Chicks Spring Party

All of the sweet babes of Spring. Especially little yellow powder puffs. Chicks.

Little chirps and little baaah's and it's a bit like Old McDonald's farm. So many little calves dot the pastures. Lambs jump and run along with the kid goats. Geese are still laying eggs but soon the nests will be full and then little heads peeping out from under Mother Goose's wings. . So many wonders this time of year. Saw the cutest pics of baby chicks that Martha ordered from My Pet Chicken on Martha Stewart's blog .   

I really paint my childhood and the things I liked then pretty much remained the same. Gardening, flowers and animals. There is such freedom in children's art and illustrations. I can truly say I love my job! 

Come on over to my Etsy Shop, Dictionaryreader and see all of the wonders of Spring. Easter is not too farm away. 

Green Hydrangeas - White Room

We get to enjoy chartruese hydrangeas flowers twice.

When they first form before they bloom white

and then again when they dry.

I love this color with white.

These old soup tureens hold everything

except soup at our country farmhouse.

They make the best vases.

I love the lacy flower petals in abundance

 that look like French pantaloons.

Outside there are other white and green combinations.

Our westie dog got on the hay bale for about 2 seconds

 then jumped down to the shade.

Smart dog.  

Happy 4th of July!

Whether you are inside or out...

Keep cool!

Connecting up with Faded Country Charm
French Country Cottage
Vintage Inspiration Friday 

A Country Farmhouse - yippee

Libraries are for learning and gathering information. I had to take my son to the library last night and after I gathered up a few things I plunked down in a chair next to the magazines. I picked up Country Living because I love white decorating and the cover pulled me in.

I was thrilled to find out it was the Burke's aka www.acountryfarmhouse.blogspot.com living room on the cover and the most delicious photographs of their home inside. (All of you probably know about their blog, but if you don't head on over.) Trina has the most beautiful country home and I should have "followed" it when I first found it. There isn't any clutter to be seen. Today I went right over and with friend connect linked up. (Hoping the decluttering thing rubs off on me.) Why are we so slow to link up sometimes? It's the best way to find someone again and to keep in touch. Of all the supermarket trips I have made I hadn't seen this new Country Living magazine.

I devoured each picture in the magazine and wondered (quietly) how people keep their kitchens so sparkling white and scrubbed?

October Snow

Nothing like a little snow to stir things up and then shut things down. I took a few pictures with my camera phone half kiddy because it was beautiful. There were big, wet flakes, sloppy at first and then huge flakes tumbled down from the biggest fluffiest goose ever it seemed. Fluffy but heavy enough to knock over trees and power lines.

The sugar maple tree above was aglow in the snow like a jack-o-lantern just as happy as we were.





I was very happy until I realized our power was out when I went back in the house. It rather dampened my gleeful spirit, but kids only think of fun things like sledding. Over the summer you forget how quiet a calm snowfall is. You are in the middle of a caccoon and you focus only on the things nearest you.






Our power came back on in a few hours and once again we were thankful for the important things, a home, a warm bed and our westie dog's cold nose pushing against our hands, and each other safe and sound.

Westie Dog Hero

I will tell you about our hero westie, Sir Salty, and his good deeds in a moment Right now I am enjoying these aster flowers on our white table. Every little piece of green stem is loaded with flowers like mini daisies. I love how you can put any color against white and it pops out.

If you are a westie owner you will know it's battle cry bark. It is different from a "Who goes there," bark. I was outside working Saturday and I heard it start like an alarm clock, it doesn't stop by itself. I smiled thinking it was probably a squirrel, a groundhog or some other furry sort and kept working. After a minute or two I thought he definitely needs me for something and I rounded the bend with my own eyes and ears alert. He was in front of the house and had his nose to the ground. A bunny rabbit or what? He was not looking up at me even though I was talking to him. He was seriously preoccupied. A few feet more and I saw it was a snake!! Then I was hollering, too. Together we made quite a racket. My husband thankfully realized my holler was important. He came running with a shovel.

Sir Salty the hero! We don't always wear boots outside, but you can guess I've put the tallest ones on I can find. I think I am ready for hip boots even though I'm not going fishing.

If you want to read about what to do if dogs get snake bites, it's here. This got me to thinking about the emergency medical symbol itself is a snake going around a rod.

Blueberry Homesteading Book

The Blueberry Years by Jim Minick

I got this book in the mail from my sister. Since we've been sick I've had time to devour it. A "delicious" read it said in one review. Jim has a knack for describing people, human nature and blueberries! Everyone has a dream and Jim and Sarah's is to support themselves on a homestead of blueberries. How hard can that be they question that question? (Since his father grew some bushes it should be in his genes. No?) Blueberries that are not yet planted, nor the bull pines cleared, but they have the land and the dream. Easy enough they think. Jim takes you with him and his wife on this journey of labor and love and mother earth. Not any journey but an certified organic farmer's journey who invites strangers to his farm to "u pick" blueberries right along with them.

