A Reflective Quote for Wednesday.

LORD, accept me; I here present myself,
praying to live only in Thee and to Thee.
Let me be as the bullock
which stands between the plough and the alter,
to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be,
"Ready for either." ~Charles H. Spurgeon

Go to sleep, little Garden.

As the nights began to become successively colder, and frosts began to fall, we all knew it was time to put our garden to bed for the year. We usually begin much earlier, but this year we have been unaccountably busy, and therefore have just finished the important task.

The first part of the procedure, was to empty the garden of all the remaining vegetables. God had blessed us exceedingly and our pepper crop was phenomenal.

We also had piles of Green tomatoes laying around forlornly, and we had great fun finding ways to use them. If you are very patient I might be able to get Faith to post some of our Green Tomato recipes;)

The cabbages quite surprised us this year. Despite all the cabbage moth's flying around, we got 12 solid heads of cabbages! They were of varying sizes I grant you, but up to this year, we had never gotten good cabbages at all.

Unfortunately our fall pea crop suffered from frost bite, and therefore we had to tear them out. But the Goats and my Duckies just loved them:)


There was one last thing that needed to be removed from the garden. That being Faith's cute baby fall lettuce. They were quite healthy, but because of the cold were not growing. So she tenderly transplanted them to our cold frame, where they now happily reside, much warmer, and hopefully growing faster.

Now that everything was out of the garden, the hard work began. Weeding and fixing the rows that our "dear chickens" had demolished.


It took a lot of hard work and time, but such was necessary for a good growing season next year.

After the rows were straight we then had to dump ashes, then manure and finally leaf mulch on the prepared beds.

Now our garden is finally finished and put to bed for good. Winter you may now arrive.

~Chs

Twas the first of November,

and all round the yard, Frost had fallen, near and far.

Twas on the trees, thick and white,


and on the ground, it was not light


The pale moon hung in the sky,


and dead leaves on the ground did lie.


Even the cars are covered with Frost,


And every bush was white all across.

The sight did leave us full of wonder, that frost on the first of November.

~Chs

My darling ducks.

I had to post some pictures of my sweet boys, just because they are cute, and besides I don't think I have ever introduced you to my most recent two, properly.

This is Dicky, his full name is Mr. Dick, from Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield. He is the only remaining Duck of the three that I hatched out myself. He is quite a bit more friendly and personal than my other duck -

who I call Tommy, in full, Mr. Tommy Traddles also from David Copperfield. Tommy is much calmer than Dick but doesn't like to get as close to people.

Like most Ducks, they love playing in puddles, hunting for slugs, (their favorite food) and dabbling in anything that is wet.

The place you will find them most, is in our pond, happy as Kings, paddling around and drilling holes in the bank. It is so much fun to watch my ducks. I am very thankful that God created these funny waddling, quacking creatures.

~Chs

Friday Verse.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, You are very great; You are clothed with honor and majesty, who cover Yourself with light as with a garment , who stretch out the heavens like a curtain." "He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down." ~Psalm 104: 1, 19

~Chs

A visit to Almar Orchard.

This Monday, we pulled on our muck boots jumped in the van and drove over to Almar Orchard, an organic apple orchard near us. After completing the important part of the trip (buying Apples, Cider, and doughnuts;) we made our way around the puddles and mud, to their petting farm out back. The first creature to greet us, was this extremely rotund, and rather vocal, pygmy goat, demanding attention. In body it rather resembled a pot bellied pig.

Sharing the pen with this extraordinary creature, was a larger more well proportioned goat, a doleful faced donkey, and this slightly shy benevolent looking sheep.

There were also cute jake turkeys running around, and Josiah tried to cajole them to let him pet them but they were to smart for him!


I think that Turkeys have a face only a mother could love. They are on the same level as Vultures and Guinea Fowl.


Ah, but if you are looking for beauty, gaze upon this gorgeous fowl. This peacock was just as friendly as the turkeys.

When we had exhausted the intricacies and beauty of the fowl, we turned to look at the reindeer which is the Orchards main attraction, besides apples that is.

The horses that we had petted and fed last year, were put out in a far pasture, so we could only gaze and sigh with longing.

Then there were these two sage Llamas, they looked like judges sitting under the trees and waiting upon the citizens to come and bring them their problems;)

One of the barns seemed quite empty, until we heard a soft grunting noise coming from the side stalls. PIGLETS!!!! They were beyond adorable, making all sorts of grunts and squeals as they ran around their large mother and played football with themselves. But as with all little things, they grow up. In this case to look like......

This. Enormous hog, number one, was out in the pasture with two friends rooting around, and making some not so soft and cute grunting noises. Josiah still wants to get pigs someday...........

~Chs

Memories of Autumn!

God has created immense beauty in the world, and the Fall is an incredible showcase of this fact.

