Say Hello to Abigail!

Howdy-


Well Annie was first! Yesterday late afternoon she decided it was the right time to bring her little one into our world. Yep... as big as she was she only had one little girl. She is a beautiful big girl. We named her Abigail -

She was only an hour or so old here - You know I will show off lots of adorable photos as she puffs out and is dry bouncing around. Hopefully the other Mom's to be will take this as a hint that it is time and have theirs real soon so Abigail has some playmates! 

Have a wonderful blessed Sunday!
HUGS and -

Animal Crackers - Thankful

Howdy -

This week we celebrated Thanksgiving - and yesterday while walking around among our "kids" I really did feel blessed and Thankful for our life. I am Thankful that I have a Husband that is my best friend and partner in everything. We were never blessed with children but have a wonderful family and many fabulous Nieces and Nephews. Our network of Friends are so important to us and we are thankful each of them for keeping us sane and helping us be a little Crazy as well. We are Thankful for the land we have and the blessings of many animals that we love and adore. We are truly blessed and Thankful for our life.

While gathering the eggs yesterday afternoon I found a little cardinal playing in the chicken coop.

When I first spotted him he was helping himself to a little chicken feed. But as he saw me he tried to play innocent and perched up on the pole ignoring me... LOL We have hundreds of Cardinals here and love spotting that bright red coloring. They are beautiful birds aren't they?

Now I every time I see someone recently they ask... "So are there any baby goats yet?" I know I know we are so very impatient waiting for babies. Since the Donkeys all played me for a fool and never had babies and were faking it for extras... I have really been excited and not wanting to wait for "the kids" to arrive. We have 3-4 Mom's to be. I have them on the calendar by dates to deliver late October to Mid to Late November depending on their cycles. Well.... I guess they are just wanting to push the limit and this is their way of having control over me and my calendar.

I am leaning towards Annie being first, but Chloe and Daisy both are really bagging up as well.

Annie has given us some beautiful babies in the past, especially where paired up with Frank. Yesterday she was even more moody than normal and was hanging really close to her favorite shack, running everyone else from her spot. So maybe.... But last time Annie and Daisy were both looking close and I gave Annie the odds, Daisy swooped in and delivered first. I don't mind who ever wants to deliver first is fine with me... just healthy happy bouncing kids please.

Little Jorge headed straight for me when he saw me for some nose rubs.

This boy is so special. So very very sweet. Love that little white patch of hair on his forehead. And that dark nose is like velvet. Hubby's special little man is now on the not for sale list as we may just want to breed him one day for more of those dark noses. Right now he is just a fabulous little pet that we love.

Ok - so my latest Heritage chickens have really given me lots of worry and stress. And all the sexed little chicks we received, 1/2 of them have ended up to be male. Totally stinks as I have become so attached to them and honestly the boys should go as there are just too many of them. Sam is my Australorp boy... and I "have" two females Cora and Alice. Well we discovered a while back that Alice was a late bloomer and became Alister - stunning guy, but two males and one female that is limp with a bad leg just isn't a great way to start off is it. Not sure how we will deal with it, but for now they are living ok together. And Alister is really a handsome man isn't he.

Playing with the camera and his tail feathers... love that iridescent  green coloring.

This part I have been dreading to even mention. I showed you this photo a couple weeks ago of one of my favorite chickens... Inge the Swedish Flower Hen.

 Sadly we lost her this week. Not sure at all why or what happened. She was lively and happy when we fed in the morning. I went out just after lunch and found her barely breathing and her head was injured. Hubby and his nephew saw a Hawk from a distance swooping down in that area. Our coop has a fence top so they can't get in to the chickens at all. But we think just maybe the Hawk scared her and she flew into the fencing in a panic. I have been so upset at loosing another chicken especially her. I am such a sap. I know they are just chickens but I can't help how attached I get to them. And we have lost so many this year, not sure if that is normal or not. I have talked to a few and they tell me that chickens are a weak animal and yes you do loose some. Will have to get stronger in accepting that I guess.. or maybe not I probably will still cry at loosing any of them. But now I will need to work on getting a few more chickens this next Spring. Thinking I will try a different place, maybe have better luck with getting girls.

