The vibrant orange rays of the early morning sun

are just beginning to streak through the crooked branches of the mesquite woods

as Sophie and I head out to the chicken yard.  The chickens and ducks are starting to squawk and quack, knowing that I am on the way to let them out of their enclosure to wander the grounds for the day.

Even if I live to be 95, I think I will always enjoy the need to be out of bed in the early morning hours,......if it's to either feed and take care of a chicken, or even if it is just to see the still quietness of the woods............whether it is freezing snow on the ground, hot wind and dust blowing, or heavy pounding rain outside. These early morning moments are what I look forward to.

How about you? Do you like being able to just stay in a sleep a little longer,

or is life outside tapping on your window and calling for you to come out?

 I would love to hear! 

Two new roosters have come to the farm..................

one actually to the farm kitchen............I started working on this cross stitch rooster years ago, always putting it away and then going back to stitch now and then..........off and on. But these past 8 weeks or so, I have stitched continuously on this project and now it is finished! I plan to frame it and hang it in my kitchen around my other "rooster collection".  I am also toying with the idea of offering my embroidery services to others..........for those who have cross stitched projects started, but not completed,........ but would like for me to complete them. But that is a plan still in the thought process.

Meet Lil' Tex. Out of the 18 "hen chicks" I purchased this spring, was this little rooster. I almost gave him away to a friend, however, changed my mind because of his small size and of the small size of 5 hens that are of his breed. This set will make a great addition to my " chicken raising plan".

This poor dry creature says it all about how the conditions  still are here in Texas. This is a Vinegar Roan. Evil looking, but completely harmless, except for the vinegar smelling spray they give off when something bothers them. I have seen the cats and dog get sprayed by them, and it seems to sting a little, making them to remember to not mess with this creature. It usually looks a shiny black, but with the drought, it is as dry as the hard ground it comes from. It boldly approached me as I was watering............desperate for a drink.... and I cannot refuse any creature when it is thirsty.

Yet, in all of this............hope has it's many different forms. This young one was in the middle of flying lessons when I interfered.............with both parents scolding me.  It wasn't long before it and it's parents were flying off into the woods.  Sophie and I usually take a little midnight stroll out to the yard before retiring for the night. Last night  we surprised a badger, who had come up for a drink of water out of the bird's bath. Thankfully, he was as scared of us as we were of him, and quickly darted off into the blackness of the woods. 

What kind of creatures are you encountering?

I would love to hear!

Farewell Max

It's been almost 17 years since this striped, soft ball of fur with 7 claws on each foot, entered our lives. When we lived in the city, he was the neighborhood prowler and warrior. There was no cat too big or too mean to win over Max. He was king of his territory. When we moved out here to the farm, Max was upset and ran away to find his old home in the city............and he let us know that he was a city kitty, not a country prowler. Four days later, he returned, worn out and starving, but glad to be back with us............and soon accepted his more quiet and peaceful life. Over the years, he changed from the king rodent hunter to passively lying on the coolness of the front porch..............sleeping, while his tail flicked and his mouth quivered in some dream of catching his latest bounty..................a surrendered country gentleman.

 I 've been preparing myself for this day..................all of the signs have been here in front of me for the past week.  Yesterday, I found him, curled up in his favorite spot, where he had gone to sleep, and dreamt a dream of thick green woods, full of mice and other small creatures to chase..............this time, he kept on chasing them to where ever these sweet creatures go for eternity. No matter how much I was ready, I was not ready to let him go..........although I know it was the best and sweetest way for him to do so.

  As the years go by and we get whacked by life's stick of disappointments, I have always thought that our hearts are supposed to grow tougher............isn't that the way it works?? 

Well.............it has not happened for me yet.................or my heart just hasn't gotten that message.

For awhile, I will still fix an extra plate of food, go out and call Max's name and wait for him to bring me a small captured prize from his prowling, and shed a tear. For a little while ......................

farewell Max.

  

No rain in sight...........

and it has been this way in our part of Texas for the past few months. The dirt from the cotton fields have blown into our back property, leaving us with sand dunes,as if there is a beach with water on the other side................but no.

No green grass is growing and water is so sacred that we don't dare water the yard.

I am watering my zinnia and pumpkin gardens, but doing so late in the evening and being careful not to over water and waste.   

All around the grounds, it looks like winter instead of a green summer.

We all pray and question God.  

And He lets us know that He is still here.............

watching over us....and giving us hope............for a day when maybe........

it might rain.

When I saw these prairie flowers the other day, my mind instantly went to the Bible verse

" I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am......."

Philippians 4:11

The flowers grow and bloom , no matter how harsh the conditions are.............and they seem content and do what they need to do.  Giving me a good lesson to live by ................and I will try to follow their example.