We’ve all heard how important it is to eat a diet high in roughage. Likewise, “roughaging” (spending time outdoors) is essential to our mental health. Even if it’s a settee on the porch, we need it, gotta have it. I aim to be the reason you pulled your bedding out the back door last night.
Winnie Nielsen says: Ohhhh my, the sweetest face ever!! Is that baby new? How is my Daisy coming along? I believe she is due next month or so.
MaryJane says: That’s Sweet William (Miss Daisy’s last calf). Sadly, Miss Daisy miscarried sometime around the end of December. She was carrying a heifer. She’s still giving me plenty of milk so I’ll wait until August to breed her again. Next up is Lacy Lou, who is due in August.
Winnie Nielsen says: Oh, that is sad. Sweet William is a handsome boy and what a charmer with that beautifully marked face.
Mary Lou Bender says: Your beautiful picture reminded me of a little poem I came across more than 50 yrs ago:
“We reached the gate in silence, there’s nothing between us now
For I was just a farmer’s boy, and you, a jersey cow.”
MaryJane says: What a wonderful little poem. I’m going to change it to girl for my grandgirls. Thank you!
Winnie Nielsen says: MaryLou, I love this simple poem and it is perfect for MaryJane to change for her Grandgirls. Thanks for sharing.
Karlyne says: My faith in the beauty of the world has just been restored. Thank you, Sweet William!
laureen Shelton says: Love them cow eyes!
We always say, “It’s the little things that count.”
Indeed.
As we huddle here in the final stretch of winter, I find myself dreaming of details,
the little things that make spring so special.
So, as thoughts will do, mine hopped around until they landed on this idea:
A “can-you-guess” sort of quiz that gives you a close-up glimpse of the coming season’s lovely little things.
Scroll through the images and their multiple-choice identities, below, and give ‘em a guess. Some are more obvious than others, but all are dream-worthy. The answers are at the end.
1.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
2.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
3.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
4.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
5.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
6.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
7.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
8.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
9.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com
10.
Photo by Nick Fedele via Flickr
11.
Photo by Justus Thane via Flickr
12. And here’s one to help you appreciate the miniscule marvels of today (hint, hint):
Photo by Alexey Kljatov via Flickr
Answers:
Winnie Nielsen says: This was fun. I missed #4, #2, and #12. The last one is really tricky with those micro stems curling off the edges. Thanks for a great Morning Science class today at MJF. Always a favorite of mine!
Beautiful! I wasn’t sure about the butterfly wing or hibiscus pollen. The others I did get correct!
Thanks for this post!
CJ
Yay, got em all right ! Yes, as they say : ” God is in the details “
Krista says: Wow! That was a fun little challenge. I only missed numbers 4 and 5. I did guess on some, especially the hibiscus pollen, but I seemed to have guessed right. Thanks for this fun little game to get into the spirit of the season and appreciate the small things that make up spring.
I missed on the Katydid wing (thought it was a leaf because a copy of this is one of my screen saver free images) and the snowflake (thought it was mica flake). Otherwise, I think I’m a pretty good observer of nature (or maybe just intuitive??). Either way, I’ll accept the result. milka
Bonnie ellis says: What a fun way to learn. In my button club, we would have to identify various clothing buttons on a card. We learned a lot about what they we made of, when made and what garment they may have been sewn on.
Sarah Hall says: Loved this. I missed #5 but definately was guessing on the pollen!
Winnie Nielsen says: I am wondering what it would feel like to drive a vintage truck like this? Like how the steering wheel feels, the seat, and the way it turns. Does it have the shift on the column? Once I drove an old car that was built like that and it was so different from having the shift on the floor. Did this era truck come with a radio yet?
MaryJane says: Next time you are here, we can let you drive one:)
Winnie Nielsen says: That would be awesome!!! I’ll make sure and bring my bib overalls to wear for the occasion.
I have probably 40 birdhouses around the farm made using farm finds. During the summer, they almost always have a family of birds living in them.
Winnie Nielsen says: Your bird housing stock is always so darn cute! Plus, they look sturdy and safe which I am sure the birds love. MaryJane’s bird B&B!
