Where's My Dinner Woman?

Gapi mid shed earlier this summer - doesn't he look scraggly? They shed in clumps like that & much later than the horses. Now it's about time to grow it back.

Rebel Loves Melons!

I'm not too sure about his dinner etiquette but I think that's the sound of his gratitude for the good crop we had this year.

Dragonflies

I love dragonflies

and luckily they love living around our little pond

and resting on our pasture fence.

Birdie Update

This was the little birdies yesterday and today they are all gone. My cute little babies have left the nest. There were five little hungry ones in there so I'm sure mom is off for a well needed rest and probably a big dinner she gets to keep all for herself.
BTW, can anyone tell me what kind they are from this picture? Mom is a little bird but I never got a picture of her.

Motorcycle Birdies

The birds have been very creative in where they build their nest this year. I've had them in grooming buckets in the barn and now one has taken up residence in my motorcycle helmet. These items then become off limits to me for the duration but I enjoy sharing these moments with the wildlife more than what I'm missing.

Mom came in with a worm dangling from her beak while I was taking this video so I made a hasty departure as not to upset her further. I hope later I can get a picture of her. Also this video is not this dark on my computer and I'm still learning the process so does anyone know how to lighten them before or after going to youtube. I wish you could see the detail I see but this is the best I got so far. 

Mimosa

I noticed today the Mimosa trees are blooming. I spent many hours playing under one in our backyard when I was a little girl. I thought it was the coolest thing to watch it at dusk and see the leaves fold up. The pink blossoms are fascinating as well and I love how they remind me of a tropical rain forest. Oh, they too grow wild here, springing up everywhere and very hardy determined trees as long as we let them choose where to sprout. We did once try to transplant one with no success so now we just let them have their way. I don't have much of a green thumb so I'm very blessed that all these beautiful plants volunteer their presence around our place.

Mischievous Agapios

Last weekend I tried to let the boys graze in the yard for a bit. Rebel really just wanted to eat but Gapi had other ideas.



I am just trying out the video feature on the camera I've had for years and I took this on the fly so excuse the quality. I'll keep practicing so I can get some better videos to post in the future.

Little Bit of Heaven

Sure wish you could smell this, it is pure heaven! This bloom is on one of the Sweetbay Magnolias that grow "wild" in our yard. They just volunteer themselves right up around our front yard and I'm blessed by their sweet aroma with no effort on my part. Each time I walk by one I'm drawn in to pause for a moment, breathe deep, and let myself be transported away. At times little drifts of aroma pass by as I sit on the porch or by the pond and I'm always thankful that they chose to plant their roots here and provide us with a little piece of heaven.

On a side note they are recognized by many names and I call them Swamp Magnolia. My husband interjects each time that they are Sweetbays, I don't think he likes me using "Swamp" when talking about these little beauties. I happen to really like swamps, wetlands, and following little creeks deep into the forest.

I Need Help

Really I do.

Have I told ya'll yet that I've been studying beekeeping. I don't know why this started, little things here and there peeked my interest until I went for it and signed up for a course last fall. I was hooked, they are the most fascinating beings - love them !! The weather turned too quickly into the nasty winter we endured so we didn't get to play with them hands on and I've just recently gone back to do that part of the course. That morning I had a mixture of excitement and nervousness and really wondering what the heck I was doing? Once I was there by the hive I lost myself into the wonder of the bees, the hum, they busyness,  the work they do, how their society works, the pure genius of their creation, and they were just so damn cute.

Now I guess I'll get to the point of where I need help. Seems bees are struggling to survive these days and we are to blame for this weakness. They require more care and you have to go into the hive more than just to steal their honey, but to also keep check for disease, pest etc and each time you inadvertently squish some bees. The instructors have also told me that to maintain strong hives and prevent swarming (bees leaving) among other things I'm gonna have to re-queen periodically which will require me to purposely kill the old queen. As I was whining  inquiring (more than once) about this the class began to rag me and someone said "you can't name all 60,000 of them". You see I can't kill anything, well except mosquito's, ticks, deer flies and maybe one or two more but they ask for it.

I don't see wanting to not squish any cute little honey bees as a problem but this morning it hit home that I've got a bit of an issue. We've got fire ants but who doesn't. In the past I've not really done anything about it and they've pretty much stayed off to the side and we've respected each others space. Well recently I had some kids over and while wondering around I kept having to point out mounds to stay away from. Then I began to notice them building new mounds in the middle of the pastures. The final straw was when I found them in my composted manure I wanted to spread back on the pastures and around the yard. I reluctantly bought something to treat the mounds and the directions were to do it early morning when they were active. So this morning I go mound hunting, toxin in hand, and they were busily going about there chores minding their on business as I pour the nasty powder over them and their home. The more I covered the more teary eyed I got .... over Fire Ants, geez.

