Sunny Autumn Days

There's nothing quite so delicious as a cool, autumn day spent here on the farm. 

It started, as most do, before the sun rose.  The dogs and I were outside for morning chores as the navy sky brightened with the morning's first rays of sun. Mornings, this week, have been quite chilly - frosty, actually.  For the first time this season, the water buckets have iced over (thinly).  I begin my day dressed as if a snowstorm approaches, and lose layers as the day progresses.  

As always, I pay particular attention to the rising sun - the sky like an artist's canvas - each day different from the others.

It's been a week of slow living - a mixed blessing.  I love having extra time on my hands - spending all of my waking moments enjoying home and nature...fires in the fireplace, pots of soup, working on knitting projects.  The reason for this - Hubb's having a very painful back condition that has kept us quietly here at home - is the only downside.  He's in the process of having it tended to, so hopefully it will just be a brief speed bump in his otherwise active lifestyle.

The dogs and I continue our daily woods walks.  However, with hunting season looming, I dress the dogs in their high-visability gear.  As I snapped this photo, I had the sudden realization that I look slightly like a bear as I hike through the woods - dressed in my brown winter work jacket.   I should probably wear high-vis as well!!

As you can see, the woods is looking rather autumnal.  Much of the canopy now lying brown and crunchy on the ground.  Most of the ferns and weeds  have shriveled up from frost, giving us better visibility through the forest and better ability to see the white tail deer as they scatter through the woods, spooked by our presence.

I've found that this vest also makes it easier for me to keep an eye on Annie, our senior dog who has a tendency to wander off!

Having caught up with household chores, I take the opportunity to spend some quality time with our friends at the barn during afternoon chores.  Though sunny, the temperature is still low enough that there are no flies to pester the equines.

Everyone is so much happier at this time of year - myself included!

I am often asked where our barn kitties came from.  None of them were rescues from our local shelter.  Most of them just showed up on the farm, feral but ready to give up that lifestyle.  We have found that with enough time, everyone becomes quite domesticated.  The amazing thing is how easily all of the different species adapt to each other's presence.

This little guy, Augie, is our newest addition.  He is quite comfortable with the dogs and equines... spending his days pestering the other barn kitties.

Whenever I am out in the dry lot with the horses and one of the barn kitties comes to see me, I place him/her on the back of one of the equines.  It's something I have always done and it seems to help everyone get very comfortable with each other.

Augie is still very young and nervous.  With time, he will learn to relax and just lie there.  I believe this has also helped our equines to be more tolerant.  No one seems to mind the occasional cat-scan!