MaryJane says: I should advertise on the airwaves.
Robin and I LOVED seeing all the creative birdhouses at your farm. Robin’s nickname is “Birdie” and she collects birdhouses so they were of particular interest for her.
CJ
Janice Moore says: i am so happy to have found this page on fb. I dearly love the magazine.
Sure, birds make music. Tweedle-lee-dee-dee, tweedle-lee-dee-dee …
Photo by Andy Morffew via Flickr
But Brazilian composer Jarbas Agnelli discovered a unique melody orchestrated by birds (and it has nothing to do with their songs). “Reading the newspaper one morning, I saw a picture of birds on the electric wires,” Agnelli said. There were, he noted, five wires—the numbers of lines in a musical score. “I cut out the photo and decided to make a song, using the exact location of the birds as notes. I was just curious to hear what melody the birds were creating.” This was the rhapsodic result:
WOW what a nice way to start my day! having stress at home with my very sick kitty Duke and needed that lovely melody to put me in a better place. thanks MaryJane for sharing this.
MaryJane says: Oh no, what’s wrong with daring Duke?
hi MaryJane, Duke has severe stomach/GI issues and they can’t seem to find a way to make him stop throwing up so i’ts getting dire now. thanks for your concern.Duke sends you kitty kisses
MaryJane says: That’s awful. I’m just so very sorry. I’m leaving now to find Jasper and give him a hug.
THANKS for your kind words. Duke is one of the sweetest cats I’ve ever had. He never has growled, scratched or bitten, not even at the vets where they are poking and prodding him all the time. Duke and Earl are inseparable , and Earl knows he’s not feeling well. I’ll keep you posted . Yes, MaryJane, give your beautiful Jasper a big hug .
Brenda White says: Lovely!
Winnie Nielsen says: This musical arrangement is beautiful. Wow, only a gifted musician could “see” this tune from the birds. It was just lovely and made me cry!
MaryJane says: I didn’t want it to stop. Lovely indeed. Good morning Winnie!
BEAUTIFUL!! Our Creator is AMAZING! That reminds me of my son, who has Down Syndrome. When he was in his teen years he would sit and play my piano, my mom’s piano, any piano and play his own music. You wouldn’t recognize it as anything else anyone has composed, but it was beautiful and musical. At one point my mom recorded what he played on her piano and gave me the tape. I had intended to listen to it and try to put it to paper. Sadly, though we lost the tape in our house fire in 1994. Now, that he’s older that isn’t something he does anymore, however, he still loves music and is one heck of a dancer!
Thanks for this music!
CJ
Krista says: What a pretty music arrangement. It’s a very special talent to see music written among birds on electrical wires. This goes to show that we can find music in simple everyday objects, we just need to be open to their presence. I really enjoyed this video. It put a smile on my face.
Gayle says: I often find myself trying to sing the song I see the birds compose..on my way to work. Putting that sight reading and music theory college course to work everyday in my kindergarten class! It was not vanity or the boy I thought I was in love with who was a music major! There was an ultimate purpose.
Winnie Nielsen says: Looks like the winter snows are melting with this band of 50 degree days you have been having lately. Such a crazy Winter we are all having this El Nino year!
Happy Valentine’s Day my friend!
MaryJane says: Happy love day to you, Miss Winnie. LOVE your way. I am blessed to have you in my life.
Winnie Nielsen says: Thank-you MaryJane! I feel the same way. Friendships, I believe, are what keep our worlds safe and expanding. What would life’s experience be without dear friends!
My Bump, here, sends a big purr to Tomkins and I am sending a scratch behind the ears to my Miss Daisy!
Deb Siemens says: So lovely, Thank you for this rolling prarie photo!
Bonnie ellis says: You can almost smell that earth ready and ripe for planting. It’s hard to wait for spring.
Winnie Nielsen says: What a beautiful bunny. Won’t he/she be excited when the deep green lush grass returns soon?
OOOOhhheeee! Man ,that is one hungry rabbit if he’s eating brambles ! I’m sure he is eagerly awaiting spring and dandelions and such. I love how they nibble on dandelions, they suck the stem up like a kid with spaghetti and then delicately nibble the flower heads.
