~PAPA JIM~

~PAPA JIM~

Recently, I had the good fortune to win a giveaway held by Tammy of the blog Flat Creek Farm...Tammy's mother Charlotte Utterback is the author of this wonderful book...it is a book of memories written for her family...I enjoyed this book so much I read  it twice in the same week...Papa Jim is the author's father, a soft spoken hard working man married to Eula Belle...It is a story of strong  family ties...family values, and the love and respect they share for one another...Charlotte shares  with us the joys, hardships and loss while living on a Missouri farm  and later the  move to the city of Paris, Missouri...Papa Jim is simply a wonderful read and one I would like to share...if anyone would like to read this book e mail me your address and I will pass it along...then, in turn you pass it on...good things should be shared...Tammy thank you so much!!!

~LOVE~

Brotherly love...

    sweet and pure... Travis and Paige...two peas in a pod...

~DECEMBER FIRST~

Halloween is nothing but a memory, the month of November flew by just as quickly as the Thanksgiving turkey was devoured...

December 1st and the New Year is fast approaching...I ask you where does the time go?

 old friends show up here and there...

 the old homestead takes on a bit of a glow both inside and out...

 Ernie, our Elf on the Shelf has returned from the North Pole...pulling a wagon load of milk chocolate kisses

and accompanied by a new friend...name to be determined by Travis...

The way I see it... when you become a grandparent... you can pull off just about any crazy idea... no one will bat an eyelash...honest...and your grandchildren will love it...I promise...

~HAPPY HALLOWEEN~

~HAPPY HALLOWEEN~

"My candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open." ~Mary Shelley~

"A house is never still in darkness to those who listen intently; there is a whispering in the distant chambers, an unearthly hand presses the snib of the window, the latch rises. Ghost were created when the first man awoke in the night." ~J.M.BARRIE~

~A GOOD FIND~

Just look what this chicken keeper discovered at the feed store...      

SLOGGERS...found at
Blue Seal Feeds...made in the USA...perfect for wearing to the coop or garden and only $29.99...      

~SUGAR AND SPICE~

Thou she be but little she is fierce...~William Shakespeare~

Paige Elizabeth four weeks old...a ray of sunshine with a bit of pixie dust thrown in...fiercely guarded by one big brother...

 Life is good...

~ARE YOU READY?~

Halloween Eve...

 will soon be upon us...witches riding on broomsticks and things going bump in the dark night...

are you ready? 

Travis is...he has just discovered that Halloween means dressing up (a pirate) and Trick or Treating..."Granny do you know that on Halloween you get candy"..."chocolate candy Granny"!!!  what can I say the nut doesn't fall far from the tree...

~OCTOBER'S RAIN~

 tonight...as the rain falls...

a fire is lit...the wood stove is put to work...the chill of the day soon fades as the warmth  envelopes  the homestead...the sweet smell of wood smoke swirls out into the evening air...October is a time for hearth and a time for home~

~THIS DAY~

Today...this day...a glorious autumn day...

warmth from the sun...sky of blue...marshmallow clouds...

a perfect day to drive over hill and dale...

 a day to choose the perfect pumpkin...

 or the perfect gourd...

 to find the perfect leaf...

 or to hear the crunch under one's feet...

 October is my perfect month...

~OUT OF DARKNESS~

Out from darkness morning does come...

awaking sunlight plays upon the shadows...

nevermore...nevermore...

  Backward, turn backward,  O time, in your flight make me a child again just for tonight...~Elizabeth Akers Allen~   

      

                                                                                                                                                   

~PERFECTION~

"Sometimes the littlest things take up the most room in your heart"  ~ Winnie the Pooh~
Paige Elizabeth
6 days old...

~OCTOBER~

 October brings a morning chill...

socks...sweaters...flannel shirts...

short days...long nights...

apple cider...hot chocolate...

country fairs...dough boys...sugar donuts...

the harvest is in...

the wood stove burns...rugs to hook...books to read...

such are the perfect golden days of October...

