Oh It Is Good To Be Home

How much did I miss home? Well let me just say that I have never been so happy to smell the, um, fragrance from the local dairy. After 19 days away (that's the longest I've ever been away from the farm) all that cow poo was the sweetest smell. I don't know if I would have felt the same if it had been 90 degrees out!

Of all the animals I missed Hoover the most. Here's how he greeted me. He is always mellow! I just about burst into tears when I saw him.



I missed the chickens almost as much as I missed Hoover. Everyday I asked "How many eggs did you get today?" Collecting the eggs is my favorite part of the day.

I was so excited to find that I got home just in time to find the first eggs that my Wellsummers laid. There's nothing like finding these small eggs that have such amazing rich color! I think it is so incredible that the chicks that I hatched in the Spring are now all grown up and laying.

The pictures don't do the color justice! The smaller eggs are a rich deep brown color. There's a touch of red to it. A bit of terra cotta. Like rich hot chocolate with a hint of terra cotta. I could look at these eggs for hours. These aren't the first Wellsummers I've had but it doesn't get old. (I know, but, sorry, I'm weird like that.)


Now this picture is a bit better but it still doesn't capture the true color.


Oh, I am so happy to be home. Even the thought of having to muck out the barn is a happy thought!

First Hand Experience That Growing Old Is Not for Wimps

Oh Dear Bloggers! I have spent the last 2 weeks helping my mother who is recovering from knee replacement surgery. Now I cannot tell you how old my mother is (because she would sense I had done so and flatten me with her walker) but I can tell you that my father is 84 and my mother is somewhat younger. (But she is in the same decade of life and that's all I'm saying.)

I see my parents several times a year. I drive them from Ohio to Florida (and back) every winter. So, I have seen them slowly aging. But it seems that suddenly they have gotten old.

My mother, prior to the problems with her knee, walked 5 miles every day. This was something she really enjoyed so when she had to stop it was frustrating for her. She first thought about having the knee surgery 7 years ago so this was not something she did overnight. There was much thought and consideration (and hand wringing) that went into this decision. I must say that if you were to meet my mother you wouldn't believe she was, um, the age she is. Now if you were to meet my father you might think he was much older than he is.



I think I can handle the mental side of aging. I can't tell you how many times in the two weeks I've been here that we search for, glasses, wallets, cell phones, car keys, remotes, and other things I can't remember.

The physical side of aging looks much harder. Not being able to lift a half gallon of milk, struggling to get out of chairs and cars, walking very slowly, losing your hearing. Having your joints hurt and cease to work. These are the things I think are going to be more difficult to deal with. Especially since I already misplace things and am getting quite used to it. (Heck, I just told you my parents are in their eighties so clearly I'm no Spring chicken -oh how I miss my chickens!)

Oh, and the shrinking. I really don't think I can handle shrinking. I mean I'm not a tall person. I cannot afford to lose an inch. I think I might fear shrinkage the most.

So most of my recent posts have been me playing catch up with things I had been to busy to blog about.

Walking In The Woods

This year I remembered to take my camera out more often to try to capture what I love about fall. So a walk in the woods with Hoover was a perfect chance.


We found this fallen tree.


I a always fascinated by lichen. I've found some beautiful colors. This reminds me of aged copper.


Notice Hoover there on the right? He is a whirling dervish in the woods so it is hard to get a good picture.


I was tempted to try out this fallen branch as a balance beam. I'm trying to remind myself that I'm getting too old for broken bones so I didn't do it. I still wish I had. *sigh*


A classic shot where Hoover has turned before I can snap the picture.


All the pictures seem so calm. Here is a video of how windy it was that day. I love the leaves blowing in the wind.

Cape Cod Camping

I have some how managed to live this long without ever having gone camping. I guess it wasn't something my family was into.

So I didn't hesitate when my friend asked me to go camping with her and her 2 1/2 year old daughter. I mean why not give it a try while my back is still young enought to surrvive sleeping in a tent.

Here's the tent.


It rained quite a bit (not what a first time camper wanted) so here is our table under a tarp.


Brace yourselves dear bloggers, here's a rare picture of me with a yummy lobster.


The Cape Cod coast as seen from a whale watching boat. (Notice the tower?)



This tower is in Provincetown.



I walked to the of the tower and here is the view.




Nice cloud.


This is a blurry whale tail.


Whale dorsal fin.


