Dear friends...
Didn't mean to be away so long...lots of things happening lately, but maybe I can now catch up.
this pretty deer was right outside the kitchen window, helping herself to the rose bush and peach tree.
She acted hungry so we let her enjoy herself. I don't think she could do any more damage than this hot dry weather has already done.
We had just about give up on getting any rain, but then late yesterday this big dark cloud formed right overhead. There was thunder and lightning and rain...two inches of rain!
Poppy decided to run out and help the old one-legged rooster get inside the hen house before the storm. On his way back to the house, it started to rain, so Poppy, being excited, stopped and did a little Indian rain dance. It was hilarious!! but as he was dancing around there in the driveway, lightning flashed and then it thundered...wish you could have seen him run for the house. Sure wish I had had my camera...I was standing on the porch watching.
Anyhow, we sure were happy to get the rain.
It's getting late and Eli is snoring. Hope to be back here soon.
Love,
Henny
Warning! Guard dog on duty...
The deer was in the yard again today. Poppy and I are beginning to think this deer was raised by someone. Wouldn't that be sad as deer season starts in September. This poor deer will be killed for sure...
The deer did not come any closer to Poppy but neither did it run away. It wandered into the back yard and down to the pond for water...
This deer is definitely not like the others around here. Deer run at the slightest sound or sight of a person.
Poppy went with me up to the garden this morning to see if there was anything that needed to be picked or gathered. Now I know you're tired of seeing my vegetables...lots of people out there have gardens and raise vegetables much prettier than ours. It's just that this teeny tiny garden has given us so much this summer. I am overwhelmed...and thankful...
and, another pound and a half tomato...
Looks like tomorrow will be another bean snapping bean canning day. Never let it be said that I was caught sitting idle! Mama used to say, well don't stop now! :)
Part of the flock gathered in for a group picture...
and, Big Boy said get one of me down here in the grass and weeds...
Sorry for all the pictures. Sometimes I get carried away. Thank you for stopping by. Better get supper started.
Love,
Henny
I've had the pleasure of company for the last three days...Cousin Pat. That right. The same Pat who gave us her treasured old cupboard that graces our little front porch and Pat is the artist who painted the picture of Bickett.
Pat and I had fun shopping. A thrift store downtown had a bag sale. Five dollars for all the clothes you could pack into the bag. Now I can pack a bag! I came home with lots of new old clothes to wash and iron. Even had to clear the closet of all the even older clothes that I no longer wear.
Once again I am behind in posting and reading posts.
Just minutes ago Eli and I walked out the front door and right into a deer. She was helping herself to water from the birdbath...
Drinking from the birdbath is fine with me. I am however a little leery of wild animals that are not afraid of people. She stood there several minutes drinking, raising her head, and drooling into the birdbath. She looked up but made no attempt to run, even after Eli growled and barked...
When she had finished her drink she wandered slowly over to the raggedy old well and hung around for a while. Are deer ever rabid?
Eli and I decided to go through the house and out the back door for our short walk.
This hillbilly couple...reckon they will ever amount to anything...
In town yesterday I mailed out a sample of the chicken feed that Popeye, Olive, and Sweet Pea were eating before they died. Once the testing is done and I hear back from the manufacturer, I will post the results.
The trees and plants have lost their fresh spring green and are looking older and worn here in the middle of August. The yard is blah. The Joe Pye weed is attracting lots of butterflies and bees...
and, for the first time ever I have a Rose of Sharon in bloom...
The Impatients are still blooming. The first bit of cold will take these out though. Someone once said that Impatients are so sensitive to the cold that you could kill them by sitting your glass of iced tea beside them...
I want more flowers and a prettier yard next year. Something to look forward to and dream about, I suppose.
Thank you if you have managed to stick around this long. Thank you for visiting.
Love,
Henny Penny
Now I know that deer hunters in some places have a bad reputation because of a few obnoxious rednecks...like here in our county where hunting with dogs is allowed. The hunters park their muddy Toyota pickup trucks, with their dog boxes on the back, up and down these country roads. The hunters sit in their trucks with their doors wide open and talk to each other on their cb radios, waiting for a pack of dogs to run a deer out of the woods. Often there is a deer or a dog getting hit by a passing car.
My point in telling you all this is a little story about Poppy. Poppy "still hunts". He goes alone into the woods, sits quietly in a tree stand or on the ground, enjoys the wildlife, and waits for a trophy buck to wander up. He was doing just this yesterday when he heard one of the trucks crank up and head down our path. He also heard the dogs barking in the distance and getting closer...he sat there very still, listening, when suddenly a large doe comes running right to Poppy sitting there on the ground. The doe looked him right in the eyes! Poppy said he waved his hand and said, "you better run"!!! The doe took off!
Poppy was in the woods only about a quarter of a mile from our house. I was in the yard tending the animals and also listening to the commotion...when that large doe comes running right up behind our chicken house and stops! Perfectly still! I think she knew where she would find safe hiding!
Update on the Guineas...
The babies have made it safely through these freezing cold nights of late. Of course, that heat lamp hanging over their feed dish has been a life saver! There is a drop cord run from the outlet on the side of the house all the way down to the pen near the pond!!
They have grown...and beginning to look like Guineas...
Eating chick weed found growing in the garden.
Funny characters! Papa Guinea is proud and stands looking into the pen most of the day...
Hope I haven't offended anyone talking about deer hunters. We honestly do need the hunters because of the huge deer population. Just tone it down a little!!! :)
Dumperoo tried to help with the sewing last night...
Thank you for stopping by!
Love,
Henny Penny
My wattle fence didn't turn out so good. Looks like I need help!! :) I planted a few pole beans around it anyway. We'll see what happens. Maybe in two weeks or so there will be a few vines...
I've rooted so many many Hostas. I had planned to sell them at the farmer's market along with the bonnets and aprons but I'm not doing the market anymore. I have given Hostas to all the neighbors... Wish I could give you all a few! These need to be divided and re-potted...
I caught Bickett sleeping again!!! Imagine that!! Got to show you this . He is so funny...
I love cats. Daddy loved cats. Growing up, we had a cat named "Pepper". He would jump into the bath tub and with his paw, push the stopper into the hole. Then meow, wanting us to run a little water in for him to drink. Not long before daddy died, he stopped by to visit us. Lynn and Andee were small. Daddy said he had something for us...It was a little kitten. He told Lynn and Andee to always make sure it had fresh water to drink.
There is quite a story about how we got Bickett. I'll save that for another time.
A hint...I got so tired of getting to the garden and realizing I needed something. So, I loaded down this gardening basket with everything I could possible need!!! 3 pairs of gloves, a bandana, 2 pocket knives, a tool kit, scissors, twine, seeds, a saw, pruning shears, etc. It weight about 10 pounds, it sure helps having it with me!!
I didn't quite finish this post yesterday. This morning there were several deer on the hill. You know how hard it is to sneak up on deer!!! They all scattered when I opened the back door except this mother and her half grown baby. Wish I could have gotten closer...
Again, if you've stayed this long, thank you!!
Love,
Henny Penny