A Chicken Tractor on Steroids.........

I spent this afternoon getting ready for "the girls"....

If you remember back in March I posted pictures

of a chicken tractor I wanted a friend to make for me.

Well.....this is it.....

on steroids....

It's technically still a chicken tractor....

it will just have to be moved with the truck each time

instead of wheeling it around by hand.

I think "the girls" will be happy at any rate!

Mmmmmmmmm......

Quiche....!

Dumb Crook Story....

We had our own 'dumb crook' story today......

There were about twenty five of us standing around

on the side of a back road waiting to complete our

yearly obstacle course drivers training that was

set up down a side road. There was a large sign placed 

at the side road stating: Sheriff's Office Training.

Most people driving by slowed to see what was

going on....a few slowed down and asked if

 they were supposed to stop...

...and then along comes this little dude who

stops...rolls the window down...and says:

"I don't have a license." I'm guessing he didn't 

read the sign and thought it was a traffic stop.

To top that off when we ran his name through

the system he had outstanding warrants.

Talk about having a bad day....

Did we have a big belly laugh over this?

What do you think........

of mysteries and magic....

ol'  mr bluebird appeared to be the recipient of his mates

wrath this morning. her scolding was so loud i went outside

to see if something was bothering their nest.

i guess she was a little upset that her 'chillrens' breakfast

was late......

"we speak of mysteries in our squawks

and magic in our chatters.

if you would slow to natures ebb and flow

you would hear what really matters."

~madeleine walker

blessings......

 i spent some time at the creek meditating today.

it's a wonderful solid rock creek bed that looks like

a mountain stream. i always find great comfort there

and feel enveloped by the power of the rock.

 this beautiful creature graced me with her presence.

her color is magnificent....

 according to Ted Andrews in Animal Speak:

"the dragonfly represents the power of light.

life is never quite the way it appears...but it is always

filled with light and color. dragonfly can help you see

through your illusions and thus allow your own light

to shine forth. dragonfly brings the brightness of

transformation and the wonder of colorful new vision."

 this little water snake eased out to see what i was up to.

"they represent rebirth...resurrection...initiation...and wisdom.

snakes are symbols of change and healing. they have speed

and agility....so those who have snakes come into their life

will usually find the changes and shifts occur quickly and are

soon recognized and defined. when snake comes into your

life you can look for a rebirth into new powers of creativity

and wisdom."

and tadpoles.....these little frog babies....

frogs have an ancient mythology about them. being

amphibians with links to the water and the land...they

are often associated with the magic of both elements.

they represent transformation through water and sound." 

light...new vision...creativity...wisdom...

transformation through water and sound...

aho....i am blessed...

the birds and the bees......

I had two of my young grand daughters.....five and seven years old....for the day today. We spent the morning inside playing and chatting. I got them a couple of brown paper bags with handles and let them color them before lunch promising them a "nature adventure" after they ate. 

They had baby carrots and broccoli to dip in ranch dressing with their lunch so when we started our adventure I took them outside and let them each pull a carrot from the garden and explained where carrots came from and how they grow. I told them how broccoli grows above the ground and carrots below. We went around the garden smelling all my herbs....rosemary....lemon thyme...mint...basil...and regular thyme.

As we walked around I showed them the honey bees on the clover and told them to watch where they stepped so they wouldn't be stung or kill the bees. I explained how the hive looks and how bees make the honey for their winter food. Later I let them taste fresh honey. I took them to the butterfly bush and showed them the bumble bees and explained the difference. They wanted to pick a flower off the bush and I let them each pick one explaining how they should only take one so the butterflies and bees could have food. I also told them to always thank the things in nature when they picked something or found a gift like a bird feather.

As we walked around they filled their bags with gifts of lichen...nut shells...little shiny rocks. We found a bird nest and I gave it to one of the girls and got another from the house for the other.  We sat on the porch for a while and watched the birds at the feeder and a pair of bluebirds making trips to their house to feed their babies. I explained how male and female birds are colored differently so the male would attract the predators and the female could get away. I told them the names for the birds at the feeder....cardinals...finch...and nut hatches.

When we came back inside I gave them each an old wasp nest to add to their "prizes". Both had picked up a stick to carry back inside so I got them each a feather and tied them to their sticks with streamers of multicolored yarn to make "fairy wands". We spent the rest of the afternoon granting wishes and sprinkling imaginary fairy dust on each other.

