Rock Hollow Called Me...

So I listened.

Found a feather on the way

and placed it in my hair.

It was cloudy when I started.

All the way I prayed for rain.

I entered my favorite place and was saddened.  The tornado and the ice storms of years past have left damage.  No rains have fallen big enough to wash the debris away.  It's still my favorite place, just harder to navigate.  Rock Hollow carries the rain fall to the creek below and is home for many living things.  I kept my eye out for snakes with camera in hand.

The Poison Oak was healthy and the ferns still grew so there had to be some moisture deep in the ground.  On top it was dry.  I slipped in leaves, I clung to rocks, I crossed logs and climbed to my heart's content.

The farm trio found something interesting.

To give you some perspective,

the rocks here are huge.

Then I fell...

This is the view from where I lay.

I'm still enjoying the beauty

 but now my behind is hurting.

I thinking, Oh, no, I didn't tell anyone where I was going.  I want my ashes scattered here so I was happy to lie there for a minute or two letting my body tell me if it was okay.  I may not have gotten the rain I prayed for but a Higher Power was watching after me.  Above is where I fell...right in the spot that has no big rocks, plumped my behind right into the safe zone.  Guardian Angel or dumb luck?  You decide.  Oh, I'm okay, I'll be bruised but I'm not broken.

My little tumble was from here to there.

I was hot and rested.

Taking in the beauty of my favorite spot...

Rock Hollow.

These puppies were glad to be home.



Cock-A-Doodle-Do...

Good morning to you!

If you don't want to go out,

We have windows with views.

Seven young bucks,

the biggest on the other side of the truck

They strolled and grazed,

headed for the orchard.

Farm dogs are fired!

Sleeping on duty.

They were tired from the 'possum hunt.

One last night and one this morning.

'Possums zero-farm dogs two.

Guess we'll keep the dogs.

Sometimes, Hard Choices Are Made...

The farmers who are reading this, know that life is not easy on a farm.  There are decisions that need be made for the safety and lively hood of all.  Sometimes that means, natural wild life loses out.

Water is the life blood of any farming operation.  Without water, you can not keep stock, grow things, or raise fish for your personal use.  We have a few established ponds along with our live water.  We protect them all.

Muskrats and beaver can empty a pond in a short time.  Today we had a pair of beaver move into the new pond (about a three quarters acre pond) and were digging through the levy.  This is not good.  The levy goes, the water goes.

Many times we can co-exist with nature, in this case, we could not.  The water is more valuable than two beaver. So do not look if you are faint of heart or an animal rights activist...these are not pretty pictures but sometimes a nessecary thing to do. (And, yes, this is my nightgown!)

Maggie Mae, one of our Border Collies, was along for the ride.  She brought them from the pond.  They were so heavy, sometimes, only Maggie's nose was above the water. She brought them completely to the bank of the pond.

Ki-Anne and Cutter check it out but Maggie is very proud of her acquisition and tells them so.  They were huge and weighed more than Maggie, the wonder dog.

I do appreciate the beauty of all God's creatures.

Beavers are trapped for their skins.

Their destruction while they are constructing is not good.

Ki-Anne, farm dog in training, is going to be most excellent.