A Bit More Sunshine

There was a brief window of opportunity to let the youngsters out to play in the sun. Mind you it was brief. But when it comes to Michigan weather we'll take brief and run with it.

Pita is growing like a weed, and Browning will soon catch up to her. They are both doing well and frolicking about like two little kids should.

I've been sick the last couple days and so Purdy and I sat by the hay bale and soaked up some rays.
The sun felt good, but my brain began a public debate with my body. The brain saying "There is so much to do".
"There is no energy to do what needs to be done", says my body.
"But you could at least try".
"I've been trying, and I'm sick".
"Sick is for wienies".
There was a moment of silence.
"Well, call me a wienie and start the grill. I'm not movin'!", exclaimed the body.
And there it is folks. Another wasted day.

Browning on the run

Pita in the foreground. Mom Pepper behind her.

16 Uses For Baling Twine

Oh, what a beautiful day it was! 

Peacock Sr

Waking up to sunshine can’t be beat. Add in the welcoming sounds from the animals and a good cup of coffee and you‘ve got a pretty good start to the day. And, its a toss-up as to who is the loudest in the morning. Between the horse, goats, chickens, peafowl and ducks, I think Ducky is the noisiest. In fact, she gets rather excited when she sees me first thing: she sneezes after she quacks. I find this trait of hers funny. Why would a duck sneeze? It made me think of the expression “nothing to sneeze at“ and where it originated. Take a look here because I’m sure you’ll find it quite interesting. I know I did, and now I’m beginning to think Ducky isn’t so cute.

Ducky & Dizzy

Trouble & Sandy sunbathing

As I sat in the sunshine for a bit this afternoon untangling baling twine that I refuse to throw away, knotting it together and then winding it onto a hose reel I got to thinking of the reasons why I was taking the time to bother. Well, let me count the ways:

1. Use to tie the lid down when hauling something in a vehicle trunk
2. Make braided lead ropes with clips for the horse, goats, cat, etc
3. Use it to make a straight fence line, seed rows or plant a straight line of bushes
4. Weave a floor cloth
5. Tie newspaper bundles
6. Crochet a rug
7. Use it to tie packages.
8. Make a fish net
9. Use it for temporary clothesline
10. Use it for tying down tarps 
11. Hang the chicken feeder
12. Use it for tying down tents
13. Make a string trellis for morning glories
14. Use it for string beans to climb
15. Use wood and baling twine to make a trellis panel
16. Use several strands together to make a hammock

I’m sure there are more uses, and I know there are some who would consider my reel of twine an eccentric habit. But it got me to wondering if anyone else would use my reel of baling twine after I’m gone. Naturally, I will leave it to my son. And I would hope he would gladly use it and think of me. But who would use it after him? He and his wife don’t have any children. Who is going to remember it was me that started that reel of twine? And why am I thinking of this baling twine as one of the two things I'd be leaving to posterity? Do I really want to be remembered as that crazy old woman who had a reel of twine and a sneezing duck?

A Sunny Day

It was a wonderful feeling waking up to sunshine and mild temps this morning. And being able to work outside cleaning the yard from the long winter was a real treat. The animals also seemed to appreciate the warmer weather - it was in the mid-forties by mid afternoon. The ducks enjoyed playing in the temporary puddle pond east of the peafowl pen, and the chickens scratched around in the mud and old hay. The tail of Peacock Senior glistening in the sun is a burst of iridescent color in a drab landscape. The Angora goats with their heavy coats of long curls even found the sun welcoming.

Pita is growing well and full of energy. She will be a week old tomorrow. She has become adept at climbing on anything she can get her little feet on - including mom Pepper, and me. Looking at her shiny black curls I think of how gorgeous they will be spun into yarn.

Spending time outside almost erases the extreme cabin fever this winter brought on. But then all I have to do is remember we can still be in for more snow. I guess we're not safe until, say, August.

Pita at six days old

Pita standing still for a split second

Peanut ready for a haircut

Sadie has to stick her nose into the action

Green

With the warm weather (50 degrees), today was a great day for getting outside and spending some time. The blue sky, yellow sun and…green grass! Even though that patch of green was the size of a baby blanket I could have wallowed in it until the cows came home, if it weren’t for the water puddle right in the middle. Nope, didn't want to get wet. After viewing snow and more snow for three long months - even though it felt like seven - that patch of green grass was a sight for sore eyes.

In my world green is an important color. To me it means warmth. It means there is life after snow and cold. It means I can get out and play in the dirt.

Throughout the centuries green has played an important role in just about every aspect of human life. An insightful look at Wikipedia.org revealed some interesting facts about the color green:

• In the middle ages social rank and profession were often denoted by clothing color. Merchants wore green.

