"It is well to remember that the entire population of the universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." A.Holmes

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Summer Time & The Living Is Busy !

Ella & Fella my Sebastapol geese enjoy the long hours of summer by eating grass , swimming in our pond, and following me around as I tend my flocks and weed the gardens. When I sit on the porch and spin my wool into yarn they sit under the bleeding hearts plants nearby and watch me , sometimes poking their bills through the porch rails just to make sure I am still there.
Hawk, our Viszla is afraid of Ella & Fella. I'm not sure when they taught him to run away from them , but they did a very good job of it. He sits on the porch with me, but when he spies the geese he runs to the opposite side of the porch. The geese are not allowed on the porch and at least Hawk can count on it being safe , but he makes sure he is as far away as he can get from them. We seem to have our own little comedy show here on our front porch , but Hawk probably thinks it is not so funny.
My Jacob sheep lambs are growing up quickly and some are already stretching their necks for the trees and bushes growing overhead.
I have four hens raising chicks they've hatched out and two batches of chicks brooding in the garage. They are my future laying flock , plus some bantam chicks I am adding to my Silkie and Cochin breeding program. ( Yes, I have a plan and a program ! ) The chicks shown here with their mama are Porcelain D'Uccles my grandson gave me. The father of these  chicks did very well in an open poultry show recently and we have high hopes for the chicks.
Here Ella & Fella are walking their babies around the gardens. Their babies are actually ducklings Ella hatched out. The ducklings have been well tended by their adoptive parents but bit by bit they are becoming ducks . Waddling, quacking, and eating like ducks ...not geese. Poor Ella & Fella try and try to keep the ducklings with them but the ducklings are spending more and more time with my other ducks, leaving the geese to forlornly follow me without them. I hope next year Ella & Fella are able to successfully hatch out their own goslings , they're good and devoted parents.
We had the last Thursday Ladies Bible Study of the season last week. We won't meet again until the fall . This Bible study has had a tremendous impact on me and I am so thankful for the ladies God has brought into my life. It was an eventful year for all of us and all the ladies involved have had life altering events . One of the ladies became a widow, another happily remarried. One of our members has moved to the east coast to live happily ( yes ! ) with her daughter and daughter's family & to spend much time with 4 of her beloved grandchildren. There are other big events not to be shared publicly, but all the more a blessing we have been able to meet, study the Bible, pray with and for each other and always bring it back to the One who knows and loves us perfectly.

This must seem a long post, but the days are long and the hours I need to be working outdoors in the summer seem to stretch from very early to very late and when I come indoors there is little time for me to spend on my computer, so I am summing up my thus-far summer days in one post . Weeding, tending my herd & flocks, spinning wool when I have time , training my dog, playing with the old dogs, keeping my home neat & clean, and as I get older, I am working on taking the time to sit and appreciate the bounty of my blessings. The best part of all is sitting on the porch with my husband, sipping coffee as we watch the birds at the feeders and enjoying each others' company. Summer time and the living is busy, but not too busy to enjoy !

14 comments:

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

What a great post! Ella and Fella are cute, and poor Hawk, he has a worried look on his face. He is a handsome dog.

I love the baby chicks. Their color is lovely.

I enjoy the ladies in my little Bible stud group too. Our summer session just started up again after a break.

Keep enjoying those nice times with your dear husband, they are precious.

It is hot and humid down here and I try to get any work outside done in the mornings.

Love and hugs ~ FlowerLady

Anonymous said...

Good Morning, Kathy. I enjoyed your post and photos so much. Ella and Fella are so beautiful. Poor Hawk having to run from them!!
Sounds like your Ladies Group is a tremendous blessing. I think of my blogging buddies as prayer partners - sharing in both the happy and difficult times, and I am so thankful.
God bless your day. Love, M

Sweet Posy Dreams said...

I have been scrolling through your posts. You live in a beautiful place. Love your flowers and greenery.

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Kathy, I understand, all to well, about early to late, while the light is shining. It seems the older I get, the more difficult it is to keep up, much less get ahead.
I envy your Bible study; I tried to start one and was told, "We're too busy for that" so I continue with my morning devotions, alone.
Hawk has such a white muzzle; it shocked me but then remembered, he's getting to be an old boy.
Like the rest of us -haha-.

De said...

Your posts always encourage and uplift- thank you!

My husband and I are part of a couples' Bible study/small group. Those wonderful people have prayed us through so many things. I am very thankful for Christian fellowship.

Wishing you a beautiful, blessing filled day!
De

A.K.W. said...

Nice pictures! My brother and sister-in-law and their 3 girls are getting chickens soon, my Dad is going to help them build a chicken coop when we go there in August.

Amy

Deb said...

Those poor, frustrated little parents. It must be quite confusing for them. Love the photos. I imagine it is fun having all these little critters out enjoying the summer with you. Deb

Deborah Montgomery said...

I love this post Kathy! What a delight to have all those animals and birds about you. Love Ella and Fella, and can sympathize with your poor dog! I'm not in a Bible study right now, but my book club friends are all Christian women, and I so enjoy their fellowship. thanks for a peek into your world today. sounds like work, but lovely work.

L. D. said...

I love seeing all the animals. I can see how geese could bother a dog enough that the dog just wants to avoid them. Thanks for sharing all the animals. An old farm boy like me never tires of seeing them.

Connie said...

Kathy, I enjoyed catching up with all that is happening there. I liked seeing these pictures too. Poor Hawk! Hawk seems like such a sweetie. :)

Nib's End said...

I am impressed and possibly a little envious too with all that you manage to squeeze into one day. And you still have time to sit on the porch and enjoy the fruits of your labor. I am inspired to do a little weeding and deadheading tomorrow.

It sounds as though Ella and Fella would make good characters in a story book.

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Hi Kathy, Your blog is lovely. Thank you for leaving your kind and inspiring words on my post yesterday....Musingwithmytea.blogspot.com. You are wise and wonderful and one of the reasons I've kept posting, nearly daily...I'm very new to blogging and intend to keep at it but perhaps cut back a bit. I'm still finding my way. It's people like you who make it worthwhile. Would you by chance allow me to feature you in my blog tour this coming Monday? You can email me at fiberfurnishings.gmail.com Thanks for considering it, Vickie

Musings, Tea, and Me said...

Just had to write again...I posted late today and surely your post from yesterday must have inspired it...I went back and re-read it just now and sure enough, this is what jumped out: "The best part of all is sitting on the porch with my husband, sipping coffee as we watch the birds at the feeders and enjoying each others' company."

Also I enjoy your your "extended family" members...what a wonder place your spot on Cedar Pond is! Vickie

Elephant's Child said...

Loving this post. I am visiting on Vickie's recommendation, and loving the peace and beauty you display.