When their mom came to pick them up she asked me if they had behaved. I told her they had and we'd had a good time. I looked at the girls and said "We learned a lot didn't we?" Both gave a big YEAAAAAH! I told them to tell their mother what they learned. The oldest piped up and said......."We learned about birds and bees....." Well......their mom looked like Linda Blair in the Exorcist. Her head swung around towards me....she placed her hand over her heart....her mouth fell open....she had a look of horror on her face....she was speechless! I burst out laughing so hard that tears came to my eyes. When I could finally stop laughing I started telling her about the honey bees giving us honey and the colors of the birds....... Once that was clear she had a good laugh too. I don't think I'll ever forget the look on my daughters face!

fantastic fungi........

about paul stamets

via fungi.com

I'm gonna whine a little here...
i DO NOT like this new blogger format.
sometimes it takes FOREVER for the type to show
up and it wouldn't let me scroll down enough to change
the color of my link..........
just saying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juliette of the Herbs

Juliette of the Herbs

Juliette de Bairacli Levy

http://www.cultureunplugged.com/documentary/watch-online/play/8638/Juliette-of-the-Herbs

beautiful film......

beautiful person......

when.......

The Four Original Questions:

WHEN did you stop dancing?

WHEN did you stop singing?

WHEN did you stop being enchanted by stories?

WHEN did you stop finding comfort in the sweet territory of silence?

My Addition:

WHEN will you choose to begin again?

♥ ♥ ♥

~lore raymond

 



Fairy Gardens.......

Don't you love when you find that "special" garden center....

the one that has things not found in the big box stores?

Dearness Gardens is my go to place. When I want to

treat myself...it's either books or something from Dearness.

My oldest daughter made her first trip there recently and

saw their Fairy Garden. She was simply twitterpated!

It's been there for years now if that gives you an idea of

how pricey it is. Sooooo.....being the good mother that I

am....I've made her one for her garden.

The moss will continue to spread to cover the pot. The house

I ordered was actually a toad house with no door so I cut out

a door...burned some lines and a window with a wood burner...

stained...sealed...and glued it to the house. I cut the birdhouse

from a scrap of wood and painted it to match the house.

I think she's gonna like it......

This is a picture of the one at Dearness....

I'd really like to have it too.....but....$$$$$$$!

scorpio full moon.....

so....did you celebrate the Scorpio Full Moon last night?

i drummed with a group of healers on land that was

part of the Catawba Indian Reservation. The energy

was off the charts!

this is a picture of the energy from my fingertips....

 a closeup of my fingertip.....

here's a little information about the Scorpio Full Moon

from Jim.....

"we work on ourselves in order to help others...

but we also help others in order to work

on ourselves."

~pema chodron

be kind to mother earth....

namaste...

Tiny Houses

                         yes.....please!


http://tiny-themovie.com/

http://tinyhouseblog.com/tag/christopher-smith/

the beauty of pollination....

wonderful.......

who are you.....really?

my drug of choice.....

It's been raining here on and off all week leaving me stuck inside for longer than I'd like. I've always been an outdoors person....nature being my drug of choice. As a child I roamed the woods...playing for hours in the creek searching for "crawdads" and salamanders...building intricate villages from sticks and rocks...or just laying out in a field watching clouds (sure can't do that anymore with the fireants!)

Yesterday's workday seemed ten days long and I itched to get outside for a walk about and a little nature time. I guess Mother Nature felt my pain and sent me a little cheering committee. These guys were waiting outside the door when I splashed in from a soggy lunchbreak......

Thanks little guys.....

the garden muse

Sigh....

I'm sooooo ready to spend some time in my garden!

Happy Friday my friends........

the art of aging.....

I haven't read The Art of Aging by Alice and Richard Matzkin yet

but I've ordered the book. We are shamed into

believing our bodies aren't good enough if they don't match those

we see in the media. How awful that it takes aging to realize that

we are just what we're supposed to be........

the healing power of stones.....

Chris Booth stone sculptures.......

Fabulous!

the awesome healing power of stones....

thank you.....

the sand art of andres amador.....

beautiful.....

enjoying this beautiful sunday morning...

birdsong....

flowers....

sunshine....

thank you Creator...

thank you...

the full pink moon...

"in the beginning of all things...wisdom and

knowledge were with the animals...for the

One Above did not speak directly to man. 

He sent certain animals to tell men that he

showed himself through the beast...and that

from them...and from the stars and the sun 

and moon should man learn..."

celebrating the full pink moon on this

crisp spring night....

my home.....

it’s my home…she said

…i wear it like a crown

…with birds always swirling around

like memories of lost loves……





Ode to Great Mother.........



Clarissa Pinkola Estes.....one of my

all time favorite authors.....

We all need to remember to

honor our Great Mother...

Supper's ready!

Is there anything better than asparagus quiche 

with free range local eggs and asparagus 

from my own garden....that'd be YEAH....

having it with a glass of wine and creme fraiche.

Supper's ready!

(yes....down south we call it supper!)

cabin fever.......

cabin fever........oooooh yeaaaaaaaah!

this is the restored cabin of John and Carolyn Malone..

near Madison, Georgia...

featured here in Garden & Gun magazine.

want to see more....click here!

  



dead to me.......

"the heart was made to be broken..."

