Red Dirt Farm and Studio

 

 

A cold dark foreboding mist is covering the farm, perhaps evocative of what so many are feeling these days.

I screamed a primal sound that a mother makes when her baby is in the snatches of a dragon.  I ran with fear in my heart towards the sound of terror coming from Snowball.

The fox had come for lunch.  A young playful beautiful, deadly fox had our sweet Snowball in his clutches.  With all my might I ran just in time.  The next day the fox came again and tried once more.

Unsuccessfully.

That night off in the distance I heard a gunshot ring out.  I pondered if the folks up the road with chickens had dispatched of the red devil.

Our girls are on lockdown for the time being.

 

 

Photo Journal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don’t have much to share in the photo journal since the last time we talked.

Life has been very difficult and consuming for our family.

Dad has been in the hospital with two surgeries and a stay in ICU.  He is home now, sick with a cold and has been told to stay home for a bit, between his health issues and what is happening all around us with Covid-19, he is at risk.

He had a stroke in his optic nerve, which had caused problems with his eyesight. He went to the eye doctor who sent him to the emergency room.  While doing a catscan for that incident that found blockages above where stints are in his carotid, which had been scanned just days before and been told he had no blockages.  Because they were above where the stints are, they did not show up on the scan.  It was a blessing that they were found.  The cardiologist performed an angiogram on Thursday.  Monday the neurosurgeons removed 2 blockages at the base of his brain.  We held our breath as surgeons said it was quite possible he wouldn’t make it.

But dad being the superhero, that he is, he came through with flying colors.

I’ve been tending to a young hen, Summer who was injured in a freak accident inside the coop while all was playing out with dad.  All in all, I would say things have been quite stressful around here.

And now the people have bought all the toilet paper, so there isn’t anything left to do but hope for this to pass – so to speak.

Schools are closed for the next couple of weeks, and many other events canceled.  How about in your area?

These succulents I rooted and potted up went to a local shop to be sold the other week.  Yesterday I went back and brought them all home for a staycation while the store is closed for the next two weeks.  Everybody is feeling this and it is so hard for those small businesses, I feel it with mine too.  Someone took a dozen eggs without paying, another person overpaid for theirs.  uncertain times bring uncertain behavior for sure.  I choose to reflect on what is good for now.

We live in fox hunting country.  It is lovely to see the riders dressed out, and I love hearing the calls on the horn.  I can’t help but wonder if their hunting has stirred the foxes and caused them to go after the chickens the very next day?  They took off across from our farm and circled all around our property.  I love being able to take their photos, and this lovely woman was quite accomodating.

I have been drying flowers for years and saving them for a someday project, which I am now working on.  The colors make me smile.

Mr. Red Dirt has been busy trimming out the windows and doors in our new addition, I’ve taken all the scrap wood and started painting them, light-hearted whimsical chickens, and birds, bunnies, butterflies and bumblebees. I am using vintage images for inspiration, other than the chickens.  I’m either experiencing a manic high with my painting or I have found my calling.  I’m truly enjoying myself, and I guess, that is what matters.

Peach blossoms and magnolia pinks, so lovely.  The pear trees are a bit sleepy just yet and aren’t quite ready to make an appearance.  The weather continues to roller coaster up and down, warm and cold sunny and rainy.  We need the rain, though.  I look forward to time in the garden with my hands in the soil.  Right now, I’ll escape with walks in the surrounding forest and sits on the garden bench.  I’ll gaze through the camera lens and ponder is all this scary stuff, just nature’s way of righting an imbalance?

 

Be well my friends, until next time,

xo Kim