September 16, 2010
Just a few photos of what I see walking around the property.
Turn here to enter the root cellar
This winter's supply of potatoes
This is the neighbor’s corn field, reduced to a mound of silage, on the left, winter feed for his cattle.
Pearl
Weird, yet beautiful nightime clouds
Dusk visitors return...........
**************************************************************
All is well, and a bit cloudy, at Mountain Meadows this morning.
August 28, 2010
We are three years into this farming “thing” we embarked on. With a big move 2 hours south of the urban/suburban neighborhood we raised our kids in, we picked up, moved, and immersed ourselves in a totally new environment, lifestyle, and way of living.
We now have a pickup, a farm use truck (our suburban pickup in retirement), a soccer mom van turned rolling tack box/livestock herder, and a $30,000 Kubota(that’s tractor to you- the uninitiated)!
We are in the second year of our vegetable garden and potato patch, 3rd growing hay. We understand fully now, how much work it is, how totally dependent on the weather a real farmer is, and how good it feels and tastes to grow your own vegetables!
We now realize that selling at the local farmers market is harder than it looks, not the money maker it would seem to be, and that there is always alot more to learn. And, that hybrid blackberries, while no tastier than the wild ones, are thornless, way larger, and thus, sell better than their smaller wild relatives! During a dry, hot, almost drought summer, wild blackberries will also NOT produce 20 lbs a day!
We now know that groundhogs are sometimes smarter than the amount of fencing and traps you put out. They may still be cute, but are not as cute as they once seemed while we were living in suburbia. Their view of “sharing” and mine, are somewhat different, when it comes to my garden!
We know that weeds will grow, regardless of how little rain comes thru’, and that hay will not! We understand that we are getting a bit too old to “toss that bale”, especially when there are 300 of them sitting in the field! We now understand the phrase “make hay while the sun shines”. We see how the dust can be flying, the ground can be as hard as a rock from lack of rain, and the paddocks overgrazed and not growing – but white capped mushrooms and other plants that horses cannot and will not eat, will manage to push their way thru hardpacked dirt and dot the landscape.
We have learned that wells must be dug deep (and thank goodness, ours is), that hydrofracking is bad for the environment, and rain is important for everyone.
We have come to understand small town way of thinking, and have learned to love and appreciate small town friendliness and helping hands.
We have learned to support locavorism.
We have learned that to grow a garden organically, while preferable, takes alot more work than does spraying a bit to keep away the bugs. We learned that if you forget to put a little mineral oil on the corn silks, you will have gross caterpillars hiding in and eating your ears of corn!
We have learned that while black plastic between the rows of vegetables will keep the weeds down, the intense heat reflected off the plastic will make midday gardening in the height of summer unbearable, and the puddles of water that accumulate there will attract mosquitoes and cause all the cantaloupes to rot just before they ripen!
We have learned that if you don’t keep up with the rototilling, the weeds will grow to be about 5-6 feet tall in the potato field!! On the up side, those hardy weeds are shading the potato plants from the sun, during a borderline drought hot summer!
I have learned to talk to myself (and my horse) as we ride thru the woods- to let the deer know we are coming – so Bambi and his mother don’t jump out of the woods in front of us and scare the crap out of my horse!
I have learned that hunting is a generations old way of life out here in the Gap, and that said – I only walk and ride in the woods on Sunday during hunting season! Oh, and day glow orange is a good color- on man and beast!
I have learned that hounds don’t sleep in the bed with their owners- they are chained out back next to a dog house til hunting season. They also don’t ride up in the front seat of the pickup, they travel in a port holed metal container in the bed of that pickup, heads hanging out, ears blowing in the breeze, excited about going to do what they were bred to do – track and hunt.
I have learned the difference between cows bellowing at dinnertime and cows and calves bellowing because they have been separated to be weaned. It has also dawned on me, that the reason we have milk on the table, is because dairy cows are constantly being bred, and their babies taken away and sold, so that their milk is in constant supply for us humans. I drink more soy milk now…….no offense to the dairy farmers.
