The Spring Slaughter Begins

Roscoe P. Cole- Kitty gazing intently at bird feeder

Each spring brings new life and unintended carnage.  The return of the birds and birth of baby bunnies heralds the change of seasons and also means supplemental nutrition for Cletus and Roscoe.  While most domestic kitties kill and toy with their intended prey- our boys actually consume some of what they slaughter. 

The remaning parts are left as gifts of love.  It is amazing that a whole rabbit can be drug through the cat door and into the garage where it is then dissected with care and spread about.  One must also be careful when weeding the flower beds as it is not uncommon to find wings, intestines and varied heads of the dearly departed under flowers.

Despite our efforts, the carnage continues and we console ourselves that at least our cat food bills go down!  We have managed to protect the bluebird house by covering the pole with flashing but that does not stop the efforts.

A favorite kitty story we love to share dates back a few years ago.  My mother was recovering with us from a badly broken ankle.  Her rehab included walking laps around the wraparound porch.  After one exercise session, she was resting and birdwatching on the front bench.  Mom trained her binoculars on the flowering pear trees to identify a bird and WHAM-  she still marvels at the flash of white ( kitty ) that grabbed a bird in mid air! 

So much for a peaceful rest

Stay tuned! This week ( If I have energy to write)  -

Focal points for the garden-

The adventures of salvaging telephone poles-

and the question since Fall-  Will it be dry enough to till and plant?

Dogs are a Barkin' on Easter! The Spring Over-do!

Dogs in this case would be my feet!  Today was beau-tee-full at the farm and we could not resist the "Spring Overdo" so Karl and I are both nursing aches and pains that come from planting, dividing plants and spreading way too much mulch.

I can say that the new Neutrogena SPF 70 does work!  Our pale withered winter skins emerged this evening unscalded from a full day outside.

Anyone else out there as stressed as I am over the late planting?  We have been unable to put in onions or other crops due to the constant rain-  I think even my asparagus crowns rotted in the ground-so far no shoots!

Well folks- these hands are sore from weedin'  Happy Planting

The Making of a Farmgirl

Today was about the joys of rebellious shopping.  My niece Anna is spending her spring break on the farm- a place where she is just as much at home as the soil.  Unfortunately our first task was a miserable one-  Grandma wanted us to go out and get an Easter Dress, tights and new sandals... EEEWWWWWW!!  Now Anna is a lot more "girly" than her Aunt Shannon. She has her opinons and very quickly picked out a tasteful cotton dress, sweater, tights and shoes.  Her goal was not to have a frilly dress, but go get the Easter shopping out of the way so she could go to Tractor Supply Chick Days and play with the baby animals.  ATTTA GAL!

Now I simply could not help but to outfit her in a new set of Overalls and she also picked ( a very stylish  I might add ) Pink Tractor Supply Hat and Pink John Deere childrens work gloves.  I felt vindicated knowing she was more excited about her new "farmgirl" clothing than the frilly dressy stuff.  Somehow, I can't seem to get it across to my "city slicker brother" that pink dress shoes and dresses do not constitute "playclothes".   So between Tractor Supply and past visits to Goodwill - we now have her covered.  Our only disappointment today is we could not find her "work boots" like mine.

So after adequate chick time, we headed home to do chores.   All I can say is that kid can work.  In the space of an hour we fed dogs, cats, horses, chickens, cleaned the coop, picked up limbs from the yard - whew!  No wonder I am so tired! 

Anna exhibits such joy when visting.  She finds the Magic in our mundane...all the daily tasks we don't even consider- she enjoys and approaches with such excitement. 

All I can say is Poor Chuck!  You thought you got away from your sister only to have a daughter just like her! 

Of course unlike Great Auntie Erna did for us-  I will not teach her to cuss.... but if she gets a note home from her Spanish teacher-  She did not learn

"Dos cervezas, por favor."   from me!

Chickn' Tractor - Phase Three

We have had chickens now for 4 years and each Spring leaves us wanting to improve upon our current "Chicken Tractor". Karl took advantage of this very windy, rainy day to work on "Phase 3" in the garage.

