Have you white washed your fence today?

"Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand."

This Post is Ash Fox Approved.

I had never given Ash eggs before. I give them to my boxers all the time, which is good for their fur. Since they love them I figured Ash might down them as well.

I usually never serve (yes serve) him dinner warm. If its any form of meat (other than his hotdogs) its usually cooked the night before, and cut up for him when he stops by. So not only was he getting a new dinner, but it was also a new temperature.

While I filled his dish he sat and waited, came over to me to give me a sniff before he checked out his dinner and then proceeded. Not used to something being slightly warm he quickly grabbed it and dropped it from his mouth. Then he did something I haven't seen him do- stuck out his tongue.

I tell you in all honesty- I am in love with this little friend.

He quickly grabbed his dinner and scoffed it down- being sure to pick out the hotdog pieces first. I do believe I heard all the chickens sigh in unison upon hearing that Ash wasn't overly impressed with their eggs.

He ate half- like he usually does, and came back a couple hours later to finish the rest. While we sit outside and chat with him he listens. Recognizing his whistle now, and ears shifting towards us when we say his name. The words "c'mon," also have some meaning to him as well. He see's our cars lights in the driveway when we get home from somewhere and comes to the drivers door to greet us. While we walk to our steps he gets a sniff of the car and follows. If his dish isn't filled yet and we are unloading the car of groceries or whatnots- he follows us back and forth from the car, and sits, wrapping his tail around him, and watches.

Who knew that this little animal can light up the night for us so much.

Breakfast at Glory Downs

 

Those eggs that I cracked yesterday while cleaning just happened to turn into a delicious dinner for Ash. "Is that hotdogs in that there omelette?" you ask, Why yes indeed. I wouldn't want to insult our precious, predominately carnivorous friend with just a mere vegetarian form of protein. By the time it was done cooking he was outside waiting, and hanging out with David. I let the omelette cool and served it to him luke warm- in his dish of course. The verdict follows in the next post.

Dear Yankee Candle,

I have long since been a fan of yours after my first childhood visit to your candle making facility. Our home has always been filled with seasonal scents such as "Balsam Fur," and "Salt Mist Rose." In the past three and a half months I have gathered some suggestions for you and I hope you will take them to heart. Here they are in order of importance.

1. White Cheddar Popcorn
2. Blueberry Bagels and Cream Cheese
3. Beer (May I suggest Sam Adams and/or Guinness for the local aesthetic)
4. Dunkin Donuts
5. Hotdogs, Sausage, and Grilled Onions.
6. Chocolate Yogurt
7. Coffee Grinds.
8. Pizza
9. Burgers and Fries.
10.Toast.

Yours Truly,
A Blissfully Pregnant Fan

A Hefty Bakers Dozen

After cleaning six and a half dozen eggs- I only dropped four. (Eggs that is not dozen.) Which is pretty nobel for a clutz like me, considering just this morning I dropped a beer glass from the cabinet on my head, and got a nice egg growing out of it. Oh, the irony.

The gals have stepped up their game in the last couple of weeks. 

For awhile it was getting a little frustrating, having 41 chickens and getting four eggs a day.  Our Amish friends who gave us the hens said they should be ready to lay within a couple weeks- but that was back in August. And in a impatient society all of my own I figured these hens would be as punctual as our little fox.  A couple weeks pass by in August and still no 41 eggs a day. The question marks grew a many around my nogan as each day passed with only four eggs to gather. I have since learned that you cannot rush a lady into laying an egg until she is darn well ready. And a "couple weeks," in the sweet society of the Amish who are sans alarm clocks might actually mean four months. After some researching on this vast innerwebthingy I found that some ways you can tell a hen is ready to lay is by the color of their cheeks, the size of their combs (the little red hat ontop of their head) and the feathers on their butt.  I have spent many a nice fall days comparing my hens butts to one another as they run around the yard. The softer the feathers are on the butt- the less likely they are to lay. The paler the cheeks (on their face this time) the less likely they are to lay. No comb? No eggs. We installed some lights for the ladies as well in their coop. The lights come on at 6 a.m. shut off at 9 a.m. and come back on around 4 p.m. then shut off at 7 p.m. The extra light helps to keep them emotionally well. Being happy hens they are more likely to want to pop eggs out. Chickens are weather friendly animals. Winter time they slow down on their egg laying. Summertime they step up their game. Some of our gals happened to begin their molt phase of life as well too. When the chickens molt (lose their tail, wing and top of their head feathers) they don't lay. Who would want to anyways? If your not feeling yourself, having a bad hair day and are bloated, do you really want to get gussied up and go clubbing? Prob not. Either way- the hens the Amish gave us are beautifully healthy with their feathers all a shine and their red combs growing so large that they flop into their faces. They squawk eagerly when they see me come across the lawn in the morning, and all jump into harmony.  It is a pretty cool sight to see all these hens pop out of the coop just to say good morning......and to get their scratch and feed.

as for the four cracked eggs-- they will be cooked up and fed to our foxy friend. Nothing gets wasted on our farm:)

Its good to have a best friend

After a long Thanksgiving weekend spent in Massachusetts, these two girls took advantage of the 9 hour "cah ride."

