Morning by Candlelight

We often think of candlelight in the evening hours. And of course after a long day, candles go hand in hand with a nice soak in a hot tub full of silky bubbles.

But somewhere I read about a woman who starts her day with a candlelit shower. What a nice idea, I thought. I normally go into the bathroom and flip on the over head light which nearly blinds me after 7 to 8 hours of darkness. So, I decided to give it a try. I tell you now, this will become my new morning routine. 5:30 AM is much too early for the harshness of bright light. My bathroom is small, so all I needed was a few candles burning to illuminate the room well enough for me to see what I was doing. Instead of just taking a shower because that is what you do everyday, I felt more focused and enjoyed the process. I seemed to savor the warmth of the hot water more and my rose scented soap ~handmade by none other than Peggy at Hidden Haven~ smelled and felt even lovelier. I took a little extra time and enjoyed lathering up my long hair and letting the flow of the water wash the suds away. It felt like a spa treatment, but it didn't cost a dime. It was a wonderful way to start off the day. So, maybe tomorrow you might consider waking yourself up in a more kinder and gentler way.

It just might make you whole day feel a bit more special~Rhonda

Sunday Smiles

When we bought our little ducklings, the people at the feed and seed told us not to put them in water for 4 weeks. They said they would drown......


What???? Ducks.... drown....

really?!!

Luckily for our little guys/gals. I went online and read up on the care of young ducklings. I found out that in fact if you wait too long, ducks become afraid of the water and reluctant to get in. Well we certainly did not want to have any maladjusted ducks, so.... we put a little water in the bathtub and plopped them in. There is a reason for the saying; "Take to it like a duck to water."

Our little ones thoroughly enjoy their two supervised swims ~or baths as my son calls them~ each day. As I carry them up the stairs to the bathroom, they hear the water running and start to peep and wiggle. They practically jump out of my hands to get in and then they put on such an amusing show that it makes cleaning the tub twice a day worth the effort. Yep, ducks are messy.

We also use this time to teach them to look for food under water. I chop strawberries into tiny pieces and put them in the tub with them. In the second picture you can see one as it dives down to get the tasty treat. So, I guess it's been so far, so good. We haven't drown them yet.

I also wanted to let you wonderful sweet ladies know the great news we got Friday afternoon. The doctor's office called and said that the radiologist had reviewed my Son's x-ray and the tailbone is NOT cracked!!!! Hallelujah. The doctor had said that there was some difficulty in reading the x-ray and that she wanted the radiologist to look at it to be certain, but that she felt like there was an area that was cracked. I am so grateful that she was mistaken.... as she was telling me all of the things he would not be able to do for the next 4 to 6 weeks, I felt like asking her exactly how she recommended grounding this live wire.... but now he should be as good as new in about a week. Thank you all for the prayers that you offered on his behalf. I remain amazed at the caring and nurturing nature of this wonderful blogging community and I wanted to tell you how much your kindness means to me.

Thank you again~Rhonda

Ouchy!

My Sweetie Pie had an accident yesterday. He tried to close the tailgate on my old red truck. It is very difficult to latch. While he was standing on the bumper, the tailgate fell back open pushing him to the ground. He landed hard on his bottom. For the rest of the night he had difficulty walking correctly and sitting down. He also complained of pain when he tried to bend over, if he coughed or sneezed and if he shifted his weight quickly.

This morning he was still hurting so I took him to the Doctor. The X-Ray showed a crack in his tailbone. It will take 4 to 6 weeks to heal completely. He will have to take it easy and be careful not to re-injure the area in the mean time. Tonight I will make him a cushion that he can take to school to sit on and tomorrow I will go and talk with his teachers. The biggest concerns will be PE and recess. Today I have been administering tender love, care and the proper medicine.... Tylenol, chocolate cupcakes with sprinkles, gummy bears and jelly beans.

We would certainly appreciate it if you guys could say a little prayer that he heals quickly and doesn't get too frustrated with not being able to be as active as he is used to.

Thank you:-) ~Rhonda

Like a Hole in my head...

Have you ever heard the expression: "I need that like I need a hole in my head."? Well that describes my latest animal acquisition perfectly. I did not plan it, did not even particularly want it. Really had no idea how to care for it, and yet.... here I am the proud surrogate mother to two little Blue Swedish ducklings.

