CUMBERLAND FAIR~PART ONE

Yesterday my husband and I attended the Cumberland Fair, a small agricultural fair located in Cumberland Maine. This year the fair is held from September 27th through October 3rd with an expected attendance of 50,000.A farmer works from sun up till sun down 365 days a year. This poster says it all.Due to a wet growing season the squash and pumpkins entrants were down. Typically there are 40 or more entrants and among those one or two pumpkins will weigh in at 1,000 pounds or more. This year there were two dozen entrants and the winner was Al Berard with a pumpkin weight of 896.5 pounds. The world record holder for largest pumpkin is Joe Jutrus of Rhode Island with a pumpkin weight of 1,689 pounds. A pair of oxen giving me the evil eye. We owned a pair of steers when our sons were young. I actually was the one who wanted them, we adopted them from the dairy farm down the road. I believe as we left their driveway the Parson boys were laughing at me. (What does an island girl know about farming) Well, it was fun until they became massive in weight and size. Oh, they would become loose and wander over to the clothes line and eat my laundry. During the Christmas holiday Rocky and Bullwinkle would eat the pine wreaths that were adorning our doors. It took that experience for me to understand why cows need magnets in their stomach's. For now I am sticking with poultry. Once I spied these FrizzlesI fell for them. Yes sirree. They appear to have a bad hair day going on 24/7/365- just my kind of gals.

Oh, and than you have the Polish. They seem to have big personalities to go along with the large crown of feathers they sport. ( As well as being very vocal)Fancy Silkies and Sultans which were rather reserved and regal. This lovely lady reminded me of Cruella De ville from the 101 Dalmatians movie. What do you think.

I was considering bringing this big fella home (I bet he would put Winslow Homer in his proper place) but somebody beat me to him. And look at this boy, a handsome Buff Orpington.I bet he don't take no S*** if you know what I mean. Well, now I know what a spur looks like up close and personal. After viewing all the poultry( many times around the barn) I dare say I do NOT have a rooster. I keep telling myself, I do not have a rooster, I do not have a rooster. I think I need to check legs one more time!

OCTOBER

October gave a party;

The leaves by hundred came

The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,

And leaves of every name

The sunshine spread a carpet,

And everything was grand,

Miss Weather led the dancing,

Professor Wind the band.~ ~George Cooper

LAST DAY OF SEPTEMBER

Here in New England we woke to a beautiful crisp autumn morning. Can it really be the last day of September.A good morning for baking.
The kitchen was soon filled with the scent of pumpkin and spices.I think someone else smelled the deletable aromas. First Miss Henny Penny made her was to the front door stoop

and soon was joined by Gladys and Georgia.Gladys, Georgia, and Henny Penny are my most curious girls. So it came as no surprise when I looked out the front door and found them looking in. Now there is one drawback to having chickens who enjoy your company, they tend to want to follow you where ever you go. Sorry girls you dine alfresco.

FALL WEATHER

Fall rains are moving in~snow showers for the mountains ~
lets hope those autumn leaves remain on the trees, for a little while anyway.

SIGNS OF FALL

AstersBlanket flowerCone flowerCrow on wheatHappy PumpkinScary Pumpkin Silly pumpkin
White pumpkinSquirrels have found their way indoors Cinderella pumpkinAnd this is my favorite squirrel, she likes to keep watch out the livingroom window. What signs of fall are you discovering at your home?

FROST ON THE PUMPKIN

It's beginning to look and feel like fall here at Dog Trot Farm. Saturday morning we woke to a temperature of twenty-nine degrees. As we say here in New England the "frost was on the pumpkin".

The perennial garden fared well as it was protected with a cloth covering. Frost has arrived early this year, usually we expect it the first week in October.Georgia my barred rock likes to follow me around while I'm working in the garden. I secretly feel she stays close so she can be the first in line when I hand out treats. See, I told you chickens are not dumb. Those blueberries can be very persuasive. For the first time on Saturday I picked her up and carried her around. Her sisters came honking as if to say "pick me, pick me" all in good time girls. I am going to miss the colors of summer, we wait so long and work so hard to keep our flowers and gardens going. I guess I'm going to have to rely on my feathered characters to keep things colorful around here. I am quite certain they will not disappoint!

