~JUST ANOTHER DAY~

Just another day in paradise~

~A MEMORY FROM LONG AGO~

Tonight, as I lay warm beneath the covers of my bed.. Neptune (our latest blizzard) is baring down... the wind blows... the snow swirls ...prompting my thoughts to travel back in time..a simpler time...one of a young girl...living on an island....a time when blizzards were a common winter occurrence...there was no weather hype...no mad dash to the grocery store or gas station...living a somewhat isolated island existence...one where the last ferry departed the island at 7pm and would not return till 7 the next morning...  you were prepared...or if by rare chance you were not your neighbor was... with a winter population of perhaps thirty families...the island was a tight knit community... one where neighbors helped neighbors...gratitude came in the way of a baked good...a jar of jam or perhaps a jar of pickles "put up" the previous summer...A blizzard was exciting, weather forecaster's never really knew how much snow we could expect or how hard the wind would gust, but as children, we remained outside constructing snow forts, igloos and snowmen for as long as our parents would allow...boredom was not in our vocabulary... One of my fondest memories as a child is not really a memory at all, but a feeling...with the last ferry long gone...cut off from the outside world...I felt safe... secure..across the water far off in the distance the faint sound of a foghorn...such a calming sound ...a road  crew of three... George, John and Uncle Ronnie... keepers of the night ...plowing roads...keeping us safe as we slept...I can still recall the sound of the old plow truck as it rumbled up the hill  outside my bedroom window...a window which most winter nights  frosted over with the most delightful icy patterns...It was a different time... a simpler time...but one which I will hold in my heart forever...

~WARMTH~

As winter's frigid temperature chill the bones...

a glance out my kitchen window warmed my soul...As we prepare for yet another blizzard here in New England...I know spring will arrive...later rather than sooner, but it will arrive..

~HOW QUIET IT IS~

Hello...girls...I'm coming...soon...very soon...I promise...

 The temperature is at zero...snow is falling...again...the house is quiet...much to quiet...Travis is spending the day with his "Mimi"...I am spending the day in bed...not by choice mind you...the virus I caught two weeks ago (yes, I had a flu shot) has now manifested itself into pneumonia...cough...cough...my main goal for the day is to bring the girls their warm oatmeal and blueberries...it is tough being a hen in winter...stuck in a coop with a bunch of catty females...almost as difficult as it is for me to be stuck in bed....Okay...I made it...a few hours late but I'm sure the girls won't hold it against me...tomorrow is another day...one that is without snow in the forecast...I hope~

 

~SUNDAY STILLS~

Happy February!

~PERHAPS~

~WEDNESDAY~

Travis's favorite word of the day...PERHAPS...as in...will my nose stop running by spring Granny?...Perhaps...

~NESTLED IN~

The North wind blows...whiteout conditions exist...the snow falls...a foot and a half so far...the southern part of our great state has come to a stand still...businesses are closed...airports shut down...no mail delivery...town trucks are out in masses...so the television informs us...visibility here is zero...

Winslow Homer remains tucked in his bed while the cats laze close to the wood stove...Mr. Dog Trot naps in his recliner...a much needed reprieve...there will be many hours of plowing and cleanup to come...I continue to recover from the flu...

Dear Friends I have been remiss in wishing each and everyone of you a Happy New Year...the holidays are but a blur...My brother and his family have found a lovely apartment close to the hospital for the time being...My dear niece Darlene continues her battle with cancer. Darlene has reached two huge milestones...She completed six rounds of chemotherapy and last week surgery...It is a tough battle to say the least, but one that she is fighting with such grace and dignity...if you could find it in your heart to say a small prayer for her it would be much appreciated...I am looking forward to catching up with you it has been far too long...Blessings, Julie~

~A JANUARY BLIZZARD~

Christmas is but a memory and the new year  in full swing...Old man winter has settled himself quite comfortably  here in New England... the old homestead creeks and moans as the temperature drops..like it or not.the first blizzard of 2015 is quickly approaching...bringing hurricane force winds...  two to three feet of snow... power outages will be vast...cancellations  have begun...Mr Dog Trot will work from home tomorrow...the wood box has been topped off... the generator and snow blower  fueled and on standby...snowshoes are placed by the back door...Winter in New England is magical...it's beauty undeniable...but I must  confess my thoughts have begun to wander to the warm days of spring...Tomorrow I will continue to recover from the flu perhaps enjoy a cup of tea and pull a loop or two...Those of you who a reside in New England stay safe...tomorrow is another day~

~ERNIE~

The anticipation for this day has been building for weeks... finally... Monday morning... December 1st... our little Elf on the Shelf named  Ernie arrived...Ernie sports a round cherub face with large blue eyes and is dressed in a suit of red. Ernie arrived sprinkled in gold fairy dust... There is one rule...a rule that must be obeyed... Ernie must not be touched by humans or his magical powers will be lost...Ernie "buzzes" around the house during the day...hiding here and there...keeping an eye on us... and returns to the North Pole at night... reporting to Santa...

 

 Travis being just 2 1/2 was a bit hesitant about an elf coming to live at Granny's house... but... soon discovers that Ernie is a kind elf who has brought him a gift of a chocolate kiss... 

