Feeling Crazy?

It's the full moon baby! This is the "snow moon" as February is generally the snowiest month in the northeast, according to The Old Farmer's Almanac. February can also be the "hunger moon" as it could be a tough time to find enough to eat when the Native Americans populated the land along with our wild brothers and sisters.

So far, this has been an unusual winter, with scant snow cover and overall relatively warm temperatures. Certainly easier for the wildlife to survive, I would surmise. I wonder if it will also mean the insect population will be excessive in the spring?

At any rate, in my corner of the world, the sky is clear and the moon is brilliant. If you aren't one of those people who spends a lot of time outside anyway (and even if you are) give yourself a moment to go out and enjoy it. Heck, drag someone else out there with you, grab some binoculars, howl (it's really fun!). If you miss tonight, no worries, it will be quite bright a few more days.

Moonlight

It's around 1:00 am, and absolutely beautiful out. The moon is waxing quite bright, there is just enough snow cover in my yard to reflect the light all around. There is no wind, and it doesn't feel very cold, high 20's maybe (I didn't look at the thermometer). I came inside just before the moon sunk below the tree line, just before heavy darkness.

What in the world was I doing out there? Well, I put off going to town for groceries and supplies until nearly 5pm, so supper, chores, bed, you name it, was pushed back late - which meant I fell asleep on the couch before getting it all done. Hubby managed to get me to stir on his way to bed, so off I went to finish chores. Wake up the dog, give him his pill (antibiotic following dental surgery). Go outside with fresh, warm water for goats and get them their hay. Sit for awhile with goats, basking in the peacefulness - which was exactly what my soul needed.

Give it a whirl?

Yes, I have neglected this newly created blog on the pretense that I'm too busy, but the real under-current is I find it hard to believe that my posts would be worth any one's time to read.

My pal, Kerri, suggested I try her blog hop that is coming up, so why not?!

I can't believe the new year rolled in, and all of January has flown by. My life in a nut shell is children, animal chores, family, Girl Scouts, friends and a part time job.

We are expecting goat kids in April, I can feel the babies moving in her belly! MaaMaa goat is steadily expanding in girth, and I need to get her vaccinations taken care of before she is too close to her due date. We still have two of her kids from last year, and they still stay quite close by her side, they are going to be upset when she has new little ones to focus on.

My children are outside a lot, they love to explore and just be outside. The boy has a small tractor he enjoys working on, and he uses it to do various jobs around the place. He recently mounted a plow onto the front, although there has been very little snow for him to clear. The girl has new binoculars, and some nature books, so we have started keeping a nature journal. It has been great fun to focus on what is happening around us in the natural world.

Yesterday, before school we spotted 2 downy woodpeckers, later on my way to the vet clinic for my JRT's (Jack Russell Terrier) dental appointment, I saw a flock of geese flying North, seriously aren't they a bit early? Maybe next year I'll know if we keep up this habit! Also yesterday, the children followed a flock of wild turkeys up the hill before dusk, hoping to see where they were going to roost. We have been logging sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moon set, watching it wax. Tonight there were two beautiful rings encircling the heavenly body, and our family standing out there admiring it before bed.

Happy Thanksgiving

Such a busy time of year, hardly time to sit and jot down anything. Managed to get our doe bred, if all goes as planned, should have kids born the first part of April! Cleaned out the gutter, washed window screens, trying to get squared away before winter really sets in. Another snow storm last night, the heavy, wet, sloppy kind - slows down the progress.

Regardless of how much pressure we feel from the up-coming holidays, the winter weather on top of daily demands, I try (notice I said try) to stop and think of the things I'm thankful for. No matter the date on the calendar, if I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed or blue, I always feel better if I make an effort to think about the things that make me happy and appreciative instead of what is pulling me in a stressful or negative direction.

Enjoy everyone

Ready for Winter?

Gosh, last week we had two snowstorms, the 1st left 3" at my house, the 2nd left over a foot! Now, the ground is bare except in a few shady spots. Thankfully, we didn't loose power - I understand some places are on day seven without power, ugh. Certainly was quite a Halloween "trick", the only treat was in the beauty. As much as I didn't want it, new fallen snow is lovely.

I still have outdoor chores that I would like to see done before winter sets in, so I'll gladly take any sunny days we are given. The goats need a better configuration of their fencing, the yard could use scraping, followed by new fill. MaaMaa goat needs to find a handsome buck so we have fresh milk in the spring. The shed should be cleaned out & re-organized (been saying that since spring). Chicken coop needs attention, the old birds should go elsewhere. Winterizing should happen, I'm sure you all have a similar list, or maybe you are better prepared for the cold season, or maybe you live in the South and your preparations were for hurricane season instead.

Rural Life

You might live in a rural area IF: now I can think of about a thousand ways to finish that sentence, but today it was... if you have to stop and herd goats and chickens out of the road on your way home.

Lucky for the livestock, another woman and I stopped, had the hazard lights on and found where the wandering animals belonged. Sadly the humans who should have been responsible were actually outside, but had not paid any attention their critters were in the middle of the road. I know if my goats were out loose with me, and I couldn't see them, AND heard car horns blowing, I would have gone to investigate right quick!

Animals in the road are actually more common than you might think, unless you too live in a rural area -- then you know what I'm talking about. I've had occasion to stop for cows, horses, dogs, cats, goats, chickens, geese and children. Of course around here, the wild animals also prevail and I've seen the likes of: deer, moose, bear, red & grey fox, coyote, bobcat, skunk, raccoon, opossum, otter, weasel, beaver, mink, porcupines, chipmunks, red & grey squirrels, mice, moles/voles (pretty hard to tell from the car, or otherwise), turkeys, geese, partridge, pheasant and I must have forgotten something.

So the next time you are out taking a drive, pay attention, there is no telling what you might see.

Quotes I like (as I compile them)

"Everyone is a genius, but if you judge a fish on it's ability to climb a tree, it will live it's whole life believing that it is stupid."
                    - Albert Einstein