tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32649475729360626282024-02-06T18:11:52.922-08:00sallymomsproutssallymomsprouts
muses: what is possible if we but believe?sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.comBlogger500125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-71064887431201678202021-04-09T07:48:00.000-07:002021-04-09T07:48:19.445-07:00one foot in front of the other<p>As of today, we have been in the state of house chaos for 8 months. Though I can say nearly everything has been accomplished, there is still "a list." Those things that are waiting to be finished. Until then we're in limbo. Can't quite move forward to regain some of our living spaces. The feeling of not being in control is maddening and forces me to look for something I can control.</p><p>OK, outside! I made a promise to myself to spend some of every day in April out in the gardens. Though the first two days were cold and too windy to be comfortable, I had promised. Bit hard on the body but satisfying. As April progressed the weather warmed. Hey, it's too hot for this time of year! And it's dry here in SW Wisconsin. There have been many brush fires in our county, cleanup fires that have gotten out of control. One day last week I smelled smoke on the air and heard sirens in the distance. Not a common sound out here. And a bit of a scare.</p><p>Today it's chilly and damp. Not a real rain, but misty. Very grey and for once the air is still. Perhaps a good day for trimming and pruning shrubs, trees?</p><p>But that will wait until after lunch. This morning it will be lovely to hang about our new kitchen, baking and assembling dinner in my new dutch oven. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV5NJhtpUwZttmjYWEA1jh2nwRGhUKiwj_H4TXMfN6NEJF1W7be7q588C_UBzdNQbR80Ltm5SGntkycYzgOIJPgO1Yua6TbZMDnV-vJP3hV4Rjpfk4RrF8JKafCRksb_AUONwtj3vo-jB/s2048/IMG_4328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV5NJhtpUwZttmjYWEA1jh2nwRGhUKiwj_H4TXMfN6NEJF1W7be7q588C_UBzdNQbR80Ltm5SGntkycYzgOIJPgO1Yua6TbZMDnV-vJP3hV4Rjpfk4RrF8JKafCRksb_AUONwtj3vo-jB/s320/IMG_4328.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Come on inside the new kitchen, It started out as our bathroom/laundry room. Since the former kitchen was about half the size of this space, we decided to switch the rooms during our renovation. The old kitchen would become our new laundry room/bathroom. </p><p>Old windows out, new window in. </p><p><br /></p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc2aPa02exUA48WfeqWdYHr2RZyqm3bQ4nOz0EOZZCD1FIXM7n7EPsizep6B-sI4AXpDjDeSzVZNVzkivKT3oX0aXk0y8kGM2NJ0RCgap6KaqlBgUHAuIsxtSW_pGPVAkENQdNivq-8nL/s640/IMG_3344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAc2aPa02exUA48WfeqWdYHr2RZyqm3bQ4nOz0EOZZCD1FIXM7n7EPsizep6B-sI4AXpDjDeSzVZNVzkivKT3oX0aXk0y8kGM2NJ0RCgap6KaqlBgUHAuIsxtSW_pGPVAkENQdNivq-8nL/s320/IMG_3344.jpg" /></a></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgllDolm9ykvJPA4OwqGdWRcqpSx3Xo8bHFdGetAOPAufei79v4wkuPiJeOKqvKqboTX_wi14XYSpvCYlg642yqNksM4KwGp-a8ypgu16c4znCfZjIhojB-JskY5TlGzX_y97Q7Si00oiY/s640/IMG_3346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgllDolm9ykvJPA4OwqGdWRcqpSx3Xo8bHFdGetAOPAufei79v4wkuPiJeOKqvKqboTX_wi14XYSpvCYlg642yqNksM4KwGp-a8ypgu16c4znCfZjIhojB-JskY5TlGzX_y97Q7Si00oiY/s320/IMG_3346.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoa08vK7ACJxR_8vHVhEAnj6vGgYO-ZQUeZC8dp2kcHULfyeGSd30u1HKJ87TnMu6OVurx2qSZKSr7QhfbSx_l0npqxXWWDbZQe64OFJhuny4jFXUaTJ6rTRRdd7j54qOmQx_ViV4K4SA/s2048/IMG_4110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoa08vK7ACJxR_8vHVhEAnj6vGgYO-ZQUeZC8dp2kcHULfyeGSd30u1HKJ87TnMu6OVurx2qSZKSr7QhfbSx_l0npqxXWWDbZQe64OFJhuny4jFXUaTJ6rTRRdd7j54qOmQx_ViV4K4SA/s320/IMG_4110.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-MWQW9VjDt1FtPuTqX0sc6a-zxKQTbE6n3UnqGsQjD9dvhKYuR6Pg2GNcBD1I_pNSMrs1a7gY0qThZ6WFFpRS-oEO5CbWOVHJn1RZqFlf1kBzLzpeGeHCQpOVYnMgo0ttrrbGLH_sNM1/s2048/IMG_4111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV-MWQW9VjDt1FtPuTqX0sc6a-zxKQTbE6n3UnqGsQjD9dvhKYuR6Pg2GNcBD1I_pNSMrs1a7gY0qThZ6WFFpRS-oEO5CbWOVHJn1RZqFlf1kBzLzpeGeHCQpOVYnMgo0ttrrbGLH_sNM1/s320/IMG_4111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BY7vjAg0ThlfVqAUTuyZzf_iT6p0Ui111QJp79w3HymHx1sYtOENfRkKUSIHeSMIE678vM1rk-SDF7Nvh40PqNuBf9UKXAqh-a67HuavHemm_jsNdWr-LvlXDmp5WeUTxHPLc2d0jWht/s2048/IMG_4209.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7BY7vjAg0ThlfVqAUTuyZzf_iT6p0Ui111QJp79w3HymHx1sYtOENfRkKUSIHeSMIE678vM1rk-SDF7Nvh40PqNuBf9UKXAqh-a67HuavHemm_jsNdWr-LvlXDmp5WeUTxHPLc2d0jWht/s320/IMG_4209.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3G2wmrdemukHtjdRk3l9hX_FzshPf8PTY2uDfVJhGcukhV1ZhaKpSaTowOam3P4bmWm4cWfRnM2nuwNQ7IvtXWE5KOnXPrqfa5sJLs3f6s3y6CLoU5S_UAVBYrN1fsGNr6hc9fluDaqZ/s640/IMG_4287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3G2wmrdemukHtjdRk3l9hX_FzshPf8PTY2uDfVJhGcukhV1ZhaKpSaTowOam3P4bmWm4cWfRnM2nuwNQ7IvtXWE5KOnXPrqfa5sJLs3f6s3y6CLoU5S_UAVBYrN1fsGNr6hc9fluDaqZ/s320/IMG_4287.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDn14aGSil879jOA2ez4B__ex0I3WB7fKc4lS7QFdoErFp_RYQiwsxJl4dRwKH8wu213pHxtgAHCUJTcCDaDNtN7MmxWsswTBPSQFayReHLXWrjA1ukmmR0c3gKKsd7M0jopb7bqPCQHp/s2048/IMG_4332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDn14aGSil879jOA2ez4B__ex0I3WB7fKc4lS7QFdoErFp_RYQiwsxJl4dRwKH8wu213pHxtgAHCUJTcCDaDNtN7MmxWsswTBPSQFayReHLXWrjA1ukmmR0c3gKKsd7M0jopb7bqPCQHp/s320/IMG_4332.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>We actually had to shower in that tub from August to the end of December until our new upstairs bathroom addition was complete. Happy days..... The window you see over the new kitchen sink is the window that you see behind the old shower head. And do you see my dutch oven on the new gas stove in this last photo?? </p><p>My word for 2021 is STRETCH. I've surprised myself by the multiple ways I've been pushed to put that word into action this year. I marvel at the serendipity of the universe. Just recently Mary Englebreit posted a quote from Audrey Hepburn. "Nothing is impossible. Why the word itself says, I'm possible." Ain't it the truth, friends. </p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-31697639312154808772021-03-01T11:55:00.004-08:002021-04-09T07:50:31.632-07:00welcome March<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh1PwY7FLRYIkGOvyPDpoYkoNrrZasfqsj9751vIT2KHw_3ET1XU68DXEy4XGT4H3nvor4bivFqKK6HBX0sYDItCCJVC1sVkvNCvY12vZ4vNeDBrUyC-Jd4f_-39qEWVSVniaj_MFcRc0/s840/IMG_0072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMh1PwY7FLRYIkGOvyPDpoYkoNrrZasfqsj9751vIT2KHw_3ET1XU68DXEy4XGT4H3nvor4bivFqKK6HBX0sYDItCCJVC1sVkvNCvY12vZ4vNeDBrUyC-Jd4f_-39qEWVSVniaj_MFcRc0/s320/IMG_0072.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Happy March. Her tune is contagious. Her lyrics hopeful. Her sun, not so eager to set now, pulls ever more brilliant hues to the horizon as it dips below. And the twilight lingers and lingers still.</p><p>Recent heavy snows are retreating. My hens explode out their door each morning. Mud makes walking to their house a game of watch your step. So much of the property between our house and theirs is bare ground due to fall's building excavation. We walk on planks and scraps of wood but the chicken yard, too, is mud because we dug a trench to their door to lay an electric line one very mild day last December. </p><p>For me, turning the calendar to March has a power like no other. I'm instantly back in 1976 when I turned the calendar to March and realized the next time I turned a page my life would be altered forever. This morning, 45 years later, it comes to me so clearly: that optimistic, eager, innocent and ridiculously happy girl I was then. My due date was March 26. <a href="https://www.mygiantstrawberry.com/">Anne</a> arrived 4 days early. </p><p>Earth's population has had a year like no other since last March. In my wee space deconstruction, renovation and reconstruction have brought lack of privacy to Covid isolation and constant chaos where a safe retreat into our private nest should have brought balm. Nearing the end of these there is a very real feeling of moving out of the darkness into this season of light. Soon we "spring forward" and greet the vernal equinox. Sap is already rising here and it feels like something similar is rising within me. </p><p>It feels good. It feels alive. It feels like a blessing.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-64937404667496895542021-01-05T10:11:00.001-08:002021-03-01T11:57:59.052-08:002021<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRleTuVqgRmGnynTCSekesmeuUppQgdXIKtq5vDNfT7ECq1JZJPZQsd-EgvLTeC9__i2WOFgCwV04y1JmR9atWCnFyuUqnfoeJw0E6iGbbUbSBR2Jk_VNvtp1olqbw-t-P1Qs_VoaOYF-j/s640/IMG_4065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRleTuVqgRmGnynTCSekesmeuUppQgdXIKtq5vDNfT7ECq1JZJPZQsd-EgvLTeC9__i2WOFgCwV04y1JmR9atWCnFyuUqnfoeJw0E6iGbbUbSBR2Jk_VNvtp1olqbw-t-P1Qs_VoaOYF-j/s320/IMG_4065.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Hello 2021 and a good year wish to each of you. </p><p>We're having our first full sun day today in a very long while, following on the heels of several days and nights of freezing fog. It's been a wonderland but under the influence of old sol and no hint of breeze the frosting is slipping to the snow below. Sunlight on the wall of windows on the new family room is filling the house with warmth and the cats are taking full advantage. </p><p>I have a mental image of a dog coming out of the lake and having a good shake. It's the feeling I feel today. It's time to shake much off that stifles. </p><p>It's time for a word for the new year. Stretch. On every level I hope to put it to practice. </p><p>May 2021 be our best year yet.