Triplets!

Sep 7, 2026

She seemed quite rotund for her first time pregnancy, the little dwarf goat named, Cookie, that our daughter and her husband own.

There is such excitement in waiting for a new baby of any sort. Anticipation is such fun. Being a first timer for baby goats made our daughter pretty anxious as birthing time neared for Cookie.

She knew the signs to watch for and had her birthing stall all ready. She’s going to be a good midwife I thought to myself last week when I was there for a visit.

As we were preparing lunch , we heard an odd sound from outside.

“What was that?” Helen said. I did not know, when suddenly she exclaimed, ” It’s Cookie!”

She was right, for Cookie had birthed her baby in front of the grain barn.

Helen quickly got to work rubbing down the big baby with a towel.

She needed to be in her birthing stall away from all other livestock. So we pushed and pulled Cookie into her stall, where she gave birth to number 2 baby.

Husband Jon and I were running around doing birthing jobs, while Helen tended to momma and babies.

Number two was healthy and responding well, when suddenly Helen announced the third baby coming!

Helen did a fine job of the attending midwife to momma goat and her sweet newborn babies.

To me birth of any sort seems a grand miracle. You did a great job, Helen, and Cookie is one good momma!

*The first born was the largest, and a male.*

*Cookie tending lovingly to her babies.*

It was great being a midwife assistant!

Oh, the joy and mystery of birth! Thank God.

Thursday Thoughts #207

Aug 27, 2026

Interesting question from Scripture, don’t you think?

A Small Herding Dog

Jul 22, 2026

Do you know any of the small herding dogs? There are several breeds, and we have one of them, Pembroke Corgis. Affectionally know to many older folk as “the Queens dogs.”

As well they should be. It was because of Queen Elizabeth II that the Corgi officially became a registered dog. Someone wisely decided the Queen should have registered dogs, after all she bred them all her life, and she was the Queen of England!

I must like herding dogs too (of mostly mixed breed) as I have had several over my lifetime. They are energetic, active dogs—most certainly not lap dogs.

For the first time we now have purebred ones, the Pembroke Corgi. HoneyPie is five years old, Buster is three.

They came from breeders in south-west, Virginia. We waited a couple years before getting Buster because we still had our good, old mixed-breed herding dog, Dandy.

*Taking a walk with our old dog, Dandy, teaching puppy HoneyPie.*

*Dandy took his job seriously of watching the farm.*..

We purchased Buster two years later. Bill wanted a tri-colored, HoneyPie. I wanted a gold and white one, so we got Buster.

I have always admired the herding dogs ability with livestock. Sheep trials are thrilling to watch the way those well-trained dogs and owners work sheep together.

It interested me to train our dogs to herd. With only articles off internet I worked at training mostly HoneyPie. We do not have sheep. We have chickens. The articles I studied said it helps to have the flock (in my case) know where they were to go. This was very helpful because at dusk chicken head to the henhouse.

She learned as well, I suppose, as any greenhorn could teach her. We have had fun. She will do right nice with the cattle as well.

Having a second dog made for more difficulty with training two dogs. Buster is exuberant, but not as well disciplined. That is my fault.

*They are waiting for Bill to whistle for the horses to come in.*

They enjoy bringing the horses in, though they would never win any herding competition.

*They will go get the minis after High Hope and Duke come in.*

Really, they are far from being a good herding dog, but we have enjoyed learning and trying.

Have you ever gone to sheep dog trials?

*We do enjoy this active, happy breed of dog, now for a swim HoneyPie & Buster!*

Meet Napoleon

Jul 14, 2026

We have a new addition to our farm. His name is Napoleon. This name given to him by his previous owner.

We like the name. It seems to fit this little fella very well. Good thing he is not a fit travel companion, otherwise he would now be on the PCT (Pacific Coast Trail) with our son, Gordon, who likes him very much. I believe if he could have figured out how to take Napoleon he would have.

I can see him right now riding on Gordon’s shoulder! Since he was not able to join Gordon, Napoleon sent him good wishes for hiking.

*Happy Trails to you, Gordon, from* *Napoleon.*

He earned the name Napoleon, because, well, he is tiny! He is a Bantam rooster. His previous owner did not want another rooster. Neither did we, but she gave him to us anyway. Such is the way with daughters that think we need more chickens!

In spite of ourselves we like him. He is so little. When he crows he sounds like a wind-up toy! He is also quite friendly. The hens do not seem to have any opinion of him. He is still a baby and has a bit more growing to do.

*Actually he is very pretty. Blue, and green* *feathers shine in the sun.*

We get a kick at how his tail goes straight up. Like a sail. He is fun to watch.

He has settled nicely into life here at the farm. He will be here when Gordon returns from his hike.

Springtime—Beautiful?

Apr 14, 2026

It nearly feels traitorous to question the beauty of Spring. But before you go elsewhere, dear reader, allow me a moment to explain.

Spring is more of a love/hate season for me. The fluctuating temperatures are harder to manage. How to dress for today? Yesterday opened in the 30’s and closed on the 60’s! Sweater on, sweater off was the tempo of the day.

It has been said spring is like a teenager, one day it is grand, the next day, hold on! That seems a fair description to me. How about you?

Yet even harder for me with springtime is shedding. Yes, every animal on our farm is shedding their winter coats—oh my! In springtime our dogs, cats and horses go with me everywhere. For I am a constant ball of animal fur.

