A beautiful day

     When I was younger I didn’t live so much in the moment – always worrying about choices, relationships – the good ones and the bad ones, finances or lack of them, my young family’s safety, health, the list goes on and on. While I’m still and always will be a chronic worrier,  ( Heck, I just stopped having “I didn’t do my homework” dreams about five years ago)  I have learned with age to live far more of my life in the moment.  And… I don’t give as much of a f*ck about trying to please everyone all the time, or even if someone likes me.  I have finally come to that place where I know in my heart of hearts I am a decent soul and I like me… maybe even love me.  Sounds silly, but that knowledge comes hard to some of us, and maybe you know the woe.  This was a day when I sat completely comfortable with myself and content with my life’s direction. 





    Yesterday it seems everyone in New England was out and about, enjoying the beautiful 🌺SPRING🌸  day – temps reached 61 degrees!   On the road, some of my fellow Jeepers had their tops off and down at Stella, island folks were beginning the Spring ritual of opening up and airing out their cottages.  My daughter and I spent some time at the show barn with Leah – and I got to take her for a spin around the block a few times myself. 



  As I watched my daughter go ’round the ring practicing for the first show of the season, the warm sun beaming down on our faces, I was reminded again of all she has overcome, how lucky we are to have these experiences after all.   

    After time well spent at the barn, I headed down to the cottage where the Mr. was working with two of his crew to replace the split railing we initially installed at the waterfront.  When sitting on the blue stone patio, what greeted  seated folks at eye level were  clunky cedar beams.  It was a nice rustic look but took away from the water views.  So we’ve installed wire which will keep people from falling over but doesn’t block the view.  It’s almost invisible. as you can see in this photo. 



   We were so pleased with the effect, we decided to take the waterfront railing section  of the deck out and replace it with the same wire.  We have a lot of summer meals up on that little deck and the view now when seated will be a much fuller waterfront scene. That deck comes in handy as a “playpen” for Frasier and Sally as well – they are safe up there with a gate at the stairs, and someday the same will be true when and if we’re blessed with grandchildren. 



     We brought some dirt from the farm down to the shore – we’ll spread it in the waterfront part of the little yard to fortify the grass and level the footing some.  If you can believe it,  M wants to plant a little vegetable garden down there as well as the one I keep here on the farm.  The bunnies are prolific on the island-really-a-peninsula,  he’ll have to put a little fencing up if we are to eat any of that produce. 
   


Frasier, Sally and I took a walk  after inspecting the new fencing… we are on a cove in the Long Island Sound – which you can see in the distance here.  The crocus have arrived!   And they tell me the peepers too, and while I can’t hear the actual thing, I hear peepers 24/7 with the tinnitus and hearing loss, go figure – 😂











  I can usually find at least one piece of seaglass on each walk.  This one was a very pale blue, my favorite color.



The water hasn’t been turned on yet so the cottage can’t be given a thorough Spring cleaning, bed linens aren’t re-washed or beds made  until April 15th or so, when the water is turned back on.   We don’t spend too much time here until then, no toilets!   The new gas stove does a fantastic job of heating up the space when the nip in the air needs tucking.   Sally approves. 


    When the chill came in off the water with the setting sun I came home to feed the horses and chickens and clean the new chicks water for the tenth time.  Have I mentioned how piggy chicks are?  All doing well, by the way.  The  good weather had us all in high spirits, and it was evident in the people we encountered throughout the day, too.   I always hope that kindred spirit spreads far and wide. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a blanket of good will to cover this entire planet – think of all the problems we could solve, what a wonderful world this could be if only.   It was a restorative kind of day that I sorely needed.   Today I’m wishing the same for  you – 
 Till soon – 
Karen 🌷

Chick Day

  All around this area at this time of year are the ads for feed stores and especially Tractor Supply announcing their Chick Days.  I had written a post a while back describing my plans to build a bigger coop this Spring and I even ordered 16 new chicks of different varieties to raise and increase my current flock of 14 aging chickens.  Well – the boyz got busy doing other things, work related things that actually pay the bills,  and so we decided to hold off a year or two on the new coop. I cancelled my  chick order with Cackle Hatchery, a  little bummed, because I had picked out some beautiful breeds.

    So… I’ve had to go in to Tractor Supply several times in recent weeks, and each time I stared at the chicks and ducklings and almost grabbed _just a few_, but talked myself out of it because raising chicks is work, and I’d have to create another brooder on the porch, and do I need more chores right now and especially without a bigger coop? The answer is no.. .so…. I was pretty proud of my restraint.
   Yesterday on the way home from checking on our little cottage by the sea,  the husband said “Let’s stop in Agway and get some of that dried cow manure fertilizer for the vegetable garden“. 
  I’m thinking that’s safe, they don’t sell chicks there, right?  
Wrong. 

     Frasier’s wondering why mama won’t let him sample the chicken nuggets out on the porch.

