Rustic Ranch

2012-01-15T20:21:00.000-08:00

Wham-Bam like the pic says dis iz teh good part NOT! Now my other half has gotten what I have. And he is Not happy camper. Men just do not take being sick nicely. He is mumbling it is all my fault, like I wished this on him. Well I didn't. Because now I must here about it, and pretty much jump when he moans he needs something.
Guess what goes around comes around lol. So tomorrow I will call and get him on some meds, since right now he is sharing mine. And I certainly plan on taking all the antibiotics, because I am tired of being sick. Today even though my head is still stuffed, ears are humming and I am coughing I went outside and cleaned the barn. It was only about 18 degrees, but atleast sunny so it actually wasn't too bad. Plus the boys needed to get outside and burn off energy. I just love seeing them running through the snow kicking up their heels. The loved rolling in it too. I cleaned both their stalls, hauled fresh water and even cleaned up the goose and duckies stall. Their water was frozen so I refilled with fresh semi-warm water. And when I came back they had played in it and ended up knocking it over. So I had to fill it again. They will be happy when the weather warms up so the can go back to swimming in the creek and our neighbors pond.
I noticed also today some scrub brush around the creek is turning red, which means spring is coming, one can dream! The feeders have been up since Nov. but we haven't had too many birds, but this has changed since the other night of snow. The next post will chat you up on this. Smile, must go feed the wood stove and keep the hubby warm. =^..^=

2012-01-13T11:55:00.000-08:00

Bam!!! The new year started off shitty. In the first time in more years then I can remember I got a chest cold. So I went and got antibiotics which helped, since without I usually end up with bronchitis. My having asthma seems to make things worse. Well as that was clearing up I felt it moving into my sinus and Bam woke up one morning with such pressure and not being able to breathe. Picture a little kid with that yummy greenish-yellow stuff coming out of their noses. Well that is me! And Bam the next day I wake with an ear ache, so called the doctor back up and got a different antibiotic for these symptoms. All I seem to do is wheeze, blow my nose, sniffle, cough and my hearing sounds like it is muted. I hear the sound of a sea shell in my ear. Bam----Year is not starting off great. And now we are finally having winter, and cold temps, which makes chores so much more fun. I can only guess what lies in store for the rest of the year.

I finally got pictures download from my camera into my computer and will be posting them, even though they were from this past fall. I know just alittle slow, hey that comes with age. The picture here is of Stuey I took one night when we were sitting and playing dice. I looked up through my plant on the tabel and saw him looking back, just had to snap him.

I hope everyone else out there feels better then I do, wouldn't wish being this sick on my worse enemy. Well just maybe. Smile

2011-12-28T15:11:00.000-08:00

As we come to the end of yet another year, we here at Ruda's Rustic want to wish everyone a Happy and safe New Year! Enjoy the parties, eats and drinks, but becareful when it comes to driving. Desegnate a driver!!!

We here will watch the old ball drop, drink alittle, snack alittle and hope the coming year will be alot better for us and everyone around the world.

We finally got around an inch and a half of snow, now we are getting the colder temps. This is great as the ground will freeze and we will not be sinking into mud at the barn. I hope for a quick winter and a long beautiful spring, but being that we live here in PA. you never know day to day what will happen. I do know my two huskies are blowing their fur again, which to me means the winter will not be too harsh, plus the horses really do not have much of a winter coat. The other day I saw and heard a bluebird singing. So one can only hope.

So everyone you all stay healthy, warm and happy on this New Years and the year to come.

2011-12-16T17:02:00.000-08:00

Everyone here at the Rustic wishes everyone out there a very Merry Christmas. So far winter is holding off on snow. We are glad for this as usually by now we are snowed in. We still have green grass! Means my horses can come out during the day and blow off steam. The barn kitties can come out too. Only thing I could do without is all the mud. We need a week of below freezing to firm up the ground.

I am very late on sending out xmas cards, and putting up the tree and lights. Seems as we get older we feel less like doing things. Plus no family around just George and myself. So no presents under the tree. We do wrap things for the animals though lol.

I did my good deed though, my neighbor didn't have a tree, decorations etc and really couldn't afford them. So I went up into the attic and brought down my extra tree, lights and bulbs and bells and am letting her use them. They have two cute little girls who deserve a merry xmas. Was a joy seeing their eyes light up at the decorated tree. Makes things worthwhile.

So tis the season to be jolly and nice. Smile

2011-11-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

Wishing everyone out there in Blog world a "Happy Thanksgiving". Only thing that bothers me to NO end though is the fact that it seems to be a forgotten holiday. Where did the giving of thanks give way to shopping like crazy for Christmas before Thanksgiving is even over? For myself by the time it feels like Christams the mood has left me. I am to the point that I hate shopping! I love the snow, decoration, horses running through the snow with the wind in their hair. Love the baking, writing actual cards, and catching with dear friends, but enough with thenotion we should buy, buy, buy. Enough, just let us step back and first give thanks for what we have.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Rustic Ranch.

2011-10-30T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hello-Happy Halloween-Boo! Hope everyone will have a great halloween. Here the nor'easter missed us. But we will get our share I am sure. I have gooten all the plants indoors, before any frosts. We took the awning down, and furniture away for the winter. Just left a few pcs. so if the weather permits we can sit on the deck. It seems like bang summer came and went, but we will have five to six months of winter. No wonder people get depressed. No sun, no greenery, just long dreary days and nights. Well I will just spend more time blogging I guess.

2011-10-27T17:11:00.000-07:00

I am BACK, and want to wish all a Happy Halloween! Here they have it today, Thurs. But they really should do it on said day! That is how they did it WAY back when. I remember going out from

three to four hours. Now a days with all the sickos out there it is only two hours, and the kids are watched. Don't you wish for simpler times. Have a safe one.

2011-09-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

Summer is almost gone and there is a taste of fall in the air. My "Ozzie" is finally home. I haven't gotten to ride him yet, weather isn't permitting it. But I have been putting the bridle and saddle on him, he stands so patiently. I have also been standing on my step stool next to him, to get him used to it. As I am short and he is tall this is the only way I can get on him. Even my two step mounting block is too short. I always wanted a Big horse and I certainly have one in him.

The apples are falling and I need to make more pies today, plus more stuffed peppers. Having the stove on will warm the house as there is a chill.

All the perennials are more or less done blooming also, which is sad they usually bloom into almost Oct., wonder if this is a sign of what is to come brrrrr.

This picture is one of my kitties, the youngest one "Gizmo", he loves having his picture taken, and usally bothers me as I sit at the computer. But since it is alittle chilly they are all bedded down. I want to thank all of you for the kind words on my blog, I will have to get back into the groove of writing again with the weather turning cooler, enjoy>

2011-08-19T15:01:00.000-07:00

Ozzie is coming along in his training. Was riden in the woods the other day. And he is learning to flex and give to the bit better. The yielding to the bit is where he is having trouble. Other then this no major problems like bolting, rearing or bucking. I am getting anxious to again start trail riding. I know I will be nervous and will wear a helmet from now on. It is almost like starting over. So when I first started riding I was green and so was my thoroughbred horse "Sugar Pie" and now many years later I start again on another green horse. Do I have "stupid" written across my forhead? lol.

