almost March

The quiet calm of greens & browns awaits March.  

Soon the pastels of April will fill our home, but for now,

"serene" is the request.

I have been sick with winter "yuk"...so peaceful feels so

good.

Found the sweet bowl above for a few dollars this past 

weekend, the tin mold was a keeper too.

And a bowl of charm...a clock, platter, lace...

What fills your home at this time of year?

there be apples

Our small orchard has provided plenty of apples this year.

Our goats get their share, and we certainly enjoy at least 

an apple a day!  Dave even made one of his pies last night!

And there is plenty to share!  We take several wheelbarrows full to the 

road edge almost daily.  Folks stop by with empty bags & bins.

Off our apples go to be appreciated by others.

Apple time has indeed arrived at Meadowview Farm!  

some mornings

As I walked out to the barn this morning,

this is what greeted me.

Some mornings take your breath away!

a deceptive spring

Just out of reach, that is how spring feels here in Wisconsin. The snow melts, then falls again. Each morning I hope to see some sign of warmer weather, all I see are the poor birds ~ migrating back to "yuck". We throw thistle seed across the apple orchard to keep them fed. Flocks of robins, nuthatches feed...waiting, too, for spring.

I saw the swans...

Tundra Swans, migrating to Canada, hundreds of theses graceful birds stopping by to rest outside of Fall Creek, Wisconsin. I stopped along Highway 12, a country byway that will get me from my farm to my office in Eau Claire. Afraid to frighten them, I stayed in my car....rolled down the window and watched. It was poetry...still snow around the "ponds" they had found in the farm fields, misty rain, gray skies...it was poetry. The kind of picture you know will be painted forevermore in your heart, the kind that brings tears to your eyes with the pure beauty. And I sat, letting the clock tick, letting the office wait, watching, reading the words of this unwritten poem over & over. I saw the swans. I was surprised that no one else stopped, only one other car slowed. They couldn't or wouldn't see. The clock pushed them forward, the rain blurred their vision. "Look", I wanted to say....look at what you are missing. The swans are here for but a day or two. I saw the swans and their poetry. They were hidden in the mist.

spring, where are you?

On or about 25 inches of snow......since March 1!
Come on spring, we are beyond patient.

Hiking through the wind blown drifts to the barn tonight made me feel especially sad for the goats, barn cats and farm bunnies. They are indeed cooped up. Had to take out apple treats and play string before trudging back up to the house.

I take solace with indoor signs of spring....
trying to not look out the windows at the winter reality.

Come on spring, we are so so ready to greet you with open arms & a jelly bean or two!

next

And green it is!
Green of the shamrock, vintage waxed Easter grass...reminders of this home stretch before spring. This time of year when we wish only to shrug off heavy coats and step outside - even if it means mud boots on. Spring is still in the distance, but nearer now then yesterday. "Next" we seem to collectively whisper to the wind....."next".

spring on my mind....

With bunnies, chicks, colored eggs, lilacs, and green green grass every where...I am certain I have a big old case of Spring Fever.  Does wanting to be barefoot in early April make sense to you?  Does sitting in the middle of a pasture of goats in the early evening hours alarm anyone?   Does running through the backyard of the farm to visit the barn one more time at dusk (in my robe no less) sound like I have fallen off the deep end?  Oh, I do wonder what passers-by must think!


And, here is what is also just a bit on my mind...
    The Meadowview Farm Barn Spring Sale on May 12 & 13, 2012
                      The following is from my Pinterest Spring Barn Sale Inspiration Board

picture credit

picture credit

picture credit

picture credit

So, happy Bunny Day to all of you....

hope you have a wonderful weekend.

As for me, quite certain I'll be carrying on barefoot in the goat pen!

first robin

picture credit

And just as if they never left, I looked out to see a very nonchalant robin

poking around in the grass in the front yard on Sunday.

Hopping about as if there was no journey, no leaving --

as if our farmyard was the happening place all the time.

Just like that, the words, "it won't last" spill from my mouth

as I think of any more snow we may get.

I hurry to round up any last remnants of winter decoration,
making a note to self to get those lit deer put away and
gather up all the evergreen boughs.

The weather forecast for 65 degree days makes me feel so

ready for mud on my boots and dirt under my nails. 

Even mucking out the goat stall sounds like fun.