    I even left the store chick-less with the Mr… came home and thought on it for about 30 seconds more.  Then just for the heck of it  I browsed the basement to see if there were any big boxes down there that would suffice as a brooder for the time being.  The Christmas Tree Box was sitting empty, because once you pull a fake tree out of it’s box, it isn’t ever going back in there the way it came out. So… I took it as a sign.    Of stupidity? Possibly.  But here we are, regardless. 
   Last night two of the chicks looked a little wobbly – they go through a heck of a lot to get to the feedstore at just a day old.. and then to their new home.  I’m happy to report this morning all six look perky.   These are what I brought home.. 
2 Light Brahmas… 
2 easter eggers – which can come in any color at all, so those
will be revealed as they feather out. 
 One Buff Orpington
 And one New Hampshire Red
  Not as exotic or as large an order as my original order from Cackle Hatchery, but still good egg layers, hearty breeds, a nice edition to my flock. 
 Happy Spring! 


   

This and That, because clever post titles are hard to come by

    For those who left comments on the Dear 2020 post, thank you for joining the conversation on a difficult topic. For me it’s therapeutic to talk it out amongst like minded people, and even to hear a different view when it’s not laced with hate.  I’m not religious, but I’m praying for the mental health and humanity of our society as a whole as history unfolds.     What a world it could be if  not for our own vices, greed and destruction. If only we could just respect each other’s differences and work together for the common good of all.  So simple,  so attainable, and yet so far from our reality. 
    Onward!  The frigid conditions here on the farm have lifted – in the  upper 20’s as I type, and it feels downright balmy.   I tried something that worked during our deep freeze – If you water critters outside during winter months – keeping that hydrant from freezing is sticky business.  Stuffing a water bucket with hay, and then flipping that over the hydrant when not in use.. works!

    The paddocks where a skating rink after the deep freeze.  Thankful my husband owns a sanding truck (for work purposes) and I was able to let the horses out into the paddocks after they made a sweep through with the sand/salt.    After losing my beloved Opie, I don’t need another equine loss due to a broken leg. Speaking of which – the mini’s and our boarder’s horse, the very old (32 years!) Max are getting along really well – right now I’ve brought them up to the big barn from their smaller shed.  Their paddock is still a skating rink, so they’re sharing Max’s for the moment and with Opie’s passing we have a vacant stall. They really like the new arrangement –  it’s like they’ve moved up to the big boys dorm.

    In my never ending quest to lose this miserable menopausal weight and make healthier eating choices, I came across this chickpea salad recipe – so easy to throw together, very refreshing, too.   Recipe and this photo credit to the Striped Spatula… link below photo. 
 Recipe HERE
    Along with this dieting gig which I have yet to really really stick with for the long haul, I do keep up with at least a minimal exercise routine.  Daily I tend to the horse and chicken chores, which is usually about an hour of work, but I also get in some aerobic exercise with the dogs – we walk at least four days a week, most often on the farm, where there are fields, hills and woods and long dirt roadways that make it easy, and hard to find excuses since it’s right outside the door.  Occasionally I get on the treadmill, but it bores the hell out of me.  Being outside and moving along is more motivation for a person like me, anyway. 

    Bailey, Frasier and Sally love these walks – I leave our cardiac patient, my Dane, Ben – inside on these cold days.   There’s another shot of the big window from afar.

     Sometimes we get in the car and visit the cottage  (Stella) – where I walk the island – also a two miler IF I use all the roadways there.  There is also a state park just five minutes from here with a beautiful roadway that circles a pond and stream and even a waterwheel and covered bridge.   It’s so beautiful, I scold myself for not using it more often – free if you walk in! 
     I throw light weight training in for good measure,  just three sets of twelve reps, four different muscle groups, doesn’t take long but reaps benefits of keeping me feeling strong, even when I hurt.  I’m no expert, but one of my friends who is an expert agrees –   I highly recommend a combo of  simple stretching, walking and light weight training for anyone, and especially  those who are middle to older aged.  You don’t need to beat yourself into the ground or use a fancy gym – just a few light handweights you can buy at your local Target or Walmart and a good pair of walking sneakers, etc. will do the trick. Get bored easily like me? Switch it up now and then with   a bike ride or kayak or yoga. 
     Sometimes the very simplest advice turns out to be the best, right?   

                                        Use it or lose it… 


       Arriving home from the woods walk yesterday, I surveyed the current garden plot situation… 
   What a difference six months makes, huh?  Some shots from last summer below…  (My weeding skills could be honed some, tis true.) 
Tonight I’ll pull out the seed catalogs and 
place an online order.
I’m not paid to say anything on this blog…
If I endorse it, I’ve had success with it. 
My favorite seed source is Baker Creek Heirloom seeds..
Link HERE.  
I find their seeds to be healthy, meaning they actually perform
if you follow the directions properly, and the plants hearty.

That gorgeous zinnia row to the left is courtesy dear friend Hilary
of Crazy As a Loom.  She sent seeds from her garden
last year and they flourished.  

     I have placed the reply option with comments again –  last time I did that, many reeaders had trouble leaving a comment at all.  So often I want to thank you or answer questions to comments left,  remaining silent seems rude, but had no option when I removed that feature.  My comments no longer are delivered to my e-mail, where I used to be able to answer.  If you visit frequently, leave a comment to let me know you were able to.  Let’s see if I got it right this time.

    As always – thank you for stopping by. 