On another note my at home appy "Oreo" played escape the other day. Guess he is missing his brother. I looked out and there he was standing in the road eating the grass on the roadside. Not a care in the world. I did a double take because he was like this glowing white horse. Then I realized oh no he is mine! So I ran out called him and here he came quite calmly. But halter on him and walked him back to his stall. I checked the fence and there were no breaks. Was a loose spot then he just lifted and walked out. Fence is tightened and on again. So that makes all the horses I have owned getting out atleast once.SMILE

2011-08-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

This is my "Ozzie", who finally is getting broke! Took years instead of a few months because there was something always going on, or no money or he was always getting hurt. I have a really nice Amish gentleman breaking him. He uses natural horsemanship, and I am amazed at how well Oz is doing. By the second time Matt got on hum, he just stood there, Matt was kicking him in the sides and bouncing in the saddle and Oz was bored. So hopefully soon he will be trail ready and I will again start riding after a two year absence.

2011-08-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

Early summer I was worried as I was not seeing the swarms of hummers as in past years. But since the beginning of July they are here. I have just bought my fourth ten pound bag of sugar. They go through atleast two quarts a day and more if I would fill feeders totally to the top. They drink it so fast it doesn't have a chance to spoil, even in this heat. But in about a month and a half they will be heading south for the winter. I even took a video of them as I was standing right next to the feeder. A few times I could feel the wind from their wings. They are truly a tiny wonder. They love the hostas, and trumpet vines, and petunia but so far haven't seemed to enjoy my jasmine or mandevillia, or butterfly bush. But the butterflies sure do. Rspecially the hummingbird moth/

2011-08-06T12:13:00.000-07:00

A picture says a thousand words

2011-07-22T22:07:00.001-07:00

Finally after four years we finally sent Ozzie to be broke! First we couldn't because he needed to be gelded. Then the next two years he was always getting hurt. He didn't realize that behind hid head was a large body. Was always getting his legs dinged, cut or something. Then we wanted to send him but no money. A few more yrs and now everything fell into place and off he went. I called tonight and was told he is doing great. Has settled in to the new stall etc. On Monday evening we are going over to watch Matt work him, and bring him the bit I use. I am getting excited that after a few years off I will finally be able to ride. Wheeeee I love my horses. As you can see from the picture he is a very curious horse, here he is getting ready to pick apart a brush pile in his field. This stupid thing will not load pictures so I am going to just post this and try again later.

2011-07-17T11:23:00.000-07:00

I added a new bird to my life time list. It is an orchard oriole. I haven't been able to snap a picture, due to the fact that he is very shy. So I found a picture to post until then. I haven't seen him since it has gotten hot nor have I seen the baltimore orioles either. They more then likely went further north. I know the robins have too. It is getting really dry here, with the ground even cracking. We go from extreme wet to now dry. But nothing like other areas.I have noticed that the hummers have increased greatly, as now I am going through 2 qts. of sugar water daily. So far I have almost gone through ten pounds of sugar. Amazing how such tiny birds can go through all that.

2011-07-07T18:16:00.002-07:00

The previous post showed my new air plant, well a few days later and wham. I went out on the deck this morning and looked around and saw it had given me a purple flower. It has a smell I knew but could not think of. So I had George take a wiff and we came up with the scent is alot like cloves. Hard to believe this tiny flower was strong enough to smell. These are the things that make my day. Take time and look around you, you never know what you will see.

2011-07-04T16:43:00.000-07:00

I know what you are saying "She hates pink!" But this just glowed so beautifully and it also will get tiny purple flowers along the main pink flower, so I will make an exception this time lol. It is an air plant - Aeranthos purple giant.

2011-07-04T12:00:00.001-07:00

I had my George stop at another greenhouse, one we do not go to very often. He is aliitle on the high side, but he has tropical and indoor houseplants. I wanted some new unusual ones and he never disapoints. This he called german ivy, but I am not sure, I just wanted it because it had thick almost succulant leaves. Unusual yes.

2011-07-02T12:35:00.003-07:00

Here is something you do not see everyday ! A snow ball in the summer!!! Now look carefully and you can see it is actually a ball made out of seeds they came together. They were from the poplar trees. They were whipped around on the driveway into a ball, I just had to save and take a pic. Enjoy =^..^= Happy Fourth to all of you.

2011-06-27T16:20:00.002-07:00

For all of you who follow my blog you already know that purple and orange are my favorite colors. Well here even the birds and animals; large and small try and do their part. Here is a new born painted turtle who I found off our back deck in the driveway. So tiny yet when I turned him over there was one of my colors "orange". A few days later cutting the la

wn I almost ran over a female painted turtle. she was finishing up laying her eggs. I got off the mower and watch as the leathery eggs dropped into the hole she had dug. She then refilled and tamped down the dirt, and back to the creek she went. So far no eggs have hatched. I need to find out of long they take to hatch. So come on JC and looked it up. Oh and also snappers are snapping turtle, big, ugly, smelly foul tempered creatures.

2011-06-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

This beautiful watercolor was painted by my sister Kareen. She has started taking some classes to see if she can fufill a lifetime dream. Our Dad was a well know Cleveland artist, his talent has rubbed off on the two of us. Myself I have gardening , and crafts , and the ability to mix and match color palettes together. She has the gardening and crafting and painting talent. She also has the literary talent and writes beautiful poems. Sista I love you!!!

2011-06-13T16:53:00.002-07:00

I know it has been awhile, just haven't felt in the mood... Down in the dumps with life etc. And have been trying to get the outside pulled together, and with all the rain, rain and more rain, it has been rough. But I am almost done with gardens, flowers etc. I am adding some more pictures of my peeps, they are now three months old and you can hardly tell them from "Whitie" the older duck. They grow so fast, but I still am not able to tell if one is a female or not, the other is a male. So "Gertie" my goose is in heaven. She has three white duckies to keep her company. I had hubby bait a large hook and put into the creek. I noticed no one is swimming in the creek, even the honkers are not. They started with six babies and now are down to only one. We have snappers and they need to be caught and gotten rid of. They are under the surface and just grab their little legs and pull them under!!! Pisses me off but payback is a bitch!!!

2011-05-04T14:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this guy and had to get him!!! And I got a good deal, he was half - off! Was a deal for summer and we are only in spring, guess they are pushing seasons on us. He will sit somewhere among the plants on the deck. That is after we repair the deck and repaint and fix the awning too. Things always need to be done when you own a home. Like my Mom says "there is no rest for the wicked"; guess we are really wicked, because we never catch our breath.

2011-05-01T15:13:00.001-07:00

The weather here in PA. is playing tricks, one sunny nice day then days of damp cool dreary ones. For April we only had six dry days for the month. And now with it being May they are calling for almost a week of rain again. All the while my seedlings need to go outside but too cold.

The duckies have gotten so big they are in the dog crate. I took it apart and put the two pcs. together. Plus we had to put chicken wire around because they have already gotten out. Not to mention my huskie "java" ( who likes killing things) was standing with his front feet inside the crate at one end and they were at the other. And two days ago the whole crate with duckies went into the heated grain and tack room. They were really stinking up the house, even though their home was cleaned daily. Who knew two duckies were so messy and stinky. As the pictures show they are growing by leaps and bounds.

Yesterday while it was warm I grabbed them up and took them into the stall where Gertie and White are. I made sure to watch because I didn't want them to get beaten-up. Imagine my surprise when they went after the bigger ones. Gertie was so started when the one rushed her she fell over backwards trying to get away. So they can defend themselves lol. Now if the weather warms up they can all come outside, eat grass and swim in the creek.

I was able to find new purple and orange flowers to use on the deck. They are called stock, and smell alittle like phlox., plus I bought a persian shield, and a fushia that has a purple center. I bought a new gazing ball, in a light bright green. george says you can really see it!

