Weekly photo challenge: Vivid

This week’s WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge theme is VIVID.  And what better flower to portray that theme than the peony.  They’re a garden staple that requires minimal care and produces the most brilliantly colored flowers.  If you don’t have any peonies in your garden, you should definitely plant one.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Red fox and her pups

Spotted this beautiful little vixen sitting on my compost pile the other evening.  She saw me, sniffed the air, barked a few times and was immediately bored with me. She was even kind enough to show me her beautiful tail. Then, out from the dead brush and rocks, popped a curious pup. And then, another……

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

I had the pleasure of spending a few days in Lancaster County, PA.  The outlet malls and tourist attractions don’t interest me.  Matter of fact, it makes me feel a little sad to see sprawling shopping malls right up against a beautiful Amish farm.  Instead, I love to wander around the countryside and get lost.…

Hummingbirds

With summer on its way, the hummingbirds should be arriving soon!  And attracting hummingbirds to your garden is extremely easy.  So with the weather finally getting warmer, it’s time to get out the feeders.  If you’ve never fed hummingbirds, try it – you’ll be hooked. HUMMINGBIRD NECTAR RECIPE Dissolve 1 cup sugar in 4 cups…

Spring refuses to arrive

Yesterday was officially the first day of spring.  Instead of being heralded with the arrival of geese and a crocuses poking through the thawing snow, we patiently sat through another winter snow storm. Having contracted an EXTREME case of cabin fever, I felt the only cure to my ailment was to lace up my winter…

The bluebirds are back

What a sight for sore eyes!  Over the past few days, the bluebirds have been arriving and taking up residence in the many bluebird houses we have on the farm.  Even yesterday’s snow storm didn’t deter them.  Spring may be just around the corner… let’s keep our fingers crossed!  

Please do not tip the cows

Tommy:  “What you do, is you put your shoulder into her and you push.” Paul:  “And?” Tommy:  “They fall over!” Paul:  “This doesn’t strike you as kind of… dumb?” Tommy:  “We’re family.  We’re going to be doing lots of dumb stuff together.  Wait ’til Christmas.” Tommy:  “You keep your feet shoulder width apart.  Stay between…

Farm visitors

Woke up to a spectacular sight this morning – two bald eagles sitting in the tree right off my front porch. They are a pretty regular sight around here, flying by as they follow the river to the dam up the road. However, very rarely do they stop and stay like this pair did this…

Sunbathing cows and a taste of spring

Mother Nature gave us a little reprieve yesterday.  The days was filled with blue skies, above-freezing temperatures and plentiful sunshine. The girls enjoyed it immensely, munching hay and soaking up the sun. Some of them were so content, you could almost get close enough to hop on their backs, before they opened their eyes to…

Enough smart a*s predictions, Phil!

Groundhogs are usually cute.  However, this winter, I have taken a particular dislike to the one they call the “seer of seers, the prognosticator of prognoticators” –  Mr. Punxsutawney Phil. As we sit here and await the arrival of the fourth winter storm in two weeks, I have decided that Phil needs to apologize.  He…

I hope you had the time of your life…

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go So make the best of this test and don’t ask why It’s not a question but a lesson learned in time It’s something unpredictable but in the end is right I hope you had the…

Cherry chapstick and other important things

After a long day, complete with an unfortunate incident involving a deer and my vehicle, I have concluded that I no longer want to be an adult.  I am officially resigning as a grown-up and immediately reverting back to a time when the most important things were: Splashing in mud puddles Snow days The ice…