Snow Day

   

     Under normal circumstances they don’t like each other- they argue over who’s the boss, they don’t always perceive the same things as dangerous or even agree on who’s a friend and who’s a foe. They don’t share well with each other, but somehow the storms change things. Butt to Butt- they weather those  storms and find common ground, they find comfort in each other. We could learn a few things from dogs…..


 
     

   Something I took for granted for all these years-  Democracy. I never realized how truly fragile it is, and at any point in history, what we depend on can come crumbling down.  Maybe a dividing, lying, egotistical blowhard like Tr*mp had to happen in order to flush out all the corruption, the hypocricies, the bigotry, racism and  blind allegiances that clearly still course through the veins of our republic.  Maybe all the shortsightedness on both sides of the aisle and the less than stellar motives of some of the extremists, both left and right,  needed to be exposed in order to eventually heal what is clearly very broken. 

   I’m encouraged by the good things that are coming of this collosal mess, people are voting, for one thing.  Women are coming forth and getting elected at record rate – Republicans and Democrats are questioning some of the failings of their own parties and striving for something better.  In many places We the People are being heard.    Amen… and Amen again. 

    

    Last night we had our first real snow fall – 



       This morning it’s all pretty wet, with rain in the forecast. 




 The green thing in the upper right hand corner is the umbrella I was using to shield me from the wind and drizzle as I fed horses and chickens. That’s the thing about these adorable farm animals.  Doesn’t matter the weather, they need their feed.  My morning commute ….. 



   
   Opie, not particularly fond of selfies, waits impatiently for grain. 
     

Fiona says Good Morning!   (actually, she’s clucking ” It’s cold – where’s my F-ing oatmeal” . Yep, she swears – I’m a bad influence, I know it. )


   

      I’ve started the holiday decorating inside – not too christmas-y yet because we’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner here.  Nothing says disrespect for the Thankful holiday like Christmas up in your face before you’ve even carved the bird. 



 Miss Sally’s favorite perch ….. 




 Usually I have a coffee cake or brownies or cookies in the glass cake stand on the kitchen island. We’re all trying to watch our calorie intake ( we’re watching it, alright… as it goes in our mouths….)  and for some reason I believe we’ll eat less crap if it comes in small wrapped packages… ha ha ha… ha. 




   
  Anyway… a few chuckles for you on this dreary grey New England day…. 




I hope all is well in your neck o’the woods – 
Till soon…. 





Invasion of the Giant Pink Flamingo

   We’ve been spending a significant amount of time down at the shore – cottage life has been a welcome reprieve from our hectic work life and farm chores.   Heading down there at the end of the day to cool off in the water or on the deck for a meal with the gathering family, or to hop in the kayaks on a quiet morning… truly feels like we are AWAY from it all, on  a little vacation.  Making the decision to buy a small place not far from our home as opposed to several hours or more “away” turned out to be an excellent decision for our clan.  We’re getting far more use out of it so close by than we would have if there were a long drive or flight involved.  And – the bonus is friends and family are nearby and can join us easily as well. 

The dogs are with us more often than not – 
and while Frazier swims and has accompanied me on the kayak…
Sally is still unsure.  However, she now ventures to water’s edge –
  Yesterday she stretched her little stubby legs in the surf
(all of two inched deep)  to reach for
a piece of  snow cone my son offered up. 
Progress. 

 The blue steps maybe stand out a bit, but their gritty texture works perfectly
to eliminate slippery stairs. 
*Boat Bottom Paint Plus Sand mixed in* 
And..  I’ve described this before but it always amazes me – 
most of the pictures in this post are taken at low tide. 
At high tide, just a few hours later, the water is up over the blue steps 
 – a difference of about six feet.

  This  succulent-like type plant grows prolifically on our seawall – anyone know what it is?  It now has white flowers and is just beautiful.

  The boys have been clamming –   A little info – Did you know you should never clam right after a rain storm?  The storm kicks up all the muck and pollution and the clams are busy filtering it out right after the storm.  So they’re “full of it”… and you don’t want to eat a mucky clam.

   Our new float (bottom right in picture) is holding up well so far, even with a make-shift patch to the hole we put in it trying to heave it over the cedar fence sea wall.

   Do you see that little pink thing off in the distance? 

  It’s actually HUGE!  Remember the Stay Puff Marshmallow man in Ghostbusters?
That’s what it reminds me of.
Our neighbor a few cottages down the way installed it for his kids. 

  
   Here it is in an ad – to give you an idea of the size.  Apparently they are all the rage this year in lakes, ponds, rivers and coves like ours.  Sams Club, among other places, sells them for around $150.   Probably real fun for a party, but I doubt they last long. I’ll let you know how long Pinky lasts in our cove. 
 
 And if a giant flamingo doesn’t float your boat, perhaps a rainbow pegasus Unicorn will! 
     
Have a safe and happy fourth of July celebration –  We’ve got a heat and humidity wave going here in New England –  Perfect time to have a float in the ocean. 
  

