Bird's Eye View

So I thought we may have a fox living in our woods--saw something cutting across the top fence row of our pasture and into the woods.  Too far for me to get a clear look though.

We set up the trail cam to cover the area between the pasture and woods.  Checked it this morning to see what may have traveled that way in the past week.  No fox.  And very surprised it did not capture any deer as they usually are all around our house.

Did get one cool pic though.

Determination Wins Out

Looked out my kitchen window today and saw this determined fellow...some folks put forth alot of effort to reach their goals!  ;)

"Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." Michael Jordan

Hope Springs Eternal

So, is anyone else soooo ready for spring?  Take a look at these photos from Feb. 27 looking out at our back yard...

 

This was during a 15-minute white out...the deer seemed unfazed by it all--kept eating away while the snow piled up on their backs.

And maybe you remember this post from earlier in February?
 
Well, this is what I saw when I looked out my back window today.

 

The deer are coming out more now that there is actually some grass showing.  We have been seeing anywhere from 4 to 20 morning and evening.

 Yesterday, it was sunny and warmer, about 50 degrees, so my 2-yr-old granddaughter and I were outside for a walk and decided to make this--using sand shovels and a sand bucket.  Not the most conventional-looking snowman but we had fun.

 
 Hopefully he doesn't stick around too long.  :)

Is it Spring yet?

Old Man Winter is wearing out his welcome fast!

NOT!!

No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.  ~Proverb

Don't lose hope!

Who broke the snow globe and dumped it on my world?

Here's what greeted me outside my window as the new day dawned.

A couple of inches of fluffy white stuff!  Guess there's no denying that winter is upon us.

I had to make a trip to the post office and store...our country dirt road was not a problem...mostly melted off...however, Main Street of our little town had some black ice.  How do I know that?  I sorta made a skidding stop at the curb by the post office!

Gotta love winter in W PA!

 

If any of you would like me to send you some of this stuff, just leave me a comment and I'll get it boxed up for you!  :)

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Creative Things Thursday    The Sunday Showcase

Sunday Sojourn

Lord, I need you, oh I need you...every hour I need you...

You can listen to the song by Chris Tomlin here.

I found this photo in my files...taken on a foggy February morning a few years back...

Oh Deer...

My son checked his trail cam yesterday...200+ shots in the last week...lots of deer coming and going.

This is in the woods on our farm...wonder if this is one from the group of 15 that visits our backyard daily?

I would say she's definitely a camera hound!

Winter Artistry

Wow, isn't this cool? 

No, it's not painted on the glass.  When I arrived home from work after our one of our last blasts of wintry weather, this is what I saw in my flowerbed.

A wintry forest "painted" by our creator. 

What a lovely gift! 

An early spring in W PA...

Phil doesn't know what he's talking about!!! Early spring?? No way...

(Maggie should have taken care of him when she had the chance! Check out the story at this link...)

I stepped out on my front porch in my pj's...brrrrrr...to snap a few pics of our white world...had the pleasure of watching three of these crossing our driveway on their way to breakfast!

Up to my neck in snow!

Can't you just hear her say "Hurry up Spring!"
(Just like the rest of us!)

A little love from a potato sack...

Check out what I found in my bag of potatoes! How cool is that?

"Rules of the road: What appears to be a detour
may be the most important leg of the journey."
--Judy Cannato


(The above photo was taken from my front porch--a sunrise in December of 2005. It took my breath away then, and still does so now to contemplate the awesome hand of God!)

Groundhogs and the Will to Live...

I was going back through some picture files and came across these from a couple of years ago. Our dog, Maggie, is the great groundhog slayer! She does not appreciate groundhogs cutting in on her turf (which, by the way, is a lot of turf, a 100-acre farm). She has always chased and taken care of (if you know what I mean) groundhogs who happen to cross her path. Even though she is about 12 years old, she still can catch one occasionally.