This is a long stone wall that is a shortcut but it isn't a short walk. We didn't make it all the way across because some things are too much for a toddler and some toddlers are too much to carry.



I loved this flag.



The great dog flag was on this boat.




There's just sometihing about lighthouses. They always look good.


We got a nice day so we went to the beach.




These were the clouds on the drive back home.


I took this trip in early September during my blogless time. I absolutely loved Cape Cod and camping was fun. I would do it again. (I slept on an air mattress so no back ache.

The Best of Fall Doesn't Last Long Enough

If only "peak" lasted longer. I love watching the leaves change color. I am among those who love winter so it isn't like I dread the coming winter. I just would love to have the amazing colors to last for a whole month.


Give me a chance to get sick of it.





I love how the sunlight makes these next two pictures seem like different worlds.

First Snow Flakes

As much as I love fall, my true love is winter. I know I was in the minority in my joy at seeing the first snow flakes.

The only bad thing was that there are still leaves on the trees and there was fear of the weight of the snow bringing down some branches.

It stayed on the grass for a bit. Just enough to get my hopes up.

Sheep and Wool Festival

This weekend is the big Sheep and Wool Festival in Dutchess County. It is one of my favorite events. It is a sure sign of Fall.

I was addicted to knitting for a while and I'm always sorry I stopped. I'm thinking this winter will be when I pick the needles up again. I have quite a stash of yarn, (because I also had a major yarn addiction!).

So while I enjoyed the festival I did not allow myself to buy any wool.

I did have an amazing chicken pot pie!

The place was packed.


Here's a sheep that's been sheared.


This one still has his wool. There were a lot of white sheep but not so many of other colors. I like the brown ones.


The white ones do have such sweet faces. I really would love to have some sheep and I know if I started learning the different breeds I'd get way to involved and I'd end up with some rescued sheep.


OK now this is where I could really lose it. Alpacas! These are such amazing creatures. The look in their eyes. They have a presence about them. I would take an alpaca in a blink!


Then there's the llamas. They're like brave alpacas. I would love to have a llama. I once met a llama that stared me down and then let me pet it, and then wouldn't let me stop petting it.

I've Been A Bad Blogger

Well, I must say that I have been neglectful of my blog lately. In all fairness I do have a good excuse. We have been crazy busy trying to keep up with the growing grass. I swear that as I mow I look back behind me and can see the grass growing. It also doesn't help that it is constantly raining. And don't even get me started on the heat and humidity.

I did find the time to take pictures of the latest blooms.


You can't tell from the pictures but the hibiscus are huge. They catch my eye from far away.



I fear the mowing will never end. Or at least not until it snows. I have never wanted it to snow so badly.

Have You Ever Been to a Place That Was So Beautiful You Never Wanted to Leave?

This weekend a friend and I went to Innisfree Garden in Millbrook NY. The following pictures don't even begin to do it justice. It was once privately owned. The cost to create this amazing landscaping is unimagineable to me. I believe it is impossible to be in a bad mood here. Whatever the cost, it was worth every penny! It is scerene beyond imagination. I found myself thinking if I were a wild animal this is where I would live. Every where you look is an amazing, breathtaking view.And I mean EVERYWHERE! People instinctively paced themselves so as not to run in to other groups. The wildlife was like something from a Disney movie. Even frogs were calm and aproachable. I want to visit Innisfree as often as I can. I want to see it in every season. I was heartbroken to learn that they aren't open in winter! Even the insects were special. Anyone know what this odd looking bug is? There are numerous waterfalls. And water features. The mushrooms seem more beautiful here. I will leave you with some videos.

One Winged Goose Goes to the Zoo

There is a little zoo near us that has agreed to take the injured Canadian goose. It has a large fenced in pond where the poor little one winged goose can live out a good safe life. Here is a video of the goose at her new home.

I was very careful not to get too attached and never gave it a name. I will miss it. It is such a sweet creature but I couldn't give it the kind of home it needed.


Here is a photo with the white Embden goose that kept it company during recuperation.

Gravity and Hollyhocks

This weekend it got quite warm, really the first warmth of the summer. I was out weeding and decided I could use a dip in the pool to cool off.

There was no one about and no real chance of being seen so I skipped the wardrobe change and went au natural. (There will be no pictures) (I have no idea why it is called "skinny" dipping).