A week ago or so, Grace and I went down to the little park with the covered bridge to take Fall pictures. The sunlight was gorgeous and dappled, and the leaves all crunchy!

Grace was absolutely gorgeous with pretty leaves as a background.


Then as I was taking pictures I heard this pitiful and adorable meow, and found this darling queen like cat.


Isn't she just a sweet Lady! Her eyes were stunning, and her one floppy ear gave her a cute rakish expression.

Then we found these awesome doors, such texture is to die for, or so I have been told.

Across the road from the covered bridge was this classic pretty portrait.

Then we went for a drive and found this delightful lake, which Dad had told us about. 'Tis only too bad the lake wasn't clear. It was a wonderful afternoon drinking in the feast for the eyes that God had provided!

~Chs

Travels and Adventures part 2

I apologize profusely for the length of time it has taken me to document our travels in the far away land of TN. Therefore without further ado I will present to you the second and final part of our trip. Do enjoy!


Twas Saturday morning and the last day of our stay down in Franklin, that found us headed to the Gentry Farm. Now if you happen not to know of Mr. Gentry and his story, I suggest you acquire his documentary (An American Adventure) or his book (An American life). I will not take the time to explain now:)


The farms biggest business is the growing and selling of pumpkins. They said that they only got half of their normal amount, but it sure looked like a lot to me still;)


There were pumpkins everywhere, on trucks, in fields, and stacked in piles.



But as you can see, pumpkins were by no means the only attraction on the farm. There was a matching place for all the adorable tipsy signs on the pole. I believe we visited them all too!


First coming into sight on the left, was the tobacco barn. No longer holding tobacco, but instead a whole maze of fun child size games and so much to do and see. I deeply regretted having such a tall heritage, and being 18 instead of 8;)


Then of course there was the animals, which we all flocked to. There were two pygmy goats as well as sage looking sandy, a big female Nubian with a beard.



But the highlight of our visit to the farm, one that was not listed on the signs, was getting to meet Mr. Jimmy Gentry in person. I believe I speak for all of us when I say that the time we spent talking to Mr. Gentry was the best part of our trip. Mr. Gentry is not only a very kind and pleasant gentleman, but he also has countless stories hidden up his sleeve.


He was kind enough to tell us some, and we stood entranced as he poured forth the tales of his ancestors living on the farm, of the Indians that lived in the area, and of all the artifacts he had found as a child and even now. It was so interesting that I had the audacity to video tape some of his stories and wish my computer wasn't so slow, so I could share them with you.


Mr. Gentry's talents are not confined only to story telling. He is also a great artist, as showcased on the cute Gourds that were for sale on a table near by, and in his ice house which is a story of its own.


Mr. Reiche had been down to the Gentry farm a few times before, and had told the Gentry's all about us and the expected sojourn. So the Gentry's were all kindness and generosity, to the point that we actually got VIP treatment when we went on the hay ride. Mr. Gentry told us to tell the driver, to drop us off in front of the Gentry house, and we could look around all we wanted, in the ice house, at the horses, and sit on the swing. Ahh Blissful hours those.


This is where you would have found us for the next 45 minutes or so. It was quite a hot day, but underneath the shade of the enormous maple tree, and rocking in one of the nicest placed swings, with the view of the entire farm stretched before us, it was quite comfortable.


The architecture of the different buildings was amazing, and if I had time I would describe them all to you, but I don't, so you will have to be content with pictures.


The next stop was Mr. Gentry's Ice house, where he does all his paintings, and also where his sweet darling Golden retriever Belle was closed up because the dear thing is just a bit too friendly with everyone! So we consoled her a best as we could as she wiggled and wagged her way around the room, hardly stopping for a picture.


Though Belle was definitely the darlingest thing in the room, there were many interesting sights to hold your attention, including all these artifacts found around the farm and all of Mr. Gentry's paintings.


After visiting the sweet horses behind the house, we made our way back to the main part of the farm.


We did take another hay ride so we could see the sweet cows again. Number 10 was the sweetest thing, very curious and incredibly cute.


We spent a bit more time with Mr. Gentry before heading back to our hotel, having our last lunch on the Franklin square, and having a wonderful time of games in our rooms, before hitting our beds (literally;) to prepare in slumber for the next days journey.

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So the road stretched before us and passed slowly by, as mile by mile, hours by hour we made our way homeward.




As on our way down, we stopped in Kentucky for lunch, the beautiful trees greeted us and made a canopy over us!





We raced a train across the Ohio river on our way to Michigan.


And then the happy sight, Michigan here we come!
It was a glorious "memory for a life time" trip! We are very thankful to Mr. Reiche for thinking of, and sponsoring the trip, and to God for keeping us safe and having the weather be so beautiful!!!

~Chs