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.