New Beginnings

It’s almost Spring here in Northern Michigan. I say, almost, because in the woods, the ground is still frozen and we have have a couple of inches of frozen sleet still hanging around from the storm last week. It covers the ground hard packed and slippery from the sun. Soon we will once again be ankle deep in mud. It will be a few weeks before we are thawed out and dry.

There are flocks of migrating birds coming to the feeders and we’re seeing many small herds of whitetail deer in the fields browsing for edible grasses. All of the wildlife are awakening into the lengthened days of April and the Rollin’ Rock is no exception. Our household has become alive with activity with the addition of a new pup. Another little cowboy on the range to help Dish keep things in order. This presents a whole new perspective to our laid back retiree routine.

His name is “Deets”. A beautiful 9 week old pup with a pea sized bladder (and brain) and teeth as sharp as porcupine quills. He’s only been here a week and already has grown some and learned a few things about the workings of our tiny environment.

Dish being Dish, is not too impressed. Although he loves the interaction for short periods of time, he gets annoyed quickly. Although it is difficult for him to share attention, he is doing a great job.

As the world turns and brings the unknown to each day, we welcome in another year that’s going to be filled with exciting new adventures. Our journey continues……

12/30/17

Another Rollin’ Rock Rag Rug

This is the newest rug. What intensity it was to create. I know….just looks like a bunch of strips of material woven together, and it is. But these strips were all scrap. I had to cut each one to less than a 1/2 inch and double them up to get the calico design. This took me weeks to complete. At first it was just a little of this and a little of that. Then I would run out of interesting color and had to cut from different pieces. It was painstaking to complete. I now have a few ready for the spring market. Can hardly wait. However, after a long summer, there’s the, I can’t wait for this to be over, so I can take a break! Damned if you do, damned if you don’t!! It’s a love/hate thing.

14 degrees this morning at 8:00. A big jump from yesterday’s 11. All is well here at the Rollin’ Rock. Peace has been bestowed upon the land once again as Mother Nature has blanketed my wonderland with clean crisp snow. The riflemen have all left the area taking their gains, or not, but also taking their noise and traffic. I’m not sorry to see them go. Many will not be back for another year. Some, once or twice throughout the summer. Other than that, this land is left to my enjoyment.

As politics and scandal fill the airwaves I’m thankful I can just tune it all out. My opinions don’t matter to the masses anyway, so I’ll let the media hash this one out. I will however, do my civic duty and support political candidates that support the blue collar workers, small scale farmers and retirees. So, if there is not one of those out there, they will not get my support or vote. Enough on that!

Chickens are doing great, laying a couple of eggs a day. Got one little girl who would rather not lay in the hen house, but in an ornamental grass just outside the fenced in area. She is a wanderer. I have to keep a close tab on her throughout the day to make sure mayhem does not ensue.

The bunnies just got a new manger to keep them out of the winter elements. We were worried about wind and freezing temps. Building in the bitter cold is not a fun job, but my husband was a warrior and slayed the project. We kept the bunnies close to the cabin so they could remain as social as possible throughout the winter months. In the spring they will move near the chicken yard where they can at least see the activity out there.

So for today, just trying to keep everyone from freezing, including us.

9/30/17

It was a cold night. The first of many to come. My animals have not experienced a winter outside. I worry about their survival, but they are animals and for centuries have adapted to weather and environment. I can be soft, enabling at times. Giving in to my need to hold everything close.

The chickens will be laying soon. Unfortunately, I have as many roosters as hens. I’m a rookie, how would I have known!! Will next time. I’ve watched enough sexing chicks videos to at least have a good idea anyway. My rooster, Violet, is on the fast track. The only one crowing and the only one trying to mount the hens. He is a character and keeps everyone in line!

It has been a good late season harvest here in the forest garden. I didn’t get a chance to put in a full garden this year, but what I did, proved to be fruitful. I’m already looking forward to next year.

Our bee hive was doing so well before the bear attack. We’re going to supplement the bees through the winter so hopefully they can survive into the spring. You see, the bears got all the winter honey supply.

I haven’t inspected the hive since the attack. It was a traumatic experience both for them and me trying to put things back together. My husband and I both got stung multiple times and we lost thousands of bees.

It’s a beautiful sunny, cool fall day today. Not much color in the trees yet but it won’t be long. I don’t miss the mosquitos and ticks. They can stay where ever they ran off to! I’m going to continue working on the tower for the wind generator today. It’s going up in a couple of weeks. I’ll keep you posted.

It’s quiet here. No wind, road noise or human voices. Just the sounds of chipmunks rustling in the leaves, crickets, and an occasional crow from my rooster Violet, who struggles to perfect his voice. It couldn’t be better.

Source: For Now

Source: Long Time No See