Backyard Living

Is that Sun I See?

2011-04-26T15:38:00.003-04:00

Today was the first "real" day of spring - with warm temperatures and sun! When I looked at my To Do list for today, it was filled with indoor chores - mostly clean up the Easter debris. Once I stepped outside and realized I didn't shiver those plans went right by the wayside. Today was definitely an outdoor, get dirty in the backyard kind of day. My youngest son helped to clean up all the fallen limbs in the orchard. The dead stuff that natures fury shakes loose each year. I am looking forward to putting to use my father's chipper. It's a blessing to have freinds and neighbors who are able and willing to help keep all the equipment in running order. I often joke about taking a small engine repair class - but you know, it's probably not a bad idea! With the increased cost of living I find I am much more motivated to "fix" and "make do" than I used to be. What a throw away society we have become! Little by little I am learning how to use, reuse, fix and repair and yes, go without. Funny, I don't feel deprived at all . . .

Conspiracy Theory - you betcha!

2011-04-18T11:34:00.004-04:00

Is it possible that the oil spill in the gulf is responsible for the tornados in North Carolina? According to the weather channel, rising temperatures in the Gulf contributed to conditions necessary to create the storm front that hit the south this weekend. So how likely is it that the excess petroleum in the water had any affect on water temperature? The conspiracy theorist in me says, there's got to be a connection. Or maybe I'm just suspicious by nature.

Not to mention . . . our return trip from NC on Saturday was most unpleasant. Torrential rain from Virginia to our driveway. Not fun.

This little piggie cried wee wee wee . . .

2011-04-06T16:57:00.006-04:00

The pigs have arrived! Little by little my dream of creating a backyard farmyard is becoming a reality. It started with the chickens, then ducks, now PIGS! Thanks especially to our friends and neighbors who put in the fence and built a fabulous condo for the new residents. Couldn't have done it without all their help and advice. The plan is to raise the buggers using mostly scraps from The Family Foundation School kitchen, supplement with feed and ship them off the butcher in the fall. My long-range goal is to fence in the back meadow - creating four sections - and rotate the area with pigs, grass, and goats. I was absolutely amazed at how efficient the pigs are at turning the soil. I had read that pigs make great rotatillers, but until I saw them in action I had no idea how incredibly FAST they are at turning grubby grass into usable dirt.

Green Grows the Garden

2011-04-04T12:46:00.002-04:00

Spring seems to be off to a slow start this year - the cold and snow just don't want to give up and go home. Nevertheless, I remain optimistic. I've started some seeds indoors - head lettuce (new to me this year), sweet bell peppers, bush beans and marigolds. The first tiny green sprouts are always such a delightful surprise to me.

This year I opted not to start tomato plants indoors. I really don't need that many and truth be told - I haven't had much luck with tomatoes. But I will keep trying!

Each year I add a little more to the garden. This year I added a pole bean tower which I hope will make harvesting the beans a little easier. I also am reusing an old trailer box as a raised bed. My intention is to plant potatoes in it. A friend gave me this advice - plant bush beans in with the potato plants and you'll get healthier potato plants. I'll give it a try.

I am using lots of shredded paper which I get in abundance from the office. I add it to my compost pile and use it as a mulch around the edges of the garden to keep the weeds out. I hope it will deter the wild mint that creeps under the fence and sprouts up everywhere.

I think what I like the most about this time of year is what I call the planning/dreaming/fantasizing phase of gardening. I walk around our property and although I see the brown tufts of grass, the furrows made throughout the winter by moles, windtossed branches and, of course, the mud - I am also seeing a verdant, green wonderland filled with wildflowers, apple blossoms, sunflowers and a vegetable garden overflowing with plenty.

Jumping Back In

2011-03-12T15:16:00.002-05:00

I can tell that Spring is about to be sprung . . . I've got that urge to GET THINGS DONE. You know, that feeling that says it's time to get out from under the afghan I've been hibernating under all winter and PLANT THINGS. I ordered seeds today because I am nothing if not optimistic. It doesn't matter that I woke up this morning to another inch of snow. This time, I know it will melt. I can smell it in the air.

