~INSPIRATION~

Inspiration in the form of Queenisms... words by Cindy Ratzlaff and Kathy Kinney...

She decided to stop waiting until

everything, including herself,

was perfect...

So she took a deep breath, let

go of her fear

of being judged

and simply began to live...

It felt delicious!!...



QUESTION?

Could this bird have the capability of flying off with Sadie Mae? Sadie was a light weight, perhaps two or three pounds...

I believe this bird to be a hawk, what species I am not sure...this bird has been hanging around (high in the tree tops and also in the field) since early July...There has been absolutely no trace of Sadie Mae, it is as if she simply vanished into thin air...Any information and or advice would be greatly appreciated...thank you...

~SALTY SEA AIR~

Blue waters and salty sea air are calling me...

I'm leaving my woe's behind and heading down the bay...an island visit is well needed and earned... 

~DEAR SADIE MAE~

Sadie Mae... where in the world have you disappeared to?  Come on now...It's been four long days since I scolded you for scratching the furniture...enough already...come home...

...I miss you...we miss you...

I apologize... come home...no questions asked... To be continued...

~AUGUST~

Twilight comes and the song of the cricket is soon to follow...

The August air lies soft and cool... a much welcomed relief from our summer weather...Once the grey rains of June disappeared ...July came barreling in with scorching heat and high humidity...

 The gardens have suffered...both vegetable and flower...the only plant to do well was dill, which had reseeded itself...

 In the hen house my flock of nineteen was suddenly reduced to eighteen...Annabelle...a petite white banty...suddenly became ill...she was brought inside and nursed in the chicken infirmary... sadly Annabelle passed away peacefully two days later...needless to say I have a very lonely rooster...But...on a happier note...Travis Lloyd is walking...and accumulating a vocabulary. His favorite word, said with much enthusiasm...

 one  he repeats over and over again..."TRACTOR"

tomorrow...I'll show you why...

THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND~

I highly recommend taking the road less traveled...

 you just never know where it may lead or what you might encounter...

 unlike any pig farm I have ever seen...

 but certainly one having a sense of humor...

so...throw caution to the wind...take a back road...chances are you'll discover something new that just might put a smile on your face!



~GREETINGS FROM DOG TROT FARM~

Greetings from Maine...those hazy, hot, and humid days of summer have arrived and along with them... rain and fog...Humidity, how do women in the South deal with endless days of humidity? Me...my hair curls...my skin takes on a permanent shine and clothes sick to my body...Spanx...I need Spanx...

 July 1st...honestly... how can it be... where did June go? My grandmother was correct when she use to say "the older you become the faster time goes"... remember those long idyllic carefree days of summer? A thing of the past...

 Here in New England "we" rush around making  grand attempst at those chores which have been building up... creating a mighty fine "to do" list... 

but, there is progress... Mr. Dog Trot has  installed the new kitchen window... finally there is a date for the installation of new  living room carpet... and new/old pine flooring is being put down in our bedroom...progress... 

  I love native strawberries...do you? here in Maine the strawberry season is in full swing, those tender red berries, plump and juicy...homemade strawberry shortcake with fresh whipped cream is my nirvana... 

 this is Mr. Dog Trot's nirvana...

fresh sweet lobster meat...with just a touch of mayo...

"All I could see where I stood was three long mountains and a wood. I turned and looked the other way and saw three Islands in the bay." Edna St. Millay. I hope to catch up with each and everyone of you...I am looking forward to seeing what you all have been up to...Enjoy the day, Julie.

~A FIRST BIRTHDAY~

~HAPPY BIRTHDAY~

One year ago today this precious little boy, Travis Lloyd came into the world. Mr. Dog Trot and I became first time grandparents...I still can't believe I am old enough to be a Granny...but it is a role I would not relinquish for anything in the world...

