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5. Sheets on the Line:
Then comes the day, before a
single leaf has appeared on the
trees and the grass is just
beginning to lose its winter
brown, when the sun shines warm
and we know spring is truly
here. The first time we sleep on
sun warmed sheets, the sweet
scent brings the freshness of a
spring breeze into the house.
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6. Star Magnolia: The
star magnolia that grows at the
center of a sweet woodruff bed
on the southeastern corner of
the house. It is one of the
first blooming trees of spring.
Some years wind and weather turn
the delicate, fragrant blossoms
to brown before we have a chance
to enjoy them. |
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7. Barn and Magnolia:
This Southern Magnolia blesses
us with lovely flowers. Here
they contrast beautifully
against the deep red of the
barn. |
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8. Asparagus: We
eagerly await the appearance of
the first asparagus spears.
Tim’s parents planted the bed
over 50 years ago. We eat as
much asparagus as we want with
enough for anyone else we know! |
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9. Tulip: Once spring
is in full swing, the beauty of
all the blooming and blossoming
is difficult to take in all at
once. I try to take time to stop
and appreciate the perfection of
a single flower. |
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10. Lilacs by Picket
Garden: Lilac time may just
be my favorite time of year. Tim
and I promise we will wait for
each other for our first sniff
of the most fragrant flower on
the farm. I wonder how long
these lilac bushes have been
here. Were they planted in the
1880’s when the house was still
young? |
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11. Birdhouse on the
Garden Shed: Birds make
spring on the farm even more
wonderful. This humble birdhouse
rarely displays a No Vacancy
sign. Many broods are hatched
throughout the season. It often
houses roosting birds in the
winter, too. |
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12.
Apple Tree: The Early
Harvest apple tree by the old
summer kitchen – now the garden
shed – is a cloud of blossoms
some years. The hum of honeybees
is loud and steady all day long.
The apples ripen as the tree’s
name implies – in June. |
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13.
Hatching Eggs: It’s so
exciting after weeks and weeks
of patient brooding on the hen’s
part, and of wondering and
waiting on ours – and the eggs
begin to hatch. These are eggs
laid by Pandora, the Guniea Hen.
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14.
Newly Hatched Chick:
Nothing is sweeter than a
day-old chick. This little black
chick is cradled gently in Tim’s
hands. |
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15.
Banty Hen and Guinea Chick:
Banty hens, like this banty
Americauna, make the best mamas.
They are good setters and take
wonderful care of their “kids.”
Love is blind even in the animal
kingdom. This mama raised a big
brood of guinea fowl keets. That
is one peeking out from under a
protective wing. |
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16.
Fern Fiddlehead: A fern
frond unfurls after a long
winter sleep. |
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17.
Caramel’s Ducklings:
Caramel, the mama Call Duck,
hatched out these sweet babies.
On the far left is one whose
feathers have not fully dried
and fluffed after hatching. In
spring there is something new
every day. |
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18.
Duckling: Nature truly is
perfect. |
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19.
4-H: Head, Heart, Hands
and Health are the four “H’s” in
the 4-H pledge. We no longer
have any members in our family,
but there was a time when spring
meant lots of 4-H activity in
preparation for the county fair
in July. |
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20.
Tim’s Tractor: Tim’s old
Ford 8N tractor was sort of an
anniversary gift a few years
ago. Tim welcomes spring for
many reasons, and having
projects that require driving
around on this vintage machinery
is one of them. |
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Summer |
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1. Butterfly on
Mock Orange: The mock orange bushes
bloom in early June and their perfume is
very sweet. Clouds of butterflies
surround them. Here an Eastern Tiger
Swallowtail sips on nectar.
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2. Guineas and
Rain Gauge: This photo was taken
during this past dry, hot summer. It
appears that Pandora, the Guinea hen,
accompanied by her devoted mate, Phineas,
is checking out the all too empty rain
gauge in the raised bed garden.
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3. Potting Shed:
The potting shed in early June. Note the
lovely May Night Salvia in the cutting
bed. Salvias are quite beneficial to a
large number of bees and butterflies. If
cut back, this perennial salvia will
bloom again later in the summer.