I now know that the chicken one buys from the supermarket, is one of a gazillion cute,tiny, yellow chicks that has been factory or family farmed in towns like these, engineered to grow faster and bigger, to be ready for production in 6 weeks. I have also learned that pickup for these chickens can occur anytime- even at 3am !And, I will never get used to what I interpret as the sad looks on these chickens as they are traveling down the highway, crammed in crates, on the way to the factory……….and, yes, I eat less chicken now. I could never be a real and good farmer, feeling about animals the way I do. But, I am thankful that there are people out there who have made farming their life and do a good job at it!
I know, and am less than thrilled to know, that there are seasons of the fly! Now we are in the bot scraping and large nasty horse fly season. There is NO good season of a fly, in my opinion!
I have also learned that small town folk are the best – willing to help whenever needed, no questions asked.
It helps to have a neighbor with a backhoe when you might want to bury your horse, instead of calling the rendering plant to haul it off. That neighbor might not understand, but he’ll dig that hole.
We have also learned that in small towns, everyone is related to everyone else, in one way or another- so be careful what you say!!!
Small towns are also used to doing things a certain way- it has been done the same way for generations, so why fix it, if it ain’t broke? For this little town, it seems to be working fine!
You can live in a small town for 25 years, but if you weren’t born here, and your family hasn’t been here for generations back, you will always be an outsider of sorts. There is something to be said, for having family living, literally, a stone’s throw away……………
“Green Acres is the place to be, farm living is the life for me, land spreading out so far and wide, keep Manhattan (or DC), just give me the countryside….!”
There are many more lessons I have learned in these past 3 years, out here on the farm, but I will save that for another time, another post…………
***********************************************
All is well, in the still darkness of the morning, at Mountain Meadows, at 4:47am…………
February 13, 2010
Life is never dull in the country, no matter what you have heard!!
Laid back, perhaps, but NEVER dull!
We have managed to get thru’ the Blizzard of 2010 relatively unscathed. It came and went, came and went, leaving way more snow then Virginia is used to. Powers outages, collapsing roofs, artic temps, are just a few of the side effects of this snowpocalypse/snowmageddon/snOMG/snowmore!!!!
Glancing out my window the other afternoon, in the midst of this 3 foot snow vista, I saw something that caused me to do a double take! Under the cedar tree, where I toss the cracked corn for the deer, was a large gray, unfamiliar, yet, very familiar form!
The huge, gray, Percheron mare from across the river, had escaped her fencing and her massive nose led her right to the deer feed!
Can you see her?
I ran out to the deck for a better look!
I yelled up to Mr. Green Jeans, as I was throwing on my boots and coat, to call the neighbor – her horse had gotten out!
I ran out the door, grabbing a bucket of feed, and a dog leash(!) as I went! The horse tack was in the barn, and I didn’t want the horse taking off before I could get her!
As I approached, I guess she thought she was in trouble, and she started to circle the tree. But I continued to speak softly, and shake the feed bucket. Food won out, and the mare approached.
I’ve met her before, on walks across the river. She lives in a huge field, with cattle, and now 2 other horse buddies. She is very sweet, but HUGE, with dinner plate sized feet, standing 17.5- 18 hands.
She was large enough to know that I was no match for her. So, food was the link to getting her to follow me. With the dog leash dangling from her halter, she followed me, and the food, to my barn. When we came thru the trees, she caught sight of my horses, and they saw her! She took off for the barn, thru the almost 3 foot snow, to visit some new friends!!
The “old man”, ever alert, saw this huge grey “thing” charging across the field – and just knew, it could not possibly be a horse!! Discretion being the better part of valor, he turned tail and ran to the far end of the paddock! The “big guy”, leader of the pack, now considerably dwarfed, and realizing he was no longer the BIG guy, was cowed for the first time in his life!!
With this mutant horse charging across the snow, the “big guy” decided the “old man” had the right idea, and followed him!!!
Little Miss Lilly, all 30 inches of her, ran thru snow up to her neck, leaping like a rabbit, passing the other two, in her effort to escape!!