~FRIENDSHIP~

Friendship~

On a sunny day in August Travis and I returned home from running an errand to a package waiting on the back porch...this particular day was a difficult one...our spirit's were low as my niece Darlene had just passed away...I picked up the package and quickly recognized the return address... Bakersfield CA....I instantly knew the package was from Kim...her  blog is My Field Of Dreams...I consider Kim to be a dear friend and  although we have never met in person, he is a kindred spirit...Enclosed in the package was a heartfelt note,  which brought me to tears... a beautiful primitive rug with its hand dyed wool, hooked by Kim. I believe the rug to be a Cathy Greschner  design...also enclosed was a very sweet hand crafted wooden chicken also made by Kim...Now, when I think of Kim I think of her beautiful fields of sunflowers and her many lovely chickens...As Mr. Henry David Thoreau wrote  "The language of friendship is not words but meaning."

As Travis said "granny isn't it nice to get surprises in the mail...they make us happy."  I smiled and thought to myself yes Travis... more than you know...Thank you Kim- not only did this kind gesture put a smile on my face but also in my heart...

"The best kind of friend is one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had...~Unknown~

~BLESSED~

It's official...in the wee morning hours Travis Lloyd became a big brother...

 Paige Elizabeth Neily...7 lbs 10oz...20 inches...is perfect in every way...we are blessed...

~SUMMERS END~

 A late summer's day...

sky of blue... clouds of white...no other human in sight...heat of the day...humidity too...an eagle soars... a fox is discovered drinking from the lake...two painted turtles side by side... a loons cry echos in the hot afternoon air...a little slice of heaven tucked away in Denmark Maine...

~QUIET~

Today the fleet of green remains quiet...

 the old homestead remains quiet...

My boy has gone to preschool...~sigh~

~CALLING ALL CHICKEN KEEPERS~

First let me say what I am about to tell you is the truth...the honest to God truth...

 so, here I am in the backyard...weeding the flower garden under the delightful shade of an oak tree on a very hot and humid morning...lost in thought...thinking about how much I missed Winslow Homer and how I sure could use his help keeping the local critters at bay...

then, I was completely caught off guard.. I heard this noise...a noise that I recognized but one that I had not heard for quite some time...not here at Dog Trot Farm anyway...I slowly rose from my knees... looked around half expecting to see the rooster who had just let out a "cock-a-doodle-do"...I saw nothing but the bewildered look on my hens faces...I stood there for a moment...questioning myself..had the humidity gotten to me or did I really hear what I think I heard... I saw no rooster...  I walked over to the coop and upon inspection

this hen...my five year old Ameraucana...my blue egg laying beauty... Pearly Mae...suddenly let out a deep, low, loud and clear "cock-a-doodle-do"..I was dumbfounded...stunned actually... had I not seen her in action with my own eyes I never would have believed it...so...you wonderful knowledgeable chicken keepers...please tell me have you ever experienced anything like this...is my gal trans gender? I just don't know what to make of this...I would love to hear your input...I fear I made need a chicken whisperer...help...

~SEPTEMBER DAYS~

Oh September how I welcome thee..

 I cherish your warm sunny days and cool crisp nights...

 windows opened...curtains  flutter...the house feels alive...cleansed..

   sunlight sparkles on shades of orange, yellow and gold...

there is delight in simple pleasures...

how I enjoy these late summer days...memories are in the making...

~LOVE~

 Death to a three year old...

"but, I loved her"..."I know honey, granny loved her too"...

"Granny, if Darlene has wings...pink wings... can I have John Deere green?"

Thank you dear blog readers for your kind comments, emails, notes and prayers...I have found such comfort in them...

Darlene's memorial service will be held Sunday on the island she loved so very much...I hope to return to visit with you all very soon...I look forward to seeing what everyone has been up to this summer...Warmest regards, Julie...