Sea Dogs

   Last year when Sally first arrived on transport from Georgia, she was a tiny little thing and nervous to boot – understandable given her journey from dumped shelter puppy to rescue to transport to my open arms. 
Her rescue angel – Dana 
This was the morning she was put on transport in Georgia
to come live with us, her forever family in CT
On the other end, 24 hours later – in New Haven, CT
where there were many tears of joy…
These ladies are amazing – they work for Grateful Doggies Transport
and drive through the night, stopping to check on and water 
and walk their charges – as they drop them off 
at various stops along the East Coast Corridor
to the waiting arms of their forever homes. 
   We started bringing Sally down to the shore right away because we wanted her to feel comfortable there too.  The first few visits were a big deal for her and she was frightened of the water.  She’s still nervous on the car ride down, but she has adjusted really well, at a year old now, to our “other” home.  I take both Frasier and Sally with me more often than not, while Ben and Bailey stay home.  Ben, our Dane,  is just too darn big at 186 pounds, and little Bailey is older and nervous in new environments so we let them guard the house while we are at the cottage.  M and I don’t yet stay overnight at Stella because I’ve got horses, dogs and chickens to tuck in at night and feed in the morning.  Mom stays for weeks at a time and some day we will live there during the summer – when the farm has less demands of our time.
Sally inspects the oyster beds at low tide.
These are submerged at high tide, and we have to be careful where we step
(water shoes a must) when we swim or go clamming.   
    Sally still thinks swimming is a terrible idea and prefers to hunt among the rocks along shore, but Frasier is a real Salty Dog – he loves the water, lays right down in it to cool off,  and occasionally comes for a kayak ride with me. 
      Speaking of boats –  Ruby and I took our first glide through cove waters on Saturday, an absolutely glorious day here in Connecticut… and it felt so good to have the sun on my face, the cool water at my fingertips.  We hugged the shore because the winds were beginning to pick up and there was some chop, a prequel to yesterday’s rains. 
   A little about “Ruby” –  I’ve tried some kayaks over the years, some fancy models, some cheapos  too – and by far, the best as far as tracking and stability and just plain ease of use and fun is my Necky Manitou Sport – I think I’ve had her for about 8-10 years now.  She’s a little heavy compared to some other models you can buy – but when you get a lighter version, you have less stability. For me it’s not worth the sacrifice to have a lighter “haul” to get her into the water.  If you are in the market for a recreational  kayak of your own and you’re not going to do any crazy whitewater or BIG ocean wave stuff – I highly recommend this kayak.  I’ve done rivers, lakes, cove and shore paddling and I just love it for it’s sturdy ride. 
** I’m not getting paid to say this – I just like it that much and feel confident to recommend it if you’re looking for a kayak of your own.  Here’s a LINK if you want to learn more. 
  An update on the baby robins on the cottage porch –   I stepped out onto said porch  to sweep the floor and the babies got startled and flew away (sorta).  I sure hope they were ready – they looked iffy.  Ugh!.. I wish I had thought of that before opening the door! 
  Meanwhile, back at the ranch… the Chipping Sparrow babies in the shrub next to the sliders are getting bigger too… to get an idea of how tiny these guys are – that piece of pale blue ribbon is thin curling ribbon their parents found somewhere – and the shrub is a boxwood, those green leaves are very small too. 
    It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it?   
  
  Happy Memorial Day Weekend to all –  the skies are supposed to clear, we’re heading back down to Stella – perhaps for another spin around the cove and definitely to mow the lawn, which has been overfertilized by the Mr. and has been growing like Bob Ross’s hair in that old chia pet commercial.   You know the one I’m talking about, don’t ya. 
To our Veterans everywhere – deceased, retired and still serving…

Here Comes the Sun



Little darling, it feels like years since it’s been here
Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun, and I say
It’s all right




Star magnolia tree in our side yard, 
a  mother’s day gift from my daughter
a few years back 💗
 We are rejoicing in the reappearance of the sun.  Temps are still on the chilly side.. but we have green. We have warmth, we have that golden glow in the sky.  Amen.

The chickens are sun and dust bathing again…
The horses grazing… 
   We have a little side deck off the kitchen sliders – the wood heats up when the sun is out and ooh, does it feel good to lay out there, back pressed to the wood, soaking up the rays – which we did quite a bit of yesterday, me and the dogs, and for ten mintues, even the husband.

   The grass is greening up, the horses are shedding their winter coats and birds are nest building with some of that horse hair.   Egg laying has commenced.

Purple finch eggs behind our porch lantern
 The forsythia is just beginning to bloom, weeks late,  ever so hesitantly – and daffodils that are not planted in the shade are blooming.  The others still need convincing.    The seeds my guys planted are out in the little greenhouse sprouting away, too soon to safely live out in the garden plot, so we wait.   These below are purple peppers I ordered from Bakers Heirloom Seed Co.  I look forward to tasting this new-to-me variety  come summer.

  I was never overly fond of the Bush Family, but I have certainly admired Barbara Bush for her strength and tenacity,  dedication to literacy of our children,  her devotion to her family and to the grace and dignity she brought to her position over the years.  May she rest in peace –

      Let me tell ya – we can laugh about the following little ditty… but it’s absolutely true up here in this house.

