"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Good Morning! The day begins

Every day in my corner of the world, my day begins between 5:30 to 6:00 a.m. My youngest son gets ready for school, I see him off as the bus rolls up to take him away.

By this time, the morning sun is just starting to streak through the window. Salem is as anxious as I to go out and see what the new day brings.

The mornings are now quite chilly and the cats find the best spots of sun to warm themselves in.
Tuff likes the cement and the bush by the shed.

Sophie is ready to start the day. As soon as everyone is checked on, she knows we go on our daily walks.



Boo has found the perfect sunny spot on the old church pew by the back door. Wait, I am missing someone.....where is Max?


Max is not as eager to leave the warm bed and ignores my pestering him to come outside.


The barnyard gang is always happy to greet me.


The ducks have already been splashing in the cold water of their pool and are quite noisy today.


Gideon is checking out the grain I have tossed to everyone.


Eleanor wants more than grain, she wants me to pull some of the remaining green grass to hand to her.


Now that they have been checked upon, we have a quick walk to the pond. Jeremiah is still living in our pond, even though it has been freezing over in the cold mornings.

The fish have slowed down a little due to the colder water, but still have a good appetite.

Yesterday, the cotton fields were white with the cotton balls hanging on the plants. Do any of you have cotton fields around your place as well?


Today, the field is bare with only a little hint that cotton once grew here. The farmers harvested it yesterday and took it to the gin.


Along our roads, soft fluffy cotton lies where it has blown from the hauling trucks.


Sophie loves to explore in the tall prairie grass. The grounds are now going to sleep for the long winter ahead.


Every thing is drying up and turning brown.

Except for the cactus that grows abundantly here. I just love cactus that grows along an old barbed wire fence.

Our property is full of old twisted mesquite trees. They don't offer much shade in the summer, but they are full of character.

Looking across our property, the "Caprock"mountains, not really much of a mountain, can be seen in the far off distance. It is mostly clay, and even though it's not too tall, it is still pretty around the flat lands that we live.



My favorite view..... A view walking back to our home. A full morning of outside almost gone. Now I will go inside to write or work up a new project, talked about in my embroidery bloghttp://yesteryearembroideries.blogspot.com/ and then to the kitchen to cook up the day's meals, talked about in my cooking blog, http://countrykitchenkat.blogspot.com/ If you are curious as to what the big white plastic barrel is by the house....it is a rain barrel to catch the run off rain. I use it a lot in the summer for my plants. Have a good week everyone!!
Hey!!!! it's me Hercules!!... You left me out Kathleen, I am the first one you check on every morning! I get special treats and special treatment because I am the only little bunny on the farm!!
Yes, that's right, he's quiet and sweet and has my utmost attention!



















28 comments:

Phill said...

What a wonderful tour! This is a great post - thanks for letting us see your place. For some reason, I'm stuck on the picture of the chickens with the one lone goose sticking up there, LOL. If that's not morning light, I don't know what is! Really pretty.

Jen's Farmily said...

I agree with City Mouse! What a great tour you took us on!

The cactus around the fence line is sort of a secondard fence isn't it? If whoever it is gets past the barbed wire, then the cactus will surely get to them!

What do you have to do special for the fish in the winter? Anything?

Anonymous said...

Thank you for visiting & leaving a comment on my blog. I have had the best time looking at your blog and see that we have many common interests. The pictures of your cats are just so sweet. I am so glad to meet you and look forward to visiting again.

Anonymous said...

I found your blog through a comment you left on Mildred's blog 'Nalley Valley'. You have a delightful blog and I have truly enjoyed looking at your beautiful photographs and reading all about your wonderful animals. I have two little kitties of my own. I live in Dallas, but I wish I lived in a smaller, country community. I envy the life you live among green and growing things, in an area that is not so absolutely driven by the pursuit of money money money. Have a wonderful week, I hope you have time to do a little decorating for Christmas this week!

Anonymous said...

Your cat Elmo (I'm so sorry for your losses--to lose two kitties so close to each other must have been terrible) reminds me of Desdemona. When she rolls over on her back her long hair sticks straight out and she truly looks like she has swallowed a watermelon!! Just like you, I say she's fluffy, not fat. Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind comments. I really am trying to bloom where I'm planted, I think it's easier for an unmarried woman to make a living in a large city-- I'm a secretary for a law firm. I just really hate the hurried pace and the inhumane way people treat each other, and I get so tired of the 'cement jungle'. But, I'm thankful for what I have. I know God is guiding me and that really is enough for me. Have a wonderful week!

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

I always enjoy seeing other peoples homes and how they live. Especially when the landscape is so different from mine.
looks like you had a nice morning walk.