It could easily be said of a farm, spring is the ugliest time of year. Old hay needs cleaning up out of the fields, the much desired and wonderful spring rains produce a mucky mess in and around the barn and paddocks. Then it all freezes , not happy with that, it all turns to muck again. Tired old straw needs removing from stalls. Fresh wood chips needs laying all around.

*Old hay needs removing out of paddock. Get it before the rains come (look at that sky).*

*Tired straw and old hay waiting to be cleaned out.*

*This is a small pile of winter coat from Snowbell.*

*Dusty tack patiently waiting its turn to be cleaned and shined.*

*My supervisor, HoneyPie, has better farm view atop wood chip pile. Her frisbee is never far from her.*

Truth is I do like spring. Birds and frogs chirping, early flowers happy faces, grass changing its grey winter coat to green are delightful joys of spring.

If though, you are coming to the farm, wear your muck boots and farm coat. That way you can ‘leave the animals’ in your mud room. Or better yet, wait until the winter coats have fled. Happy Spring!

Farm Life—What’s Your Life?

Jul 12, 2025

Life on the farm is unique. What compares? Share your thoughts. We grow our own food, raise a bunch of critters, have a bunch of fun, love the land. Outdoors is best. I’m bias? Yes, I am… May I ask you this—Do you love the land?

How about you? What’s your ‘jam’? Tell us, please! As my mother used to say, “It takes all kinds to make this world, Midy”.

She was right.

*Pond reflections of windmill.* *Have you ever considered the life of a pond?*

*Good day of fishing…* *he is the small one….*

*Nothing like line-dried clothes, yeah!*

*Our broody hen, Fifi…setting on 7 fertile eggs.*

*Coveralls are essential items out here! I love this land. I love my farm…what do YOU love?*

How is Doris?

May 30, 2025

That is her name, Doris. You know, the chicken our “good” dogs attacked last week? She is recovering very well. She has been out of the infirmary and free-ranging since Tuesday.

I could not deny her ‘request’ to go outside. I found her standing directly in front of the stall door staring at it early Tuesday morning. As if she knew staring at it long enough would open it. Well, it did!

I thought if she wants out that badly, she must be feeling well enough. So I opened it, and out she came.

We have only two chickens (a fox got the rest), and I watched the other one carefully. Doris still has bare spots on her little body, though feathers are growing back. All seemed well, and indeed all is well.

*Happy to be released from infirmary.* *Sunflower seeds are good for growing feathers—lots of protein.*

*Ahhhh! Green grass! I watched her carefully for a good while.*

Love and care go a long way. Even for a little chicken.

Feeding Time and Staying Warm

Jan 9, 2025

Six inches of snow fell earlier this week. More is called for today and into the weekend. Gusts of wind across the northwest corner of our farm has created drifts of snow along with patches of ground exposed. Our plowed path to the barn is now covered over with drifted snow.

A Scandinavian proverb says: There is no bad weather only bad clothing. I say that to myself as I trudge through snow drifts to feed the livestock and out in the fields to open gates. Thankful for the big hood of my coat I keep pulling over the knitted one already on as the gusts of wind make every effort to blow them away. The snow is not deep enough to go down the tall farm boots, but the drifts are. Yes, good clothing is great.

Seventeen degrees outside on this dark, early morning though the wind makes it feel colder. Anxious hungry eyes record every trudging step taken closer and closer their way. Telling me with a hungry whinny or moo to hurry up!

Hay is spread far and wide in front of the barn out of the wind. Horses rule over cows, but they can only keep rule over one pile of hay at a time. One more heap of hay over number of animals keeps the peace. Hay is piled liberally, while, Duke, our senior horse munches grain.

A midday feeding is made too on days like these when Ole Man winter blows across our farm. Hay is best for keeping the animals warm.

Speaking of hay, it is time to go out…

*The horses are sure ready for feeding time.*

*Every step towards the barn is marked with anticipation.*

*Wind makes horses fractious, so does hunger.*

*Could you move a little faster, Raggedy wants to know.*

*Harold is ready to retire on this cold evening.*

Thursday Thoughts #118

Oct 24, 2024

Horsewoman or Cow-woman?

May 23, 2024

“You call yourself a horsewoman, but in your heart you’re a cow woman.”

So said Mr.White, one day while working on new iron railings around our house recently. I laughed but I have had fun thinking about his observation.

I recall my Aunty Bliss telling me years ago as a little girl I would sit under the fences in our cow fields with my hands and face resting on the bottom fence board watching the cows in the field. I do not remember this.

I do remember getting up on cold winter mornings, peering out the window into the dark looking for the light in the barn. The little glow of light told us our farm hand was loading silage for feeding time. Jumping out of bed and warmly wrapped, we walked in the dark toward the little light. We never felt the cold while feeding. He kept the truck cab good and warm for my twin sister, our best friend and me while feeding.

I think cows are beautiful. Watching the young 4-H kids handle those big animals in the show rings at every summer County fair fills me with wonder. They work so diligently, and the cattle are so well kept. And besides all that, I love the sound of a cow mooing.

Later, much later, in life a good friend asked me in a rather disgusted tone why do I like cows? “They are stinky and have flies all over them!”, she said. I laughed, thinking she was right—at least on the flies all over them point.

I don’t think cows stink.

We have three Miniature Hereford steers on our little farm. I agree with my cattle-loving brother-in-law, ” It isn’t much of a farm without cattle on it.” There is a bucolic feeling of cattle out in a field. I suppose as the tree is bent so it grows, and I am just bent that way.

Though I would never say cattle rank above horses in my mind, they sure are hot on the heels of them. Mr. White just may be right, deep in my heart I am a cow-woman.