but just don’t get together very often.  We decided it was time to get together for a reunion.

Joe and Norma Hertzler graciously hosted the evening at their lovely, manicured homestead in Cumberland. The evening turned out to be perfect weather after a rainy week and morning and the turnout was great. I even heard something about this being the first annual!!!

img_1455

Helen and Tom Hertzler

img_1452

Betty and Ray Hertzler

img_1443

Tony Hertzler

img_1458

Bob Hertzler

img_1456

Marie Hertzler

img_1459

Norma Hertzler

img_1444

Joe Hertzler

img_1474

Bobby and Bob Hertzler

img_1457

Gene Hertzler

img_1483

Annette Hertzler

img_1489

Phil Hertzler

img_1446

Jeremy Khosropanah

img_1499

Lucy Miller

img_1501

J.R. Hochstetler

img_1476

J.R. Hochstetler and Jesse Hertzler

img_1460

Freeman Hertzler grilling his marinated venison tenderloins. They were delicious. This guy knows how to cook.

img_1469

Felicia Miller

img_1473

 

img_1500

img_1470

img_1471

Michelle Hertzler

img_1480

Allie Hertzler

 

There were lots of things for the children/young folks to do:

Dutch Blitz, volleyball, target shooting, Corn Hole, play set, sandbox, dressup, and chasing bubbles.

img_1447

 

img_1448

img_1454

Cassidy played “dress-up”. I wonder how many different times she changed clothes during the evening.

img_1481

img_1507

Allie Hertzler

img_1506

img_1449

 

The setting and weather was perfect.

img_1451

img_1494

img_1484

img_1479

img_1461

Beef, turkey or sausage dogs and venison tenderloin.

Highlight: Gospel Hoe-Down

Some of the Hertzlers are fortunate to have inherited the music gene and they entertained us by playing their instruments and singing toe-tapping, old-time, gospel favorites. It was a fun, fun time listening and singing along.

img_1464

Joe Hertzler

img_1465

Paul Hertzler

img_1466

Gery Hochstetler

img_1505

Joe, Michelle and Phil

Videos

My camera battery died and I missed getting a hilariously funny performance by Joe called “The Tickle Song” and a crazy rendition of  “Black Gold Fever” by Tom.

“Jesus, Tender Shepherd” by Cassidy Miller

Joe shared some thoughts about his “pop” who is 99 years old and in his honor sang “When the Saints Go Marching In”.

 

 This picture taken by Annette Hertzler is my favorite of the evening.

the-hertzler-boys

It is priceless and we dubbed it “The Hertzler Boys”!

 

Attending were:

  • Brothers Phil (Annette)and Tom (Helen) Hertzler from Prince Edward county and some of their children.
    • Phil’s son Freeman (Allison) and son
    • Tom’s daughter Michelle (Karl) & family (Note: Michelle married Joe’s son Karl)
  • First cousins Bob (Marie), Ray (Betty), Joe (Norma) and Gene (Pat) Hertzler from Powhatan and Cumberland counties.
    • Bob’s sons: Bobby and Tony
      • Tony’s son-in-law, Jeremy Khosropanah, and grandson
    • Joe’s children:
      • Veronica (J.R. Hochstetler) & family
      • Lucy (Roy Miller) & family
      • Karl (Michelle) & family
      • Jesse and his children
  • None of the Howard Hertzler line were able to attend.

 

 

%d bloggers like this: