Big Cat, Small Basket

Here is our oldest male cat,Tom (a.k.a Snots) because of his sinus condition.

He has overfilled this basket and it is barely holding him in.

Nothing beats a basket on the table in a sunny window on a cool day.

Greenhouse Growings

Pumpkin patch

Zucchini patch

Zucchini and cucumbers

I had the privilege of visiting a friends greenhouse in Hartshorn, MO in the Sunklands of the Ozarks.

They are off the grid and raise all their own food for their family. The children raise the plants to be harvested all year long. They can/jar to preserve the harvest. Since they are off the grid watering can be problematic. A generator is used to get water from the well during the severe drought we had last month. 

It was a learning experience seeing how others grow veggies in the Ozarks. Zucchini and pumpkin are great large growing veggies that can go a long way as a backbone to your food source. Pumpkins can be stored all winter/spring long. Zucchini can go with anything or as the main course.

Orphan Filly Update

TWH mare after an October rescue. She is 7-8 and has been over-bred in the recent past. Now she is with other mares and is gaining weight. Next her feet will need work.

Here is L.L. or Livey Love, the orphan filly now at 1 year of age. She is an AQH who was taken from her mother to be destroyed prior to a sale. She was rescued and hand raised. She is not spoiled and knows she will be a working horse. Her coat is red with a flaxen mane and tail. LL is growing up to be a beauty.

Her unique face.

Here is the mare herd keeping out of the sun and away from the flies.

Costume Redo

The challenge to fix the top and skirt.

Experimenting with different fabrics.

Lots of hand sewing and hook and eyes.

Almost done.

A friend of ours needed some sewing help on her daughters costume. Two parts of the costume had to be refitted and updated to fit her daughter for a Lord of the Rings event. We also added a neat belt with a matching fabric. Now have to go back and redo the sleeves as they are too tight and heavy. Will update after the top is completed.

Maple Update

Here is Maple our almost 2 year old Fox trotter filly. Not in the best pose for her. Alan had spent an hour trying to catch her in the dry lot so we could medicate her leg puncture. He is good at "out-stubborning" the horses. Never give up, never surrender. Maple likes to stay with the herd if there is no grain to be had. Somehow Maple had gotten a puncture in her upper foreleg last week. Her leg swelled and we called the vet. Horses tend to heal well in the wild on their own. But we wanted the best treatment possible for her as she is normally a good filly. After the capture, he walked her around and found the only patch of live green grass on our farm. Maple enjoyed the sweet green grass and the attention. Maple and her half brother Bean will be going to the trainer in August if they are big enough. 

Beefalo

One of the farmers near us raises Beefalo. A bison mixed with an Angus creates this leaner form of beef. The Beefalo are hardy and easy to care for not wild but tame.