SCENES FROM AN ISLAND

If you follow this stone pathway.... It will lead you to my childhood home....An Island home....where my parents still reside, a home which helped form the person that I am.

I feel so fortunate to be able to return to this place that I love, where the taste of salt is in the air and the fragrance of Island roses softly permeates everywhere....

A place where the water is blue....

and the sand is white....and sings to you as you walk along....

If ever you've lived on an Island

If ever you've lived by the sea:

You'll never return to the mainland

once your spirit has been set free.

If you have ever smelled the ocean

or tasted the salt in the air:

You'll know you've discovered a haven

that is uncommon, precious and rare.

If ever you've seen the whales play

or watched the eagles in flight:

You'll remember, again, why you live there

and why it feels so right.

If ever you've seen the sunset

as the ferry passed the shore:

You've seen the beauty of the Island

that will be with you forever more.

If ever you've heard seagulls

the waves, a foghorn, the wind:

Then you've heard the song of the Island

and the peaceful message it sends.

Indeed, if you live on an Island

If you're lucky to live by the sea:

You'll never return to the mainland

as your spirit has been set free.

J. Earnhart

And let me just state right here and now the water is COLD, but man my pedicure is holding up quite nicely!

SIMPLICITY

A picture is worth a thousand words..... Nothing is worth more than this day. ~GOETHE~

100 PEEPS

First let me say everyone who knows me understands how much I love my chickens, especially my husband who has witnessed my reaction first hand when Mr fox shows up. Also when you reach a certain age in life "you throw caution to the wind" and sometimes act or think like a fool, but you no longer care, (I know you ladies understand what I am talking about) with that being said.... My husband does a lot of road time and overnights with his job. I think he minds this more than I do because it is when I send him pictures like these, his heart skips a beat. "Julie, we are not a chicken hotel", I let that thought linger with him for a brief moment.....

Finally I say, I understand that. A pause and a sigh on his part and I finally admitted the photos was taken at "the farm" down the road. 100 "peeps" are now new residents to the farm. Just look at what I spied on the water jug, a Polish. Now my heart skipped a beat.

"Julie, no more chickens!" However, In my mind I am thinking hum mm... when you introduce a new member to an established flock you sneak her in at night, maybe, just maybe I could attempt that scenario with the Polish. Hum mm......Never say never, that's my motto!

ALL IN A DAY

This is the way we begin our day here at Dog Trot Farm.... Winslow Homer has punched in and is now on duty and in position.....

I remind the girls that this is the only hen I want to see sitting in my window box.....

Remember girls no bathing in the flower gardens....

Iris are you listening?

Okay lets get serious for a moment, girls are your ears turned on?( I use to say that to my preschoolers) To stay safe you ladies need to remain together as a group, no splitting up and running here, there and everywhere. If, God forbid you are taken try and remain calm, go limp and play dead. Think happy thoughts...

Gladys for goodness sake pay attention! If you are taken you will hear me begin to scream and Winslow Homer will be on the run..... Once you are released and your feet hit the ground, start running for home.... run just as fast as you're little feet will take you.

Yes, Pip I am talking to you too. I will scoop you up and carry you back to safety. I will give you blueberries and Winslow....

" Winslow wake up it's not break time yet", what a life this dog leads, yup all in a day at Dog Trot Farm....

AA

Hello, my name is Pearl and I am a feather pecker. My human mom is looking for a twelve step program for me, is there anyone out there who would be willing to sponsor me? I have overheard the words "chopping block" I admit I need help, Thank you.

"STILLMEADOW"

When I discovered this book at Goodwill for $2.99 no less, I was beyond thrilled. I swear my heart beat a little faster, this book Stillmeadow Sampler is a first edition in it's original jacket and in perfect condition. Stillmeadow books by author Gladys Taber are stories about her life at her beloved 1690's cape encompassed by 40 acres and a pond. "Stillmeadow isn't just a house and land, it is a way of living" writes Gladys Taber. It is a way of living with tranquility, with joy and purposefulness. Also residing at Stillmeadow were a bevy of Cocker Spaniels, an Irish Setter and at different times a cantankerous feline. Her books are pure joy to read and reread, and if you are fortunate to find one for sale, for pete sakes buy it! Saturday's outdoor plans were postponed due to thunder storms and torrential rains. The kind of weather which makes you happy it's a Saturday and you have the luxury of pulling the covers up and linger in bed a bit longer. But by mid-morning the rains had subsided enough for DH to suggest a drive. Knowing that one of my favorite destinations is driving up Route One traversing the mid-Maine coast, where at this time of year the countryside is ablaze with lupine. Lovely blue, purple, pink and white lupines.