Breeze, on the other hand, saw nothing to fear! He perked up his ears, flicked his tail in a flirty manner , and pranced in his best style thru the deep snow, to the fence, to greet this beautiful female intruder!!! She did look alot like a mare he used to live with, but on a much larger scale!!!
I was a bit worried for my fence!! With her height, and the added packed snow, my fence only came up to her chest- and the electricity was not on!!
Mr. Green Jeans came out, with a proper lead- the neighbor was on the way. He was not going to let me try to lead this mammoth out- I might get hurt.
Since the snow kind of impeded my mobility, I let him take over!!!
It took a bit to catch her – she was very interested in Breeze. Eventually, food caught Breeze’s interest (it was near dinner time, after all!), which in turn, again, caught her interest, allowing Mr. GJ to catch her!
Got her!
The neighbor and her dog came running over – difficult to do in the deep snow. We suggested she ride the mare back – but that wasn’t an option. My daughter wasn’t home – she would have jumped right on!!!
So, Mr. Green Jeans said he would lead her back home, over the river. It took a bit, to get the Percheron with the program, finally she settled down and began the walk home. It wasn’t an easy walk, with the hard, deep snow, and those big hooves so close to his feet! The neighbor and I followed behind – struggling thru the snow, and trying to walk in their footprints!
On our way back home...............
Watch out for my feet!!!!!
We were about halfway there, in the above photo-Mr GJ had to take a brief break- note the red face- we were all (except for the Perch) out of breath!!!
Thank goodness, the river is back to creek level- but still above boot level!
(If you go to this previous post , third pic down, you can see how much the water has receded, after the rains, photo was taken at the spot Mr. GJ is crossing the water)
If you look closely, you can see the mare, just above the snowbank, safely back in her own paddock!
Mr. GJ and I trudged back thru our tracks, at a much slower pace!!!
I went back to the barn to finish the nighttime routine and feeding. The “big guy” was snorting and anxious – not wanting to go into his stall to eat!! He kept glancing thru the stall out the open barn door, sure that mutant horse was still out there somewhere! My ‘big guy” had lost his bravado!!!
So, I closed the barn door, coaxed him in for dinner, and eventually, he calmed down and began to eat.
When Breeze came a little too close, all of a sudden, the “big guy” remembered WHO he was, pinned his ears and rushed Breeze- as if to say – I AM the boss within these walls – and don’t you forget it!!! The “big Guy” was back!!!!
***************************************************************
Life is happy, and never dull, at Mountain Meadows this morning………..
June 14, 2009
Yesterday was my first day as a vendor at the local Farmers’ Market.
I was cool, until I woke up yesterday morning, and was instantly a nervous wreck!!! Thank goodness DH was able to go with me!! He drives me crazy, but he keeps me sane!!!
Since I don’t have a canopy yet, I was thankful that it was overcast! It turned out to be a very nice morning! Not the greatest in sales, but I’m the new kid on the block. I sold a few things, made a few friends, and had a local friend or two show up to support me.
My vegetables are not in yet, so the farmers who have them, had the best sales. There are the loyal customers, who come back every year, looking for their favorite veggie or pie. And it helps to be a “local”, so you pretty much know everyone who walks by. I don’t have that luxury, only having lived here 2 1/2 years.
I did sell a lavender eye mask, some teas, scones and pound cake. Having samples out to taste helps!! As I was unloading the car, a lady bought several of my bird house gourds before I even had a chance to put them out! Woohoo!!
Of course, the vendors buy from each other- I got some wonderful lettuce, the quality and price of which FAR surpasses produce from the big chain supermarkets. I just finished my own lettuce, and am starting a new lettuce crop, so was happy to buy from my neighbor. It might be a little too hot for lettuce now, but I will see how it goes.
One of the produce vendors raises llamas, and he is going to bring me some fleece next week – woohoo!!!
The camaraderie at the sale soon put me at ease. I got advise about chickens, something I hope to have very soon. Also got insight into the chicken industry, which is a big thing out here. Advice on growing vegetables, and keeping bugs away was freely given. And, found
out that one of the vendors lives right across the road from me!!
