Your Favorite Season?

Feb 22, 2024

Four seasons comprise a year where we live here in Virginia. Right now about four weeks remain for this winter season. This cannot go by fast enough for my husband. Winter wins hands down for his least favorite season. Summer is his favorite.

It seems most folk I talk to say Spring is their favorite. I have heard it said that the season one is born in is the favorite. Have you heard that before? It does not hold true for me.

I was born in summer, but I cannot say it is my favorite. When asked, my general response is, “The season we are in right now is my favorite”. Because of my enjoyment of photography, there is something lovely and unique in each season. Though I find it much easier to add layers of clothing when it is cold. I mean there is only so much to be taken off when hot.

Fuzzy winter-coat horses are cozy and warm too. The best hand warmer around is between a horses elbow and belly, or under a full winter mane and neck. Duke looks like a fuzzy black bear in his winter coat. High Hope is not as fuzzy. The minis, Snowbell and Raggedy, look like two little fur balls rolling around like a tumbleweed.

When the wind blows their coats shimmer and wave like tall grasses on the prairie. Steam blowing from their noses makes them snort and blow more. I think it makes them feel big and strong!

Blue and white are my favorite colors, so I suppose if I had to choose a season, it would be winter.

*My favorite colors, blue and white, match the winter season*.

*Raggedy looks like a rolling fur ball.*

*I suppose if I had to choose, winter would be my favorite.*

What is your favorite season?

How About You?

Jan 6, 2024

I grew up on a big farm, we now live on a small one. Just the same, animals have been a part of my entire life. They have taught me more than I may ever realize.

I am also a photographer. Though that title seems not to fit me, as I don’t really consider myself a photographer. Yet, I’ve taken photos since I got my first Kodak camera at eleven years old. Many moons have passed since then.

I am also unashamedly a Christian. These three loves of my life have lived together in harmony and beautifully. Hardly a day goes by where these three passions do not meet.

May I prove my point to you and share a few photographs of my love of animals and farm life and beliefs?

May you find your peace, joy and passion in this New Year…I have a thought, ask God. He loves to answer the seekers of life. God bless you.

How about you? Where do you find meaning and direction and purpose in this earthly, ephemeral life?

The Lord causes rain to fall on the earth.

My Husbands Birthday

Oct 31, 2023

My husband had his birthday not too long ago. Would you like to see what I bought myself? Battery powered power tools! I figured it was a great gift for him. Tools for me! Less work for him, right?

That’s I told him when he and I hauled them out to the car. I was real nice too. I let him be the first one to try them out. Actually, the only one he wanted to try out was the tiny chain saw. Imagine that. He had no interest in trying the dust buster, or the hedge clippers, only the little chain saw. Can’t say I blame him. It really is great fun! It trims branches up to 4″ in diameter.

They really are perfect for farm or garden women. Many little jobs can be done by me now without having to wait for my husband to get around to them.

I am thinking these are some of the best gifts I ever bought him!

*The dustbuster* *cleans up those annoying little messes.*

*These little hedge clippers are perfect size and weight for me!*

*The most fun of all—this tiny chain saw!*

I even let him be the first to try out the little chainsaw!

The Daily Game of Hide n’ Seek

Sep 6, 2023

I play hide n’ seek everyday with Duke. I never thought ‘finding’ a black horse out the field as challenging. Well, I am wrong. Were it not for his white socks he would be nearly impossible to spot.

A close eye is kept on the horses throughout the day. They can get in the most uncanny trouble. A friend once said, “You could put a horse in a padded stall, and he’d still find some way to hurt himself.”

Duke rolled too close to the board fence one pleasant afternoon and caught his hind legs between the bottom and middle boards of the fence. With hammer in hand we were prepared to remove the boards. As we stood by him quietly he got himself out of that mess with only a few scratches, and a small limp.

He disappears then reappears in the field as if by magic. Our two black miniature horses are the same way, but they do not cover as much ground the way Duke does. They tend to stay in much the same grazing space.

