A Bit of Farm History
We uncovered a piece of farm history. While identifying trees that need to be removed from the woods around the house we found this evidence, that long before our time, someone else was farming the land. A fir tree, 13 inches in diameter, has...
From the Agony of Defeat
Today's soccer game didn't go great for Hannah's team. She looks so dejected as she leaves the field here. I love the transformation in her face when she sees me snapping pictures. Looking at her smiling face fills my heart with...
The Power of a Greenhouse
Intellectually, I understand the value of a greenhouse, but this is the first time I've really put the theory to test. In mid-August, when summer was still in the air, I planted a second crop of green beans. Then September came and it was as if...
Spritely Little Nuthatch
I spent the day outside working with Paul. Together we cut trees to thin out the area around the pond. While I worked, a tiny little nuthatch energetically flitted in an out of the trees. The wood has been cut and stacked for burning in the wood...
Duck Tails
Hannah was the first to notice that our baby ducks, now full grown, have developed their curly tail - indisputable evidence that they are males. Of course, the recent morning nookie happening on the pond was a giveaway, too. Here's Puddles (see the...
Who’s Lookin’ in the Window?
I found Miri and Gilfy looking in the window this afternoon!
A Partridge For Your Pear Tree
This felt partridge will make a nice ornament for your pear tree. He's done in natural colors here, but you could get colorful and creative for your Christmas ornament. Click here to download this pattern. If you make one, comment here to share a...
The Colors of Harvest
On this last day of summer, we traveled to the Common Ground Fair - one of the highlights of the year for us. It's billed: A celebration of rural living that promotes organically grown Maine produce and alternative lifestyles. We walked for miles...
Sunday September Snapshots
It was a gorgeous Sunday in our little corner of Maine today. I tried to spend as much time outside as possible. I helped Paul cut and stack wood, made bean soup, puttered with projects and parked myself by the pond or the porch every spare moment....
Tiny Tufted Titmouse Felt Ornament
Here's a tiny Tufted Titmouse ornament made from felt. I've only seen a few at my feeder over the years, but they always delight me. Here's the pattern if you'd like to make this little bird. Click here to download the Tufted Titmouse felt pattern....
In Search of a Flock
Miri and Gilfy are our Buff Orpington and Barred Rock mix chickens, hatched in June. They are now living (temporarily) in a dog crate next to the big girl's coop where they've spent the last few weeks becoming familiar with the Girls, the Banties...
Are Snails Cute?
Why is it that I find slugs so abhorrent and snails so darn cute? They're kind of the same thing, aren't they? While helping Hannah hunt for grasshoppers for her science class terrarium project, I found this trio of snails on a purple coneflower....
The Potato Harvest
My first potato harvest started in the spring when Hannah helped me build this basket for growing potatoes. I planted Kennebec and a red variety of seed potatoes. Excited when the potatoes sprouted, I dutifully layered the plants with straw and...
Sweet Mourning Dove Felt Ornament
This little mourning dove is reminiscent of the birds to frequent the garden feeder and birdbath. After a summer hiatus from drawing bird patterns this little dove inspired me! Click here to download the free Mourning Dove pattern. If you make this...
Clover and Klee
Meet Clover and Klee, our father and son roosters. Hatched on May 1, Klee has grown into the spitting image of his daddy. This morning I heard Klee try his first crow. Kids, they grow up so fast!
A Budding Photographer
Hannah isn't much into photography. She'd just as soon look through binoculars as take photos. I think she's got a good eye for it. She took this picture in July on Isle au Haut - with a disposable Fujifilm instamatic!
Rooster Face Off
Clover, the bantam rooster (stage left) has been feeling his oats. I don't think he realizes that The Colonel (stage right) is at least three times his size. Maybe he has a Napoleon complex. In this rare rooster face off, Henrietta senses that all...
Curly Hair Woes
I have been cursed blessed with naturally curly hair. Only a mother with fine, straight hair could wish this on their daughter. Mine did. Of course, she had help. Dad has naturally curly hair. He wears his in a crew cut. Grandma Jordan, born in...
Breakfast with Chickens
I took advantage of a beautiful morning and took my coffee and breakfast out to the porch. Some uninvited company arrived. She seems to be begging. I'm not sure how I feel about having breakfast with chickens.
Sea Smoke on the Pond
Sea smoke is fog formed when very cold air moves over warmer water. In this case, it's "pond smoke" - and it was darn chilly this morning! Summer is on its way out. It seems like summer just started last week here in Maine.
Schoodic Point Picnic
Homecation Day 8. It was a gorgeous day so we packed a picnic and took it to the Schoodic Peninsula which is part of Acadia National Park where we were on Day 6. The entrance to Schoodic is in Winter Harbor - about 30 minutes from home. (Click on...
Cadillac Mountain Drive
Day six of my homecation took us to Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park. Paul agreed to come with Hannah and I because I promised no forced marches - just a nice drive. What he didn't anticipate was me having him pull over at every single...
Cruise to Petit Manan Lighthouse
On day five of my homecation we spent an amazing morning cruising our hometown waters - the Narraguagus Bay with Captain Jamie of?Robertson Sea Tours. We left from the Milbridge Marina and cruised out to Petit Manan Island. The day was a gorgeous...
Bog Brook Cove Hike
Day three of my homecation involved a mother-daughter hike to Bog Brook Cove in Cutler, Maine. The hike out to the coast took us through a variety of terrains - fir forest, oak forest, and birch forest before we finally made it to the coast. We...
Greenhouse Planning Begins
Day two of my homecation started with sleeping in and then a lazy day puttering around the property. Paul and I played with pieces of an old tent framework, mixing and matching them until we came up with this layout for a little greenhouse....
