Happy Independence Day
In 1776 John Adams wrote of Independence Day: It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more. And it...
The Grand Great Gray Owl
Recently, Sheena wrote: I would love you to produce a great grey owl pattern. My daughter had a great grey owl fly up the isle at her wedding land on her husband's arm and deliver their rings. It was stunning, I'd love to make her one for her first...
A Day Without Rain…
A day without rain is a glorious day! I spent as much time outdoors as possible - weeding, trellising the tomato plants, snipping the scapes off my garlic, weed whacking, etcetera. I'm not the only one who was happy to be out and about today....
Mourning Doves
I enjoy watching the Mourning Doves out my kitchen window. They visit the garden feeder for breakfast and dinner. Here they are pictured with the fading lilacs. Lilacs that are all but gone after days of torrential rains!
Nesting Eastern Phoebes
This weekend I discovered two nesting Phoebes under the back lean-to. They're very shy; every time I tiptoe to the back yard to snap a picture, they abandon their nests and watch me from a distance. After snapping these pictures, I gave up...
Sandy River Beach Outing
After spending yesterday morning thoroughly scrubbing the chicken coop from top-to-bottom, Hannah and I decided we deserved a bit of fun. Although the day was a little overcast, we drove out to Sandy River Beach in Jonesport. It's a relatively...
Introducing the Ducklings
The ducklings spent the last few days in a play yard outdoors becoming familiar with the other farm critters. Today, we introduced Peep and Squeak to the rest of flock. I expected the big ducks to chase off the babies, but for the most part the...
A Visitor to the Garden Bird Bath
This little Mourning Dove look so happy frolicking in the garden bird bath.
Incredible Edible Breakfast Sandwich Machine
This incredible edible breakfast sandwich machine is brought to us by Granny Gadget. She sent Hannah this Hamilton Beach Breakfast Sandwich Maker. We've had fun testing it out. This little gadget is very fun. Hannah said that it makes "the best...
Homemade Greeting Cards Are The Best!
Hannah has taken to making her own cards for special events. I think they are the best. She knows Paul longs for some goats to add more commotion to the Farm. Hence the subject for her Daddy's Day card. When did she become such a talented artist?...
Sunday Snapshots
It was a gorgeous weekend. Sunshine, seventies, and cool breezes. Picture perfect.
Feasting on Lilacs
My lilacs are in full bloom making the garden smell wonderul. As I sit and write this, the breeze is carrying the scent of lilac in the window. Late this afternoon, when we were feeding critters and putting things away outdoors, I found these...
Adventure to the Big Pond
Peep and Squeak are finally getting out of the brooder and experiencing the great outdoors. We put the big ducks in their run early and let the babies explore alone. We had to coax them into the pond. It's a lot bigger than the bathtub! Then they...
Lupine
One of my favorite things about June is the appearance of Lupine growing wild along the Coastal Maine countryside. Although they can be invasive, I so like the tall purple spires, I've started a few from seed at home. They make a good backdrop for...
Hairy Woodpecker – My Morning Visitor
The past few days this Hairy Woodpecker has been a regular morning visitor at my garden bird feeder. Isn't he pretty?
Firsts and Endings
It's been a long week full of firsts and endings. Hannah graduated from 8th grade tonight and officially moves on to high school. She has anticipated this day for weeks, excited about moving on to high school. The reality of it left her (and me)...
Banty Population Explosion
Occupancy in the Banty B&B has hit an all-time high. Over the past couple of days the Banty chicken population doubled. Shadow is proving to be an excellent chicky mama, sticking to her nest until five baby bantam chickens hatched. It seemed...
Artichoke Pizza Sauce
Artichoke hearts are one of my favorite pizza toppings. I was intrigued when during a recent window shopping visit to Williams-Sonoma, I discovered Artichoke & Garlic Pizza Sauce. I couldn't justify $13 a jar for pizza sauce, so the past three...
The Curious Gray Jay
The past couple of days, a cute gray bird has perched on the fence outside my office. I've never seen him visit the feeder in the front, he just sits on this fence and surveys his surroundings. Studying the grainy pictures taken through the window...
Welcome to the Farm!
Exciting things are happening here today. Little Shadow, our Bantam hen is still on her nest. She's my favorite chicken because she's so sweet and even tempered - and a good mama. Hannah's chores include feeding and watering the Bantys each night....
Bees in the Barrens
The bees are back - a sure sign of spring in Downeast Maine. Bee keepers have deposited their hives all across the region to pollinate the blueberry bushes. Everywhere you look, the barrens are covered with lush carpets of green and mauve. The...
Wild Woodland Whites
The sun was shinning and my appointments for the day cancelled, so I took the afternoon off to putter at home. It was too beautiful a day to stay inside watching the clock. As I wandered around the woods by the pond I found lots of white...
Courtship?
Sitting on the porch yesterday, I spied what may have been a bit of courtship going on between these two unidentified birds. There was a lot of posturing and hopping about going on. Cute!
Sunday from the Porch
After two beastly hot and humid days, today was a gem. Still quite warm, breeze off the water kept the things comfortable in the shade of the porch. I had a bit of work still sitting on my desk, so I bounced back and forth from my office to the...
Pond Music
We created the pond last year for the ducks. At the time, we didn't appreciate that we'd be creating an ecosystem. I've always enjoyed the night sounds here, but this new ecosystem is NOISY! With the windows open last night, we had to crank the...
