Duck Pond

Since Dale got his duck, I've been wondering how it would interact with the waterfall and pond.  We haven't cleaned out the pond for the year yet which was exciting for the duck.

Happy Duck

This morning I noticed out the bathroom window that the duck had found the pond. I grabbed my camera and my phone before quietly slipping outside to the patio.

Why didn't you tell me about the pond?

The duck checked me out with a look that said, "You're holding out on me! There was a pond here with the tastiest food inside. How come you didn't tell me it was here?"

Snack time!

Made it home

I was actually home Tuesday evening.  I had picked up ten bags of wood chips when I was down in the cities.  I had six opened and down on the ground when it started to sprinkle.  I finished raking them up, let the dogs inside and took a break.

Front of the house with wood chips

The rain was a fairly short set of showers.  I was able to go out and finish the last four bags of mulch.  I can't wait for the lawn to green up so that it adds the contrast.  I had considered buying the red chips but that just isn't my style.  The more natural chips sounded good to me.

Driveway view of the house with wood chips

Working at the beginning of the first shower and just after the rain stopped was so perfect!  It smelled so fresh.  Which made freshening up the landscaping in the fresh-smelling air so peaceful.

On the road again

One of the differences between my current job and my past job is that my travel is now by car and only one or two nights away. I need to get home as quickly as I can after work tomorrow. But I  needed more wood chips. So I went to a Home Depot near my hotel and filled up my car and trunk.  I did this before taking my suitcase to the room. I needed to make sure that it fit for tomorrow.

Bags of work

The pool here was a good size. When I first got in, I  did a double take. Yes, the pool was totally inside the building and the walls were up. I'm not sure what it is about Minnesota indoor pool areas; but, they over heat the air and don't heat the pool water well enough. Once I  got into the water, it wasn't too bad.

Swimming time!

...a peaceful day

Although the day started out freezing cold with a fresh layer of snow on the ground, it ended up a perfect day. I'll skip around a bit.

Spending time in the pasture

This evening, I spent some time out in the pasture with the animals. They are so peaceful.  Gizem is the large sheep that I got last spring.  He is the one that will come running to me. (Friday evening when my nephew and sister cut through the pasture with me, he got so excited that he hopped across the pasture.)

Danny and Donny

It's so surprising how jealous all of the animals are when a different one is getting attention. The donkeys are especially jealous and will come closer when Gizem is getting attention.

Fresh wood chips by the pond

I finished the last 2 bags of wood chips. I'm going to need at least 10 more. But it looks so nice with fresh wood chips! Over the next few weeks, I'll be clearing off the gardens a little more. Lord, may we have normal spring weather please?

Easter supper

We ended the day with a special Easter meal.  Nothing traditional, just special. We had steak, sweet potatoes and macaroni and cheese with tuna. After supper was time for evening chores. All of the dogs fell asleep earlier than normal. They spent most of the afternoon outside playing in the back pasture while Dale worked on the skid loader which broke down on Saturday.

He is Risen!

He is Risen indeed!

Today we celebrate the end of three horific days in the Life of Jesus Christ. He was betrayed, accused and convicted of crimes that he did not commit. He was put to death by hanging on the cross. He became the ultimate sacrificial lamb shedding his blood for our sins. What makes it permanent is that he rose from the dead. He is Risen and is alive in Heaven with God the Father. Jesus death repaired the pathway that allows mankind to commune with God. If you don't have a relationship with God, reach out to him. He is waiting for you!

(My Easter tree was started about 2 weeks too early. I'll need to make a note right away for next year. )

Easter Tree and Easter Lily

40 minutes of care

Fresh Mulch out the back garage door

It was only 37 degrees but for weeks I've felt that I need to get some work done outside in the garden.  So as I went into St. Cloud and Sauk Rapids for my weekly trip, I  stopped by Home Depot for some mulch. I picked up 8 bags because I wasn't sure how much I would need.

Fresh Mulch around the Front Door

The dogs were all happy to go out and play for a while. I was able to get 6 of the 8 bags emptied and spread out around the back garage door and front door within a 40 minute time.