With all the rain nothing else one can do but look outside and dream!

2011-04-18T17:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a new stupid and quirky garden item I just had to have. A purple Do-Do bird! For all that know me I bought it because it is purple and orange, my two favorite colors. I also bought two more orange daylilies and a ruffled orange poppy. Again because I love those colors and my gardens show as such. Smile!

2011-04-18T13:16:00.000-07:00

The other night was a full moon. George said come out and see it. It was tangerine, just coming up over the trees. It was beautiful, but I had a hard time taking the shot. First it was windy, second it was cold, third my hands weren't steady. But I managed to get a few, George said " can you imagine with a larger lens the shots you could get"? Hey you can buy me a larger telephoto lens any time dear.

2011-04-02T12:22:00.003-07:00

I told myself if I ever could find ducklings again at a good price I would buy two. Well I found some and now they are MINE!. Right now they are inside in a cat carrier by the stove. They need warmth, so they sit a fire watch. I need to wait until they are larger to figure out their sex. I also need to come up with names for them, kinda out of the ordinary, but something they will come to when called. I have one named Whitie already. And have used the name Dickie Duck before. so anyone out there who wants to help me name them give it a shot.

They already see me and get all excited, I want them to bond before they go outside, they love cuddling in a towel in my arms and usually go to sleep. And the saying "Likes ducks to water", well it is so true. I had a water container in there, but it was just too small so I put a bowl in and the one just jumped right in. They are only a few days old tool. So guess the saying it true. Then they jump out and run around like crazy so happy.

2011-04-01T14:23:00.000-07:00

Wow we grow them really big here at the Rustic Ranch. April Fool's!!!!

2011-03-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

This is how I have been feeling!!!! Even though Phil said we would have an early spring here in the northeast, we haven't. We have been so cold and we get snow ever few days, atleast it melts. But the weather is too cold to even try and start garen clean-ups, or manure moving. The manure is still frozen. So I look at catalogs, wonder through the garden sections in the stores and plan. I did manage to for the first time start veggies from seeds. I have tiny chocolate and green peppers coming up, some orange cherry tomatoes too. I have so many things to start I need to buy more seed starter and potting soil. This week I hope to get the greenhouse I ordered, it will go in the front window. It is five feet tall and has five shelves so I will have plenty of room. It will get plenty of sun since the windows face south, plus I have a large grow light we will set-up for the evening hours. I lay in bad at night and plan out what will go into which pot outside on the deck and around the back porch. I bought more dahlia tubers to add to the ones I have from the last few years, just new colors. This year since we need to redo the siding in the front I will keep the main garden prety empty, Hubby is known to smash things when working. So most of the planting will be in the back. I wait anxiously for new flowers to start showing up in the stores but know we have atleast another month of waiting. So like I stated at the start I hate everything right now. Smile

2011-03-20T17:18:00.000-07:00

After freezing my hands, and taking over two dozen pictures, I managed to keep a few that turned out pretty good. I will admit to picniking them too. The moon was supposed to be the closest thus being larger and brighter. But as nature has it we had too many clouds early on. So I couldn't take shots until she was almost overhead. I would loved to have taken some right has she came up over the tree line. Guess I will have to wait maybe another twenty years or so. Remember the movie "Moonstruck" they must have been talking about the same type of moon "Bella-Luna"

2011-02-28T17:23:00.000-08:00

That past weekend we had more snow, around 8 inches. To add insult to injury last night at 1am. we had a thunderstorm, and pouring rain. So this is what we woke up to thing morning. Even our dog "Java" was like where is my pen, oh under water! Atleast this time only half the pen had rushing water through it and by early this evening it was already going down drastically. People who see all this ask if we panic? After going through so many we just grin and say we don't worry it all will be gone with a few hours. You just have to wonder where it all goes. Atleast it doesn't stay here!! And I can SMILE

2011-02-18T14:06:00.000-08:00

Last week we were lucky to get some really beautiful sunsets. I managed to snap a few shots. the header photo and thse two were some of them. It reminds me that warmer weather is on the way, a time when once again we can sit outside and enjoy more sunsets. I took these with a flash and didn't have to retouch them at all. Enjoy and hope they make you SMILE!

2011-02-15T15:23:00.000-08:00

Can you spot the pheasant hunkered down?

I was finally able to snap a few pics of the pheasant hanging around. I have named him "Phineaus" He loves hanging around the manure pile, getting the seeds and the warmth from the pile. In the second pic you can see him hunkered down, he heard me come out the back door. In the last pic he took off running, flew over the creek and onto a wild life area. I keep waiting to catch him up front by the feeders but he is a sly one. Smile.

2011-02-08T11:11:00.000-08:00

WHAT a day, we changed from dish to direct tv and man what an ordeal!!! First it is so cold, bitter in fact. A ton of snow and wind. Then the installer was trying all sorts of spots to put the dish, but with all the trees was finding it hard to get a spot. Finally he used one of the 4x4's on our back deck. So it is hooked-up and programed. But hubby gets pissed because he can not control the volume, starts ranting and raving and throwing stuff. I came to the rescue and did all the programing. But since we do not get our local channels we took another tv and a converter box, put these on the upper shelf. I finally got the programed but no color so I fiddled with it and suddenly we have color!!! Through it all he kept bitching we should have stayed with dish. I was like oh we should pay $104.00 instead of with dirct tv $ 35.00. Now I asked you which would you go with? He is never satisfied, do you have one of those in your house? Smile I guess.

2011-02-06T13:23:00.000-08:00

My previous post showed a meezer laying in water enjoying a drink. No I didn't take the photo, but he isn't submerged, just laying in some water. I had a meezer who loved water, used to swim in our pool, went on a canoe trip with me. And one time while taking a bath he slowly walked down into the tub of water until only his head and tail were above the water. He just loved water. We have two cats now whenever they hear water come running. They enjoy playing in the sink while the water runs. Enjoy watching me fill buckets of water in the tub for the horses. And one of my meezers loves watching the toilet go down. Cats do enjoy water. =^..^=

2011-02-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Wishing my sister Kareen Szabo-Hillman a Happy Birthday!! Wish her one too a http://nollsnip.blogspot.com/ . Love you whole bunches little sista of mine. =^..^=

2011-02-03T11:42:00.000-08:00

I have attempted another blog. It is http://rusticsflowers.blogspot.com Hope you check it out!

2011-02-02T12:42:00.000-08:00

We bit the bullet and the bullet didn't bite back!!!! We were lucky that the storm of the year missed us for the most part. We got alittle ice but it isn't slick it is easier to walk on. Plus the groundhog did not see his shadow. Early spring we will have to see, because whether we except it or not we still have six more weeks of winter. But perk-up we could just be going into winter. SMILE

2011-01-23T19:56:00.000-08:00

Cold-dark-dreary-bitter-brisk-windy-blowing-drifting-snow-sleet-hail-rain-depressing-dreadful-take your breathe away cold-blinding white-sparkling-crisp-crackling-crunchy-crispy kritter night-clean-slush-ugly grey-sunless-sunshine-quiet-ice-slipping-sliding- An Erie, PA. winter. What did you think I was talking about SMILE =^,.^=

2011-01-22T16:30:00.000-08:00

How do you spend your time in the winter, how much time is spent outside. I thought of that today as I walked to the barn carry a five gallon bucket of water. I make two trips, getting too old to carry both at the same time. We are in a deep freeze with todays temp around five degrees ans minus wind chill. I do not mind the cold, actually breathe better. But the wind makes a brisk day seem downright bitter!!!!. Then I come inside and here we have minus temps. I am not one to bundle-up either. Usually sweats, a vest (open) and that's it. No gloves or hat, jacket or scarf. But these last few days I will admit it was cold doing chores. We wonder sometimes if we should just sell the boys, but then one or the other will do something, which makes it worth while. Tonight as I was pulling the grain buckets I turned to face "Oreo" my appy and he gave my chin and cheek a long swipe with his tongue. Imagine being kissed by a thousand pound dog!!! I just love my boys. Smile and snuggle !!!