Lupines as far as the eye can see.

and Buttercups too.

and then you come to this

Cowshit corner, yup you read it correctly. One never knows what you may find on drives such as these, just look what I happened to spy off in a wooded thicket. The most adorable house, okay tiny cottage, but enchanting nonetheless. It was love at first sight for me.

The front of the cottage exposed hand chinked logs

and the rear looked out upon a stream. One could almost envision faeries and gnomes close at hand. How perfect this tiny building would look tucked in my woods. Well, I can dream can't I? Further down the road we passed another interesting home- it was properly named The "Octagon House" with it's own pond and lots of fowl roaming the dooryard.

More brilliant Lupine

And then we came upon this, Elmer's Antique Barn. DH knows I am always on the lookout for antique "yard art" and this looked like the perfect spot to browse. The first floor was actually kind of scary, no really scary. I was actually waiting for mice or rats to jump out from the dark corners or worse, spiders to fall from the rafters. I almost passed going up to the second floor, but figured I'm here I might as well give it a go. Then, I had no more placed my feet on the second floor when there it was the "mother load" organized on a shelf marked with the letter "T", T for Taber, Stillmeadow books! I have never seen so many of Mrs. Taber's books (other than our library) in one location. I was like a child in a candy store, finally DH said he was starving, and yes we could go to Moody's Diner and yes I could get pie. I hated to leave the books behind and yes DH offered to purchase all of them for me, but I didn't want to be greedy, but I did choose three. Stillmeadow Day Book, What Cooks At Stillmeadow and Especially Dogs. I am going to savor each and every sentence.

You can bet I will be going back to Elmer's, there is a third floor!!!!! oh and I never did get my pie....

CATCHING UP

I have survived, I have prevailed. What began as a three day stomach flu morphed and settled in my throat. Three weeks of no voice, just a croak. To make matters worse smoke which has been blowing in from the wildfires in Quebec, Canada found it's way here to Southern Maine. Add pine pollen to the equation, and you have misery, plain and simple. Oh, and let me just state my best buddy my laptop became ill as well and needed to be sent to Ohio for treatment. But enough about that, lets catch up shall we? The Bluebirds have been busy raising their families, three sets of families to be precise-may I just add what great parents the Bluebirds have been, diligently providing food and removing waste...
The perennial beds are beginning to fill in and the clematis is spilling over my old picket fence, quite a garden show piece this clematis has been this spring...

My parents gifted me with this beautiful teal glass garden globe along with a black rod iron holder. How pretty the pink clematis and teal globe look together in the garden. Thank you mom and dad.
My girls are doing well, Gladys has fully recovered from her brush with death and every one's egg production is up to speed once again...

This is the face of Iris, her photo taken on a very hot and humid morning not so long ago.
Let me set the scene, I had been working in the pumpkin patch, DH had been lugging extra roof shakes to the cellar, (finally a new roof which means no more leaks in my bedroom closet, yippee) while Winslow Homer was placed on guard duty at the edge of the woods. Squawks with feathers flying alerted us to the now common sign of imminent danger. Iris was snagged by a fox and was being dragged down into the woods. I threw down my hoe, grabbed Winslow Homer, and we were once again on this all to familiar rescue mission. Down the sloping bank the fox and Miss Iris went, fortunately for me Iris is one heavy girl. The fox could carry her no further, dropped my girl, and Iris scurried for home just as fast as her chubby little legs could take her. Winslow chased the fox off (for now anyway) and everyone was no worse for wear. Well, maybe me- but we won't go there.