</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-51166368484245865122020-10-05T10:14:00.005-07:002021-01-05T10:10:13.361-08:00And the days dwindle down to a precious few, September...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbjiScz5APBZhHXlvDjz8c-lkSZ8ZcYMkFY4-uhoAVsswUgJ2kZllk9aErpy5hiHgZN3CQuXApwWOSm0k99SJk7BJ0I7ix-molrGE9LK_o0-YtR38WH5PgkJDb4ZIJy6g_GO-xujMddZ2/s840/IMG_3414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRbjiScz5APBZhHXlvDjz8c-lkSZ8ZcYMkFY4-uhoAVsswUgJ2kZllk9aErpy5hiHgZN3CQuXApwWOSm0k99SJk7BJ0I7ix-molrGE9LK_o0-YtR38WH5PgkJDb4ZIJy6g_GO-xujMddZ2/s320/IMG_3414.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> Ok, so my good intentions to post more frequently dissipated with the August heat. Hey, life is FULL right now. And I'm distracted by a little thing called house renovation. (Just one little teaser photo appears at the end of this photo journal.)</p><p>Apple season. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXa6BKNdrNHaF4IhgwHSqfVz9glK3c5oW5ouWT5R-0HXw2lzSWVydcLRY3SZqaIh_m4aEt-zxJBfVea8gOBG-JGEtCJy4XNXVEyhVBr0mODkHlrEiU_5LAC91alYf5oDa3Cx-78Qh9LIO/s2048/MGZI2106.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXa6BKNdrNHaF4IhgwHSqfVz9glK3c5oW5ouWT5R-0HXw2lzSWVydcLRY3SZqaIh_m4aEt-zxJBfVea8gOBG-JGEtCJy4XNXVEyhVBr0mODkHlrEiU_5LAC91alYf5oDa3Cx-78Qh9LIO/s320/MGZI2106.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyXv612ZxzXSkIkzNamow7uB7YBf0aw7w1gCBlpL9BaqDw7x6hLBWWtRpXzRJbs0nbGObIAyJL_bPYKaotXGiDfE1sqXFR1fL6Dxf373KJtRwUjSFhfUxmmbRdtWuFWaZFWv64LS5CplU/s2048/IMG_3604.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyXv612ZxzXSkIkzNamow7uB7YBf0aw7w1gCBlpL9BaqDw7x6hLBWWtRpXzRJbs0nbGObIAyJL_bPYKaotXGiDfE1sqXFR1fL6Dxf373KJtRwUjSFhfUxmmbRdtWuFWaZFWv64LS5CplU/s320/IMG_3604.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMwhjOy_winQNMzqrORZvcYKaihKwqW5XO5S8QZvYqr3zUql43Mg8iepWSRkyYhuvBPs4jh1IuOnx5xMinBNCfSgrUspAKxfSUNoYL1NSJlR1IEjWMqFLG2Ij0TDieAt4aGm_IX2-F7f/s2048/IMG_3605.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9IMwhjOy_winQNMzqrORZvcYKaihKwqW5XO5S8QZvYqr3zUql43Mg8iepWSRkyYhuvBPs4jh1IuOnx5xMinBNCfSgrUspAKxfSUNoYL1NSJlR1IEjWMqFLG2Ij0TDieAt4aGm_IX2-F7f/s320/IMG_3605.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwY7rniuUwFuv7tbVnxb8eAVmqPD6454D64Q5oZqQFCVoqP7ZbdY0bIt4WSbDODjM3zHIn7c8eduCv3qmEhcsMPMgj_iZFcxcsWJvAmFpsOF3CnQg-vZC43gJ2rwGfe-LoUJAmVEgusN/s640/IMG_3635.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWwY7rniuUwFuv7tbVnxb8eAVmqPD6454D64Q5oZqQFCVoqP7ZbdY0bIt4WSbDODjM3zHIn7c8eduCv3qmEhcsMPMgj_iZFcxcsWJvAmFpsOF3CnQg-vZC43gJ2rwGfe-LoUJAmVEgusN/s320/IMG_3635.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>Our trees have never been more abundant. And despite not being sprayed, the quality of the apples has never been better. And it delights us to share them with neighbors and friends.</p><p>The vegetable beds have provided so many good things that had to be dealt with like, right now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HhVdWBwm7OqHoTPG2pcT50A-IYDtI5NvKyCFCRgMj1CUgs8WAjVfeJgQqY_cp1UX3mkEdlO6UP23ce6eUPGmm9FCIMsspSRY1mPbLCnWgVNZuPyfQtnu5l8cqO-R7UHrXJRoP9sndRVZ/s2048/IMG_3366.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8HhVdWBwm7OqHoTPG2pcT50A-IYDtI5NvKyCFCRgMj1CUgs8WAjVfeJgQqY_cp1UX3mkEdlO6UP23ce6eUPGmm9FCIMsspSRY1mPbLCnWgVNZuPyfQtnu5l8cqO-R7UHrXJRoP9sndRVZ/s320/IMG_3366.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRUCLw7UcLZcDI3dhcuuiUWz2NdCTznzC0qZjsc4qMZliEz6qc-MzJHmUVEfg5p6y16tO4NEnXSC0yN7Cduv1QIxGds8Ji5n1DbtTNzh2nQKmd4TAvjiIASonk1P3bHbHB0uPNGilProM/s2048/IMG_E3151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipRUCLw7UcLZcDI3dhcuuiUWz2NdCTznzC0qZjsc4qMZliEz6qc-MzJHmUVEfg5p6y16tO4NEnXSC0yN7Cduv1QIxGds8Ji5n1DbtTNzh2nQKmd4TAvjiIASonk1P3bHbHB0uPNGilProM/s320/IMG_E3151.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuucTuMGd0xurRTVFSHnxQBJyFEgLqJTCirMzYwO5JxhraQmnEW2SdqqBJLTZwWKlcH1NvUdv8nanH_qedq9COwEizdSS9wWy0iSnorFFD4gKmUybXN9PGcbKGT4OcFeq4Pg0uH6qQhER6/s2048/IMG_3167.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuucTuMGd0xurRTVFSHnxQBJyFEgLqJTCirMzYwO5JxhraQmnEW2SdqqBJLTZwWKlcH1NvUdv8nanH_qedq9COwEizdSS9wWy0iSnorFFD4gKmUybXN9PGcbKGT4OcFeq4Pg0uH6qQhER6/s320/IMG_3167.jpg" /></a></div><p>Despite several nights of frost since the start of October, there still is much out there to be put by.</p><p>We were able to attend our son's last two tournament weigh-ins at the Mississippi. He had his best season yet. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjEwqBkPNvYzT-5NQ3SOneffAJaYFLUSU-yN2Z1oVn6aMfhhx8Iwfp1He-dTZFVfl5eF3a0YGTLN95xUEiUB6MwMhFPo8KUXLjY5cfU0zgOVJYT21bkLBYcMx2e51jejPODNABHyy9CXy/s2048/IMG_3564.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigjEwqBkPNvYzT-5NQ3SOneffAJaYFLUSU-yN2Z1oVn6aMfhhx8Iwfp1He-dTZFVfl5eF3a0YGTLN95xUEiUB6MwMhFPo8KUXLjY5cfU0zgOVJYT21bkLBYcMx2e51jejPODNABHyy9CXy/s320/IMG_3564.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I was able to get my Bernina serviced at the quilt shop in Decorah where I purchased it. I grinned when I spotted this poster in a shop window.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMy-rRXlyXNPdV_-UcsURxuoaNJYRPWZYsIEoh34WD9lA6RaL3kKNxoGURHyq856U4jqygGFwzJ7GqluRLOQsXbdev5UvoQBd2qgRbgx2WcS2s7IWifKd5dpGumwAZ4jB8icl7xdVY9Ye/s2048/IMG_3501.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMy-rRXlyXNPdV_-UcsURxuoaNJYRPWZYsIEoh34WD9lA6RaL3kKNxoGURHyq856U4jqygGFwzJ7GqluRLOQsXbdev5UvoQBd2qgRbgx2WcS2s7IWifKd5dpGumwAZ4jB8icl7xdVY9Ye/s320/IMG_3501.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>We are enjoying picking small handfuls of raspberries from our renovated raspberry bed. The deer have discovered the canes and seem to enjoy them as much as we enjoy the fruit.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9_ehMzqZ_x6bP_pCovW5eoGoAxT3deZR3SgNffowT_298t9YhqgrOrtnGc2U0ss79AElNgMcbn562YrEgPe4yWeK4dhd38qBHL9wuK8k-QJ1iXlomQP_d6GCtDLAJaRs63zPbjn2UPb4/s2048/IMG_3444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx9_ehMzqZ_x6bP_pCovW5eoGoAxT3deZR3SgNffowT_298t9YhqgrOrtnGc2U0ss79AElNgMcbn562YrEgPe4yWeK4dhd38qBHL9wuK8k-QJ1iXlomQP_d6GCtDLAJaRs63zPbjn2UPb4/s320/IMG_3444.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapKNru0NyE6TRswR16MqgnReJWWC6-usW4oQeTldIUF0E9UAoWf8iUWl1ZlBiorTDfUtTmRPvfH4ekpE8z-gnC3CLuADCl6UFau3TAW2BiESDyPEA4GJV-R-04Rm_aae-3HfBd39rs0ne/s2048/IMG_E3455.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhapKNru0NyE6TRswR16MqgnReJWWC6-usW4oQeTldIUF0E9UAoWf8iUWl1ZlBiorTDfUtTmRPvfH4ekpE8z-gnC3CLuADCl6UFau3TAW2BiESDyPEA4GJV-R-04Rm_aae-3HfBd39rs0ne/s320/IMG_E3455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p>Sadly, the two fawns we've been watching all summer may have met their end, too casual about crossing our road. This weekend we spotted a bald eagle cleaning up road kill on both sides of our road and when we spotted the doe on Saturday, she was alone. Nature's cycle of life and death.</p><p>We lost one of our funniest hens in September. We called her MeMe because she was always first in line for treats. When she was young she would leap and fly up to your shoulder to get your attention. As she aged she still leapt pretty high to grab at whatever you were holding. Here she is facing the camera. Everyone else content to snack on the kale clipped to the fence. A Rhode Island Red, she was on high alert to see if anything better might be on offer. She was Jerome's favorite and a good pal of mine.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5exafgZIw7dTIovOmFNy-MDKEcTWk6Oi5D2H2uCNkLgh7gqXW6ilO47BNYnU6SzGB4yqSujU-P3AhjMcRjBrTKqFLCNIG11gNoJrqtqHNFvPkwoIbYruRQ6ogkJvmTzShreIg4iLFBlSQ/s2048/IMG_3430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5exafgZIw7dTIovOmFNy-MDKEcTWk6Oi5D2H2uCNkLgh7gqXW6ilO47BNYnU6SzGB4yqSujU-P3AhjMcRjBrTKqFLCNIG11gNoJrqtqHNFvPkwoIbYruRQ6ogkJvmTzShreIg4iLFBlSQ/s320/IMG_3430.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In the final days of September we also lost our grandcat, <a href="https://www.mygiantstrawberry.com/blog/facing-fear">Pepper.</a> What a sweetheart. He added so much to our lives.</p><p>Despite the fact that we removed our pond there have been more frogs and toads this summer than ever before. Each a perfect little creature, the result of living on organic land, I believe. You have to keep a keen eye when mowing. This little fellow was a nice chubby one. Glad to have them feasting in my vegetable and flower beds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG1C4vjmI3zV3OTh4n-ZLWLQIlDeMiRoDd6xrfuUlA00iUdDfnCqkVD4aWbFbHwoo1NAW2Vm9jL99ryRVNjkC1p7VgS-i7apAzVzZNQF8GZZFPDGckk-jl-eEVRWOcnAmYg7eI-WHaIKf/s2048/IMG_3537.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikG1C4vjmI3zV3OTh4n-ZLWLQIlDeMiRoDd6xrfuUlA00iUdDfnCqkVD4aWbFbHwoo1NAW2Vm9jL99ryRVNjkC1p7VgS-i7apAzVzZNQF8GZZFPDGckk-jl-eEVRWOcnAmYg7eI-WHaIKf/s320/IMG_3537.jpg" /></a></div><p>I tried to appreciate all that was going on in the gardens, contemplating them as joy, wonder, grace. Though not always energetic, taking walks and being filled with wonder at what goes on despite our lack of daily observation. Our sweet autumn clematis managed to climb and bloom without my help. Plants I had thought did not survive our drought conditions, surprised me with late season blooms. An abundance of wild aster showed up in the meadow. Our young crabapple brilliant with red fruit. The natural world a balm in unnatural times.