Cinderelly

I know that Cinderella had mice that fondly referred to her as Cinderelly, but not this lady!!!! As of yesterday, there is a dead one inside our wall in the kitchen. Yes, I know this sounds crazy, but there is no denying the smell of something dead and that is exactly the whiff you catch when sticking your nose inside my lazy susan. I've scoured that cabinet and found nothing but mismatched lids and containers. So, the only thing I can think of is that the mangy (disgusting, putrid) thing somehow climbed in between the drywall and the outside of the house and is now stuck there rotting. I informed Justin of this catastrophe when he came in yesterday and this is his response: "So. Cinderella had mice and she even talked to them." Lovely.

location, location, location

Yesterday we walked parts of the farm to scout out possible garden sites. There are three possible sites that are close to the house. One of them being right out the back door, the other would be right behind the stone house (changing its name to the garden house) and the last possibility would be in a field next to the house. The back yard site would be very convenient, but I wouldn't be able to make it as big as I want it to be. No room for future growth in other words. If we ever did build an actual house on the farm the garden would have to be moved. However, it would be protected from the wind and would be awfully handy. The site behind the stone house would also not allow for growth in the future because of our plans for a gazebo and swim dock. However, it would allow me to store garden things in the stone house basement and there would be the retaining wall there for protection from critters as well as the stone house. The site in the field would be the best site for future expansion of the garden and I'd be able to lay it out according to the blue print you can see pictured. I got my inspiration from a lady in KY whose garden you can also see pictured. Today the girls helped me brainstorm what to plant in the garden. We made a collage as you can see. This got them excited about our future garden and our responsibilities as gardeners...now to pick a location. Feel free to place your vote for a stone house garden, back yard garden or no limits field garden! Farmer Sarah needs some input!

AGRICULTURE.COM

AGRICULTURE.COM

A tribute

Florida oranges are by far the best I've ever tasted. The tangerines and grapefruits were worth the drive! Thanks to farmer Mimi for making the drive with us! We couldn't have survived without you! Will Farmer Popie be brave enough to make a road trip with the Hayden clan? To quote your favorite cowboy, John Wayne, "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway!"

Veggies and Vegas

During this 2 day drive home, I have been carefully crafting a masterpiece (in addition to avoiding the chore of driving)! Thanks to the new issue of Martha Stewart Living, I have a rough sketch of how I'm going to lay everything out. Fruit trees, summer and winter vegetables, berries and chickens will be hugged carefully by rose bushes and a fence of course to keep my kiddos corralled. I'll post a picture of my veggie vision as soon as farmerly possible. What does Vegas have to do with my garden? Nothing really. After I drew the garden "floor plan" I planned our next vaca to Vegas. Justin will have a convention to attend while we explore Hoover damn and compete in the Con Expo 5k! T-minus 30 days until the next road trip so I better get crackin' on all things garden and chickens once we roll into the ponderosa! Rollin' rollin' rollin'....rawhide!

-Ben Cartwright, on the Ponderosa

Feast thine eyes on a sight that approaches Heaven itself! That is what Ben said. Check it out by clicking on my latest link! I am headed home tomorrow and can't wait to see the farm!

my moto

This is the focal point of my kitchen and my life...now that we are out here, 30 minutes from most everything I have to keep it simple. Lately, I've been spending entire days at home without going ANYWHERE! I usually went somewhere daily when I lived in town. Now, I have to have a really good reason to load up the kids, the car and all of our bags that we must take along in order to be gone for the length of time a single errand trip to town requires. It is a process and a goal, I'm not simplified yet, but I'm getting there. I used to think life out here would be boring, but I have to say it is very nice, quiet and relaxing.

Barn house on the ponderosa

Here are some pictures of the barn house...the first level at least...all of the bedrooms are upstairs. Maybe I'll photograph them later. We moved in December 23rd and were pretty much settled in just in time for Christmas. Justin really wanted to have our first Christmas here and we actually pulled it off! I gotta say, after letting go of a significant amount resistance, things have fallen into place just like Justin said they would!

Howdy from the Ponderosa

We woke up to about 5 inches of snow this morning and as of 12:15 P.M. there are snow drifts that come up to my knees! I was really thinking the weather men and women were going to be wrong...who wouldn't with the track record KTTS has of over exaggerating and hyping up mild weather conditions . However, I have to hand it to them...they were right! It is a blizzard out here at the ponderosa. A big thanks goes out to Grandpa Pat who has coined the new name for the farm, the ponderosa! Not the buffet food chain, but the name John Wayne uses for a farm on the Western Channel (thanks to my dad for that info!)! We are prepared for 30 hours of no power with a generator and have loads of food/water stored up in my fancy pantry! During my time indoors, I plan on updating the blog so all can see our new barn house! Stay warm and stay tuned my fellow farmers!