Straw is Life

One day Madi asked, “Mommy, why is there always straw in your hair?”

First of all, it only happens when I clean the pig pen, and I now I wear a hat. Second, it is not always in my hair child. But it is like dog hair and seems to multiply all time.

I blame Snoop. He likes to bury himself in it at night, and when I let him out he just leaves a trail wherever he goes.

As fall as winding down, I realized I hadn’t written about any fall adventures – for my five or so loyal readers and for myself.

I run on the farm, but the terrain slows me down. Sometimes I wonder if it's my knees rattling or a rattlesnake after me. 

She's a good running buddy. Snoop likes to run with me, but he was a huge distraction. One time I had to carry him back because he was being stubborn. 

Sometimes I run the hill. It is only for the view. 

Sweaty selfie

Artsy gate

Michael picked a new garden spot and tilled it. Hopefully this year we can give it 100% since we both live here and have scaled it down a little bit.

Scaling down the garden.

We held a Fall Fiesta to see what agro tourism would be like. It’s hard, but a lot of fun. I hope one day to bring kids here to explore and learn. There is a local farm that has a program like this, and I hope one day to pick their brains.

Farmer Michael giving hay rides.

Bobbing for apples

Fun treats

The hayride set up

The animal kingdom is going great although Snoop and Peaches have an uncanny friendship. I can’t tell if they are best friends or Peaches just loves to annoy Snoop by always touching him.

Peaches loves Snoop.

One day I learned a hard lesson about stranger animals. I took the girls to see the neighbor’s horse, and all the animals followed me. I thought it was cute, until Snoop got in the horse pen. The horse kicked at him. Bailey stood up for her bud. The cats ran away. I couldn’t find Kavu for a while. I kept hearing pitiful meows. I finally found her in a thorn bush. I had to get in the thorn bush and pry her from a limb. I really really learned a lesson that day.

Finally found the cat. 

I had thorns on me, and I scratched up my arm. 

I rewarded my heroic efforts with a fire and coffee. 

Halloween was fun, and the girls painted pumpkins. Next year, I hope to have our own pumpkin patch.

Making pumpkin seeds.

This and butter is all you need. 

So good and crispy.

Halloweenies

I actually used a sharp knife and it turned out ok. 

All our animals are social creatures. 

Painting their pumpkins because I don't trust them with a sharp knife. 

And that pretty much brings us to cold weather, winter and Christmas. And let me tell you, decorating this house is so fun.

I just don’t think I will use any real straw in my manger this year. 

Holy Cats!

After we cleaned out the barn, and I noticed several signs of mice, we decided to get barn cats. And by “we” I mean me and the girls.

When I say things like, “Baby, I think we should get barn cats.”

Michael usually just looks at me. And in return I think, “Great, he’s on board.”

But my coworker had kittens who were outside animals but good with children. Sounded like a great fit for our family.

Kavu aka Salt

Peach aka Pepa

We now have Kavu and Peach, but Michael and I call them Salt and Pepa. Our goal is to name all our farm animals after 90’s favorites. We’re thinking Bones, Thug and Harmony for some goats.

The first day we had the kitties was pure magic for the girls. Abby wouldn’t quit smiling. 

That soon ended when she realized what a litter box was and that was a new chore for her.

The training cage. 

Feeding them their first meal with us. 

They enjoyed their Friskies or whatever it's called. I'm so new to cat life. 

Bailey has not been impressed with the cats. Kavu hissed and swatted the first time we introduced them. Bailey also gave me the cold shoulder for several days and even growled at me. We are best buds so it really hurt my feelings. We have now come to an understanding and it seems to be ok.

This is how Bailey looks at me when I hold the cats. 

The first time Snoop met them was my favorite. When I let Snoop out of the barn for the afternoon he runs around like a pup. He’s fast and run circles. It’s a hoot. The cats were in a little cage so I could get the pig. Snoop comes running out at full speed and spots the cats, puts on his pig brakes and skids to a stop. He looks at the cage, give a huge snort. OOOOOOIIIIIINNNNKKKKKK! And runs off. 

I’m not sure what kind of animal exchange took place but they haven’t had a problem with each other at all.

The plan is the cats will live in the barn, but they are so cute and fun we let them inside for a bit. I have always been a dog person, but it is so much fun to have a cat paw at some string. I don't care who you are, it's hilarious. And they are sweet so they just curl up in your lap to nap. But I think they will be excellent mousers. 

Kavu Salt can't get enough string play. 

Peach Pepa is a little lazier. 

So we’re all one big happy family for now but I’m anxious to see who we will add next. Any suggestions?

The gang

It’s the most wonderful time of the year

Happy fall ya’ll! Even though it’s 90 degrees I decided to decorate. Bring on the pumpkins and fodder.