Everyone is willing to share about pricing- so that no one is undercutting anyone else. Prices are all pretty equal and fair. I sold my first couple of bird house gourds, unpainted, for 75 cents each – I was informed the going rate is $2!!!! Since I was the only one selling them (apparently they sell like gangbusters in the fall), my price was not a problem. But it will be up to $2 next week!! guess I better plant some more for next year!!!
My best tip of the day – which I intend to try out today – was how to eradicate flies!!! Now if you have read any of my previous posts, you know flies are the bane of my existance!!! Hate ’em and they drive me (and my horses) nuts!!!
I had noticed this “remedy” on the door of a local shop – and had no idea what it was!! Apparently, and no one knows why it works, but swear it does, if you fill a ziploc baggie with water and duct tape it near a door, or any area where flies get inside- they will stay away!!
Our flies get in thru the garage entry to the house, and also thru the doggie door. If this method works, I will be a happy camper!!! The ladies at the market suggested I try it in the barn also – but I would have to literally wallpaper the barn walls with water filled baggies!! I don’t understand how a little baggie of water will repel flies, when a water bucket or trough has no effect- but I am going to give it a shot!!!
So, all in all, it was a great morning at the market. I will be getting a canopy this week, mom is woodburning a sign to hang on the canopy, and I am working on a quilted one for the table. I may even have some zucchini ready to sell by next weekend!
DH manning my table
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All is well, with some actual sun, at Mountain Meadows, early this Sunday morning………………………………………….
June 7, 2009
Economic times being what they are, it seems like EVERYONE is getting into gardening nowadays!
Whispering is overheard at the co-ops and hardware stores – better get your canning jars now – so many new people have been coming in to buy them – that when we need ’em – they’ll be all gone!!!
That appears to be true. But, I have all I need. Altho’, this year, we have doubled our garden space, with a new corn and potato garden down by the river.
My regular garden, thanks to Mr. Green Jeans, is moving along quite nicely!! All the seeds have finally poked thru the ground. The last to show face were the parsnips, preceded by the carrots and tomatoes. Tomatoes proved to be a little more difficult to grow by seed out doors. I probably should have started them inside long ago. But I’m not worried – I have plenty of tomatoes of all kinds happily growing- cherry, yellow striped, a variety of heirlooms, along with a selection of beefy sandwich types. A late cold spell killed just about all of my first planting. I have learned that you can protect certain plants from frost – but NOT from the cold.
Gardens everywhere were sprouting plastic tubs and milk containers a couple of weeks ago, in an effort to save young plants.
But, we have rebounded from that cold – having more rain than we know what to do with and sunny days in between.
The National Gardening Association tells us that a 600 square foot garden (average sized) will produce 300 pounds of vegetables WOW!!! That would be worth about $600 – after spending maybe $70 to get it all going!
That is not hard to believe, considering the one year, in our old house in suburbia, I was bringing in 20+ pounds of tomatoes every other day- and that was with only 6 or 7 plants.
Farmers’ Market – here I come!!! It is alot of work – altho Mr. Green Jeans does most of the heavy work – I do the weeding and nurturing and harvesting. As DH mows, he takes the grass clippings and spreads them around the garden to keep the weeds under control. And, I am proud to say – so far, my gardens are pesticide free- and I hope they can remain that way. We are still working on perfecting the “pest” free – keeping the rabbits, groundhogs and other little critters out of there!!
I have started more seedlings, and the garage has turned out to be the perfect place for that! Who needs a greenhouse?? The garage stays nice and warm, and is light enough for the little ones to grow. Altho, a greenhouse might be a nice little project some day!!
The herbs have been relocated to the garden by the front porch. One side is dedicated to lavender, the other a mix of flowers and herbs. It does make it easier when I need something fresh for dinner!
The guys are coming tomorrow, weather permitting , to put the trusses and roof on the new pole barn that DH built. All this to house the Kubota and the 1st 600 bales of hay, that we may get to cut, if it ever stops raining long enough for the ground to dry out!
Homegrown lunch!!