Hope you have a long list to be Thankful for. I forgot to mention - I am Thankful for each of you that read my blog. I do hope you enjoy it -

HUGS and

High Hopes Challenge - Silver

Howdy -


Today's High Hopes Challenge is all about Silver - To add Silver to your card or project. I have this really pretty Merry Christmas Silver Ribbon... somewhere.... but never did find it. I now am thinking that I used it up last year and was so upset when I had planned my card around this now gone ribbon. But in my digging I found another piece of silver. A long ago purchase of a Making Memories metal silver border piece. So that with the fun new image "Ice Fishing Penguin" got me to this Christmas Card.

 Just absolutely love this image... my kind of fishing for sure, just don't tell Hubby he really gets into the "Sport" of it. 

I colored with my Copics (colors below) then added Viva Decor White Pearl Pen for the snow. My paper is a very old piece of Cloud 9 Christmas Is Stripe paper. Dug very deep in the stash and found some older Christmas papers... love the colors on this one. Then I found a piece of Bazzil Glitter paper... yes with SILVER glitter made in it! Whoo Hoo... another silver!

Then I decided it needed some Christmas winter looking decor, so I punched out a whole bunch of Martha's Branch punches, added more Viva Decor White and then Red Stickles for some berries. The tag is hand made and then I the High Hopes sentiment "Merry Christmas!"

Love how this one has a bit more of a manly feel to it... didn't intend on that. Usually is hard for me to do that guy thing.... LOL

Inside the same papers -

Copic colors used -

Had some fun this time and found some great things deep in the stash! LOL Now I do hope you do pop over to the High Hopes Challenge Blog and see all the Sparkling Silver from the DT and then please do join us! You can win some new High Hopes for yourself to play with!

Hope you have a great day - and have some fun coloring!
HUGS and-

Animal Crackers - Details in Close Ups!

Howdy -


I have been really playing with the new camera. OH MY ... totally loving it! You may be seeing lots of close ups as I just am crazy about the details I am getting with them.

The doggies actually were sitting still and enjoying the wind right before a storm yesterday afternoon. So I snapped a few.. or hundred photos of my kids.

Wind was really blowing... Autie was a dirty mess from playing outside but still as always a handsome boy. 

 

Libbie was so sleepy and enjoying the wind and great temps. Heck I though about sitting down on the step next to her and enjoying for a while... LOL 

 

 Chica had found a not so wet place in the yard and was enjoying the brief sun.

 

Love this one of Orchid - wind was blowing her feathers up, but that detail in her face! She is a beauty!

 

 

Miss Jill  having a little afternoon hay -

Sweet girl. Hard time on her horns, but she is a love.

Only got one donkey this week. Girls had already moved over to the far pasture to be under the large tree for the showers. But the boys were finishing up their hay while it was dry.

Ramon was a mess from the rain earlier, but he is has such wonderful coloring. 

 Little bit of optical illusion that Peso was standing behind him... that grey body is not him. LOL

I am just having so much fun with my new camera... may even start looking into some fancy filters for some artsy photos... or not the natural photos are making me happy right now.

Weather channel is saying 100% chance of rain, and heavy storms today - But after seeing the snow up north I am ok with rain... wow looks so deep and cold! Tell me where you are what the weather is like where you are...

Hope you have a blessed wonderful weekend - I will be indoors Spring Cleaning today... Late or Early how ever you would like to look at it. I just got going this week and now I might as well keep going!

Hugs and -

High Hopes Challenge - Photo Inspiration

Howdy -


High Hopes Challenge today has an inspiration photo. Don't do many challenges with a photo inspirations fun as it gives you lots of room for your own imagination but a goal in the end.

I pulled out the Peek A Boo Baby again - this little image just makes me smile!

Just adorable isn't he? Or She?  I colored with my Copics (colors below) Then added some Viva Decor White Pearl Pen to add some poof and shine to the fluff in the hat. I also added a few Martha Stewart branch punches in the corner added more white to the branches for snow, then red glitter for some berries... sort of like the inspirations slightly maybe? Ooops need to show you the inspirations photo...

For the card I used a white card stock base with red for the mats. Dug into my scraps for some papers to match -

Buttons for some added embellishments - and then the sentiment that is also from High Hopes. No Peeking!  

Inside more of the same papers - 

Copic colors used -

Fun challenge this week we would love it if you could join us!  You can see all the DT work HERE at the challenge blog.

