Let's go Camping.... We are ready now

Okay, we made the big purchase and will be ready to hit the road. Many road trips will be planned this spring and summer for sure. This girl is a "Happy Camper." No more tent, or competing to keep warm in weather that offers rain, wind or pesky mosquitoes.. I think We made a great purchase. The camper has everything we possible could need to enjoy our ventures.. The next few days we will transfer the old camping equipment into their new home. Then off we will go for our "maiden trip". Possible early next week for a couple days. I am sure there will be many campfire stories to share with my faithful blogger followers, so stay tuned...

Crater Lake

This was our destination today, since it was such a pretty day. Here buster & I posed for the photographer husband. Can you smell the fresh crisp air?  A perfect day to capture Crater Lake. The Lodge will open in the Summer again but as you can see the snow is quite heavy and almost covers the building.   Really Lots of snow and a sight to behold in the mountains. Many people there today sledding, snowshoeing and taking photos too.   We snapped a few pictures of scenery and barns, I have quite a collection now of interesting ones we come across on our excursions. Buster loved to play in the snow although he doesnt like to be leashed. He gets plenty of free time to check out the surroundings on our trips so dont feel sorry for him. He loves the attention however and will be ready for any sympathy or treats along the way.

DAY DREAMING

One of theses days I will be sitting in my very own hammock. I dream of a perfect day to be here. Since I have been retired I have wanted one of these. I keep busy during the day and I am never bored, a lot of crafting and day dreaming really of summer coming. When spring comes and the garden calls me to prepare the ground and plant my seeds, I will be wanting to sit at the end of the day and relax.. Retirement allows so much time to do just this, No clocks to wind for early wakes ups. I kind a like that..( I still wake early ) The mornings are so pretty and fresh. I have added the camper to my "bucket list "and as I slowly cross off the accomplishments I started a few years ago I am determined this year, yes It is on the top of my list. I would also have to win the lottery to afford Everything I have on my list, but for now a few luxuries I can enjoy and a hammock I think will be the perfect purchase. I can take it along with me when we go camping don't you think?

The Day is good

The girls are happy, I let them come out of their cage..They all came running to the gate. "Freedom I think they were clucking.. Yipeee
They love to run and forage for themselves. I hate to keep them "cooped"up in their henhouse & cage. I secretly think they do not mind when the temps are really cold and its raining or snowing.
The sun is suppposed to be shining the next few days so they can stretch their legs and fluff their feathers, take a "dust" bath in the sand ( its kinda dry) they dont seem to mind.. I can watch them from my window as they do that chicken run thing....their wings spread like saddle bags at their sides.. you know what I mean..running to see what another might just have found to eat..but they sure dont like to share...they are so funny.
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A sight for sore eyes

Tonight the view from my window. Makes me love days like this. Finally Sunny and warming up. When I was a kid we called these skies "Bubble gum Skies. Looks like a summer day.
Our rain has stopped, the snow is all melted and I am reay for Spring.. knowing full well it is really not just around the corner, but coming. I am a person who really needs sunshine and truthfully it shines here over 350 days. So I must stop complaining and be happy with days like this don't you agree?

Soggy ground

This is the way our side yard looked this morning. It has warmed up a bit, melted the snow and rained all morning.
We have several of these mini ponds around the property. The garage floor was a bit flooded as well due to the ground being saturated and the gutters were overflowing onto soggy ground.. Later today it stopped rainning but more expected to tonight with maybe snow. We are counting our blessings no worse damage done and grateful we live where we do and not like some other parts of the world where floods happen and loss is horrible. I think of the spring when all the water from the hills around us have dried and we are complaining of no water. It was pretty today with that gorgeous ball of fire shining onto the melt off... the chickens were happy to get out of their pen and returned to a dry coop tonight.

Needle felting fun!

What is Needle Felting? Simply put, it is felting without water.  Instead, you use special, barbed felting needles (the same used in industry today) to push the top layer of wool into deeper layers. The unique property of wool fiber that allows it to "stick" to itself causes the wool to felt, without the need for soap and water. 
My farm girl friends met yesterday and we learned how to needle felt. What fun. We were lucky to have our instructor as a member and she raises llamas and goats & sheep for the wool fibre. This project will be completed when I replace the needle I broke. If you are interested in learning how to needle felt there are great instructions  by Googling  Needle Felting. There are free patterns and video instructions very easy to follow..Just be very careful the needles are really sharp! I am making this picture and  really do not know what this will turn out like until the project is finished but it will be a fun craft to learn. I will post it when I finish.. Have fun!

Wahoo a Farm Girl Truck!

So tell me, Does this finally make me a Farm girl? It's a used truck but a BIG truck and I am ready to put it to use! Isn't she a Beauty?