2009-06-01T20:36:00.004-04:00

Spring is quickly turning into summer - only 5 more weeks of school left for John, Rachael & Michael. Remember anticipating summer vacation? And how long the summer was when all you had to do was play on the swings, swim in the creek and ride your bike? I remember eagerly we anticipated the fire works on July 4th. Now, the 4th of July falls on the first weekend of summer. So maybe it isn't my imagination - summer really IS shorter than it used to be!

The chicks have arrived! I ordered 25 mixed breeds (Rainbow layers) from McMurray http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/index.html. So far, we lost one to natural causes and two to an accident wtih a sword (don't ask!). I find myself mesmerized by their movements and sounds and can sit and watch them for long periods of time. The dogs reactions have been interesting too - Copper tries to move them from one side of the brooder to the other, and Pippin whines and tries to get my attention - he doesn't like it when I look at them.

Poems and Purple flip flops

2009-05-06T18:32:00.004-04:00

Spring has come to upstate NY - glorious in it's rain showers, emerging buds, green just bursting from everything and all the delicate spring flowers everywhere. Some day I will learn what they each are.

I saw a poem yesterday -- well, not exactly a poem as it wasn't written. It was a picture that should be a poem. Purple flip flops in the grass -- kicked off by the exuberant feet of my daughter as she soared into the blue May sky on a swing. She's almost 11 and the sight was so precious it hurt to watch. I was so aware of the dwindling time she will spend on that swing set. The one where we've spent so many hours - singing and swinging. I could almost hear the cadence of the poem that would go with that sight - can't you?

Another List

2009-04-04T17:39:00.003-04:00

I have so many thoughts swirling through my head - ideas to blog about. Uh oh, that usually means another list is about to be created. Here goes:

Cancer: a virtual maelstrom of emotions erupts in my gut when I hear this word. I realize it's even harder for me to see it in print. Ergo - I'll talk about that later.

World War II: I've been listening to Jeff Shaara's The Rising Tide, a story about the North African Campaign and Italian Campaign. Although I majored in history in college, I did not take a lot of course work in WWII focusing mostly on early American history. In recent years I've developed a real passion for learning about it mostly due to my awareness that those with personal memories of the war are dying. Very recently I stumbled across the fact that my Great Uncle Ivan was among the first wave of marines to hit the beach at Guadalcanal. This inspired me to break out the old textbooks, do some research and learn more about the military tactics and individual battles.

The Flu: My 13 year old son is doing an extra credit book report for his social studies class. As I perused the material I had on hand I came across a young reader's story about the Influenza Pandemic of 1919. Another fascinating topic for the historian in me . . . I did my seminar paper in college on the topic. I have really enjoyed the conversations this book has sparked for my family. Making connections for them - their Great Great Grandmother died of the flu in 1920 when she was 19 years old. Her son, my grandfather, was only 18 months old.

Gardening: I started plants (peppers, tomatoes, herbs) from seed for the first time. This year will be my first ever attempt at "putting up" my own store of vegetables. I find myself fascinated by the tiny sprouts beginning to appear and can't wait to see what happens next.

Poetry: I'm itching to make time to read it again - my favorite: Emily Dickinson.

Life is good.

Time for the Little Things

2009-03-30T11:33:00.002-04:00

Today I took the time to untangle my daughter's necklace (her souvenir of our trip to South Dakota last summer). This is why I chose to become a stay-home mom. Oh, there are lots of other reasons too, but I think this pretty much sums it up. When I was working, there never seemed to be time to get to those types of things. They got put aside to do "when I have time." Today, there was time. I can't wait to see her face when she comes home from school.

Call it Fate - Call it Synchronicity

2009-03-26T09:20:00.002-04:00

My mother calls it synchronicity - you know, when things happen that just seem like they are supposed to go together yet are totally random. Some people call it coincidence, some call it fate.

I have been reading a book Broken Open. I found it by chance while I was shopping in Sam's Club. I wasn't even really looking at the books, just taking a short cut to the checkout line when the title seemed to jump off the shelf at me. I read the back of the book and thought - I am supposed to read this book.

The chapters start with quotes - often from the author's favorite poets. One she quotes quite often - Rumi. I never heard of this person prior to reading this book but found myself drawn to his poetry. Last week, I was in the book store with my family - getting ready to check out and I dropped a piece of paper. When I bent to pick it up I realized it had landed on one of those bargain books - and it was by Rumi Hidden Music. Call it fate, call it coincidence, call it synchronicity . . . I bought the book. I love the poetry and it is sure to be the subject of future posts.

