Torn up...

horizon.. how I adore a horizon…

but looking on the foreground..

it's a bit..

torn up

a bit.. disheveled .

we've got some cleaning up to do..

don't you think?

Mr.T has come with what is called

a back hoe

I think of it as a digger..

but I speak two year old..

oh wait..

now Little Man knows what it is now too..

oh well

it's like a really COOL tool

and it will help CLEAN up this messy farm!

now take a moment to look at my lovely garden

because it's next in line to be TORN apart…

see….

there are these really awful jagged rocks

and there are NO paths..

so trying to get to something

or prune

or do ANY sort of gardening

means gashes in my shins

falling on my face

clothing torn

and oodles of bruises

so take a look..

things will be changing!

on the left of this shot

you will notice plants and weeds along the house..

well… 

they are all going!

I want it free of plant life..

Rather mice and what not have too much potential there.. 

I can't SEE when they've done something, because it's all

a jungle!

I do plan on adding pea gravel or something..

and then

some plant containers!  

I get to be seasonal then.. and it will be 

clean

and easier to manage!

the swimming pool for ducks is temporary..

we plan on putting in a wee pond in the garden..

getting a new door for the garage..

it will..

be a LOT of work

but it should

look amazing when we finish..

till then…

things look

torn up..

assessing the landscape…

planning

thinking

talking it out

some trees are getting pulled down

and we are chipping branches..

the mulch is great for gardening

and for my birdies pen

lots done but

can ya tell yet?

it'll look super!

can you IMAGINE it?

and just look at all the nice firewood I have..

time thankfully will age it nicely..

and I don't have to do anything

but have it stacked

~phew

perhaps it's good that I am not feeling well..

because I would probably be tearing apart

SOMETHING

inside the farmhouse

and having the inside and the outside of the house

torn up

would not be a healthy

thing..

this way..

there IS peace somewhere!

ahhh..

the adventure!

nature.. ride

so I..

mama C

or 

Tante Nika

isn't feeling so well

STILL..

and I was feeling pretty blue about it..

so PRINCESS

had an idea

she got the General out

and took me for a nature RIDE!

I got to see the rose hips..

which will be harvested for tea..

(actually later that day we did JUST THAT)

see this girl.. 

she's thoughtful

and wanted to show me

whats "happening" here at the farm

lovely Princess..

even Lovely in Camo 

beautiful..

beautiful golden rod.. all ready for winter…

the colors of brown mixed with this oatmeal color

make me want to knit a sweater!

shadows

oaks

leaves

sky

love

rich autumn shades

horizon

and one happy Mama

Learning about.. BATS

Our local Library was hosting an event

on BATS..

yes..

BATS..

flying rats?

yes..

BATS..

eeek

now… things one should like about Bats..

they.. enjoy dining on Mosquito's

anything that eats things I hate..

I have to .. sort of like..

sorta..

so we went..

to the Library..

Little Man found THESE.. and wouldn't leave

so I listened..

and big kids watched

I love that our Library hosts things like this

and i ADORE that our library has lots of hands on learning toys

like PUZZLES!

Here is the lovely lady..

and her bat

here is the flying brown rat..oops.. bat

it's native to our area

here is a very BIG creepy bat

like the kind that must live near my friends

who live in Africa..

reason #1 for my NOT living in Africa

yeah..

it's the TOP reason I have..

today

for not living there

MY local bat is tiny,

fuzzy 

and brown..

it ALMOST looks like a beanie baby

hers..

looks like it will SUCK MY BLOOD

but really it will only suck the juice of a fruit..

but still…

eeek..

so glad it's dark when they fly by..

what about you?

Named for...

have you figured out who 

Catherine

Marie Antoinette

Adelaide

Ingeborg

Eugenie

&

Constance

are named for?

French Queens

hows THAT for a feather in your cap?

Neighbors come a calling.. LOUDLY

Morning time is such a glorious time on the farm..

The lighting here in the valley is very peaceful

and joyful

and bright and .. BEAUTIFUL…

It's also time blessings wake up

happy and READY for a NEW day!

Eager to HELP, and be noticed for BEING Helpful

Here is my morning breakfast pal..

eagerly up

and ready to feed the ducks

and Guinea Hens..

We have some nice cooked potato

and apples for them

and to it we will add some feed…

not much..

as they forage all day long!

Little Man LOVES dumping the bucket

into their food bowl..

it's a REALLY cool material

that won't ever freeze or get brittle…

and it's EASY to clean

(LOVE my True Value!)

We wait and see how Daisy Poppy and Lilly

deal with the Guineas this 

the FIRST morning with them..

and all appears well..

occasionally the Guineas will SIT in the bowl

and hog the food

but then the ducks will just MOVE THEM

with their big beaks

the Guineas 

(typical bullies)

are in fact QUITE cowardly

and they will run run run away… 

it's hysterical…

so after Little Man and I enjoy this we hurry in the house

to TELL Big Kids what happened!

Whilst telling the story

we hear LOUD noises…

I mean LOUD!

looking out the window..

WHAT do we see?

Neighbors come a calling…

yep..

Our Amish Neighbor's have Guinea fowl too!

and they 

the Guineas.. not the Amish..

have arrived BRIGHT and EARLY 

to meet their new neighbors

There is a LOT of Guinea talk

several QUACKS

a LOT of investigations into this thing

that separates them all..

It reminds me of the book

Watership Down…

The free Rabbits trying to TELL the caged rabbits

about FREEDOM

ah..

you will all be free soon enough..

right now my darlings need to KNOW that 

BLESSINGS FARM is their home

give it a few weeks.. 

then they can come out and play with you ..

silly birds!

Welcome to the FAMILY Farm…

THEY are HERE!

yes..

our sweet 

Guinea Hens!

Meet 

Catherine

Marie Antoinette

Eugenie

Adelaide

Ingeborg 

Constance

more fun photos to come..

they're getting settled for now...

a view… such a view

Living in the Driftless region of our Great United States..

means

you get a view

hills and valleys

nooks and knolls

hill and dale

windy ways

and serene sights

just thought I would share a few of my favorite ones

with you

Plucky Peking Photo shoot

the lighting was SO lovely

and the sweeties get pretty excited when I have my camera

they all start posing

and they let me play with my camera and try capturing light in

different ways

aren't they cute?

this is a bit darker but it does SHOW the contrast more than that last shot

a bit more balance

what are they looking at?

do you LOVE this shot or what?

oh they are so darling!

huggable too!

I think they are just so much fun!

oh.. distracted by a bug

hmmmm

they found a happy spot

eating bugs

and 

it cracks me up

how they LOVE each other SO much!

they adore just BEING together!

plucky pekings

love nudging

a whole lotta quaking going on

MAMA

what about me?

don't forget about me!

I can be plucky for a photo too!