I was wooed by an edition of Southern Living to consider free range chickens. An article showed a nice little chicken advertised as "bug control" in a perfectly manicured garden. HAH ! In retrospect, the lady obviously had a landscaper and her little floofy dog had been groomed and did not "wear the colors" of country dogs who just love to eat and roll in chicken poo. While I love my "Ladies" they are not kind to my landscape or garden beds and have unfortunately this year destroyed my entire winter crop of kale and collards.

So after much research - on to Phase 3!
We are constructing A Frame style coops with attached runs which we can scoot across the lawn- similar models online sell for boutique prices- but we figure we can use salvaged cedar and other materials to find a situation which will protect the birds, the gardens and my sanity.  Dreams of poo free shoes are not far away!

If you would like to learn from our mistakes- check out our Chicken Page!

My struggles with death in this time of springing

Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains. ~Kahlil Gibran

Last night a friend and colleague from work was killed in an automobile accident.  Today I have spent my time divided between tears and anger.  Since death is such a large part of medicine (my real job) I find I like to cram those "stages of grieving" into one large emotional package. Today was not a day I could channel my inner emotional detatchment.

It was a struggle to stem the tears at work and while running errands afterwards. I just wanted to go home and cry.  When I got home, I called my Mom who invited me over to talk and have a cup of tea.  She allowed me share things about Lauren and how sad I was that this beautiful mother was taken so young.  We talked about her daughter, how happy she was with her recent engagement and how cruel fate can be to rob someone so deserving of new found love and happiness.

Mom then announced she was going to the store and asked me to please plant a climbing rose for her that had just come in the mail.  She put Rupert ( her puppy ) and myself out into the courtyard of the walled garden and took off- knowing nature would begin the healing process.

My Grandma Pennell- her mother knew one very important secret of life- 

The balm for sadness and grief lies in a garden.

Grandma was the most peaceful person I have evern known and I imagine she literally worked out her cares growing her own food.  When I was young, I remember my mom watering her gardens late in the evening after a stressful day as a social worker.  It seems to be a genetic link that we find comfort in working the soil.

I spent this afternoon planting Mom's rose, sweet alyssum, creeping jenny, dianthus and pansies.  I found laughter through my tears as little Rupert "helped" by pulling up what I had just planted and running around the courtyard like he had won the doggie lottery.  Why are puppies so proud when they destroy things?

While I cannot make sense today of this horrible and unfair loss, I found some peace and time to reflect with busy hands.  The raw wound is still there- but somehow, covered in dirt, the hurt wanes.

Passing of the Seasons- How do you celebrate Spring?

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade. ~Charles Dickens


Today is the first day of Spring!  The Vernal Equinox

Translated literally, equinox means "equal night." Because the Sun is positioned above the equator, day and night are about equal in length all over the world during the equinoxes.

I was awakened from a deep slumber this morning by a sound not heard in months- that of Robin-song.  Robins are often called the "First Sign of Spring".  Anyone who is familiar with their song knows that when they return home for the warmer weather- they think EVERYONE should get up with them each morning.  This particular Robin was perched on our porch rail outside the bedroom singing to his heart's content.    Karl didn't crack an eyelid.  Wish I could sleep like that.

So here I am - cup of coffee, little Rupert (mom's puppy we are watching for her)  snuggling by my side thinking about our family's special Rite of Spring.

When one thinks of Spring Traditions-  cleaning, planting, starting seeds, the first Robin- all signs of rebirth and reawakening.  Routines and things that put a "spring in your step", efforts that will be worthwhile in the months to come with a lush garden, pretty flowers, a clean home.

Unfortunately our Spring Rite is not something we look forward to- 

It is time to take the cats-  Cletus and Roscoe - to the vet.  DOM DOM DOM DOOOOMM!

Anyone who has met our twin kitties knows- they are loving, curious and usually very laid back specimens of the feline persuasion.   They are transformed into little lions when crammed in a carrier and taken to our sainted vets Diane and David McCracken.  Each year brings the dread of yowling, drooling, copious amounts of white shedded hair and battle scars on ourselves and the vet from simply trying to worm the kitties with a Drontal pill.   

Our wish for your first day of spring is to enjoy the sunshine, reflect on your blessings and pray for our safe return from the vet.