2012!!!!

It is 2012 and I AM BACK....THEN AGAIN, who knows for how long???   It has been over 2 months since  I've posted.  Already 13 days into the new year.  Resolutions have been made, THEN AGAIN, resolutions have been made EVERY year....for some reason I feel this year they WILL be kept.  So far - so good.... LOL.  For now I am simply working on those resolutions.  When I actually achieve them (and I WILL) I will let you know - so stay tuned! 
As for what has been happening around here this year.....

Jan. 6 - Bob is on the phone - pointing at the pond to get my attention

There is a FOX on the pond...the first time I have seen this....

When Mr. Fox made his way to the other side of the pond, where Mr. Swanee was swimming in his bubbled area, mom had to intervene.  Out the door I went screamingandholleringandclapping my hands...he got the message and hightailed it out of here!!   THEN.....in the evening...

him AGAIN on the bales of hay to the north of us... and he (she?) had a friend that I did not get a shot of .  They were waaaay to close to my chickens.  The next morning everything (and everybody) was OK..I guess the chickens were locked in securely enough and Mr. Swanee was smart enough to stay out of harms way!

Today - Friday the 13th - was a beautiful, but cold day.  I put on my boots and headed out with my camera - THEN Bob & I went for a ride through the woods...



This is where the Bald Eagles hang out...(when they are not fishing in my pond!)

A Winter Wonderland for sure!!!

White Fields

Last week we were in Georgia - where the fields were white with cotton.

This morning we woke up to fields that were white with SNOW!!

Getting Colder

We woke up to a very chilly 28 degrees this morning...

good thing Bob stocked up on wood pellets yesterday!!

I



Seeing QUADRUPLE????

First glance at the pond this morning.....

made me do a double take!!

Swanee had some visitors!

Who is the BRAVEST Chicken of All???

Bob stores LOTS if empty flower pots in part of the chicken coop.

We now have two hens laying, but one of them has decided

that instead of the nesting boxes she would rather lay her eggs

in a flower pot -- a flower pot that is waaay in the back and we can't get at. 

So this morning I took out the removable block instead of opening the door

 - we can now keep them out of the storage area...

just as soon as they learn the new "route"!

It was pretty scary having that hole appear in the wall,

 they needed a bit of coaxing to come out.

Autumn

I LOVE this time of year!

The rides in the country to see the colors...

All the Pumpkins & Gourds & Squash

OH MY!!

We came upon a place that had pumpkins & gourds & squash

for a pretty good price, so we bought some...

THEN we came upon a place that had all of the above

for a VERY, VERY good price...

So we bought some more!

Pie pumpkins & apple gourd

I think this is the 3rd year we have not planted any pumpkins,

last year we sold a couple bushel of mini pumpkins that came up

from the previous years rejects in our garden, 

I was pleasantly surprised when Bob discovered

 3 little white pumpkins near the mulch pile in the garden.

We bought LOTS of squash..

butternut, buttercup, acorn, spaghetti,

and a couple varieties of  kabocha

which we have never tried...

Last night, I cooked up several butternut (for the freezer)

and a spaghetti, that we ate for supper (gooood)

I am saving seeds.....

next year I hope to grow PLENTY of

Pumpkins & Gourds & Squash of my own...

OH MY !!!

Ludington State Park

We have been to Ludington many times,

but this was our first visit to the State Park.

It was very pretty - a great place for a nice long walk

When we left the park, we pulled over along the road

and walked to the water

 

Sept. 10 & 11

Mike (Bob's youngest), April, and Joey & Sophia (the youngest grandbabies)

came for a visit.  Joey had lots of fun!!!  Digging worms..fishing..playing with Toe-Toes..meeting

 Henny Penny..riding the tractor, lawnmower, and skidsteer with grandpa.

So much fun that bedtime made him cry....and when it was time to go home, he cried so much that he almost made Grandma cry...

Sophia mostly watched and smiled...

she liked the flowers that Grandpa picked for her...

she liked playing in the yard on the quilt

and visiting with Toe-Toes and riding the rocking horse..

I'm sure she was thinking.....

NEXT TIME

I will be ready to do all those fun things too!!!