Shadow Shot Sunday...of puppy tales...

ahhh, yes, I remember the sun...
well, the furnace is back on again here in Ioway...
cold and rainy and no shadows,
however,
this could be a good thing, cause it'll keep me
inside to visit my fellow shadow shooters!
When the sun is out, I'm straight out to the gardens
little time(none)to visit my friends...
so I apologize to all I have not gotten to.

But this is the way of it in the Springtime in farm land,
up with the chickens at the crack of dawn,
diggin' in the black gold of Iowa till sundown.
I was going to remove all the spent tractor tires
lying around my yard, the former farm wife left behind,
but ya know, they remind me of a simpler life
when all was put to some use, a place for simple
gardening flowers and pieces of the past...
and a lil' garden that the husband
won't accidentally (yeah right) mow down...LOL...
Please join our growing group of Shadow Shooters
at Tracy's in Australia...and again...
just know friends that I haven't forgotten you...!

NEWS FLASH...it's snowing like a MOTHER...
well, that's Iowa for ya...

Wabi Sabi...and me...

Wabi sabi is about being true to ourselves and engaging in pursuits that feel authentic and fulfilling. This means being willing to make changes in our lives.

I'm seeing changes in my own life,
maybe it's my age or maybe it's always been there
just waiting to be heard...

Loving, respecting and appreciating nature and its ever changing patterns.

When we are in touch with our true selves and doing what we love, each day brings great rewards and pure joy.

Yes, simple visual rewards...

are we really seeing all that is...

Seeing beauty in imperfection and accepting life’s transience;

'nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect'.

Impermanence...can you accept it...

Things that make me say awwwww...

My peeps have flown the coop...

Got the pen totally lined with chicken wire,
so it was time for an adventure...
they totally loved the outside,
once I coaxed them out. I've never had my chicks
follow me like these do, maybe it's
'cause they're such a tiny flock...
watching them scratch and chase bugs and pseudo fly...
did I say fun!!!

...and honey bees, my plum trees were just loaded with
bees of all sorts...SWEET...

...and again, lots of pollen on those lil' bug feet,
but unfortunately the aerial spraying will start again
and all will be lost...
HEY IOWA...
it's a new age...enough with the aerial spraying,
haven't you heard, it kills good bugs too...DUH!!!

I'm constantly expanding the garden, a little here,
a little there, I totally have the broccoli,
Brussels sprouts and cabbages planted, along with
the wax n green beans and snow peas...
I have some time yet to dig up more plots for
the tomato and pepper plants and to lay down the straw,
it's too early for them, but just look at that rhubarb...

can you say PIE...!!!

I've been worried about moving my Autumn Clematis
over to the studio, because the ground has 6 inches
of gravel on it...have to use a pick to remove it,
but filling the hole with compost and potting mix
AND WATER
may have done the trick...

no signs of wilt here...
only on my bod, been goin' at it since sun-up, sooooo...
time to relax and plan for the 'morrow
and the next chapter of A WILD THING...!

A day in the sunshine...weeeeee...

...and a quick trip to Sisters'...
isn't this just the coolest patio set...perfect patina!

Speaking of patina...check out this primitive cupboard...
TO DIE FOR...
wonderful original comb painting
and just check out the interior...

Do you not love this wallpaper...
and we all know what a sucker I am for it...!

A new piece in my lil' room...
a wonderful walnut chest of drawers, very old and
completely restored...a great find!!!

...plus this cute lil' vanity/desk...
sweet and petite, it's over at Bloom...!

...and what do ya think...
a new coat of paint on this piece...
yeah me too...WHITE!!!
The end...

A day in the life...

My peeps...

I think they like their new digs, lots of space to stretch
their pseudo wings...still little, but oh so curious...

OK, me and my Mom are collaborating on new ideas
for the shop...she crochets and I brainstorm...

... when I started making the travel soaps,
I started getting feedback from everyone saying
they loved them because they hated hotel soap...

