PASSPORT INTO HISTORY

It's a howling and it's a blowing.... the rain drops they are a falling ....the girls are not happy....no outdoor play today....and with the added bonus of being stuck inside the coop with Don Juan... certainly not their idea of how to spend a lazy Sunday afternoon.... Yesterday was more of the same for them.... I pulled out this passport....a passport into historical New England.... beaks went out of joint....another case of a long day in the coop....If you enjoy New England history....including visiting some of the oldest homes and gardens in New England...from Maine to Rhode Island this passport is ideal. For $55.00 dollars...two adults...can enjoy what Historical New England has to offer for one year....also you can revisit any of the listed homes multiple times... Saturday found DH and myself here at the Sarah Orne Jewett home located in South Berwick Maine. Jewett was an American author and short story writer. You may be familiar with two of her most popular works "The Country of Pointed Firs" and "A Country Doctor," the latter being based on her doctor father and his many house calls which Sarah often accompanied him on. This Georgian style home was built in 1776 and over looks the town's central square. The home is filled with many of the Jewett's personal belongings and Sarah's bedroom is found exactly how she left it. Her writing pen can be found located in a cup adhered to the bedroom wall... close at hand for scribbling down those late night ideas... her bifocals hanging off a mirror....and her initials which Sarah etched in a bedroom window pane. Sarah enjoyed flowers and especially her flower gardens...

"Late in the evening, when the room had grown too hot and tiresome with it's flaring light and noise of voices, I stole out alone into the darkness of the summer's night, down the long garden-walk I slowly went; A little wind was stirring in the trees; I only saw the whitest of flowers and I was sorry that the earlier hours of that fair evening had been so ill spent, Because, I said, I am content with these Dear friends of mine who only speak to me with their delicious fragrance, and who tell to me their gracious welcome silently...

The leaves that touch my hand with dew are wet; I find the tall white lilies I love well
I linger as I pass the Mignonette, and what surprise could dearer be than this;

To find my sweet rose waiting with a kiss..."

Flowers In The Dark....~Sarah Orne Jewett~

TURF TO SURF

Today was one of those days.... if you listened very closely.... you could hear the corn growing...honestly....corn stalks snap as their root's grow deep inside the earth....and golden tassels head toward the sun.... most of the perennials here at Dog Trot Farm have begun to fade and die away....however....the exception being the trusty Rudbeckia....my thought is....when in doubt plant Rudbeckia....

Cone flowers....

and Bee Balm....have lost their zesty appeal....

Gladys....enjoying the quiet of the day....

while Iris works on her beauty rest....

I headed to the rocky coast....where the air is fragrant with the sweet scent of sea salt.... colorful beach roses dot the scenery....

the cry of a gull....

along with the sound of the pounding surf....

and in the distance.... the sight of the majestic Nubble Light....from "turf to surf" Maine is a most wonderful place... Tonight....all cozy....in the safety of our homes.... we wait and watch for Irene...stay safe dear friends....Goodnight from Dog Trot Farm....

~FRIDAY~

Two visits to the veterinary in one day is not Winslow Homer's idea of enjoyment... however...an adjustment was warranted in regards to his insulin dosage... along with an additional antibiotic.. and then we were sprung and out of there...back to the safety of Dog Trot Farm....home to Winslow's favorite chicken treats....and the little brown chipmunk who now wonders why Winslow Homer no longer puts him in his place....
home is where flowers bloom....and birds sing.... the sun shines....and the air is thick with humidity....a warm summer breeze blows...

the quiet of the day is deafening....and then.... low and behold there it was...not the familiar sound of the usual neighborhood lawn mower....but the sound of generators....preparations all through the neighborhood were being made...and on top of one's list is making sure one's generator is in tip top shape....Irene beware.... we New Englanders are prepared...

now...as I have previously mentioned my vegetable gardens were a huge disappointment....no zucchini...tomatoes....or summer squash...no peppers....beets...or carrots....however I did manage to grow two lovely heads of dill....

a lovely Cinderella pumpkin....

and one cantaloupe...that's it...that's the extent of my vegetable garden....The peeps.... Loretta and her sister's are alive and well and thriving....they have now been integrated into the existing flock of girls and are adjusting quite nicely...Don Juan, their mighty protector....loves his girl's....oh how he loves his girl's.... and if you asked them...I'm sure they would say he loves them a little to much....

but my he is a manly man....Have a great weekend everyone....if Irene is heading your way please take the proper precautions and stay safe!!