  Sharing this Good-For-You meal found in Family Circle, perfect for Spring and Summer – 
Zucchini Noodles with Asparagus, Peas and Bacon 

  • 1/2 pound asparagus
  • yellow pepper, seeded
  • ounces bacon, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • pounds spiralized zucchini
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • cup milk
  • large cloves garlic, grated
  • cup frozen peas, thawed
  • 1/4 cup basil, very thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. 1Trim woody ends from asparagus and peel bottom 2 inches if needed; slice on the bias into 1/4-inch-thick pieces, leaving tips intact. Cut pepper lengthwise into 8 pieces, then slice crosswise into 1/4-inch strips.
  2. 2Heat a large stainless skillet over medium. Add bacon and cook until crispy, 8 to 9 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate. Pour off bacon fat, then return 2 tbsp fat to skillet.
  3. 3Meanwhile, heat a large nonstick skillet over medium and cook zucchini and 1/4 tsp salt, covered, until crisp-tender, 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain zucchini.
  4. 4Add yellow pepper to bacon fat; cook 1 minute. Add asparagus; cook 1 minute more. Sprinkle vegetables with flour and cook 30 seconds, stirring well.
  5. 5Stir in milk and garlic. Add peas and half each of the bacon and basil. Cook until sauce thickens, about 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
  6. 6Add zucchini, 1/4 tsp salt and the black pepper, and toss to coat. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with remaining basil and bacon. Serve immediately.
  7.   

  8.           Have a good day, all –  and thank you for stopping by. 

The care and keeping of souls

     Do animals have “souls”?   Technically, people and animals consist of the working parts of the body and the powerful mind. I’ve always marveled at what makes us  the essence of who we are,  though.  What gives us emotions and a conscience, or lack of one?  Is it the soul?  If you’re religious and depending on who interprets it, the Bible implies all living creatures have souls.  Heaven isn’t given an absolutely clear description, for how can anyone know it’s truth until they have passed on…  but in the bible, animals are mentioned as present in the afterlife.  For me, Heaven would be no place to be if there were no animals.  Many would argue Jesus didn’t die on the cross for the souls of the animals.  I say many animals are more loyal, loving and giving and worthy than some people walking this earth. Animals have been making survival possible for us humans in so many ways for all the years humans have existed, whether working in the fields, as food, as companionship, transportation and protection.  …. seems to me only fitting that a kind and loving God would feel they deserve the afterlife, too.   

      I have loved and taken care of animals since I was old enough to pet the family dog.  As a child, having the restraints of living in a suburb,  at various times I managed to tend to a pigeon, a goat, our dogs, our cats, a few parakeets, some fancy silk mice, a hamster or two.  My parents allowed what was reasonable at our residence but I knew as an adult I wanted to be able to do much more.  The logical career choice for a kid such as myself  would be  veterinarian. It was indeed listed on any school papers where we chose what we’d like to be when we grow up.  That all changed when I had to take one of our cats to the vet to remove bee bee’s someone had shot into her hind legs.  I tried staying with them for the procedure but the excising made me nauseous and woozy.            Onward! 

     I landed in Connecticut at the age of 19 with an old abandoned race horse that I adopted on Staten Island. He was around 28 at the time and had two more good years in a pasture on my Aunt’s horse farm just up the road from This Old House.  From there,  after college and while working in a law firm I met and married my husband and together  we built our first small horse farm and our family.  We currently live on our third farm, so I’ve been taking care of horses on a daily basis for the past 30-plus years. 

     While living on a farm can seen romantic, it’s a heck of a lot of work and dedication to something you love. Every single day, without exception, regardless of weather,  the responsibility demands that you get up and out in the morning to feed and water the animals.  Their living quarters needs to be mucked and fresh bedding laid down.  They are turned out into pastures if they’re lucky or at the very least, paddocks.  Then, whatever you’ve got going on during the day, you need to return to feed them again in the evening, refresh waters if needed, check for any cuts, scrapes, etc.   Horses need grooming, regular trims or shoeing from a farrier, they need exercise. It’s a lot to take on and requires real dedication.. and love! 

   We have dogs and used to have cats too, most of you are familiar with their necessary care.  We’ve also got a coop full of chickens, something I decided to set up here about 7 years ago.  Chickens aren’t as much work as the horses, but they still require daily care. Their feed needs to be replenished, their water cleaned out and refreshed. I clean out the coop about once a week, unlike the horses daily stall cleaning.  Their chicken yard needs to be raked to stay fairly sanitary – no easy feat with chickens, they are messy.   I let them out to free range occasionally, but not always. Coyotes and hawks  are a big problem around here.  

   Often I’m asked by family and friends… aren’t you tired of having to do all that work all the time? Every. Single. Day?   The answer is complicated.  





 Yes.. there are days when I really don’t want to trudge up the muddy or snowy or frozen hill in the early morning hours to tend the horses.  There are cold winter nights when I don’t want to leave the warmth of the fire or the family holiday gathering to bring in and  feed the animals.  Having fibromyalgia means there are days when every muscle in my body aches and the last thing I feel like doing is mucking those stalls, lugging those water buckets, throwing that hay.  But these animals I have here on this farm have taken care of us over the years.  They have been my therapy in troubled times, they have been dependable, sturdy souls who did what we asked of them, and sometimes that was a heck of a lot.  We are all middle middle aged now, the horses and myself.  They deserve to be cared for properly, they earned it.  