• In the 18th and 19th centuries the Romantic Movement was represented by green in literature and art.

• In Medieval times green represented love, and young women who were unmarried wore green clothing.

• In the US, ever since 1861 the color green has been used on the back of the dollar bill. Not only was it used to deter counterfeiters, but green did not show through the thin paper of banknotes leaving the faces on the front clear.

Here are some other roles that are represented by the color green: 

• Nature, plants, environment, springtime, growth, regeneration, rebirth, life, renewal, freshness, hope

• Money, Emeralds, Jade

• Good health, vigor, vivacity

• Safety, permission, system on, go

• Restful color (suggested for bedrooms), reduce fatigue

• Inexperience, immaturity 

• Political symbol, flags

• Gambling, sports, camouflage

• Religion, holidays

• Monsters, dragons, fairies

• Poison, misfortune, nausea, sickness

• Envy, jealousy

 If it was up to me, every day in my world would consist of green, blue, yellow and everything in between except WHITE!

Okay, Readers, if you had to claim a color to represent your world, what would it be?

5 Things To Do Outside In The Sun*

I know it wasn't anything I said in my last post. Who am I to threaten Mother Nature? I'm just a lowly individual striving to maintain a sense of sanity just slightly above the current water level in my yard.

But I do feel rather empowered today. Could it have anything to do with the massive amounts of sunshine I woke up to at 8am this morning? Well, if so, take that Mother Nature! I will NOT LINGER inside anymore than I have to today, I will FLOURISH in the light reigning on my world and I will RELISH THE SPLENDOR of mud ON MY BOOTS!

There. I feel so much better.

Five things you can do outside in the sun:
1. Go outside
2. Roll around on the ground like there's no tomorrow
3. Pee on what's left of the snow and ice
4. Drape yourself over any inanimate object like a sick, drunken sailor
5. Stand on the highest point on your property with your arms raised high holding a shovel and a rake

* Disclaimer: do not attempt if you are at any acceptable level of sanity. Check with local authorities for any required permits.

Sunshine State of Mind Two

I'm sitting here looking out my kitchen window at pools of water. Everywhere. Ever since I got home to Michigan from Florida on Sunday it has been raining since Monday, and four days later it doesn't look like there are immediate plans of the rain stopping anytime soon. I require true sunshine, and the gray days just don't cut it.

It's nice to reflect on the photos I took while in Florida. Sunshine is the perfect illuminating source for the vibrant colors found there. And the various animal tracks I shot are more interesting than my muddy boot prints recently.

Turkey tracks

Bug tracks

Leaf tracks

My shoe tracks

iPod tracks

Bass fishing

Sunshine State of Mind

I've been away...thought I'd tell you just in case you haven't noticed. It was far away from the dreary skies of Michigan to a land drenched in sunshine. Where the color green lasts all year, and flowers bloom in February. The smell of orange blossoms fill the air, and the sound of bees overpower the ringing in my ears. Where fire ants are considered a minority, and humidity can ruin a million-dollar hair-do. Florida: the hanging-off-part of the United States. What person wouldn't grab at the chance to visit? My Mom for one, but that's a whole 'nother story.

Truthfully, it was nice to experience some decent sunshine; the kind that sinks to my bones and chases the chill away...that is, until I get a hot flash and think for the next three minutes how the Michigan cold has its good points.

Walking made up a good hour or two of my daily routine while in the Sunshine State. And on these many walks I would see tracks from various critters (human and otherwise) that intrigued me. And of the hour or two I spent walking and looking at tracks, I would say, a good hour and fifteen minutes were spent reminding myself to "bring the camera next time". Well, better late than never is what I say; I did remember the camera on the last day of my walks.

I was able to take quite a few photos of some recognizable tracks, but there are others that could have been from tiny green aliens for all I know. I flunked my CSI exam so I can't tell you the makes of the tire tracks either. However, if anyone would like to shed some light on any of the track originators, please comment.

I'm posting only a few photos of my trip to Florida, and a few more later. Who wants to look at a boat-load of photos from someone else's vacation? "Ooooo, look at the pretty bug...."

Much needed sunshine

Racoon tracks?

Hog tracks

Vole tunnels?

Turkey and tire tracks

Little green alien tracks

Why, oh why?

Shining sun and mild weather. Plenty of feed and water. Wide open spaces to run and forage with lots of bugs, grass and leaves. It's a no brainer, really. So, why is it when I let the chickens out they think they have to take up residence on the deck?

Deck chickens

Monday Memories (1995)

It was the beginning of a twelve-mile walk. A glorious day.