Catch-Ups 5.20.12

So here it is- the last couple of weeks in May. Soon to come, summer time in s. central PA. Heat, flys, humidity, and more. There have already been kids swimming in the creek that flows thru our farm land. They can be heard having a great time each afternoon after school- getting cooled off and "messin' around".  I just hope no one gets hurt ! There won't be anyone there this evening as it's a rainy day today.

Lately I've been dealing with some pain that I Thought stemmed from my good ol' back injury . The Dr. says it is arthritis in my hip causing the pain- so due to the fact that I'm merely a horse woman, I'll have to take what he says as the truth.  Stay tuned on this..... my next doctors' appointment is on Friday.

My dear husband actually told me HE was going to mow the lawn and the grassy bank along the roadside, instead of me doing it. I have Always done this as he usually is so busy, there's no time. It was such an oddity, I had to snap a couple of photos of him mowing !  He usually mows Everything out there in his path, thus the main reason he doesn't do the mowing any more.....  This time, he got Only the grass n' weeds - YAY, Glenn !!!

Lately there has been a mated pair of wild Mallards using the run-off puddles in our ring for their own private pond. They have been here off n' on for a good week now.... See the little shore bird to the right and in front ?

 See ? My Mad Mower has done a pretty dang good job ! Even Sunny thinks so.

My deck / yard flowers and herbs have been blooming idiots lately- here are a few photos of them as well as the baby robins that are living in the Forsythia bush beside the house....

You have to look oh so closely to see the little baby Robins here

There are three and they're really looking like baby birds now. I hope they survive !

It's YOUR day ! 5.13.12

 Wishing all of the moms who read this little blog a wonderful Mothers' Day :

HAPPY MOTHERS' DAY !!!!

  My mom died back in 2005, the day before my birthday AND on her 15th wedding anniversary......  I still miss her.

Here are few photos of her-  She was my best friend for many years.

Even when she was little, Mom knew to take time to 'smell the roses'.....

Mom & Dad's High School Graduation pictures:

Their 40th Wedding Anniversary !

"Happy Mothers' Day. MoM"

" WATER BOTTLE !!!" 5.13.2012

 This is what my friend tells her dogs when they are being 'bad'. It seems that she and her dog have been going to training classes - and doing quite well from what I hear. They have progressed to the next set of obedience classes and continue to be learning more all the time.

She keeps me updated on how its' all going and this week , its teaching her dog at home that if he's being bad, she grabs a squirt bottle full of water . After warning him by yelling " WATER BOTTLE!", if he doesn't stop, she squirts him.  So far she tells me that it is working.

I agree- squirty bottles full of water are something the farm animals have learned of here as well. My chickens love coming inside the barn, you see. I spend a lot of extra time 'chasing' ( meaning my walking behind them, waving hands, and saying " SHOO !") them out. They love picking up the left over pieces of grains, bugs, spiders and then making chicken poopies in the barn.  I don't care for the poops, so thus, the " SHOOO, Girls !!"  Lately I have been using an old detergent bottle full of water to squirt at them and they have Learned ...  All I have to do is begin walking towards the small table beside the tack room door, and they all scoot out the barn door.  < yay for chickens learning things>

I have also used a squirt gun for the barn swallows who Insisted that the barn rafters belonged to THEM.  It took me two seasons of Spring before I finally made it clear that they must build their nests in the Other barn behind the main one. It has worked- they will do 'fly thoroughs' , but that is all.

And so goes the saga of " WATER BOTTLE !!!".  
 Stay tuned to see who else might get introduced to it.