The Secret Garden

Yeah....Right. So far, the lamb is wise, as are all the rabbits and deer and a raccoon couple who I'm sure will be bringing their babies soon.
Let the games begin!

So far, the score is Them-3, Us 0. The tomatillas were the first casualties...all three stripped of leaves...and just for good measure...the stalk of one was whacked at ground level.

Grrrrrrrr!

I'm thinking the rabbits scored that round. I saw no deer tracks...the gate was closed to the lamb and I just don't think the raccoons and skunks have such herbivorous tastes.

The Man wanted to grow corn...so we planted sweet corn. Boy, the raccoons are going to love that. Apparently they are not that easy to thwart either. I've read some books, searched online and called up Mom and my best friend. Suggestions range from stout, Gulag style fencing, to clumps of hair in panty hose and even having The Man going out and 'marking his territory' every night. I can't wait to share that suggestion with him. Maybe I'll turn the boys loose on it too!

I'm definitely getting a sling shot. I've a personal score to settle with the raccoons.

Now, I don't mind if they come sniffing around, and I've even toyed with the idea of putting some treats out for them now and again...but the little buggers have ticked me off. They come traipsing through the yard in the middle of the night, taking extra care to alarm the dog...which alarms me, or bumping and thumping different parts of the house...which also alarms me.

So the other night...bump, bump, bump, bump, THUMP! This is 2am...and now I'm wide awake. I turn on the light and peak outside. The little buggers are serving themselves a light refreshment from the free bar otherwise known as the rain barrel. I'm OK with that, and even enjoy watching them tool across the yard and up over the fence.

The problem....the one got down the other side of the fence...and being mistress of my house and maybe even the yard I told him/her, "Go on. Git!" More because it felt the thing to do than any other reason.
The little bugger didn't listen...so I stepped it up a notch and stomped my foot. This action from me generally sends my dog, cat and kids running and garners grave concern and rapt attention from The Man. Not so the coon. Honery little punk came at me!!!!!!!

"Well I'll be......You little.....!"

He was not impressed an continued to look at me like, "You got a problem lady?"(I'm imagining a Bronx accent here.)

I threw a piece of wood at him...and he sloooowwwwwllllyyyy ambled away, in a rather unconcerned manner.
Sighhhhh.

How is that I've backed a three hundred pound drunk Bubba out of a bar with only my finger in his chest and a glare in my eye...yet a tiny little coon had no fear at all? Guess I'm loosing my touch.

So I'm getting a sling shot.

I'm sure some of you are screaming in protest and now don't think highly of me at all...but a girl has a right to defend her own turf. Do you think a Mama coon would politely invite me in her den(?), should I come snooping around? Nope...she'd come at me screaming and hissing with claws flying and teeth gnashing; and she'd have the right of it...me not respecting her territory. Turn about is fair play...and I do have my 'cubs' to think about.

It's not that I want them to go away completely...they are neat to watch, and I'd love a picture or two to share...but I rather think wild things should be wild...confrontational bothers me.

The Little Lamb...and a few other pics :)

May I introduce Layne, my youngest, and Sunshine, The Lamb.



These pics were taken about 10 days ago, and the lamb wasn't feeling that good. My daughter, out of the kindness of her heart, I'm sure, decided that if one bottle was good for him, two would be better and she gave the poor little guy colic. He looked a little sickly for a couple days, but is now doing much better and just packing on the pounds :)



I just love it how their ears come out from the side of their heads like that. It's really cute when they run...flop...flop...flop :) LOL






This one was taken Easter Morning. We suprised the kids with chicks of their own(actually that was the cover story...Daddy loves fresh eggs and wanted to add to the flock to ensure his own supply...) Deon(on the left) is holding Whiskers, Layne has Blue, and Katie named her's Fluffy. They are now about 5 times that size and have been moved from their cage in our living room to the chicken coup.



On the first of May, Layne and I climbed to the top of our hill across the road. This is looking down on our place and out across a pretty typical view of Nevada....well off in the distance anyways...all the trees and green grass in the foreground are fairly rare.





Here is the creek that flows out behind the house. It's officially a river, but doesn't quite toe the mark in my book...so creek it is. Our neighbor caught a decent sized trout out of it and Elliott hooked a baby catfish one day. I'm looking forward to going down and getting wet and staying cool during the hot months of summer.




I love this old building. It has such character and coloring and interesting shape and....just kind of a presence about it. Inside there is an old 1800's wagon on the right....and a '76 corvette on the left.





This was just too weird not to take a picture of. The inside of that old log burned out and the remains created a very interesting shape.





Not sure how many of you have raised sons...but mine seems to be having a hard time remembering to RAISE the toilet lid. I told him that if this remains a problem....This is where he will be going to the bathroom for the next month.




