IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR~

Sniffle...sniffle...cough...cough..

Sniffle...sniffle...cough...cough...



Granny ain't running at top speed this morning little buddy...it seems the common cold has found me...but the good news is I did get a flu shot  last weekend...Travis has had a cold and of course he just had to share it with his granny...but really it's my own fault... I simply can't leave the kid alone...those cheeks of his were just made for kissing... 

Bright and early Travis and I made pumpkin pies...one for his daddy and one for his grampy..our first pumpkin pies of the season...the kitchen smelled heavenly...well, really if I could smell I know the kitchen would have smelled heavenly...freshly ground spices from The Shakers of New Gloucester Maine are  key...with the pies cooling Travis and I delivered eggs to our neighbors  and then proceeded to get our walk in between  rain drops. With the weather dreary I decided we could use a bit of seasonal color to cheer up the homestead...

out came a glow in the dark bottle of sweet smelling Dial soap...

a delightfully fragrant candy corn  air freshener...I admit I have a weakness when it comes to creative packaging...

witchy...the bathroom nightlight...

 friendly "Jacks"...

with friendly witches...

and cats...

hoot owls...oh...and the perfect plates to serve

our pumpkin pie with a topping of french vanilla ice cream...Travis and I...we just love this time of year...how about you?

SADIE MAE~



Sadie Mae... is a lovely feline specimen... she has been blessed with the prettiest green eyes you have ever seen...she is friendly, but aloof...Sadie is not a lap cat...or shall I say that is till my dad pays us a visit  then she  becomes HIS lap cat...  

As you may recall my preference is for Sadie to remain an indoor kitty, however she appears to have other ideas...you see Sadie Mae is a very picky eater...once a stray one would think Sadie would devour anything and everything that is put in front of her...wrong...while residing at the shelter Sadie was given a diet of Science Diet dry cat food...once feeling safe and secure in her new home...Sadie began  turning her nose up to anything that was offered...I have tried the vast majority of grocery store dry and wet foods...also various expensive brands purchased from the pet store...I have shredded white tuna and tonight a chicken breast...no go...however...(Winslow Homer is happy with the various leftovers)...than I had an epiphany...perhaps Sadie is a free ranger...it only makes sense that being a feline she enjoys the thrill of the hunt...well unbeknown to me Sadie Mae escaped out the cellar door which I had inadvertently left open...Sadie quickly took advantage of the opportunity...

 perhaps this is why I discovered Dorcas Lane on the roof and soon after Sadie Mae crouching in the catnip patch...

Dorcas decided she was not to be any one's lunch...

 my broody hens Josephine and Loretta....were not the least bit fazed...

 Lulu Belle slept through the commotion...

while Gladys and the rest of my girls continued on with their daily activities...Sadie Mae was captured and returned to her inside domain...now... should her hunger strike continue or until I discover her ideal meal  I just may be forced to allow her to run free...any ideas...anyone?

and this little guy, he did not bat an eyelash but remained deep in slumber land...

AUTUMN~

Autumn~ "I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as Autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all daylight hours in the open air." ~Nathanial Hawthorne~

 There is a stillness to the air as the early morning sun shines through the oak trees...soon the chickens will be set free from the confines of their coop....off in the distance the sound of the big yellow school bus rumbles down the back dirt road...the only bird song heard is that of the Blue Jay...      

 There is much to do to prepare for winter...With warm days and cool nights Autumn is a welcomed guest...Autumn reawakens my energy...fields have been mowed and hay bales stacked...the north side of the homestead received a fresh coat of paint...screens have been removed and windows washed...five cords of wood now stacked...these precious Autumn days pass so swiftly...I attempt to savor each and every one...there has been a trip to the pumpkin patch, a Cinderella pumpkin is a Fall must at this house...the first apple pie of the season has just been devoured...oh...how welcomed the  scent of fresh cinnamon and nutmeg is...pie baking and a tall glass of apple cider go hand in hand...gardens are being put to bed for the winter...while the planting of Spring bulbs has begun...so much to do seemingly so little time...however, I always make time to read...I now own my own copy of "Pumpkin Moonshine" the first published book of Tasha Tudor...written for her five year old niece "Sylvie Ann" who was coming for a visit from England...it is the story of a little girl and her discovery of  the biggest fattest  pumpkin and how she attempts to get it home...    

 You're never to young to be read to, just ask four month old Travis Lloyd...Let me just say...this new blogging system has taken me some time to figure out. Why oh why can't "they" leave well enough alone. I am sure it is quite obvious that I am technically challenged... that being said updates coming on Winslow Homer's health, Sadie Mae's escape to the great unknown, and chickens on the roof! There is never a dull moment around here...Goodnight to all....