Preserving the Past

2009-03-18T10:30:00.003-04:00

One of the projects on my "Everything To Do" list (that's the list I made of all the projects, big and small, that I intend to do now that I am not working outside the home) is to scan, restore and preserve the photos in my parents albums. Today's photo is one that was taken of the barn when it was new - only then it wasn't the Ray Farm - it was the Cooper Farm. The photo was given to my mother by my older sister's father-in-law whose mother was a Cooper. That's small town for you. Everyone is connected. So, Talan's Great Great Grandmother was a Cooper and she was raised on the same farm where his Great Grandfather was born and raised - only they weren't related until Talan's Grandfather married his Grandmother . . . . or something like that. Anyway, it's a cool picture of the barn and if you look to the right you can see the hill that goes down to my backyard.

New Family Members

2009-03-17T07:03:00.005-04:00

Introducing Talan Patrick Kille - my great nephew, born January 20th.

Introducing Kaitlyn Marie Ray - my niece, born March 11th

Spring Clean-Up

2009-03-16T08:25:00.003-04:00

I can see a correlation between the weather and my blog posts - the nicer the weather gets, the fewer posts I make. I am spending more and more time in my backyard. Yesterday I made the rounds - checking on my spring bulbs and trees. For the most part I am very pleased with what I see. It's such a miracle to see the daffodils poking up through the snow and the buds ready to burst into life on the trees. However, there is always the disappointment of the things that didn't make it through the winter. It seems that something (probably moles) ate the bark off one of my new apple trees. And something (probably deer) ate the tender shoots and buds off my mock orange tree. They also decimated my shurbs in the front of the house. Removing them (the shurbs, not the deer) will be one of my bigger summer projects. We've been in the house for 14 years and the shurbs are one of the first things I planted - I remember the day very clearly. My brother Dan dug the holes and we tried hard to keep from planting them too close to the hosue. Over the years I have learned a lot and I'm ready to try my hand at a more artistic arrangement in the front of the house. With temperatures in the low 60's and lots of sun the kids and I spent much of yesterday cleaning up the debris of winter. It's amazing what surfaces as the snow melts.

Seeds & Spring

2009-03-02T10:29:00.002-05:00

One wouldn't know it by looking at the thermometer today (temps in the teens with windchill hovering around zero) but Spring is coming. There are signs everywhere - it smells different outside, it sounds different as the bird songs change, the sun feels different and the days are so noticeably longer. As I shared breakfast this morning with my soon-to-be nine year-old (cheerios and bananas) I flipped through a seed catalog. And wanted it ALL. Please, someone curb me from my impulsive desire to have some of everything in my garden this year! This will be my first attempt at growing vegetables. In my saner moments I counsel myself to "keep it simple; don't overwhelm yourself or make it a project too big to handle." But . . . then I look at the catalog and I have this vision in my head of my garden overflowing with the bounty produced by my diligent green thumb. Ah, fantasy.

Old Pictures

2009-02-21T10:38:00.003-05:00

I've spent the better part of two days scanning and organizing old photos. One of the projects on my "Everything To Do" list is to digitize my parents photo albums. I am using the Flickr site and have created a group which is accessible to my siblings, their spouses, and my mother. What I like about putting the pictures out there on the web is that it enables each of us to have access to the pictures we want. I am also hoping that they will all add their own comments to the pictures (hint hint). I am particularly hoping that my mother will identify some of the older photos as some of them are of people and places I am unfamiliar with.

I found this picture of my grandfather particularly compelling. For me, it tells the story of an era . . . and a family. When I look at this picture I can smell the dust, the rubber, the fuel, the "barn smell." I can hear the insects, the tractor motor, the swish of a cows' tail. I can feel the warm sun on my skin and the strength of my grandfather's arms.

Anyone recognize the barn?

Dogs and TV

2009-02-18T08:09:00.004-05:00

Our Australian Shepherd, Copper, just turned 1 year. (We also have a Westie, Pippin, who is 6). I chose to get an Aussie after the passing of our border collie/sheltie mix passed away because I a) wanted something bigger; and b) wanted a dog I could train to herd goats. Not that I have any goats, but I would like to have goats. Some people (my brother perhaps and my husband for sure) would say "that's putting the cart before the horse." Nevertheless, I got an Aussie before I have any goats. Thus far, Copper has shown himself to be a wonderful animal. Personable, smart, easily trained. He also displays some "cat like" traits. He loves to bat things around the floor and is definitely ultra curious.