The pretty white shining star on his forehead is also a beacon of light in our daily game of hide n’ seek. Last but surly not least, is snow. He is always a dead give away in snow!

Can you find Duke?

*He is easier to spot against the skyline.*

*His white star and three white socks help me find him.*

*His bright white star helps me find him.*

He cannot hide when it snows!

The Tennessee Walking horse is a beautiful, well-tempered, smooth riding Gaited horse. He is our senior horse. I still ride him, though not far or long. I would have a whole field of this breed of horse if I could!

*See his beautiful white socks and shining star on his noble forehead?*

Faith, Love and Hope

Aug 17, 2023

Faith, love and hope go a long way in this world. Even in the life of a little chicken named Sally Lind.

Chickens and horses get along well together around the barn. Chickens follow the horses around while grazing. They eat the bugs the horses stir up. They help compost the manure in the way they scratch through it looking for worms. It is a good set-up for the most part.

Horses move incredibly fast and sometimes even too fast for a busy chicken. High Hope came tearing into the paddock last week at feeding time, and Sally Lind was busy scratching around. She got stomped by High Hope.

I was in the barn and heard her squawk. She quickly limped into a corner of a stall and sat down. She was hurt.

I gently picked her up. No blood, her wings looked and felt fine. Nothing seemed too wrong, she just limped. I put her in the coop.

I called a good friend and long time chicken owner for instruction on culling her. But held onto hope, faith and love. She would eat when I set her in front of food and water. I kept her quiet and away from all activity and other animals.

About five days later I was prepared to ask my husband to cull her out the flock when I noticed a tiny improvement in her limp.

She steadily improved and now nearly two weeks later, she is fine and out with all of us! Such joy!

Yes, faith, love and hope go a long way in this world. Even with little chickens!

Lesson learned? Clear the paddock of all chickens before calling the horses in!

*High Hope loves running like mad to the barn at feeding time. Duke will too, just not as often.*

*Duke is coming in nice and quiet, but that does not always happen.*

*Even the miniatures accidentally can stomp and hurt chickens. Raggedy wants his dinner!*

*Sally Linds first day out of the infirmary.*

*She is enjoying being out with everyone again.*

*She is doing very well. We are grateful.*

Barn Art?

Jul 29, 2023

I saw my first ‘barn art’ cheerfully hanging years ago in an older gals’ barn. She invited me to horseback ride with her once she observed I knew a few things about horses. Being a Clarke County horsewoman that rode with the Blue Ridge Hunts, not any ‘ole yahoo would be riding with her or on her horses. It was a joy and delight when she invited me to join her.

Many visits were spent before she invited me to call her by her first name or go horseback riding with her. Really, the only reason I was able to meet her was because of her massive grapevine laden with grapes and a mutual friend.

She was interested in giving her grapes away. Our mutual friend thought of me. Sometimes friendships take a while, don’t they? A fine friendship grew between me, a young mother with five rambunctious children and a lovely older woman who enjoyed life with her husband, dogs and horses.

It was her stable where I first saw barn art. Cute, hand painted signs about horses and dogs of course.

I do not have a photo of the first ‘art’ we hung in our barn years ago, painted by my daughter. I left it there when we moved. I’ve often wondered if it is still there.

Our barn here is much larger than the old one, so I have had great fun hanging my ‘art’ in it. Won’t you join me on a little tour?

*Brass Harness bells hang by the tack room door.*

*Mom read poetry to us as kids. This line is from* The Man in the Moon, by James Whitcomb Riley. *One of her horses name is above the poetry—*Boomerang.

*Mom, a twin herself, had two sets of twin girls. This line from the poem,* The Twins, by Henry S. Leigh, we *knew nearly by heart.*

*Mom raised Miniature horses. She had much art, such as this one, in her barns.*

*No barn is complete without flowers* *or…*

Thank you for joining me.

