Since my previous blog, Dewayne and I have moved back out to the country. (We lived here when we were first married then moved to the city for a change of pace, etc....but, honestly, we are getting older and priorities have changed.)

I said it...."getting older".   Allow me to rephrase,  "gaining wisdom".     There.   I feel more "matured" in having made that change.

Moving on now.........

We made this change of lifestyle for several reasons....one, life happens and adjustments have to be made.  Not only does life happen, but, life changes the way we think as we get older (gain wisdom) and how we have to do things.  Simplicity is getting harder to keep and manage nowadays and it's golden when you finally find it and begin to appreciate it.   I think I'm getting tired of meeting everyone else's personal goals and I'm ready to meet my own ...for a change.

We made a decision to move out of a cramped apartment of approx. 625 sq. feet to a small cabin of 325 sq. ft.
Yes...nearly half the size. However, we aren't indoors much.  There is so much to do here back at the "farm".

You ask "farm"?....Yes, we still call it that because it has been a small farm for quite a long time until Harvey hit.  That changed quite a bit around here.

Now, the "farm" is quickly turning into a "birding sanctuary".....if you will ......because I, for one, love birds and I photograph them every chance I get and two, my mother in law has jumped on board with feeders and bird houses to add to the excitement around here.  ha.

I often get a text message with a semi-blurred photo asking me what kind of bird is in the back yard.  So, I scroll through my Audubon App to help meet the excitement of what just landed in my mother n laws back yard!  hahahaha.    

I have found myself standing at her fence, camera lens pointed in the direction of her feeders for over an hour waiting on something very special to show up.

This spring has brought to our yards several of my favorite little darlings.
 

The Indigo Buntings have been my favorite excitement this year.     We have Eastern Bluebirds all over the place and spotting the cobalt blue in the yard is a norm around here.  However, these little buntings showing up this year has been a thrill.

Eastern Bluebirds are everywhere here.....but, that's fine with me because I love eavesdropping in on their "conversations".

These Orioles have made their presence here also this year.......I was photographing one for nearly an hour when much to my delight a second one ended up in the frame by accident.  

Hummers are now taking our feeders by storm.  I think we may have to put run way lights down because the "airplanes" have taken over our porches and we are nearly getting hit in the head as they zoom from my small front yard to my mother n laws yard.

Carolina Wrens are always in the mix of chirps around here.  They are almost the smallest delight and the loudest.  They come to my porch to gather our dog's hair for their nests.

The wren below caught my eye one afternoon while I was watching the buntings.  They were zooming past me into a bush directly behind my head....about 5 of them.  They were chewing me out because I was apparently too close to a nest they were building.   This little wren landed on the fence with a leaf stuck in its beak and I got so tickled I laughed out loud.  It looked like it had a pair of cat-eye glasses on.  Like it was wearing a mask or something. Red cardinals are everywhere, singing their happy tunes and chasing one another as if they own the entire place.

We have a pair of summer tanagers that I spotted last year.  I hear them nearly everyday high in the trees.  The other day Dewayne and I were leaving and we spotted both of them on the neighbors fence.  I was like......"geez....what does their yard have that ours don't?????"....ha.  We have yet to see them land on OUR fence for a visit. 

As the story continues.....approx. 6 weeks ago this gentle soul showed herself on the property.   It took us 3 weeks to get close to her. She would go find a place to hide if we tried to approach her.  She apparently has been abused before.  Very skittish, but, when I would be out working in the yard, I would notice her watching me and then follow me at a safe distance.  This went on for nearly 3 weeks.  The 3rd week Dewayne made up his mind to go see about coaxing her to come around.   He succeeded.  He then told me to try.  She wagged her tail and came running to me when I called.  I was so shocked.  I don't know what made her change her mind...but, she here she came.

She adopted us before we adopted her.   She is the most gentle dog I think I've ever owned.   We know nothing about her except that she requires a lot of love and she gives it back.

We named her Goldie.  She has a golden personality and certain charm about her.  She's laid back and easy going.  She's quickly become another one of the "family dogs" here along with a "chiweenie"...June Bug and a "fox terrier"...April.  