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4. Getting Ready
for the Wedding: June 24, 2006, we
celebrated the wedding of our oldest
daughter. Here her petticoat hangs on
the front porch, crisp and pressed,
ready for the trip to the church. Photo
by Jeremy Lawson.
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5. Day Lilies:
Orange day lilies border the garden
shed. This border has been dug into many
times so we can “share” a little with
the gardens of friends and family.
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6. Asiatic Lily:
The blend of citrus hues brightens the
picket garden in June. |
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7. Wheat Field:
The gold of ripening wheat warms a late
June day in the field across the road.
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8. Antique Tractor
and Hollyhocks: A true summer still
life in the old granary.
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9. Front Porch:
I have written many times about the joys
of the screened front porch. Sharing a
cup of coffee with Tim on a quiet
Saturday morning is one of my favorite
summer activities.
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10. Kitty on the
Porch: Corky the cat enjoys a little
time-out on the porch. The cats enjoy
spending time on the porch, napping in
warm pools of sunshine.
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11. Green Pepper:
We eagerly await fresh vegetables from
the garden. In addition to a bed of
annual herbs, we usually grow a variety
of potatoes, peppers and tomatoes. Our
neighbor Bill supplies the zucchini from
his garden.
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12. Some of the
Girls: Three hens, a Red Star and
two Buff Orpingtons, check things out
from the chicken run.
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13. Garden Shed:
A painted sign on the shed door reads
“Everybirdy Welcome,” while an autumn
blooming clematis climbs an old screen
door. A serviceberry tree provides shade
for the memory garden planted at its
base.
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14. Happy Splasher:
I never knew a duck could smile, but
Desdemona sure looks like she is as she
splashes happily in the “ducky tub.” |
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15. Boswell Looks
On: Boswell the Chinese goose waits
his turn for a cooling bath on a hot
day.
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16. Goats behind
the Barn: Filbert Thistle and
Rutherford the goats enjoy some morning
shade in their corral behind the barn.
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17. Rutherford
Portrait: Rutherford the Nubian goat
stood quietly – momentarily – for this
pensive portrait.
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18. Barnyard Bird
Poop Chairs: These chairs were
christened many years ago by our
brother-in-law Gary for the
ever-presence of bird droppings. This
view of the house from down by the barn
is Tim’s favorite.
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19. Picket Garden:
Looking through the arbor covered with
an abundance of autumn blooming clematis
into the picket garden behind the house.
It is in shade most of the day.
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20. Late Summer
Sunrise: School was back in session
already when I took this late August
photo. Every day offers beautiful
moments on the farm.
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Autumn |
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1. September Quilt:
The colors of September, warm red, deep
blue and amber are reflected in this
quilt airing on the line in the orchard. |
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2. Autumn Sunrise:
Sadly, this old apple tree is gone now,
a victim to a summer thunderstorm, but
we still have this photo of it
silhouetted against a vivid September
sunrise. |
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3. Neighbor’s
Bounty: This bin of heirloom
tomatoes was so pretty, I couldn’t
resist snapping this picture. |
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4. Bailey in the
Orchard: Bailey often follows me
around the farm. Here she poses on a
bench under an apple tree without being
asked.
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5. Potting Shed:
Seasonal decorations are never the same
from year to year. This autumn display
by the potting shed in the garden
features an old pair of Tim’s dad’s
overalls.
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6. Old Chairs:
I found these chairs out by someone’s
trash in a neighboring town. I stopped
and ask if they cared if I hauled them
away.
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7. Potting Shed
2004: This fall vignette includes
Bubba our old stick scarecrow. He
eventually fell apart. But not before
he’d worn out a couple of shirts.
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8. Back Door:
Dill is getting into the picture here by
the back door. Eve’s little red
wheelbarrow is piled with squashes and
gourds from the garden market down the
road. |
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9. October
Afternoon: When October arrives, we
hang out the “hooty owl” banner on the
front of the house.
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10. Maple Lane:
Tim’s Dad planted the row of maples
along the drive, having selected them
just for their color when they were
saplings.
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11. Catalpa Tree:
The Catalpa tree has been here for a
long time. Its gnarled branches caused
the children to call it “the climbing
tree.”
