First Pony Ride

The sweetest days come right when you need them!

Our granddaughter has been talking about "the pony ride" for weeks.  She was invited over weeks ago and it happened! 

 The pony, Oreo, had to be brushed.  Next, the saddle was put on,  helmet  placed on LA's head and up she went! 

And, off she goes!

I think LA has been bitten by the pony bug!  What do you think? She did not want to get off of Oreo and that was clearly stated! 

Love you sweet one!

Real life drama unfolds.

The baby fawn appeared today with her mother but not for long.  Mama doe has had her fawn tucked away under the cover of the woods for weeks.  The pictures are not very clear but clear enough to see them.  (Hence..the reason I need a camera that zooms a bit further! Right? )

If you look closely you can see the pair gazing up the driveway at me. 

Now for the grandest drama of this year!!  Jim caught the mole that has dug his way clear across out front yard.  There must have been fifty dirt piles over the past several weeks.  We have tried everything known to the farm store and some ideas we made up ourselves.  What got the mole?  A trap!  Snap...gotcha! 

The End for Mole!

Part Two

Chicken Little needs to be moved!

We moved the baby chicks(17) last night from the nursery to the big pen with all the other hens. One of the new hens is small, and when I checked in on her this morning, it was clear that she needed to be taken out.  Her size is slightly smaller and that is all it takes.  During the early morning she was literally pecked on. 

I wasn't sure if I could do this by myself but I needed to get her.  I used my honed chicken cornering skills,  grabbed hold and didn't let go.  She is back in the nursery and can begin healing.  We will pour the greens to her, and she will add a few pounds, before going back into the large pen.  There is often a runt in the chicks but they do catch up in size.  I'm glad that I was home today and could save Chicken Little. 

 (She is to the left of the photo)

Speaking of babies....we are still waiting for our number TWO grand baby to arrive!!  It shouldn't be long...a matter of minutes...I hope!! 

Life on the farm is never dull and life in a family isn't either! 

A simple walk down the driveway gave me ample reason to be at peace with whatever is sent my way.  Earlier today I took Maggie, our little Pomeranian, to dogie daycare and found out that the person who runs it has just been diagnosed with cancer.  It was a stinging realization to just how life can change in the matter of a day.  Her life matters.  I know what to do. 
But, in the meantime, right here under my nose is Gods grace poured out and showered down in every small detail. 
A mother robin is out gathering worms for her little ones.....

and another mother sits under cover, waiting the arrival of this years babe.  Her one year old is sitting with her.  They see me and off they run.  Bop, bop, bop!

The wedding area is coming into it's own.  I can see the brides path right through the middle of the green lush cathedral landscape.  We have a few weeks before the big wedding day in this spot.

A wild iris peaks out at me....with more just around the bend. 

Each one a little different.....

...but related to the other.

A little further down the driveway a large mighty maple tree looms ....

and I stop to gaze up at its grandness.

Ahh...there is Bart face to face with a blue jay....he looks at me and looks at the bird.....

..then another bird twitters in.  They spread in opposite directions and ....

Bart scolds! 

It's ok!! 

Bellingham from waters edge to rich farmland

I've been gone for a few days.  My trip took me north to the new home of our daughter and her family.  They now live in Bellingham, Washington.  The area is breathtakingly beautiful! To start with, there are views of the Olympic mountains, San Juan Islands, and Mt. Baker.  The days I visited were clear, bright and cheerful.  We went on several outings that took us from the waters edge, to the rich farmland this area is known for. 

 

Hovander Farm is a wondrous old farm that was given to the state in 1969.  It must have been quite the place.  The stately home is one of the most stunning pieces of architecture in the county.  It was built with a Swedish flare and may be the prettiest home in the community! 

  There are plenty of animals in the farmyard, and these turkeys take the prize for attracting attention!  We also saw goats, bunnies, ducks, and geese.  As the season warms more animals are brought to the farm for all to enjoy.

We had free run of the farm for quite a while, until the buses pulled in and dropped off several loads children.  What a great experience for school kids. Many visitorscome here to picnic, pet the animals and play along the Noosack River.   Dogs welcome!

We look forward to finding out more about Bellingham.  There appears to be an endless supply of wide open spaces and natural beauty to explore.

