Once Upon A Time. . .

Ever since I was a little girl I have been in love with Golden Retrievers. When I met, fell in love with and then agreed to marry my husband, he agreed to love, cherish and provide me with a
"floppy yellow puppy."

Thirteen years and thirty days later. . .

This handsome boy is named Jack.



This lovely lady is named Daisy.

They fell in love and had eight puppies.

On June 14 we drove to WV and got to meet their sweet girl. 

We also named her Daisy. It was the name that I had picked out years ago.

She is so sweet and cuddly and perfect!

 She is is the floppy yellow puppy I have always wanted!

We brought her back to my mom's house for the night.
Here she is just before we put her to bed. She got all tuckered out and fell asleep in the grass.

The next morning we packed up and drove to the farm.

I wasn't too worried about introducing her to Daphne, but I kept a close eye on them for a while.

We had some bone chewing. . .

Quite a lot of butt sniffing. . .

Some water drinking. . .

Some rope playin'. . .

And finally some. . . nursing?!?!?!

I think they are going to get along just fine!

Two days later, we are settling in fine and Farm Boy has finally
 checked off the last box on the prenup.

Life is good.

Our "Bird Feeder"

I HAD to buy a bird feeder yesterday.

Most people buy them so that they can bring the little birdies close to their window to enjoy nature.

I bought one because. . .

This. . .

Was not going to end well.

If cats could talk . . .

"Dexter, what in the world are those crazy cardinals thinking?" 

"I don't know, Dipstick! They are certainly living life on the wild side!"

Hopefully we will not be witnessing any National Geographic moments from my kitchen window!

Homecoming . . .

This is the door to our home.

 This door opens to the walls that contain my family.

My hope and prayer is that this home will come alive with new experiences, much laughter and will be a place where love abounds.

Farm Boy and I are overwhelmed at times with the opportunity that we have been given to live here and grow here and to be stewards of this piece of earth.

It was 7 years to the very week that I set my heart towards this state.
We never expected that our season of waiting would be so long, but we could not have imagined a more perfect place to bring our family.

So, as spring begins to push forth from the ground at Even Meadow Farm.  . .

The daffodils start to bloom. . .

and new life emerges from sleepy winter,

so we start  preparing for our adventure!

Our first task after emptying out the rental we had been living in was to introduce our adopted boys to the country life.

The evening didn't go quite like we had planned and we ended up with them in my Jeep and out to the farm in the dark. With fingers crossed we released them into the barn with food and water and hoped that they would be there in the morning.

They were, and I am happy to report that they are adjusting to their new life just fine!

 I even saw this fine fellow eating a furry snack on the driveway this morning!

What good little farm kitties they are turning out to be! 

So, we are putting on our boots and hollerin', "Let the fun begin!!!"

"To Be A Kitty" By Buttercup

Oh, to be a kitty
Napping on a snowy winter day.

Oh, to be a kitty
Napping my life away.

Oh, to be a kitty
Napping with abandon.

Oh, to be a kitty
Alas! For I am not one.

Pile up. . .

News Bulletin: There has been a two cat pile up at the intersection of Bed and Blankets. . .



I would like to know how a family that is a self-professing dog loving, cat neutered neutral finds itself with no dog and two barn cats that are in for a rude awakening next month. . .

You see, we are not only without a dog, but are also without a barn, and being of unsound mind and soft heart have allowed these two kitties to seek occasional shelter in the house.

Something tells me that they don't think of themselves as barn cats.

Cleopatra, The Crocodile and The Kitties

This weekend was Trunk or Treat at my work. . . my kids were really looking forward to it. . . 

I. . .[yawn]. . . was. . . [stretch]. . . happy. . .[rubbing my sand paper eyes]. . . 

to get up after working all night and get them dressed and head out.

Introducing. . .Cleopatra and the Nile Crocodile. . .

Cleopatra

I used to be a crafty mommy and make Morgan's costumes, 

but one year Andrew was just 3 weeks old. . .

didn't make one. . .

the next year I was still exhausted. . .

didn't make one. . .

the next I had just moved approximately 3,000 miles. . .

didn't make one. . . 

this year my sewing machine is still in storage. . .

didn't make one either. . .

Ohhhhh, the cuteness! It kills me!

To further my self-imposed guilt for not being a super mom. . .this is Andrew's costume from last year. . .He found it at Grandma's. He loved it again. It still fit. . . .bad mom. Bad mom. BAD mom! There I have chastised myself and I am over it. . .to be fair, though, he called himself a dinosaur last year. This year he called himself a crocodile. . .so in his mind it is a different costume, right? Right?

She loves the cape :)

Now to introduce. . . . Dexter. 

This little guy showed up in our neighborhood a few weeks ago. No home has yet been found for him, so if he is still around in January he will officially become a barn cat. . .I named him Dexter, because, well, he looks like a Dexter. 

Watch out, Dex!

 You have a crocodile on your tail!

Where there is Dexter, there is. . .

Dipstick. . .this is Dexter's brother, and the kitty that sealed the deal. He is the friendliest cat you ever met. When he sees a people, he turns his purr on and climbs into your lap. 

My hubby named him Dipstick because he is all black except for a tiny white tip on his tail. . . .

So we have another barn cat. . .a black cat. . .just in time for Halloween!

Now that we  have the introductions out of the way, we can head off to Trunk or Treat!

My boys surveying their kingdom. . .

They scored plenty of goodies!!!

And went home very happy. . .

Although, I think they might have gotten bit by something along the way. . .