The Old Tractor Tire...

has been in my life since I can remember. It was a chicken feeder, a calf feeder, a hog feeder and a few other things. Dad had sawed a tire in half and it sure was handy.

When we moved to the farm, I found the old tractor tire as we were cleaning up the place. I could not throw it out but I had to find a new purpose for it to justify keeping it.

I turned it into a water garden. I dug a hole much deeper than the tire, lined it, tacked the liner to the edges and trimmed the liner with my pinking shears. Filled it with water and gold fish and plants, decorating with rocks.

It has suffered from my neglect and Sunday was my day to get that baby clean. I took all the rocks out, caught the frogs and set them out and proceeded to clean stems, leaves and pecans from the bottom. There had been a few spilled flower pots along the way so there was mud too.

I potted a water lily and water irises and planted some parrot grass along the edge. Cleaned and replaced rocks.
Kept going until the water was almost clear. The rest will settle out and the water will be clear by morning. Don't know what the family members think but the dogs are loving the fresh water.

The guys did bring me some baby perch so I have a natural water garden. The bonus is I have repurposed an old memory.

Let Me Tell You...

about my Saturday. Of course, I was moaning Saturday about how tired I was and how I was going back to bed...not!

I laid down and could not go back to sleep. I hear sounds, Bev is in my kitchen washing dishes, mopping floors, laundry going, the whole nine yards. I dragged my pj behind out of bed and into the shower.

Den is outside working of course. Then up pulls Maria, Zander and Luke...so much for my quiet Saturday. Luke helps Den cut some logs, he works on mower, clears some trees out of Marcy's back yard left from the ice storm. Bev and I are inside working.

We are down to the nitty gritty, sorting piles of crap, I must sort each thing and get it in its correct place. I have marked containers: odd screws, odd nails, thing I do not know what the heck they are and I am sorting one tiny piece at a time!

Time for Andrew's party and Den is in the woods. I had to go to the skating rink and back to pick him up. I had to pick up things in town.

I had to come back and sort some more...ahhhhh!

I just want to throw it all away and Bev won't let me, I must sort until there are no more piles. I get a clear place on the table and she dumps more! I have never seen so many small pieces of paper with a phone number on them with no name!

Maria and the baby go home. Luke stays and plays on my computer. Bev goes home. Melissa, Andrew, Jake and Den head to the derby. I can't use my own computer. I watch tv and can find nothing to watch.

Maria comes back to get Luke. They go home and then everyone comes back from the derby.

Nice relaxing Saturday!

I guess I will try again next week.

Who's In Charge?

We certainly are not, so we must leave it in the hands of a higher power. All in All, He is doing a pretty good job. Now, if people was just back off and let Him do His job and trust in His ability, we would be a much better world for it.

Someone smarter than me

A Creator of beauty everywhere.

How can a cat be entertained for hours with only a box?


The joy of live water
The beauty of a spring rain.

We cannot claim the creations, we can only enjoy the beauty of it.

I May Be Gabbed Out

I am having a little trouble finding words this morning. I know that happens to everyone. I think it may be 'cause I am so darned tired!

I have two full days ahead of me with work at home. Andrew has a birthday party and a demolition derby tonight. Hopefully, Papa will cover those so I don't have to get dressed today. I love just working in my pjs and at the end of the day, shower and change into more pjs...how's that for lazy?

I really think I am turning into a hermit. I go to work and do my job quite well but at home I want solitude and quiet. I do not want to go buy groceries, I do not want to go shopping or visiting. I just want to stay in my pjs and be lazy.

The weather is beautiful, warm and breezy. I think I shall go back to bed.

Skywatch and Shadows

This N That

Boy, I use that title a lot! It is usually when I have a lot of things to say that have nothing to do with each other.

TP was Daddy's dog. Here she is in all her tattered glory.

Zander is learning about work hats early.