Dana of The Stone Rabbit said...

Thank you so much for leaving a comment on my blog--because I have now just had the best time getting to see your wonderful place and all of the great animals who share your life! You could probably tell, I'm an animal lover, too. We've had cats every since I can remember---a golden for 12 years and now our grand dog lives with us. The 2 cats and the dog give us great joy, and since our kids are grown, they give me topics for posts!!!
It was so nice to "meet" you---Dana http://thestonerabbit.typepad.com

Amy said...

Thanks for sharing your morning, I really enjoyed it. There are no cotton fields here in Ohio. Can you do anything with the cotton pieces that blow off the trucks? I'd probably try stuffing a pillow with them, or maybe lining the nest boxes.

Isn't it fun how your flock is always happy to see you. Of course if you don't have any food for them they just ignore you! LOL My ducks are always "starving" and my chooks always want out immediately. *sigh* Where's the love???

Lynne said...

Love the post, how interesting. Very different to here in Sweden.
I just stopped by from Miss Linda's blog where you had posted a comment.
I will watch your progress with the chickens as I am planning to get some in the spring. Looks as though you have it all worked out though.
Lynne

Patty H. said...

Would love to go on one of your morning walks. It's a bit too chilly here for that-21* right now. I guess I'm like Max, not too eager to leave the warmth of the house.
Thanks for the virtual walk.
And for the comment on my blog

Nancy M. said...

Great pictures! Is Salem doing well now? We don't have any cotton too close to us, maybe a few miles away. I would be like Max and be lazy!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Thanks for stopping by our blog and saying Hi. I'm glad you did. I didn't know you had a cooking blog too and I saw that you have some very good sounding recipes there. Take care and have a good week. Twyla

Anonymous said...

I have a pullet that looks just like your Eleanor. She is my favorite chick!

Gingerbreadshouse7 said...

Your post today was a bomb! it blew my mind :o), I think I would have gotten a bag and picked up all that leftover cotton for spinning..and don't forget to collect those prickly pears to dye it with..spin your yarn with the results...Bet you won't eat those chickens :o), they become pets, Ginny..

LindaSue said...

great tour of the homeplace! Hercules bunny is looking quite content in his new home. Your cats make me smile - I miss my little house cat but our barn cat Moe is quite a lover too.

Victoria Lynn said...

Dear Kathleen,
Thank you so much for stopping by, and for your kind comments. I loved reading your blogs. I see we both have dogs named Sophie and a cat named Abby! I think we have lots more in common too. I love your farm, it looks idyllic! Have a blessed Christmas season.
Victoria Lynn

CatHerder said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog...your kitties are so cute! Love the chickens too..thats my dream, to someday have a homestead with chickens and roosters...maybe a few goats for milk...and bees!

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

Thanks so much for stopping by! Love your pics. I have two water barrels - wouldn't be without them!

Tipper said...

I so enjoyed seeing how your morning unfolds! Just amazing photos!

KathyB. said...

I agree with City Mouse, what a wonderful tour. Yes, you can tell when it starts getting cold, the cats all find a sunspot to claim as theirs, and I have discovered you can tell the pecking order in chickens by seeing who gets the best sunspots in the chicken yard !

I like the pictures of the cotton field and cotton. Seems like magic that it just grows. We don't have cotton fields here, the fiber that just grows here is sheep, and I have to feed them !

Anna Colleen said...

I think your farm is sweet,
your cats look smoochy,
Tuff looks a lot like my cat winter.

Paula said...

Poor little Hercules!!
Thanks for taking me along on your morning routine, Kathleen!!
I love your house!

Conni said...

Really enjoyed the morning walk - and seeing all of the farm animals - especially nice to see Salem doing well - and little Hercules...

Flower said...

Great tour! Every animal you have is adorable and I'm sure very loved!! Our daughter has the same amount of cats...but instead of a frog...they have two kermit crabs!!
Animals are everywhere around here too!! It's worth the sweeping..I guess!! :)

Julie said...

Your day is just lovely!
I adore the stained glass window in the first picture!
And Jeremiah......love him!
The mesquite trees, you're so right, they have so much character!
I think that I loved everything... well, the kitties have me scratching...but... LOL
Merry Christmas,
Julie

Connie said...

I think I would be back snuggled in that warm bed with Max!! HA! But then, it has been being between 15 and 20 degrees outside here most mornings lately.

No cotton fields here. We have corn fields and soybean mostly and some wheat fields too here and there. :)

Eggs In My Pocket said...

Just loved all of your comments. Thank you all for stopping by. Blessings, Kathleen

Wish on a Whisker said...

Can I come and visit and play with the animals? Just wonderful! Save me a piece of cotton. *Smile* ~Mandy