My plan is to hit up the clearance rack every year to expand my fall collection. I have a handful of dollar store scarecrows and some crafts my children made, but in my mind it looks pretty good.

Mums, pumpkins, scarecrows - oh my!

I want to add a hay bale and maybe another pumpkin.

My few decorations making it feel like fall. 

His feet aren't long enough to hang over the edge so if you get to close it scratches you. Watch out. 

Maybe when the kids get older we could create a haunted farm. Although we don’t have to wait until then to be getting the heebs.

The other day I walked into the barn to feed Snoop Hoggy Hog, and I saw a long black tail. I knew it was inevitable I would see a snake in the barn one day. But I didn’t think the snake would be so gutsy to just be lounging around.

I calmly went and told Michael aka me jumping around trying to get his attention while he mowed. Turns out that snake was dead. It had tangled itself up in a net. Made me feel kind of bad because I know black snakes are good.

Snake in a net.

Michael's a good sport to let me take photos while he does the dirty work. 

But never fear, just hours later, two more black snakes were seen on the property. So there’s that.

Back to fall. The leaves are starting to change, and we’re gearing up for more land exploring.

This weekend we took the UTV up the one trail to cut a log allowing us to take the UTV further on that trail. It’s totally walkable as is, but we would eventually like to have a series of connecting paths around the farm the UTV could possibly go through.

I got my chain saw! Sing it like the Band Perry.

Leaves are changing.

From thick woods to this terrain.

It's just a mountain of shale.

But check out this view!

This particular trail leads to Shale Hill. It’s a weird terrain, but I personally like it. It gives a desert feel, and you can see all sorts of mountains.  We did hear some turkeys. I’m so excited! I thought the coyote scared everything away. And we saw several bucks on the trail cam.

Speaking of coyotes, we haven’t seen our buddy in a while. One night we heard a shot and I swear we haven’t seen him since. I still look for it every time I’m outside.

Oh, something I should mention. We cleaned out the barn, well house and chicken coop. Now the coop needs more work, but we’re one step closer to more animals. And we should be getting some barn cats very soon.

Anyway, we’re excited for the season change. And hopefully cooler weather.

Let me know if you have any great fall decorating ideas on the cheap side. And keep in mind I’m not crafty. I’m the definition of Pinterest fail. 

Roses

Artsy rose

Loner rose

Check out this sky

Cheap decorating ideas needed! In a few weeks I'm changing these bushes. 

The Great Coyote Caper

Growing up, I only watched TV on Saturday mornings. It was a great day filled with Muppet Babies, The Get Along Gang and Looney Tunes.

I loved all the characters on those shows, but I especially felt sorry for Wile E. Coyote. He tried so hard. Why did he spend so much money on gadgets when he could have bought take out?

Fast forward to now. I saw my first coyote a few months ago. I thought it was a fluke. Now, we see two all the time. But it’s always at weird times.

One time Madi was looking out her window, and she came running. There is a coyote in the orchard. Michael runs out with no shoes and a gun. I’m yelling, “It’s a baby. Don’t shoot it.” It was redneckary at it's finest. No shoes but where's my gun!

But the trail cam has now shown us the baby is not as baby as I thought. It’s just small compared to the other one.

This is mama coyote.

The next time it was sighted, I was sitting on the back porch while Michael was participating in his work Fantasy Football draft. I spotted it on the hill. Michael couldn't leave the computer, and I wanted to scare it. I was wearing my pajamas and and my Walmart rain boots and ran up the hill. I scared them alright, but may have been from my ensemble and crazy flapping arms. 

Michael was determined to get these coyotes. He spent time tracking and hunting, but we went weeks without seeing them.

Until today. I’m sitting on the back porch, waiting to get Madi from school, and I see movement. I know, I need to learn to shoot. I have been shooting before, but I need to know how to load, etc. I take off towards the animal. It looked at me like, “Hello, how are you today?” Real friendly like. I imagine he has an accent. English, Australian, I’m not sure.

I picked up apples and started chucking them at the coyote. He takes off, but keeps turning around and stopping as if he’s making sure I don’t want to play.

I keep throwing apples, and he’s now up in the woods beyond my throwing range. I yell to him, “I can still see you!” I might have even shaken my fist at him.

I didn't have my camera during my apple tantrum, but this was minutes after. The sky was incredible. 

I get it’s their land too, but he was hanging out where the girls and Snoop play. I don’t like that. He’s not getting a bacon meal from me. It’s personal now.

So Wile E. Coyote, I don’t feel so bad for you anymore. And farm coyotes, you’re outta here. 

Nothing to do with coyotes but look how big this garden spider is!

We had a few raspberries. They were sweet and tart.