SEPTEMBER 11TH~

Tuesday, this day dawned with a sky of brilliant blue, the air cool and crisp... just as it did on that fateful September day, September 11th, 2001...A day that remains vivid and clear in my mind. September 11th, Mohammad Atta boarded a plane at the Portland International Jetport, an airport less than thirty minutes from my home. Atta shopped the previous evening at Walmart, the Walmart where I regularly browse. Mohammad Atta was at the controls of American Airlines flight 11, the airplane which flew into the North tower. The North tower was home to the restaurant Windows On The World, a restaurant where I have dined. I still find it difficult to wrap my mind around these facts. September 11th is a day that has left me forever changed, a day which I will never forget. May God Bless America and all the people who love her...

NO COMPLAINTS!

Gee...am I ever happy I had the smarts to close the windows prior to going to bed last night...due to the fact that "we" have gone from hot... steamy weather...to... this morning's temperature of 47 degrees...

In Maine, "if you don't like the weather, just wait a minute." Travis and I have no complaints...

CAN YOU FEEL IT?

The afternoons now grow short, the growing season is over, our heat and humidity has been replaced with cool clean air thanks to last evenings wind...the long awaited Autumn days are finally closing in... These are the days I relish... when the air cools and mother nature begins her long anticipated nature show...there is much to attend to both indoor and out...time to tidy up our gardens and feather our nest... globes of orange dot the countryside and plump juicy apples hang heavy from the their tree... we top off our wood piles and enjoy the last remaining flowers in the garden...

potatoes are dug...

and leather britches dry...

a request was made..."honey could you build me a bee skep house?" "a what say's he?"

yes, exactly...it's perfect...

Autumn, my favorite time of year...

SADIE MAE~

Sadie Mae's fate is sealed...Being a curious cat Sadie Mae simply cannot help herself...she jumps onto the bathroom sink while I brush my teeth, hops in the clothes dryer while I am in the process of doing laundry...Travis's pack "n" play and changing table are favorite napping spots, Sadie gains pleasure by giving poor old blind Winslow Homer a swift cuff... just because... and her middle of the night visitations, where my hair is her favorite nightime toy. Nevertheless, it was my two banty roosters which sealed Sadie Mae's fate...Don Juan and Ramon sounded their alarm to a coyote crossing our front field.... Sadie Mae will remain an indoor kitty...she has a basketfull of toys, the basement to explore, fresh catnip growing in the garden, and a cozy bed to sleep...perhaps in the future a friend to call her own...A big thank you to all who left me a comment, I read and took each one into consideration...maybe I am being selfish, but for my own peace of mind Sadie Mae remains behind the doors of Dog Trot Farm...

YES OR NO?

Sadie Mae, my recently adopted shelter kitty...has expressed her desire to explore the great outdoors...Her plea is constant and continual as she sits by the front door watching the world go by...okay, watching the birds and insects fly by...so here's the question, if Sadie Mae were your kitty would you allow her free range? I would love to hear what you think...Thank you...

YES INDEED~

Remember the teeny tiny egg? It did indeed contain a teeny tiny yolk...go figure...

Have an enjoyable weekend everyone....

JUST DO IT!

It is no secret that I adore my chickens...I currently have a flock of 16, fourteen hens and two roosters. My best gal however, is Gladys...she is a Barred Rock and is one of the orignal hens from my first flock of ten, now three years old...out of those original ten I have five remaining, two Barred, two Buffs and one Americuana. These five hens are more like pets, they respond when called, sit to be picked up, enjoy treats and from time to time have had the pleasure of residing inside the house at the chicken hotel/infirmery...No car ride...as of yet! My gal Gladys has attitude, she knows she's a good looking gal, why the way she sways her rear end is quite indecent, never mind that it's bald...My chickens have provided us here at Dog Trot Farm with over four thousand eggs, and with the aid of Don Juan a hatching of chicks.

I do realize that in the not so distant future, the girls egg production will slow and eventually end. They need not worry, there is no stew pot in their future, just senior ladies living the good life. Pictured below are three regular sized eggs, three banty eggs, and one teeny tiny first egg..

First eggs are so special, yet I have never had one so tiny. A product of one of my latest full sized hens, which hen I'm not sure. Time will tell. Tonight, however, I'm going to crack the egg, I'm curious to see its yolk...a picture for tomorrow's post...now if you are on the fence about getting some chicks, jump off that fence and just do it!