Try again

So here I am again.  Trying the blogging thing.  I don't know why I stopped, but I did.  I do this often with journals as well.  It must just be what I need to do.  Lately I've been missing the outlet for my inside head thoughts so it's time to try again.  Cheers to my inside head thoughts.

Happy _________ Day/Week

There are so many wonderful things to celebrate today and this week.  Today is Earth Day, so a happy day to you my fellow earthlings.  Also this week is National Park Week, so may I encourage you to celebrate by journeying forth to one of our most wonderful National Parks.

In honor of these two events I give you some pictures of my favorite things from Earth and from the National Parks that mean so much to me.

Harpers Ferry on a glorious late summer day

Skunk Cabbage....I just love it so.

Thank you for the sunset.

Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

I'm obsessed with both jewelweed and bees

Cape Hatteras National Seashore

Okay, signing off to go stand in a National Park on Earth Day.

Life and Death at Marsh Farm

Much anticipated Chicken Week has come to Marsh Farm.  On Tuesday our 9 little girls arrived via USPS, which totally cracks me up.   They really come in a box in the mail....it's amazing.   So 8 of them came looking wonderfully happy and adorable.  One little girl came not looking so well.  It was quite sad as she could not stand up and clearly was not doing well.  I spent the evening trying to perk her up with pediolyte, but it was not meant to be.  So yes, dear friends, I did a very unfarmery thing and totally cried right then and there.  I buried her and cried over her grave.....boy did I feel like a wuss but I just couldn't help it.  We also lost another one, but by that time I had hardened up a bit and was able to handle it like a big girl.  So now we have 7, what seem to be, happy, healthy little chicks occupying our utility room.  It has already been a wonderful roller coaster and I'm looking forward to have my very own flock.  Here is one picture of them on their first day with us.

Okay off to admire my flock....

Blessings

Lately I've been feeling a bit cranky....yes I said it...cranky.  Work is stressful at the moment and I will admit that I have been rolling around in the bitter barn (not to be confused with my own barn) about it and that tends to trickle into the rest of my life.  I'm not very good at sticking things in compartments.  So in an effort to combat the bitter barn and walk out of it, I'm trying to focus on the blessings in my life.  I truly am such a lucky person and I know that.  I generally have a life of much and great joy and I am surrounded by amazing people who love and care about me.  So that I may always have an easy list of things to remind me to stay out of the bitter barn, in no particular order here are just a few of these amazing blessings.

• Susan-she loves me, makes me whole, and generally puts up with my shenanigans
• Family-so many wonderful people that love and accept me as who I am
• Friends-I just love them to pieces
• Home-my amazing Marsh Farm that I feel so lucky to inhabit
• Dreams-to follow
• Comfort-I am able to live comfortably enough 
• Animal friends-They are adorable and make me laugh all the time
• Silliness-enough said
• Crafting and Creating-such a great outlet for me
• Gardening-gives me such a thrill 

I think I may add to this list now and then just to remind me that the blessings keep coming.

Off to think about this list.

Gardening, why do I love thee?

Let me count the ways.

So here it is my friends.  My new garden...ahhhhhh....no, lets take one more moment to look ......



Isn't it pur-dy!!! This is one of reasons we purchased this beautiful 2.72 acres.  It's so I could have a large garden, plant tons of plants, and do all those wonderful gardening things that I have dreamed of for such a long time.

I am starting with four 10 x 4 beds with room to grow more.  We got compost from the local landfill and topsoil from Lowes.  After a long debate of raised beds or directly in the ground I decided to go with beds because we don't own a tiller and the ground is quite rocky in our pastures.  I also just LOVE the look of raised beds.  Each little bed is a world of it's own.  Someday I will have adorable little paths in between and a beautiful fence around.  In the meantime though these make me extremely happy.  Because the winter has been crazy and I really didn't know what the beds would be until recently I haven't come up with a garden plan, but I'm crazy anxious to start.  So I went with the very unscientific way of planting...alphabetical order. These are my cooler weather crops so we'll see how it goes and what wonderful lessons this garden can teach me.  I'll update all summer with pictures since photographing my garden is one of my favorite things to do.

Okay signing off to go dream of seedlings.

Walkin' the dog

I promise to not constantly post about my dog because then this would be a blog about a dog, but I had a rather fabulous walk at Antietam National Battlefield with him the other day.  It was a rather nice day, well as nice as a day as we get right now.  It was in fact the first day of spring.  So we headed out on a trail near Burnside Bridge.  It was a great little trail that takes you down to Antietam Creek.  Max was so excited.  He really loves to walk.  So we walked and walked, taking in the almost spring like weather and we even saw some signs that perhaps spring is on its way.  We saw pink beauties and grape hyacinth.  Even some flowers I can't identify off the top of my head.  It was a great way to celebrate the first official day of spring and to truly enjoy being in Washington County (or as I like to call it WashCo).  I do love having this dog because I think of places in different ways.  Now I think about places I can go to take Max.  Places that he will love and be able to walk to his hearts content.  Well at least till I get tired of walking.  So here are a few pictures from our spring walk.  Enjoy.


Mac loves to look at the creek

One of my favorites, Spring Beauties

Max to the Max

I have failed to mention that we have a new farm member.  His name is Max and he is part beagle and part jack russell.  I kind of love the way everyone's eyes bug out a little when we say that.  He is a hit with folks as he has the most adorable face (yup, I'm biased) and tamazing eyes that you don't see everyday on a dog.  He has been a handful but we are all learning (with the help of puppy school) and I have a lot of hope he will be a good farm/kayaking/chicken-loving/ all-around dog!