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o8V9dHONAOog-oNFNZqSbSNpvSrwlVVvjPU_SVqEzMPZEouCbLfQh2vWsZWZoi4QWZmpsLuS7YJP2IZ0JwhZuLdYDIrEN3_mZUKCHvysAmXZvunJi9Fa_gVaZbpBlPMhVtPvzznmUXpP/s2048/IMG_3647.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o8V9dHONAOog-oNFNZqSbSNpvSrwlVVvjPU_SVqEzMPZEouCbLfQh2vWsZWZoi4QWZmpsLuS7YJP2IZ0JwhZuLdYDIrEN3_mZUKCHvysAmXZvunJi9Fa_gVaZbpBlPMhVtPvzznmUXpP/s320/IMG_3647.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I remembered to check the sunset on the equinox. Yes, there is old Sol, slipping down on the south side of our road. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi08vzjTy8srSnw3mchjePdDoVp1PSr0hM9uZUdSa7-puunDe8vOIhz6mLYJN4QebRk6Z9j0Vw0Una_sPp9bar9It01F_2j73BnhfFaCkpao9sHRCJVxzUA5x3eFZEft6MCAGtEfSONFA/s2048/IMG_3570.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmi08vzjTy8srSnw3mchjePdDoVp1PSr0hM9uZUdSa7-puunDe8vOIhz6mLYJN4QebRk6Z9j0Vw0Una_sPp9bar9It01F_2j73BnhfFaCkpao9sHRCJVxzUA5x3eFZEft6MCAGtEfSONFA/s320/IMG_3570.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>And now it's October. The colors here evolving daily. This is a pic I took on our walk along our road yesterday morning. This is the farm of our neighbor (who also happens to be the man whose business did the cement work for our first floor addition.) </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubjRmSZbf2847d_oPL3cFWrbmZUCA8v8c8fjhtBaqu3l3H_9sfHZNn3FmADcvFcQQyAPMSRWx6nkoIp9NF7monSTbFX0Bi7cQVenUqW5yu9FbQVcOPQPutCQfvZaKZ3nV7xIb38Z1tQ7/s2048/IMG_3687.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOubjRmSZbf2847d_oPL3cFWrbmZUCA8v8c8fjhtBaqu3l3H_9sfHZNn3FmADcvFcQQyAPMSRWx6nkoIp9NF7monSTbFX0Bi7cQVenUqW5yu9FbQVcOPQPutCQfvZaKZ3nV7xIb38Z1tQ7/s320/IMG_3687.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff16JVaxrNrfkQQgPVwBkpM9PjzZvrQ5NlXcRTfHl3GhqHeSTezygbmsBnTTodxSeoXGfwTMk0TPALKibXoEMuG0nbM0FJf65WVqAgz_Umo8HjN6n1-Pv1cvUUprTqpbv0gZb3L6OGBcm/s2048/IMG_3486.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff16JVaxrNrfkQQgPVwBkpM9PjzZvrQ5NlXcRTfHl3GhqHeSTezygbmsBnTTodxSeoXGfwTMk0TPALKibXoEMuG0nbM0FJf65WVqAgz_Umo8HjN6n1-Pv1cvUUprTqpbv0gZb3L6OGBcm/s320/IMG_3486.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I took this photo of the excavator that dug the hole just outside our back door. Scary, fascinating, this fellow could have used that bucket to hand you a cup of tea, he was that good.<div>As was the fellow who maneuvered the cement truck into such a tight spot.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU457wo4bCCvgQSmzwgcRYrBvqUeumKFvTNyUX8p95gd_VgPaLunE__yI5ZkFZXQQAOxRPq269etiqLkzU_13XWuTPf4oMeyqt6nZZ86I138Cl4LjNOF5Qcv5_7Q7FSzqfdgCWZqXtKYf/s2048/IMG_3511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHU457wo4bCCvgQSmzwgcRYrBvqUeumKFvTNyUX8p95gd_VgPaLunE__yI5ZkFZXQQAOxRPq269etiqLkzU_13XWuTPf4oMeyqt6nZZ86I138Cl4LjNOF5Qcv5_7Q7FSzqfdgCWZqXtKYf/s320/IMG_3511.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div>It is week 9 of our house renovation. Today the last of the fascia, soffits, and roof trim is being added. The siding has begun. Then the interior work will commence. As promised here is a peek from the outside from the end of week 8. Second floor bathroom addition on the right. First floor family room looking out to the farmland beyond. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0k8jx-cwiYwb4I6Bwy7QXWFYDzpGtWYVLKna8yVWAkLlwrIIlSYu_H8EwZIn9F1qFY6BULOot-7b24UAVTZr2QZp7dUoXLMChm9ePvt8WFpEq3aCJg9t-jR8A2IZQpWCYZclFDonmfts/s2048/IMG_3684.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0k8jx-cwiYwb4I6Bwy7QXWFYDzpGtWYVLKna8yVWAkLlwrIIlSYu_H8EwZIn9F1qFY6BULOot-7b24UAVTZr2QZp7dUoXLMChm9ePvt8WFpEq3aCJg9t-jR8A2IZQpWCYZclFDonmfts/s320/IMG_3684.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We're waiting for windows but if you look closely you can see dark shadows under the wrap where they will be. The deck will extend out from the house toward this mound of soil, with the house on its north side. Great place to sit and sip, read, stretch, visit. Watch the night sky. </p><p>I have been by turns crabby, excited, nervous, worried, overwhelmed, confused by the chaos in every corner of the house, impatient. I feel selfish spending in a time of world need. I know we are creating a home where we can stay the rest of our lives, in whatever health we may face. Alone or together, snug, safe. </p><p>Yes, September has flown, I suspect October will do the same. </p><p><br /></p></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-6921594587424973642020-08-31T10:09:00.001-07:002020-10-05T10:15:52.229-07:008.21<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpC3ji4lF8xVE6Vd_BPNNmn_qfYvUp6xPcNYaD_wng0HE18G2Qu859tJ0EhLXq5kBR2LPjVVFg-0U871F9c9KtFGrwuEaHGkCwSBycyxunlIC02PLsF6N2EyMU6OXMcnfsopee7gs9LII/s840/Christmas+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPpC3ji4lF8xVE6Vd_BPNNmn_qfYvUp6xPcNYaD_wng0HE18G2Qu859tJ0EhLXq5kBR2LPjVVFg-0U871F9c9KtFGrwuEaHGkCwSBycyxunlIC02PLsF6N2EyMU6OXMcnfsopee7gs9LII/s320/Christmas+2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Much to my amazement I have arrived at the end of my month of blogging daily graces. Considering all that has been pulling my attention elsewhere, 21 out of 31 posts isn't too bad. <div>Now that I've taken the time to pay attention, I can see that whenever I need it grace surrounds me. The air I breathe, the sunshine I feel on my skin, the song of the chickadee, the fragrance of the hydrangeas just outside the window. The warm juices of a just plucked tomato. The yolks of our hens' eggs that rival the hues of the setting sun. Just to wake in the morning and put my head down on my pillow at the close of day, privileges beyond so many on this God's earth. <div>Beyond all this, my deepest grace can be seen in the faces of these dear, dear ones. </div></div><div><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-87824029547330904032020-08-30T07:19:00.002-07:002020-08-31T09:58:37.027-07:008.20<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaq3ZovOl9wbl_DxmBVtBE1AxBO3avlrfoT5nDhjIMUZ4u8IswLUx9znOk2Dh1nwEus8wF-zHshfjkHEg-bVudSDQjcWvPVfBkGVTNWBc7F3dAymQyZMRFVRKkUzbH8b4xRZx5sCQh07F/s840/IMG_3391.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXaq3ZovOl9wbl_DxmBVtBE1AxBO3avlrfoT5nDhjIMUZ4u8IswLUx9znOk2Dh1nwEus8wF-zHshfjkHEg-bVudSDQjcWvPVfBkGVTNWBc7F3dAymQyZMRFVRKkUzbH8b4xRZx5sCQh07F/s640/IMG_3391.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> Who is that masked man?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29pVd3Z1Gk7doBSwGZgxuzsAkzAGebXLxO4q7RaLabfN_GjPva5UrKqDAzEhzrRPDDmrpnQXOSOe9PMCJjHi4-kBnMzvoGDRLHe1t5xXXEmvhvC7lgFA7-da4tWTJY4L0FQjSXIBYCFPF/s2048/IMG_3399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29pVd3Z1Gk7doBSwGZgxuzsAkzAGebXLxO4q7RaLabfN_GjPva5UrKqDAzEhzrRPDDmrpnQXOSOe9PMCJjHi4-kBnMzvoGDRLHe1t5xXXEmvhvC7lgFA7-da4tWTJY4L0FQjSXIBYCFPF/s640/IMG_3399.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Went to watch the FLW weigh in at the Mississippi yesterday. The first we were able to attend this season. Good thing too, as Phil placed 12 out of 102! In typical Phil fashion, he focused his facebook post this morning on his coangler John who came in 3rd as a coangler and had his best finish ever. Oh, by the way, John is 74!</p><p>Weigh to go, fellas!</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-63526111345403561022020-08-28T10:52:00.004-07:002020-08-30T07:20:46.859-07:008.19<p>10 years ago today.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNxTjScjIksNkGU81AX5MoSzCoBGWLvx6WjiKWplz4iEAnXfVMcXbkkHR7UQkqBkChysJhrKMK9lShoMlRxqxJZJIkljNAHa8FZIM_TOLrd1f3grEgr6ejUcHAqPLhv1p0kAl755NUqMU/s840/_Z9R3390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxNxTjScjIksNkGU81AX5MoSzCoBGWLvx6WjiKWplz4iEAnXfVMcXbkkHR7UQkqBkChysJhrKMK9lShoMlRxqxJZJIkljNAHa8FZIM_TOLrd1f3grEgr6ejUcHAqPLhv1p0kAl755NUqMU/s640/_Z9R3390.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>Home is the nicest word there is.</p><p>L. I. Wilder</p><p> (photo by Matthias)</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-78254749653272688182020-08-26T09:47:00.003-07:002020-08-28T10:55:00.869-07:008.18<p>My next car would be purchased new. It would have to last a very long time. All of a sudden it wasn't a dream but a necessity. Fortunately I knew just what I wanted.</p><p>May 1, 2009. Had to choose from what was available on the lot. No fancies. </p><p>A love affair that's still going strong, even if she needs to remain in the garage nearly all of the time in current circumstances. She never fails to cheer. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDA_DIoK7QWTEQAVyNwjABxXtO1R-mrgqPq1bBv-52u5pxNC4xKB8iBv4dfPHVTniyuax9A3O1gKp0W-T2-WzGS2tTx9_jXs5VStmaV-S6P7Kmos9uVOTbzEIUpKjIya-XsmPa5StWNiwy/s840/new+wheels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDA_DIoK7QWTEQAVyNwjABxXtO1R-mrgqPq1bBv-52u5pxNC4xKB8iBv4dfPHVTniyuax9A3O1gKp0W-T2-WzGS2tTx9_jXs5VStmaV-S6P7Kmos9uVOTbzEIUpKjIya-XsmPa5StWNiwy/s640/new+wheels.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Took photos everywhere we went that spring, summer, fall. Here she is at a serendipitous stop for dinner while on an explore in Genessee Depot, Wisconsin. I miss that little place.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip61MWSNN4WIA1LyQ0ndwjKCTyd8vpXQH8BF8dG0itFckFZ0zJy4Ss0yGuyDDOFHDuN749yyPsLNAKvjdTBV27hsB7cwMD4C9NUem6434x5kOMQJGbXOBGw8d1AqzuWiA0HbZPuCfTwCQq/s2048/genessee+depot+rest.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip61MWSNN4WIA1LyQ0ndwjKCTyd8vpXQH8BF8dG0itFckFZ0zJy4Ss0yGuyDDOFHDuN749yyPsLNAKvjdTBV27hsB7cwMD4C9NUem6434x5kOMQJGbXOBGw8d1AqzuWiA0HbZPuCfTwCQq/s640/genessee+depot+rest.