During our brief heat spell the girls seem to wilt right before my eyes. They would pant, spread their wings and drop anywhere they could find shade and a little breeze. Lulu took refuge among the violet's leaves.

Now the best news of all, here at Dog Trot Farm we have two new babies! Please meet Fern and Phoebe- Silver Laced Wyandottes. It is so nice to have babies in the house once again and Winslow is enjoying his new bunk mates.

These two girls appear quite feisty, demonstrating take-offs and landings as well as being quite talkative. I am positive they will afford me many future stories -please stay tuned!
A big thank you to everyone who inquired about my well being and for all your kind comments and concerns, blogging friends are just the best!

SELF IMPOSED EXILE

The flu has struck, I need not say more.

~ UPSIDE DOWN RHUBARB CAKE~

Provided below is the recipe for the decadent Upside Down Rhubarb Cake from Farm Chick's blog- Fresh From The Farm.

1 Yellow Cake Mix

2 Cups diced rhubarb

1 1/4 cups white sugar

1/2 pint whipping cream

pre-heat oven 350 degrees-grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

Make cake according to package directions

in a bowl mix diced rhubarb and sugar

Spoon mixture of rhubarb and sugar over yellow cake

Drizzle whipping cream over the top of rhubarb

bake 40 minutes

Cool completely before turning out.

As I said prior, I devoured mine warm from the pan!

Enjoy!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY You can see it in their eyes,

in a tender hung and long good-byes,

a love that only moms and daughters know.

You can see it in their smiles,

through passing years and changing styles,

a friendship that continually seems to grow.

You can see it in their lives,

the joy each one of them derives,

in just knowing that the other one is there.....

To care and to understand

lend an ear or hold a hand

and to celebrate in memories they share.

~Anonymous~

I love you mom, Happy Mother's Day

NIRVANA

Finally, the long wait is over....the rhubarb is ready to be picked. and since it's raining cats and dogs outside....

and since I have been patiently waiting to tie this new apron on....ooooooh, I just love aprons( especially paired with my Muck boots-think Ma Kettle)

it's time to make the long awaited Upside Down Rhubarb Cake. I discovered this recipe over at Farm Chicks -Fresh From The Farm's blog. Oh, baby I was not disappointed. Now let me just state if you love rhubarb as I do, do not pass this recipe over. It is sweet, gooey and the rhubarb- just tart enough.Oh, heavenly day what an easy recipe. A Yellow cake mix, 2 cups rhubarb, 1 1/2 cups sugar and 1/2 pint whipping cream. 40 minutes later you have this....

Lets just say it never made it to the upside down stage or to a pretty plate. Warm, right out of the oven with a cold glass of milk- my taste buds were in nirvana. Thanks Farm Chick, we here at Dog Trot Farm love this recipe, my taste buds thank you, no so much my waistline, but yes I would do it all over again! Now go to Farm Chick's blog and check it out for yourself, you will not be disappointed!

PRIME REAL ESTATE AVAILABLE

One rental unit available at Dog Trot Farm.... Sorry, this unit is occupied ( notice one of my Buff's feathers nestled in among the Eastern Blue Bird's eggs.)

This unit has been spoken for as well....

Sorry, this one has been taken too....

However, this end unit is ready and waiting for the perfect tenants. Fine views, quiet neighborhood, lots of field and woods close at hand. A great place to raise a family- just ask the neighbors.

Stop on by and check it out, don't hesitate they go fast!

I'M JUST SAYING

A friend of ours came for a visit last weekend and was surprised to learn that I was now a chicken keeper. I was filling him in on my and the girl's escapades, along with the tale of Charlotte's and Gladys' survival and miracle return from the grips of death. It seems his mother too has been experiencing issues with Mr. Fox. Her Guinea population, once numbered fifty had dwindled to six. Her prize turkeys-two hens and two toms, now consisted of two hens. So those of you who were horrified at my mention of killing a fox, relax I couldn't kill it even if I wanted to. Our local fox population has proliferated to large numbers, are healthy and beautiful. To tell you the truth as far as I can see eating high off the hog. Whoops, better no say that hogs could be next! I'm just saying.