~oscar wilde

LOL.....I have NO idea where this came from....

my original idea just morphed!

we mirror the stars....

"with a thousand lights...

 from a thousand souls...

 we navigate our way through the darkness.

 look up... we mirror the stars..." 

- Changeling 

Patty Cake Cats.....

need a laugh to start your day?

i was trying to drink coffee and watch....

NOT RECOMMENDED!



the Tutu Project

The Tutu Project

by Bob Carey



This man is AWESOME!

she watched........

 "be soft.

do not let the world make you hard.

do not let the pain make you hate.

do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness.

take pride that even though the rest of the

world may disagree....

you still believe it to be

a

beautiful

place..."

~hazrat inayat khan

Beautiful..........

this is so beautiful it takes my breath away.......

via katie kendrick



Mike Stilkey......Awesome!

How cool would these be in a library?

Happy St. Patricks Day

I saw this on Pinterest...

LOL!

Happy St Patricks Day!

chicken tractors.....

Chickens...Chickens...Chickens...

I'm forever trying to find a reliable source of fresh...organic eggs.

So...I've finally decided to just get my own chickens.

I have plenty of room for chickens to run free range

but with all the coyotes and fox I don't feel they will

be very safe. I've got a friend building me a Chicken

Tractor so they can safely be free range. I printed these

pictures from an ebay seller so he could get an idea

of what I want. Sooooo looking forward to homegrown

vegetable quiche!

a song in my heart

I had an unusual visitor this afternoon at my bird feeder.

I haven't seen this little creature around here before

but enjoyed watching it share the bounty with my

regulars.....

"a bird does not sing because it has an answer...

it sings because it has a song"

~chinese proverb

watching these little ones makes my heart sing......



eradicating ecocide



please sign this letter to our world leaders

the earth needs our help......

genetically modified corn.....

Please visit here to sign the petition asking WalMart

NOT to sell genetically modified corn.

play.....

"nearly always there came a time

when each child felt the burden of

their uniqueness. at this point they

would reach inside looking for their

gift and they would place it into the

waiting hands of those that loved

them. in exchange they received a

smaller....

colder....

harder....

gift..

the gift of uniformity."

~manda clements

what a sorrowful thing... having to give up our gift

in order to "fit in" with the world...

wishing you a day of playing with your inner child...

she still holds the gift of wonder...delight...

playfulness...and creativity without judgement.

Welcome Lila.....

I welcomed my granddaughter Lila into this world today.

All 6 lbs 1 oz of her.....18 3/4 inches long.

I'm thankful she and her mother are both doing well!

Look how tiny her feet are...

My Leap Day grandbaby.....

Big Brother.....

How many of you take vitamins?

How many of you take herbal supplements?

Did you know that as soon as current supplies are deleted

you will no longer have the option to purchase what you've been using?

My friend is closing her Herb store next week because suppliers can't

get any more vitamins and herbs. She placed a WHOLESALE order for

$2400.00 worth of supplies for her family and only received $1200.00 worth.

I know Snopes says this isn't true but you need to do a little research on Snopes.

Oh....and by the way.....this includes heirloom seeds.

So if you plant heirloom seeds I would suggest you purchase what you

need before they run out and begin saving your own seeds.

I find this VERY scary!

food for thought....

with many thanks.......

 soooooooo.....did you send up your affirmations yesterday?

i made my list and sent them up with the pisces new moon.

and today....i cut my list into strips and hung them in my

prayer tree....with many thanks....

(this is a calendar picture from David Spratte)



my prayer tree:

Manifest BIG!

5:36 PM EST

Manifest   BIG

dancing the wheel........

"the Medicine Wheel suggests we are all one...

 all the circle...

 all the time.

  to live in balance and harmony

 we recognize and integrate these aspects of our selves daily...

 to live humbly...

 simply...

 and a life of higher awareness."

~the roaring of the sacred river

waiting for lila.....

i'm waiting for my new granddaughter....lila

she should be here in the next couple of weeks.

her spirit came through with Ancient Grandmother...

my native american spirit guide... last saturday.

i love each of my grandchildren...they are ALL special

but Ancient Grandmother tells me this one is different...

not in my love but as a future steward of Mother Earth...

she will walk in this grandmothers foot prints

namaste....little one

i won't give up........

this is a picture of the suns reflection on the pond

at the farm. look to the right the sun and the reddish

orb....do you see the face?
i do...

i miss you.....my space cowboy......

one tin soldier......

this song has been much on my mind today....
not for any particular reason.

it's from the movie "the legend of billy jack"

probably my all time favorite movie...

sometimes the injustices in this world

become so incredibly overwhelming....

so much hate....and jealousy.

kindness...and love

 really are

all 

that 

     matter...

perfection......

"perfection is achieved...

not when there is nothing more to add...

but when there is nothing left 

to take away."

~antoine de saint-exupery