This is what we wait impatiently for

-- these first days of

extra sun light, warmth....spring.

And, just like that....it is here.

Oh my

So...I am quite certain that I have a mix of A.D.D. & O.C.D....

combined with a gathering gene.

And when you package it all into one Kari,

you get a compulsive gatherer that gets bored easy.

And so it is.

Every little holiday, every season is a march down to the

basement and storage containers hauled up and unloaded.

Every year I vow it will be the last.

I make these goals to limit my finds for each holiday,

to make it manageable....

but then I open the containers and

swoon over the sweet holiday adorables

that have waited patiently for their turn.

How ever could I not change out the decor to

nod to each celebration?

How ever could I limit myself to sameness?

Can't do it, not in my genes.

And so it is...

Oh, and isn't that the cutest little gold bunny and the sweetest jar?

Come on March....

"In like a lion", I suspect.....snow, drizzle, wind, rain. 

But that means "out like a lamb" -- right?

Here comes March, just around the corner from February.

Filled with shamrocks & Good Luck.

most adorable dog & shamrock teapot

Bingo balls in a green compote

1908 beaded Good Luck horseshoe

Come on March, bring it on....we are ready.

little flowers

I am in process of garden cut back & clean up.  Cutting back those plants that have become just far too leggy - sometimes giving them their second chance at growth, sometimes removing them all together.  It is necessary -- but never ever easy for me.  So often it is my beloved pansies that by July are overhanging their pots that take the massive cut.  And, putting those sweet little faces in my garden discard bag just hurts.  However, trying to tease out each little flower to save takes such patience & time, then they only last a moment.  Sometimes I take the time, sometimes I just close my eyes and throw.  Little flowers, little plant haircuts, my oh my -- does anyone else suffer through these things like me?

Just as free, free as we'll ever be...

It poured -- skies just opened, and it poured.

Still, we grabbed our folding chairs, rain gear...

Ian drove up from Madison,

and we arrived at CountryJam just as they took the stage.

Early -- things were moved around, acts were cancelled or changed.

And then the blue skies returned and for three hours they sang to us...
three hours!

People danced, sang back and were happy.

And, to hear thousands sing the chorus..."free as we'll ever be" with the

Zac Brown Band

magic, pure magic...

Every now & again you capture that moment,

tuck it way way back knowing it is special & will

be cherished.

Standing there, last night with Dave & Ian and thousands

of other folks that had arrived in Eau Claire-

Didn't matter our ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political views...

under that one sky, with mud on our feet

we were all happy -- just happy.

And we sang...

This is how it rolls in the country -- in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
 on a wet, stormy Saturday night.

Impending

that's the word...

that was the weather...

Impending

My first glimpse was from the window...

what was this?

At 8:30 p.m. a sky so ominous.

Expected a space ship or a large hand to reach

right down.

Perhaps the reckoning had arrived.

Impending -- storms coming.

They roll across the countryside -

announcing their arrival

for miles.

Lightning, then wind, then buckets of rain.

And a lost kitten, Winter...out in the storm.

2 months old, lost in the storm.

Impending

Heartbreaking

Yes, that is the word.

I don't much care for storms. 

They take, always take -- never give...

Impending doom -- announcing it had arrived, to take again.

Addendum July 21...

My little kitten Winter has returned, scared - but back.

doom & gloom be gone...

hollyhocks, day lilies, snowballs and farm gardens

I am not a gardener...

however, I do like the play of foliage & perrenials & annuals -

and know just enough.

In our last home in Sun Prairie - we were fortunate to

earn "Garden of the Month" distinction

and be featured in the city's annual

Garden Walk.

But still -- I make no aspirations at Master Gardener.

When someone asks about a plant -- my answer will likely be,

"I like how it looks".

So - with a vintage farm

- my quest was to keep the gardens

pure & simple & true to the farm's age.

That meant hollyhocks, day lilies, hydrangeas (snowballs) 

& any other planting that
could stand hardy farm living.

And, with a barn red & Old Chicago brick backdrop-
colors must be subdued, thoughtful, quiet.
The pinks above were picked by the hollyhocks, not me...
but I do like their play against the brick.

Plants were rescued from the old gardens, found as
we "civilized" the farm yard edges. 
Rusty "art" was added,
just enough wild was left unaltered,
with a restful, peaceful farmyard as the goal.