2011-01-16T17:57:00.000-08:00

Winter is playing her games. First a thaw, which gave us temps in the sixties. Oh but short lived, two days of repreave.....Now we are in the deep freeze it seems.... She has blowing and drifting lake effect snow.....She reaches her icy fingers deep into your lungs and sucks your breath away.....She stings your face, freezes your toes.....She is unrelenting in her punishment of the body and soul.....Horses come out only to blow the "stink" off then right back into their stalls.....Cats chase any bird daring enough to go into the barn, for shelter.....We trudge through it all to fed and water and clean then back into the house where a fire is waiting to greet us.....And the icicles that have formed are daggers waiting for anything or one to step under them.......Smile

2011-01-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Man another football game, play-off!! Not bad that I have watched enough, it has to be our rivals the Steelers vs. Raven, who were once the Browns. Well I say I hope you both beat the crap out of each other. I say next year go Browns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-01-13T19:44:00.000-08:00

So even though I have had a headache again all day - I feel like the picture below!!!!!

2011-01-12T15:32:00.000-08:00

I am glad you like my header photo. It is of a troll I bought many years ago. I love anything unusual, faeries, gargoyles, trolls, dragons etc, etc,. Just like things that are different and most people do not have in their gardens or houses. I have always been this way. If anyone remembers the show "Freaks & Geeks" I would be what was considered a freak, never one to run with the popular, the geeks or the athletic types. Smile

2011-01-12T13:13:00.000-08:00

Right now this is how I feel. Hate snow-snow and more snow, hate the drifting and blowing, hate the winds beating at your face, your clothes gettnig soaking wet from the snow, trying to walk in barn boots throught drifts to get to the barn!!!! And let us not forget the wind chills!!!!!

But even through all of this I took a 30 min. walk down the road yesterday in all that weather. I did enjoy the quiet stillness, looking up as the soft snow fell. Smile

2011-01-04T16:40:00.000-08:00

I know Christmas has come and gone, but I just put these into the computer. They are a few of my favorite ornaments. And a shot of "Kia" helping me string lights onto my outside wreath. Be patient there will be a few more to follow.
Over New Year's we had a january thaw. So all the snow is gone, for now. But they say another artic blast is coming. I know they tell the truth because my neck and head are killing me. I have a barometer in my head. SMILE

2011-01-03T17:49:00.000-08:00

This is my "Gertie" and her new duck, "Whitie IV" she just has a thing for male white ducks lol. Well it isn't really the fourth duck, since it is the middle of winter I used a photo of "Whitie III" One white duck looks like another. Smile

2010-12-31T11:37:00.000-08:00

Momma Kittie and all here at the Rustic Ranch wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year!

2010-12-24T12:39:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, I hope all is well with all my blogger friends. I wanted to share a few photos of my tree, George's Mom's old nativity , my santa statue, and of course my tree. And for all that know me you won't be surprised to see I have an all purple tree!! Even the lights are purple miniatures. I just love that color, not only outside in my gardens but in my house. I also bought a white tree last year and used it this year. Now I am going to buy a green one after Christmas and use next year. If I can find one reduced that is. Well everyone be happy and have a Merry Christmas. SMILE

2010-12-21T13:21:00.002-08:00

Everyone here at the "Rustic Ranch" want to wish all my friends, and relatives a very "Merry Christmas". I hope santa brings everyone alittle something, just remember it is the thought that counts. I want this world to get a grip!!! Enough with saying things suck. Go out and make something happen. Only with our voice can we make a difference. SMILE

2010-12-15T12:09:00.000-08:00

Today it is still bitter outside, we are in a crispty critter time!!! So I am doing xmas cards, spent over and hour mixing, chopping stirring to make my famouse fruitcake for my mom and sister. You better enjoy lol. So the fire in the stove is going, the cake is baking in the oven, made a fresh loaf of bread to have with chili for dinner, next the stack of bowls etc need to be done. But first I needed a break so I blog. I hope everyone is getting their baking, shopping, card writing done. HoHoHo the xmas spirit. SMILE

2010-12-13T14:47:00.000-08:00

SOOOOOOOOOO cold zero with the windchill! So I am making sure there is plenty of food for the birds! And it gives my inside kitties something to look at. Was so bitter going out to do the chores tonight, first time my feet actually were cold in the barn boots. Wind was howling and the branches of the trees sound frozen as they creaked in the wind. And winter has not even started yet. So far all the snow they had forcasted for us this go around hasn't happened. It is hitting Ashtabula and the up in Buffalo. We are just getting the wind and bitter temps with a few inches of snow.

So cold even the horses do not want to venture out, and barn kitties are staying in too. Yhe have a heated grain and tack room. Very spoiled! Plus a barn full of hay to hunt in.

Tomorrow I am going to make my famous fruitcake, which insn't like the ones you see given out. mine is a pound cake-like cake, with pecans, and dried apricots, orange and lemon peel and pinapple. Sending some to my Mom and Sister. They were jsut saying the other day they haven't had any in yrs. I told them I know because it is time consuming and very expensive! But I feel in the mood this yr. HOHOHO! Smile

2010-12-08T20:02:00.001-08:00

I have been collecting Hallmark Keepsake ornaments since early 1980's. Here is the almost complete one of a series called "Frosty and Friends". I missed 1980, because we didn't know it was a series, and then 1983 because money was tight. Oh to find them now, last year I looked and the 1983 one was worth between $300 - $400, for one ornament. Dang!!!! But I can hope one day to get them. I started collecting them because there was a husky as one of the friends. And since this is the only breed of dog we have ever had, it stood to reason I would want to collect them lol. I also have tons of other Hallmark ones that each are dear to me. Hubby says a small fortune in ornaments. SMILE..... I know I am.

2010-12-03T17:01:00.000-08:00

"Kia" is calling all her friends and telling them about a movie she watched with me the other night. I must say it was not a feel good movie or one filled with laughs. It was one that made you think "What if, and could this happen to us really". The movie was called The Road. I wanted to watch because some scenes were filled in Erie, and Conneaut Lake, not far from where I live. It took place in 2929 and shows what may happen if man doesn't get a grip! It is a wake-up call to what our world could end up as. Without giving away too much it comes down to only a small amount of humans left on earth and not another living creature. So you can only guess how man must survive. I hope you all get a chance to watch it. And I can say the ending does give us hope..

2010-11-26T12:03:00.000-08:00

More on the saga of "Gertie" my goose. As I posted awhile ago, after being lost and presumed dead, she was found and brought back home. But she has been lonely without any other fowl. The other day I solved that by finally finding her a male white duck. This now makes the fourth male duck she has had. He was at this home that raised them to butcher and feed to their dogs! I told him you are quite the lucky fella, as you have a safe, warm home, all the grain and bread you can eat and a beautiful female! Even though she is a goose!! They are settling in togther, he still nervous, So I am going to have to give him human contact. Today I went in and after much chasing through the stall I caught him. Got him finaaly calm in my arms but not before he wacked me a good one with his wing in my mouth. Actually raised a welt on the inside of my lip. But hopefully once he has calmed down I can snap some photos. His name is "Dickie Duck II" Smile I know Gertie is.