THANK YOU

A most sincere thank you to all who left such heartwarming comments in regard to Winslow Homer... his blindness is an adjustment for all of us here at Dog Trot Farm....ever undaunted....we will persevere....Winslow....who's duty it once was to keep the "girls" in check...now...it is they who appear to be protecting him....there is no other option but for us to move forward....we opted to make a sad situation into a learning experience....So...now let us talk about "IRENE" this monster of a hurricane that is threatening so many of us....first priority for me was to head to the berry fields....
Realizing that the raspberries were in their prime....but not knowing what conditions the berry fields might be in....if or when Irene strikes....I headed out bright and early....I took my husband along as well....I mean....hey....he was working at home today....and four hands are better than two....I must tell you the raspberries were just beautiful...large and juicy....the setting... just lovely....and best of all it was just DH and myself picking...together we picked a little under nine pounds of berries in forty-five minutes....I love to berry pick and I must confess I did get a little carried away. $42.00 was my tab....ouch....but we came home and made jam .... put some in the freezer for a cold winter's day....and shared with friends.... Irene.... we here at Dog Trot Farm are ready for you....the generator is in place....extra batteries...gas and water have been purchased....Winslow is stocked up on chicken treats.... reading material is on hand....the girls and Don Juan will be snuggled nicely in their coop....
This lady was part of the welcoming committee this morning...a very grand lady indeed....Irene....I do believe that would be a most appropriate name....goodnight Irene...

~IN MEMORY OF NINI~

In memory of "Nini," wife, mother, sister, grandmother, friend and mother in-law. Death is nothing at all. It does not count. I have only slipped away into the next room.
Nothing has happened. Everything remains exactly as it was. I am I, and you are you, and the old life that we lived so fondly together is untouched, unchanged. Whatever we were to each other, that we are still. Call me by the old familiar name. Speak of me in the easy way which you always used. Put no differences into your tone. Wear no formed air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Play, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was. Let it be spoken without any effort, without the ghost of a shadow upon it. Life means all that it meant. There is an absolute unbroken continuity. What is this death but a negligible accident? Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am but waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just 'round the corner. All is well.

Passage taken from Rosamunde Pilcher's book "September"

MY SWEET BOY

Call it what you will....I call it motherly intuition...I knew something was wrong....very wrong....I just did not want to admit it....A call to the vet was made and my suspicions were confirmed....my sweet little boy....Winslow Homer....is now blind... He will adapt....I will adapt....we will adapt....One blind dog....one twenty year old cat and a rooster who is attempting to "service" all thirteen of my "girl's." If I could get my hands on a Valium I do believe I would take it. Prayers kindly accepted, thank you.

WEDNESDAY'S WOES....

Wednesday's woes....My e-mail no longer functions, my blog list has vanished. I called my tech guru for help (thank you Eve of Sunny Side Up I don't know what I would do without you} Eve discovered a partial list of the blogs I follow, but please bare with me while I find the rest of you! Thank you all so much for the advice on the rhododendrons. When our home was first built it's original color was a weathered grey stain with blue trim, the bright colored rhododendrons accented the house nicely. Now that Dog Trot Farm is barn red, no so much. I do however, enjoy the "tucked in" feeling that my now large rhododendrons offer. I do need to put some serious thought into what I am going to replace them with (weeping pea?). Many of the "weeping" varieties of trees do not tolerate wind, so I need to take this into consideration as well as the southerly exposure. Thank you all again, I am open to any and all ideas, Julie of Dog Trot Farm.

