Bird in the Clouds
Do you see a bird in the sunset clouds?
Startled by a Pileated Woodpecker
As I walked out the door this morning, arms overflowing with handbag, coffee, water bottle, lunch, day planner, and camera over my shoulder (yes, I could use a tote), a large black bird swooped out of the fir tree and flew straight at me. I think...
Farewell September
Autumn colors shining bright on a dreary day. Farewell September!
Holy Tomatoes!
"Holy tomatoes!" exclaimed Hannah when she spied the result of my morning's work. With ground prep beginning today on the greenhouse, we needed to move the garden fence to give Paul space to run the tractor. You can see the need for the fence. The...
Apple Picking at Treworgy Orchard
We enjoyed a shiny autumn afternoon strolling through Treworgy Orchard today. The kids explored the giant corn maze while Paul and I strolled through the pumpkin patch taking notes for next year. I want some of of these. And some of these. It looks...
Confused Sports Mom
Am I a bad mom because I don't enjoy any sport that involves sitting on bleachers? Or that I won't make it to every one of Hannah's games? Hannah is not a born athlete. I didn't play sports and while Paul played a little football, he didn't love...
Enter Autumn
On this first day of autumn, the trees are just beginning to blush, but the blueberry barrens are racing towards full-color. As much as I fought the finality of summer, there's something captivating about the season of fall.
Mapping Out the Greenhouse
We have been talking of and dreaming about a greenhouse for quite a few years. The location, style, and size has changed with the tides. Motivated by the greenhouse I saw at the Common Ground Fair on Friday, I lured Paul outside to debate the...
Common Ground Fair – A Wonderful Way to End Summer
For me, the Common Ground Fair is the pinnacle of summer. I mark the day on my calender and take the day off of work to explore this celebration of rural living. The sights - the flowers, the vegetables, the crafts, the livestock are all eye-candy....
Early Frost
Summer. Frost. Two words that should not go together. Yet, I look back at last year and I wrote about a summer frost on the 18th. After tossing sheets over all my remaining veggies last night and finding them frozen this morning, I have new...
Great Egret on the Marsh
Along the banks of the Narraguagus River, I found this impressive great egret wading in the marsh. On this chilly Maine September day, I have to wonder if he's lost his way.
Walking Corea Heath
I'm feeling a bit panicky that summer has passed me by before I had a chance to enjoy it. After a morning of chores that included the exciting jobs of duck coop clean out and wood cutting, we abandoned thoughts of the impending winter and escaped...
The Nomadic Cedar Waxwing
This pattern is inspired by the cedar waxwing I snapped a picture of on a foggy morning a few weeks ago. For a bird with such silky, sleek lines, it was challenge to create a pattern of his likeness. Finding the right color of brown for the body is...
Dragonflies
I don't believe that dragonflies deserve their name. There doesn't seem to be anything fierce about them - unless you're a mosquito. In that case - beware! We've had quite a few dragonflies zipping around the farm fast and furious. I'm fascinated...
The Last Day Lily
The day lilies are all but spent. One lone blossom remains in my garden. I stopped to admire the flower and was surprised to discover that I'm not the only one? enjoying this last bright beacon of summer.
Friday Morning Cuteness
A little bit of cute to end your week. Like momma, like baby.
Banty Adventure
The new banty babies had an adventure today. Salty's brood is almost three-weeks-old and she's a bit bored hanging out in the coop and run. The run door is on the second story (so we can open the door when there's loads of snow on the ground in the...
An End of August Garden
This last weekend in August found me in the garden wishing I could restart the month. I'm not ready for the growing season to wind down, especially when I'm having such great success with my hugelkulturs. I'd love another month of warm weather to...
Evening at the Blue Hill Fair
It was a beautiful evening to celebrate the end of summer at the Blue Hill Fair. The weather was cool and crisp - perfect for enjoying blooming onions, funnel cakes and fair rides. Although Hannah tells me it's not smart to mix fried foods with...
An August Maine Monday
August's last Monday morning began in a cloak of fog yielding to a quintessential summer day.
Salty’s Baby Chicks
A moment of cuteness to make you smile on a Wednesday morning. We are smitten with these little babies! http://youtu.be/I5ke3FSo42E
First Driving Lesson
Hannah turned 15 two weeks ago and ever since has been chomping at the bit to drive. In Maine, parents have to pay to enroll kids in an approved driver's education class before they can apply for their learner's permit. With school and sports, I'm...
Of Laundry and Chickens
Today was a most productive Saturday. We managed to outsmart the mink these past few weeks and the last of the meat chickens are now in the freezer. More babies are hatching and I dried the first two loads of laundry on the new clothes line Paul...
We Have Babies!
What's a farm without farm babies?Shadow, our little bantam hen who we lost this last winter, was our resident farm mama - the only hen, chicken, or duck who managed to hatch babies. This summer, we've had four broody girls. Salty, one of our...
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes: Nirvana
Tonight I discovered the absolute joy of roasted cherry tomatoes. I've never done this before, but the cherry tomatoes are coming in faster than I can use them on salad. If you haven't done this, they are WONDERFUL. I cut the cherry tomatoes in...