2010-11-20T13:09:00.000-08:00

Ozzie and Oreo; best buds! I just love watching my boys when they show each other affection. But then there are times when it looks like they are trying to kill each other, go figure. Smile

2010-11-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

The warm weather has pretty much flown south! Was nice while it lasted but now we brace for what will come. I actually got more done outside and cleaned-up then last year. Just alittle more in the front flower garden and it will all be done. Tomorrow the awning on our deck gets put up for winter. We should have done this already but I am just not ready to end our sitting out time. But with 60 mph gusts last night we almost had problems with it blowning and tearing.

Gearing up for Thanksgiving and getting my staples ready. Bought a turkey for 29 cents apound wow. When was the last time you could get a 20 lb. turkey for $5. Will buy another bird this week and store.

In regards to the above photo can you spot who doesn't belong? SMILE

2010-11-07T10:41:00.000-08:00

I was lucky to get my sunset photo on our local TV channel's weather segment. Not just once but three different weather segments. My hub. saw the second one, my neighbor caught one and my friend saw the last time it was on. Two of the weathermen sent me e-mails on the photo also. I was the one who never got to see it on TV, or hear what they had to say about the clouds in the photo.
The photo I sent in is the one on the previous post. I have one for Indian summer I am going to send again and see if they will use it. I wonder how many people I know actually saw it?
Tomorrow starts I think a week of Indian Summer. Seeing as this past week was cold, dreary, damp and depressing. We had rain, snow and hail plus our third killing frost. So we need a break. I will pull up the perennial buld and tubers, dry and set away. Then take all the dirt out of the planters and put into huge buckets to use next year. Then we will take down on Thurs. the awning on the deck, which really signals sitting outside time has wound down. Now we sit inside on the porch or in the dining-room, and enjoy ourselves inside.
Smile =^..^=

2010-11-02T12:36:00.001-07:00

FALL!!! seems like it is almost over. We had a hard, killing frost last night. This morning it almost looked like the dreaded "snow" word outside. Crap!!!! I am sitting here finally blogging and I am Freezing, and it isn't winter yet. Hib says what will you do then. Right now he is outside cutting grass, hopefully for the last time. He is doing it so we can drive across the yard to get the hay into the barn. We have put off getting the hay for too long, and now must do it before the snow flies. Which may be Friday. Hope they are wrong. Took us longer then we thought to repair the back of the house, tear-out the back porch and steps and put them on the west side of house, hoping this solves the ice on steps problem in winter.

All the loads of wood are split and stacked in the wood shed, that was a project, in itself. All the plants are inside, and leaves are falling daily. I just am waiting on the dahlias, elephant ears and cannas to die so I can pull and store for next year. Plus I have do repot some ivy to come inside. Never ends as I am already planning next years gardens and plants I want to buy. Onluy good thing is each year I buy less, which makes hub. happy.

The header picture was taken late last summer just thought it was pretty and decided to use it, I will change to a more fall-like picture soon. Just want the season to last alittle longer.

SMILE

2010-10-02T12:23:00.001-07:00

Hard to believe but it is now Oct.!! And wet and dreary too. Yesterday we split more firewood, and still have a large pile to split. But the woodshed will be full to the top. Which means inside we will be warm and toasty.

Here Fall is knocking and my Maximillian sunflowers are just now blooming, guess they didn't get the message. Neither did my dahlias, which are blooming like crazy. I picked what few tomatoes were still good, the rest are laying there waiting to go to the compost. Hub. pulled up the stakes and plants, cut down the sunflower stalks too. I cut the heads off yesterday before the rain got to them and the goldfinches. I put them in my shed to drive, then will give some to the birds for winter. The large heads will go for next years crop. There was one that was huge and produced a huge, heavy head of seeds.

2010-09-28T17:15:00.000-07:00

This award was given to me by someone very special. Her name is Herrad and her blog (one of many) Access denied-living with multiple sclerosis is very inspiring. She handles her daily life with MS with dignity. I am honored I recieved this award. I know must sit back and think of the blogs that have inspired me. First and foremost would be Harrad's. There is Noll's Nip, Lilacs and Cats, and so many more, so for those who wish just post the picture below as the awards. I know I am so dumb when it comes to making links etc. So know I truely enjoy all the blogs I view.

2010-09-28T17:11:00.000-07:00

The picture in my header has not been altered. My sister took a picture of my Gizmo and that is what his eyes looked like. He has a fire burning in his soul, and is ready for the halloween season. All he needs is a set of devil's horns!!!!

2010-09-26T12:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted an awhile, enjoying the outdoors before winter hits! My gardens as I have siad before were not that great, but Idid manage to grow a twin red pepper! So I am showing it off. Never have seen this before where two formed off one stem. Sure tasted yummy. Also have cleaning-up all the dead and dying plants. I have saved a number of seeds from plants, even though they did shitty in the garden. I have yellow, green and purple bean seeds, cow pea seeds, green and chocolate pepper, cantelope, iris, lupine cosmos seeds. Also will save yellow, white and red tomatoe, and sweet pea seeds. Then come spring will try and start indoors. Smile

2010-08-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

Miracles do happen. Back in July I posted that my 25 year old goose disappeared. I have wondered what could have happened to her, did she get sick and die or some stray dog or coyote get her? My neighbor was coming down the main road and there all alone in a field stood a grey goose. She stopped and called "Gertie" and she answered. So she came and got me and took me there I knew from a distance it was my goose!!! I started walking across the field and called her and she gave me a loud honk, then fluffed her feathers. I picked her up and she started eating out of the can of grain I had brought along. She is alot thinner and alittle rough around the edges but she is home again. Gertie is quite the tough old girl. She is all comfy bedded down in a stall, she will stay there a few days to get her bearings back again. And I hope this is the one and only time she ventures off the place.

My niece and I have been walking for eight weeks now with some wt. loss and firming, but this week is raining so we are doing the treadmill. I wondered why we were both working up such a sweat when we have gotten fit, come to find out the treadmill is set on incline, dud no wonder we are pooped!! But it is satisfying to work up a good sweat.

Fall is just around the corner, can tell by the cooler evenings. Tomatoes are coming in by the ton and have started giving some to friends, Heather would you like some yellow and white eating tomatoes, let me know. That and cukes and peppers are doing great, everything else zip.

SMILE I am.

2010-08-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

Wow we are having a summer, finally after many yeas of crappy ones. My niece is staying with me for the summer interning at Meadville hospital. So to keep in shape she has me walking. We walk our road pretty much every night. And that is saying alot what with the hot temperatures and the deer flies. But keep going farther each week. We walked to the end of the road the last few nights which comes out to about three miles. So today we decided to try a trail in Meadville. It is called the Earnst Trail, and we loved it. A beautiful blacktopped trail, with scenery to match. It is a five mile trail one way. We decided to walk to the two mile marker, then back. That last mile was tough, my legs became heavy and I could feel blisters forming. But we are proud to say we did four miles, we plan on going back next weekend. Told Corrie by the end of her stay I would love to try and get to the end and back, don't know if this old body can do it but with better shoes will give it a try. May take all day lol. Smile

2010-07-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

So much has happened!!! The most important is my cataract surgery went smoothly. Which surprised even the surgeon, they were expecting problems because of all the prior retinal problems and surgeries. But nope I can see 20/30 with no glasses. Just needed to buy some simple reading glasses so I can see the computer and read. So everyone I see you now. Come Sept. will get the other eye done .