     If you think animals don’t have emotions, then you’ve never really spent time or developed a relationship with one.  Do you define intelligence as the indicator of the presence of a soul?  It’s proven Dolphins have a language they use to communicate with each other.  Dogs can be taught an amazing array of communicating and they certainly display emotions such as happy, sad, frightened, lonely,  jealousy, exuberance, pain, even loss.  Gorillas have learned sign language to communicate with humans, and that they do.  These are just some example of what I believe are evidence that animals have souls, whatever that may mean. 

I call our little crew the geriatric ward now.. 

Coady and Lacey are mini horses, both have been used as therapy horses in nursing homes, rehab facilities, back in the day.   Lacey was a driving horse for myself and a good friend for years as well. Many a mile did we cover in our little carts, Lacey at the helm taking us through the meadows and woods.  The photo below was taken at a carriage driving demonstration. Most days our attire was tee shirts and jeans.  We’re both a little chubbier now. 


    

 Lacey is aging well, but Coady has cushings disease.  He requires a daily pill to help manage the symptoms.



    
    Opie is my Steady Eddie.  He came to us at 8 years of age and is now 21 years old.  We’ve gone on many a trail ride, and when the going gets rough – like a big scary bridge to cross or a stream to get through, we can count on Opie to be the first to walk across and let the other horses know it’s OK to move forward.  He can be a little stinker, not wanting to work more than he has to, but he’s always honest and for the most part, predictable. I can put the tiniest babe in the saddle and walk them around the ring knowing he’ll keep his head down and just do his job.  He’s aging well, except for an eye condition that occasionally requires two sets of ointments to clear the cloudy. 



 Max, my daughters horse, is another Steady Eddie – with quite the accomplishments under his belt.  He didn’t come to us until he was 18 years of age.. having already traveled parts of the country as a show horse for several other owners.  K had three great show years with him and then he colicked, bad.  We opted for surgery to save him and he did survive the ordeal, but it was clear retirement was the best thing for him.  So, we brought him home to recover and enjoy the good life here on the farm.



Since his surgery Max has trouble keeping weight on, so we keep him warm in winter and feed him plenty of good quality feed and hay and he grazes in the fields during the day.   It’s the least we can do for all he has given us over the years and continues in his light work on trails and in the ring. 




  The girls in the coop aren’t much trouble, and the fresh eggs they provide are wonderful. If you’ve never had fresh eggs off the farm, you’re missing something. Go seek them out and taste the difference for yourself. Right now, in the middle of winter! go figure… some of mine are molting.  I have a cozy coop heater in their hen house, so they are able to stay warm when the temps get real low and their water doesn’t freeze. 




  My little pack of dogs… they are my best buddies. They follow me around the house throughout the day, and if I’m up at the barn and they aren’t outside in the dog yard watching me work, they wait for me to return at the side door.  When I’m working at the computer, they are all around my feet.  If I’m in the kitchen, they lay in the sun spots at the sliders and listen for the sound of wrappers crinkling or refridge door opening or treat jar cover clanking.  They mope when we are away on a mini vacation (which isn’t often… because FARM) and they rejoice when we return even from a half hour errand.  They bicker among themselves but never harm each other, and are often found snoozing together  in a tight little circle. 







Ben, the largest by far, is not the boss.  No, the littlest of them all calls the shots.  That would be the white fluff, Bailey. 

 Miss Sally is my most recent rescue.  As she as matured her front legs have become extremely twisted.  It is a deformity, a result of either some very poor breeding or just crap luck. She manages well, runs like the wind and loves to go for walks.  But when sitting or standing still, her little front legs constantly give out so that she is usually laying down rather than sitting or standing.  The vet assures me she’s not in pain, it’s more painful for us to see than for her to live with.  For now, at least, that appears to be the case. 



     Frasier is a momma’s boy – he’s very jealous when I pay attention to any other creature,  his most favorite place to be is on my lap, and he is fiercely protective of me, even more so than the dane, Ben.  He gives me this face when I leave on errands….


 He is very definitely my best bud. 





     So, would I let the horses down at this stage of the game and try to dump them off at an auction or find that ever elusive “retirement” home and hope someone else won’t use then and abuse them in a way that is so undeserving of all the service they have provided us?  Nope – it’s not an option.  This geriatric crew is here to stay and as long as I’m able, I will trudge up the hill and out to the coop and tend the little  chicken flock and dog pack I have here because I love them all dearly, they are family.  I wish all people who took on the responsibility of a pet or livestock would understand and honor the responsibility and go the distance in caring for them throughout their life or at the very least, hand them off to someone who will. 

   Do these animals have souls despite the fact that their intelligence doesn’t match our own (and with some people I question that very thing) ?  Their soul is as real as that of any human if you ask me.  If there are no animals in heaven, then heaven is not place for me.  

Till soon, friends – 




The K-List – Fall edition

     When I was much younger I believed I should have been born down South because the thought of -always Summer- was magical to me.  As I have matured I have come to truly cherish the change in seasons and now  I won’t give it up.   While it’s true Winter in New England can drag on with more grey cold days than I’d like,  it has it’s merits.  Living on a farm means spending much of your daylight hours outside tending livestock and gardens and hay fields, etc.  When winter sets in we’re in the house earlier, hunkered down by the fire most evenings, reading and catching up on the news.   It’s a time to allow ourselves to  be together quietly, to recharge and even  hibernate just a little, to not be so busy out and about.  My dogs seem to recharge  too – they sit in my lap and around my feet near the fire in the mancave or at my desk as I work, and they soak in  sunspots on the floor of the kitchen.

