romance is dead...

So I was recently was away from the farm on a trip when I spoke to my husband on the phone he told me he had just finished making my birthday gift..

Now for those of you who know Brian when he makes something, it's good.

I mean this is the man who can rewire a house, weld a chicken bus, build table for a dinner only hours before guests arrive and invent just about anything he puts his mind to.

So while "I made you something for your birthday" would make some women cringe it got me very excited : ) ... I said "really what did you make??? ... dramatic pause here... and Brian proudly announces "a shit shoveler for the chicken bus"... a second very long pause... clare "hummm ... for my birthday???" Brian "yes it's great your gonna love it" .... clare "hummm" ....


I will admit I have used the "shit shoveler" and yes it works beautifully, and is very functional, and of course fits the chicken boxes perfectly with nice long handles on both. There's a little scraper thing and then a custom sized little shovel as well... it makes keeping the poop out of the nesting boxes a snap and keeps our chickens and eggs super clean.

So this begs the question in this age of consumerism and the holidaze. What makes the perfect gift?

-something thoughtful
-something useful
-something unique
-something that will improve the quality of the receivers life
-something hand made with love

I'd say my gift does meet all these criteria... I know I'm a very luck y woman and my husband is one of a kind.. but a "SHIT SHOVELER!!??" really now how about flowers and a nice dinner out how about getting dressed up and going out on the town? I hate to be cliche but jewelry is always nice... sigh... I do love my husband and hell he is in the midst of refurbishing and old redwood tub we salvaged ... so I really can't complain (too much)... so here's to re-kindling some of our farm style romance when he get's that hot tub fired up!



till then love the one your with... c

non-farm painting post...

I posted a few weeks ago... musing perhaps I would post all painting instead of photos.. well that clearly didn't happen and really won't ... I'm really not sure what kind of delusional thought that was anyway... on a happy note Enotecca (in Sonoma) did sell a couple big paintings and they've demanded MORE ART ... and more art I've made.. hey what ever it takes to get me in the studio : ) so I'm sending them my produce paintings as well as these two newest ones.


May the brushes stay wet






(these paintings are 4' x 4' and 3' x 5' respectively)

More Horsin' around

This past weekend I went over and spent my Saturday with Duane of One Mile Shires... It was so fun and has added to my now expanding book of horses... sadly I didn't bring my trusty camera.. so I borrowed some shots from the net and Duanes web site... This is Duane and two of his beautiful Shires.

Duane spent all afternoon with me. First he took out his "tried and true" totally trained team of Sadie and Tucker , Sadie is an old soul and is quite lovely ...this is she in a show with duane

and Tucker was a willing partner. Duane took them out and did a turn on the tire (this time the tire had a tractor seat on it) and then handed me the lines and said " OK your turn" Now I've driven horses single but never double and not to mention the fact that Duanes horses are HUGE!! in human measurement... these two are 5’ 8” and 5 ‘ 9” at the shoulder so you can imagine where the head is... These horses make Chief look like a pony.

So after only a little bit of time I had gained a lot of confidence by driving This team. It was down right peaceful. I admitted to Duane at the end that I was a little nervous eps. given my last wreck when he handed me the lines... he told me after that fact that he could have stopped this team at any time with a voice command...

this is not the team I drove but they looked kind of like this (They where prettier of course: )

After that I rode on the manure spreader with Duane and Sadie and Tucker took us up to one of the big fields for some actual farm work, that was pretty darn neat. I'm learning so much from Duane just being around him helping to tack the horses (although I'm not much help yet) and watching him as he worked with his young colts as well as his "project" horse who well let's just say is HUGE and very upset with life as he was a rescue in a big way. I believe Duane can work with this horse not that I would attempt in a million years.. he is stunning and will be amazing if he can ever trust people again.

So all in all a great day working with horses in a safe environment. I'm keeping an open heart to how things will progress with me and horses. I know when the time is right I will probably get another horse. And we'll see how Mr. Chief fit's into Big Table farm for now he is feeling MUCH better and after so many vet visits he's doing a ton better and healing up VERY well the vet things a few more weeks in bandages and he should be nearly healed up.. he had no lameness or any signs of long term damage. So that's great news.

In the mean time spending time with lots of different horses I think is really a good thing and being present to the "process"and enjoying the "ride".

VOTE - YES on Measure 49 it's almost v-day

Katie has a great summery on her blog ... see
Election reveries

we can't let greed win over small farms!

I have noticed that all the farms close to town that want to keep the ability to sell out to sprawl have no on 49 signs and those out a little ways out all seem to have love Oregon? yes on 49 signs...hummm

I'm YES on 49 (and 50)... read for your self 49 will help protect open space and farms from development period.

Measure 49
MODIFIES MEASURE 37; CLARIFIES RIGHT TO BUILD HOMES; LIMITS LARGE DEVELOPMENTS; PROTECTS FARMS, FORESTS, GROUNDWATER.

Measure 50
AMENDS CONSTITUTION: DEDICATES FUNDS TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN, FUND TOBACCO PREVENTION, THROUGH INCREASED TOBACCO TAX.

to read more just the facts from the state!

Just a funny pic my brother sent : )

Thanks Michael!

hoping for mushrooms

Our Dear Friend Hope came out of Portland this past Friday to spend an afternoon and evening with us... let me just say it was just super to spend time with her and to relax! Thanks Hope.


We visited all the animals but with a focus on Edward as he is Hopes "favorite"animal on the farm rightly so he's quite wonderful

.

Hope getting mauled



Zen and the art of Lama Communing : )



Everyone is happy...

Then took a hike up to the woods which where very pretty and full of fall colors. I had gone to the woods a few weeks ago to look for mushrooms and found NOTHING nada not one single mushroom... I was very disappointed .. I told Hope I'm sure we wouldn't find a blessed thing but we could take a nice walk in the woods...

well call me a lier.. we found oodles of mushrooms...




the rain followed by the sunny days must be the perfect combo... now if we only knew what the heck we where looking at... but it was fun to just find them hiding. It gave me hope : ) that when we can get a mushroom forager out here to give us a some lessons at least I know there is bounty out there : ) ... so next step... find willing mushroomer. Ill keep you posted...




In the mean time thanks Hope for the super nice visit... : )