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-88806867908916795702020-08-22T05:11:00.002-07:002020-08-22T05:14:45.563-07:008.17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>house in chaos?</p><p>what shall we do about dinner?</p><p>garden producing?</p><p>ahhh!</p><p>courtesy of our super spiffy grill.</p><p>thanks kiddos.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzluTSIrtHwUmVV495BTm4mIpQmpXsNPqwSpIGR8zkn0Q_rNzCRjGfVcmTM3fKUVb9HriV3gPr6silOVuty9o_Zy8OKQ8ebvQzfj4sBJZpTOufaIdcvdD6BkPDowvxsPOsQAT6h1KIOcX/s640/IMG_3348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzluTSIrtHwUmVV495BTm4mIpQmpXsNPqwSpIGR8zkn0Q_rNzCRjGfVcmTM3fKUVb9HriV3gPr6silOVuty9o_Zy8OKQ8ebvQzfj4sBJZpTOufaIdcvdD6BkPDowvxsPOsQAT6h1KIOcX/s0/IMG_3348.JPG" /></a></div><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-26518370376389653912020-08-20T07:04:00.002-07:002020-08-22T05:12:24.124-07:008.16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwc_hj_4oUenTj2vdKSbAD2JTgd5nmPcO2hs7gA86Ybl56kxPXgB1BuYV4anFa3S3_YPUmG-lcCxCPM18aL4I5xsBStXwo5vwG8_88BrXm-oPZyPYD5vzW-1AZ1Kh0PhshqXQ4l5Je6lQ/s840/IMG_3295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwc_hj_4oUenTj2vdKSbAD2JTgd5nmPcO2hs7gA86Ybl56kxPXgB1BuYV4anFa3S3_YPUmG-lcCxCPM18aL4I5xsBStXwo5vwG8_88BrXm-oPZyPYD5vzW-1AZ1Kh0PhshqXQ4l5Je6lQ/s640/IMG_3295.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GpZSxuVHj-PJ1XwfkxjeUC-0EWEadn1iTX-gx0ems159LX0hRHIhYovdKtkcx5FDM6PfFQ-Js_XiL-olyVc1Lh0_M_DYJCkDMGM2LO3VTzUMIR0bWFpLBKQphxDct378Bid3yp2zvgxQ/s2048/IMG_3275.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0GpZSxuVHj-PJ1XwfkxjeUC-0EWEadn1iTX-gx0ems159LX0hRHIhYovdKtkcx5FDM6PfFQ-Js_XiL-olyVc1Lh0_M_DYJCkDMGM2LO3VTzUMIR0bWFpLBKQphxDct378Bid3yp2zvgxQ/s640/IMG_3275.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wSMTcQGGQSHBHQqQNPza157D52TiNBw2WPJQKraSUSQHjtf0s-um4nt_c9XMAvzWcdWnqfbIFEBI4Dxr242BaZ2sAyAH7NH9q-jrYrlOOpTvtdbchgXllDaZzs72ogBuvAL67uVjLDT3/s2048/IMG_3276.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wSMTcQGGQSHBHQqQNPza157D52TiNBw2WPJQKraSUSQHjtf0s-um4nt_c9XMAvzWcdWnqfbIFEBI4Dxr242BaZ2sAyAH7NH9q-jrYrlOOpTvtdbchgXllDaZzs72ogBuvAL67uVjLDT3/s640/IMG_3276.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawTaXMN5elxkbqJq13d0FlNPuBiClbXHXo5G_DVRvkzXdmVO-JhR-LI-7V2ip-yxjwGeWNzb40fCMBSMbEngVXFmt88uk-BIiD_MRrXzIQpPpSKoo1SKsYyeptLrxsgARYVkBBErsI12A/s2048/IMG_3277.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawTaXMN5elxkbqJq13d0FlNPuBiClbXHXo5G_DVRvkzXdmVO-JhR-LI-7V2ip-yxjwGeWNzb40fCMBSMbEngVXFmt88uk-BIiD_MRrXzIQpPpSKoo1SKsYyeptLrxsgARYVkBBErsI12A/s640/IMG_3277.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>At times like this it's comforting to be in the hands of three wise men.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-15897799870016336422020-08-19T13:40:00.004-07:002020-08-20T07:01:53.461-07:008.15<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANFIQdfTzvDH84L-MVUMZ9hZv-898ON16uBm_f9_Ytmp6Y10B2l856onRWn8e289J-UOI0zJPqi9RfuBBg-9IrZMKyYFPS07YKCzuCkzBV9M8pDwOSzxtNgBIdqLJJtLd5luTH-ll7SQj/s840/IMG_0859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhANFIQdfTzvDH84L-MVUMZ9hZv-898ON16uBm_f9_Ytmp6Y10B2l856onRWn8e289J-UOI0zJPqi9RfuBBg-9IrZMKyYFPS07YKCzuCkzBV9M8pDwOSzxtNgBIdqLJJtLd5luTH-ll7SQj/s640/IMG_0859.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Years ago I bought my first suction cup mini vase. Keeping one on my bathroom mirror, with a tiny bouquet of whatever I can find, brings a smile. Side benefit, I'm not as likely to gaze at my reflection every time I wash my hands.</p><p>Little things. They mean a lot.</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-5852085023513715042020-08-16T14:48:00.003-07:002020-08-17T06:12:35.920-07:008.14<div>Do you have a favorite time of day? Late day is mine.</div><div>The last of the day's sun.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVMhOOQYZuk5soDLkmmlEpDqNjD-frX7Rui2EbZUGM-tMof9YwUI5Nu7UvRoSyv5Xm_wLUKWhic8IJ6Xa3K_a1df4hYtVMXlAC-BFEBn9RTwNg42HEMo_EShccIrgyYMSqaNBQ_QpuJDs/s2048/IMG_3058.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVMhOOQYZuk5soDLkmmlEpDqNjD-frX7Rui2EbZUGM-tMof9YwUI5Nu7UvRoSyv5Xm_wLUKWhic8IJ6Xa3K_a1df4hYtVMXlAC-BFEBn9RTwNg42HEMo_EShccIrgyYMSqaNBQ_QpuJDs/s640/IMG_3058.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPhDDrlix5KIdh6sKiUc2eb6KMDWdL5eLh9aJ_RG3xVt40cW3V7K6Eq7JEQu5BdQrkJEVDJw-tKH9WpNIXLoHiRJ5vDlFT_RJf0ERe-_ajpQDeu_MdvT7mekyr5VJPh7tuJAzM2lD4KmR/s2048/IMG_3097.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPhDDrlix5KIdh6sKiUc2eb6KMDWdL5eLh9aJ_RG3xVt40cW3V7K6Eq7JEQu5BdQrkJEVDJw-tKH9WpNIXLoHiRJ5vDlFT_RJf0ERe-_ajpQDeu_MdvT7mekyr5VJPh7tuJAzM2lD4KmR/s640/IMG_3097.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Sunset.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyIh5-MeTArBVrvAL7NVEaRHTkOT18pcbphas_kifr5JtargkbWB7wrK1IEY622H9WZB1jeiO053h41l9OheI79l-WqAUhLU1xPlR8Ewhnoz5Ql9UicQ1-fWEa9xRBwKAm9bbRs-MbZgq/s2048/IMG_4343.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkyIh5-MeTArBVrvAL7NVEaRHTkOT18pcbphas_kifr5JtargkbWB7wrK1IEY622H9WZB1jeiO053h41l9OheI79l-WqAUhLU1xPlR8Ewhnoz5Ql9UicQ1-fWEa9xRBwKAm9bbRs-MbZgq/s640/IMG_4343.JPG" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Moon rise.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyILCM1ro_Wfe1wLyz4vF8iTrw79KBP7AvHozDNJeiOVswFaHnUM-H-jN_oRwduf8GOE-lyH-YqOaYdWbi3Ub7iNDHB0U6VUazhG71i6rYtzsgE5TOrdJ12KSofSY-AFUhQwGFFZSWyBtj/s2048/IMG_0866.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyILCM1ro_Wfe1wLyz4vF8iTrw79KBP7AvHozDNJeiOVswFaHnUM-H-jN_oRwduf8GOE-lyH-YqOaYdWbi3Ub7iNDHB0U6VUazhG71i6rYtzsgE5TOrdJ12KSofSY-AFUhQwGFFZSWyBtj/s640/IMG_0866.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Dusk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAA9uXsc5o4ehJjoCdJ5ZL1ELlbnlrYjRJEekedQodxoe07mFBzWv7EHrgQHxHLdLjPVk4rjMdpLkDl8F1ku_1dq0FHL6rnOkxfIiNaBd6QaGvMDIDek67xPGHMDTPzA_nntjbY7cg5ff/s2048/IMG_0171.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGAA9uXsc5o4ehJjoCdJ5ZL1ELlbnlrYjRJEekedQodxoe07mFBzWv7EHrgQHxHLdLjPVk4rjMdpLkDl8F1ku_1dq0FHL6rnOkxfIiNaBd6QaGvMDIDek67xPGHMDTPzA_nntjbY7cg5ff/s640/IMG_0171.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /><div>Twilight.</div><div>It's at this time of day I am able to find grace most readily. Can absorb it through my skin. Breathe it in with air that's suddenly gone still. Hear it settling down as I close the chicken house to sounds of roosted hens softly humming lullabies to one another.</div><div>"All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh."</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-47621319544466747812020-08-15T09:58:00.001-07:002020-08-16T14:50:56.304-07:008.13<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcnCKB-OaaU4PH2WIHZE56caOcadDK1QclayFMXhQVUh3h1nYt0elrPFEGn8gQCWXaIuXwBEmpVsbP7ZeLEMNOvIHZdjPCob9AR_M3SygRsXjqKoCQfkyOtD03UWfdms6aqDKizH_Jqj5/s840/IMG_3283.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="630" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcnCKB-OaaU4PH2WIHZE56caOcadDK1QclayFMXhQVUh3h1nYt0elrPFEGn8gQCWXaIuXwBEmpVsbP7ZeLEMNOvIHZdjPCob9AR_M3SygRsXjqKoCQfkyOtD03UWfdms6aqDKizH_Jqj5/s640/IMG_3283.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I uncovered my computer desk this morning. It's been shrouded for a couple of days because of our renovation work. Being Saturday, today the house belongs to Jerome and the cats and me. Such a journey we're on. </p><p>My garden has been providing escape and surprises. While pruning my currant bush I found this little fellow resting beneath the leaves. Texting Anne from the garden with a photo she advised caution. </p><p>Despite its reputed danger, it provided an unanticipated lift to the spirit as the echoing of hammers and saws rang out across the ridgetop. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-67564442954309933602020-08-13T07:37:00.001-07:002020-08-13T07:37:35.752-07:008.12<p>Today is the 10th anniversary of our closing on our ridge meadow farm. It was Friday the 13th in 2010.</p><p>Today is day 4 of our long awaited renovation of this century old farmhouse. </p><p>The team is the best. The weather sublime. Interesting and challenging surprises already. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezvrSyQo5mP0Xh5I-5-Wte9l9hYLCx3HzX8ITzBS2RVXa1368yT9rRVA16hYcrbMhiIjYNGI3BO0w5NXfssl1N718FdABt4i6FIi9V4ud_YMEaCl4F-U05EpIC_j1ghN9e9IWetvQjthB/s640/IMG_3231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezvrSyQo5mP0Xh5I-5-Wte9l9hYLCx3HzX8ITzBS2RVXa1368yT9rRVA16hYcrbMhiIjYNGI3BO0w5NXfssl1N718FdABt4i6FIi9V4ud_YMEaCl4F-U05EpIC_j1ghN9e9IWetvQjthB/s0/IMG_3231.JPG" /></a></div><p>to be continued....</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-76231108411836287272020-08-11T08:37:00.004-07:002020-09-01T12:37:36.428-07:008.11 <p>three graces</p><p>In no apparent order, this month of graces has flowed on its own.</p><p>until today</p><p>This morning I read <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDv_JPwpc7j/">Rachel Wolf's instagram</a> post and knew today would be the day to introduce you to 3 young women of the driftless region I call home and whose lives fill mine with grace. For those who cannot see instagram, <a href="https://rachelwolfclean.com/blog">Rachel Wolf/Clean</a> is her blog site. So much can be said about Rachel, she says it all so clearly that you should go and meet her for yourself. Local business: <a href="https://www.lusaorganics.com/">LuSa Organics</a>.