...then I was having Mom make these lil' 6 x 6 wash cloths
that fit perfectly into the same lil' deli containers
that the soaps are in...voila'...
TRAVEL KITS...!
Thanks Ma, you're the bomb!!!

This is how I spend my spare time...expanding
my existing garden...the heirloom snow peas will be
planted on this snow fence and for the first time EVER,
I am going to save seed...with the forecast food shortages,
I figure it might be a good idea...
have you priced seed lately...!
I also do everything by hand, no tiller, 'cept
the ol'timey one with the metal wheel...
I love that thing, I'm lucky because my soil is
sandy loam, easy to till and weed.
This year I'm determined to have a great garden
in spite of the weather...!

Speaking of...
this is what the back edge of a thunderstorm looks like,
as it barely misses you...
I could see the lightning and hear the thunder...
but no banana...yayyyy!
Back to the garden...

Shadow Shot Sunday...fungi love...

Did someone notice a fungus among us...

Funky huh...I found these while out walking the other day
and they are still unidentified...don't worry, I'm not
having for lunch or anything, just curious!
At first I thought they were coffee filters,
blown over from the dead-beats trash across the street,
but a closer sleuthing, revealed they were shrooms,
of some sort anyway...!
Well, it doesn't take much to amuse me these days,
Shadow Shot Sunday, Tracys' gig down under will amuse,
hey, we're famous, don't ya know,
check us out fer sure!

Gimmee....

...gimmee...

Gimmee...

...gimmee...

...gimmee...

...gimmee...

...gimmee...

...gimmee...

...oh yeah...

...oh yeah...

...can you tell I'm hungry for summer...
nuff said!!!

Robins' egg blue at Sisters' Garden...

Couldn't decide, couldn't decide...
what color to paint this cute lil' chest, sooooo...
I started painting on white, then decided to
put in a little robin's egg blue, then I dry-brushed
the two colors together...

...subtle shades of blue and white...
VERY FRENCH COUNTRY-FIED!!!
$175.00 better hurry...

The waterers just make the Springiest setting
with a few eggs and some hay for nesting...sweet!

Check this out, would this be awesome over a fireplace...
can you say FARMLAND CHIC...!
And guess where it's going...did someone say KENTUCKY...!

Even the arrow of the windmill would be a grand focal point,
very farm-industrial...!

...and last but not least...
a new scent...Asian Patchouli...
Not the heavy, full aroma of Patchouli essential oil,
but a subtle, warm fragrant scent with just a hint
to give that exotic air...
decadent...!

Home peep home...

Well, the chicken ranch is almost ready for it's guests...
Rachel Ashwell, you ain't got nuthin' on us!
Now to build the covered run in the back of the coop,
so they can sneak out the trap door into the wide open spaces,
yet be protected from those that would eat...

...and speaking of eat...VITTLES...
I have two vintage trash cans that I kept potting soil in,
now they hold the 'chick start' feed,
then they will graduate to laying mash...

...the plan is to produce eggs, then next year have
one hen sit on eggs to produce new stock,
then to sit back and watch them eat grasshoppers...

Then...if need be...the axe...
well, sorry, but this is the way of it on the ranch...!
Trust me, after the roosters really start being a pain
to the hens, you'll want to give them the axe...
nuff said!

Ice, ice, baby...I got wings...

They ain't much, but it's a start, lil' baby wings,
my babies are starting to show growth...
a proud momma, huh...!

...and brrrr, was it cold out this AM...
the rain from the day before's 70+ weather
is frozen in all my stuff...argh...!

More farm stuff cumin' in the door...
cute lil' metal benches...wonderful crusty,
rusty red paint...sweet...!

...and how about these old waterers,
I gotta figger out sumthin' to do with these,
maybe lamps or just bird baths...
boy are they heavy...!

...have I mentioned...
I HEART MY JOB !!!