Duchess, Sonjia and Misty Blue warming up

Then we all came inside and the Dobermans curled up on the couches and whined to get covered up by blankets so they could warm up. I might need to sneak out and finish the last 2 bags.

Skyler played peek a boo before falling asleep

Free Range

Dale and my nephew Isaac, who had the day off for Spring break, worked outside on several projects today. They finished taking down the barb wire fencing to the West of the barn.

Chickens and Roosters Free-ranging

I went out to see what they had accomplished. The chickens and roosters were out free ranging. Get those nasty bugs chickies!

Rooster Dash

I had walked past a rooster on the way out. When the hens started to make their way into the woods, he took off on the run. He wasn't going to let them get out of his site.

Barb-wire down!

While Dale ran an errand, Issac drove the 4 wheeler and trailer while he helped start with some of the garden clearing.  That work that I was tempted to start two weeks ago.

Issac getting ready to work

It's raining this evening.  So his timing was perfect. I'm still accumulating vacation but I would have really loved to be outside working today! Even with my absence,  Isaac did a great job! Thanks Isaac :^)

Load one and go ...

What were they thinking?

As I walked out of the home office, the walkway was a bit slippery.  Yes it was snowing but for some reason, this whole section of driveway was painted gray.  There was some kind of grit put down which helped.  But paint when wet is slippery.

Fully painted walkway

I was supposed to head home at about 3PM.  It started snowing at the office around noon.  It would get light then heavy and light again.  The person that I was working with recommended that I take off about 1:30.  By the time that I walked out, it was a light period for snowfall and I was grateful for that.  Heading Northwest, I drove out of the snow.

Yes, It's late March Snow

I was home by 5PM.  I still had just over an hour of work to do.  Dale was outside working and came in about the time that I was finishing work.  He had told me on the way home that he wasn't hungry at all.  So I prepared both of us a piece of cherry pie ala mode from Bakers Square.  It was delicious!

Cherry Pie Ala Mode

Food & Fellowship

Isn't life all about good food and great fellowship?   After work this evening I was able to connect with a friend that I haven't seen in about two years.

Comfort Food: Chicken Pot Pie from Baker's Square

We met at Bakers Square and had some wonderful comfort food. We talked all through supper. It was surprising how quickly we caught up. I was also surprised how much I missed Bakers Square.

Baker's Square French Silk Pie

I could not resist the French silk pie. I didn't want to be selfish, so I ordered a whole pie to take home to Dale. My work schedule is changing for the week. I'm heading home a day early. It is just one of the perks of working closer to home.

Good morning World!

Good Morning World!

I was up and working by 7AM dressed and working. Then I heard Dale get up a few minutes later Misty was running up stairs telling me that Dale left.  She then immediately wanted to go outside. The sunrise was beautiful!

The sun is moving fast across the horizon

Misty Blue didn't want to stay outside too long.  But the sun on the other side moved rapidly up the horizon. The only thing I could think was "where are my paints and why don't I have time to paint this view!"

Brother's Reunite

This afternoon Skyler's brother Apollo came over. Apollo's people were here picking up some tree trunks that the county cut down last month.

"Wana play?"

The two brothers didn't take too long to reunite.  Then ran and played and pounced and dodged and .... I guess had a lot of fun.

Ring around the tree

Then they came inside and played some more. When Apollo left, it didn't take Skyler long to jump up on his blanket for a long nap.

ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzz

Sunday update

Brunch: Steak and Eggs with Wild Rice Wheat Toast

We left early this morning to meet Dad and Pat at church in Hinckley. After church we met Jordon, Sarra, and Nickolai for lunch.

One of these things is NOT like the others ;^)

When we got home I thought,  one of these things is not like the others ..... then I smiled at the duck laying out in the yard with the cats all around. They were all resting so peaceful and enjoying the sunshine.

This buds for me! Happy Springtime ~ March 2016

As I played outside with the dogs, I noticed that the buds on the lilac trees were beginning to show green.  There is hope for spring!

Easter Tree Update March 20th 2016

The lilac branch that I brought inside has started to wither up. It looks like I was about 2 weeks early.