This is how it all happened...Yesterday, My DH & I went to town to buy more straw for the chicken coop. We have been hauling it bale at a time along with 50 lbs of chicken scratch in our 4x4 Ford Explorer when we need it. Every time we go we line the back with a tarp to keep straw from getting all over the back end. My DH complains each time..but we have done it so many times I quit listening and I think to myself  "I wish we had a truck"and DH reminds me" we have a convertible (which  he hates and has since I purchased it when we lived in Arizona.) in the garage at home..& Someday we can trade it in". Well, Yesterday was that Someday! 

I am so happy! Now we can haul everything we want. Our next big project on Blue Sky Farm will be a Garden/Barn, we can haul the lumber for that and  the Camper!  Wait.. we don't have one of those  yet..but  maybe next time we go to town for  bird seed or feed or lumber in our Truck,  we will spot Our dream Camper.. I will for sure let you know.. * and ya know what else?, I don't think I will miss my convertible . In the mean time this mama is one happy Farm girl!

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Fun in the snow

My son Dennis took this picture of his son Charlie (now  2 years old)  the other day while he and his daughter who is (22 years   Yes, thats right  22 &, how I remember her at that age)  anyways They were out enjoying the first big snow time in Denver while "big sister" was visiting from Washington where she attends WSU. He said couldn't resist the temptation to give him a snowball to taste but he assured me he dug deep to get the  clean ( no yellow) snow. What kid doesn't like to eat snow? My son & his wife send these great pictures to me and I  really appreciate them..never knowing what I will see when I get the message on my cell phone with a text picture. It keeps me up to date with  snaps of him growing up.  Don't you just want to grab this child and hug him to pieces? Surprise! I  just found out that he is coming to Oregon for a  visit in May. His "papa Clay" has not seen him (except in pictures) so we will  Love his visit. His parents will be welcomed of course.. and we are so ready now.. but of course have to wait. For those of you who do not know Charlie is the last grandchild born in our family.... and he just happened to be born on my birthday! He is more than likely the last addition to our family tree.. and what a precious one at that.  

Visit from Jack Frost

 Jack Frost is here visiting today and will probably stay for the rest of the week. We didn't expect him to be here all day. His visit is a bit unexpected. The thermometer didn't register over 24 today at home and it was foggy all day. I couldn't help but pull out the camera and take pictures of  Mother Natures gift.  We  bundled up, wool socks, boots, gloves and  my new "cuddle dud"(  I love them so much) a warm coat and out to greet Jack.

This  last picture  is looking up the driveway at 4:30 today. The chickens are fed  ( nice warm noodles) and  cracked corn. They are warm inside their coop for the night while I am cozy and warm with hot Earl Grey while the outside thermometer now reads 10.

It's a dogs life...

 My favorite place to sit watching the covey of quail and other birds when they are  hanging out around the bird feeder by the window, rabbits and squirrels running across the field, and the deer nibbling on the bushes. I am a spoiled puppy. I might chase them if they are not looking but I can't chase my moms chickens...I know thats a" bad dog." thing...

I sleep wherever I find a soft cozy spot, sometimes on the couch,  sometimes on my mom & dads bed sometimes in my own bed but mostly right here on my dads lap. My  mom gets her feelings hurt sometimes when I choose my dad over her when it comes to scratches. (It's a guy thing ) but I do sit on her lap when he's not around or if she is sitting  in my chair. Yes, I know she feeds me most of the time and plays tug a war with me. She rewards me with treats of yogurt drops and yummy doggy treats when I perform the tricks she taught me...but She is such a push over.. when it comes to tidbits of goodies in my food bowl along with the boring kibble. My life is good here. I hope my dad will want to go for a ride in the car today, It is fun when  he lets me out of the car at the mailbox and I get to run, check out my favorite spots crawling over the rocks & bushes to sniff out a mole, or mouse or even the neighbors cat. but if its raining outside forget it...I will just hurry out do "my duty" and come right back to this spot. I think it might be one of those things other puppies just do too. I have it pretty good here... Spoiled and Loved a lot.

Did we say SNOW?

Happy New Year! We woke to 3 more inches this morning...I took these photos just a couple days ago. It is an example of what it looks like here in the mountains. Isn't it gorgeous? I am excited about the coming year and look forward to a new journey, meeting new friends, many possibilites await us. We will be looking for a camper and pick up to carry it.. We hope to build a small barn and getting baby chicks in the Spring. I plan to do some sewing ( in need of window coverings fore the family room). Starting some new crafts and planning my garden. The Klamath Falls Charming Chicks have lots of ideas and plans to share too. We are in for more snow and thats fine with me. I love watching the flakes fall and will be taking more photos as the opportunities open to me..I will read more, and blog more, eat healthier and open my life to stress less. I welcome you all to come along for the journey into 2011.