</p><p>The second, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ewetopiayarn/">Kathryn Ashley-Wright</a>, owns our local wool shop, <a href="https://www.ewetopiafibershop.com/">Ewetopia.</a> She also owns and runs a wool mill in a nearby town, closer to her farm where she raises sheep and beautiful children. During one of our recent historic floods, her entire mill was under water. Think machinery, think fiber, think heartbreak.Totally restored now, I visited it last year with my fiber arts buddies and was in awe of the "sheep to shelf" processes that go on there. </p><p>The third, has to include a nod to my daughter, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mygiantstrawberry/">Anne</a>. <a href="https://www.mygiantstrawberry.com/blog">Mygiantstrawberry</a> is the window to her world. I cannot say enough about the joy this beautiful woman brings to my life. But so much more amazing is the ever expanding joy she brings to the world.</p><p>There is much to grieve today. These women are reason to celebrate and believe in our future. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-58545957956649316152020-08-11T07:31:00.003-07:002020-08-11T08:40:08.506-07:008.10<p>they are here</p><p>it is happening</p><p>is it true?</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BjbaAWCxnG-VVOFLPBmCSB0zgogK60n60ade-v45KCF0oelUhOL6fGmp04F96CD74SYH0AkWyjH-qvsXE_xUcUORDQ6ul618T-PDaBU0gI6CSqAS1NDevZJ6P7cgcIfpa6vyTrQdlbwV/s640/IMG_3172.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BjbaAWCxnG-VVOFLPBmCSB0zgogK60n60ade-v45KCF0oelUhOL6fGmp04F96CD74SYH0AkWyjH-qvsXE_xUcUORDQ6ul618T-PDaBU0gI6CSqAS1NDevZJ6P7cgcIfpa6vyTrQdlbwV/s0/IMG_3172.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1AbSOJ7bg3ugm9xjhhNt2bIuKz73zN_4fMZd10bfWLyfRd9Lcsj2a_ZRCfH6188lHGHiWU5eYME9JdyO0HkEMj6YB9ZpY-XxYedQbEOKPITh5S1aTqoevntcNxq7KwGvIHe6ZOw1iUXF/s640/IMG_3173.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk1AbSOJ7bg3ugm9xjhhNt2bIuKz73zN_4fMZd10bfWLyfRd9Lcsj2a_ZRCfH6188lHGHiWU5eYME9JdyO0HkEMj6YB9ZpY-XxYedQbEOKPITh5S1aTqoevntcNxq7KwGvIHe6ZOw1iUXF/s0/IMG_3173.JPG" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzLb3Ir8Hk3nk1MGB8EQ5cwUjxTaXOZHYywqDPp_kTEW1NoarmqeeW4be5fk5wc72sj_AwcL8PEJ1zvYrtCZmWBSQApHFm2-mtdJPCW8LvVN1Ki3poTp3MjKdHNrqhehLLSM3QOsAIdSt/s640/IMG_3185.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigzLb3Ir8Hk3nk1MGB8EQ5cwUjxTaXOZHYywqDPp_kTEW1NoarmqeeW4be5fk5wc72sj_AwcL8PEJ1zvYrtCZmWBSQApHFm2-mtdJPCW8LvVN1Ki3poTp3MjKdHNrqhehLLSM3QOsAIdSt/s0/IMG_3185.JPG" /></a></div><p>won't be doing this anymore!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7nRmeqydvgCw-hmeCT2gvEJ4z-Tq9ZQxWuIYzw4Nbat2YFOy-vY2Vz9X8XUwuT9W1eiZF2Qciu9jiP9T9-ewn6Vd__vhY6EbcZLcK3fewFi9TWvd89nw9fTB5U6LJEV8r2iiETFKjXJR/s640/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7nRmeqydvgCw-hmeCT2gvEJ4z-Tq9ZQxWuIYzw4Nbat2YFOy-vY2Vz9X8XUwuT9W1eiZF2Qciu9jiP9T9-ewn6Vd__vhY6EbcZLcK3fewFi9TWvd89nw9fTB5U6LJEV8r2iiETFKjXJR/s0/IMG_0926.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-63445218725208749362020-08-10T06:35:00.004-07:002020-08-11T07:37:17.648-07:008.9<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbR-jIifPDuaNVJnVHuIsCAjvEWoY9xxS0vWn2YS5FIBC3xvRFVdBOMp1TLxy_8eTRHvPFZYQgp2tT07fnVwqEuLdQzDZMsrDdsbm68UIH55NIb8TSWcdIZ050mcsiSy1hBG-5zrDx917/s640/IMG_3163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzbR-jIifPDuaNVJnVHuIsCAjvEWoY9xxS0vWn2YS5FIBC3xvRFVdBOMp1TLxy_8eTRHvPFZYQgp2tT07fnVwqEuLdQzDZMsrDdsbm68UIH55NIb8TSWcdIZ050mcsiSy1hBG-5zrDx917/s0/IMG_3163.jpg" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon in Anne and Matthias' back yard eden, eating lunch carefully prepared with plenty of goodies from their garden, burgers of locally raised beef, and home brewed beer. Sitting under a perfectly sized table umbrella, the few sprinkles that fell didn't bother us one bit. And then as if by magic, blue skies!</p><p>While a female hummingbird spent her afternoon with us drawing our attention to her favorite blossoms, we were also entertained by juvenile blue jays encouraging each other to sip from Anne's birdbath and butterflies floating among more blooms than one can count. Using my phone, Anne took this photo of one of them resting on her kale.</p><p>We spend very little time in the company of others right now. Being with a couple of our favorite people out in the open air, just being together, is surely the fullest measure of grace.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-43001017778651341942020-08-08T08:00:00.002-07:002020-08-10T06:38:35.160-07:008.8<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf82WNNW8_NiDN3HSO6atnCyXRoQb4wO5F3Z5KXWPgUmovQhXxk5kc5PozCRRLfuJmFQKIzhusVTCy5Su_O8lG83Cjvi6gzZz8bzMiKFn8VN6TXffjN8BMJgXG7_09ewGZV1DwNgybwbwZ/s910/IMG_4853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf82WNNW8_NiDN3HSO6atnCyXRoQb4wO5F3Z5KXWPgUmovQhXxk5kc5PozCRRLfuJmFQKIzhusVTCy5Su_O8lG83Cjvi6gzZz8bzMiKFn8VN6TXffjN8BMJgXG7_09ewGZV1DwNgybwbwZ/s640/IMG_4853.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Cats!</p><p>have been a part of my life for 50 years now.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Happy 3rd anniversary of your rescue, Jolie.</div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjsE1VwFnQpKRIVOrKNGmQLw-WJve1J6pOzVnG_k0gfu5m9mnooIgdqx_bLob4cKmZ4EN6cULYGslud708G-uTITyFBanlNzxnrEOQHiOjq9OOzen7WbHy4z3Kx12i_qBiWz7Z5p8GTng/s2048/IMG_2178.JPG" style="display: inline; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjsE1VwFnQpKRIVOrKNGmQLw-WJve1J6pOzVnG_k0gfu5m9mnooIgdqx_bLob4cKmZ4EN6cULYGslud708G-uTITyFBanlNzxnrEOQHiOjq9OOzen7WbHy4z3Kx12i_qBiWz7Z5p8GTng/s640/IMG_2178.JPG" width="640" /></a></p><p>We tried not to love her. Impossible.</p><p>Three years later, her big sisters have each adjusted in their own ways.</p><p>Dovey is always interested and tolerant of everyone as long as she feels she's in charge of the situation.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVav32HH86UPCFHhn9nBdPr_G-BF8LW7ZVSttcCJhhUbIYzmJUSLMgEYtLdeX_o9FQmDnTIgHgMI8gqai_UqsTL2IHqtusgxZN9eBYVt-19slMS8dIxDsOXHSbToSNJ0s3MPyk_e4S3RlF/s2048/IMG_2408.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVav32HH86UPCFHhn9nBdPr_G-BF8LW7ZVSttcCJhhUbIYzmJUSLMgEYtLdeX_o9FQmDnTIgHgMI8gqai_UqsTL2IHqtusgxZN9eBYVt-19slMS8dIxDsOXHSbToSNJ0s3MPyk_e4S3RlF/s640/IMG_2408.jpg" /></a></div><p>Mya, shy and reclusive but the fiercest when provoked or on the hunt, keeps Jolie in her place with a low rumble in her throat or a wave of a paw. Direct but not excessive.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtQ6tVNnoULvmUy_NAxhcpllTWHJ1fAi8U4IRY9bAAPPkR0oOM9P7ohyphenhyphenXezr3e1I9NEgDg1j8-rDNQvBjG_aTa2kujHLGELMbI4lErwJGG4bkKs_rv9WnOtPbwvCKNKhjK80wDlygbDu6/s2048/IMG_4556.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtQ6tVNnoULvmUy_NAxhcpllTWHJ1fAi8U4IRY9bAAPPkR0oOM9P7ohyphenhyphenXezr3e1I9NEgDg1j8-rDNQvBjG_aTa2kujHLGELMbI4lErwJGG4bkKs_rv9WnOtPbwvCKNKhjK80wDlygbDu6/s640/IMG_4556.jpg" /></a></div><p>Jolie never gave up her <a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2017/08/half-past-august.html">quest t</a>o become part of our family. And now we wonder what life was like before she arrived on our doorstep.</p><p><br /></p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-60181239910525269972020-08-07T09:53:00.000-07:002020-08-07T09:53:17.031-07:008.7<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajIsremo1gNRaEJV8ZN4mTXDcmQtLWZFcLeCfX_icdFCjcDIvwGUdz-bI5EShtT9wc7z8tpekx5MKIpMSgygS5fus4O107d4-z7IxjW_gL5hLsfWYSDv67WJkvfK3NtOrQDEHW6zmR0ti/s2048/IMG_3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajIsremo1gNRaEJV8ZN4mTXDcmQtLWZFcLeCfX_icdFCjcDIvwGUdz-bI5EShtT9wc7z8tpekx5MKIpMSgygS5fus4O107d4-z7IxjW_gL5hLsfWYSDv67WJkvfK3NtOrQDEHW6zmR0ti/s640/IMG_3534.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p>Chickens!</p><p>In keeping chickens, you get more than you give. Not in financial terms, as anyone who keeps chickens will tell you those eggs aren't free.</p><p>Chickens are easy to keep if you're willing to be home to close them up <u>every single day</u> at dusk. Too many evening and night predators out there.</p><p>Their eggs are super nutritious if you give them the best organic feed, lots of offerings from the garden, allow them a large, fenced area to forage. Where we live a good high fence is for their safety during the day and also keeps them from helping themselves to our fruits and vegetable beds.</p><p>Each one is an individual and they're all characters. Interacting with them every day allows you to know the state of their health, yes, but also keeps them friendly. A what's funnier than a chicken, really?</p><p>I've posted about the chickens a few times in the past. If you need a chicken fix you can check these out.</p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2011/06/chicken-house.html">chicken house </a></p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2011/05/chicks-and-ducklings.html">chickens and ducklings</a></p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2015/06/the-babies-have-arrived.html">newbie news</a></p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2015/07/the-sun-sets-for-phoebie.html">sun sets for Phoebie</a></p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2015/10/of-roosters-and-chickens.html">of roosters and chickens</a></p><p><a href="http://sallymomsprouts.blogspot.com/2019/06/big-guy.html">big guy</a></p><p>But to really get your chicken fix you need to get the real thing. Murray <a href="https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html">McMurray</a> is who I recommend.