DOWN ON THE FARM

Mr. Don Juan is living up to his name.... Gladys is not the least bit impressed and wants nothing to do with him....

and Iris....well....she just wants a little peace and quiet....

the vegetable gardens.... a huge disappointment....oh... I did harvest peas for the fourth of July....then things pretty much went down hill....no eggplant....broccolli....beets....or tomatoes...that's right no tomatoes, how can you not have tomatoes? I am stumped as to the cause....The good news is I did discover a cantaloupe (key word a )....a pumpkin.... butternut squash and cucumbers....so much for this growing season....even the basil bolted.... my green thumb.... wilted....the truth is I am ready for Fall...it seems the older I become the less I enjoy summer.... I knew this to be true when I saw Halloween decorations this morning in Michaels ....yup I'm ready....bring on the orange and black.... Finally, dear bloggers I am in need of your advice. I am of the mindset to remove the rhododendrons which are located in the front of our home. I would like to replace them with Tree Hydrangeas, but am still on the fence about this....measure twice cut once thinking....once cut there is no going back....

Winslow Homer appears to be pondering the situation, how about you, what do you think?

A PLATE FULL OF COOKIES

The rain has found us here in Southern Maine....beaches are empty....tourists have made their way to the Maine Mall....back to school shopping is in full swing...the entrance to the infamous Christmas Tree Shop backed up...what do I do on this cold wet rainy day you ask?....why I bake chocolate chip cookies....Toll House of course...A request from both my husband and younger son had been made. Like many of you it has been to darn hot and humid to turn on the oven...today...however....I had no excuse....and after discovering this cut glass cake dish from Goodwill for $2.99 and and another for $1.99...oh so pretty I just couldn't pass them up...Okay... I had a hunch the above mentioned cookies would look quite pretty piled high on the cake plates..they won't last long.... so honey pour the milk!

HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND- PART TWO

Beauport, the Sleeper-McCann House.... perched on a rock ledge overlooking Gloucester Harbor in Massachusetts stands the majestic Beauport. Built in 1907, Beauport was the summer home to Henry Davis Sleeper, one of America's first professional interior designers. Mr. Sleeper, however, had no formal training. When Sleeper, along with his mother moved into Beauport it held twenty-six rooms.

Right from the "get go" you realize Beauport is no ordinary home. This home is filled with mystery as well as whimsy, nooks and crannies are filled from top to bottom with his diverse collections. Beauport is home to "ten thousand" objects, each room is designed as a stage set and every inch of space has a purpose. Sleeper was a pioneer in recycling....especially wooden doors, glass, and pine paneling which has been re purposed in this home. Doorways are filled with blown and pressed amber glass lit from behind by sunlight dancing off mirrors. There are secret passage ways....built to delight as well as frighten guests, Mr. Sleeper enjoyed keeping his guests on their toes...This man was a Thomas Jefferson, certainly a man ahead of his time...This home tour is like any other....a one hour tour is just not sufficient enough to absorb all that Beauport has to offer....I hope to return for the "nooks and crannies" behind the scene tour later in the summer....I highly recommend visiting this home....it is filled with primitives, hooked rugs, depression and sandwich glass, books, paintings, wooden ware, red ware, textiles, if you can think of it you will discover it here.

a dove cote built into the cedar roof....

love it.... windows made with a lead design which matched and highlighted interior wallpaper....

English influence found everywhere...

exterior carvings found under the eaves throughout the exterior of the home... among the ferns....

hollyhocks....

and phlox....

front side of the home facing the Atlantic ocean....

garden whimsy everywhere....

Mr Sleeper neglected nothing....upon completion Beauport was home to forty-eight rooms....if you find yourself in this area....along the picturesque coast of Gloucester....stop and have a "look see" and then grab yourself a lobster roll, you'll be glad you did.....