It happened innocently enough. I was going to the feed and seed to pick up a group of Araucana chicks that had just been delivered that day. I had decided that it would be lovely to have hens that lay blue/green eggs. So, I picked my son up from school last Thursday and off we went. As soon as we walked in he spied the little box full of ducklings. He turned to me and said, "Please, Mom!?" I was totally caught off guard. Between his beautiful blue eyes, begging me to let him take them home and these....

cute little fuzzy faces. How could I say no? Yes, I know, I'm such a softie!

I wonder if I can train them to follow along beside the canoe this summer.... hummmm, I wonder? If anybody has any suggestions on how I might go about accomplishing that, let me know.~Rhonda

Sunday Smiles

Smiling Johnny Jump-ups, signal the arrival of Spring:-)

Southland in the Springtime

Welcome Springtime!!! I have been anticipating your arrival for months.

With the opening of the new blooms. I have gotten the hankering to bring that freshness inside, so..... I'm bringing out the buckets and the brushes. I'm opening up the windows and the doors. I'm scouring every nook and cranny. Clearing away the clutter and chasing out the drab of winter.


I'm washing and hanging out the Spring linens.....

While Sadie supervises from the sunny window.

And when I'm finished~

I'm going outside until fall:-)

Care to join me?

Happy Spring !~Rhonda

Morning Wonder

It rained here on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. On Monday night a dense fog covered everything, but by yesterday morning, the clouds had rolled out and the sun shone brightly in crystal clear blue skies. Everything was covered in tiny water drops left over from the four days of moisture. Mother Nature was putting on her own water works show and just like any good blogger worth their salt.... I grabbed my camera, and set out to capture the sights to share them with you~

The Bradford Pear washed white as snow.

Rain drops clinging to the blueberry blossoms.

I love the way the sun reflects on the edge of this bloom.

My miniature pink lemon tree is oh, so grateful to be outside. It does not care for over-wintering in the basement. It has threatened to up-root its self and join its sibling in Central Florida at Aunt Kara and Uncle Jeli's.


The daffodils resemble underwater plant life.

Prickly, hairy strawberry leaves.



Wild rose water.

Freshly washed lettuce.

A gossamer Spider abode. Don't freak out on me CJ, it's only the web;-)

Even the weeds appear regal wearing their dew drop gowns.

The rain was such a blessing and we welcomed every drop, but I was glad to see the sun return today because .....

obviously, some of us have been cooped up inside for much too long!

Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you.

May the wind blow at your back.

May the sun shine warmly on your face.
May the rain fall softly on your fields.
Until we meet again...



May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Old Irish Blessing~Author Unknown

Happy St. Patrick's Day~Rhonda

Knitting Along

Welcome, come in out of the rain on this cool wet morning. I was just about to have a little late breakfast. I just took out a batch of mini Banana Nut loaves out of the oven. How about a fresh cup of coffee and some sweet ripe strawberries from Plant City, Florida? You know I used to live just a few miles from Plant City, they do grow the best berries in the world there! Oh, how I miss their annual Strawberry Festival. We can linger here as long as you like. I have lit the candle to dispel some of the grey and darkness of the weather. When you finish, we can head into the living room and sit down for a nice chat. You can have a seat in the big wooden rocker with the handmade rose pillow and I will just make myself comfy over on the sofa. What am I doing you ask?....

Oh, just knitting. A little something I learned to do this weekend. See I found this wonderful blog in Australia last week called Down-To-Earth. There, Rhonda Jean don't you just love that name?!, Has issued an invitation for all who would like, to join her in a Knit Along. Now, I have been determined to learn how to knit for years, I've even made comments like, "I am going to learn how or die trying!" Yet, every time I pick up the needles and open my instruction book, I get so frustrated that I just pack it back up in the knitting box and return it to the shelf. "Well this time, by Georgie," I said "I am going to do it." Well, that Rhonda Jean included some very helpful links to knitting demonstrations in her post. Now why did I not think to go looking for something like that? I don't know, but it has made all the difference!!! After I watched the video about 4 times, I had it down. Then I was off and running.....

Well maybe crawling, but I'm getting there:-) By next winter everyone I know will have a knitted hat, scarf and a pair of those cool fingerless gloves. What? You say you would like some of those too.... hmmmm, let me see what I can do about that.