Now, I have known for a long time that gravity is not my friend (not any of our friends really). But bobbing about naked in the pool it occurred to me that gravity is in cahoots with plastic surgeons. Now we all know that life isn't fair, but if it were gravity would have a decreased effect on us as we age.

Here is what I propose, (and yes, I know this isn't scientifically realistic). Up to the age of 30 gravity has its way with you. From the age of 30 up you get a 10% decrease in gravity with every big milestone birthday. So by the time you hit 70 you would get a 50% break in the effect gravity has on you.

Think about it. Your joints would last longer. Back pain could be a thing of the past. I'm not sure what it would do for the face but boob jobs would not be necessary. Plastic surgeons would be against it but they could devote their time to figuring out how to get affordable health care to everyone and fixing serious deformities.

Back to reality (ugh) here are pictures of my hollyhocks. They are really looking good this year thanks to the absence of the Japanese Beetles. (Who I hope have all drowned in the tremendous rains.)

Goats-How NOT to Get Things Done

I don't know what I was thinking trying to get something done in the barnyard while the goats were loose was clearly a sign of impending dementia.

I am working on a pen that will either be for the pheasants or for Peanut to finally get to be broody and hatch something. It is kinda big so I (stupidly) decided to build it in the barnyard instead of building it elsewhere and moving it TO the barnyard.

First Biscotti stole the bag of zip ties and ran off with them.


Then Amaretti managed to get inside the pen, through the door I had just cut.


If they didn't make me laugh so hard I'd really lose my mind.

What Went on Here Today

It was a rare nice day here.

Here's a video of Kirby coming up from the pasture for her dinner. Normally there are rocks in the tray so she has to root around for the food.
Peanut our turkey hen has gone broody again. She has made a nest in the corner under the goats' bench. This little wild goose was injured by possibly a snapping turtle. She is missing a wing and is staying with us for a while. She is going to live out her life at a local zoo that has a safe place for her. This white embden goose is keeping her company. She was the runt of her group so they make a good pair. Here's Apollo. The flash really brings out turquoise in his feathers. Here's a video at the barnyard. Dozer our big tom turkey would like to steal the show. Beethoven is the Polish bantam with the "hen saver" to protect her from the advances of the roosters. I must say I really like the "hen savers." My poor hens were really starting to look ragged.

And now we ride off into the sunset.

Another Good Storm

I would like to thank Mother Nature for not letting the sunshine for a few weeks so that when the sun came out today it seemed like a reason to celebrate.

Last night I took these pictures of an incoming storm. I believe I have previously established my fascination of clouds.

Do you see a big hand in this one? (above)



Like I said, days and days of rain and gloom made today seem like the first time we've ever seen the sun.

July 4th and you need a jacket to be outside watching the fireworks! Love It!

Strawberry Heart & The Kindness of Strangers

If you don't have sunshine you won't grow strawberries.

I was searching and searching for a few berries to savor when I found thisNote the bright blue sky.


Too cute. But I ate it anyway.

I have to tell you all about Dogs with Blogs. Hoover has branched off and started his own blog. He has met so many cool dogs.


Hoover had a post about how his favorite duck was (by total accident) mowed over and basically turned into confetti. In no time at all two fellow Dogs with Bloggers sent him new duckies. It was one of those warm fuzzy moments where your faith in humanity is restored.


Gryff spent a few days with us this week. Here he is during a brief sunny moment cooling off in the pool. (Note the ball in his mouth)



I can't imagine life without animals. They are such a source of joy. If you have a dog or love dogs or love people who love dogs check out Dogs with Blogs.

Horseshoes and Rainbows

Well this (thankfully) doesn't happen every day.
It was one of those "What do I do now?" moments. I saw something was on the tire and I thought it must be a clump of grass until it came around again. I stopped the tractor (duh) got off and took a good long look. I was about a quarter mile from the house so I had to decide whether to pull it out, hoping it hadn't pierced through and would stay long enough to get to the house, or choice #2 leave it in the hope that driving on it wouldn't make it worse. I went with the odds and pulled it out, jumped on the tractor and drove fast to the house.

It was the right decision as the nails had gone in the thick part of the tread and didn't pierce the tire at all.

The rainbow was a bonus after NOT getting a flat tire.



Here I attempt to put the rainbow pictures together.Not too bad.

No More Whiny Wednesday

I don't think Mother Nature was too happy with my complaining about her.

