You know that pondering tilt of the head a person gives a work of art they’ve just completed? Writing about your life is that exactly. You step back, pick up your paint brush, apply a dab of compassion here, a brush stroke of flair over there. Putting your life on canvas allows you to see what your life looks like through the eyes of others.
Going Granny (actually my grandkids call me Nanny) is my best achievement yet! Here’s a phone message my barely two-year grandgirl left for me on my 58th b-day. I guarantee it; this will make your day.
While preparing to build my new hay barn, my crews came across this little nest underneath the straw in our old hay storage location. It’s a little mouse house!
Cute, but mice aren’t something we want living in our hay storage. This time, I’ll hang a sign outside that says, “No Vacancies.”
Terry Steinmetz says: AAaahhHH! I can smell those leaves & the molds as I walk along the path!! I love fall walks! And I have my own paths & trails to enjoy.
Winnie Nielsen says: I love this photo. There is something comforting about a walk down a fall pathway in the cool air.
Elizabeth says: I’ve always wanted to have an operational (full sized~maybe even double wide) sink outdoors; it would make cleaning-up so much easier:-)
Eight years ago, I planted two English walnut trees in my pasture. With my Jersey milk cow herd growing exponentially every year, my little saplings were getting a little beat up, bruised, and nibbled on. Too big to move now, we had to come up with another solution. Ta da! Farmhands Kim and Andy to the rescue.
Elizabeth says: That is a serious labor of love & devotion & I completely understand as I love all my trees too. Hope your Walnut trees make a beautiful comeback & flourish for you in the years to follow. Those trees don’t look like they want to leave you anymore than you want them to go; 80 days without rain water is a true test of survival.
Winnie Nielsen says: What a heroic tree saving event!! I hope the trees flourish in their new “digs”. My Grandpa loved a cake made from English Walnuts which were rather hard to find here in the East. My Mom always tried to find some in time to make him a special cake for his birthday.
Terry Steinmetz says: Good Job, Kim & Andy!!! We’ve had very little rain since May. And it’s that way across the whole US that we could see. I love our trees too, so hope yours make it & thrive for years to come. By the way, a walnut pound cake sounds so-o-o good on this blustery, gray, dull day!
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My animals at the farm give me great joy. Their sweet little faces greet me in the morning, wish me a good night, and for the most part … they behave. But on certain occasions, animals will be animals … and no amount of training can save you from their antics. These are their crimes! (Shot with bad lighting like those shocking mug shots we see of movie stars.)
Actually, it was her sister, who’s gone now. (And not because she ate the chicken.)
Elizabeth says: Oh my goodness MaryJane, puppy looks as though he has been branded!…must be the guilt by association look;-)
I’m laughing out loud … and thinking about several mug shots that I could take here 🙂 The first would be of a serial chicken killer Aussie that was sentenced to a new home in town.
MaryJane says: I was missing you this morning, Shery. Good to hear from you. Coffee? I’ll put a pot on.
Winnie Nielsen says: Ha,ha, ha!!!! These are hilarious. I think we could all add our mug shots to your list from our own critter escapades. My daughter’s pony took the cake by outsmarting 3 determined girls one Sunday afternoon in the pasture. They would just get close to try and grab the halter when off he would flit!! They were mad as hornets and he had a great time wasting their plans for an long trail ride. I just had to laugh!!!!
Terry Steinmetz says: I love this post!! Animals have such neat personalities, don’t they? My favorite is the dog. Looks so innocent, but reality is…? Thanks for making me smile!
Oh, these are hilarious M.J. What would we do without our furry family members?
Thanks for the giggle…:)
Deb
Katie Otanez says: Awww too cute! Tulip always seems to have that face on.
Getting ready to build a new shelter for my ever-expanding milk cow herd.
In the background is my one-car-garage-size milk barn where our girls give us their liquid gold every day.
Terry Steinmetz says: Can’t wait to see how it turns out. Wish I could come give you a hand, but the traveling time would be more than the time I could give you raising the barn!?!
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Terry Steinmetz says: The horse does look bored,but look at those smiles from the grandgirls!! Hope they had fun.
My daughter, Meg, and I will be signing books on Saturday, October 6, from noon to 1:30 p.m. at
Costco, located at 301 5th Street, Clarkston, Washington.
We would love to meet you!
Nudge: we bring lots of fun prizes. And chocolate.
Boy howdy! I sure wish I could be there! Seeing you two would be such a treat. I ordered a copy of the book from Amazon but, sadly, it’s not signed. Hopefully I will see you again next summer . . . I plan to bring my copy with me and get it signed! Have a fun time!
CJ
With Halloween on the way, I find myself getting the silliest urges …
I want to craft my own broomstick, stir up a cauldron of sparkling cider, and play with potions (like soaps and lotions!).
Do you feel it too?
October is a month of magic, casting a spell with its windblown golden leaves and tendrils of wood smoke curling through the early morning chill.
I’m bewitched!
And speaking of witches, I want to introduce you to one of the most spellbinding little sorceresses of all time:
Her name is …
Winnie Nielsen says: What a fun series. I love Halloween but have never heard of this author. I will see if our library has any of the series . From your description, it reminds me of the British who done it series The Battling Brolly. This hilarious series features a retired school teacher who is consulted for her insight by Scotland Yard. She has this habit of always carrying a Brolly ( umbrella) which gets her into all sorts of hilarious encounters on the trail!
MaryJane says: I will have to check it out. Never heard of the term brolly. Love it. New term now to use with my umbrella.
Oh, yes! I’ve already watched that movie once this October and look forward to seeing yet again. “Everything’s better on Halloween!”
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.
Interesting type of tree. Sad to see it go, but safer for all of you!
Making a decision to take down a nice big tree is for me the same level of stress as a decision to euthanize a pet! Trees feel like friends and I get used to their abiding presence.
I cut down an apple tree once that was in the wrong place and my 10 year old son mourned for days. I had no idea he was so attached to it. Love your choice of words, “abiding presence.”