Swimming Holes and Doughnut Holes

On one of the last warm days that we had here on the farm,

I caught Oakley in his favorite "cool down" spot.

Rejecting our pond, he prefers a much smaller "swimming" hole...

Actually, Oakley (part Lab....go figure)  doesn't swim...ever.

He prefers dunking...

And splashing....

As for Sammy....this is about as wet as he ever gets!

*********************

Cool, crisp, cloudy Autumn days stir my soul and stimulate my nesting instinct.

The past few have been grey and drizzly.

It's days like these that make me want to spend hours in the house,

decorating for fall,

organizing, 

baking (these..I added walnuts),

cooking (this..I added Italian sausage and Parmesan cheese),

burning spicy soy candles,

and enjoying a pot of hot tea.

(Won't you join me?)

Gardening chores are at a minimum now,

giving me time to spend in my sewing room.

I've started a quilt.... a little girl's piggy quilt....

I'll share when it is finished.

Hubbs and I are spending a very quiet weekend here at the farm...

making these  (Yum!)

 and enjoying the Autumn weather and relaxing.

Hope you are doing the same!!

Gardening Season Wrap-Up

In between the Autumn drizzle that we have been experiencing the past two days,

I took a couple walks out to the garden.

Gardening for this year is almost over.

The garden fence is almost covered now with vines and blossoms...

just the way I had hoped it would be.

Our tomatoes are almost finished.

The peppers are still producing and will keep giving until a hard frost

ends their lives.

The sweet potato vines have overflowed their box

and the soil has swelled from the mounds of (soon to be harvested) potatoes.

Chard and kale are abundant.

Carrots and parsnips remain in their earthy home,

awaiting frost to arrive and sweeten them.

For some reason the guineas are fascinated by the strawberry boxes.

And since these birds are such good insect hunters...

I say "be my guest!"

One of our bluebird boxes was bursting at the seams,

and inside we found this....

Have you ever seen a fancier nest?
What a soft and luxurious place for new babies to hatch!

It always amazes me how birds use whatever is available to make their nests...
mud, grass, twigs, feathers, horse hair...

As you see, I save these sorts of things.

I have a tree full of nests in my sewing room,

and the greenhouse is becoming a naturalist museum of sorts.

It just seems to be sad to discard these beautiful pieces of natural artwork.

I am thinking that someday they may fascinate the little ones who visit us.

No trip to the garden is complete without stopping to visit the pigs, 

and they are always happy to have company....

a chance for "belly rubbin'" (MaryAnn's favorite!)

Even Sadie visited with the girls (for the first time ever).

(A little "smooch" between sisters!)

Autumn Perfection

Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, 

and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth 
seeking the successive autumns. 
George Eliot

It seems to me that there is no more perfect time than just after sun-up on a

crisp autumn morning.

I know that the equines share this sentiment,

and take every opportunity to kick up their heels in merriment.

Yesterday gifted us with one of these perfect mornings.

The temperature, at 37 degrees, gave the horses and donkeys energy to burn;

and burn it they did!

By mid morning the temperature warmed considerably,

making the day perfect for farm guests.

Amanda had her workmates up to the farm for an open house and luncheon.

I was thrilled to find out that this group included one adorable,

curly red haired 2-year-old named Mia.

If you have read my blog for a while, then you know how much I love the farm

as seen through the eyes of a child.

This particular little girl brought out the best in all of our animals...

their gentlest loving natures...

as if they realized that she was young and small and perfect.

I suggested to Mia's mommy that we make a trade.
I would graciously allow her to take Sammy home with her
if she would leave Mia with us!

Sam's still here....

Duffy's Repertoire

Have you ever wondered what horses do when they aren't grazing, or working,

or sleeping, or rolling, or playing?

What do they do in those moments when they are unoccupied?

Here is your answer...

Meet Duffy.

Duffy is Becky's 30+ year old retiree.

He spends his days quietly munching, napping, and hanging out with his pals.

Duffy volunteered to show you how he passes those moments when he has nothing else to do.

I don't even know what to call this....

All I can say is...

this old guy sure has a good sense of humor!!

(and an incredibly long tongue!)

Hope Duffy gave you a chuckle!!

He sure gave me one!

Slowing Time

It seems like time goes by so very quickly.
It is already Autumn.  (Where did Summer go?)
Nothing illustrates the fast passing of time like looking at my grandson, Tyler.

It seems like just yesterday he was born and came home to the farm to live.
After spending a little over his first year here on the farm,
 he and his Mommy moved out on their own.



Luckily I get to see my favorite little man every week or two.
The beautiful thing is...
time spent with my little buddy seems to tick along a little more slowly.

When Tyler visits, I take the time to play.

We walk and chat and visit with the animals.

We read books and play with toys and throw the ball...

and for those precious moments, time slows down.

Perhaps we just get too busy as adults.
So busy that we forget to take time to play,

to read, to walk, to dream, to be...
for no particular reason, and with no goals in mind...
just being together, together in the moment.

Life passes by way too quickly, I think.
And we keep ourselves way too busy, too.

Time with my little buddy teaches me that I need to slow down...
to play...
to just be.



Maybe that is how we can effectively slow time down...
just a bit.