Otherwise we have nothing but shitty luck, first my mower went to get fixed, now his is acting up. Then our microwave died, so we got a new one. Then our septic / toilets were going south. So we had the tank cleaned, but then we heard that the poop truck had an accident jsut a short distance from us. So our poop spilled yuck!!! So when they say "shit happens" it sure does.

It has been really hot and muggy here with 80's being the norm and some 90's/ This year we are having an actual summer. The gardens love it. My tomatoe plants are over five feet and getting close to six foot, a ton of tomatoes just none ripe yet. The pepper plants need to be staked they are getting top heavy too. But the rest of the veggies did shitty. But the flowers are fantastic.. SMILE

2010-07-13T19:03:00.000-07:00

tomorrow - wed. I am going to pittsburgh. Having cataract surgery. Going there because they have specialists who deal with more complicated cases. I only hope it goes smoothly with no major problems. I do not think I can go through more retinal problems. But doctor feels pretty sure it will be fine, but I have heard that before. So hopefully by thursday I can be back home and will let all know how it went. Smile

2010-07-11T19:11:00.000-07:00

Haven't blogged in awhile, been doing alot outside and spending time with my niece. She is here for three months interning at our local hospital. A doctor in the family - who knew!!!! So proud. So when she gets home we do things together as I haven't seen her in more then three years. We play cards and old board games I bought in the late 70's and early 80's. Plus we walk every night. Not fun when we have 80's and 90's and the deer flies just buzz you all the time. This year is about the worse that I can remember, they attack even up by the house. Usually they stay by the woods edge, and when we walk the road is surrounded by woods. Garden is doing quite well but the larger one is not so great. Always next year. I also have noticed we do not have as many hummingbirds as previous years, only a handful compared to the 20-30 at a time. But alot of orioles, woodpeckers, chick-a-dees, cat birds, crows and barn swallows. Not alot of bats either. Smile!!! Oreo's big nose taken by my sista Kareen from Noll's Nip

2010-06-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

Today is yard work, etc. Takes us hours- days. Plus my daily watering of the plants on the deck, with the heat and sun they dry out fast.

In a week my niece will be here to start her interning at our local hospital. She will stay with us for three months, which will be interesting. She is going for her masters in Occupational therapy. A real live doctor in the family!!!

On another note I think my old goose "Gertie" has passed away. She left two weeks ago with the two families of canadian geese and her female loner canadian. Well two days ago they all came back except for Gertie. I can only hope she finds her way home or passed on peacefully. She was a fixture here for the last 24 years, she was atleast 25 years young. We are waiting for you old girl.

My garden is pretty much a bust, except for the peppers and tomatoes, and a few red cabbage and some beans, all the rain. I have some bean seeds left and will try putting them in. I finally got dirt/manure to fill the tires so I could plant the cuke seeds. Luckly they only take 55 - 58 days. And with the price of a dollar a piece in the stores I hope I get a bunch. I am a salad eating, could eat everyday, but the prices are outrageous. Nothing is cheap these days.

Well everyone Smile and enjoy the start to what I hope will be a pleasant summer.

2010-06-14T13:46:00.001-07:00

A new plant I purchased this year. "Diamond Frost" Euphorbia. Reminds me of lace.

2010-06-14T13:29:00.001-07:00

Here are two pictures of a new craze here in the rural area we live in. In years past these guys had draft horses and pulling ponies. They used them in competitions. But as with all things in this economy things get downsized. So imagine when I see these same big tough guys sitting behind little mini horses!! Seems they are what they now use in pulling and driving contests. So they have all the same rigging only tiny, smaller wagons too. This one in perticular has atleast three possibly four different teams here exercises daily. I just had to take some pics.

2010-06-14T13:21:00.001-07:00

Wow I have tomatoes on the vine, even though the weather has been so terrible. Of course these are on the plants in the raised bed by my deck. The plants in the large garden are iffy at best. I am pretty sure the carrot, corn, some bean seeds have drowned. So I will move a bunch of manure onto that section and tarp until next spring. Should make for a rich weed free spot. I hope. Atleast all the flowers are thriving except for the snail problem I am having because of all the moisture. Maybe I should give them alittle beer to make them happy and forget to eat lol. SMILE

2010-06-10T19:28:00.000-07:00

Purple rose blooming in my garden, yummy sweet smelling, my favorite rose.

2010-06-03T10:25:00.000-07:00

The last post I said I was planting a cardinal vine my mistake it is called a cyprus vine. Didn't get the flowers planted because we had another round of heavy downpours! Hubby dug a trench to help drain the veggie garden seemed to help, but the next round of rain flooded it even more. And today as I was going to go outside, since they called for no rain guess what it rained again. Getting old. And forget about grass cutting sloshing through water isn't fun. Even the geese and their goslings are staying on higher ground, don't want to be swept downstream!!! But still smiling lol

2010-06-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Well the rains came yesterday!!! More like a flash flood. Was rushing through our place but as always today it is almost back down to normal. But we didn't escape without some damage, especially in our wild life area. The wall of scrub brush, branches etc was washed farther into the woods, it will be too hard to move back. But we found alot of cut up chunks of oak that someone must have cut. Well it will get split and used here. Found a basket ball in the wall too, I will give this to Ozzie and see if he can pop it. (my horse)

All the garden was put in on Sat. then we got all the rain, and now it is flooded, need some ditches like hubby wanted to put in and I said don't bother. So now I hear "your garden is ruined! all the corn and carrot seeds will have drowned" Not to mention the cabbage and pepper plants, I can never win for losing.

But the garden by the deck with all the fancy tomatoes and peppers are fine. Today I need to repot orange new quinea impatients and purple petunias., Plus fill two huges pots so I can put in cosmos in one and sweet pea and a cardinal climber in the other. By the way Kareen here is a photo of my picasso petunias, neat huh!

2010-05-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

Alright sister and all you other bloggers who are into flowers - WHAT is this? I do not ever remember planting this yet it is in three clumps in my garden. The blooms open in the evening and have a scent similar to phlox. Sorry the first pic is fuzzy, was trying to get the center of the flower to show the star like appearance. The second shot is better. I hope it is not a weed I would hate to pull it up. lol. Thanks. Also the flowers are no more then an inch and a half wide. So I know it is not the moon flower.

