Nature Photography

Now that the weather has been considerably warmer, I've noticed nature's treasures around my yard. Beautiful plants and flowers that I, myself, have planted within the ten years we have lived here. Bleeding hearts are beautiful, but be fore-warned if you weren't aware of this before...all parts of a bleeding heart plant are poisonous. So don't plant where children and pets can get into them.

This last picture is one of my irises, and I thought it was neat to see the spider on the flower. I think I'll call this one "Beauty and the Beast". By the way, I am not a huge fan of spiders. I always joke to family and friends that I am arachnidphobic. But it's not really a joke.
I'm seriously considering opening up a second etsy shop and offer my photography prints for sale. I absolutely love photography, and would enjoy showing more of my work. What do you think?

Two Stray Mice

My husband found two baby mice when he moved a tarp in the yard. The mother was nearby feeding her young, and ran away scared, with some babies still attached when my husband moved the tarp. He didn't know they were there, and felt so bad. I ran inside to grab my camera, and then we left them alone in hopes that the mother came searching for them afterward.

I don't like mice, and definitely would not want to see them end up inside the house or barn, but they sure are cute, aren't they?

A Time For Lasting Memories

Today was a difficult day. It was the day to auction off the belongings of my Grandparents. My Grandma passed away in 2005, and Grandpa in October of 2009. I'm not exactly sure how old my Grandma was when she made her journey to heaven, but my Grandpa was 100 years old. He would have been 101 in January of this year.

I have many memories of Grandma and Grandpa. Upon each arrival to the farm, Grandpa would be coming in from the field, hard at work...as always. When I was really young, we would travel around holiday time and they would take us in the farm truck and ride in the bed of the truck to get ice cream cones. I can remember running though the grounds of the farm and entering each building with awe at the expanse of each one in amazement. I found the cattle barn to be the most wonderful with the equipment to milk the cows. They seemed so bold, yet vulnerable, waiting for the expected comfort.

I found at an early age that a lot of hard work went into operating a farm and a lot of pride was gained from the venture. Grandpa knew what it took to grow beautiful, healthy crops, and he absolutely worked until the last day that he possibly could to accomplish this.

Today, I met a man whom spoke to my dad about Grandpa. He said that Grandpa, at one time, said to him (at age 80), "I wish I was only 65. Then I could do so much more." The funny part about this is, Grandpa did not wish to be 30. He just wished to be 65.

Grandpa did not know how to spell or write. He had a special way of signing his name. He trusted people by the look in his or her eye. He knew when someone was untrustworthy, and he protected all he had.

All in all , today was a difficult day for me because it is probably the last time I will kick my heels in the dusty gravel between the weather torn boards of the hollowed barns. Realizing this now is difficult, as I have grasped the openness of the truth. No longer will I run through the veined crops, see the stuffed owl in the room to dine, smell the aroma of a farmer's land, see Grandpa's laughter of our visiting squirming pet.

But to lay to rest the past is most important. Move forth with these thoughts in mind and treasure them forever. The memories will never diminish and will keep the spirit of those loved near.

A Bare Garden Deserves Some Plants

This is the beginning of my new flower garden. We originally had a lot of wood piled here, and I started planting flowers last summer. Now I finally have it weeded, so I'll be off to Campbell's Greenhouse soon for new plants. I can't wait!

Oh, and I did see a snake while I was clearing two wheel barrows worth of weeds. ***shudder*** But he was kind and went on his merry way.

I am looking for ways to make the garden interesting with natural materials. I have two piles of rocks, and more available if I need them. Maybe a couple of pathways, bench, anything appealing to the eye. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear/see them.

Reusable Sandwich Bags Are Eco Friendly And So Much Fun!

Did You Know?:
According to earthdaynetwork,

• The raw material of plastic bags is oil. Therefore, the more we use plastic bags, the more we waste oil - a non-renewable energy source.
• The petroleum-based plastic bags take decades to break down, so if they are not recycled they litter. It creates visual pollution: in the streets, on the beaches etc. Also, they can clog roadside drains, which could cause street flooding during heavy rainfall.
• Plastic bags can be recycled but it rarely happens: according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, only 1% of plastic bags were recycled in 2000, against twenty percent for paper bags.
• They endanger wildlife and particularly sea life such as sea turtles and dolphins which can die of entanglement, suffocation, and ingestion because they assume that these bags are jellyfish.

Think about it. Do you REALLY want your food placed in a material made out of OIL?
Do you REALLY want to add more garbage to our landfills when you know something can be done about it?

Simple solutions are available. There are many people on etsy making and selling reusable sandwich/snack bags that can be washed and dried, then reused for a very long time. I also make and sell them, at $7.25 per bag, but if you purchase multiple bags, the price decreases per bag. I have separate listings for different quantities. It may sound like a lot of money, but you know the craftsmanship and quality is there, and of course....they are reusable! Really think about how much you spend each year on plastic baggies, and you will realize the convenience and cost-effectiveness of doing our earth a huge favor.

My bags are made of 100% unbleached natural cotton. No plastics here.
http://www.harrietshaven.etsy.com