You soon realize he has a love affair with blueberries. I wonder how many blueberry bushes have been sold by nurseries because of Jim's apt description of their gorgeous existence.

When you toil over the land and plant the bushes you become protective of it. Jim also becomes an analyst of people, relationships, religion, money, dreams, neighbors, and the ever productive blueberry...all of the clever evaluations come from keeping the hands busy and the mind turns things over and over until every visible side is exposed. You laugh. You worry. And like a good friend he shares his feelings with you whether they are right or wrong at the time. Unlike myself he has learned when to pause and not answer. If you are not an organic food believer you will be.

After I read the last page I wanted to ring them up and invite them over for dinner. To think he used to teach high school English in Maryland. Jim is a gifted writer and poet. This book is not just for "do it yourself-ers" or homesteaders, it's a book about life and relationships that come from working toward a dream.

As a bonus he has added blueberry recipes at the end! I highly recommend it.

Cleaning up After Hurricane Irene

Last night the purring outside later turned to a soft roar. The sound was like someone had turned on all of the water faucets in the house. Our westie would growl every now and then mimicing the wind. He was a little restless pacing around the house.

This giant hickory tree (above) went down along the fenceline. It popped the metal gate high above it and knocked a fencepost down. What you see is the tree roots---just like Alice and wonderland disappeared down under. We were very fortunate to just have this one tree down. There were small branches scattered around the yard and fields. Our electricity held strong. As we were driving today we couldn't help but notice all the trees that could have went down and toppled the electrical lines. I will tell you this healthy looking hickory tree had a rotten center that we couldn't see, of course, until it was sawed off at the base. Good thing it went down during a storm when everyone was inside!

Horses and Their Foals Dazzle Us

The pasture is full of life. All legs bouncing, running about and staying very close to Mama when we are near. When the foals are full and tired they lie down and roll on their backs and set back up and nibble on grass like this one. Childhood is great. Foalhood? Is there a term for a foal's baby months?

Farming A Life and Organic Produce

Author Kristin with husband, Mark Kimball

Read this book and you will think differently about hard work, dirt, and farming. You'll be willing to spend your savings on horses, cattle, pigs, and milk cows. You will have found the zest of life right under your fingertips, dirt. You work for it and it pays great rewards back to you! Hard work is a tonic! Who needs much sleep? Especially when you are reading about someone else's bone tired labors and the joys that go with it.

This book redefines what success and beauty mean. Kristin Kimball makes fun of herself and her ideas of a good life before she turned farmer. We really like her husband and smile knowingly when she describes their working relationship that gets stressed to the max sometimes when two work together every day of the week. It is always funny when it is someone else! She shares her mishaps like a best girlfriend. You feel like you know these two well and are cheering like mad for them! A very enjoyable read. I handed the book over to my dad who is enjoying it as I type this. The book is titled THE DIRTY LIFE, on Farming, Food and Love by Kristin Kimball.

Long live organic farmers.

Go to NPR (National Public Radio) for a great interview and pictures.

New review here in the Irish Times about "devouring" page after page of this book. Personally I think this book will made into a movie!

Show off your Cottage Monday

I am joining in on some fun and sharing some pictures of a taste of our cottage home started by a house in the roses. Each Monday you can post a picture of your garden, home or items that bring happiness and that cottage feeling.

We have some sweet siamese kittens that are purrr-fect. Look how she's looking up and enjoying our company! ...And we just bought a serger sewing machine on Saturday (my first one ever!) so I added my rose skirt fabric under my gardening hat which is under one of my siamese kittens. Layer up your display items with love and you usually end up with a nice little arrangement.

Won't you join in on the fun?

Kiparoo Farms Yarn for Knitting/Crocheting

We went to Kiparoo Farms and met Annie Kelley and saw her beautiful studio. It's on a working farm of sheep and cattle. She has 150 head of sheep and if you raise sheep you know the work that involves. Annie is as petite as a clothes pin, but has more energy radiating from her than the lit White House Christmas Tree. She is a fine example of hardwork, a love for what she does and a super personality! We had such a good time there.

This is Annie's helper who lived on the farm before Annie did and now lives royally. Friendly as can be. The lacey crocheted tablecloth...gorgeous. When can we move in?

This is Annie above on the left. Her studio is in several rooms of the old farmhouse. She refinished the floors and the walls are white with high ceilings. It's decorated in her beautiful scandinavian-heritage style. Lots of bright whites and beiges with a little pink here and there.

She sells her own wool yarn from her sheep in every texture and color combination imaginable. A real bonus is that there is the actual handmade item next to each of her patterns which really sells them. Some with more than one color variation to show the possibilities. Look at these little cute purses above.

I didn't begin to capture the ambience of her shop, Kiparoo Farms, you have to experience it yourself. Then you will know what a joy it is. Her website is here.