Ash pays a visit during the day!!!

“'Tis not the meat, but 'tis the appetite Makes eating a delight”

Two Peas in a Blanket Pod

Maybe they were cold. 

Maybe they were making a blanket fort.

Maybe they were pretending to be Endorian Ewoks.

I'm not really quite sure, but I do know that this is pretty special.

Our porch buddy

Our handsome friend looking full and furry- couldn't help but to post this picture in marvel of his coat and tail.

3 Month Baby Bump!

Our sweet baby blessing is now three months along!

The baby has been so good to me, and the only symptoms I have experienced is a constant hunger and being tired in the afternoon:)

There is not a morning that I wake up and don't grab my belly and thank God for this blessing. All day as I walk around with the bump ahead of me I smile and think about who this little person is going to be. I am honored to be blessed with this gift from God, and pray that I will do the best job I possibly can for this new person.

“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart,
and good news gives health to the bones.”
Proverbs 15:30

"It's no coincidence that man's best friend cannot talk."

If your missing your pillow- a friends hip always will do.

Mum's the word.

Fall time scramble

The honey bee's have been taking advantage of the nice warm weather we have been having, and hanging out with the mums.

I have to stop everytime I walk past the plant to admire their frantic flight. While working these flowers along side other bee's and fruit flies, they gather a bright orange pollen and carry it back home. The honey bee decorates herself so brilliantly in pollen. .... I look forward to next years pollen fashion line<3

Amen!

I want to thank the Sonset Singers for this great song! May you all enjoy the wonderful beards, thick glasses, big bowties, and soft lit seventies picture quality!

Glory Downs Farm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDYg8a5QcSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDYg8a5QcSg

www.youtube.com

"He's here!"

As I come running down the stairs to see exactly who was here, I was (as always) pleasantly surprised to see our redcoat friend Ash. Sitting, waiting.  We had just come home and when we got out of the car David whistled for him. It took all of five minutes for him to show up:)

All it takes is a little love.

Its nice to have reassurance, that you are doing a good job, while you are taking a nap.

God's paint palate with His easel in the background

What a Nickel!

Its proper to tip your hat at one of these feller's when you pass him on the street.

Yellowstone Video's complete with Buffali!

  A late in getting these up- but here are some video from our Yellowstone trip. If you get a chance to go- go. If you enjoy wildlife, nature, and weather in its rawest for- go. If you don't believe in God- go.

Late night Cravings!

The Situation

So the bee's ate all their honey. It is a situation.

They are supposed to go into this winter with at least 40-60 pounds of honey. Welp, they got none. Done gone and ate it.

Not quite sure why, not really thinking they were supposed to do it now and already. But they did so here's how I  counter acted.

Courtesy of Duff from Ace of Cakes and the craft store Michael's I bought this Duff fondant to give the bee's as feed for winter.  The Carniolans have been still drinking the sugar syrup and seemed to be pleased at the buttercream flavor this fondant had.....but we will see.  I'm not betting on these guys ahem gals making it. If they do it will be one more surprise these bee's have thrown at me.

Next week will be warm so I'll give them another looksee- but after that its a close up for winter and hopefully see you in the spring.


On a brighter note; they look beautifully healthy:)

Bee Hive dismantled.

This here is the beehive dismantled.....like the description stated clearly above in the title.

The Carniolans have this second hive box full of comb but empty of honey..........cause they already ate it all.... ? .....?!  So what a beekeeper to do in the situation like this is to remove the unused hive box and condense the beehive down to help the bee's stay warm. Extra space means extra cold air means extra space for other bugs to come on in.   

If you look close you'll notice that the frames are "dirty," in the middle and a brighter white/yellow in the outer parts. Thats because bee's store honey in the "heavens," of the frames, then make a rainbow shape of pollen, under which the babies are born and tended. Don't believe me? Come over and take a peek inside the hive yourself.

These frames of comb will not be of waste though. After sticking them in the freezer (or leaving them outside tonight as it drops to the twenties) it will kill any bugs or mites that might be in there.  After that I'll store it till spring where I will then put it into the new hives tha I get. Thus- making it easier for the new queen to start laying right away and the worker bee's able to forage right away. Not wasting energy on creating comb immediately.

Yo! Check out dat chicks weave!

"I'm sexy and I know it."

All heart

I could go on with a witty comment, or go deep into artistic chatter about this picture.....but after gazing at it for a long time I believe it deserves neither.

(this picture was taken on my phone camera. The frame of comb was in my yard sitting in the sun after dismantling part of the bee's hive. This lone gal searches for some leftover honey)

Please enjoy this work at its own eloquent.

A recipe

.....for revenge.


You got dem dere fruit flies shooflyin around in your house?

here's how to get rid of them.