Thursday morning I was stung by a wasp. It was very hot and humid.

Then that night we had some of the most incredible lightning. I was standing outside trying to catch some the the lightning on my camera when it occurred to me that it wasn't the wisest thing to be doing. But I did catch this. The good stuff is at the very end.

Whiny Wednesday

Whiny Wednesday was inevitable.

Deep down I'm a whiner.

Always have been.

While I have complained that there has been relentless rain,
that was basic complaining. Now, Mother Nature is planing to turn on the heat.


Some of my least favorite words (OK I HATE these words).


Hazy

Hot

Humid


For most of June we've barely had temperatures in the 70's and rarely seen the sun. Tomorrow it is going to be 88 degrees and we have water standing around everywhere so I'm sure it is going to be plenty humid.

It's like a giant birthday party for mosquitoes!


Let the whining begin!

I'm Gonna Build An Ark.

We have had over 10 inches of rain since Monday afternoon. The ground is spongy and rain is in the forecast every day through Wednesday.

This little frog was clinging to the window. I think he was looking for a place to dry off.

Kirby likes that all sorts of puddles have sprung up for her bathing pleasure.

Everything is lush and green, but the strawberries need sunshine to ripen. Right now they're just rotting.

The Goats Are Learning To Deal With The Rain

We had over 6 inches of rain this week. The goats took advantage of every tiny dry spell.

Nutter Butter is lounging on the rock while Mallomar grazes.

It has rained so much that they have even gone out in the rain to graze. These are goats who NEVER go out in the rain. Now I know that it makes their fur curly.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Hoover

Oh, Hoover. I do love him so. But he is forever a challenge.

He tested positive for erlichiosis last year but never displayed any symptoms until recently.

Hoover has always been a picky eater. We jokingly call him to dinner saying it's "time for a beating." We give him a bowl of food and he just hangs his head like we're yelling at him. Then he lays down and we have to beg him to eat.

I have tried 5 different kinds of premium dry dog food hoping to find something he would like. We give it to him dry, wet with nice warm water. No luck.

Now that he need to be on a strong antibiotic it is important that he has food in his belly when I slip him the pills. So we have moved on to the big nasty, canned dog food.

Nasty to me heaven to Hoover. All this time poor Hoover just wanted canned dog food. And I feel terrible for not thinking to try it sooner.

I think he thinks he's getting people food. I let him lick the fork clean. Then he cleans his bowl.

For Hoover it is all good.And if Hoover is happy and well, then I'm happy.

What A Lovely Award

I want to thank Jennifer for this nice award.




Here's the rules:

Rules:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered.

Oh my 15 is a lot but I will do my best.

I would like to send this award to:

Hannah at Chicken News

Shannon at Pigtopia Studio

Delphine at From a Caravan to a Chateau

Sandy at Birds, Bees, Bugs, and Blossoms

Charlie the Big Dog

Emma at Emma's Dilemmas

Clare at Normanby Nature

Mooky's Hood

GA Farmwoman at Life on a Southern Farm

I highly recommend all of the above blogs.

I reserve the right to send off this award to other blogs as I find them!

A Walk With Some Clouds

It rained everyday last week. And we had some big storms last night. It was dreary looking this morning but after breakfast (mmmm oatmeal) the sun came out. So I asked Hoover if he wanted to go for a walk with me.There is a lot going and growing after all that rain but I couldn't take my eyes off the sky.
I am fascinated by clouds. I always have been. It is cloud paradise out there today.
Hoover was off smelling everything. He is a great dog to walk with because he does his own thing and requires nothing from you. I was free to just take in the sights.

You really appreciate the blue sky when you haven't seen it for a while.

Baby Bambi

Hoover and Gryff.

Chased what looked to be a very new born fawn into the barnyard.

The poor thing was exhausted and probably thought it was safe inside the fence of the barnyard. It was safe from the dogs but Cleodoesn't like strangers in her barnyard.

Luckily my husband heard the commotion and came to the rescue.


Baby was reunited with mom and everyone is safe.

Blooms

These Diantus
plants
came up
out of nowhere.
They aren't really in a great place.
But I can't bear to pull them out.I love the different patterns on the petals.




When the heat of summer comes they will fizzle and go to seed. And maybe next year there will be more of them.












These lilacs are on the north side of the house so they bloom much later than most other lilacs



A peony.