 Day two found Ernie lodged  in an empty cookie jar along with a note kindly asking Granny to please bake cookies...

Tomorrow, the weather is to be unsettled a perfect day to bake cookies and discover what else this little elf has in store for us...being a Granny has such rewards...and the expression on a little boy's face...priceless...

~I AM THANKFUL~

~HAPPY THANKSGIVING~

We rejoice and give thanks for the many blessings we have received here at Dog Trot Farm.

For health and happiness...

For a warm and cozy house that we call home...

Food for our belly...

The gift of a grandson who  keeps his granny's days filled with much joy and happiness...so much so that by end of the day I forget my own name...

For Winslow Homer...the little dog who puts the "Trot" in Dog Trot Farm...our boy celebrated his fourteenth birthday last week...we are grateful for each and everyday that he remains in our lives...

Lastly, we are thankful for our chickens, even though they have gone on winter hiatus and we have received no eggs in recent memory...

For two felines, Mrs. Tweedy and Birdy Mae...who both continue to claw the furniture and urinate in places I shall not mention...

For a husband, who at this very moment is making the Thanksgiving gravy...

and finally, I am so very grateful that we have not lost our electricity...the above photo is the winter wonderland we woke to this morning...and so it begins all over again...

BLESSINGS TO ALL!

~SNOW ON THE PUMPKIN~

and so it begins...winter in Maine...

parts of the state received ten or more inches of snow today...they have been without electricity since early morning...fortunately for us we've had but a dusting...the wind continues to howl and the lights  flicker...the temperature will dip into the twenties this evening...we are prepared...as prepared as one can be on this second day of November...~sigh~

~BEAUTY LURKS~

 The days may not be so bright and balmy...

yet the quiet and melancholy that linger around them is fraught with glory. Over everything connected with autumn there lingers some golden spell-some unseen influence that penetrates the soul with mysterious power.~Northern Advocate~

~ONLY IN OCTOBER~

October has been kind to us here in New England...Indian summer has dazzled us with her warm sun filled days and cool frosty nights...The countryside's color is now at it's peak... leaves found in shades of crimson, orange and gold swirl through the air landing softly on the cool earth below...A  morning  walk  through the woods now  takes on a magical persona... 

 We find the air cool and damp  with a fragrance that only autumn can bring...

 leaves crunch under foot as Travis and I plod along...

 we quickly realize that we are not alone..as a pair of  white tail deer  jump out  across our path... which in turn cause a flock of  turkeys to fly to the tree tops above...squirrels and chipmunks quickly scatter while blue jays begin to scold us for disturbing the peace and quiet...

 as we follow the winding trail Travis and I quietly peek in on a Gnome and Faerie village...a magical community deep in the woods...on this day we leave an offering of a newly found turkey feather, a mushroom, pine cones and a small John Deere tractor...Travis says to me "Granny faeries can fly but, they still need a tractor"...

October is always a busy month here, there are gardens to be mulched and put to bed, a coop to be readied for the cold weather soon to come,  there are the millions and millions of leaves to be raked... my least favorite fall activity by far...the firewood has been stacked and the chimney cleaned...it is time to feather our nest too...blankets have been laundered and pillows aired...the days of staying close to the wood stove are quickly approaching...in a few short weeks darkness will come an hour earlier...oh, how quickly the seasons pass...I must get busy...good afternoon from Dog Trot Farm...

~GONE GIRL~

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn...Have you read the book? Have you seen the movie?

If so, what do/did you think?...

After all the media hype, the booked peaked my interest...I put my name on the reserve list at our local library...I just love our little library...but, this book not so such...what is wrong with me...so many  raved about this book...I found it  slow to gain my interest...never mind hold my interest...I typically enjoy books more than the movies that are made from them...I must say the actress who is playing the  role of Amy looks spot on...let me know what you think... 

~SUNDAY SUNSHINE~

I'M SO GLAD I LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE THERE ARE OCTOBERS...L.M.MONTGOMERY~

~AN OCTOBER DAY~

It is Autumn in New England...the countryside is ablaze in colors of red, orange and gold...Weekends find Mr. Dog Trot and I travelling the remote back roads...driving over hill and dale while enjoying the scenic beauty that Maine has to offer...The noon day sun sparkles off the Atlantic ocean...wild turkeys forage from newly chopped corn fields and in the distance a glimpse of a white tail deer as it darts to the safety of the woods beyond...We pass by old New England homes, a red cape... a white saltbox...a grey federal  ...some inhabited while others left abandoned...their secrets tightly held behind old wavy panes of glass...

 

Darkness comes early...shadows dance on old plastered walls, there is a warmth and coziness to the  homestead that only Autumn can bring...

  flower gardens will soon be mulched and prepared for  winter slumber, I give thanks for the beauty that lingers... 

acorns drop...chipmunks scatter...leaves fall and crunch under our feet...Travis jumps in newly formed piles...a favorite pastime is born...

geese fly south...

and a pumpkin tree is in the making...

time to prepare... ghost and goblins will soon be in the air...