This and that at the farm…

These late July days have been so much more comfortable than when the month began. Early mornings and late evenings seem almost fall-like…even cool enough that I found myself wishing I’d worn long sleeves as I walked around the county fair Thursday!

Just like everyone, I find the days full and wonder how the hours have slipped by. In a little over two weeks my son will return to college and Friday my daughter will be back - yay! She’s been an RA at a ballet company for the last 7 weeks. Sigh….for a short time, the balance will be restored. 

So, how have I been spending my days? Well, here’s a little peek at a not-so-interesting, but typical day!

I’ve been watering (we really could use some rain)

O

picking berries,

enjoying watermelon,

sharing that watermelon with Glowbug,

                                      

and Lucy…a summer treat to keep them cool!

Lucy is the last of the hens, and while I wanted to get chicks this year, I just didn’t think this lady would appreciate a coop of littles and their noisy antics. 

She rarely leaves her seat at the top of the ladder, so I moved her food and water up to make it easier. The queen of the coop deserves spoiling. 

    

Bailey is still under “house arrest” having had her first injection for heartworms…she’s doing well. The goal is to keep her quiet and chase cabin fever away with calming music and videos. She has two more injections in August. 

My good friend is fostering baby raccoons!

  

Two weeks ago a crop duster came waaay too close for comfort…what started out as interesting to see, turned into an experience where we could smell the chemicals and feel them as they drifted down. And we were not beneath the plane – this was drift - quite scary. 

                                  

All I could think of was, what about the children who are playing outside, what if we were having a graduation party or get-together with friends? We had no idea crop dusting was scheduled..

      

                                            

Why yes, I will be contacting the FAA.

 

And finally, on a trip to the grocery store I found this:

                                  

Happy dance in the aisle! Over-the-moon, tickled pink, just can’t quite believe it…my article in MaryJane’s Farm August-September issue! So grateful to have been given such an opportunity.

Well friends, that’s a little of what’s been happening in my “neck of the woods” as the old saying goes. What 's happening where you are?

I hope all is well and that you are enjoying these summertime days!

                                   

falling behind in posting!

Time flies, as they say, and it's so true! I've enjoyed keeping up with all the blogs I follow...your summer days are flying by as well filled with gardening, patriotic celebrations, and happy things!

And so, I must play catch-up...as they say, "Without further ado!"

winter wheat:  going, going, gone

but the corn is still 
growing strong 

Barnum is such a handsome
fellow, but still so shy...

Bailey celebrated her birthday!

Hmmm, looks like she's
sticking her tongue out, 
perhaps not a fan of party hats!

Fireworks across the
fields in a nearby town

The prettiest blue skies
by a lovely old barn

a mama looking 
quite protective...I kept
my distance!

summertime harvest!

I painted an old faux fireplace
and put it in the milkhouse...

no, a milkhouse wouldn't
have had a fireplace, but this
was doomed to the trash and it
just needed rescuing! 

It was fun to decorate
for the "not shop, shop"

being watched...

posies to help me forget
it's a sweltering summer day

and lastly, an old building
alongside a country road...
it just needed to be remembered

Well, that about catches you up on how I've spent my days. While certainly not exciting by Hollywood standards, the days are simple...trying to hold onto old-fashioned values in a hectic, modern world.

I hope you're all well, keeping cool (unless it's winter where you are, then keeping warm) and you're spending a bit of time each day doing something you love that makes you happy.

Let's make tomorrow a red-letter day!

So, just what is Jart? Find out at MaryJanesFarm!

 

Click here!

snapshots of June...

"I wonder what it would be like
to live in a world where it is always June."

-LM Montgomery 

June brings us sunny days, fragrant blossoms, and juicy strawberries. The days are long, fireflies twinkle, and there seems to be magic in the air as the summer solstice approaches. 

winter wheat is about ready to harvest

the prettiest cloudy skies

                                                    

Tinker Bell, posing, as always!

decorating for summer

the Goodyear Blimp passing overhead

And let me introduce you to Kipper!

A neighbor found this little guy who was in need of a family to bottle feed him.
Of course we said yes...everyone needs a home!

The vet said he was about 2 weeks old...born the same time that we lost Azzie.

Coincidence?  

Maybe.

Maybe not.

                                                                                       

And this is Cornelia - Nelly for short. 

Living in the country, it's not uncommon for cats & dogs to find their way here - or possibly be dropped off. She wasn't on the the local lost & found lists, and the vet didn't find a microchip in her.  A very friendly little lady...she's now a part of the barn cat family!

Bailey loves snuggling her stuffed pig!

In other news, our sweet Bailey was recently diagnosed with heartworm...she's on medication, as well as what we jokingly refer to as "house arrest" because she can't be outside for any extended amount of time. (It's a good thing she's a laid back sort of gal!)

The process to rid her of them is long...next month she will have an injection and stay at the vet clinic for observation. Once she's home we have strict rules...we can't let her do anything that will raise her heart-rate. No running, jumping, or getting excited...she stays inside, quietly, with only 3 or 4, 5-minute outdoor breaks each day, leashed so she doesn't move quickly. At this point we watch her closer than ever...she can't be left alone.

She'll get two more injections in August, and then it's still complete quiet for 8 more weeks. 

Trust me, she'll be spoiled rotten!

That's the latest from my corner of the world...enjoy the week friends, and if you're in the middle of the heat wave as we are, keep as cool as possible!

where did May go?!

How can it be June? The days are flying by with:

starry nights...

stormy sunsets...

and rainy afternoons.

I have a love/hate relationship with May...warm and dry enough to tackle outdoor projects (which seem to multiply), while indoors (mostly ignored while tackling the great outdoors), looks as if a whirlwind has blown through. 

Ahhh yes, time to bring back the forgotten English word:

Scurryfunge...hastily tiding up when needed! 

And with that, a quick post today, sharing a few snapshots from the merry month of May!

corn growing!

flowers blooming...

bees buzzing...

a little volunteer winter wheat

in the garden patch!

a happy mockingbird I named Molly

kept me company while I was
painting the greenhouse!

May and the start of Spring can feel overwhelming at times with outdoor chores, winter cleanup, and barn spruce-ups. Toss in unexpected visits to the laundry-mat because a washer repair took 3 weeks, then add countless efforts to get the rototiller started; which it refuses to do, and I won't even go into detail on the totaled car (no injuries)!

EVEN with all of that! 

May rewarded us with lovely rainbows,

and the prettiest flowers,

free for the picking!

Thanks for stopping by to visit and for saying "hi" over at the Rural Farmgirl blog...I appreciate it!