Catching Up

seems to be something I'm not doing very well lately.  I did, finally in the month of June, change the top bed cover to something lighter.

I've almost finished with painting the outside of the house.  The paper wasps have delayed me.  I painted one as it emerged from a crack between wood and rock at the top of the chimney.  It fell but another followed it. I decided to stop painting until I get wasp spray. I'm allergic or I would just try and work around them.  

Between the rains and up and down the ladder, I've weeded and picked up limbs and moved rocks from the water garden so I could fit the ladder next to the house.  I've become braver and more trusting of my ladder placement judgement.  I have very few spots left to paint, just the trim.  Almost done!!!  The high spots will be done from the tractor bucket.  All with a two inch brush, too.  I'm kinda proud of my work.

It is hot and dry now.  A couple of afternoons were triple digits. Some that weren't felt that way with the humidity.  My painting follows the shade and in between I've picked cucumbers and onions, sprayed the hungry bugs with hot pepper/mint/Dawn tea, and moved things from my sister's house she sold.  Along with my regular "chores" I've stayed busy.

The old doe with a fawn thinks the garden is hers.  She likes the bean tops and the lettuce best.  The dogs were keeping her out but she convinced them to stay away the day they sniffed out her fawn.  The deer gave them a good stomping.  No one was harmed but the dogs let her graze in the garden now.

I've mentioned Pit Vipers or poisonous snakes have a smell.  Well, let me tell you something (the way Mom always started a wild story) I've been smelling something strange in our tool closet.  Told Hubby we either had a Copperhead or a skunk under the floor.  He said, Naw, the dogs would have gotten either.  They did one day...tore up jack shit as some would say.  I couldn't tell what was going on.  Had to take a piece of siding off to see under the floor.  There it was...a monster of a Cottonmouth snake.  The dogs did good.  Sad part is I think it got one of my Koi....and to think I've been moving those rocks, digging around, standing barefooted, never having my mind on a poisonous WATER snake.  Well, I'm thinking and watching now!

At night when I sit with ice packs on aching muscles and joints I try to read.  My latest book was A Parchment of Leaves by Silas House. I would like to share a line that struck a chord with me "That's all anybody can ask for, if you think about it-to have somebody love you and depend on you and take care of you when you're sick, and mourn over your casket when you die."

So, just like a letter from home, I've caught up through the times I've failed to post.

Happy Father's Day and may the rest of June be wonderful to you.

And You Thought I Had Stopped...

creating mad projects from nothing.  Never!

Made Hubby a comfy neck pillow from holey leggings

It's can be reshaped.

 Made an "art" piece from paint

dried in the bottoms of paint cans.

Added my own touches to the paint.

Gathered some sand and rocks for another project.

Printed, framed, hanged

and added some bling to Andrew's room.

I "assisted" Hubby while he made twenty five pounds of deer Summer Sausage.  Although I have not been posting blow by blow accounts of my shenanigans, I've tried to be productive.  

What projects are you working on this year?

Fire Blossom Friday: Being A Deer

Join the creative fun and visit with others at

Imaginary Garden With Real Toads

Not feeling like yourself?

Some one lets a dog in...

I freeze but the dog

Thinks I am only human

And does not smell my fear

Someone mentions food

I look at the solid wood

I stand on 

Seeing nothing to eat

The lead male says,

"Honey, I will cook.

Go relax"

I retreat outside

Too Much To See...

One thing a farm dog must do is keep an eye on everything.

They have to make sure all is well At The Farm.

Sometimes, it like watching a tennis match.

There are animals in every direction

and on a lazy day,

you just watch...

and see what you can see.

Thursday's Things In A Row...

 Pat who hosts A View From The Edge is doing Thursday's Things In A Row.  Stop by and visit those who have joined in this venture.  Also, read a little Pat while you're there...she is  a delight.

Although my ducks are not in a row,

I found a few things that were.

Twelve Hundred And Counting...

posts, that is.  Been here since September '08.  I've met many wonderful people during my blog journey, people I would never have met in my ordinary life. 

Thank you all for making me laugh, making me feel important and even, sometimes, making me cry.  You have been my anchor in many storms, my shoulder to cry on and my cheering section when I needed encouragement. 

Yes, these are crocuses, a sure sign of spring trying to break out of the brown and white we are all tired of seeing.

These are the deer who trimmed the tulips last night.

The Kubota excavated dry creek channeled the three inch rain we had in one day and it did not threaten Marcy's house.  The ponds are full once again and the green is beginning to show.  I am hopeful spring is almost here but the biggest snow (eighteen inches) I remember arrived in late March.

