traditionnels et modernes

St. Vincent de Paul thrift haul: Hamilton Beach juicer for $1, sailboat motif sun dress, 1965 book about Swiss Chalet architecture, and a nice box of note cards featuring an illustration of a black bear

Luvelvetee

Real name of my customer service representative on the phone with AT&T today

sky study #145

Sunset April 21, 2016

why Mom rules, reason #2,379

The other day Mom & I drove somewhere together, and she showed up at my farm with a professional roadie: a full pot of hot coffee and a ceramic mug

cock fighter

The past few days Roosty Jr. (pictured here) and his father Roosty have been fighting.  I am never around when it happens, but I came home yesterday to find Roosty Jr. with blood all over his neck from his torn wattles; and Roosty is missing one of his spurs.  They have lived together for two years with little conflict, so I am not sure what is happening.  I may try to find a home for Roosty Jr. - he is a gentle rooster and would make a great addition to a flock. I just think as he has gotten older, there isn't room enough for them both.  I hated seeing this, but it's part of letting animals be themselves, and also part of farming. 

the cat's out of the barn

Mamacat, my formerly feral barn cat, is not only tame now, she rolls around at my feet, runs towards me every morning and lets me pick her up

Her feeling comfortable went to a new level when I had my truck down at the barn the other day - I was unloading feed and supplies and the back hatch was open.  Mamacat jumped right in and sat inside the truck - I caught this quick picture of her jumping out.  I wondered if she had ever been in a car before.

peekaboo

The newest member of the rabbit pack, Richard, has been exploring the hen yard and digging in the dirt, and I am so happy to see him do it.  Richard led a solitary life in a small cage, and my main goal in helping rabbits is to give them a natural bunny life with companionship, freedom, health and being outside.  He is super friendly and docile and I love him.

the barn door

This is the big barn door that hangs in the entryway to the bunny room in the chicken coop.  I plan to install it in my house in-between the two front living room parlors,  It is heavy and dirty, but has beautiful 19th century ironwork.  I'll post an after picture if all goes well!

kale & beans

Garlicky kale & white beans...serve with red pepper flakes & parmesan cheese

all better

Trevor (on the left) has recovered from a case of rabbit syphilis (yes, that's a thing) He spent a week convalescing at my Mom & Dad's house, where he received daily penicillin injections from Nurse Margaret.  They also generously let him free range, and poop, all over their house.  He is back at the farm now and all healed up - here he is reunited and out to dinner with his girlfriend Willow

Dr. No

rewatched the James Bond movie Dr. No the other night - I love all James Bond movies, but this might be my favorite for the fashions (vintage 1962) subject matter (megalomaniac scientist wants to blow up the world - but isn't that always the subject matter?) and Sean Connery at his peak.  Plus the lab costumes below

baby lion

This is my friend's son Rudy in his lion suit...grrrrr!

thrift haul: Grand Rapids

took a drive to Grand Rapids with Mom last week, and we stopped in at a church thrift shop. Here, two mouse themed vintage children's books (same age as me!) 

and a pristine Munsingwear wind breaker with a hood that rolls up and zips into the collar, complete with embroidered penguin wearing a tuxedo on the front.  YES

pizza palooza

came home from the market last week with leftover mozzarella, so I made a bunch of whole wheat crust pizzas: onion, green olive, roasted red pepper and pesto-kale

sky study #144 - Summit City Road & M113

I have posted several sky studies over the years from my favorite corner, two miles North of my farm, where M113 and Summit City Road meet - I have added a label so you can scroll through the older ones - I rarely make the right turn towards home without taking in the beauty of this field & sky

hedgehog potatoes

super cute way to cut & bake potatoes

meet Richard

Richard has joined us here at the farm and is a totally delightful bunny!  He arrived with the unfortunate name Taz, which we changed to Richard at the suggestion of my neighbor's young son Nathan.  Richard is very friendly, docile and getting along fairly well with the others.  Introducing bunnies to one another can be rough at first, but within a few weeks they are usually bonded and all hanging out together.  He has beautiful markings and is a sleek boy!  I watched him go outside for what was probably the first time in his life this week, and it was a great pleasure for me to see him explore, smell fresh air and dig in the dirt in the hen yard.  I love rabbits.

the sweet carrot-potato

Someone gave me a big bag of parsnips from their garden - a vegetable that you can harvest all Winter.  I roasted them in the oven like you can do with any vegetable - just tossed in olive oil, salt & pepper on parchment paper.  Perfect!

in the packing material

Goodwill bench

$35 at Goodwill, plus the seat is also a storage compartment.  It's out in the foyer of Boss Mouse and we're probably gonna strip it back down to natural wood

nap style