Partial row of tomatoes (pre-weeding and rototilling!)
My little friend, who thoroughly enjoyed the misting I gave the seedlings!!
*****************
As the day draws to a close, all is well, and growing nicely, at Mountain Meadows this evening…………………………………..
May 9, 2009
First time visitor- the bluebird brought sunshine!!!!
The a.m. view after the rain- clouds hung up in the mountains.
What once was a puddle....checking the future pond site.
After the rains - the flat rock we used to sit on is hidden under rapids!
Can you spot the horses across the river and in the woods?
Tiny woodland flora
Hope you enjoyed the nature walk between raindrops!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All is well at Mountain Meadows , on the eve of a full moon……………..
April 5, 2009
My brain is just swimming with all the spring things I want to accomplish today and the days that follow!!!
Things are turning green, and blossoming, and the almost 2 inches of rain the other day just revitalized everything!!The river is flowing and I can hear its song from my porch. The peepers have come alive and join the river in a nightly chorus. I find something new to take a picture of every day- Patty took some great photos (she always does) while here for tea. It is always eye opening to see my world thru someone else’s lens. Click on her name to see her view of my view!
Today, as soon as I extricate myself from the mesmerizing grip of this computer (!), I am heading out to the garden to make a brick wall around my tiger lilies and peonies. Out of the dust and rubble of the old house are salvageable bricks from the chimney. Out of the dust and ash of that old house fire, new life arises. I was so afraid the ancient peonies were gone forever after that burn. But, nature never ceases to surprise me. The grape hyacinths are up, the tiger lilies’ green shoots are everywhere! The irises are following close behind, and the quince, altho severely damaged by the blaze, has managed to bloom! The old purple lilac bush may not have been so lucky, but its white lilac cousins are sprouting up everywhere along the old road. So, I will attempt to make a brick border around the blooming babies, and put in a light layer of mulch- since last year proved weeding is not one of my many talents!
Also on today’s to do list is to help the husband mark the perimeter of the new pole barn he will be building in the coming weeks. Haying season is fast approaching, and the first cut promises to deliver about 600+ bales from the front of our property! An empty stall and a garage are definitely NOT enough to hold all that hay!! So, time to build a barn!!! Since we appear to becoming hay farmers, the proper facilities are in order!
Yesterday, the daughter and I went to look at yet another miniature horse. We have been looking to adopt one as a companion for the big guy and the old man, and have seen several cute ones. But for one reason or another, the deal has fallen thru.
This little beauty might just work out. I hope I don’t jinx it by showing a picture, but she is adorable!!!! After a followup visit this week by her owner, to see if our barn passes muster, if they can still bear to part with her, I am hoping she will be ours soon.
Such a sweetie!!!
She is about 30 inches tall (at the shoulder)
What the inside of our new pole barn will look like- 3 sided to store hay and tractor
I read a line in Mary Jane’s Farm magazine – ” A recession is capitalism’s way of getting you to grow a garden.” Eleanor Roosevelt did it at the White House, and now Michelle Obama is doing it. And that’s about as political or inflammatory as I will get in this blog! I moved out here to do just that – grow my own food, become more self sufficient, and now that times are harder, it just enforces that resolve to try to do more ourselves with what we have here. Living in the midst of this small agrarian town is inspiring.
It takes me back to my Quaker roots hundreds of years ago, a much simpler time to be sure. I am looking forward to getting out and planting, being a little less lazy, a little less dependent on others to supply me what I can supply for myself. I’ll keep you posted here, on how I do!!!!!
And, if you want a kick in the butt to get you moving to be more self sufficient, visit my brother’s blog- he posted an interesting article on how the farmer is viewed in today’s society.
Time to get out there and get busy!!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~All is well and sunny at Mountain Meadows this morning
December 4, 2008
The winner of the Christmas Memories Giveaway, did respond and has just received her ‘goodie box’!
