shoes

Why do I always like the Halloween backgrounds?
hmm...


Today, while out running errands, we passed a few garage sales on the way out to town. My neck wrenched leaning to peer out the window towards a garage sale on the corner. My driver, surprised by my interest (a very suspicious reaction) looked and said,  "It is all shoes". Then we flew by two more sales, probably more shoes. I wonder how common it is that somebody has a "shoes only" garage sale or that there would be three in a row! On the way home, I got my driver to stop at that same sale on the corner. It was now probably two to three hours later. We had just been to tractor supply looking at the rabbit food bowls and I said, "I can buy ceramic bowls at garage sales for twenty-five cents." My driver agreed. So, on this premise we stopped at the shoe sale. Imagine if we had stopped earlier. gah! This is what I found for two bucks, total:

two large vintage modern/retro barkcloth curtain panels - value $25.00 to $50.00

vintage Glassbake yellow bowl with pour spout - value $10.00

ceramic blue bird of happiness - priceless

I wonder where should I put my bluebird shoe?




While I gave that some thought, I did more weeding and planted cucumbers, my last three Summer squash and yet more tomatoes plants. Then, it rained. I was hoping it would. I love to plant, then watch nature take over so nicely. A perfect rain too. It wasn't a wash out. It was a nice quick downpour followed by a light sprinkling.

We all sat on the porch and watched the rain come in. I love when I can hear the rain before I can see it. It gives me goosebumps. There is something quite magical in that pause. It is like taking that deep breath in and making a wish right before you blow the candles on your birthday cake. Where anything seems possible in a fleeting moment. Like you are in the middle of right now and a second later, at the same time. It is the moment between moments.

Tomorrow, batter goes in the bowl, curtains in the fabric stash, and that little happy bluebird...
Stay tuned for where it goes.

~crow

eleven...

again.

Another black pullet/hen came out of hiding from the dog attack. Now there is eleven. And the dog is gone. Guilt. Guilt? I thought he killed them, but now it seems he only injured two of the eleven. But that dog was a ticking time bomb. So I shouldn't feel guilty. Right?

eleven

The Lesson:

1. Do not forget about hope.
2. Don't count your chickens after a dog attack.
3. Bella (the beagle) and I are Super Heros.

While I had my camera out, I thought I might take a picture of my Goat herding chair.

So far, goat herding is very much like watching TV.


Meanwhile, these little darlings have no home. They can't be in the barn with the President Day chickens, they can't be in the coop with the ducks and the second batches. I have turned their old home into a rooster jail. So now they live under the jail. Benefits: free food, teasing the killer above, living life adventurously. They seem to be doing well. They are super cute.

brown leghorn couple

rooster jail

Lesson:

1. Don't be afraid.
2. Adapt to change.
3. Travel in pairs.

More views from the beet farm:

Blue Topaz two surviving kits in the nest.

My eleven ever growing ducklings

freebird-s

Got Milk?

sling blade and the tale of the missing tail

sling blade on a hot day

Lesson:

1. You made your bed, now lay in it.
2. Maybe I like my mucky bed.
3. Be a good bed maker.

That's all for today.
Wild and Wonderful WV crow.

soul garden

It as been so hot here in the mountains. The Summer Solstice has yet to arrive and we have been near 90 degrees. I spend my days making sure the animals are comfortable and have fresh cold water to cool them, shade and frozen water bottles in the hutches.

Yesterday late afternoon into evening, I went out planting again, pushing past my swollen knees, the still sweltering heat, and my mind begging to quit. But I didn't quit. I planted three more rows of tomatoes and weeded the bush beans.

I find that when I do push past the discomfort, It is the predominately the mental I have to overcome. The "I can't do this" tapes, instead turn it into, "I am doing it" album. I get into a new zone in my being. With the body and mind now working together, something quite beautiful happens.

Digging into the earth, loosening the soil with my hands, I ready the tomato's new home. Touching the earth brings me to a grounded place. Literally and figuratively. As the sweat is dripping from my face, slightly stinging my eyes, I work in the heat that I now consider my personal sauna. The earth is still cool, deep under the top soil. Dark organic clay dirt, the kind you might make use for a facial. I run it through my hands playing with the dirt like a child, then placing a precious plant, which I grew from seed. Each plant, is filled with the love and nurturing from the sun, water, soils and my hand. They each have a network of tiny white baby roots reaching for more. I carefully place each in a hole and crumble the cool moist earth around it with both hands, giving myself a dirt manicure.

My higher self watches and I witness an extraordinary earthly creature, along with the others, potato bugs, earth worms, and the robins happily pecking on the far side of the garden.

I have talked about this before, but I stands repeating, mostly for myself.

Who I am is holy.
Where I am is holy.
What I do is holy.

An epiphany in my little farm spa and resort. On my natural mountain high.

hole-y plastic with tomatoes

~crow

six-six

Sophia, my just turned 11 year old, (and youngest) had her birthday today. She has been counting this day down for months, at least. I always worry about such hype becoming anticlimactic. But for Sophie, it was everything she hoped for. Probably everything, with the exception that she still had to take a shower and get ready for bed. :-)

Sophia had school today, which might normally stink on one's birthday. However, at her school, the lunch ladies butter your nose on your birthday. How cute is that? Sophie's friends were very excited and happy for her. She even got a present from a boy. A necklace that looks like an Native American arrow head on black leather-like(?) cording. Sophia has never received a gift from a boy, so it was pretty special. I tried not to make a big deal about it, but me asking, "So how did that all go down?" was met with some vagueness, but I did get that he had it in his pocket and gave it to her. ::sigh::

Gosh, I love small town America.

Yes and I AM small town America. This is who met Sophia at the bus-stop:


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earl with green hair paint and purple flowers

Earl, the miniature donkey told me he wanted to dress up for Sophia's Birthday. I felt obliged to carry out his request. He also said he needed extra sweet feed, which I was happy to give him for being so thoughtful and keeping a sense of humor about himself. He is just like me. I know I say it all the time, but... I adore him!

Oh my, what a day! I found a President Day chicken that I thought was in chicken heaven, due to that dog attack. I found, him, Obama, in the trash building, hiding, dehydrated, hungry and injured, but alive. So, thankfully, or perhaps not (it is how you look at it) we are down only to one lost chicken, a hen, her name was Ring Tone Two. Her sister Ring Tone One (shh.. I am not sure who is who!) is still with us. Sophia's chicken.

Miracles do happen. Having a baby is a huge miracle. But there are others, some more quiet and unexpected. All you have to do is color them green and stick flowers on them, or look in the trash. You will find them, they are there waiting for us. Nothing to do really, but acknowledge that they happen everyday and every second we take a breath.


From Wild and wonderful WV,
~crow

coexistence

One of my favorite quotes:

"It does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg."

- Thomas Jefferson 

I believe in coexistence, and in religious tolerance. I believe If you can't do anything good for a person, at the very least don't do them harm. I believe we, as a people, need to look at the similarities instead of the differences. I believe that is enough. It is enough for peace. Wars in the name of religion start from within yourself. As Mothers we need to be teaching our children acceptance and peace. It is in our hands.

Here is another simple quote from one of my favorite Presidents:

"When I do good, I feel good.  When I do bad, I feel bad.  That's my religion."

- Abraham Lincoln

~crow