Several months ago friends of ours loaned us DVD's of a TV show called Due South (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108756/). It's the story of a Royal Canadian Mounted police officer who joins forces with the Chicago PD. I am thoroughly enjoying the series - thank you Mike and Roxi! Anyway, the Mounty (Fraser) has a dog/wolf. I think in the show it's supposed to be a wolf, but anyone can tell it's really a husky - not very wolf-like at all really.

Here is what I find fascinating . . . Copper actually seems to be watching the episodes. When the "wolf" barks, whines or moves on the TV - Copper stands at attention and has even looked behind the TV to see where the other dog went. I've never seen a dog "watch TV." It's really very funny.

TicketLeap :: Get Tickets to "Cathie Ryan - Evening of Irish Song and Dance" in "Blue Bell", "19422"

2009-02-12T09:45:00.000-05:00

TicketLeap :: Get Tickets to "Cathie Ryan - Evening of Irish Song and Dance" in "Blue Bell", "19422"

2009-02-09T08:36:00.001-05:00

Make a Smilebox postcard

Birthday Memories

2009-02-08T10:27:00.003-05:00

As I sat down this morning to do my daily "think" (that's what I call it when I take time to just sit and . . . well, think) I picked up my gratitude journal. I bought the journal twelve years ago when Mike and I went on vacation to Stowe, VT. We stayed at the Trapp Family Lodge. It's one of my fondest memories. We were able to go on the trip because of the generosity of Mike's parents - they provided the time share and the babysitting service for our almost one year old son, John. Anyway, I found the journal in a quaint bookstore in downtown Stowe. It was January, we had driven into Stowe late at night during a snow storm that left the area covered in two feet of beautiful powder. Throughout the years I have added entries to the journal and every once in a while I read them and am so grateful that I have these memories preserved. I don't know what year I wrote the following entry, but it had to be at least 10 years ago - John is 13 now. On February 16th I wrote: I am grateful to see my Dad play "This Little Piggie" with John. In 2001 I recounted this story: Feb 12; Dad's 60th birthday. On our way to Mom and Dad's for John's piano lesson I told him today was Grampa Bob's birthday. "How old is he?," John asked. "He is 60." John replied, in a very serious tone - "I guess that makes him old enough to be the man of the house."

Winter Morning

2009-02-05T09:45:00.005-05:00

These pictures were taken this morning - They are views from my neighbors farm and they tell a story. At least, they tell a story to me. There is something about fence posts that moves me at a visceral level. I don't quite know what it is, but it's like there's a poem there, Emily Dickenson style. If the posts could talk, it would be in the voice of poetry.

This next picture tells a different story - the story of a family, a farm and a soldier. If you look closely you can see there are red, white and blue ribbons on these trees. A year ago these ribbons were placed on the trees lining this very small country lane in honor of a soldier, Justin Whiting, as he made his final journey past the farm and home of his youth to the tiny country church and the cemetery there.

Living in the Moment

2009-02-02T10:17:00.004-05:00

I posted a picture yesterday - didn't have time to really think let alone compose a blog, so I chose a winter picture of my backyard. There's something about the snow buried Adirondack chairs that just says "waiting for summer." Many people I know spend a lot of time during the winter waiting for summer. They complain about the cold, the snow, the lack of snow, the driving conditions etc. I decided long ago to accept the fact that living in the Catskills means I am going to live in winter for five or six months each year. That seems like an awful lot of time to spend waiting for something else. So, although my Adirondack chairs are waiting for summer I am not. I love the winter. Today I drank my morning coffee while watching a kaleidoscope of birds flutter to and from my bird feeder. Yesterday I watched a flock of turkeys make their way around the pond in the backyard - the snow was just hovering on the edges of the hemlock trees as they picked their way through the edge of the forest. When I came home from church I was surprised by a flock of another kind - not wildlife, but a group of teenagers snow shoeing through the woods and taking a short cut through my backyard. They were students from The Family Foundation School http://www.thefamilyschool.com/ and I couldn't help but think how lucky they were to be there with the sun warm enough to start the icicles dripping, and the sky a brilliant blue in such contrast to the blinding whiteness of the snow. I believe that we can be changed by our environment. And to be surrounded by the things of God helps bring Him into our hearts. How much peace and serenity was gifted to these young people because they were in my backyard on this Sunday morning?

