Keeping busy

Our cousins from Des Moines were over this past weekend, and we kept busy in the kitchen, as well as fit in time to fix a water leak at the rental and problems with the well over there as well. We also managed to fit in some time for knitting and Guitar Hero. There is just never enough time in the day . . .

Here is A's secret blend of spices and good things he used to make his tasty smoked venison sausage. Mmmm, it turned out good!



And here are some of the links drying on the rack before being hung in the smoker:


Then, on Monday we awoke to this crazy pheasant in the neighbors' yard; he spent nearly an hour wandering up and down the fenceline before A went out to get a closer shot of him, then he flew up and away.



Then yesterday, E1 was home sick with a fever. We were in the kitchen and saw a commotion in the front yard. I think this is a broad-winged hawk, that's the best guess I have anyway. Felt kind of bad for the dove, but I figured the hawk needs to eat too. The impressive part was that the dove was nearly the size of the hawk, and yet when I got too close for comfort, the hawk was able to pick that dove up and fly away with it!