Family Picture Night 2024

written by

Edwin Shank

posted on

August 19, 2024

Good morning Family Cow Tribe!

It's been two years since our last pasture picture, as our family calls them. Since then, our family has grown by five, so I believe it's high time!

But first, just a little nostalgia...

Some of you may remember the picture below. It was from summer 2010 and was our family's first pasture-photo. That was fourteen years ago!

Jefferson, our youngest, was a 4-year-old. Rodrick, our oldest, was 18. And I guess that means that Dawn and I were only 40.

Shank-Family-2010.jpg

August 2010: The very first 'Shank pasture picture.' There were only eight of us! (Nine if we'd count Dingo. Judging by the way she's smiling, it seems she thinks she's family!)


Fast forward to 2024: Now we have twenty-six 'somethings' to line up!

 

2024-Shank-Family-Pasture-Picture-getting-into-place.jpg

"Who is supposed to stand here? Are you going to sit on that straw bale or should I? What would look best? No, not that way, this way... but now I'm looking into the sun. Well then, just close your eyes and smile... Hurry, the babies are getting fussy!"

Whew! No wonder Dawn and I are turning grey! :) 

 

2024-Shank-Family-Pasture-Picture-banner.jpg
Shank Family 2024 - click for larger view

Finally, I think everyone's in place and people are smiling... I believe this one might be good! :) Oops! Leo and Micah are not paying attention, but hey, give them a break... They're both under six months. They'll do better next time! :)

 

7-little-nieces-on-house-steps.jpg

This picture is one of my favorite from the evening... All of our seven granddaughters sat still for a few seconds on the farmhouse steps before they ran off to play again. :)

The two on the left side are Gwendolyn and Laverne's twins, Gianna & Geneva. The other three in the back row are: Tatiana, Karina, Clara. The other two in the front row are Sofia and Kataya.

There are six grandsons too, but their picture will need to wait for another time. :)

After sitting still for the pictures, which for some reason doesn't seem to make any little one's fun-list, we had some sparkler and firecracker fun around the campfire behind the farm house.

 

Sophia-and-Kataya-with-milk-bottles.jpg
Family-gathering-and-sparkles-around-campfire.jpg
Family-Gathering-with-sparklers.jpg
Children-with-sparklers.jpg

It was a delightful evening... We hope you enjoyed it as much as we have. So long! See you around! It might be three years until the next 'pasture picture' evening.

  

If you think our hands are full... you should feel our hearts. The Lord has been so good to us!


Yes, it’s a timeless truth.

Children are an eternal blessing,

An heritage of the LORD:

The fruit of the womb is His reward.

As arrows –

In the hand of a mighty man,

So are the children –

Of one’s youth.

Happy is the man who,

Having his quiver full of them,

Shall not be ashamed.

He shall speak with

The adversaries of God

And will have their respect.

Thoughts based on Psalm 127:3-5

Grateful to be...Your Farmers,

Edwin and Dawn Shank and Family

YourFamilyFarmer.com

God Designed it. We Respect it. That Explains it!

More from the blog

Pottenger's Cats: Book Review

During the 1930s, Dr Francis Pottenger Jr. who was a medical doctor in California, conducted nutritional/feeding experiments with 900 cats over a 10 yr period. Here is a summary one of his many feeding trials: The cats in each group were fed 1/3 meat and 2/3 milk. The meat that each group received was always raw but the milk they received was variable. Some groups of cats received raw milk, others pasteurized milk, others evaporated milk, still others sweetened condensed milk. The cats on raw milk exhibited Vibrant Health, meanwhile...

Nutrition Facts and the Bikini Atoll

One question we hear is, "Why are the Nutrition Facts on raw milk so similar to the Nutrition Facts on pasteurized milk?" The similarity of the two ‘Nutrition Facts’ would seem to support the FDA mantra that there are no nutritional differences between pasteurized milk and raw milk.

3 simple steps to grill Grass-fed Ribeye Steaks

Today I'll share my favorite way to grill Grass-fed Ribeye Steaks. This method never fails to give me juicy, tender, absolutely delicious results every time. Follow along and you won't be disappointed. One quick note before I dive into steak prep details: