Slow Living

It seems that we've found the cure for the rapid passage of time.  You know... how one day it's Monday and the next, Friday, and for the life of you, you have no idea how it arrived so quickly!  Well, if you have a yearning to slow down time... just get a puppy!

Our days have slowed down incredibly.  Yes, we are still busy with farm chores and animal chores, but there doesn't seem to be time for much of anything else these days.  Our extra hours are filled with 22 pounds of fluff!  Yes, he's grown.  One week ago he was 18 pounds, now 22.

Chores take a little longer these days - thanks to Forrest's idea that everything is a toy!

And yes, having a puppy comes with a few annoyances, but they are far-outweighed by the joy of watching this little fellow experience life on the farm.

Actually, I have been carving out a little time each day to pick black raspberries.  We have a bumper crop this year and I am freezing about 5-6 quarts daily.  I'll use them for jam all winter long.  As you can see... someone likes to stay as close as possible!


While picking, I ran into this fellow...

As you can see by the hazy sky, our air quality has declined this week.  We are back to wearing n-95 masks to protect our lungs from the particulate matter in the air.  Hopefully this will clear up soon so that we can once again enjoy blue skies and breathe air without the smell of smoke.


In spite of the haze, we have no shortage of color now.  Because we take so many puppy walks, we are really enjoying the colors of the season!  Everything is blossoming.  It's evident that summer has arrived!  Here is a sampling:


The front yard of my shed is now filled with red Monarda.


Dahlias

Lisianthus - blooms look like roses

Angelonia - summer snapdragons

Salvia

Lantana

Pink yarrow

Day Lily

Petunias by the mailbox

Tiger lilies in the front pasture

The flower cart beside the road

...filled with zinnias, celosia, and nasturtium
Asiatic lilies

Early, pink hydrangea

Fresh flowers in the house... all summer long

Now, for this crew... 

Don't be fooled by their apparent innocence.  This crew made a break for it yesterday and had a free-for-all.  We even found horse poop inside the chicken yard!  No one is confessing to the crimes, but the evidence is everywhere! 

Comments

Jeannie said…
Beautiful flowers, a box turtle and a puppy! Life is good! (Even with some naughty Equines thrown in the mix.)
THE BEARDED OEN said…
THE ABUNDANT FLOWERS ARE SURE BEAUTIFUL....WOW....HOW DO YOU KEEP UP W/THE VARIOUS NAMES...SMILNG...MY PARTNER IN CRIME KNOWS FLOWERS NAMES...I JUST LIKE THE BEAUTY...KEEPING UP Q/THE NAMES OF EACH TAKES TOO MUCH TIME AND MEMORY...SMILING...I SURE WISH I HAD ONE OF THE NEW PUPS ....GREAT MIX...HAVE SUPER FINE THRURSDAY AND LOOKING FARWARD TOO FRIDATS GREAT POST...KEEP SMILING AND THANK YOU MUCH !!!!!!!!
This N That said…
Hours full of puppy fun..Oh how I miss them.
Black Raspberries..Yum
Great place for your sign...
Is there any flower that you don't have?? Beautiful
"The crew" is just trying to keep you on your toes..Maybe they think Forrest is getting too much attention?? LOL..xxoo
Anonymous said…
Just a shirt note about your ornate tortoise.. It was probably under your raspberries, because box turtles need to have red fruit in their diet, to keep their eyes healthy (otherwise they will swell shut) . We give ours
water melon and berries. Interesting fact in the desert SW, (where I live) these turtles will salivate and drool down their front legs to cool by evaporation. Isn't Mother Nature creative? ;-)
Marcia LaRue said…
All of your flowers are simply stunning! They are so beautiful!
Did the chickens give the horses a side-eye when you discovered horse poop in the chicken coop (yard)? Those hens, being so gossipy, would surely be happy to point out the pooper!
Your flowers are just amazing....I love all those pictures. And isn't that new wagon with all the flowers something! Beautiful. I'm sorry to see that it's hazy around your place again...we have had that all this week too. Sure wish it would come to an end. Your pup is growing fast and keeping you on your toes.
daisy g said…
Everything looks so lush! That Forrest is getting cuter by the day, if that's possible!

Interesting facts about the tortoise from anonymous.

Enjoy your weekend, Bev and crew. Hope the air clears up. Blessings...