     Speaking of dogs… Miss Sally has blended very well with our family – at seven months she’s a bit rambunctious at times but  Ben, Bailey and Frasier tell her what they think of the new kid on the block without bloodshed and she has slowly been accepted into the pack.

     The light in a New England Autumn is just so warm and inviting. The skies bluest of blue.

    And that moon! Did you happen to glimpse the full moon last night?  It was amazing… I need to buy a zoom lens. My phone and canon with regular zoom did not catch it’s magnificence.

   
**Skip this section if you are avoiding unpleasant current events – and I don’t blame you.  Scroll on down to the recipes… 

   In the midst of enjoying all this fall beauty, we are constantly reminded of all the horrors occurring out there in the world. Sometimes I just want to ignore it all, shut it all out… and yet that seems irresponsible.   The horror of what has happened yet again, this time in Vegas.. Well, to sound cliche-ish – what is our world coming to.  And how can you stop a madman from an act such as this.

   Regarding gun laws – I believe in our right to own a gun responsibly. I also think not enough safety precautions are in place – not enough restrictions, regulations.  Thorough background checks, mental health history checks (oh yes, I know that violates rights, but still… ).. why is it harder to get a drivers license than a handgun?  Why are civilians allowed to buy semi-automatic assault weapons?  Silencers, $50 accessories that make a gun fire more rapidly?   And you know, while it may be true that the bad guys will find a way to get their weapon of choice,  why not put up roadblocks regardless?  Any life that might be saved, any deterrent that might stop the progress of an attack such as the Vegas horror show, why ever not?  I don’t agree with those who believe all gun owners are evil and no one should own one except law enforcement.  We don’t live in a Utopian world, we have to be prepared for the real world,  the madness of which you and I are fully aware.  Gun ownership is not all about  angry white men, as a friend of mine would have you believe.  However, the lack of restrictions and regulations in this country is appalling.  Slippery slope, this issue.  But doing nothing seems criminal.

     It continues to amaze me that 45 still has his seat in the Oval office, and the support of his base as well.  I’m no snowflake – I just believe in truth and maturity and a general sense that our President is here for all of us, not the some-of-us who like his brand of… I can’t even call it leadership.  How we can all see the same behavior and either applaud it or be  horrified and embarrassed by it is beyond my scope of understanding.  I had a conversation with a family member last night about this very thing.  I asked what exactly was it about this POTUS that felt inspirational.   Because that was the word the person used.  The explanation was that what 45 says in rallies makes that person feel pride in being American… it says “screw the establishment,  it hasn’t been working for the people, we’re finding our own way”.     Well… what can I say to that – that is my cherished person’s truth.  What I see is the complete opposite.  How did this come to be?  Clearly, I couldn’t tell ya.  I haven’t been happy with the government corruption and obstructionism among parties, lobbyists, etc. for a long time, so I get that sentiment.    It is a small comfort to see some of the GOP putting their party loyalty aside and standing up for integrity, truths, calling a spade a spade.   Right now it seems our divides in this country and abroad are growing wider.  Where this will all lead is a mystery to just about all of us, no matter what our beliefs.. but chaos is an undeniable part of it and that’s a scary deal for all.

  ONWARD! 

 None of these recipes are mine, all credit goes to the links provided.  It’s my goal to make all of these throughout the season though, and hopefully not eat most of each.  Luckily my grown kids stop in frequently and clear out the glass covered cake dish I try to keep full on the kitchen island.  I’m not ashamed to admit I use a little bribery to lure them in for visits and I love every one, even when  they’re  just drive-bys or bathroom stops or complaint filings.   ðŸ™‚   

   Note: What’s been helping me to stick to a healthier diet lately is I’m really trying to focus on this gluten free thing, to see if it helps with this lovely fibromyalgia pain.   I’m giving it six months, so I know for sure whether it helps to be gluten free.  Two months in, I do notice much less bloat.  For that reason, I won’t be eating most of this stuff myself, although I sure am a glutton for punishment, eh? The temptation will be extreme. 
**Please add your favorite fall dish of any kind in the comments section if you’d like to share too. 







 I’ll be back soon with some genuine Vermont fall flare to share… 
and.. a special something from Vermont for a recipe share
winner in the comments section, chosen by tossing your names
on a scrap of paper into the air
and whomever is selected by my Sally pup on the floor
will receive the surprise gift. 
Yup, that’s sometimes how we roll. 