So, now I can show you all what she won!!!! I loved this little basket- it is from my favorite (and ONLY!) little store in our tiny town of Fulks Run!! Well, there is also a gas station/quick stop market, a lunch place, and the town’s hub- the Post Office!!! But, Turner Ham/Fulks Run Grocery has been around since the 50’s at least. Family run, it has the best take out sandwiches, local eggs, cider, and hunks of Amish made butter I can’t live without!!! Their hams are world renowned.
You can get books on local history, lore, and geneology, and a wide array of gifts- from gardening to aprons, to Burt’s Bees products, to teas, to Polish pottery. It is literally one stop shopping in a tiny town. And, if I can’t identify a plant or a seed pod, I can bring it in and ask Mary Anne – she always knows!!!
I had alot of fun picking stuff for the basket – it was so hard to choose!!! Can’t wait til the next giveaway!!!
Anyway, congratulations Lisa, thanks for the memories all, and happy holidays!!!!!
Only 21 more days til Christmas!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All is well, and waiting for rain (wish it was snow!), at Mountain Meadows this morning………
November 30, 2008
I have come to the conclusion that there are some animals out there, who spend the better part of their lives, trying to outwit the humans who put up barriers to keep them ‘safe’!!
In the 2 years we have lived here in the country, there have been many stories of animal escapes. It’s just a part of everyday life here, but a cause for more gray hair for me!!
Working with the sheriff’s department, a large part of the husband’s calls are reports of ‘cow in the road’. He even responded to a call about llamas in the road. When he got there, llamas and an alpaca or two, were wandering the main road. That was a fun roundup!!! Certainly not the kind of calls he was used to while an officer in Washington, DC!
‘Cow in the road” calls usually end up with there being no cow in the road, by the time the officer arrives. Said cow was just moseying around, and long gone by the time help arrived!
The husband has also been involved in escapes without happy endings- one night two horses got out and were killed by a truck.
One of his happier animal adventures was a drenched little dog in the road. This little guy had apparently gotten too close to the creek, after a huge rainstorm, and got swept away. The husband pulled up beside the dog, opened his car door, and the wet, muddy little bundle jumped right in, sat in his lap, and looked up at him as if to say, “Home, Sir”! He was miles from home, but with the help of a neighbor, and the postal carrier who recognized him, the old guy was reunited with his owner!
The first animal adventure I came across after moving here, was a herd of goats in the middle of the road, as I came around a blind curve! When I stopped and got out of the car, they scattered, back the way they came!! From later talks with the neighbors, apparently the goats are regular visitors- and not very welcome ones!! They invade neighbors’ gardens eating and destroying as much as they can before being chased off! The herd lives on a nearby farm, owned by an elderly woman, who has trouble keeping up with their antics! There is a dilapidated, abandoned old house nearby, and it is not unusual to see an escaped goat or two, relaxing in the sun, on the remains of the old front porch!!
Near my home is a small piece of land with two rental trailers. One day, while driving home, I glanced over at the trailers, and there was the BIGGEST hog I have ever seen!!! There were three men standing around watching him root thru the dirt, and this hog was easily larger than the 3 men combined!! He turned out to be an escapee from that goat farm. I have no idea how they got that big boy back home!!! I was just happy he did not decide to come thru the trees to my property – my horses would have had coronaries at the sight, sound and smell of that intruder!!
There are always sightings and stories of chickens who have escaped the final destination of the local chicken rendering plant!! The daughter’s friend once rescued a turkey from the road. Somehow, he had fallen off the truck, and was sitting dazed by the side of the road. She put him in the back of her car and continued on to work. Aside from the poop and feathers he left in her back seat, he was content to wait for her in the car, and he now lives with her on her farm- as a pet, not an entree!
On a previous post, I have written about Miss Kitty coming for a visit. Miss Kitty is a horse- and she escaped late one night from her paddock several miles down the road, and fortunately (and amazingly) found her way to our house. We found her sleeping outside our paddock, with our two horses watching over her from the other side of the fence.
Also written about in an earlier post, the neighbors’ cows escaped one evening, and came right into our lush green hay fields!! That was an exciting night, when my van had yet another incarnation, becoming a cutting horse on wheels, as I helped the neighbors round up their cows!!