2010-05-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in quite awhile, either on Facebook or outside trying to get everything into the gardens. Slowly making progress. Would be done sooner but I keep buying flowers and plants. This I admit is my passion, I never have enough. And my back and knees are telling me I need to cut-back!!! But maybe next year. I have all the houseplants outside on the deck, They are in huge pots and it takes two to lift out the door. All the flowers are potted and in their spots on the deck. Large pots by the stairs are filled with dirt, have elephant ears, a veriety of sunflowers, purple potatoe vines, and soon cosmos in them. Filled my purple wheelbarrow with dahlias and some ivy, need hub to help bring it onto the deck. Garden in front of the deck has two different purple petunia in the front, followed by green, banana, red, yellow and chocolate peppers. Then the tomatoes, yellow. white and red slicing and black beauties. Along the side of the deck hopefully tomorrow I will get the giant sunflower seeds plants. The side garden along the driveway is finished too. The garden then runs along the side and front of the house is being finished slowly. Today I broke-up the ground and got rid of the few weeds coming up among the yarrow, roses, lupines, creeping phlox and gerbera daisy. Then planted more purple petunia and sweet pea. Now I move onto the front part which is going to be a back breaker due to all the weeds coming up among the lilies, lazy susan, grasses, purple phlox, yarrow, daisy and hollyhocks! The main veggie garden needs to be retilled but still too wet to do it. This will have three types of beans, corn, broom corn, green peppers, and roma tomatoes, plus carrots and red cabbage. In tires will go cukes and bird house gourds. Man I will be glad when it is all done. I have noticed that the two frosts we got this month did a number to alot of my shrubs and trees, the azaleas have flowers no leaves, hostas have mushy leaves, locust dried uip leaves, no flowers on my lilacs and a rhododendron has only a few leaves, a very rough winter and early spring. Smile

2010-05-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Have had really cold shitty , windy weather. Even snow, so we put all the plants into my potting shed and some back into the house. I even dug-up four tomatoes plants and brought indoors. Weather reminded me that not yet!!!

Hubby took me again to my regular greenhouse and then to another one I had never been to. Bought another flat of petunia, some sherbet/orange colored zinnia, a purple and white martha washington geranium, roma, red, white tomatoes, green, chocolate, red banana and yellow peppers. So my buying is ALL DONE. Now just need to get things into the gardens.

I dug-up six tiny lupine plants, will share with a neighbor, also giving her lupine seeds, plus trumpet vine, hollyhock and birdhouse gourd seeds. Maybe she will retunr the favor lol.

But today is so cold, and after I did stalls I had enough, plus it is raining. We didn't have April showers but are getting plenty of May ones. Calling through atleast thurs, maybe friday, so indoors we shall be, with the stove roaring, keeping us warm. Our old bones can't handle this crap. Smile =^..^=

2010-04-26T12:35:00.000-07:00

April showers are finally here, so far it has been exceptually dry. So we needed the rain but I say enough. I want to get back outside and continue hoeing out my flower gardens. This year I am ridding myself of flowers I don't want, and replacing with new. They sit in my front window and in my potting shed just waiting for warmer nights. Have a few weeks more to go I think. But right now I need to be content with just buying more and more. I need two more three more grapevines, a flat of petunias and my pepper and tomatoe plants. And anything new that is either orange or purple lol.

Hubby fixed my purple wheelbarrow, and my large wooden pot both will be filled with flowers. I hauled out the other large pots and need to fill all with dirt and manure. Back breaking work, but he will help. He also has to put in the three 4x4 posts and wire for the vines. He was disappointed to hear it will be a few years before he sees any homemade jam. Patience isn't his thing.

Still waiting for the hummers and orioles to reappear but nothing yet, nightly I do hear a catbird or thrasher singing his beautiful song, just can't see where he is in the trees yet. But I will. We have also been seeing a pair of bald eagles flying over head which is so cool...Smile

2010-04-22T19:44:00.000-07:00

Last few days have been productive ones even though as I write this I am so pooped out!!! All worth it in the end. Garden by the deck is tilled (hub did this) I raked it all out and set out where the tomatoe cages will go. This garden will hold tomatoes and peppers. The large garden had more dirt put into it. Next comes loads of manure, then tilled and raked it will then be ready. I potted six plants I bought and these will go onto the deck when danger of frost subsides. I reworked a side garden under our bedroom window. Got rid of old mums and some vines, plus dug out three lupine which hopefully will survive and be placed elsewhere. I dug up two roses and moved into this garden. Plus will plant a purple and an orange plox (spelling) lol. there are lupines and lilies there too. We mark where the poles will go for my grape vines too. Trimmed the trumpet vines and the butterfly bush also. So today was a good earth day all around. Smile

Tomorrow is running and grocery day. Will stop at the green house for - you guessed more flowers. Check when the tomatoes I ordered will be ready too. I have white salad tomaotes and yellow romas picked out. Love new ones.

2010-04-17T17:45:00.001-07:00

Here is another photo of my flowers sent by my sister. I wish someone would invent ones that would last forever. I know you are going to say they have - silk ones. SMILE

2010-04-16T19:23:00.001-07:00

I have been meaning to post a few pictures of the flowers my sister sent me back awhile ago for my birthday. So here they are as you can again see, even she knows purples and peaches/orange. I just loved them and after they were done looking beautiful I dried the carnations and roses. They are now on a shelf in front of my niece's picture. Hopefully Gizzie will not find them. He loves anything dried, fresh, or leafy!!! Well the other isn't loading so more will follow.

2010-04-16T14:20:00.000-07:00

I used my sister's photo for my header - had to it was purple and orange! And those are my favorite colors, especially in my garden. Thanks Sis

2010-04-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

Spring is slowly creeping ahead. So far it has been cooler then usual, but we did have some record breaking days in the 80's... Been busy cleaning the gardens of all the dead plant material, and seeing what is starting to sprout. Lupine, lilies, yarrow, iris, roses, black-eyed susan are all coming up. Buds are in the trees and the dreaded pollen is about. Means itchy, watery eyes. Plus a stuffed-up runny nose. But these I will tolerate just to see green again. Atleast I do not have it as bad as my sister does lol.
Walked the creek today to see what is swimming around, saw a water snake yuck! Some bark eaten twigs, which means beavers (need to keep an eye out) they have a habit of building their dam on our property, which leaves to the creek turning into a lake if we do not tear it out. They are cute but very distructive. Seems every few years they come back and we keep tearing out the dam and they then leave.
I also saw a pelvis, skull and leg boe laying in the creek from some long dead animal. Looked to be either a dog or coyote. Then I saw some trout trying to swim up stream to spawn, a male and female. This means soone the steel head will be heading up stream in our run-off creek. They are huge and draw alot of vehicles stopping and looking. The amish have been known to walk down and watch, guess everyone would just love to catch one. Too bad private property. They head up to the neighbors pond across the street when the creek is high enough, if not there by the road we have a small pool where they must spawn. Oh nature.
With that thought I will say good night and SMILE!

2010-03-29T17:00:00.000-07:00

"PEEPERS"! They have awakened from their long winter slumber. They are still not very numerous, but with the warmer days and nights they will all come out and sing. One year hub came home during the day and with amazement aked me if I heard all the birds. HaHa I explained to him what they were, peepers and not birds. If you have never seen one it is hard to believe that something that tiny can make that much noise. But put hundreds or even thousands together and what a sound.
Tomorrow I am going to try and get my onion sets in. This is a first time for me planting onions, so who knows what will happen. I started some marigold seeds, and cantelope, we shall see.
Otherwise nothing new here at the Rustic, what's new will everyone else out there? SMILE

2010-03-23T16:46:00.001-07:00

Guilty of not blogging for awhile I know!!! I ran out of things to say, plus the weather gave us a break. So when it is nice outside I try and stay out as much as possible. Managed to get alot of yard and garden clean-up done. We were actually ahead of the game but WHAM cold and rainy weather is back. This is so depressing because I am getting the itch to play in the dirt. I did manage to rake out the flower gardens, cut back the grasses, and get the one veggie garden ready to be tilled.

Now it is mucky here, with puddles of water everywhere, which means the clod-hopper barn boots go back on! Was nice wearing sneakers to the barn again. And the warmer clothes are back on too. Hopefully after this week it will warm-up again.