Competitive Gardening

I recently was talking with a friend who is just beginning to garden in a community garden plot (which I LOVE) and apparently I over-shared and kind of scared her. Now she doesn't want to plant as much and I feel absolutely horrible.  I didn't mean to scare her.  I just was so excited and wanted to pass on all that I knew.   Sometimes I just get so excited and over-pet the cat (sweet Golden Girls reference).  So anyway, in trying to make up for this I come to find out that she is super competitive. She wants her garden to be better then the ones around her.   At first I scoffed at this notion.  "That's not what gardening is all about."  "Gardening should be peaceful and serene."  "One should know that gardening (and life) are a journey."

But wait....perhaps I was being a judgey gardener.  I mean all of those things are what I love about gardening, but that doesn't have to be the case for other people.  I suppose we all have different reasons for gardening and why shouldn't having the best garden be a reason.   So I say good for you my friend and I hope that your garden is successful and beautiful, and that there are many lessons learned and just know....MY GARDEN IS BETTER!!!!!!

PS here is a funny in honor of competitive gardening

cutest story ever

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/28/us/yosemite-girl-nature/index.html?iref=allsearch

So for those of us who have spent time in public lands or in scouting this is the 11th commandment.  This also is such a good reminder of the power of a child....particularly a child in touch with their natural world.  My heart is full.

Love letter to spring

Dear Spring,

It has been so long since we have seen one another that I just felt as though I must write you a letter.  I hope that you have been doing well.  Here it has been cold, rainy, and quite blustery.  It seems as though it has been so long since I have seen and felt you.  Do you remember that one day we spent outside together?  You were warm and full of light.  I was gardening and happy.  That was such a special day for me.  Was it for you?  I don't suppose you remember that day do you?  I suppose that you share those kinds of days with many people.  But maybe I will just pretend that it was just for me.  You gave me that day (and many others)  as a special present.  I do want you to know that you are very special in my heart and I cherish the time we had together.  Thoughts of you have filled my head so much lately that I feel as though it will explode if you do not get here soon.  I dream of our days together spent roaming outside to discover new flowers and life that is all around us.  I do hope that you will hear my words and come to visit very soon.  Just know that you are wanted and loved here at Marsh Farm.

Love,
Kat

PS Please don't tell any of this to winter.  I have not told him yet how I feel.
PPS Please enjoy these pictures from our time together.

Esty shop is up

So my etsy shop is up and running!! http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshFarmDesigns

Yeaaa, this year is about technique for me.  Technique in felting and technique in selling.  It'll be a process and I'm looking forward to it.  I do love following some little dreams I have.

Little Brother joins the army

So today I got to see my little brother off to the army.  To say I'm proud of him is an understatement.  Not in the normal way of being proud of him for serving our country (I am), but proud of him for following his dreams.  He has wanted to be a soldier since he was little boy.  As a middle schooler he would sit and watch hours of military history shows.  He has given this much thought and consideration.  I'm so proud that he has cone through many struggles on top and is off to follow his dreams.  May god keep him safe and sound.  I love you little brother.

New Title

So I am back.  I know...I know you missed me.  Well I've decided to start up again with a new name so that I can think about everything I love to think about and not just my nature addiction (although it is still going strong).  So my new focus is everything in my life....yeaaaaa!!!!!  So to explain the new name, let's break it down.  Thoughts ....these are the things inside my head that keep me amused.  Marsh Farm...the name of my new home that is charming and a favorite part of my life.  Please enjoy the musing of my thoughts of a variety of things.

Happy Birthday

In honor of the National Park Service's 96th Birthday this Saturday I thought I would feature a few of my many favorites.  Here is a shot of Catoctin Mountain Park's Brown Farm trail.  It is a nice little trail that gives a good feel of the forest and history of the people that lived there.  Catoctin is such a beautiful place with so many places to truly feel like you are in nature.  It is a good place to get away and find your own nature addiction.

Bad hair day

This is what happens when being a nature addict goes wrong.  To be honest I was hacking down thistle in my pasture when one of them attacked.  It took me about 20 minutes to get them out of my hair.  My family helped me out by laughing at me.   Let's count this as a lesson learned.

Mama wolf spider

I caught this mama wolf spider in the act...of carrying her eggs.  I had heard about this but had never seen it, till now.  What a good mama she is.

The webworm wiggle

This is the webworm wiggle and this is how its done.....no its not the latest dance craze ( although I wish it was).  These are fall webworms found at the National Conservation Training Center on Saturday during my Master Naturalists training.  They were fascinating to watch.  Every few moments they would start vibrating collectively.  I couldn't figure out if there was a reason but it was so addicting to watch.  I wanted to make all passersby stop and stare with me (I didn't, but I wanted to).

Off to work on my wiggle.

Wheel bugs first day at College

Tonight I was at Hood College to do ice breakers with the freshmen on their first day at college.  I get out of the car and look down and here is this awesome creature.  It's a wheel bug!  So of course being the nature addict I am I had to take a closer look.  That's the beautiful thing about being a nature addict, its so easy to find nature anywhere and get a thrill out of it.  It's a beautiful thing.

Fairy town

Giant mushrooms, run for your lives!!!!  Okay perhaps a bit dramatic, but these are still big mushrooms.  I imagine that these are big enough mushrooms to house a fairy town.  If fairies exist this is where I imagine they would hang out.  Okay off to dream of fairy town.

Good Morning Spider

Just an update to the spider and what it looked like this morning :)  Still need to ID it, but what a glorious morning sight.  I'm so addicted to bugs.

Beautiful Web

Can you find it in there?