Yep I'd say I've got a problem ;-).

Beach Time

Just thought I'd share a bit of the ocean with you this morning. This is from one of my office break walks, something I don't do enough of. Sometimes when you have something so accessible you take it for granted, I've got to work on that this year. We are going to a wedding on the beach this afternoon and it's a bit overcast here so keep your fingers crossed for the bride and groom to have lovely weather.

I was at a different beach yesterday, attending a storm water workshop. It was held at Shell Island Resort in Wrightsville Beach. Yes, I have a rough life beach hopping and getting paid - hey somebodies got to do it. It was really nice there at the end of a peninsula. There was a marsh flat in front, the Atlantic Ocean behind with a wide beautiful beach and to the left on the point was an Audubon bird preserve. I spent every break and lunch checking it out (but didn't have my camera). I was a bit bewildered that most of the attendees stayed inside the whole day rather than running out to embrace the salt air then I remembered who they were. This workshop was for storm water issues in high water table areas and they all came from coastal towns. I guess they are like me and also take for granted how beautiful our surroundings are and how precious it is to be exposed to the ocean and it's wonders on a daily basis.

Definitely need to have more water time this summer, hoping the motivation of sharing it with you will get me out there more. Maybe you can nag me from time to time to share a walk through the sand and water. Have a lovely day all and enjoy what's right out your front door.

Happy Earth Day

T-Bone invites you to get out and enjoy nature with a friend. Invite them over for a swim or find a trail to walk or bike ride. Breathe deep and enjoy the world around you.

Also, remember to recycle or better yet reduce and reuse. Here T-bone is giving instructions on how to just say no, no, no to plastic bottles. He's also doing his part to recycle this one by breaking it down and at the same time demonstrating how you can re-purpose articles giving this bottle a second life as a chew toy. I am raising such earth conscious critters, one day I'll show you how they demonstrate passive solar and geo thermal. Joking aside, there is much to be learned by observing animals and nature. There is even a name for this - biomimicry. Now get outside and find something to mimick ;-).

Santa at the Beach

I didn't have my camera so you'll have to take my word for it but I just saw Santa Claus at the post office. He had the typical white curly hair and beard (the real stuff) under a straw hat, a tropical shirt, khaki shorts, and leather sandals. It was so cool I got all giddy. I did have my cell phone but it takes so so pictures and he was intently reading a letter. Besides I didn't know how Santa liked being disturbed on vacation so I chickened out on asking to take a "picture for my blog". I didn't want to risk getting bumped from the nice list come December.

Bluebird On My Shoulder Makes Me Happy

Robins are the birds that are said to signify that spring has arrived but for me it's the bluebird that does it. Seeing these guys around the yard just gives me that wonderful feeling of bliss that says yes we are done with winter. As I was out working in the pastures this past weekend, with my little bully dog by my side, some bluebirds decided to come join us. I had stopped momentarily from my task and looked back admiring (and being astounded) how good and sweet T-Bone was being just laying there next to the tractor. As I did this three bluebirds flew right over top of him and landed on fence post next to the tractor. Two of them alternated from sitting on the post to flitting about and ... we'll say playing, while the third just sat and watched me. For a moment I drifted off to a fairytale land where we actually could converse and sing together but I know he was really just waiting to see what big juicy tid bit I might unearth for him.

Of course as all this was happening outside my camera was inside. I thought for a second of running to get it but knew the scene would change before I returned so decided to just enjoy the moment as it was happening. The pictures above were taken last spring, the top one at my dad's and the bottom at a friends house here at the beach.

Simple Fun

Who needs to spend lots of money on a gym membership, exercise equipment and expensive "toys". A simple ball on a rope provides loads of fun and exercise.

Ahhh, sweet exhaustion. The kind that comes from giving something your all.

The Sweetest Boy Ever

I intended for this blog to be a place to share good times and laughter but even when life is grand a few tears must fall. We lost our beloved C C earlier this week and I never put a post up for him but I still want to introduce this gentle soul to you. The title says it all C C was the sweetest boy ever.

He was so easy to deal with but underneath I could tell it was not only his natural temperament that made him this way. C C didn't want any hassles and had seemed to learn along the way that it was easier just to go along.

