Author: Carrie

Shed In A Box Part 2 (And A Haiku)

~ Carrie

The heat index has hit the triple digits here. There’s little in the way of a breeze, and the occasional breeze isn’t all that cooling. It’s hot, sticky, and generally unpleasant. Seems like the right kind of day to restart the shed in a box assembly!

This project has moved along in fits and starts: first, too cold – then, too stormy. Today, it was partly cloudy and since we didn’t need to run any errands, we decided to resume putting the shed together. It’s not supposed to be terribly difficult or time-consuming…hmm. Now, we understand why farmers engage in frenetic activity in fall and spring: cooperative weather. Continue reading “Shed In A Box Part 2 (And A Haiku)” →

Hey, That Bush Is Moving!

~ Carrie

BagwormWe were getting ready to tackle a farm project when we noticed a shrub near the garage seemed to have a piece of dead vegetation on it, moving wildly. There wasn’t much of a breeze, so we took a closer look.

The part that was moving was hanging from the bottom of a branch, and while the rest of the plant was green, it was a dry brownish color. As we kept watching, a caterpillar emerged from the top and was clearly responsible for the movement – wavings its house around. Strange, indeed. Continue reading “Hey, That Bush Is Moving!” →

Cherishing Borrowed Time

~ Carrie

XenaIt can be challenging to remember the things for which we are grateful, but if we take a few minutes, we can ground ourselves and get some perspective. A recent visit to our local vet reminded us of something we knew in the back of our minds, but didn’t consciously think of each day: how lucky we are to still enjoy the company of our dog, Xena.

Xena is a lab/shar pei mix. She’s going to be 13 next month. She’s lived in three different states, with two different dogs and six different cats during her lifetime. She almost died of a severe coccidia infection right after we adopted her from a shelter, and she’s had 2 TPLO surgeries. Otherwise, she’s been a generally healthy dog, usually “bright eyed and bushy tailed”, and just a little crabby with cats.

We noticed a lump on her neck last year that seemed to be growing. Lumps in older dogs can signify many things, including benign cysts. Strangely, she was also coughing like something was tickling her throat, so we took her to the vet to get it checked out. Tests revealed that she had thyroid cancer. Continue reading “Cherishing Borrowed Time” →

Another Strange Bug

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

Wheel_BugWe were trying to put together the shed in a box that has been in the garage, partly assembled, since winter (we nearly froze our hands trying to assemble it outside), when we noticed a very strange insect walking slowly and methodically across the garage floor. From the way it moved and its size, it looked a bit like a praying mantis at first glance.

When we got closer, it was clear that it wasn’t a mantis. It was a grayish color and had a spiny-looking protusion on its back. To ensure it wouldn’t be run over in the garage, we carefully relocated it outside, using a piece of wood. Continue reading “Another Strange Bug” →

The Importance of Eating Local

~ Carrie ~ 1 Comment

Farmers_Market_BountyThis morning, we went to our local farmer’s market. We were there primarily to see “our” beef vendor – we enjoy the warm welcome and conversation, not to mention the delicious grass-fed beef! Even though it’s a small market, it’s heartening to see local eggs, chicken, lamb, produce, jams, soap…almost everything on your grocery list.

Speaking of local, the market’s lamb vendor lives just a few houses down from us. We see her sheep from our own property, and we can hear the “baa”ing. With the green rolling hills studded by white sheep, it looks like it could be a scene in Ireland. Who wouldn’t want to eat lamb that has frolicked in the grass, enjoying the sunshine and companionship of the flock? Knowing how those lambs are raised and seeing the farmer’s pride in her product makes it taste even better. Continue reading “The Importance of Eating Local” →

Phoebe’s Ducklings Scoff At Containment

~ Carrie

Those tiny Muscovy ducklings are always getting into mischief. They’re small enough to go right through the fence into the neighboring run, and Mom (Phoebe) can’t follow.

They’ve figured out how to exploit the weaknesses of the fence. They hop right over the plastic netting on the bottom to play in the mud. While Phoebe doesn’t look all that upset, we saw juvenile red-tailed hawks circling yesterday, so those babies need to stay in their fully-netted run.

We reinforced the netting at the bottom of the fence to keep those wily babies in (zip ties come in handy for many projects). Seems like they always find some vulnerability to exploit, forcing us to quickly repair it. They probably laugh about it, too.

In a couple of weeks, they’ll be too big to squeeze through the fence, but until then, we’ll have to keep an eye on these guys. If there’s way, they’ll get out…