Fall at the Farm

Fall is one of my favorite times of year

It cooler for one, and in the deep South, after a long, hot and dry summer, cool air is a welcome change

Fall is also a wonderful time of year on my family's farm

Just like us, the cows are happy to feel some relief from the heat

Fall also happens to be calving season on our farm

The new baby calves are so precious and tiny, just like a human...only a tad bigger, like say, 90 pounds!

They stick close to their moms, who keep a very watchful eye on them.

They spends lots of time nursing, while mom spends lots of time munching on hay 

This soon-to-be mom was taking a relaxing afternoon dip!  It may be cooler in Georgia, but it's still technically "pool" weather...

enjoying a much needed afternoon snack

It was so peaceful while I shot these pictures.  No one was around except me, my puppy, and 25 new mothers and their babies.  And the best part, no one was crying!

How precious are these babies?

Can you believe in just a little over a year, they'll be this size?

This little guy was the only one who really paid me any attention...

I think he wanted to play

Running towards me

then decided that wasn't a good idea...

I love this mama cow, Miss Lucy

 

She gave me several different faces while I took her picture

Sticking out her tongue

A little wink

Ok, enough of that, back to dinner

And yes, its still fly season, too!  One good cold snap and they should be gone!

This is also another favorite and a story of a sort of adoption.

This white mama cow's baby calf was born dead and the little black baby cow's mom died shortly after giving birth to him.  Since Mom didn't have a baby and Baby didn't have a mom, my Dad tried a little experiment.  He put them in the same pen to see if the mom would adopt the little baby.  And she took right to him!  They have bonded over the last month and she has let him nurse everyday (thats what he is doing in this picture and why you can barely see him!).  

She is also one protective mama!  She wouldn't even let me in the pen to take their picture.  She was not having anybody mess with her baby!  

Hope y'all have enjoyed this little sneak peak of life on the farm.  Between the beautiful leaves, sweet babies, and cooler air, it truly felt like heaven.  

I simply love it here

To check out more about the farm, check out this post

Farm Life

Happy Weekend, Friends

I'm Loving

 Hey!

Did everyone have a wonderful 4th? 

We did - More to come on that later!

Here is what I'm loving today...

This is my favorite (cheap) candle...

Lemongrass & Coriander

Publix has them for $10 usually!

And I save the glass for to put flowers in!

I'm also loving my favorite antique store, Madison Markets.

If you live near Madison, GA stop by - you won't regret it!

It - is - huge!

and this is my latest find

She was pricey, but I think she is beautiful!

I'm loving my Grandmother's mini-garden

It makes my very happy to see her squash and tomatoes grow!

And finally, I love that WE ARE MOVING TOMORROW!

Officially, on Friday, we will no longer be Savannah residents!!

Happy Late 4th!

xx.

Farm Life

I grew up on a farm

a real one

An actual working cattle and hay farm

And this is my grandparent's house

I lived across the road

which meant anytime I felt like being spoiled I walked across the road

I have so many memories of walking across the road 

to visit my grandfather in his shop, watch my grandmother work in the kitchen, or just to play

I played a lot

and I worked in the barns...a lot

at the time, it felt like I worked as much as I played, but I'm certain this wasn't really the case

It really didn't feel like work most of the time either

I loved to be around the animals and listen to the radio while I cleaned stalls or talked with my Dad

My grandmother was such a great cook, her fried chicken could knock your socks off

My brother and I would get dropped off after school at her house and we would have a "snack"

we would have a peanut butter and jelly or ham sandwich with pringles and a milkshake

while we sat and watched Ghostwriter, the Magic School Bus, or Flintstones

after that

it was time to explore and we were on our own

We hung out in the woods or played with the dogs 

mostly we just entertained each other

It was wonderful

T and I went up to my grandparents house this weekend

we now live down the road instead of across the road

 I got to show him so much of where and how I grew up

These two were really taken with one another

Can you tell?!?

Coming in to see what all the commotion was about

The "Dad"

The bravest one of them all

Protective Moms

many of you can relate :)

Speaking of playing

My brother and I spent hours here 

This is my playhouse

I'm not sure if it was bought as a playhouse or some sort of storage

but I won out

The bottom half of the door is now torn off, but it was a split door with a little shelf

perfect for playing house, shop, and keeping out little brothers

We got a long most of the time, but he was still a little brother, but also a best friend

I even had a peep hole

And my little house, is still decorated like I had it more than 15 years ago

This the first place I ever got to "decorate"

I used my grandmother's discarded basement items

This was part of the "kitchen"

My little cups and bowls are still there

and my place mats :)

I wish I took more pictures to show you...

My "chairs" were still there (green ottomans from the 70s)

and there are still Southern Accents and Traditional Home magazines beside the chairs

My passion started early

I used to torture my poor brother and make him sit there pretending to read those things

So mean

Sadly, my little house is falling apart and is home to many wasp nests

before that it became one of our bird dogs favorite places to sleep (hence the hay)

T and I walked and talked and compared childhoods

I can only hope we give our children a similar experience

We were so loved and spoiled and gushed over

Not in a bad or excessive way, believe me I still got my fair share of spankings, but in a way that you knew you were loved

You also knew how to love back and how to respect others and elders and yourself

And you learned how awesome these people who loved you really were

It was a wonderful day