The K List

   *the K list is my lazy way of finding a post title for a real  rambler.  Here goes… grab a cup of coffee or tea if you’re willing to get through this whole post.  
   So.. when we bought Stella by the sea, we initially thought renting it out for a few weeks of the summer would be a grand idea because owning a second home, even a little one such as Stella… costs money.  We weren’t keen on the idea of renting to strangers, but perhaps just people we know, or people who know the people we know. 
   Our first “guests” came to stay for just three days.  We didn’t know them, but we knew their relatives and they are indeed a decent crew. Good way for us to test the waters, right? 
     The three days went by and the following day I returned to Stella to clean up.   By “cleaning up” I mean.. I assumed… washing sheets and towels.  Vacuuming and dusting and disinfecting bathroom just because “guests”. 
     What I found was a little different.  There was leftover food left out and open  on the counter.  Empty drink bottles too. We have a white curtain on the inside of the bathroom door, which is an old glass pane door, so the curtain is needed for privacy. That curtain was filthy from little boy hands with dirt.. and blood.  Bandaid wrappers also strewn. Thankful the cut wasn’t too big, apparently.  One bed was left without being stripped, the other bed stripped and sheets left on our little Edith Chair with wet towels.  On the chair.  Wet.   There were crumbs left on the kitchen table and the kitchen sink was filthy with some dishes left there too… 
    A  lovely thank you l note was left in the guest book saying it was obvious we had put a lot of thought and time and creativity into resurrecting Stella, thank you for letting us stay. .  
    We won’t be doing that again.   I don’t think the “guests” intended any disrespect at all, to be clear.  I think they are just a little oblivious, perhaps due to their affluence or the way they were brought up. Someone else will take care of this.  I’ll leave it for the service. 
     While my husband dismissed it as “the typical way people leave hotel rooms”… I don’t really think so.   That’s beside the fact that our little cottage is not a hotel, not even a true rental property. When we stay in a hotel, before we leave, I put the wet towels in the bathtub or a neat pile on the bathroom tile floor.  I make sure we have not left any garbage strewn about, including drink bottles, crumbs from snacks, papers, etc.   My mother really didn’t have to teach me these things…. it’s just common courtesy.  She probably did teach me that, common courtesy.   People who work service jobs such as waitresses and waiters, bus boys, maid service in hotels, for example…. they deserve the respect of any other person – their job is thankless, truly.  

 Now that I got that off my chest…  the stress that pounds my body when I take in the daily news has crescendoed and I am taking a hiatus from it.. just a peek here and there at the headlines instead of devouring it and trying to make sense of the nonsense.  The world is going to have to sort this all out and I am just going to hope for the best.  
  We continue to enjoy Stella in between  work hours and farm responsibilities.  Most days I load Frasier and Sally into the car, we  ride past farms and stop at the  stands along the commute, grabbing some summer sweet corn,  with tomatoes and cucumber salad from the home garden. We walk the little island roads down by the sea, and prepare a meal for whomever shows up after work at the end of the day.  Occasionally we go for a swim when the tide is high.  There is a long list of people we would like to host for a relaxing evening and seaside supper… That will take some time. 
My nephews as we celebrated a  birthday… 
My son and I are the most avid swimmers… 
To give you an idea of the difference in water level at low and high tide… 
This is high tide.  My son is standing, I’m floating. 
At low tide, the water is at our knees in the same spot. 

  We don’t stay overnight just yet … often leaving in the peak sunset hour…. too many animals at home depend on us for their evening meal and tucking in. Someday when we have fewer animals to care for, we’ll spend summers living in the cottage. For now we’re very content to commute.  
     
Meanwhile, back home… another farm market in the books – and it was a good one.  

 I bought this apron, it’s now hanging in my kitchen.  One of our vendors makes aprons out of vintage feed and flour sacks among other things –  I love them!

Mom and my Aunt, her sister.   While the circumstances behind my aunt’s relocation are very sad ( her husband recently passed) , I love that they live next door to each other now and get to spend quality time together.  If there is a heaven, my grandmother Elsie is smiling big.

 Not only does my family support my farm market efforts by attending market and buying from local farmers and artisans… mom treated me to this recycled dress by one of my favorite vendors.  Marylynne of BH Upcycle Designs uses old sweaters, t-shirts, sweatshirts to make new pieces of clothing like skirts, dresses, shirts, etc.   This is one of those..

  Speaking of Markets.. our September market will include an installment of The Kindness Rocks Project.. have you heard of it?  I believe it’s happening in areas all over the country – but it’s in full swing for sure on our shoreline.  People are painting rocks with words of inspiration or kindness and pretty designs and placing them in random spots where others will find them.  They are showing up in places like post office drop boxes, town hall steps,  benches in parks, on hiking trails, in doorways to shops, etc…    My market partner, Linda, and I will host a rock party at the market – I’ve gathered smooth rocks from Stellas waterfront and painted them an undercoat.  We’ll provide the paints and brushes for whomever wants to show up and create their own “kindness” and place it somewhere in the world for another to find.   It’s the little ripples that fan out into the sea, creating change, right?  Rock on..

These are a few that I have already sent out …. message on back, design on front.

 These were found on the ‘net –
Great idea, no?  Something positive anyone can do –
I’ll end this post with a few shots of my beloved coneflowers –
they are so happy this year – must be all the rain and humidity. – bleh. 

    Whew, that was a long one.  Are you still with me?  It’s a new day, all.  Let’s not look at the newsfeeds.  Not once.  Maybe for a few days even.   I need to stay put this morning and catch up on cleaning duties here at the homestead –  This post is clearly a procrastination effort.  I’m particularly good at that.  

 Till soon, friends –