Egg production is increasing.

The new calves are tagged and tattooed.

Ki-Anne still holds my heart in her paws

as life goes on At The Farm.

Critters Caught Unaware

A pair of lady bugs

Deer sneaking in to eat the flowers
Hen setting on her eggs
Hidden grasshopper

Orange stealing a snack

I Blame Lisa!

Lisa, at Laughing Orca Ranch, and I were having an email discussion. Due to her immobility, I shall entertain her with my answers.

Lisa commented, HAH! Sure, count yourself tagged with your blog assignment. And you can answer these questions, too.

1)Have you ever had any of those critters as a pet?

I have had deer, rabbits, raccoon, mice, snakes, spiders and possums for pets. My oldest daughter raised a possum with a bottle. Herman was a sable possum and really quite pretty. When we went on vacation(girls only), hubby was in charge of Herman's care. With his mamma gone, Herman refused to eat. Through many tearful phone calls, (not Hubby's), Den was directed to get him bananas, walk him in the yard and talk to him. I'm not talking to a possum in my front yard! Someone may come by and see us! By the end of the week, Herman was not moving to drink or eat. Melissa came home and there lay Herman, barely hanging on. He heard his mama'a voice and staggered to her and happily began to eat. Herman grew to be a healthy, rather large, guard possum. Since he was a he, we did release him in the wild. Herman came to visit us less often as he quickly discovered he was not human.

2)Have you ever eaten Road Kill? (Isn't there a Road Kill Festival somewhere near you where they make road kill stew and other delicious delicacies?)

We don't call it road kill if it's still moving!

I do not know of any festivals, although, before the health laws were so strict, a freshly killed deer was taken to the school or nursing home to help expand the lunch menus.

I personally have never eaten road kill...now there was that one time. I was on my way to work and a gentleman had hit a large buck with his car. I stopped to assist and the deer was not dead. I asked if he was going to finish him since the deer's back was broken. He did not know what I meant, nor did he have a tool. I pulled my trusty Buck knife outta my pocket and ending the deer's suffering humanely. I said I cannot dress him, I have to go to work and I did not want blood on my uniform. I contacted the sheriff(this was before cell phones). By this time the gentlemen had found a dull knife. In tandem we removed the scent glands and loaded him into the back of the car. This guy knew nothing! In my neck of the woods, this is an unknown animal, a man who cannot finish a deer nor field dress one! He shook my bloody hand as I left and said I will never forget you. A week later, the local butcher called and said there was meat left for me from this guy who hit the deer. I liked to brag that I got a bigger buck than anyone at work and didn't even fire a shot.

3)Is there any kind of meat you will not eat? Mammal, Amphibian, Reptile?

I will try anything...once. If you do not try it, how will you know if you do not like it? I could not eat a horse, unless I was literally starving to death...have to draw the line somewhere!

4)Have you eaten frog legs before?

Yes, haven't you? One of my favorite dishes but you have to remember to remove the main tendon in the leg or they will "hop" when they are cooked. I have gigged for frogs and that is an adventure unto itself.

5)How about Snail?

Never have had the opportunity but would try it...once. I hear it is very expensive.

Lisa said, "Knock your ever lovin' socks off, my friend! So what's your favorite meat and why? Raccoon, opossum, squirrel, rabbits, turkey, deer? What's your least favorite to eat?"

I have eaten raccoon many times. I like it barbecued whole. It must be a young one or it will taste strong. Groundhog and Possum are a little too greasy for me, like eel, they are good only when warm.

I love deer tenderloin, and deep fried wild turkey (way better than domestic turkey), squirrel and rabbits make the best dumplings.

Now, I hear the snickers and the jokes about the Arkansas Hillbilly here. But want to know something? When the groceries stores are empty, I will still have something to eat...hope it is not armadillo!!!

Tragic Loss

A terrible loss happened weeks ago. I have not had the strength to share.

The coroner reports have come back as a suicide. There were no witnesses and he left no note. That is never easy to deal with, blaming yourself and thinking there is something I could have done.  I should have seen it coming.

He was special to me, I had only known him four short years but he had lived a life time before he moved in.

In his passing, he has left to mourn...me. Preceded in death by the pink flower vase.

To ease my burden, he was interred immediately but will always be in my heart.
Almost Gone Flower is close to my dishwasher so I can visit him daily.


Please, bear with my grief! The passing of this great piece has left an empty spot on my shelf and in my heart. If you see any of his relatives, please, have them notify me, I have a vacancy!