The afternoon was filled with sunshine.  Although it was still on the cold side, the Dobermans chose to stay outside and play. Skyler is getting bigger every day.

Dobermans enjoying outside time on the first day of spring

My last update for the day is the air plants. Two of them are moments away from blooming. I love the brilliance of the colors!

Tillandsias closer to bloom time

Time

Sometimes commercials have profound statements: if time is infinite why isn't there enough time to get everything done?

The commercial was professing that we don't have the right tools. We need to purchase their tools.

My philosophy is two fold but simple. The first part comes from the enormous list of options available for us to fill up our time.  The more "advanced" that society comes the larger variety of opportunities that cross our path in the time of a day.

The second part is the way we view our day.  By that I mean that every second of every day we accomplish something. Even if it's taking a breath, it is an accomplishment.

Maybe we just need to change our focus so that we are content with the things that we accomplish each day. Then look at our list and prioritize the rest of it so that we can continue with no regrets.

Watching the cats and dogs curl up to sleep, they don't seem to have any regrets. Their daily to do list is simple: eat, sleep, play, potty, an please their people. Where or when did we go wrong?

Cat cuddle time in the barn

I can still fit on this bed! Skyler

Duchess

Misty Blue

Sonjia

TGIF!

Hurray!  It's Friday!  I don't normally wish my life away but this week has been filled with unusual ups and downs.  The straw that broke the camels back was the snow falling off and on throughout the day.

Family photo: Skyler, Misty Blue, Dale, Sonjia, Duchess

I ended the day with over 100 pounds of Doberman on my lap.  It was like they knew that I needed some extra snuggling.

Grandma and Grandson cuddling on my lap

On the bright side, I was able to publish my third book as an ebook this week. Hugs Hands and Heaven Help Hank is now available on amazon for a maximum of $2.99!

I find in life that there is always a positive and a negative to consider. I try my hardest to look for the positive things around me. Sometimes that is more difficult than others.

Home again ..... jiggity-jig

Sorry that I haven't written for a few days.  I was traveling to a client site.  Between a new job and new client, I was fairly brain dead.

I am home now. I was greeted by many loving fur-faces.  They are noisily playing right now. Music to my ears open (for a few seconds anyways.)

Love you! Skyler

I'll write more later. I just need to allow myself time to recoup.

Ready, set, project!

The pasture before ....

Oh wait, that's not how it goes. But the rain is falling and soaking into the ground. That means the frost is coming out of the ground.

Loaded up!

The farm was broken up into 4 pastures when we bought it. One is usable for sheep. We need to redo over 500 feet of pasture fence to make the rest usable for the sheep as it stands.

Is this a better view? ...that's a lot of work!

We will be squaring out the pasture as well as removing the old barb wire. Then see will put up new wire and let the animals have at it. But so that it can be done as people and equipment are available, we purchased the biggest supplies today.

So much to do ..... so little time! 

A breath of fresh air!

I haven't heard the official number yet to know if we broke any records. What I do know was it was an exceptionally beautiful early spring day.

Another glorious sunset to review the day by.....

The dogs spent a lot of time running outside in the fenced in yard. Each time they would get inside it wasn't long before they were napping.

I walked around to look at all of the gardens. They were calling my name.  I wanted to get down on my knees and dig in the dirt.

Garden, waiting for springtime

Instead I used all of my power to resist. Years ago, I learned that no matter how warm it gets before Easter the only gardening that you do is planting potatoes on Good Friday.

Can you hear it?  "Trisha! clear me out!"

A friend of Dale's stopped by to visit but Dale was at work. There is a rule at my house: stop by without notice and I might find work for you. (Especially if you interrupt the work that I'm doing.) We went out into the pasture, tied up the donkeys and gave each one a good brushing. Then I put the calves in the barn so they could have some grain.

Currying the Donkey

Walking in after sunset (my first picture) there was a fresh smell in the air.  It is supposed to rain overnight despite there not being many clouds in the sky. For a few moments, I thought that I could smell the rain!  Ahhhh!