Oh, you have to go... OK, would you like me to wrap up a banana nut loaf for you to take home? I'm glad you stopped by, I sure enjoyed your visit, come back anytime~Rhonda

Sunday Smiles

The Clothesline

The clothsline was a newsforcast

To neighbors passing by

There were no secrets you could keep

When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link,

For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the fancy sheets

And towels on the line;

You'd see the comp'ny tablecloths

With their intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth

To folks who linved inside;

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

so readily be known;

By watching how the sizes changed,

You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck

As extra sheets were hung;

Then nighclothes and a bathrobe, too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, "Gone on vacation now!"

When the lines hung limp and bare.

It told, "We're back!" when full

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If their wash was dingy grey;

As neighbors raised their brows

And looked disgustedly away.

But clotheslines now are of the past

For dryers make work less.

Today what goes on inside a home

Is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life...

It was a friendly sighn;

When neighbors knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

-Author Unknown

Mission Completion ~ Mostly

Ta-Da! We have had a very busy and very productive week here at the FarmHouse. We have tackled bunches of projects on the ever expanding ToDo list. Since we were blessed all week with almost summer like weather, we were outside working until dark.

The biggest and most time consuming project was fixing the Chick Condo. My little biddies that I got from Pam a few weeks ago were rapidly outgrowing their small brooder box and needed to be moved to larger accommodations.

You might remember when the Chick Condo, courtesy of the 30 foot white pine, looked like this~

Well here it is, fully restored and open for business!

I have put this project off as long as I possibly could because I despise any type of job that has to do with manipulating Chicken Wire . That stuff is of the devil, I tell you. Just when you think you have it under control, it rolls up on you and attacks you with its prickly, scratchy cut ends...UGH!! My arms look like I have been in a cat fight. So I am ever so grateful to have that finished.


The Biddies like their new home. There is lots more room to move around.

They even get to go outside during the warm part of the day.

These guys are checking out the temperature for me. "Make sure it is nice and cozy Mom. OK?"

There was also a considerable about of activity in the garden. The lettuce was planted....

Last year I started with some plants I got and the Feed and Seed,

then I planted my spinach and lettuce seed all around them. That arrangement worked out well for me so that is what I did again this year.

The next raised bed I planted one side with onions, red and yellow....

and the other side with Carrots. The Dragon carrot is a purple carrot and is supposed to be super sweet:-)

I had also intended to replant my peas because I had not seen hide nor hair of them since I planted them in early February. But just as I was about to re-rake the plot, low and behold.....

tiny little pea shoots were popping out of the ground. Upon closer inspection, it appears that the tops of the shoots were suspiciously snipped off. Possibly the work of hungry marauding chickens. This prompted me to fix the gap in the garden fence. Rest well my little peas, you should be safe now.

The green house is still a work in progress. At least the frame did get moved to it's new location, and I have my best construction guy on the case. Look at him, commuting to work on his bicycle....

just like his Dad:-)

After all of this, I am ready for the rainy weekend that is being predicted. I might get to sit down a few minutes and work on those knitting squares I am intending to make.~Rhonda

Meet Shannon

Hi, I'm Shannon. I'm the newest "lovable little critter," that's what Mom calls me, here at the Farmhouse. Mom says that I can take over her blog post today so that I may introduce myself and show everyone how I am getting settled in.

Every morning Mom puts me out in my run to get some exercise. She doesn't even fuss when I get bits of debris in my fur. She just tells me to go on and enjoy myself and we will brush it out later.

The locals are very friendly. Miss Honey comes over everyday and fills me in on all the barnyard gossip. Did you know that Ollie and Pretty Girl are an item. Uh-hum, Miss Honey says that they were spotted over in the bamboo.... just the two of them! Can you believe that?

Well after that hot scoop, I need to lie down next to these nice cool blocks and take a little rest.

At the end of the day my Mom gives me a good cleaning up. She picks out anything that has gotten stuck in my fur...

and she gives me a good brushing.Tigger watches from a considerable distance. I think I heard him mumble, "Better you than me sister." I have no idea what he means by that. I love to be groomed, I often fall asleep during this time. That silly Tigger just doesn't know what he is missing.


Well that's about all there is to tell today. Mom says it is time for dinner. I hope she is serving Timothy hay again and not those nasty bananas. She says I can write again another day.

Until then~ Shannon