Anyway, on this particular day, she treed one. I never knew groundhogs would climb a tree; however, this one had the strong urge to live, so it was motivated to try. Maggie sat under that tree for an hour or more waiting for it to come down. I never did see how the encounter turned out--can't remember why I wasn't around to see the ending.

Within a week, she had another one treed in the woods. Haven't seen it happen since. Now, if only she were quick enough to catch rabbits--we are overrun with rabbits this year--luckily, they haven't been too hard on my raised beds. They just corner too well for her to catch them. Maybe the groundhogs need to take some lessons!

That's our Maggie, our great protector!

Remember me???

Wow, it's been more than a month since I posted here...about a week before I started full-time employment...I am still adjusting to the new routine, trying to find time to do all that needs done...haven't been really successful at it yet!

Seems like all I do is get up, drink some coffee, read some devotions and email (plus a few blogs hopefully), get dressed, pack my lunch, go to work from 8-5 (plus a 1/2 hour commute each way), come home, cook supper, clean up from supper, talk with hubby about our day, maybe do a small chore or two, pull a weed or two in the garden, maybe bake some bread or muffins, go to bed, try to read (only get a page or two in before I fall asleep) and start all over the next morning...how do you ladies do it?

I have been blessed for most of my married life to be able to stay home, raise our two sons, work part-time, run my antique business, volunteer, garden, do the housework, cook, craft, read, grocery shop when needed, yard sale and pretty much make my schedule look the way I wanted it. Now with full-time employment, I can't seem to find time to do much of anything! I started to set up a index card file system for household chores, but haven't completed it yet. Hopefully things fall together soon!

Anyway, thought I would share a pic from last weekend--we finally had a chance to get to our camp for the weekend. Not much to do at camp except kick back and relax (and read--I finished two books! I miss my reading time!)

So here's what we did last weekend...

...what can I say???...

and since we haven't spent much time there this summer to get any photos,
here's a slideshow from last summer...a little piece of heaven on earth...

Garden pics...

Here is a slideshow of my raised beds and flowers...enjoy!

Changes...

Wow, what a difference a few months make...nature reminds us that even though things may look bleak and dreary at the moment, brighter days are ahead!

Just compare these photos from a few months ago with my view today...which do you prefer?

Spring Show...two variations on a theme...

Just a few shots of spring at my country home on the hill...

...old-fashioned bleeding heart...

...fern-leaf bleeding heart...

...my lovely angel--a gift from dear hubby years ago...

...promise of spring...

...spring sprung...

...hardy hens and chicks...

...lavender...

...the only bunny I don't mind in my garden!...

...some hardy spinach that survived the winter and is thriving...

...aren't they purdy?...

...the ubiquitous dandelion...

...Maggie says she loves spring!...

Me too...such lovely reminders of new life and renewal! Hope your heart and soul are being renewed also...

Now on to the second spring show...just wanted to let you all know about a different spring show full of handcrafted goodies and antiques...there is a wonderful bi-annual sale in the Red Barn at My Dad's Farm, (The Fichthorn Farm 940 Fort Run Road, Ford City, PA 16226 (just off of Rt 66 between Kittanning and Ford City--turn at the Riverside Market). It runs the next two weekends, Friday, May 1 & 8 from 12-8 pm; Saturday, May 2 & 9 from 10 am-4 pm; and Sunday, May 3 & 10 from 10 am-4 pm. There will be items from over 50 vendors--wood products...antiques...candles...stained glass...furniture...quilted items...hanging baskets...rugs...jewelry...purses...dried florals...handmade dolls...hand-painted items...pottery...scarves...dips...spreads...jellies...baked goods...and more!

This is my first time participating in this show--when I dropped off my items, I was amazed...the barn was packed to the gills and wonderfully displayed! If you are in the area, be sure to stop by this show...it is the creation of Julie Fiscus, held in her dad's barn on her dad's farm...if you have questions, you can call her at 724-664-0077. Free parking and admission...cash or checks only. ( She also does a fall show in November!)

I didn't think to take my camera along so I don't have any pics to share with you, but trust me, there are lots of wonderful goodies just waiting to be purchased!