</p>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-24385838677332062012020-08-06T08:21:00.004-07:002020-08-07T09:54:50.491-07:008.6<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Kg-6Q3RBmqqNmDy5g-3IKP6VVOQKULZiXuZgOrrZi0NQTPbM0dhh97Z2zxaN52nZ7cnIFQkSXy6uoV69e2ppqfmcUxRsrGwm-3zyBy5sUcjzyE0s8G1taYAD9azgK-RChyWxYk9DrX3x/s910/IMG_6351+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="861" data-original-width="910" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Kg-6Q3RBmqqNmDy5g-3IKP6VVOQKULZiXuZgOrrZi0NQTPbM0dhh97Z2zxaN52nZ7cnIFQkSXy6uoV69e2ppqfmcUxRsrGwm-3zyBy5sUcjzyE0s8G1taYAD9azgK-RChyWxYk9DrX3x/s640/IMG_6351+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Putting my foot down on the accelerator of this baby takes me off the coronacoaster for sure. <div><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-80505863034940041272020-08-05T08:16:00.000-07:002020-08-05T08:16:18.576-07:008.5Day 5 sharing the graces: daylilies!<div>Here are a few varieties that keep me company.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5rRJlrtlhHg0Hxp3kpj8ChLQaI7muUtsxR1ZYH7UUBcYE_Nu1Axqtd9-UrlLXtatIFg7I0nsyvn01puuF2wcGTdk8PN_BtklkQ6D90XiuSx5SQ3_Z3tscTxYihed6NQO6iBRRnUwfAA/s2048/IMG_0713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdh5rRJlrtlhHg0Hxp3kpj8ChLQaI7muUtsxR1ZYH7UUBcYE_Nu1Axqtd9-UrlLXtatIFg7I0nsyvn01puuF2wcGTdk8PN_BtklkQ6D90XiuSx5SQ3_Z3tscTxYihed6NQO6iBRRnUwfAA/s640/IMG_0713.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp2untlk4cSJfv90o2QrISDqL48_YW09R74c53DHtJlvSywZRVqJ0pd1ytBAkDNYagpMyndi3xwxjCg4iL1F3K-kdnF5nYKGzlbL6SeBt8gLZb0i4Oqc3zHtBQZr62DqOvgU8I_5OAEw8/s2048/IMG_0718.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp2untlk4cSJfv90o2QrISDqL48_YW09R74c53DHtJlvSywZRVqJ0pd1ytBAkDNYagpMyndi3xwxjCg4iL1F3K-kdnF5nYKGzlbL6SeBt8gLZb0i4Oqc3zHtBQZr62DqOvgU8I_5OAEw8/s640/IMG_0718.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUVg2MIJCIJ8j6A32ncYMSRTu8JANpOZMOXPEZyDAo8Iozt7bzsbvhWBlmrII95IiFTERyIOFC5x6RYN6I3v9HEXKKM97PemeCsWqeCK9TMBeeX0htrBe8BnwAwMvw2sTsRhkKtKRAPD8/s2048/IMG_0719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUVg2MIJCIJ8j6A32ncYMSRTu8JANpOZMOXPEZyDAo8Iozt7bzsbvhWBlmrII95IiFTERyIOFC5x6RYN6I3v9HEXKKM97PemeCsWqeCK9TMBeeX0htrBe8BnwAwMvw2sTsRhkKtKRAPD8/s640/IMG_0719.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlS6f2RpjHdT9JuXy5rff04fx-wIZVA8ca0i_E3Wzo2BxSXuE6JG5XmefS6RavDhM_4ByDfR-PV7xEtyccjV0zjFMVxuP3JAi_twYIHYqQgeKBl1nIm0CR60TiKyKf3stAxJ9_VvR3QZJ/s2048/IMG_0739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlS6f2RpjHdT9JuXy5rff04fx-wIZVA8ca0i_E3Wzo2BxSXuE6JG5XmefS6RavDhM_4ByDfR-PV7xEtyccjV0zjFMVxuP3JAi_twYIHYqQgeKBl1nIm0CR60TiKyKf3stAxJ9_VvR3QZJ/s640/IMG_0739.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-CIXKNyL6PdjGatfrQXKdVxqUpDY8dTpduoi-as-LCRMt1VGBS9IgVCaoCvzW_XaMoKXPP1ogHLsqaYFsZCZfJw8GukTuVSA22lIKviUvNqv5kRLkBvKG4qZBV9xScU8bq46qEPzxLfm/s2048/IMG_0742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg-CIXKNyL6PdjGatfrQXKdVxqUpDY8dTpduoi-as-LCRMt1VGBS9IgVCaoCvzW_XaMoKXPP1ogHLsqaYFsZCZfJw8GukTuVSA22lIKviUvNqv5kRLkBvKG4qZBV9xScU8bq46qEPzxLfm/s640/IMG_0742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-TTV2DFwtXU6WPlcfi-VO3VBhtXkCAfGby9iEFQPJeslRUVfhyphenhyphenlYJ2c1Wvbn-GQFoH-_2eXqabno6jHXD7rLAzotE8_2GF2AgTepiIi8yR0m6CHQzrU7ZHagIcKCq0sc9gM2SI_A1_1W/s2048/IMG_0784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE-TTV2DFwtXU6WPlcfi-VO3VBhtXkCAfGby9iEFQPJeslRUVfhyphenhyphenlYJ2c1Wvbn-GQFoH-_2eXqabno6jHXD7rLAzotE8_2GF2AgTepiIi8yR0m6CHQzrU7ZHagIcKCq0sc9gM2SI_A1_1W/s640/IMG_0784.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88xuFvjwiHPSF53uTYe1FtCOXAcEhmjBL16IPS6lXZJDNpoW1AAQq10GMWC8RksblCU8H1EhizMT7mGgYdfsFWjNNIPiVVjtcNoK4BvDL7JLKJV5NEX5Bpm8xUi8UzNkGS5HG4mbWA4OF/s2048/IMG_0802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi88xuFvjwiHPSF53uTYe1FtCOXAcEhmjBL16IPS6lXZJDNpoW1AAQq10GMWC8RksblCU8H1EhizMT7mGgYdfsFWjNNIPiVVjtcNoK4BvDL7JLKJV5NEX5Bpm8xUi8UzNkGS5HG4mbWA4OF/s640/IMG_0802.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-K8c4LyHhxH2L81Uck5kPjrm82VKu_cqINKey5daFUrI8awWKysTD0KmL9SuH8Tu9YZiTG1Aeea81by-tIKf613nxFQ33NKcjPKuHCQ-_gkFhIVamd_7UmDNwAZowb2HzIyufxCvrhgi/s2048/IMG_1577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-K8c4LyHhxH2L81Uck5kPjrm82VKu_cqINKey5daFUrI8awWKysTD0KmL9SuH8Tu9YZiTG1Aeea81by-tIKf613nxFQ33NKcjPKuHCQ-_gkFhIVamd_7UmDNwAZowb2HzIyufxCvrhgi/s640/IMG_1577.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Though each bloom lasts but a day, most stems have many multiple buds and if I resist cutting them to bring indoors, each will open in time and the display will last a good long while. </div><div>Daylilies...another name for summer.</div><div><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-42015341250593228702020-08-04T17:53:00.004-07:002020-08-05T09:56:58.017-07:008.4<div>Do you like to paper piece?</div>People either do or they don't. <div>I DO!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGap-NoR-BA0Jr2BjF7sjngWr5B-4NUhbLnphhXns9Kh82-hg3TStjFVd4PW0PXXBBRmTjsaq3bdOPBQmsjoZls4V5ITuo4ZOLvJPw4jby_M4aIgt0M_6-gCKXZdv3_s5sdFRUbM8hEUS0/s2048/IMG_2291.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGap-NoR-BA0Jr2BjF7sjngWr5B-4NUhbLnphhXns9Kh82-hg3TStjFVd4PW0PXXBBRmTjsaq3bdOPBQmsjoZls4V5ITuo4ZOLvJPw4jby_M4aIgt0M_6-gCKXZdv3_s5sdFRUbM8hEUS0/s640/IMG_2291.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZERMjd7SfWS9iT9SMt37bNjVyMppiQltdVc-ksVpXB8-X6h2ZJZSalAkOzUdzv8Ke427ii7eAMjAFMDGWFduHzUuRQfRPvGYr5LggvJTwFlhlFBqzLvObpxWqrkuZfT-9I26wISh2rIpB/s2048/IMG_2290.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZERMjd7SfWS9iT9SMt37bNjVyMppiQltdVc-ksVpXB8-X6h2ZJZSalAkOzUdzv8Ke427ii7eAMjAFMDGWFduHzUuRQfRPvGYr5LggvJTwFlhlFBqzLvObpxWqrkuZfT-9I26wISh2rIpB/s640/IMG_2290.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqTf_8bNJDIBcGI_XO_ynldMGFOvPv8kMTsdj82_ETgsVLpT0iWUTYb6ivb1EoAfWRH8y8cLwDml5TRVz5PsG2MBsnaPAoA3lvpkLhX5xBEgI6_T2I03UhQ1sxTPrHOhORD-6uEGjmeyq/s910/IMG_2294.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="910" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtqTf_8bNJDIBcGI_XO_ynldMGFOvPv8kMTsdj82_ETgsVLpT0iWUTYb6ivb1EoAfWRH8y8cLwDml5TRVz5PsG2MBsnaPAoA3lvpkLhX5xBEgI6_T2I03UhQ1sxTPrHOhORD-6uEGjmeyq/s640/IMG_2294.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This one stretched me a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What do you think?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The two previously paper pieced birds I sewed had only two sections that needed joining. They are made from the same pattern but the first one is only 2 1/2 inches square.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2JhoM9FtnkgOy4F4lSUHxj7wLyyQ1T_wq5dFLM9QDojLTC2ua63As6Ka0fsIOl_81XVMp6n_4lw9QnHSa4mlAXAZ0A_NivlNY_tBayAASVu5c7YdiSYuY5Eyel2LEGpI4wV5F9eBF1ws/s2048/IMG_0292.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2JhoM9FtnkgOy4F4lSUHxj7wLyyQ1T_wq5dFLM9QDojLTC2ua63As6Ka0fsIOl_81XVMp6n_4lw9QnHSa4mlAXAZ0A_NivlNY_tBayAASVu5c7YdiSYuY5Eyel2LEGpI4wV5F9eBF1ws/s640/IMG_0292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGn7snHeD4jjGYeubH9JDkfhA9ecRewMPuGwHcGD8UultfBihpbaepjwIHGbZIl9PJSAJOgROAFJNjOlD2JONkZPXucjBQE8epXcuo_wzZeUWAnkWf1MKrRyLmElx8vwJYkom5pbTO9lA/s2048/IMG_0312.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGn7snHeD4jjGYeubH9JDkfhA9ecRewMPuGwHcGD8UultfBihpbaepjwIHGbZIl9PJSAJOgROAFJNjOlD2JONkZPXucjBQE8epXcuo_wzZeUWAnkWf1MKrRyLmElx8vwJYkom5pbTO9lA/s640/IMG_0312.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-75715751421226764912020-08-03T08:55:00.004-07:002020-08-04T17:54:12.146-07:008.3<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDlVtlpF_vjzEHGlKoCiFOomF2bnFiOUjPpoEtpvbi5Vghu1Q7BaY1CUEtRn25JwHRR95-pxIaVS2N6Qu7V00p3-3xAA-HwGL4sgVxlJPEawvU69k-AmSE7BzXBoijyJ16h9RSuAhIRXk/s640/IMG_3146.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcDlVtlpF_vjzEHGlKoCiFOomF2bnFiOUjPpoEtpvbi5Vghu1Q7BaY1CUEtRn25JwHRR95-pxIaVS2N6Qu7V00p3-3xAA-HwGL4sgVxlJPEawvU69k-AmSE7BzXBoijyJ16h9RSuAhIRXk/s0/IMG_3146.jpg" /></a></div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>solidago </b></div>When you're retired, it's easy to blissfully move through the days of summer without being conscious of the calendar. Then all of a sudden something catches your eye in the garden and you realize time is rolling out ahead of you.<div>As if waking from a sleepwalk through June and July, I've shaken off the mental fog and with the arrival of August have renewed my habit of daily property walk-abouts so as not to miss anything. So much out here is fleeting.</div><div><br /></div><div>What is that bit of yellow over there? </div><div>The very first of the goldenrod blooms are calling. Easy to ignore just because they are so <i>common. </i></div><div>Standing tall in the chicken yard, </div><div>nodding in our preserved wild meadow, along the roadside, and occasionally in the south border. </div><div>Once noticed they all at once seem to be everywhere. </div><div>With their arrival my heart knows the oppressiveness of summer is losing its grip. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even before their pyramidal flowers morph from green to yellow I must have them indoors. Their joyous yellows will add dimension to every bouquet from now til September.</div><div>Did I mention how much I love these??</div><div>She carries with her medicinal benefits and the ability to transfer her sunny hues. But just keeping me company is enough.