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12. October Still
Life: Two simple squash on an old
green chair create a warm display.
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13. Sunrise Garden
Shed: The orange of June’s lilies
transfers itself to the small leaves of
the serviceberry. They glow in the first
rays of an October Sunrise. |
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15. Sunrise Maples:
The same line of maples appears to be
plugged in and electrified by the same
sunrise.
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15.
Homing Pigeon: A homing
pigeon perches on a piece of
wire fencing propped against the
warm red of the barn.
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16.
Murphy on the
Porch Swing: When fall arrives, I
usually switch out pillows on the front
porch to reflect the season. Murphy is
all for pillows, no matter what they
look like. |
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17.
Punkins 2002:
Both punkins and pumpkins are in this
photo. It’s amazing how quickly time
changes things. The punkins are
all grown up and good ol’ Kip, our first
Welsh Corgi, is gone now. |
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18.
Halloween Kitty:
No matter if we are decorating for
autumn or changing the sheets on the
beds, Murphy is always ready to assist. |
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19.
Punkins 2006:
Despite being all grown up, Ellen and
Eve still take time out to carve
pumpkins. Note the Betsy and Will
pumpkin – honoring the new couple.
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20.
November Fields:
Tawny dried cornstalks and russet oak
leaves are the quiet colors of late
autumn. Winter is not far off.
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Winter |
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1. Winter Welcome:
The slate sign by the back door says
Winter Welcome. We are happy to see
the first of the snow.
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2. Orchard Sunrise:
The picnic table looks a little forlorn
in the middle of a January cold snap,
however the rising sun brings winter
sparkling to life.
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3. Dig Out:
Tim says you know it’s truly winter when
you have to go dig the corgis out.
Applejack loves the snow.
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4. House:
After a snowstorm, the house reminds me
of a snug little ship in a sea of snow.
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5. Picket Garden:
When fog freezes it turns our world into
a frosty fairyland. This is the picket
garden just behind the house. The autumn
blooming clematis is beautiful even in
winter when glittered with frost.
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6. Potting Shed:
The potting shed in winter. The herb and
vegetable beds lie sleeping under a
mystical hoar frost.
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7. Out My Window:
How fortunate to work with a
window on nature’s world. It’s
an ever changing picture,
watching as the seasons turn.
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8. Decorating
Outside: We decorate inside and out
here on Heritage Heart Farm. It’s even
more festive when nature cooperates and
adds her festive little touch of
crystal.
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9. Decorating
Inside: Inside, I add final touches
of my own to a lighted garland on the
fireplace mantle.
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10. Christmas
Mantle: Flickering candles and a
snapping fire on the hearth add magic to
the Christmas season.
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11. Snug in the
Barn: Down in the barn the goats are
snug on a fresh bed of straw. They do
not care for the snow and are content to
stay inside. The animals add so many
dimensions to our lives.
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12. Chase: As
long as there is plenty of hay to munch
on, Chase doesn’t seem to mind the cold,
but when the thermometer drops toward
the teens, we put on his “blankie.”
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13. Homing Pigeons:
Blue sky, white snow, red barn and
lovely homing pigeons brighten a cold
winter day. |
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14. Blue Frost:
Hoar frost paints every tiny branch and
twig with glimmering white. The contrast
against the clear blue sky is
breathtaking. |
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15. Frozen Lace:
Queen Anne’s Lace in a January garden. |
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16. Snowprint:
Often in winter the simplest images are
the most beautiful, like the lovely
lavender light on these rabbit tracks.
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17. Sunrise:
The sun rises through the woods across
the road, causing the trees to stand in black relief against the early morning
light. |
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18. Office
Assistants: Moody and Corky
(striped) and Murphy (gray) converge at
an office window to observe a tiny red
squirrel munching on a breakfast of
sunflower seeds.
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19. December
Rainbow: An unusual site – this
December rainbow took place right before
Christmas 2006. This photo is looking
directly east to our neighbors’ place.
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20. Sunset: I
watch the setting sun paint the sky with
watercolors while fixing supper on a
cold January evenings.
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