What is your favorite garden secret?

sweet breeze blowing...

Some days are simple:

gardens watered

clothes on the line



animals fed

and a sweet breeze blowing...

Want to send a blog "hi" to Barb at

Plum Thickety Place.

If you haven't had a chance to visit yet,

check out her sweet blog by clicking HERE

Enjoy this summer day...

It's a party for our gal!

She's the emblem of

the land I love...

the home of the free & the brave!

Happy Birthday America!

wishing you all a great weekend...

I will be doing a little antiquing,

visiting with my nephew from California,

& at some point...getting all misty eyed about this country,

her birthday & how great she indeed is.

So whether you will parade, camp, sit in a lawn chair, watch fireworks,

or simply & perfectly reflect...

enjoy!

it is here

S U M M E R

welcome....

*At 8 p.m. tonight I looked out the window

& there was a double rainbow.

My silly little camera could only kind of capture one over the adjacent field --

but that was because silly Kari

was running about the farm yard,

barefoot in the rain.

"Look Up", I wanted to yell.

"Look up"...

"It is here."

With just a bit of fanfare, summer has arrived,

and I am giddy to greet it.

ambition

I am a list maker...

even when not written down,

there is always a list hanging about in my head.

I like to check things off -

feel good about getting something done,

moving forward.

So - on days like today,

my list feels quite tiny:

1.  vacuum

2.  sweep the cottonwood cotton off the deck

See, the couch calls, a batch of popcorn & HBO calls, magazines call.

I almost wish it would rain to ease my guilt just a bit.

Guess I just may need to add to my list:

3.  put up your feet, sit a spell (it's O.K.)

How about you -- do you take time to just relax?

tornado

To start, we are all O.K. -- that is always a good start & a good end to a story.  On Sunday afternoon, a tornado made a path along Highway R in Augusta -- our farm was along that path.  I had been working in the hayloft all day -- readying for the May Barn Sale...multiple times the radio had announced a series of severe storms heading our way.  Dave was at work - but we had been checking in fairly regularly regarding the weather.  The dark skies to the north finally hurried me into the house -- closing up the barn, tucking everything in and wishing for the best....sounded like it would miss us.  Some time around supper, Dave called to say that there was a tornado near Foster heading toward Augusta - I best get the cats & head to the basement.  As I was calling for the cats and trying to find my phone -- I could hear the sound of a train outside -- if you have ever heard this, you know that ominous noise.  I climbed into the bathtub - not knowing if I would make it to the basement (growing up in a basement less house in Monona -- the bathtub was where our mom would tuck us away to be safe in a storm).  When I finally made it to the basement, I could hear the south side of the house just getting slammed.  After the winds stopped, I climbed the stairs with solemn trepidation -- what would I find?  Indeed, we had been in the path of a tornado --- at least 5 trees will need to come down, lots of repair to outbuildings & the barn, our patio set was carried off to the neighboring field.......but, we were all O.K.  The house had once again stood up against the winds.  The barn was still standing (and the hayloft & all the Barn Sale goodies untouched--the kittens had hunkered down up there).  The goats had ridden out the winds in their cabin (as the lower level of the barn was whirl winded).  Ralphie's bridge was now stuck on a fence -- as was most of their hay...which they found to be an awesome way to eat.  The large cupola I noted in my last post was way out in the adjacent field.  But we were all O.K.  I called to let Dave know we were fine -- but that there was indeed a tad bit of work to be done, we will be at it for a while.  The neighbors came to offer help -- they shared how they watched this fume of wind carrying stuff across the field.    Everyone was hit, barns were flattened, electricity out until the wee hours, trees - beautiful trees twisted.  Tornado, without mercy -- and yet what you spared we are thankful for.   We are all O.K.

Addendum:

My big sister, Randi, provided me with some data this afternoon -

the F1 tornado that hit us traveled a path of 1.5 miles at speeds up to 105 mph.

I realized today why I was insistent on having my phone in the basement...if this big old house fell,

I was going to be under lots of bricks & mortar & plaster.  But she didn't.  105 mph winds knocked her again & again and she stood.  I don't think I was afraid because I felt safe...folded in her arms, safe.

Today I am a bit shook by the thought of it all -- cross that off my bucket list -- I survived a tornado.