Waiting for Summer

2009-02-01T13:37:00.000-05:00

Cleaning the Closets

2009-01-30T21:03:00.003-05:00

I am a compulsive list maker. I make grocery lists, to do lists, bills to pay lists, books to read lists, long-term goals lists, short term goals lists - I even have a bucket list (if you haven't seen the movie, you simply MUST http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3367043353/). Lists make me feel like there is order in the universe and there is no problem that can't be solved by creating a pros/cons list. Needless to say, when I embarked on a new career (full time householder) I created a list. OK -- I created A LOT of lists, but the point is, today I accomplished one very important thing on that list. I cleaned out the closets. All of them. Linen closets, bedroom closets, hall closets. I still have a basement mud room to clean out and organized, but today I feel like I have triumphed - order over chaos. My closets are in order.

Backpacker Magazine

2009-01-29T08:18:00.008-05:00

One of my favorite hobbies (and really I'm below novice level here) is backpacking. After reading the book Younger Next Year for Women I was inspired to do something . . . whatever was available right in my own backyard. I had always fantasized about what it would be like to sleep outside in the winter - when the cold air is so pure, and you are surrounded by the quiet hush of fallen snow - blue in the moon light. And so I did. I walked right out my back door and into the woods. In preparation for my first winter camping trip I subscribed to Backpacker Magazine (http://www.backpacker.com/). An article I read today is actually the topic of today's blog. I have lots of thoughts and ideas I will share in the future about Younger next year, hiking, winter camping etc. But for today I am going to reflect on this fact:

In 7 - 10 years, the glaciers at Glacier National Park and the Glacier at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa will be gone. Not diminished, not smaller -- GONE. They have existed for 10,000 years and in my lifetime they will just . . . melt away. I can't lie. Sometimes the fear of change of this magnitude churns my stomach and scares me to death. But then I remember . . . this is God's world, not ours. BUT . . . like he gives us children to raise and nurture, so too, he has given us this earth. And it is our responsibility to nurture it. When I think about the power lines and NYRI and see the new gas pipeline going right past my house . . . I wonder. I wonder lots of things --- but mostly I am sad. Sad because so many people don't understand that the earth is a living thing and NEEDS us to take care of it. To nurture and respect this awesome thing that God has made available to us.

TREES
by: Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)

Think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.

A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;

A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;

A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;

Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.

Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.

Snow Day

2009-01-28T11:26:00.003-05:00

It's a snow day --- John is over at Gramma's shoveling snow and carrying pellets inside. Michael is playing on the wii and Rachael is cleaning her room (but probably "hanging out" listening to the radio). I had a chance to use my snow blower - always fun. Now I'm inside defrosting, checking email etc. Peace seems to be the theme the last several days -- a real internal peace that comes from knowing "all will be well." Today I found this prayer from St. Therese . . . she who believed in doing little things in life well and with great love. She is often my source of inspiration when I feel inadequate or overwhelmed by the "hugeness" of life and life's problems.

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us.

Today's Prayer

2009-01-25T09:01:00.003-05:00

All will be well,
And all will be well,
And all manner of things
Will be well.

When times were difficult, my father would say ". . . and the sun will rise in the East and set in the West." Yes, there is comfort in God's continuity and unconditional love for us. No matter what happens.

Saturday Morning

2009-01-24T09:32:00.003-05:00

Ahh . . remember when Saturday morning meant cartoons (of the Bugs and Daffy variety) and a bowl of cereal eaten in the living room? No hurry, no homework, no where to be . . . The day and the possibilities seemed endless. For years I worked on Saturday mornings - leaving the house before my children woke up and returning in the late afternoon. Mind you, they were home with their father and having the time of their life, but I always felt like I was missing the "good stuff." I recenetly made the decision to leave the outside work force, and stay home to raise children, chickens and goats. I think I mentioned that in my first post. Anyway, today is my first Saturday home - what an awesome feeling . . . no, there are no cartoons (we don't have TV) and I made homemade scones instead of cereal, but the feeling is the same . . . no hurry, nowhere to be and a day filled with endless possibility.