Get a cup and drop some dish detergent in there. Then add apple cider vinegar.


the fruit flies love the smell and the look of it much like the dinosaur liked the tar pits, and once they jump in down they go......much like them big lizards.

The soap breaks the surface of the vinegar and the fruit flies can't float.  If you wanna get em drunk while they swin for a bit you can do the same with wine.

Felicity perhaps?

Here's the video- sorry for the cars going by- like I said we live on a busy route. But watch as she catches sight of me and runs away! Leap , then bound, just leap, then bound....

Runnin to get the bugs!

Gettin ready to pounce!

"Great! Linda! Lutra Lutra - you got some dry paper? "

"Please, sir.  I don't like this trick, sir.
My tongue isn't quick or slick, sir.
I get all those ticks and clocks, sir, 
mixed up with the chicks and tocks, sir.

I can't do it, Mr. Fox, sir."

Ash swung by last night while David was outside working- ahem - again.  It seems this little sir really loves the company of David. He happens to be enamored by watching David spilt wood and stack it into neat piles. 7, or 7:30 he comes by to see the works progress only then to follow David back to the house and wait for his supper. And last night was no exception. While David was getting the wooden poles in the ground for a pole barn he is building, Ash stopped by, sat, and admired David's work. Since David was in the midst of working he told Ash that he has to wait for his supper tonight, in which case the fox politely obliged. He stopped by later when David was grilling and ate with him then.

Thinking much about the new fox that I saw across the street today I pondered if it really was Ash or really a new gal?  I came home today around 12:30 to see that she was not across the street in the field. A little dissapointed that I wasn't able to see her bug catching antics I started to get the groceries out of the car. Walking up to the house I noticed the flash of red over near the log pile (where David was working last night) There he was!!! In the daylight (which yes is common and typical of red foxes) he was climbing on the log pile, looked at me, and sat. As I approached he laid down looking mighty comfortable. I could see the white bib on him but a dark red patch on his back???.......as I got closer and whistled his call he saw me - and bolted?

What?

Was that Ash? Ash never has run away from me? In fact he follows you around. Yes he is timid- but even in the company of strangers Ash has sat, and....hung out.

hmmm.

Fifteen minutes later- there she is jumping out in the field across the street.

Could it have been our new fox in the yard? Was it Ash looking different in the daylight?

Not quite sure but the majority of me wants to lean on the fact that - it was the newbie fox. Ash knows where the getting is good and he knows his call for food. He is an opportunist who would pass on a hotdog even if it means he has to bury it.

As I type I can see her in the field doing her thing. Digging, jumping and running.

Hopefully more to come on this later:) but until then- here is her video

“Shake paws, count your claws,."

New fox friends?


     Our house faces a busy route which looks out to an open field. Its a couple pieces of property that our divided up that will probably never be built on because they are too small of lots for this area. Its a beautiful view with some farm houses past the field. The sun rises up to the right and lights it up in the summer time to a sweet gold when the hay is high.  When we come home, or are sitting in our living room- you can't help but to glance out over this small field......
In the past week we have seen a new sight.

It seems that Ash has aquired some friends. Around 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. we have seen a fox. We rush to get the hens in, and make sure that they are safe. Ash himself a late nighter does not come any earlier that 7-7:30 p.m. He is weather dependent and on the nice night very punctual. If it rains we do not see his handsome self. At first glance when I saw one of the foxes I thought it was Ash. But upon further admiration I noticed this fox had a sparse tail. Something that Ash has since overcome himself. "Hmm." I thought (which is very typical of me to think.) Must be a new kid in the neighborhood- but all that we have read said that foxes encompass an area and claim it to themselves. Maybe these small lots were divided up amoungst the red coats leaving us humans out of the picture. Ash owns our woods and these kids live "on the other side of the tracks." Did I say "kids?" Yup- today while cleaning inside (yah thats done every so often) something caught my eye again.  This time it was a dark red fox with a thick coat playing in the leftover hay. I went outside to watch to get a good look at the tail to see if it was the one with the sparse fur.  As I watch her jumping and pouncing on bugs I noticed that her tail was bushy, dark, and lacking a white tip like Ash's.  Could it be a new fox? I whistled Ash's call (which he answers too) and she didn't even turn an ear- too wrapped up in her bug and mice world to even glance at the weirdo across the street making cat (er fox) calls to her. I ran to grab David to have him come see the newbie and in all of the five seconds that took- she took- off.


I'm excited. I'm pretty sure it wasn't our guy Ash. Ash has a bright red coat, white tipped tail and ears, and black as night stripes up his face. With as much staring as I do to him I am sure that this dark coated newbie was just that- someone new.

I will try to get a picture but until then I will anticipate a new fox in our life and love the possibility of our hearts being warmed by another one of these stunning creatures.



Ash update- his hurt paw is still bothersome but he uses it well. He came over to David while he was splitting wood last night to get his food, and followed David all the way back to the house. We have stocked up on Walmart hotdogs and are considering buying stock in the particular brand.