I was drawn by the way the snow was draped across the fence and harness part(hames maybe?)

And thought it was interesting to contrast it to a picture from a little nicer day.

An old fence post...worm eaten and slanted just so....drew my eye anyways :)

An old abandoned apple orchard covers the piece of land across the street. Some of the trees where just covered in beautiful blossoms...so pretty. Of all the close up pictures I took(still haven't figured out my digital camera)...this was the only one that wasn't blurry.

I was even able to talk Bubba(Layne) into actually SMILING for me! He loves having his picture taken...but to get a smile for it is rare :) Notice how the bottom half of that smile is tilted to one side? My daughter's is the same way...must come from Daddy :)

Anyways, just a small tour of some of my world. I feel so blessed to have found this little slice of Paradise here in Nevada...it almost feels like home.

My Child....

Okay, so that's all three of them. But pay special attention to Batman. See the spark in his eyes, the animation of his expression? He was READY...for what he was not quite sure, as the concept of Halloween is a little hard to understand at that age; but being Batman was exciting enough apparently.

I took this picture right before we headed out the door. Buckets in hand we loaded up into the car. After a broken 'Inja' sword, an attempted murder by Batman's cape(he sat on the end and it choked him) and the confusion involved in fitting hoop skirts into a booster seat; we were on our way.

I was exhausted already.

We headed into town to Trick or Treat and Daddy pulled into the first subdivision with an adequate percentage of porch lights on.

We unloaded....................and five minutes later.....we were ready.

The Inja took off at the speed of light, only to be called back by This Old Hag.

"Wait for your brother!"

Cinderella huffed indignantly and continued her graceful glide up the side walk. Batman, not at all put off by taking a walk up a strange street in the dark with his cool 'new clothes' on, took it all in stride.

He was game.

Up the steps they went.

"Wait for your brother!"

They didn't. The Inja and Cinderella were already walking back down the stairs with their first 'score'.

"Wait For Your Brother!!!"

Batman tripped and 'took a digger' on the steps, but the nice lady at the door waited patiently.

Two other kids did not and butted in front of him, but Batman is not shy and edged his way into place. He watched with interest as the other kids held out their buckets and that lady put something in them...so he shoved his little bucket out and she deposited the goods.

Still unaware of what all this was about, Batman looked at the lady, at the bucket, at This Old Hag, and stuck his little hand in there and pulled out......

"CANDY!!!!!!!!!! Candy Mom!"

Batman thought that was pretty cool. Who knew such a thing would happen? Just walk up to some one's door and they give you candy. He was very impressed and more than a little pleased with the results of this adventure.

Batman started heading back to the car.

"Not yet Batman. This way. Go with your sister and...."

"WAIT FOR YOUR BROTHER!!"

"Hurry!" Batman was turned around and ushered up the street, slightly confused. "Go with your sister and brother! Go get more candy!" This Old Hag urged.

"MORE CANDY?" Batman was amazed!

"More candy Daddy!" He had to share news of this miracle with someone. And off he trotted up the street.

Batman soon figured out that saying "Twik ow Tweet and Happy O'een!" was a great crowd pleaser and even remembered to say "Tank Oo" a couple times. He really could not believe his luck and questioned Daddy and This Old Hag more than once. "More Candy?"

The Inja and Cinderella never did wait up for Batman.

Imagine that.

About halfway through the candy haul Batman had a flash of inspiration. 'Candy...in my bucket...my candy...Hey, I like candy....'

Batman even got Daddy to hold his bucket in between deposits so he had both hands to open those frustrating candy wrappers. Even so, his sticky little hands could not keep up with his mouth. Pretty soon, Batman figured he had enough candy and the sidewalk seemed like a nice place to sit and have a pleasant little candy picnic.

This Old Hag made him get up and Daddy threatened to take the bucket away if he didn't stop inhaling candy.

Batman was a little wound up at this point. Who wouldn't be? People handing out free candy; a WHOLE bucket full of candy in HIS possession. High times for a two-year old; Batman or not.
He was NOT pleased when the bucket was taken away and he was put into the car.

"More candy Mom!

MY CANDY MOM!!!

That last demand was made in a voice that sounded remarkably like that of a demon. Steven King would have been impressed. Then Batman kicked it into high gear. The Inja was alarmed, and Cinderella not impressed by the Exorcist-like thrashing, howling & growling. Had the back of the car seat not interrupted, full revolutions of the neck probably would have been seen.
Daddy and This Old Hag were starting to worry about the amount of candy Batman had consumed.

Shortly before the end of the twenty minute ride home, Batman ran out of steam. Apparently demonic possession is tiring business.

No longer did Batman have a gleam in his eye. His expression was blank, and his arms clinging to Daddy's leg.

Poor Batman......of course This Old Hag wasn't doing much better ;)