He had just turned 22 on March 4 and had been with us just short of three years but we had fallen totally in love with him at our first meeting. I was hesitant to get an older horse but once we met him we were hooked. He was always so calm and even tempered, never hesitant or fearful, what some people call a bulletproof horse. Right away we noticed signs that he may have had some hard treatment in his life but we set his mind to rest quickly that with us he would only be treated gently. He came to trust us within a few weeks but still always kept a part of himself a little distant and sheltered. He had outward scars, evidence of possibly being tangled in barbed wire and other injuries but I was sometimes saddened to wonder what had scarred his soul so. Whatever his life had been we decided was to be left in the past and we planned to give him many happy comfortable years at Sweet T.

He was a beautiful horse, a Line Back Red Dunn Quarter Horse. His mane and tail burgundy against his light orange coat and you can't tell so much from the photograph but his tail had many colors. I often thought that some of the young girls around would be envious of the multi shades of burgundy, wine and even some purplish coloring mixed throughout.

He also had those gorgeous Quarter Horse muscles which I can imagine were even more stunning in his prime. C C instantly brought a sense of peace and calm to our little farm from the moment he stepped foot on the property. We loved him so and he will be dearly missed but I imagine him now in knee deep sweet meadow grass as far as the eye can see. Happy grazing C C.

Having Fun with Meadow's Drink

Meadow Linn of Savor the Day had a contest to name a rum and lemon inspired drink. It was too hard to choose that one special name but we had fun trying out several different ones. Here's what we came up with.

The name of the community we live in is Bear Creek, so named after Bear Island just across the waterway. If you are not from the beach check out my post about Queen's Creek to see what creeks are like here. You'll see that after you've been out paddling through the creeks and waterways you might want a "Bear Creek Buzz" when you get home. We don't recommend drinking on the water but if you do be responsible and take along a designated paddler.

For those times you have friends over for a pig picking or oyster roast you might want to serve some "Lemon Drop Tea". You know how we love our tea here in the south.

After a long day of dusty trail riding ....

...you're surely going to want a glass of thirst quenching "Rummy Yummy" waiting.

When you are having a picnic under clear blue skies or just laying on the grass watching the clouds float by you might want to have a "Meadow Soleil" by your side. This name is in honor of the drink's creator, Meadow, and maybe a little because we live on Meadow Creek.

(Oops I didn't get to this one while I still had some sunshine but you get the idea.)

When you find yourself on a deserted island you may want to add more spices and then you'll have a "Jamaican Spice" or if you are basking in the sun on one of NC's fantastic beaches add some lime and enjoy a "Caribbean Tart". I'm partial to the latter, but that might be because our last name is Tart.

And lastly, while chilling with friends on the back deck, with my husband picking and singing a few Buffet tunes, throw in a lot of different fruit and relax with a "Parrot Island Fruit Juice".

Now I know bloggers love recipes and I've wanted to have some here or over at KAP but there's one problem - me and cooking, not so much. For Meadow it is a passion so head on over to Savor the Day to get the recipe for this drink (don't forget to dance) along with lots more fun and food. I may have recipes coming here soon by a guest blogger, so stay tuned. I've been talking about this with my friend Pam who also has a passion for cooking. Maybe we Pam can bring some wonderful seafood dishes your way.

BTW, this drink is really good and Meadow we had so much fun with it!

The End

It's Coming

I noticed today that the beach stores have been stocking up on their summer merchandise. The beach carts are out and the brightly colored chairs are lined up waiting to lift spirits and take their place under the sun.

Then look what else I found, young daffodils with buds ready to burst forth their sunny yellow faces and shout out to the world that spring has arrived.

Each day there are more birds coming to our yard to feast and the weatherman is calling for mid 60's next week with lows in the 40's. Please, please tell me it's here to stay and not just a tease, giving us hope only to dash it a few days later. This past year I have tried to set my mind and my thermostats to stay as aclimated to the changing seasons as possible and for most of this winter I felt I was doing pretty good considering. That is until the last few weeks in which I have felt colder than on the coldest days of January. I feel I have run out of energy to stand against the elements, that enough is enough, so please let this be Spring I see.

Whimsy

Having an office located at the beach gives you many sights to lift your spirits. There are open acts of whimsy displayed playfully in the yards.

Signs reminding you of what is important in life.

There are brightly colored facades that always wear happy sunny faces regardless of what the weather may be.

Some of them even live out loud.

We do still have "normal" housing with their greys, tans, and some cozy little white cottages but there is color to be found around every corner.

,

And this house sums it all up.