Kitties!!! And other cuteness...

It's late.  I'm tired.  My kitchen is sweltering, but I have 7 pints of diced tomatoes and 4 pints of tomato sauce cooling on the counter.  It was worth it.  These will be added to my growing collection of canned goods in the basement.

Things have been busy around here.  There is the harvest to deal with of course and all the animal-related chores, but we're also in the midst of a kitchen remodel (I know, poor timing to remodel at the height of canning season, but we needed to sand and refinish the floor while the weather was nice).  Add that on top of all the back-to-school activity and you have a recipe for one tired family.  I actually find myself dreaming about winter and hibernation...

There are a million blog post ideas running around in my head, but by the time I get a chance to sit down at the computer each night, my brain is fried and I can barely form coherent thoughts.  Sooooooo... I'm going to entertain you with cute pictures of kids and kittens, and hope it distracts you from realizing that this post is about, well.... nothing.


Here is my daughter helping me fill the water troughs for the animals.  Yes, she wears those boots around all day.  And yes, it's adorable.

 

Big Helper

Our barn cat Harriet had 6 kittens in May.  When they were about 3-4 weeks old, three of them disappeared one day, even though they still could not crawl.  We're not sure what happened to them... perhaps Harriet knew she could not feed 6 babies and removed them from the nest.  We now have Harriet and her three remaining kittens as our barn cats.  Judging from the dead mice and voles they leave on the barn floor, I would say they are doing a good job. 

 

Lucy 2, Grayson, Harriet and Tiger

 



My daughter adores the barn kitties.  I do believe she would spend the whole day out there with them if she could.  For some reason, the kittens don't mind being held by her.  They run away from most other people, but she seems to have the touch.  I call her "The Kitten Whisperer".

 

 

"The Kitten Whisperer"

 

 

 

 

Snuggling with Grayson (who used to be named "Gracie" until we discovered "she" was a "he")

My sweet boy turned six years old in August.  SIX!!!  How did this happen?!?  We had a small birthday party outdoors and I was once again reminded that we should really lock up the chickens for the day when we are hosting a party.  Silly Phylis. At least she drank out of my water, and not one our guest's. 

 

Guess I won't be drinking out of that cup anymore...

 



As summer comes to end, school begins.  My dear son started kindergarten yesterday.  I made him pose in front of the tree for his annual "first-day-of-school" photo.  The kid has been losing teeth left and right, and I can't get enough of his toothy (lack of toothy?) grin.  It makes me smile every time!

"Jack-O-Lantern" grin

In other news, Bruce the rooster is no more.  He attacked my daughter one morning while we were doing chores and I decided that was the final straw.  We butchered him that same evening.  That's what he gets for not playing nice.  Once he was gone, there was a collective sigh of relief on the farm.  No more crowing at all hours day and night (he woke me up crowing at 3am once).  No more harassed chickens.  The poor ladies were getting desperate.  I watched a few of them even play dead so Bruce would leave them alone (he would only chase a moving target).  Maybe we'll try having a rooster at another time, but for now, I say good riddance.  He will make excellent chicken soup (rooster soup?). 

Bruce

 

 

Thanks to all of you who have been over to visit.  It's been a delightful distraction!  I don't get out much, with all the work to be done around here, so I really appreciate people coming to visit me.  And of course, if you visit, be sure to bring a bag, because I WILL be sending you home with tomatoes.  Good night, all.