Candylei's Deer Art Critics

Today is misty, cloudy and it's so green outside that you still need sunglasses. After looking at brown for how many months...it's still shocking to look outside. Did I wake up in Ireland?

When I stepped out a bit ago my deer art critics were waiting to see my new daily painting. Look at them lounging around. What a easy job they have. Eat, sleep and run and sleep some more. Kind of like us humans but with a stress factor involved called the clock and taxes.

I ended up just showing them my camera and told them to wait til tomorrow and they didn't flinch...only the camera clicked. There are actually seven deer that get mail at our address. Do we get to claim them on the census form? Age? Gender? I'll let the deer check that part off.

Dandelion Loving Spring Lambs

Spring brought us lambs. These two are the ones we are bottlefeeding and they are our little shadows along with our westie doggy boy, Sir Salty. Should we name them tweedledeedee and tweededeedum? So many opinions here and so little agreement on names but we all agree they are so sweet.

I made a little dandelion head lei the other day and just about everyone modeled it. Puppy rolled on it once or twice. Each lamb had a turn nibbling on it like it was a hawaiian candylei. Sheep love dandelion flowers.... and so do litttle boys to give to their mothers. Grown men groan when they see dandelions but little boys run as fast as they can to pick each one. Mothers get the small vases ready.

Barns, Flood Waters and I Have a Dream

This is what our barn could look like with some money, a permit and hard work. As of right now there are sheep where the diningroom is in this photo and the second floor is stacked with hay bales. If only... This photo is of Mr. Johnson's renovated barn-house in New York state and is one of the homes on tour at Martha Stewart's website. And our barn is still keeping feed and hay dry and keeping mother to be ewe sheep safe, too.

Do you remember when I said Spring had gently and quietly arrived at our place? She has taken away all of the snow now. Hooray. But she is cleaning furiously with heavy rains night and day! Our sweet gentle, gurgling creek has turned into a raging roaring lion. Can you see all of the trees under water? The noise does not faze our westie as he is focused on finding squirrel trails. I have not seen the deer around for two days. It's impossible to cross these waters. I wonder how many trees will go down?

The Sheep Are Out

Jolting words woke me this morning, "The sheep are out." In my tired mind I thought well it is winter and there's nothing left for them in the vegetable garden to steal. "Yes, I'll make coffee first," I told myself since I couldn't see them anywhere. (A bad sign right there.) As the coffee was brewing they showed up on my porch as if it were a starbucks drive through, mind you. Did they need coffee to make their way back down to their pasture? Cream? Sugar?

One of the ewe's, Ella, is the ringleader who leads them all up here to a more luxurious standard of living. She is so big with lambs that I believe she might have triplets. Usually you have to bottlefeed one of them and it makes for a wonderful pet. Now Ella herself was bottlefed and she is a wonderful pet, but she is not fond of fences. She wants to come back up near the house where she played with us as we worked outside when she was a wee spring lamb.

I noticed there are some original Tasha Tudor watercolors from one of her books up for sale on ebay for 3,750.00 Amazing. I love how Tasha lived in Vermont. Surrounded by her favorite animals...corgi dogs and cats inside and outside goats. I wonder if she had trouble with them getting out?

I have a new painting to list on ebay and will post a picture here as soon as it is up.

Frida Kahlo Folk Art Horse Painting

Sometimes people will say, "Do you ever do a painting without a white dog in it?" Yes, and here is proof. I finished this painting this morning and it is up for sale on ebay. I'm also starting to sell some prints on etsy if you want to check them out for yourself or for gifts.

I used to have a black horse when I was in 4th grade, called "Blacky." Very original, I know. I do miss her snorts and putting her head back to my leg to make sure it was still me in the saddle. Then there is that horsey smell that is kind of an acquired liking. Our neighbors have 13 horses in the field next to us so I hear the whinies and the snorts often.

About this painting: It is of Frida's Black Mare named, "Raven". I love the horses legs. I felt like I was paintng my very own on the front of the horse. Well, okay. Almost. Raven knows where the flowers are still blooming for Frida to wear in her hair. Frida tucks them in Raven's mane, too. A woman loves flowers, you know. I also tried to paint my own cowboy (cowgirl) boots. Why are they still called cowboy boots?

Come back and again and see more "Raven" horse paintings!

November Tree Colors

Can the words "peaceful" and "hot" stand together in a title? They do define this peaceful country setting with the firey hot colors. The great part about fall is when the grass is still green, the tree leaves are red/orange and the weather is in the 60's and 70's during the day. Nice!

Elegant Toad Lily Flowers

A beautiful fall lily flower blooming now. It loves moist shady areas and is a good companion for hostas and ferns. It reaches a height of 18-24-inches and arches gracefully. The leaves are a beautiful kelly green.

I felt this was good for our garden because our westie loves toads (how did it get the name toad in it?) and because our westie's mother's name was "Lily" and because the perennial flowers are welcome at this time of year. If you can read between the lines it's also because I like it! Think of reasons later to justify it.