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-65216642944503444902020-08-02T10:58:00.006-07:002020-08-03T08:57:39.175-07:008.2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqdeLPkkSgrnaWyzlJWzg_0A1gFUExIm9BT6gZZ4sZgQb2DwSeIXWwclhIZ7IBo0hxIQi21M2Ykb-43jfjOVb5itgG0CIZOHGHCoKwar1ZVuHLAvJkP86-BQ9A_T-mnpDqsrPUaIH8m7Q/s2048/IMG_2981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqdeLPkkSgrnaWyzlJWzg_0A1gFUExIm9BT6gZZ4sZgQb2DwSeIXWwclhIZ7IBo0hxIQi21M2Ykb-43jfjOVb5itgG0CIZOHGHCoKwar1ZVuHLAvJkP86-BQ9A_T-mnpDqsrPUaIH8m7Q/s640/IMG_2981.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Asclepias tuberosa, aka butterfly weed. <div><div><br /><div>There is a living history museum in southeastern Wisconsin called <a href="https://oldworldwisconsin.wisconsinhistory.org/">Old World Wisconsin</a>. Spend the day observing folks in period dress farming, blacksmithing, cooking, weaving, you get the idea. I didn't know it at the time, but during some of our visits there a woman named <a href="https://www.kathleenernst.com/chloe_ellefson.php">Kathleen Ernest</a> was on staff. She would eventually write a series of books about a fictional character named Chloe Ellefson. Chloe is based on Kathleen's experiences as curator. The first book of the series is titled Old World Murder. But I digress.</div></div><div>In the garden of one of the historic sites there was a lovely flower blooming. Unfortunately, it was not identified and no one working on the site seemed to know its name.</div><div>Not far from OWW is another favorite place to visit, <a href="https://county.milwaukee.gov/EN/Parks/Explore/Boerner-Botanical-Gardens">Boerner Botanical Garden.</a> Here I discovered not only the name, but that this congenial sweetie is a wildflower native to our region. </div><div>I had fallen in love. </div><div>A hardy perennial, it is not difficult to grow from seed and will bloom in your garden the first year. It has a long cigar like root which does not appreciated disturbance, so transplanting is not recommended. </div><div>Naturally when I began to work the gardens here I would have her join me. Now, in full bloom, she brings a full smile and gladness to the heart.</div><div>Slow to emerge in spring, note well where she is planted so as not to disturb her.</div></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3264947572936062628.post-9149604287595610252020-08-01T12:05:00.022-07:002020-08-02T11:00:14.967-07:008.1<div class="WI9k4c" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; display: table; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; word-break: break-word;"><div class="GgmXif jY7QFf" style="font-size: 28px; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; min-height: 36px;"><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d" style="line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzAGTOcPwhCgGuEo-zFTSoEJoLxWcSWxE4sLF8ADusaS_2WvUkESfNJ-ECICsmqEYT3Zg3xlMvCj_xmwp1WYvdCZc8qFMVfTGIi7UbSeYeFbVdMaVD87KBuASksmKvl7iCuwJpZcgHKcM/s910/IMG_3060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="682" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzAGTOcPwhCgGuEo-zFTSoEJoLxWcSWxE4sLF8ADusaS_2WvUkESfNJ-ECICsmqEYT3Zg3xlMvCj_xmwp1WYvdCZc8qFMVfTGIi7UbSeYeFbVdMaVD87KBuASksmKvl7iCuwJpZcgHKcM/s640/IMG_3060.jpg" /></a></div><span data-dobid="hdw"><br /></span></div><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d" style="line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><span data-dobid="hdw"><br /></span></div><div class="DgZBFd XcVN5d" style="line-height: 36px; vertical-align: top;"><span data-dobid="hdw">Lam·mas</span></div></div><div class="S23sjd" style="color: #70757a; font-size: 14px; line-height: 16px;"><span class="XpoqFe">/ˈlaməs,ˈläməs/</span></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="K6GhFd" data-is-bilingual="false" jsaction="BtuVOb:V46pce" jscontroller="AImii" style="max-height: 0px; opacity: 0; pointer-events: none; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s, all 0.3s ease 0s;"><div class="b8aKlc" style="padding: 8px 0px 6px;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?sxsrf=ALeKk01F69UCbke9Sml9VmumkkyBJOVPBQ:1596292554946&q=how+to+pronounce+Lammas&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAOMIfcRowS3w8sc9YSn9SWtOXmPU5OINKMrPK81LzkwsyczPExLiYglJLcoV4pLi4GLzSczNTSy2YlFiSs3jWcQqnpFfrlCSr1AA1JEP1JKqAFEAAEC8pTlXAAAA&pron_lang=en&pron_country=us&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjIrceVnfrqAhVXGM0KHdbaBdYQ3eEDMAB6BAgGEAg" style="color: #660099; cursor: pointer; text-decoration-line: none;" tabindex=""><div class="S5TwIf" style="border-radius: 6px; box-shadow: rgb(218, 220, 224) 0px 0px 0px 1px inset; display: inline-block; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 12px; vertical-align: top;"><g-img class="FamOtd" style="display: inline-block; vertical-align: middle;"><img alt="" class="rISBZc M4dUYb" data-atf="1" height="32" id="dimg_18" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,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" style="border: 0px; display: block; position: relative;" width="32" /></g-img><span class="fe69if" style="color: #3c4043; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px; margin-left: 10px; vertical-align: middle;">Learn to pronounce</span></div></a></div></div></div><div class="ABgcGb vmod" jsname="p0q1Sd" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"></div><div class="vmod" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: roboto, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="vmod" data-topic="" jsname="r5Nvmf"><div class="lW8rQd" style="display: flex;"><div class="vpx4Fd" style="font-size: 14px;"><div class="pgRvse vdBwhd" style="min-height: 20px; padding-top: 10px;"><i>noun</i></div><div aria-hidden="true" class="xpdxpnd vk_gy" data-mh="-1" jsname="jUIvqc" style="color: #878787; max-height: 0px; overflow: hidden; transition: all 0.3s ease 0s;"><b></b><b></b></div></div></div><ol class="eQJLDd" style="border: 0px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 20px;"><li jsname="gskXhf" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><div class="vmod"><div class="thODed Uekwlc XpoqFe" style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: lighter; padding-top: 10px;"><div data-topic="" jsname="cJAsRb"><div style="margin-left: 20px;"><div class="QIclbb XpoqFe" style="font-size: small; margin-left: -20px;"><div data-dobid="dfn" style="display: inline;">the first day of August, formerly observed in Britain as a harvest festival, during which bread baked from the first crop of wheat was blessed.</div></div></div></div></div></div></li></ol><div><br /></div><div>In thinking about just where to begin this month of grace, I thought I might share with you our journey with bringing grain from the land. Our loaded bales just pulled out of here yesterday and so our tale is ready to tell.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me back up a bit.</div><div>We took over the stewardship of these few acres 10 years ago this month with no real preconceived plans for the land itself. Yes, gardens. How could I live without them? Chickens? A dream that could now come true.</div><div>But the rest? </div><div>There are a few acres of what at some time was used for grazing, growing tobacco and more now just fallow ground. Bees and butterflies, to be sure. Weeds and grapevine and more invasives every year especially the horrific wild parsnip. We mowed walking paths which grew to become tractor rides paths as the tractors began showing up in our newly built poll barn. But couldn't we do something better?</div><div>Last summer a neighbor asked if he could cut and bale what was growing there and if he donated his time and equipment, would we donate the bales. We readily agreed. The yield was about 75 bales of rather poor straw that would end up mostly as bedding. </div><div>Then...</div><div>he suggested we consider renovating the pastureland, which we had been calling a meadow because of the wildflowers. What would it involve?</div><div>Work, new experiences with old equipment, a learning curve whose arc and aches we never could have estimated.</div><div><br /></div><div>1. sweeten the soil with lime. </div><div>This required hiring a professional.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFVQK8gH8GS88LJ5uI-dcqph0l7Jz_rp1gqzTvEIUaINaHg-tCzrQv-o2pVUYP8DZJUBfhyphenhyphenCNDJSNx5LTiTk8Cl0mIi2x0laB0S1w94g9RhLyXk-udn89QD9AqHViaJs9c8cThIZiwI1U/s2048/IMG_2597.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFVQK8gH8GS88LJ5uI-dcqph0l7Jz_rp1gqzTvEIUaINaHg-tCzrQv-o2pVUYP8DZJUBfhyphenhyphenCNDJSNx5LTiTk8Cl0mIi2x0laB0S1w94g9RhLyXk-udn89QD9AqHViaJs9c8cThIZiwI1U/s640/IMG_2597.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>2. bust the sod. </div><div>With a borrowed quack digger and our trusty John Deere 1947B, we began. What we couldn't have foreseen was the nightmare of wild grapevine roots that would snarl and snag the digger every 50 feet or so, requiring us to manually untangle the digger. I began thinking of it as Devil's Snare.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dytUql9mJRlc5ptWzGP1s7izEbvJCqhIrwLAK3d6mYMv5G7s1d3Q7-j4e5oWUgwga9JLaAmM_DanCHyHQq3_Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Grapevine roots couldn't be left on the field to settle back into the ground. Ugh, ok. We can do that. Pulled, dug, collected, carted off the field and added to our mounting burn pile, the process took days and the enlisting of a few hearty souls who gave us a few hours each and who went running in haste once sated with drink. And another borrowed bit of equipment, a wagon. My memory of that particular job may have been sent to the deep files, but I do think we filled it at least 3 times.