Animals
- Guineas On The Fence
Is your world a little quiet?Do you long for a little excitement?Consider adding a few guineas to your world! This is a quiet as they get... I swear, guineas talk all the time.If only I understand their little bird-brained language.This noise is nothing,...
- Not Much Happening....on The Surface
Yesterday morning I spent some time in the front pasture as the horses were grazing. As I watched them peacefully chew,I came to realize how deeply rooted in this land I have become...and how much this farm has taught me. Although the temperatures would...
- A Perfect Summer Day...in So Many Ways!
Yesterday was one of those most magnificent summer days.You know the kind....warm, but not hot,no humidity,puffy white clouds on an electric blue sky,cicadas gone....birds singing again.Perfect! I had a little time after AM chores, while waiting for the...
- Birdsongs 101
Over the past few years a whole new world has opened up to me.It is a world that I have always been aware of,but not so intimately a part of as now. All of my life I have been aware of and in awe of birds...so delicate,so nurturing, so driven by instinct,so...
- Back To Basics... My Thoughts
Life at the farm hums on...the perpetual cycle continues. Each and every day I am privileged and thankful to be a part of that. Before sunrise I awaken to the song of the resident cardinals and as dawn creeps through the wood, listen as the rest of the...
Animals
Each day as I go about my chores on the farm
I imagine that my life is accompanied by a soundtrack.
And although I love music of many genres,
when I am outside working, I prefer the symphony of the earth.
If you live in the city,
you would say that one of the striking differences between our two worlds
is that mine is a "quiet" one.
And yet, to me, it never seems quiet,
except in winter when a stillness settles upon the earth.
For most of the year, I an serenaded by the songs of the birds.
Songs, which I have taken the time to learn by species so that I can
identify the vocalist.
Springtime brings a kind of excitement with the arrival of migrating birds,
who spend their summers on our farm.
I am delighted by the returning songs of familiar friends.
Late summer brings another visitor, though,
who's song drowns out that of the birds....
the cicada,
who's vibrating tymbals reach decibels that rival traffic noise in the city.
I would have to say they are our version of noise pollution!
I have to tell you,
that of all the things that creep me out,
(and there really aren't all that many),
Cicadas are top of the list.
Lately, I miss the sound of the birds...
you just cannot hear them above the screeching call of the cicada.
(this one posed on my wash line for a photo)
To me they resemble flying bullfrogs,
who might certainly be flesh eating if they happened to land on you.
(Not true, I know, but fears are not found within the truth,
but rather within the lies our subconscious tells us.)
In order to better understand this creature, I did a little reading and found that
they do not sting or bite,
and pose no threat except to the vegetation off of which they feed.
There are annual cicadas...
which is what we are experiencing now,
and there are broods that emerge every 13 and 17 years.
The south and midwest are experiencing one of these brood hatchings this summer.
Ok, I still find them creepy....
but my fears are allayed.
On another subject, look closely at my fairy garden and see if you spy a visitor....
Yes, that's him....
It seems that this teeny tiny gnome (he's only about 1/2 inch tall)
has made his home in my fairy garden.
I just happened to find him there this morning!
I just happened to find him there this morning!
It's quite curious isn't it?
Wherever could he have come from?
It's not surprising though,
as all manner of magic happens here on the farm!
PS....
We are in the midst of peach season here on the farm.
I have canned several quarts for us to enjoy this winter.
FYI...peaches are among the list known as "the dirty dozen".
(fruits that transmit high levels of pesticides to the consumer)
Large production farms spray their trees to eliminate insect pests that can destroy the fruit.
So, if you can find them organic... you should.
Or maybe, consider planting your own tree!
- Guineas On The Fence
Is your world a little quiet?Do you long for a little excitement?Consider adding a few guineas to your world! This is a quiet as they get... I swear, guineas talk all the time.If only I understand their little bird-brained language.This noise is nothing,...
- Not Much Happening....on The Surface
Yesterday morning I spent some time in the front pasture as the horses were grazing. As I watched them peacefully chew,I came to realize how deeply rooted in this land I have become...and how much this farm has taught me. Although the temperatures would...
- A Perfect Summer Day...in So Many Ways!
Yesterday was one of those most magnificent summer days.You know the kind....warm, but not hot,no humidity,puffy white clouds on an electric blue sky,cicadas gone....birds singing again.Perfect! I had a little time after AM chores, while waiting for the...
- Birdsongs 101
Over the past few years a whole new world has opened up to me.It is a world that I have always been aware of,but not so intimately a part of as now. All of my life I have been aware of and in awe of birds...so delicate,so nurturing, so driven by instinct,so...
- Back To Basics... My Thoughts
Life at the farm hums on...the perpetual cycle continues. Each and every day I am privileged and thankful to be a part of that. Before sunrise I awaken to the song of the resident cardinals and as dawn creeps through the wood, listen as the rest of the...