Snow Day

I like snow days, especially since someone swapped with me at work so I could be home with my kids! That unexpected day off, relaxed and not expected to be anywhere, a treat for sure.My second treat of the day was my advanced order copy of Deadly Kisses by Kerri Cuevas showed up in my mailbox today - whoo hoo! Looking forward to her launch party at the Shedd-Porter Memorial Library on March 9th.

I was thinking of all of you in blogland Monday night, the full moon - I have no idea why I am compelled to write with the pull of the moon, but it seems to happen time an time again. Maybe it isn't a coincidence my name is Diana. I am thankful my children also appreciate the beauty of a moonlit night, we took a walk through the trees, a beauty not enough people see. It was foggy and bright, seeming as if the fog reflected even more light than if it were clear. Only our shadows falling across the snow noticed we were there at all.

September Moon

Once school starts, life gets crazier than usual, so it made it all the more wonderful to have some time with the children tonight walking down the lane to admire the sliver of a moon setting over the ridge to the west. In the calm of the evening there is no bickering, just pleasant conversation as we stroll the tree lined path out to an opening where we can see a sizable chunk of sky, a dog at our side, happy to be out with us too.

We tried to take some photos, with the film camera none the less! The shutter was open so long I'm sure it will come out a blurry mess, but it will still remind us of how beautiful it was out there. The big dipper is an easy find, will have to look harder to find more. With the moon gone to bed, should be an excellent night to slip back outside to see some stars.

Perfect moments in time like these, for me, is what it is all about.

Time Marches On

"Time marches on" a favorite quote from a good friend of mine. No arguement here, where did all that time go?! I did enjoy exploring the blogging world, but for one it seems to cause a lot of junk in my email box, which I am not a fan of in the slightest. I also found I'm lazy, with a blog post comes the self inflicted pressure of attempting to write something "worthwhile", yet a facebook post can be a single word if I choose, much less effort.

Fall in New England is glorious, and after the summer heat has subsided, it always makes me want to explore trails and climb mountains. Though not as agile as I used to be, I am hoping to return to one of the things that is so good for my soul and my body. Today I took a proverbial and literal step in the right direction, hooray! There is a trail fairly close to my home that I've wanted to go up for what, 8 or 9 years now? It was fantastic, good company, pleasant hike, fun exploring, glorious view and a sense of accomplishment, what more could I ask for? Perfect weather? Had it!

Here's to many more successful trips out to the woods, where I need to be. Need a little inspiration of your own? Pick up a copy of Following Atticus, or look for it on blogspot of fb.

PMS

Unfortunately PMS makes me crave two things, chocolate and caffeine. Even more unfortunate, chocolate and caffeine make me mean. Today I had three cups of coffee and the lion's share of a bag of peanut butter cups. Thus, a few comments of the day were met with an over-sensitive, over the top replies, and yes, you guessed it,  it was unfortunate.

On the up side (I'm trying very hard to be positive) for those closest to me, it was a great day, met with enthusiasm and good cheer. Phew, immediate family and friends dodged the proverbial bullet today - or was that a loaded cannon? LOL

Oh the waiting is the hardest part....

How many do you think are in there?!

Ok, please forgive my newbie-ness for not being able to rotate this photo (I can do it in my photo program, grrrr) This is my MaaMaa girl (yes, also forgive the crapola as I attempt to clean out the shed) her due date is April 9th, but I don't think she will go that long, especially with the full moon coming along.

this one begs for a caption contest!

We have been having fun making predictions with our friends, and children as to when and how many, care to join the pool? How about name suggestions?

Millie & Cowboy are her babies from last year, and still quite bonded. I'm a bit worried they are going to have a rough time adjusting to new babies.

Here they are relaxing after a busy afternoon, wandering the yard with us, looking for delicious new shoots and crunchy old leaves. I love tramping around our property with the goats, on occasion we load someone up in the back of my trusty Subaru and go hike someplace else.

Ah, the world would be a better place if more people had goats! (obviously a completely biased opinion)

Stay and Try to Help Him

You stay and try to help him

     Of course you have to help him!

You were taking a break at the park from delivering wholesale flowers to the local florists. Thankfully, it was a slow day for you, and the truck is almost empty. Also thankfully, the truck and the delivery business belong to you, which obviously gives you more latitude.

“Quick, get in my truck, it’s over here.” You open up the big back door and the dragon hops in.  With his wings folded, there is plenty of room.

“Can you tuck your tail in a little more?” you ask.

He pulls his tail closer to his body, and you close the doors with a loud clank. The startled dragon jumps, and the truck rocks.

You hurry to the cab, pulling the curtain across the opening into the back. You fire up the truck, and make your way into the street just as the sky darkens, and a flock of colors stream by. Flock? What do you call a bunch of dragons? And why can’t the other people see them? What in the world have you gotten yourself into?

The red dragon in your truck doesn’t make a sound, and you wonder if he is scared or relieved. You drive out of town, heading north up Route 101. All your life, when you’ve felt the need to “get away” you drive up the coast to calm yourself—free your soul. You can only hope it does the same for the dragon.

You pull off into a familiar parking lot, killing the engine. The sky is now clear.

The dragon shifts a bit. “It’s okay,” you say, “They didn’t follow us.”

The dragon sneezes, and it shakes the whole box truck.

“Exquoose me,” he says. And then the sneezing really starts.

  One,
               Two,

          Three,
                          Four,

                       Five,
                                     Six,

                                   Seven.

The curtain that separates you from the dragon blows back and forth.

You open your door, feeling the humidly in the truck – you then open the curtain hesitantly. Eeewwwweeee! Green mucous coats the entire truck, dripping down the walls.

“I’m tho thorry” he says, but at least his voice is somewhat clearer!

Along the shore is one of your favorite spots. A huge rock arch stands on the beach, so huge it has a few small trees growing on top. There is even a cave on the underside that isn’t readily visible.

“Come on,” you say, “we’ll clean this up later, let’s go down here, and you can explain what’s going on.”  You get out of the truck, opening the door for the dragon.

“No, please, let me…” the red sparkly dragon flies down to the ocean, where he inhales gallons of water. He flies back, sticks his head inside, and power washes the inside of the truck so it is spotless!

You walk shoulder to wing toward your favorite spot with the dragon.
  

THE END

Go Back: Stand there Gawping Like an Idiot

Go Back: Do You Shout for the Dragon to Come Back and Talk to his Friends

or

Start Over

The Goats Are Getting Smarter

Sure, right now, I look out they are all laying down, peacefully chewing their cud..... WRONG, they are plotting! Plotting what, you might ask? Simple, how to get more food. The drive for more food propels every goat on earth into action (well except the bucks in rut, but that is another story).

My five little darlings have opened the hay room door four times. Self serve, they think it's great, pulling out hay , brooms, bale strings, halters, anything the careless human thought was safe in there. The weight tape now has an end missing, a few other items have been altered.

Jumping up and down the stacked bales, what pure joy - for them. Even when we bring a fresh load of hay on the truck, if they can slide out that gate, the sound of little hooves on the tailgate is soon heard. This time, all but the pregnant doe romped up there.

Another glance out the window, they are all up and waiting, so I better get out there to serve breakfast before there is trouble!