by Susan | Dec 28, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
This visitor had me keep Paul and Hannah waiting as we were trying to get out the door today to go shopping. It’s that addiction thing. I followed the woodpecker (Downy? Hairy?) from the kitchen to the living room scrambling to get the camera focused correctly....
by Susan | Dec 21, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It started this morning when I ventured outside to fill the bird feeders – in my jammies and muck boots, nonetheless. I made quite the picture. You can do that when you live in the woods. At first there was just one. And then two. And three. Before I knew...
by Susan | Dec 18, 2013 | On the Farm
For the second time in four days we had to dig out. This second doozy of a storm dropped another 12 inches. The white stuff is beginning to pile up – and it’s not officially winter. This is the view out the French doors. Somewhere out there are my raised beds and a...
by Susan | Nov 16, 2013 | On the Farm
We headed out on this mild November morning with plans to continue our efforts weeding out the woods along the power line. Waiting for Paul, I pondered this tree out front. We’ve been worried about it for some time. It’s big. It leans towards the house....
by Susan | Nov 11, 2013 | On the Farm
Yesterday was a raw, rainy day. Yet, I still found opportunities to take pictures from the comfort of home. Rain didn’t keep the chickadees away. The kitchen window is the perfect spot for bird watching. This blue jay always visits alone. Aren’t his colors...
by Susan | Nov 3, 2013 | On the Farm
We’ve spent the past few days outdoors laboriously cutting trees that threaten our power line. Last year, days before Christmas, a dead tree fell across the line during a storm leaving us without electricity, telephone or Internet. This year, we’re taking...
by Susan | Oct 28, 2013 | Garden, On the Farm
I spent the afternoon harvesting (almost) the last of my veggies. The Bennett family could live like Kings if one could survive on carrots, garlic, and herbs alone. ‘Cause that’s what I’m most successful growing! Everything else this year has been a...
by Susan | Oct 7, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Within moments of filling the the bird feeder yesterday, the Chickadees came calling. They must have their own form of social media because the word spread fast!
by Susan | Oct 4, 2013 | On the Farm
Our gnarled old apple tree yielded a bumper crop of apples this year. Unfortunately, this tree is so overgrown, that even with a ladder, Hannah and I collected just a few dozen apples; most were entirely too high to reach. Hannah protested as I balanced on the top...
by Susan | Sep 30, 2013 | On the Farm
The sunset tonight made the sky look as if it were on fire. From the house, the trees blocked the view so I hopped in the car and ran out to the woodlot on the back 40 to snap this picture. Beautiful!
by Susan | Sep 28, 2013 | On the Farm
“The family that gathers wood together stays warm together.” So says Paul as we spent the afternoon in the wood lot limbing and stacking trees for winter firewood. Although the day was glorious, sunny and in the low 70s, the changing colors of the trees...
by Susan | Sep 14, 2013 | On the Farm
I spent much of my Saturday indoors cleaning and advising Paul as he installed a new counter and sink in my laundry room. A scurrying sound across my window screens distracted me from my chores and I headed outside where I found this little squirrel. He was doing his...
by Susan | Aug 31, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
Shadow’s latest batch of baby bantam chickens have flown the coop. Shadow has given up her mama duties and the youngsters, now 11 weeks old, are on their own. The Banty B&B is a bit overcrowded with this latest hatch. Who knew Shadow would be such a good...
by Susan | Aug 14, 2013 | Garden
This spring,Granny Gadget sent me hens and chicks. Not of the laying variety, but a new plant for my garden. They looked a bit like a cactus. I didn’t have a plan for them, so I just tucked them into an empty space to keep them alive. They were cute, if a bit...
by Susan | Aug 7, 2013 | Garden, On the Farm
I have only been seriously gardening for the last few years. I work painstakingly to create the perfect garden environment for growing my vegetables. I read up on growing veggies. I test pH levels. I work in peat and compost and diligently weed the garden beds. I...
by Susan | Jul 28, 2013 | Garden
The morning sunshine quickly faded to a cool steady drizzle. Despite the weather, I had garden chores on my to do list. With so little free time, I didn’t let the rain stop me. I harvested garlic. The Banties moved in as soon as I cleared the bed, scratching and...
by Susan | Jul 24, 2013 | Garden
Something has invaded my kale bed. I went out last night to harvest some kale for dinner and found the entire bed nibbled within an inch of its life. Upon further inspection, I found these tiny green worms to be the culprit. I spent hours last night searching the...
by Susan | Jul 17, 2013 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
I’ve had my eye on this nest of Eastern Phoebes in the lean-to outside my office. This morning, I noticed a flurry of activity out the window and saw a tiny little Phoebe perched on the edge of a folding chair. He’d made it the eight feet from down from...
by Susan | Jul 14, 2013 | Chickens, On the Farm
I’ve been concerned about occupancy in the Banty coop given the recent population explosion. We’ll only keep the hens, but as all the babies look alike we’ll have to wait until they grow up a bit before separating out the boys. So this weekend,...
by Susan | Jul 13, 2013 | On the Farm
Last night, I was working at my desk and Mr. Snape was in the window sill watching our Eastern Phoebe zip around catching bugs right out of the air. As she flew up to her nest, I heard some tiny cheeping sounds and went out to explore. Much to mama Phoebe’s...