SWEET EMMA LOU

EMMA LOUThere is a quietness to the house without Pinky Larue.
Her collar bell has been silenced. I spoke with the shelter yesterday and they reassured me Pinky was settling in and seemed to remember some of the shelter's attendants. Emma wears a look of relief and her sense of calm and safety is begining to return. I know I made the right decision.

HEN CHATTER

Okay, so my beautiful girls have not begun to lay eggs. I have not heard a "cluck "or a "crowing" but they do tend to "honk". They are unique unto themselves. For instance while free ranging they might decide to opt for a sunbath. A warm sunny spot in the lee where they cluster together and begin to purr in sheer happiness. Yes, that's right purr. Who knew?

Often when I visit the coop at night there is usually some quiet chatter going on.

And if I decide to visit for a minute, the girls start vocalizing their opinion. Barak-barak-barak, no "clucking" just barak.

So it took me awhile to catch on to "what" they might be voicing. Now I have been told chickens are not very bright. I beg to differ. I think barak refers to President Barack Obama. The girls have been voicing their opinions in regard to the state of the world and health care reform. Who's got egg on their face now, chickens dumb? Ha! Maybe I had better listen more carefully- the girls might just come up with something useful. It couldn't hurt, could it?

MORNING RAMBLE

Have you ever noticed how some of your most interesting thought's come to you in the middle of the night? I've read to keep pen and paper by the bedside so you can jot these thoughts down. Great idea, however, if you are of a certain age like me, you can never locate your glasses. I have told my husband on my gravestone I want the inscription to read "honey have you seen my glasses". Have you noticed when you get to this certain age words of wisdom from elder family members start to come true. For instance, "the older you become the faster time flies". True. How about that face you see in the morning, "mirror mirror on the wall I am my mother after all". True, and not always a negitive thing. You require less sleep as you age. True. It's really your body begining to dysfunction, it can now go from hot to cold in thirty seconds. It's no wonder we can't sleep. Liver spots, what exactly is a liver spot?I say sun spots. I have earned them from working thirty years bare handed in the garden. I enjoy the feel of dirt between my finger's. How about this, you look over at your husband and think to yourself, who is this person I married! Oh right, I have been married thirty-one years. The white in my hair, the wrinkles that now appear on my face and body I wear as an earned rite of passage. Aging is not for the faint of heart. I rise every morning take my fish oil, turn Imus on the radio and be very grateful I have lived to see another day!

WELCOME FALL

FALLWinter is an etching, Spring a watercolor, Summer an oil painting and Autumn a mosaic of them all~Stanley Horowitz~

Pinky Larue

PINKYIt was with much sadness and regret that I returned Pinky to the animal shelter Sunday. I keep the words that my friend Debbie wrote " think of your home as a foster home till the right placement comes along". I will hold on to those words.

CAN WINSLOW COME OUT TO PLAY?

This afternoon as I was in the kitchen deciding what to make for dinner, I heard a tap-tap-tapping sound at the front door. Winslow heard it as well and went running to the door and instead of barking he just sat down. Highly unusual for Winslow. I looked out the door and then went running for my camera. This is what I captured. Well hello ladies. These girls are becoming a little too brave for their own good.

Yes, that's Winslow Homer and yes, he is a dog. Okay, he might be a little funny looking. Does he want to come out and play, hmmm?
Well girls, I'm not sure if that's a good idea, remember the feather incident. How quickly they forget. No ladies I think Winslow Homer is better off on the opposite side of the door.

Now it's not nice to tease, he can't help the way he looks.

I swear I could here those girls snickering.

And look who's keeping an eye on all the action. Yes Pinky Larue still resides at Dog Trot Farm.

DAYLIGHT

The shadows in the yard appear earlier and earlier. Today, two hours and fifty-five minutes earlier. There is a crispness to the air.
Final cut of the season.

No matter what time of the year the sun always shines on Winslow Homer!