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWhcewzTSoBeFzddUsbccYFaAAdoU_t2rE81aRYH9viSFtMW7MqiIZ1eSdA43njzzE_BRUvY-y4LHxNJKKyu-BXdFG5JyXfNbeMRpWVFE6kyjyEqPQ20nI_InuvKpRrrz8qyEECtD614z/s2048/IMG_2622.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWhcewzTSoBeFzddUsbccYFaAAdoU_t2rE81aRYH9viSFtMW7MqiIZ1eSdA43njzzE_BRUvY-y4LHxNJKKyu-BXdFG5JyXfNbeMRpWVFE6kyjyEqPQ20nI_InuvKpRrrz8qyEECtD614z/s640/IMG_2622.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>3. discing</div><div>borrowed from yet another neighbor, this giant multiple pizza cutter breaks down the clods and many roots remaining near the surface.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6szarrRMAfRqAnXoQrMdpNDqGMvazWM0cBja548Osq7aprz_ViCW90L9nXbtdv8UsWZgWj0aRgFL9IZcTLOh69cBSVEwl06TPIpCUmJ0TKjek3q7eqzmmv_f1iW0cBC6B7Qe1VFTIP5K/s2048/IMG_2630.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6szarrRMAfRqAnXoQrMdpNDqGMvazWM0cBja548Osq7aprz_ViCW90L9nXbtdv8UsWZgWj0aRgFL9IZcTLOh69cBSVEwl06TPIpCUmJ0TKjek3q7eqzmmv_f1iW0cBC6B7Qe1VFTIP5K/s640/IMG_2630.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Truth be told, both tractor and farmer were enjoying themselves at this point.</div><div><br /></div><div>4. planting</div><div>Once again our neighbor Alan came to our aid. His ancient planter is the most interesting piece of machinery we'd used so far. And since he has a lifetime of planting experience, he calculated the amounts and types of seed we should use and the rate at which his planter dispersed them. Jerome road along to be sure the hoppers didn't clog or run out in the field.</div><div> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYHyafdKgV7QrnniROaGMcEGiAMtFTP-7jzEGB29vTlg87OAIXc-iE04Xs7pDhfu_eT_FAAJ1soGYD_Bccvp-4NprhEA231ZuCgae3qak4DHw0d3Vv7D6wtIu1AkNnAKkg4e75cBeOOHj/s2048/IMG_2673.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiYHyafdKgV7QrnniROaGMcEGiAMtFTP-7jzEGB29vTlg87OAIXc-iE04Xs7pDhfu_eT_FAAJ1soGYD_Bccvp-4NprhEA231ZuCgae3qak4DHw0d3Vv7D6wtIu1AkNnAKkg4e75cBeOOHj/s640/IMG_2673.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The pasture mix included many munchie desirables with important addition. Annual oats. The oats germinate and grow quickly to act as protection for the slower growing perennial seed. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. dragging</div><div>Once the seed is broadcast it needs to be helped to make contact with the soil. And so there is another old piece of equipment called a drag.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw28sGTcRsEOETQZ1YB5SpnmKv6HIJFZKr7yLw1LeZMsfBp0ae9paokFYRWhFaYzeVhLjz-T5d5WIlL9InmDg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>We were blessed with good deep rains just as we needed them. The field went from dusty brown to green in just a few days. The oats were up!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0lvLdf9IfFKvdCvrMQYOrN_mp3rnu7hUVpO_7zfuXCLisJqfDNOKE546DqsaVo95fSJZQUkghCAGAphJ_4Mxmt_RnnTDnvtLtCpcHIJsy2HBftCBuh1pKn4bRAI9JbBYZDhmMRxdtph3/s2048/IMG_2744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0lvLdf9IfFKvdCvrMQYOrN_mp3rnu7hUVpO_7zfuXCLisJqfDNOKE546DqsaVo95fSJZQUkghCAGAphJ_4Mxmt_RnnTDnvtLtCpcHIJsy2HBftCBuh1pKn4bRAI9JbBYZDhmMRxdtph3/s640/IMG_2744.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a little bit</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimkDzL1ew6u6P2SqTsTp4oV_TlcKI9wqc9pb8yFcABwY3InSoCG4kIXJzOSz1QvL8B_4zJBme9exkRBMZsRoCSRIfpujzsPv9UptFV4baLYkYQOAeL01i4vEJ7CTvJlGEtJqd9BDFcCK4/s2048/IMG_2974.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjimkDzL1ew6u6P2SqTsTp4oV_TlcKI9wqc9pb8yFcABwY3InSoCG4kIXJzOSz1QvL8B_4zJBme9exkRBMZsRoCSRIfpujzsPv9UptFV4baLYkYQOAeL01i4vEJ7CTvJlGEtJqd9BDFcCK4/s640/IMG_2974.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> then a lot! </div><div>if you look very closely you can see the tiny seedlings near the ground between and below the oats.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. cutting</div><div>With each old piece of equipment, totally new to us, we learn. People used to do this work by hand! with hand tools! even with the help of horses or oxen and then eventually with must have felt like wealth, machinery! And then there were no guarantees of the outcome. Faith. Courage. Strength of spirit. Heartbreak. Joy. </div><div><br /></div><div>When our oats were cut they lay upon the field looking trampled, diminished. Sad. Here they would dry until the next step of the process.</div><div>Seeing the oats laying there turning brown on top of the lush green of the pasture mix they had been shielding since early May, they didn't look like much. And each day of drying they shrank a bit more. Will they amount to anything?</div><div><br /></div><div>7. raking into windrows</div><div>I think Jerome enjoyed this bit too, especially since he was able to use our John Deere 1949B. The rake required no hydraulics, operating by the action of being pulled across the field. He'd been using the '47 up til now because hydraulics were needed to raise and lower those pieces of equipment. Adjustments are made to the rakes in terms of width of rows and depth of grab. Hydraulics are not required. Our '49 was now again a working tractor.!! Up til now it had mostly been used as my tractor of choice for "recreational" use (aka joy riding!) or for hauling.</div><div>Having the cut oat straw in rows will help in the baling process and exposes the cut oats to the sun and the air for drying. Windrows need to be turned to expose the underside so the fields need to be raked a second time. If Mother Nature cooperates, that will be enough raking before baling.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dynPk5HkN44emRhEYDUk80w2lA20N5tjD__RIly1UFofCRnJpK23VhKcnpHpxAnOAmyKVw20fXb9AtlzGb8BA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>8. baling</div><div>This is what requires real experience. If the oats are baled too soon they will be hot bales which lead to decomposition and possible spontaneous combustion in storage. And even if they don't get hot enough to burn, the interior will be spoiled. Too dry and they lose their nutritional value.</div><div>All the other equipment was fascinating, but the baler has to be the most amazing piece of all. Collecting the row of straw, chopping it a bit for easier compaction, packing the straw into uniform blocks, wrapping them with twine, knotting and cutting the twine, dropping them as from a pez dispenser onto the field. </div><div>If the air is humid, or the straw a bit too dry or a bit too moist the baler will balk or stop altogether. The twine might snap or refuse to knot, The bales might not pass through blocking the chute. Old equipment can be quirky on the best of days. And this piece of equipment, like all the others that have been doing this job, is over a half century old. Many much older than that. (like their operators!)</div><div>Not to worry. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzVOD_I3_AMeFoDjGC59F6FrAPYRU6oTIQoDaKt1Eb41HYlbwpVCFq1RkxRi8kPjK1kfKpN_v34iYl9THKxyQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div> </div><div><br /></div><div>9. stacking the bales</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxle81lpOuMcYKKFhYcVflr8TZGpIXFJFwW2djs3O5GK2OTth50OUEQjgI8zdZEOuHlLRSQ-L8dCkx5h725yw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div><br /></div><div>It takes some skill to stack bales on a flat bed wagon. The load must be able to move over uneven ground and on the road up and down hills to where it will be stored without tipping or spilling. For this job Jerome got the long straw, if you can forgive my pun, and got the easy job, driving the tractor. Alan did the stacking and two local Amish boys did the gathering and throwing onto the wagon. I took this video from a distance to be respectful of the boys' identity and age. But can you imagine many 9 and 12 year old English kids doing this job without a pause, doing it well and no complaints??</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIu7rz1OQBOOWTzp4hYXbRg6P1B644tj8SybRo4tXd0G9199S_BqSuk7ryA5anoDDCOn9VXhRsVd3Rod8RMUsRhMZ6C-X4pFkFtgAv2x4MCTtjqUQNuIylij3bUD9IwSriIRhrJTw9Xgo/s2048/IMG_3074.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbIu7rz1OQBOOWTzp4hYXbRg6P1B644tj8SybRo4tXd0G9199S_BqSuk7ryA5anoDDCOn9VXhRsVd3Rod8RMUsRhMZ6C-X4pFkFtgAv2x4MCTtjqUQNuIylij3bUD9IwSriIRhrJTw9Xgo/s640/IMG_3074.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And here is the prize. Our first harvest. Oat straw. Horses will love this as bedding since they can find nuzzle for the oats in the mix. If we can cut the field again later this season when the pasture mix is up, the result will be bales of hay, not straw. Hay is feed, and ours should be good feed indeed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oat straw. Not exactly wheat for man's bread as I began this tale in honor of the day. The process of oat straw harvesting and wheat harvesting is similar in many respects. In fact, with wheat the hay still needs to be threshed which requires even more amazing machinery. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you've read this tale through to the finish, I ask you this... buttering your toast tomorrow, pause just a wee while and contemplate what went into bringing that bread to your table. </div><div><br /></div><div>Today's post, a tale of two 70 something city kids on our ridge meadow farm enjoying a good life. </div></div></div>sharonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11358189683016220420noreply@blogger.com3