My own horse has a history of jumping fences -his motto has always been ‘the grass is always greener on the other side’! He has only done it twice in the two years we have been here, because his paddock is usually very green!!. Age, and the electric fence has prevented any further incident!!!
I “found” two horses grazing by the side of a rather busy road, not too long ago. I made a u-turn and started knocking on doors til I found their owners. Apparently someone had not latched the gate too securely, in that instance, and the 2 grays wandered out. One of the horses was deaf, and always stuck close to his hearing companion. I still shudder to think what could have happened, if one of them had stepped out into the road!
My favorite story happened recently – to a friend of mine – who shall remain nameless – because he doesn’t want his friends and neighbors to make fun of him!! Friend was relocating his 1800 pound steer, and had him in the stock trailer. He had to go to the gas station to fill up the truck. As he crossed the railroad tracks, and pulled into the station, he heard a ruckus in the trailer. He pulled up to the pump, and went toward the back to check on the trailer, in time to see his bull backing down the trailer ramp into the gas station lot!!! Apparently, when he went over the tracks, the bolt latch on the trailer door became dislodged, and when the big guy bumped it, he realized he was free!!! The gas station sets on a busy road and backs on to an open field with a stream, so it took some fast maneuvering to box that steer in. The friend called some friends (ones who would not make fun of his predicament), and long story short – it took over 2 hours to get that steer back in the trailer!!! He just got tired of all the commotion and walked right back up the ramp!! Fortunately, he was relatively tame, or the ending to the story might not have been as happy!
I am finding, out here in the country – as peaceful as it is, it always pays to drive with your eyes open – you never know what might be around that curve! As much as we try to ‘protect’ our animals, from themselves and the world around them – they have minds of their own, and life with them is NEVER dull !!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
All is well, altho’ dreary, rainy, and cold, at Mountain Meadows this Sunday morn, the last day of November…………………………
November 23, 2008
It’s a tea party for me – Sunday morning tea for one!!!!
I collect tea related items and pottery. Delicate Belleek and vintage English bone china cups and saucers, usually never leave the display cabinet!! With a rambunctious canine crew of 4, fancy tea cups would have a very short life span once they move into this house!!!
So, most of my tea at home is served in sturdy, handmade pottery.
I just wanted to tell you all about a new tea source I discovered in blogland –
Peggy Krantz, the proprietress, is so sweet – and your order is mailed out right away from her farm in Dexter, New Mexico.
I ordered the tea ball/infuser pictured – you can pick your colors and charms. I requested a bag of alfafa tea, which is absolutely delicious all by itself! Peggy threw in a sample of her lavender hand cream, which is wonderful!! How did she know I am a lavender freak?? LOL
The tea ball pictured matches my daughter’s locally made Bay Pottery mug perfectly. I went searching for my linen napkins to complete this little Sunday vignette – and remembered they are all for sale in the shop!!! I did manage to save two of the vintage bed trays for myself – the rest are in the shop!!! There comes a point in time, that things have to be passed on to others to appreciate!!!! One can only have so many things, before one is teetering on the edge of ‘hoarder-dom”!!
The little bent honey spoon partially seen in the pottery honey pot, can be ordered from Mrs. Hardesty’s Tea Room, in Harrisonburg, Va.
http://www.rockingham.va.golookon.com/listings/mrs_hardestys_tea_room
Tea ball from “Chapped Chick”-so cute!!
My goodies!!!!
Well, my alfalfa tea is getting cold…………………………the wood stove is whistlin’ and cracklin’!
Time to sit back and enjoy my tea while I can, before the husband calls on me to help with his basement project!!!!
****************************************
All is well, and peaceful this Sunday at Mountain Meadows………………………….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…tea for two
And two for tea,
…me for you
And you for me…..
Nanette/Tony Bennett
 | Linda Jo on An American Kestrel |
 | ooglebloops on The Night Sky and Other Things… |
 | devoncountrydiary on The Night Sky and Other Things… |
 | Bobbi Counts on An American Kestrel |
 | Wendy S. on An American Kestrel |
Ooglebloops's World 