Starting a Hedgerow...

Hedgerow, by definition is: a line of closely spaced shrubs and tree species, planted and trained in such a way as to form a barrier or to mark the boundary of an area. Hedges used to separate a road from adjoining fields or one field from another, and of sufficient age to incorporate larger trees, are known as hedgerows. It is also a simple form of topiary.

We are using a hedgerow to block our west pasture from the road and, more importantly, to create habitat. We've started with 15 Siberian Pea-shrubs (Caragana arborescens). We'll continue adding more shrubs and trees as the year/s progress. 15 evenly spaced pea-shrubs barely took us half-way down the fence line!

Lost LadyBug Project...

Join us in participating in the "Lost LadyBug Project"

"Across North America ladybug species distribution is changing. Over the past twenty years several native ladybugs that were once very common have become extremely rare. During this same time ladybugs from other places have greatly increased both their numbers and range. Some ladybugs are simply found in new places. This is happening very quickly and we don’t know how, or why, or what impact it will have on ladybug diversity or the role that ladybugs play in keeping plant-feeding insect populations low. We're asking you to join us in finding out where all the ladybugs have gone so we can try to prevent more native species from becoming so rare."

Our Today is Forever

Pollinators in Action!

There were so many bees swarming in our three apricot trees that as you approached, the loud buzzing was a bit un-nerving...didn't stop me and Roxie from getting close though...pollinators are our friends!

Simple Pleasures...

Simple pleasures...an outing with my Roxie.


Roxie's turn with the camera...

Growing Fast!

These chicks (and my little girlie chics) are growing like crazy! Before I know it, we'll be sending the girls out to collect fresh eggs -oh yeah! Cheesy egg omelet anyone?

Lisa Leonard Design for Mother's Day 2010

There was a time when I said I would never take it off, but that time came this Mother's Day. I was ready to move on, this time with a necklace that represented all of my babies, including the "little bird" that I lost summer '09. I was so happy that it arrived the day before Mother's Day, complete with all my babe's initials and a little pearl for the babe I lost. I shadow-boxed the original necklace for safe keeping.

Thank you Lisa Leonard Design...

Happy Mother's Day to all the Beautiful Mamas out there!

Very Fitting...

I found this little glass bird on clearance yesterday and thought it was a very fitting find for Mother's Day.

"The Magpie foretells good luck and the arrival of a special guest + positive nesting energy"

Um, yeah -nesting for sure and expecting the arrival of a special guest. As I see it, children truly are guests -they always leave the nest! Whats the saying? -they come through you but do not belong to you?

Roxie took this photo of me yesterday, working on my 27th week of pregnancy!

Earth Day 2010

Check out my "Creating for Earth Day" post over at Craft-Crazy! I have more to share in the way of Earth Day, and it involves planting lots of trees and shrubs, creating a hedgerow on the farm!

Big Big News!

We have been blessed with a son! We are all so very jazzed about this new little man in our lives. I am now 23 weeks into my pregnancy and this boy of mine, Finn Eric, is such a kicker...I am falling head over heels in love.

Happy Easter!

I hope your Easter Holiday was full of springtime joys...

Mid-Week Shots...

$15 Bargain find for the sewing room...not really wanting to change the seat cover -I'm liking it!


The chickens are really getting some character and the kids love feeding them out of hand...


And my Baby Belly at 20 weeks pregnant...this evening.

Getting Big - A Tractor - Still Hanging Here

Yep - the chicks are getting big! They change so much every day, these photos were taken last week. Looking forward to the day we have fresh eggs! The weather is getting nicer and the chicks are slowly moving closer to living outside.




Another new addition to our farm...a tractor! This is like the total "Farmer in the Dell" tractor to me. Perfect fit for five acres. We are slowly getting attachments -a front loader and a much needed corrugator have been scored. Here you see Kaziah driving it all by herself...

Although I am busy sewing costumes right now, the garden is close at hand! Lance has been itching to get his hands dirty...but I have been pushing for the remodel to get to a certain point before we move work outside. No, that does not mean the basement family room is done...gosh I wish so! But the walls are built, electrical installed and sheetrock hung. And until I have the time to work on the finish work -thats where it will sit. I really hope to be working on the finish before I get too big to do the tape/texture. We may be paying someone to do it, just saying...

My pregnancy is going fabulously -working on my 20th week now! I have been feeling the baby move everyday...this one is a jumper I tell you! I am not one that can wait until the babe is born to know the sex...so April 6th we will (hopefully) know what name to be finding...narrow our choices a bit, you know? Funny about the names, I like Finn either way...boy or girl. I also like Wren for a girl...time will tell!

Chick Chick...

New residents on the farm!!! The girls love it....

A Full Heart...

We are enjoying a weekend out of town.....hockey game, good food, swimming...family time together.

I hope your Valentine's weekend is full of simple pleasures and full hearts.