About the Backyard

2009-01-21T20:43:00.004-05:00

I called my blog "backyard living" because my backyard is my favorite place to be. I try to spend as much time as possible outside and frequently drag my children outside with me. During one of the first "snow days" this year I took my two boys, ages 8 & 12, along with our two dogs (a westie and an aussie) on a winter trek. There is a large swamp at the bottom of our yard which periodically is home to several beavers. The beaver house is currently unoccupied. They leave when their food source is depleted. Our trek included crossing the swamp and walking a half mile through the woods, exploring frozen streams, discovering many many turkey tracks (but no turkeys) climbing huge boulders and finding an old logging trail. The dogs had a great time and were a great help in finding a safe place to cross the stream. Exploring the woods in the winter is always an adventure because everything changes.

Interesting Weather We're having

2009-01-20T08:05:00.003-05:00

Snow in the Carolinas - and only in the Carolinas, this morning. I may need to reevaluate my future travel plans. Two years ago - it was that infamous ice storm in PA. You know, the one where every interstate in PA was closed and people were stranded for 14 hours. I wasn't actually stranded on the road, but I did have to make a VERY LONG detour around the closed roads to get to NC. The next year, record cold came to the Carolinas. Until this year anyway. This year, there are new record lows and snow. Do you know what happens down here when it snows? Everything closes. So, I am going to try to make my way home through the cold and snow in the south and the inaugural traffic in VA, back to the Catskill Mountains and home - where it isn't snowing, there isn't traffic and the weather is a balmy 30 degrees.

Rite of Passage

2009-01-18T11:09:00.003-05:00

Our son, John, celebrates his 13th birthday today. This marks his entry into official "teenager" status. We will gather around the cake and candles - aunts, uncles, cousins and sing and make a big fuss. I wonder how much of the fuss is for him and how much is for his parents - an opportunity for us to rejoice the miracle that God gave us. I am particularly reflective this year becuase we are staying with my brother and his wife who are expecting their first child in April. How quickly the time goes. I remember so clearly how I felt when I was expecting John - like I was the first woman ever to have a baby.

I am remembering a book (one of my favorites) - There's No Such Place As Far Away by Richard Bach. It's been a long time since I read it, so I don't remember the exact words, but it tells the story of a child going to visit a friend for their birthday. Along the way she receives lots of wisdom from the birds who are her mode of travel. One of the birds doesn't understand the meaning of birthday - or growing up - because, she asks "isn't your friend already grown?" I think the idea is that we are where we are in our develpment - and can't be anywhere else. For me, it's a reminder to live in the moment.

North Carolina

2009-01-17T20:02:00.002-05:00

I'm writing tonight from North Carolina - I'm here visiting my brother and his wife. Tomorrow my sister and her husband and two kids will join us. They live 2 hours from here. The trip down was, well, grueling would be the word that comes to mind. Don't get me wrong. I love road trips. In fact, one of my dreams is to drive cross country (2 lane roads only, please) stopping at diners (no chain restaurants, please). I have this idea to write a coffee table book - with pictures of the diners I visit with a critique of their pie and coffee (but that is for another blog). You may ask, if I enjoy road trips so much, what was so grueling about a ten hour drive? Well, I forgot that when traveling with three children there are more stops than the one for refueling and "calls of nature" that I take when I am by myself. Then there was the fact that I started an hour later than I intended. The morning before I left, I felt that one of the highest priorities was to clean my wedding and engagement rings. I'm sure there are many people who feel compelled to do this before they leave for vacation. (or maybe not). Anyway, it seemed very important at the time, but when my husband and I did the "hand off" of kids from his car to mine, I noticed that I didn't have my rings on. Of course, I had to go all the way back home because there was no way I was going on vacation sans husband and sans rings! The late start then meant that I was driving most of the trip in the dark. I like the dark. It's good for a lot of things - sitting around a campfire, sleeping, watching a movie and it even hides a lot of blemishes -- it is not, however, conducive to driving at high rates of speed with the inordinate amount of truck traffic one finds on I81. So, the trip was grueling and I arrived at my brothers somehwat road drunk, but in one piece. Being with family is great - I hope that someday my own children enjoy each others compnay as much as I enjoy the company of my siblings.

Pictures from the visit will follow -- although I didn't take the time to stop and photograph the beauty I drove through in Pennsylvania. Picture, if you can, a quarter inch of ice on every tree, shrub, and rock. Then imagine a crystal clear blue sky with winter sunshine making every surface glisten. It was like driving through a crystal world.