Today I have to spend the day cleaning the kitchen and cleaning out the Fridge.... sigh...  The old refrigerator decided it was tired. And so before it died completely we decided we probably needed to buy a new one. 12 years is a long time for a fridge right? I know years ago they lasted so much longer, but so did everything else. So before it left me with a lot of hot food we bought a new one. I don't think my first car was that much... LOL But if I can get another 12 years it will all be good. New fridge will be here this afternoon - Ready or Not...

Hope you have a wonderful day -
HUGS and

Animal Crackers - I have a Stick

Howdy -


Brrrrr..... Baby it got cold outside. And I braved the cold yesterday morning early just to snap these photos! Really early like before 7 am! LOL We were going to be gone all day and with the time change I was concerned that it was going to be dark when we got home so I went out to photo before we left. And it was a good thing I did... cuz it was really dark!


Was just at freezing here, and all the animals were puffed up to stay warm. I went to snap one of "Red" Scarlett is her real name, but we call her "Red" She was enormous! But just as I went to take a beautiful photo of her she picked up a stick and was flipping it up and down in her mouth to show me just how talented she is.

Up and down with her lips she flipped that little stick. So proud... Finally she dropped it and let me take a pretty photo...

Ok so she isn't a rocket scientist... but she is beautiful. Such a vibrant shade of red too. I am thinking she is going in with one of the boys next week to try for more RED!

Found the boy donkeys all puffed up and enjoying breakfast.

My baby Sergio made a few noises at me as a "hello, I would really love to come over to you and get some head scratches, but breakfast just got here and I really don't want to loose my place over the largest piece" I totally understood of course....

But Felipe.. head scratches were more important to him.

You can really see how large his face was poofed. Cheeks and bangs.  I rubbed a bit on him and then told him he better head back to grub as the others would eat it down fast as cold as it was.

Even the chickens were all puffy... Inge was really strutting around...

Her coloring is just amazing. I so need to find a boyfriend for her so we can make more Swedish Flower Hens as I am in love with her.

Speaking of in love ...

 As I left the chicken coop and came into the back yard I found Moxie and Nally at the other gate waiting for their morning "Cookies".  Every morning, Every Night before bedtime, Every time we have been gone from home and return they get a little Cookie. It is sort of our way of making sure they stick close to the house and checking up on them. Now I could not turn those faces down so I got them each a cookie loved all over them, rubbed bellies and faces and then they took off with their treats to the front porch where they have a bed and a big cozy quilt to cuddle down into. Just as they ran off Hubby walks up and ask me if I gave them a cookie.... well yes of course. He laughed and said well so did I about 10 minutes ago... LOL Their record for working both of us all day is 7 a piece... Ha! But we try and stay at the 4 and under most of the time. They deserve being spoiled though... Love theses two to pieces! Sister and so much alike and so different as well.

Hope you have a wonderfully blessed weekend!
HUGS and

Whimsy Inspirations - YOU and ME

Howdy-

This week I was going through some of my favorite Whimsy Digital Images. I came across LiaStampz "You and Me" this is such a great image for anniversary card don't you think?

Sweet couple - I colored with my Copics (colors below) then went back with my pencils to shade. Seemed like a cool fall day with the image so I added some fluffy clouds. I then inked the edges of the images as it just seemed to bright with the papers. The papers are Prima Marketing Cigar Box - love the vintage feel - I added two die cuts from Whimsy's Double Scallop Border Die such a great die. I found a silky ribbon and created a band with a bow. Then six dots of my Viva Decor Paper Pen to create faux pearls.

Inside I used scraps of the papers.

Copic colors used -

Had fun with this one  - was so nice to work off a clean desk. It has been months since I saw the entire top of the desk! LOL Now to find the rest of the craft room... another day as I am having fun coloring right now.

Hope you have some fun today -
Hugs and 

High Hopes Challenge - Mittens!

Howdy -


Well things are getting cold this week here... ok to some chilly not cold. But for me cold. Great time for the High Hopes Challenge this week. Mittens! Fun different challenge isn't it?


All you need is a High Hopes image wearing mittens or mittens on your pattern paper. Mittens showing anywhere in your project basically. Well I found that the new image "Santa's Gift" has him wearing mittens. Then I went through my scraps and found some papers with mittens in the pattern. Not sure of who made them... old old scraps.