Travis has a special connection with his Uncle Kristopher... Uncle Kristopher cannot wait for his little nephew to get a bit bigger to help run farm equipment...

so it came as no surprise that Uncle Kristopher knew exactly what a future farm boy is in need of

A rear steering John Deere pedal tractor...Grampy was impressed...

Today was a lovely day... one filled with family, friends, good food, and a most delicious CAKE...

Happy First Birthday Travis, love Granny...

 

 

 

~BABY PROOFED~

If you are a parent or grandparent to a toddler it is highly likely your home has been baby proofed... Cabinet doors are  donned with fancy locks...gates have been strategically placed ...in other words your home is now a secure  fortress...Below is a photo of a Safely First cabinet lock, let me just state for the record these locks do their job especially well... Mr. Dog Trot and I have a difficult time unlocking them...for instance last evening I wanted to run the dishwasher, unfortunately for me the dish soap was  locked behind this particular cabinet...Mr. Dog Trot was away for the evening...so needless to say...

 I had to wait for Mr. Houdini to arrive...

 

he has no problem whatsoever...go figure...

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY~

Happy Mother's Day...

There is no other gift in the world as special as that of a mother...when life gets busy... I may not say it often enough... but mom... I just want you to  know how very fortunate I feel to have been blessed with such a loving, caring mother as you have been and continue to be...not only to me, but our entire family. The love from your heart and warmth of your touch...makes the world a better place...FYI this is a photo of my mother who retired this past December from the postal service at the age of 83 years young...believe me when I say she is a hard act to follow...

~WHAT WAS I THINKING~

Last Tuesday I found myself at the mall...the mall...I am not a good mall shopper...really, I am not a mall shopper at all...but with two hours to kill before a doctor's appointment...I went into Lands End...I like Land's End clothing especially when it's on sale...Well, I found myself  doing something that I never ever do...I tried on clothing...mind you not just any clothing, but bathing suits...yes, you read that correctly...Lord have mercy...what in the world was I thinking...well, I know what I was thinking Granny needs a new bathing suit with SUPPORT...I tell ya... I had a good laugh as well as a good cry...but I was not going to let this experience get the best of me...no s-i-r-r-e-e...I dusted myself off...pulled myself together and drove to Target...

have I told you how much I like shopping at Target?...Travis does too...

~SPRING ROUND UP~

I have great empathy to those of you who are still enduring winter weather, mother nature seems  quite cruel this year... but for those of us who reside in New England spring is here...an early morning walk finds the woods alive with scampering squirrels and the delightful sound of bird song...trees have begun to leaf out while tiny wildflowers show their dainty faces...I do feel the presence of  fairies peering out at me...the woods have taken on a magical quality...
                                       

 The cold wet earth has dried and is warm enough for spring planting to begin... plant sales held by local churches and historic properties are now found on the weekend agenda...I find this a wonderful way to expand one's flower garden and also offer the opportunity to try "new to you" plants... and the much sort after heirloom plants,...a new plant added to my perennial bed this spring is "Leopard's Bane" a yellow daisy like flower...It is  time  for list making...  deciding which plants to fill containers and window boxes...Friday I paid one of my favorite nurseries a visit...I did not purchase anything...but simply enjoyed the warmth, color and fragrance that the greenhouses had to offer...when purchasing plants and flowers I make a great effort to buy local, but I admit, buying inexpensive flats from big box stores, does occur...here at Dog Trot Farm every penny counts... 

It is also time to take note of those plants which did not made it through the long winter...and those plants which give a favorite look and color...My feeling is every garden needs a bit of Lady's Mantle and Rose Campion, these perennials make a flowerbed "'pop...well, my flowerbed anyway...