Little Red Hen

Little Red Hen will not stay with the other chickens in the pen.  She has figured out how to jump up on a tree limb, work her way up to the six foot high fence, and fly over.  We have almost given up putting her back each night.  I like seeing her during the day.  She slowly walks around my flower beds eating bugs and the dreaded slugs!  One chicken roaming around won't do any harm. 

 When we first got chickens they were free range.  When it rained they would cover our front porch...our lovely front porch.  Need I say more?  (We have more than fifty chickens.)

Bartholomew takes Little Red Hen in stride.  He doesn't bother her and he even is nice to her.  I found him inviting her into the garage today.  She did go in.  I suspect that cat food might taste good to her.

Little Red Hen was handed some Rye bread.  She liked it!  I smiled and left them alone.

Peaceful living has an animal or two roaming the place.

Maggie in her Easter dress!

I couldn't help myself!! Maggie is just the right size to dress-up and Easter is a good time to start building a wardrobe! She looks quite snug in this hand crochet pink and white number! I can't quite tell what is going through her head...but she did stop long enough for the photo!

The weather man says.....

The weather man says it will sleet, freeze and maybe snow tomorrow. We live at a level of altitude where that could all happen. I had to get outside and make a record in photos of today, because tomorrow things could change in the landscape. I scurried outside to take a few pictures of the spring like weather, before it goes away. The fear is that the flowering trees will be hit hard and its fruit will be struck dead. This is a common happening, but there is always hope that the weather man is wrong! It is quite nippy out but the sun continues to shine! Hope!! The daffodils have been blooming for a few weeks. I don't like to cut them to bring in the house because then they fade and are gone. We have planted just enough to make the yard look bright and cheerful. I wonder if the freeze will harm them?

We worked in the "Cathedral" area today. It was a "burn" day. In our area of the country burning is prohibited much of the time. We have to call, and listen to a recording, to know if we can burn. Today was a go. We stacked limbs, dug up ferns to transplant (ferns won't die in a freeze) and racked up leaves. Woodland fires are kept very confined and safe.

As I wandered into a new clearing area, there they were.......more violets.....pink and purple violets!! There would be no clean-up in that spot! We stopped to appreciate natures surprise...but the day was not over yet!

At lunch time, we glanced out the living room window to see our three deer munching their way around the house and backyard. (The deer are ours because they are in our yard!) They moved with grace and seemed very comfortable. I grabbed the camera and walked outside,around the house, to get a picture without the glare of the window. I stood there and took several shots of the trio. They slowly walked into the woods to find a nice spot for a nap.

All this time Bart was at my feet meowing up at me. He caught on to what I was looking at and became quite serious in his stance. His meow ceased and we took in the view together.

In everyday there is opportunity to notice, record and be thankful. I like sharing my life treasures with you and I hope you enjoy the simple pleasures we are entrusted with.

Take a moment to get outside this week and see what's up!!

Nature....down the driveway and in the house.

This morning we were visited by a new buck! It is hunting season and these boys know how to go deep into the woods to protect themselves. As I peered through my kitchen window, I could tell this was a buck, because of his keen alertness to his surroundings. He took his time to get comfortable, and I was able to get a few photos before he jaunted off into the woods. The pictures are a little blurry but his rack is not mistakable.

It's a wonderful experience to see these majestic animals and even better when there is a buck in the mix. Wow! What a nice way to start the day!

On another subject, I bring you my latest nature garden! It consists of moss, mushroom, leaves, grass and sticks from the woods. These gardens are simple to construct and last quite a while. All you need is a wooded area and some imagination. There is no dirt but water is important to keep the plant life hydrated.

1. Choose a glass plate or shallow bowl. I got mine at Goodwill for .99 cents.

2. Take a walk and gather moss, grass, small plants, sticks, mushrooms, leaves etc.

3. Put a large clump of moss on the plate and tuck in the other nature treasures. Be sure to make the plants snug, to insure their continued growth. Pour a small amount of water over the creation, and continue to do that each day. I put my "nature gardens" outside at night to extend their life. The mushrooms last several days and can be replaced easily. Go for another walk.....

In the driveway a few marigold seeds fell onto the gravel and sprouted. I gently pulled one free and nestled it into the garden below (the upper right side).

There is joy in using the gifts that are hidden, in plain view, right at our feet!