I colored Santa with my Copics (colors below) then I matted on dark red card stock, that I also used for the card base. A few carefully placed pieces of the pattern paper to show off the mittens , and then some adhesive lace. The Noel with the mittens is from the pattern paper.

A little Doodling around Santa and some added stickles for Santa's outfit and then on the pattern paper there was some bling... but not enough so I added more.

Inside more of the papers.

Copics used -

Nice fun challenge - we sure would love it if you could join us at the High Hopes challenge blog - you could win some great new High Hopes to play with! 

Hoping to get more coloring done today... I spent hours cleaning off my desk and dusting.. oh my love my craft goodies but boy they do get dusty!

But now they are dust free and just crying out to be used... need to do what they want don't you think!

Have a great one- HUGS and

Animal Crackers - New Focus!

Howdy -

Well Momma Got a New Camera! And wow what a difference! Still trying to figure out how it all works. Totally amazing how much things have improved since I got my last camera oh about 10+ years ago. Smaller, easier to hold, and the zoom... wow! I got a Sony Cybershot with the 20.4 Mega pixels and the 50X zoom. That zoom is really going to be awesome out here on the farm for photos across the pastures. A million different settings but I will figure it all out in the next decade before I have to get a new one.


Here are some of my first photographs out of the box...

Grace and I have been having a few discussions this last week. You see she is suppose to be very pregnant. And some days I think she is. And other days I worry she isn't. First time Mom so I just don't know for sure as usually they only have one and they don't show as much as a Mom that has a few kids. Yesterday was a worry day. She just isn't showing a bag and not as large as I think she should look. I think she is faking the entire pregnant thing to get extra feed and mineral block. You think here she is telling me "Really I am...  More feed please"  Well if we have nothing in a few more weeks she will go back in with Frank and we will try again. This girl will give me gorgeous babies no matter how many times we have to try!

Tried another close up... 

But I don't think Sam was liking the noise on my camera too much. That was a look of You better not come any closer don't you think?  Handsome man... cautious... but handsome!

Then I tried out the zoom... Darlene was all the way across the pen from me. 

Love this girl so much. I say girl loosely. So hard to believe this lady is getting really close to the 30 year old mark. She is so loving and wonderful and looking better and healthier than she has in years. The no babies for a while and eating fresh green grass since we have had rain last spring as been wonderful.

Then I found a little boy trouble going on in the goat pen. These boys love to play king of the pen. Show off their testosterone a bit. Here Alex is getting a good upper hit on Chuck.

 Need to video this one day if you have never heard the hits these boys make it would amaze you how hard they go at it.

But don't worry about Chuck... he got the very next good hit -

Gives me a headache just watching these guys!

Doesn't seem to bother Ted E. Bear... he just got a bit of a itch...

 

Our standard Ted. He is just the sweetest big lug nut in the world. But when you have a itch.. you have to scratch ! That fence was wiggling all over the place. 750lbs does damage when put to work. 

Hope you enjoyed today. Will keep working on learning the things this new camera will do and see what we can get next week.

Have a great day and make sure to hug a furry friend! 

HUGS and-

Whimsy Digital Stamps Challenge - Two or More Images

Howdy -

Today is the Whimsy Digital Stamps Challenge - Monthly challenge for the Whimsy Digi Team - and this month is a great one! To use more than one image. I had some fun with two of Crissy's Digis... one of which is one of my absolute favorites...

Now Scarecrow and Friend is a great image... but I can imagine you know that the other is one more "me" - This is Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Love this adorable little one! 

Now I used Photoshop to merge my two images into one - then I colored with my Copics. (colors below) I cut it down to fit into the Double Scalloped Square Die from Whimsy. A fabulous die that is perfect sized for cards. I used Kraft card stock with papers from Simple Stories Legacy collection. The sentiment is a tab also from Whimsy Stamps. A ribbon some MS leaf punches and mulberry roses for embellishments.

Inside more of the same papers but I decided to take advantage of the lined pattern paper for the inside to be able to do some writing.

Copic Colors used -

 Fabulous challenge this month for Whimsy - make sure you get a chance to join in on this one! LOTS of great prizes to win. So visit the blog HERE and join us please won't you.

Thinking this is another stay indoors day around here. LOTS of rain in the forecast today. YEA! Soggy animals outside but the cooler weather and the rain for a nicer November will be appreciated by them later.

Have a great one!
HUGS and-