Now, it would not be spring if I did not mention chickens, specifically chicks...my flock of fifteen are doing well and remain dependable layers...a  chick order form has hung on my refrigerator for two months...I had been on the fence...should I, shouldn't I... ...finally...the decision was made...Travis Lloyd will have his first four chicks arriving the week of May 25th...two Buff and two Barred, these two breeds work well here in Maine. Cold weather hardy, lovely disposition, and adapt well to coop living...Now for those of you who  patiently wait for warm weather, I hope it finds you soon...  remember spring never skips it's turn! Happy gardening everyone...

~SPRING OFFERINGS~

This weekend...



 the sun is to shine...

and the temperature is to climb...

 

it is time to drink in...

 all the sights...sounds...

and splendor...

that spring...

has to offer...

Travis gladly lends a helping hand with my spring organization...enjoy...

~TASHA'S CORGI COTTAGE~

Well...by accident...I've gone and deleted my last post...I have no idea how to retrieve it or if perhaps it's even possible...Sadly...I am so technically challenged...but... I thank you  for all the kind comments in regards to my latest hooking venture...my interpretation of the "the early bird"... 

It is a raw damp day in Maine today...however...a bit of sunshine arrived in the post ...tickets to  Corgi Cottage, the beloved home of Tasha Tudor...a Sunday in October Mr. Dog Trot and I will tour Tasha's enchanted home and gardens...I feel as though I have won the lottery...a second time...If you have  followed my blog for any length of time you may recall Mr. Dog Trot and I toured Corgi Cottage last spring...it was a dream come true...and to have the good fortune to do it all over again...I am a very lucky gal...Vermont is simply lovely in October... but right now, all I want is spring...

SPRING ARRIVES~

When one stores her computer in a seldom used room...blogging tends  to fall by the wayside, as does reading one's e-mail...sadly, blog followers leave... but, rightly so...You see a certain little someone has become quite mobile and inquisitive... precautions must be taken... 

 Spring has been slow to arrive here in Maine...but color is quietly becoming evident...fields are "greening up" while trees and shrubbery now sport their newly formed buds...Thursday the temperature  reached a high of seventy degrees...I broke out the sunscreen but, tonight  there is a fire in the wood stove...April is such a fickle month...an indecisive month...but we "here" have learned to be tolerant...dusk falls with the serenade of Spring peepers and dawn begins with birdsong...daffodils now dot the landscape...by all accounts Spring has arrived...

 Now Travis Lloyd is an outside kind of child...at eleven months he's got the world by a string...everyday he discovers something new and  I feel so fortunate that I get to witness this...during  story time at the library he blurted out the word "BOOK" you could have knocked me over with a feather...Travis has definite likes and dislikes and can either vocalize or show you first hand... 

 see...he's showing me first hand...and if he could speak...

I'm sure it would be "no more d***hats Granny"... Hope to be catching up with you all soon...Have a great week...~BOSTON STRONG~

WE'RE ON A ROLL~

Spring is a coming...not only did I spy these sweet pansy faces today...um...I didn't buy them...I didn't want to jinx myself...we have been known to have major snowstorms in April...

but... this evening... the peepers were in FULL chorus...Yippee...

CAN IT BE SPRING?

This morning I woke to the most amazing sound...a sound not heard for quite sometime...the sweet song of  a morning robin...I thought perhaps I was dreaming...but as daylight came... there in the birch tree... the bird of spring appeared...as morning progressed so did the robin population, scattered about the yard digging for worms...could spring have found us here at Dog Trot Farm?...

 Speaking of birds...my little flock of fifteen have endured a long hard winter...but surprisingly the majority of the girls have continued to lay throughout those long dark days...four year old LuLu Belle...

 and her sister Charlotte were the first to escape the confines of the coop... happily... they sample  newly discovered bits of green...

 Sadie Mae was on the prowl...and

  bundled up with our winter coats and hats...Travis and I head outdoors to enjoy the sunshine...

 ten months old...

 and ever curious...

 Travis is discovering the great outdoors...

and though not walking independently...

 he has his own means of transportation..."hey little buddy wait for granny"...

a plain and simple day..okay....sorry...gotta go!!