Friday I turn another year older, and as my Mom says it will either rain or snow. She loves reminding me every year that I was born during a snow storm!!!! And when I checked the weather there is a chance of rainy/snow plus temps only near 40 BRRRRR! And getting old you sure feel it.

My house plants finally are starting to rebound after the long winter, our house is dry due to the wood stove, and with no sunlight they were dropping leaves and looking tough. But today I noticed they are turning green again and some are blooming, - star jasmine, a hibiscus and a easter cactus plus a few geraniums, so there is hope. Smile

2010-03-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo of a truc that is painted to show what is on the inside that it is carrying. Pretty cool.

Well blogging is so old school, that is what I just read in the paper. No it is Twitter and Facebook!! Just figure out this blogging and now they say hey get with the new!!! Well I am OLD and will stick to what I know. But truthfully I do have a Facebook page too.

Today was another beautiful day with highs in the 60's. So we actually sat out on the deck. Listened to all the birds we haven't heard from all winter. They were so happy singing their songs. Hubby looked up an actually spotted the bald eagle that is hanging around in the Oh./Pa. area. This is so cool to have a bird that was once endangered actually coming back to this area. I hope this year to catch him on film.

I stay outside for quite a few hours, cleaned up alittle in my potting shed, but there is so much stuff stored in it I couldn't do much. But I did manage to clean out the stall "Gertie" goose has been staying in. Man hard to believe ONE bird can be so messy. But she is, especially where her bucket of water sits. She had a small pond underneath it. So I pulled out a wheelbarrow full of old wet hay. And naturally pulled my lower back in the process. So a muscle relaxer and pain pill tonight.

They say one more day before we get rain and we are already seeing the creek rising over it's banks! But Smile warmer days are here.

2010-03-08T16:35:00.000-08:00

Can it be far behind? Hubby saw his first pair of buzzards today. They were feasting on road kill. bet they were hungry after their long journey. Plus as I was coming in from chores I heard a robin!! Didn't see it due to it was in the woods. But I heard it and that is good enough for me.

They also say higher temps this week, almost near sixty. Plus rain, which if anyone who lives in the rural areas knows this will mean flooding and MUD. Right now all the walkways that were made for us to reach the barn etc are heaving, and sinking, so it is a mine field heading to the barn. One minute you are on sold ground the next sunk into the ground a few inches. Good way to twist and ankle. Especially wearing the dreaded barn boots. But have hope things may be dryer come May! SMILE

2010-02-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

Think Spring!!!!!!!!!!!! This rose of sharon is one I took from hubby's mom's house, it was the only one that took, but it is huge. I look at it and remember my mother-in-law who is now passed on.

2010-02-27T13:52:00.000-08:00

My sis sent this, I got a chuckle so for all who need a chuckle enjoy! Plus they are orangutans my favorite.

2010-02-26T17:35:00.000-08:00

The picture for my header is one of coneflowers. I love them because they are hardy, grow anywhere, multiply and keep coming back. I found some new ones in a garden catalog that I plan on ordering.
Otherwise we were hit with 13 inches of blowing, drifting snow yuck. Plus it feels so cold at chore time. The snow drifted so much that the dogs' little outside porch was full to the top with it. They managed to push through the dog door and make a path down the steps into the pen. And the snow has built up so high that the six foot fence is only about 3 1/2 feet tall now. Good thing they do not realize this or I would be looking high and low for them.
I went and bought seeds, have pretty much all that I need, now will wait for plants. I know this weather needs to change soon, all my house plants are complaining. Dropping more and more leaves they are pretty bald right now. They need new dirt fertilizer and a good bath. The wood stove makes alot of dust, and it shows everywhere. But it does keep us warm, and we do not have to spend alot on propane. SMILE =^..^=

2010-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

I tyr growing grass for the kitties inside. It was growing pretty good until the other day I saw it was all smashed down. That was strange, then the next day Geo. is like "do you see where Kia is?" I looked and saw why the grass looks the way it does. Smile

2010-02-21T13:22:00.001-08:00

Thoughts of spring are starting to show their weary heads! Atleast we are having sunshine, with little or no "SNOW" for change. I have found a new flower I plan to have a few of the primrose. Sort of like when last year I decided to try dahlias. Oh my goodness I love them. Can not wait to find more in the colors I love. And if you do not know what those colors are well purple and orange lol!

Again we moved around furniture in rooms, pictures were changed and knick-knacks put away. Do this every few years, tired of falling into a rut. Hub is like why are you doing this. Duh I want change!!!!!!!!!!! Plus he does all the dusting (I don't because it makes me sneeze) and he bitches about all the stuff he has to dust. So I thought I was doing him a favor by putting things away. They are never happy.

Well almost chore time, atleast it is staying light later and I can go out later each day. Just means changing the time we eat until later too. Smile

2010-02-20T14:15:00.000-08:00

Alright all your houseplant growers, what is the name of this lily? Have had for atleast five years blooms every year so far. Have started new plants from the seeds it produces. Just can not remember it's name, had it once but now do not know where I found it at. So help me out ok!

2010-02-17T20:54:00.000-08:00

SMILE =^..^=

2010-02-17T20:45:00.001-08:00

My lilies from last summer, yummmm they smelled so sweet, can't wait to smell them again.

Still bitter cold here in the North East. Just doesn't want to let go, so not much to do outside. Other then the daily chores of feeding, watering and cleaning stalls. Hauling water in five gallon buckets sucks too! So we moved things around in another room. This time it was the mudroom/ kitty room, plus where the upright freezer is. So that was changed. Next is fixing a moisture problem we have on the sun porch off our bedroom. The carpet and padding are getting wet, and we don't know how. It is coming up from underneath, even though we have treated lumber down and then linoleum underneath. So we found this flooring we are going to try out. Has a backing of hard plactic with ridges, acts as a vapor barrier. We will pull up carpet and padding and linoleum, put this down and put the linoleum back. Carpet needs to be cleaned and dried in the sun light, so it will go into my shed for a few months. God I hate the winter months!!!!

2010-02-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Two more kitties wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. Smile. Need something because the weather here still sucks! JC asked me how much snow we usually get, well around 60" or such, but last winter we recieved 149" So they say this year we are right about where we normally are, but I think it has been a hard one.

2010-02-11T19:36:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day =^..^=

2010-02-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

Since Valentine's Day is coming up my kitties want to wish you a happy one, so for the next few posts they will be doing just that enjoy!

2010-02-09T12:09:00.001-08:00

Just am so sick of winter, I went through my photos and pulled some flower ones to add to my posts. Because outside is nothing but "you guessed it - SNOW". Here is yarrow, which is easy to grow, drought resistant too. So I put some into pots for the deck instead of just the gardens.

Have gone through some catalogs and have my list ready, sort of. Hubby gave the OK too. But first I will start buying seeds at the store. I read an article that this year there will be a seed sortage here in the U.S. This is due to the wet weather last year, and the fact that we are sending more seeds to Europe. So they will have plenty while we here at home do not. What is wrong with that picture! Again we take care of everyone everywhere else but here at home.

So sorry I vented but enough already!!!

So far inside my geraniums are slow to bloom, but my star jasmine as produced a few blossoms, only need a few to scent a room, and as it is right next to my computer I get it full on. Sent hub out yesterday shopping and told him to stop back at Home Depot to get a few more primrose. All gone! So I hope they will get more in, as these maybe my new flower for the deck this year.

SMILE>

2010-02-05T12:27:00.001-08:00

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