And God is good.

Moving Up

2009-01-15T21:15:00.004-05:00

I'm moving up in the world -- 3 followers. Thanks, guys.

Today was busy -- my youngest missed the bus, had to take him to school, then off to my hair appointment, Dr. appointment for a sick child, deliver same child to Gramma's house, fix dinner and get to the pharmacy before it closes then to a Boy Scout meeting. We're leaving tomorrow to visit two of my siblings and their families in North Carolina. The kids are excited and can't sleep. Me? I just want to fall asleep and start over tomorrow.

Following

2009-01-14T21:13:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I learned about widgets - today I learned how to follow and be followed. I am a somebody now because I have two followers! So what if I had to call my mother and brother and coerce them into following me through my backyard - it still counts, right? I am also following Catskill Cottage Seed and Wild About Chickens -- great blogs. Rick Reeve, who does Catskill Cottage Seed has become an expert blogger. Whereas mine is thus far basically a personal journal, Rick has really immersed himself in the world of social media. Definitely a site worth looking at. Wild About Chickens belongs to my sister and brother-in-law. They've got funny stories and really great pictures - of more than chickens too!

Who knows what I may explore next -- it could even be this thing they call "Twitter"

Music and Books

2009-01-13T22:13:00.003-05:00

I added music clips and a book carusel to my blog page today. These additions excite me because music is a very important part of my life. These particular songs are a little on the sad side -- which is where I've been lately. And the books have all played a role in getting me into my backyard. I'm sure the details of that journey will be in future blog entries.

Day is Done

2009-01-12T22:17:00.003-05:00

I was 8 years old the first time I went to summer camp. They played "Day is done, gone the sun . . . ." over the loud speakers at lights out. And I fell asleep - hot, tired, dirty and happy. Today when I see my children covered in the sweat and dirt only a day playing outside can accumulate, I tell them they must have had loads of fun, I can tell by how dirty you are!

Well, today must have been a productive day - no, I'm not going to bed dirty and sweaty, but I am pleasantly tired and looking forward to slipping off to slumber. It feels good to have gotten things done.

An early morning meeting (3 hours!) then a trip to the dentist and a hair cut for my husband. Quick pick up pizza and deliver it to my mother's to eat dinner with her and my other children. Then it was home and a couple hours spent learning more about blogging -- this time with the focus on Flickr. I scanned some old photos, learned how to set up a group to share them with my siblings and took a pleasant jaunt down memory lane. Back to the days when my brother was Danny, not the very distinguished "Daniel" of today.

Sit and visit - the backyard invites

2009-01-12T19:31:00.001-05:00

Sit and visit - the backyard invites, originally uploaded by crayargiros.

Winter is beautiful, but I like to look at summer pictures and remember the feel of the warm sun on my skin. This is one of my favorite spots in the backyard. It just invites you to slow down and listen to the chirping of the birds and buzzing of the bees.

Flickr

2009-01-12T19:29:00.001-05:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Morning Routine

2009-01-12T07:09:00.002-05:00

The dogs wake up. I nudge my husband. "You put them out this time," I say. The alarm goes off. Can it possibly be Monday morning already? Get up, start the coffee, get the dishes left in the living room last night, let the dogs in, feed the dogs, pour the coffee, wake up the kids (that's my favorite part). There's something reassuring about daily routine.

2009-01-11T23:02:00.003-05:00

So blogging is "all the rage" - everybody's doing it. I think. So why am I blogging? I am hoping that by diving in and trying it, I will be motivated and inspired to try all kinds of new things. I want a forum to talk (to myself mostly) about that age old question - where am I going and where have I been. You've guessed it! I'm "middle aged." I have recently taken the plunge OUT of the work force and into my backyard which I hope to fill with goats, chickens, gardens, dogs and kids. The kids I already have - 6. Three boys, three girls. They are not quite as enthusiastic about the soon to come livestock. Perhaps they are wiser than I and know that they are very likely to become unpaid labor. Me, I see bucolic bliss as the goats gambol about and the rooster crows and the tomatoes are hanging on the vine. I try to tell myself that the reality may be very, very different, but I'm at heart an optimist and even though the details may include shoveling waste products, fixing fences and general back breaking labor - the goats really will gambol about.