Every Dog has his Day

Jan 19, 2023

That is what my mom would always say. Well, this day belongs to chickens. More specifically, their eggs. They are nearly as hard to find as my hundred pair of glasses I have strewn all over creation here on the farm. Once eggs are found, the price is so high, one would think there was a golden one in the dozen somewhere. Things come and go in this world, and I think it is super that the one animal the whole universe wants for lunch is having her big day!

We have owned chickens off and on for many years. We have had them continuously since moving here. They are an important part of our farm. We depend on them not only for eggs, but because they are free-range, they perform good work around the place. They eat tons of bugs. It is fun watching them follow the horses, gobbling up insects the horses stir up. They are great composters as well.

I leave fresh horse poop in the paddocks for several days. The chickens will dutifully scratch the piles up after a few days looking for just-hatched worms. Great! Worm controllers as well. Want to create a new flower or vegetable plot? Pen your hens in desired spot for new garden, leave them there several days, and voila! They have done the first part of scratching up the ground for a new bed, and have fertilized it as well. Good chickens.

*They help compost the manure and eat the hatched worms!*

As to be expected, we do loose some to predators during the day. Though dogs and horses help in that department. They help keep wildlife at bay. So far, in nearly eight years of having chickens here, we have not ever seen a snake around the barn. Thanks again to dogs, horses, and cats.

So hurray for the chicken. These current days seem to be hers, and I would say everyone likes to have ‘their day’, would you agree?

How Can You do That?

Oct 29, 2022

“How can you do that?” I am frequently asked this question when people hear our chickens are free-range.

“It does pose a risk,” I concede, “but the benefits outweigh the risks.”

How can that be? How can free-range chickens ever survive? There are several factors that work in their favor out here at our place. We have dogs that keep wildlife at bay. We also walk all over the farm, thus leaving our human scent as well. The horses play a big part too in keeping critters away. Though they can injure and even kill chickens as I wrote in a previous post, Faster than You Think—Ask the Chickens. It does not happen often. A healthy horse will defend his domain if feel threatened, or a ‘stranger’ shows up on their turf.

Free-range chickens are a benefit to everyone. They eat bugs which makes us all happy. I leave horse manure several days in the paddock to ‘cure’ a bit. Chickens peck through it eating the worms, thereby breaking the parasite cycle for the horses. Bonus! They also are my first composers. Manure has been beautifully broken down by their work.

Their hen house is in a stall in the barn. This also offers extra protection for them, and a plus for us as eggs are laid either in their house or feed buckets. Rarely is there need to have a daily egg hunt.

While this works here, it may not work at your place. Which does not really matter. I have seen beautiful hen houses and enclosures to keep them safe, all full of a bunch of happy hens!

So please do not feel bad if your chickens cannot be free-range. I am just answering the question of how it works for us.

No matter how chickens are kept, would you agree that they are fun and #chickensmakeuschuckle ?

Happy chicken farming!

*They eat worms in the manure that helps break parasite cycle for horses.*

*No matter where you keep your chickens, they are fun! #chickensmakeuschuckle*

Five-Minute-Friday Word Prompt—Heal

May 27, 2022

“Jehovah Rapha,” is the cry of my heart this sad week. We cry out to God, and He hears us. Oh Lord, heal our land, heal our people.

We are living in an upside-down world of no sense. Wrong is called right and right called wrong. Yet, we all can agree the mass murders that took place this week are wrong and devastating. If only Your people would hear Your voice, You would heal our land. Repentance belongs to us, we must repent of our sins for God to hear us. Dear God, hear those that cry out to You. Comfort our hearts, those families. Spread Your loving wings over our hurting hearts. We need You! This is my prayer this week. To God be the Glory!

Thursday Thoughts #1

May 11, 2022

It seems like a fun thing to start on this blog, that is, to cause reflective thoughts through photography. There is much truth in the old saying, ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’.

So every Thursday I hope to post a photo of mine with the thoughts that came to mind upon looking at it. With the goal of stirring a thoughtful moment in our often crowded, busy day, a daily, small time of reflection is a wonderful thing. I hope you agree, and perhaps post your thoughts as well. If you would like to share with others your own photo and thoughts, please post your address in your comment.