Goldie follows us everywhere Dewayne and I go.  She doesn't like us out of sight and usually won't leave our porch unless Dewayne and I both are leaving it.

We've got new neighbors now.   A couple of weeks ago, I though I had heard a "moooooooooo".  Then, I thought at a distance I noticed a bigggg dog in the pasture next door.  Only to find out several cows had appeared.  So, to add to the general "yap" from June Bug in the yard, to the birds fluttering around, the "moooooooo" is becoming just as common around here.

Cattle Egrets are also in the mix now......that's almost a given where there are cattle around.

Well, moving along to the REAL reason why we are here......hahhaha...just kidding.  However, work is never done.  Even sitting here at the computer writing this story, it's still work and a priority that takes time because there's always a process to doing things.  When you want something done right, hard work is always involved along with patience, time, effort and a bit of skill.  If you don't have skill, keep at it.....it will come...in time.

Dewayne got a new toy recently.  Stihl FS131....in other words....a weed eater that does more than cut little blades of grass.  We have a pond and it has to be tended to and cleaned around like everything else around here, so, equipment has to be updated ever so often and maintained in order to keep everything else maintained.

There's NEVER a dull moment around here......we don't do dull, we don't have time for dull, we barely know how to spell DULL.....DUHL....DHUL....DLUL...oh well.

We have worked hard trying to beat the summer heat.  Cutting trees, building flower beds, cleaning out sheds, mowing, burning large fire piles. 

We are about to go clean a driveway on some of the property on the other side of the pond.  Dewayne is putting the blade on the equipment.

The "mule" as we like to call it has been my ATV fulfillment.  I've pulled trees, loaded branches, done donuts in the middle of the road (that I'm not supposed to do....but, a girl's got to try!)

Sometimes I just get "the look".

He's on the phone with his mom....discussing the terrain.

He finally got to the pond.   Goldie had been in "Nana's yard" all morning. When she heard us....she jumped the fence, found us and was our constant companion the remainder of the afternoon.

Remember earlier when I said there's never a DULL moment????? Well, the day had to end with some interest. 

Dewayne had to go back to the barn and get the tractor.   

There was a crisis.  One that I had to think twice about writing about.  But, the second thought got to me and here we go.

It had rained and rained and rained some more.   The tractor was leaving ruts....even the "mule" was leaving ruts.  

Aside from these two set of wheels ......there is a golf cart as well.

Curious spectators got a bit too curious on this afternoon and decided they would take a "gander" and go view the area that Dewayne had cleaned earlier.

Like I said....it had RAINED.  Dewaynes parents ....yeah....I'm gonna name them cause that's who was driving the golf cart.....made their way....or sunk their way into some deeeeeppppp yuck ....somewhere out there in the field.   

I get a text...."Tiffany we are stuck in the pasture".   "Send help"......(emoji's follow).

I look over to where I could see them....they are stuck alright. Wheels half way down in the mud.  

I mean....too bad we don't have a helicopter around here to just hop into.   ha. 

So, I have to let Dewayne know....we have to be "search and rescue" for ...well, I had no idea how long this was going to take.

We put the "mule" in 4x4 and go to mudding.   We hook the chain up.....let me just go ahead and say even the mule couldn't save them.  It was going to take the tractor.

So, we left them.....with a bottle of water and headed across the pasture.  We barely made it across the pasture.  

A bit later, Dewayne slowly makes his way across to the rescue mission.    

Needless to say, we haven't mentioned it since...until now.

Look at that face. Would ya just look at it????!!!   

Well folks, I'm going to have to leave for now. I know this has been a fairly long blog, but, it's been a while since I've gotten around to writing.  Hope to see ya'll soon.  

In the mean time, keep your gate closed to strangers and people that can't drive golf carts.  

It's a wild world out there.

Over and out, 

Happy trails to you,

Mrs. Rogers

P.S....a little recap of our day....I couldn't get the "Search and Rescue" mission bc they were too far away.