Red Dirt Farm and Studio

Brilliant sunshine, fallen leaves crispy and crunchy under my feet, heavy with a coating of frost, a thousand diamonds shimmer in the grass.  An owl screeches high in the treetops.  A donkey is braying loudly and the chickens are beginning their morning chatter.  Swoosh swoosh a flock of buzzards soars overhead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’m just going to blurt it out –  our beloved Stanley Roo passed away last week.

A natural death.

During his last two weeks, he followed me everywhere and wanted to be held constantly it was sweet and sad.  His last night he came to the back porch to roost, that’s when I knew he wouldn’t make it through the night.  My heart is broken and there are no words to say how much he will be missed.

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I fell down the back porch steps three times in one day this past week.  I believe that to be a personal best.  Worst?

   It was raining and the rubber soles on my old Sloggers had gotten so old and hard that they no longer gripped surfaces, they just made those slick wet steps even slicker.  After the third fall, I came right inside and ordered a new pair.

I’m the proud wearer today of shiny ruby sloggers.  I clicked my heels together and declared there is no place like home – Boo dog just laughed and said he agreed!

Tweety bird was hatched in August a cross between a Crested Cream Legbar and a Buff Orpington.  She’s smart and feisty. She likes for me to pick her up and hand feed her treats.

  Are you old enough to remember the cartoon which featured the little old lady that carried Tweety Bird around in the cage and Sylvester the cat was always trying to “release” Tweety – anyway what was that little old ladies name?  Anyone out there remembers?  I’m channeling her – carrying around my little Tweety Bird, I may or may not have grey hair and a rotund figure.

 

A grey catbird dazzles among the brown withered poke berries.

 

A pack of hunting dogs came through the other day chasing the chickens.  The chickens ran through the yard bawk bawk bawking in every which direction, I ran after the dogs screaming at the top of my lungs like a crazy lady.  I managed to capture the dogs and get them penned up.  A very large burly hunting dude shortly thereafter made an appearance.  He apologized profusely and then meekly said he heard me screaming all the way down the road and it scared the daylights out of him.  He was afraid to come up and claim the dogs afeared of what I would do to him.

It all ended peacefully.

 

The stench of death is in the air from the discarded hunting remains.  the buzzards have moved into our oak trees.

 

This one I call Miss Graylocks – she is regal and majestic in her gross but necessary role in the circle of life and death.  I greeted her the other morning as I headed out to the farm stand, she obliged with a beautiful fluffing of feathers and gurgling grunt – I think it was her greeting back at me.

 

I took advantage of a few warm days to hang Christmas decorations and lights.  It is so much more enjoyable to do these things in 50-degree weather than 20.

However, I’m thinking that’s the last time I go that high up on a ladder to hang lights on the barn.

 

I hope all that celebrate such things, gave thanks and enjoyed a day full of peace, gratitude and full bellies.

There is a lot that I feel thankful for.

Like European butter ooh such decadent goodness.  So thankful that Cottage mother-in-law taught me how to make gravy and mashed potatoes and those awesome stuffing balls, oh so many years ago.  Thankful for growing my own sweet potatoes this year and having extra given to us by our farming neighbor.  Flowers, beautiful flowers from Mr. Cottage.

 

Stuffing Balls – make stuffing as you normally do, then refrigerate until completely cold.  Once cold, form into balls about the size of walnuts, place on parchment lined baking sheet.  I usually refrigerate again, until ready to bake.  Bake in 400-degree oven checking around 20 minutes, until brown and crispy on the outside.

 

Sausage Dip recipe here.

 

I’m thankful for you, all of you that come to this place and share my life and yours in return with me.

Thankfully,

xo Kim