Another free range rooster

First, I must say I met a wonderful person at work today. May be just the person we need to have items in our new business. http://www.earthartandfoods.com/ has so many beautiful pieces, all hand made, and grows mushrooms, too. If you stop by, tell him, Gail At The Farm sent you. I am having a little trouble with his contact me button but I have notified him about the problem. This stuff is so cute and artsy!

Now for my day, I got to listen to deconstruction half the day at work. They are replacing my siding and I do not know why. I asked for a new floor three years ago and I am getting new siding. Maybe if I ask for a roof, I will get a floor.

Princess is not liking the pen!

We have added to the barn cats. We have two new litters since we only have two females, this is 100% production, now if I could sell them, this would be good.

Will I ever get to sit and enjoy the flowers?

Breaking Ground

Under a beautiful blue sky

Nephew Toni's new project at the top farm

Moving trees to make room

Dead pine

going down

working

Be sure to call One Call so you can dig safely.

Den and Toni

Playing Hide and Seek

Even Maggie got to go, it was a family affair

"Deep Dark Depression...

excessive misery, rue, despair, and agony on me" from a song on an old show called "Hee Haw". I think it is highly appropriate to sing it on Mondays. If you remember the show, I am feeling as lively as the Culhanes and want Grandpa Jones to cook my supper!

Then I remembered it was Monday and I have a full time job and trying to help run a farm and trying to organize my whole life...no wonder I am tired.

Enough! I shall post some pretty pictures and we will talk no more of Mondays.

Marcy went fishing

here

and here.

She still has lots of roosters

and lots of flowers.

Why Didn't Someone Tell Me???

That milk can looked like crap??? I think this looks much better. The table was made by Dad. The milk can has a new life now as an umbrella holder and looks much better there.

Bev says we just have to keep moving until every thing finds its home.

New place for my show ribbons

Bev has trimmed my hair that I cut the other night, honoring a friend. Cutting my own hair is not self-mutilation as some foster children's therapist say, it is just not having time to get to an appointment. Was a busy day...please, note shirt.

I Missed Saturday

so I have to make it up today. Warning!!! Two post day.

Twin glass topped barrels added to my area

It was a busy day. At eight AM Den and I were waiting for the cattle panel business to open. We loaded a lot! This is to avoid the use of my round pen for weaning, doctoring, and fattening of calves. My round pen is so handy for that, now there is no excuse, Den has his own panels.

A wonderful thing happens while I was there. The owner was showing me his office all made of recycled lumber and tin. He knew the story and the year for each piece he had used. I noticed a wonderful cabinet on the front porch and asked him if it was for sale. No. Then I heard the sad story of his wooden barrel being blown away and broken. He had all the pieces. You know where I am going, right? I got the wonderful piece of furniture for putting his old barrel back together. He wanted to use it for a trash can. I have my work cut out but I can do it!

The piece...needs some work but can't beat the price!

Back to the farm, my prize piece of furniture was taken out, loaded in the tractor bucket, and unloaded in the house.

Beverly arrived and we went to work. We did not get a big area finished but, oh, the work we did. I concentrated on the tool closet, she concentrated getting things in their correct home. I have nicely marked and organized containers of screws, nails, bolts, nuts and washers. You can find the tools in the dark! Everything is sorted to its kind and surely looks better than it did.

A different statue for my favorite table

The view over my kitchen sink, I can gaze out the window at the beautiful valley as I do kitchen chores. As you can tell, my style is extremely different and I only use things I love. Hope you have enjoyed my farm house.

Texture By Marcy

Wordless Skywatch

The End Is Near

Marcy's inside flowerSquiggy loving Barney as she gets closer to delivery.

The old rock bridge
A road with leaning trees, road now passable, barely

Resting and grazing

The week is almost over and I can only drag toward the weekend, hoping it will be a delight.  Worked pretty hard at work and came home. Worked some outside, made supper and a cake, let the bunch eat and cleaned the kitchen.

My end is near, I shall go snuggle in the bed to warm as the nights are still cool. Hope you all have a wonderful evening.