by Susan | Jan 17, 2015 | Chickens, On the Farm
It’s always fun watching the new chickens on the block acclimate to life on the farm. This summer’s clutch of bantam chickens has had an unusually difficult time adjusting to the snow cover. They appear somewhat baffled about the loss of their normal...
by Susan | Jan 9, 2015 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
On New Year’s day, I discarded the Christmas tree on the front porch with plans to deal with it later. During some bitter cold days, it became a wind-break for the chickens who were brave enough to venture outdoors. In the hopes of encouraging the chickens to...
by Susan | Jan 5, 2015 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
What do you suppose they’re waiting for?
by Susan | Dec 28, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
It’s not often that I see gray squirrels. Typically it’s the little red ones who work at my bird feeders. This morning, the rain didn’t stop this guy from making an attempt at a free meal. Although he wasn’t entirely immune to the rain. He...
by Susan | Dec 26, 2014 | On the Farm
Today brought another round of record-breaking temperatures to Downeast Maine. The long shadows of winter belied the springlike weather. Less than one week into winter found me lounging in a chair in front of the pond taking in the sights. The banties were out en...
by Susan | Dec 21, 2014 | On the Farm
This is what eight cords of wood look like when delivered. Every day the weather permits, Paul spends part of the day in the wood lot, cutting and splitting. Old Blue, limping along with a failing clutch, is Paul’s trusty steed on this project. Many of the log...
by Susan | Dec 18, 2014 | On the Farm
This is what 1-3 inches of snow looks like in Downeast Maine. It must be tough to be the weather man. What I expected to be a “dusting” or even rain turned out to be a 12 inches. It was a winter wonderland fitting for a Christmas card. A week of mild...
by Susan | Dec 1, 2014 | Backyard Birds
Someone looks a bit out of place.
by Susan | Nov 6, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
Until the other day, I had never seen more than just a pair of goldfinches at my feeder. Last week a flock of these lovely little birds came to visit. Facebook friends helped to identify them as non-breeding goldfinches. I’m not certain if they’re males or...
by Susan | Oct 14, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
My bird feeders were three-quarters full when I left in the morning. By afternoon, I was surprised to see that they were all but empty. Then I spied a band of blue jays – four in all that descended upon the yard. Now I understand who’s raiding the bird...
by Susan | Oct 13, 2014 | On the Farm
The sound outside my window last night as I snuggled down in bed.
by Susan | Oct 9, 2014 | On the Farm
As I was leaving the house today, I found this little porcupine crossing the drive. Paul spied him down the road at a neighbor’s yesterday, so it seems that he’s making his rounds. Me being me, I had to stop the car and get a closer look. As I moved...
by Susan | Oct 1, 2014 | Backyard Birds, On the Farm
As I walked out the door this morning, arms overflowing with handbag, coffee, water bottle, lunch, day planner, and camera over my shoulder (yes, I could use a tote), a large black bird swooped out of the fir tree and flew straight at me. I think he was as startled as...
by Susan | Sep 28, 2014 | Garden, On the Farm
“Holy tomatoes!” exclaimed Hannah when she spied the result of my morning’s work. With ground prep beginning today on the greenhouse, we needed to move the garden fence to give Paul space to run the tractor. You can see the need for the fence. The...
by Susan | Sep 21, 2014 | On the Farm
We have been talking of and dreaming about a greenhouse for quite a few years. The location, style, and size has changed with the tides. Motivated by the greenhouse I saw at the Common Ground Fair on Friday, I lured Paul outside to debate the location and stake out...
by Susan | Sep 19, 2014 | On the Farm
Summer. Frost. Two words that should not go together. Yet, I look back at last year and I wrote about a summer frost on the 18th. After tossing sheets over all my remaining veggies last night and finding them frozen this morning, I have new motivation to break ground...
by Susan | Sep 9, 2014 | On the Farm
I don’t believe that dragonflies deserve their name. There doesn’t seem to be anything fierce about them – unless you’re a mosquito. In that case – beware! We’ve had quite a few dragonflies zipping around the farm fast and furious....
by Susan | Sep 7, 2014 | On the Farm
The day lilies are all but spent. One lone blossom remains in my garden. I stopped to admire the flower and was surprised to discover that I’m not the only one? enjoying this last bright beacon of summer.
by Susan | Sep 5, 2014 | Chickens, On the Farm
A little bit of cute to end your week. Like momma, like baby.
by Susan | Sep 3, 2014 | Chickens
The new banty babies had an adventure today. Salty’s brood is almost three-weeks-old and she’s a bit bored hanging out in the coop and run. The run door is on the second story (so we can open the door when there’s loads of snow on the ground in the...