Deb says: So cute! Looks just like our Colorado bunnies!
if you leave these 2 bunnies on this page much longer we will soon have bunniekins !
Winnie Nielsen says: Rabbit, Rabbit! Happy February!
MaryJane says: I thought today could be little critter day. The rabbit photo was from last year.
Bonnie ellis says: We have many rabbits in our yard. We put out corn for the squirrels and yesterday I saw a rabbit steal the corn away from a squirrel. Couldn’t believe it. Usually the squirrels are the aggressor. But I suppose when you are hungry…
Hey there, sleepy girl …
Ready to go globetrotting? Maybe sneak in a bit of, say, mountain climbing?
You’re snuggling deeper under your quilt now, aren’t you?
Alas …
Hibernation is a hard habit to kick.
Luckily, I’ve arranged a unique world tour that’s just perfect for the quilt-wrapped armchair travelista who is perfectly happy in her current state of snuggling.
Today’s tour takes us to 13 mountains and ranges around the world that are known by the name (or nickname) “Sleeping Lady.”
Enjoy trying to decipher how each one got her name (some are more obvious than others) …
United States: Mount Susitna near Anchorage, Alaska
Photo by Doug Brown via Flickr
Mexico: Iztaccíhuatl on the border between the State of Mexico and Puebla
Photo by Alejandro Linares Garcia via Wikimedia Commons
Norway: Den Sovende Dronning (Sleeping Queen) near Narvik, Norway
Photo by Stunu via Wikimedia Commons
Peru: La Bella Durmiente (Sleeping Beauty) in Tingo Maria National Park
Photo by Yagamichega via Wikimedia Commons
Philippines: Sleeping Beauty Mountain in Kalinga Province
Photo by Gubernatoria via Wikimedia Commons
Thailand: Doi Nang Non in the Daen Lao Range
Photo by mtspeth via Wikimedia Commons
Panama: La India Dormida in El Valle de Anton
Photo by Ayaita via Wikipedia
Winnie Nielsen says: Thanks MaryJane for this interesting tour this morning. It is even 35 degrees here in Florida and we had snow flake sitings yesterday morning! What I love about this mornings globetrotting is that you don’t have to sit on a plane for umpteen hours just to see something beautiful. With my cup of java in hand, this is traveling at it’s sweetest!
Cindi says: Wow, Thailand was the only one I had to wait a minute before it became clear. What a nice trip ~ and not a single blister or sore muscle.
Deb says: I would love to visit them aii in person. But, thank you Mary Jane for the beautiful, peaceful journey from my armchair this morning!
thanks MaryJane for the mountainous tour-needed a break,
Im sitting here at my farmette, snowbound, we had over 2+ feet snow and drifts of 6+ feet. Snowed here for 27 hours straight, with higher winds than when we had Hurricane Sandy ! a true blizzard ! Waiting for my snow plow guy to dig me out, my car looks like a buried mammoth, and I can’t even walk out the doors, the snow is piled against them. But it looks pretty as I sit inside and drink hot tea and pack seeds for my customers.
Buy props used in MaryJane’s books and magazine!
5% of profits will benefit www.firstbook.org, a non-profit that provides new books to children from low-income families throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Here’s how:
MaryJane will post a photo and a description of a prop and its cost along with a few details as to its condition here: https://shop.maryjanesfarm.org/MaryJanesCurations. It’s a playful way to be the new owner of a little bit of farm herstory.
Happy Spring, MaryJane!
YES! Happy Spring dearest Winnie. A friend gave me “Finding Winnie.” I read it to my girls last weekend. It’s a lovely book.
Wow , this is a new book to me. Love the name! Does the story remind you of me? I am going to look it up on Amazon to learn more. Who knew?
I think the name or the context threw you. The Caldecott Medal went to “Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear,” illustrated by Sophie Blackall and written by Lindsay Mattick. The book tells the real-life story of a World War I veterinarian who rescued a bear and named it Winnie, who eventually became the inspiration for the fictional Winnie-the-Pooh.
Lovely evocative photo of the moon in daylight!
Did you ever look at the moon when you we little and think it was magic? What a beautiful photo Mary Jane.