Who says animals don't have feelings?

Now this picture doesn't look that special - just an orange cat sitting on a box.  BUT I will tell you why that cat is sitting on the box.

Two days earlier, our cat, Muff, died.

Muff and Gus (the orange cat) were best buddies.  They sleep together outside on the back deck.  If you saw one, you didn't see the other one far behind.  We couldn't bury Muff right away because it was rainy so we put her in a box.  We did finally bury her 2 days later.  Our ground is so hard - mostly clay, so my husband only dug a hole deep and wide enough for just the cat and not the box.

After we got done burying Muff, I set the box down on the deck before putting away the shovel.  When I came back, I found Gus sitting on the box. He won't leave that box for 2 days.  We think he could smell Muff on it.  Who says animals don't have feelings?  We think this was his way of grieving for his friend.  So, I think the picture of Gus on the box is a very sad picture.  

Working in My Garden

Yesterday was so beautiful, so I spent the majority of the day working in my gardens.  Oh, how I love working my gardens.  My lettuce that I planted several weeks ago is coming up nicely and I see lots of fresh salads in my future! 

My asparagus is just starting to come up.  If you have never had fresh asparagus right from the garden, you are missing a special treat!!

Our very first asparagus of the year!!  We love asparagus so much that we decided to dedicated this one garden to be all asparagus and I ordered more asparagus roots! 

My green beans are just being to sprout.   I didn't plant a lot this year.  Waiting on my husband to build me two more raised beds for that. 

Despite the terribly cold winter, all my berry bushes survived!!   Unfortunately, it looks like I lost my two peach trees and several of my lavender plants.  Oh well.  But, I did order some apple trees and those are looking good.

I hope you were able to get out enjoy the beautiful weather, also

FINALLY, Spring!!!!

Thought it would NEVER come, but it always does . . . Spring is FINALLY here.  Whew!!

After a miserable winter and a very, very rough kidding season, I am so ready for Spring. 

We did have 3 goats that gave us 3 healthy baby goats.  BUT, I had one goat drown in the water trough.  This will always be a mystery to us.  The trough is only 24 inches deep and we found her sitting in the trough.  All she had to do was stand up!  I have NO clue how or why or what happened.  We think she might have gone into labor.  And then, the next day, another goat gave birth to 3 stillborn babies - double whammy!  That is when you want to throw in the towel and say "I QUIT!!!"  But, you don't.  You embrace the ones that you still have and you look forward to next year.

Besides, Spring is here and the birds are singing!!

Kidding Season Starts!

Holly couldn't have picked a colder or snower (is there such a word as "snower") night than last night to have her baby??  Why do they do that??  This past weekend would have been perfect.  It wasn't too horribly cold.  NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!  We have to wait to the coldest, snowest, worst night of the year to have our baby!!  Oh well, that is farming for you!!

Anyway, the good news is the baby is doing fine and it is a little girl!!  My husband named her Martha for Martha Washington since the baby goat was born on President's Day.  Martha Washington was the very First Lady of our country.  Welcome to the world, Martha!

Desperately Seeking Spring!!

Really it hasn't been that bad of a Winter - at least, compared to last year.  We have only had a few days of snow flurries which usually melt by noon.  Yes, the temperature could be a tad bit warmer but it is Winter after all!!

BUT with the shorter days of sun does take its toll.  My 60 some chickens aren't laying.  I am lucky if I can find 8 or 9 eggs.  Doesn't help when you have customers ordering two or three dozen eggs daily.  And fellow farmers are in the same situation!  How to kill an egg business in one easy step!!

And now I am playing the waiting game - when, oh when, will the baby goats be born???  AND please don't let it happen on a cold, nasty day!!  But, it usually does and, somehow, they do survive!!

Goals Instead of Resolutions

I was reading somewhere today on another blog the writer said instead of new resolutions she was going to set some goals for the new year.  What a great idea!  Sort of like my wish list. 

Got me to thinking . . . what would I like to accomplish in 2015 - what are my goals?

1.  I would like to become more self-sufficient and grow or make our own food  and rely less on the grocery store.

2.  I have been reading the Dave Ramsey book and really want to get out of debt - half way there!  Paid off all our credit cards - Yeah baby!!

3.  I want to be more organized.  Both Findlay and Hyde Park Markets are excellent markets for me.  So I need really to get my act together to be prepared for them this year.  I was totally taken by surprised at how well I did at Findlay Market.  So a lot of organization and a lot of hard work!!

4.  I want to worry less and have more faith that God will take care of me.

Those are my 4 biggest goals.  I am sure I will come up with more as the year goes on.  What are your goals for 2015?

My Wish List For 2015

It is that time again where everyone makes their New Year's Resolutions.  Well, last year I decided I wasn't going to do that anymore because no one ever keeps them - so why bother.  Instead, each year I am going to have what I wish for in the coming new year. 

My 2015 Wish List:

1,  I wish that my son returns safely from his deployment in Navy and comes back home to civilian life.

2.  I wish my husband's and my health continues to be good.

3.  I wish my farmer's markets continue to be as successful and fun as they were last year.

4.  I wish that my goats and chickens keep producing and that the foxes and hawks leave my chickens alone - thank you very much!!!

5.  I wish my gardens will grow wonderful vegetables and fruits for us to eat and for me to can.

6.  I wish that our country would start acting like a country again.  I have no idea why this racial issue has surfaced again.  I thought we were over that back in the 60's.

7.  I know better than to wish for world peace - we seem to be moving farther and farther away from that.  So I will wish for wise leaders who are willing to work together or, at the very least, toward some sort of compromise.

8.  And, lastly, I wish and hope that God continues to work in my life leading me in the direction that He wants me to go and that I listen to His voice.

And I wish you all a very Happy, Prosperous and Safe 2015!!