I was looking at my field over the past few days and noticed a weed called Night Shade (Carolina Horsenettle) growing. Four years ago I had a small patch in the lower part of my 7 acre field . I should have got after it then! But thought the sheep would eat it and kill it in the process. Wrong! They left it alone. Seems they are wise …Because it is poisonous to most animals! And can cause you pain from trying to pull the weed.
A few facts: this weed can have roots 3 feet into the ground. The meanest of stickers all over the underside of the leaves and on the stems, the dryer they are the worse they get you. The weed uses rhizomes and seeds to spread across an area. Once established you can’t kill it with weed killer it is immune!
I was thinking about what to do…
Then remembered Grandpa use to mow weeds of all kinds (I don’t remember him using any type of poison). He would hook the John Deere tractor up to the mower and mow weeds.
Les got me started and I mowed the whole field in front of the house! All 7 acres…
The fresh mowed grass smelled amazing. Stirring memories…
I was mowing grass in a 7 acre field with our lawn mower! The blade was set at 3 inches height! That tells you what an awesome farmer my Grandpa was! (He passed away June 7th, 1994 … And had not farmed this field in years!
Every turn was a beautiful different view of our farm.
From the new Barn Quilt on the front of the house that is awesome! Thank you Gail Hafley! What an awesome Barn Quilt! 
The woods so green and alive. The horse waiting for her foal to arrive by Stork ! The pond still as glass, the sky was bright with sunshine. The ducks strode around the farm after bugs and such…
As I mowed I planned, dreamed and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine.
The sun set over the mountains … light became pale yellow and it made the grass greener and the evening breath taking.
I turned the mower off and listened for sheep bells in the distance. The soft tinkling sounds and the lambs softly talking to their Mamas was peaceful…
There are no words sufficient to describe sunset at Maple Grove Farm.
sunset
