Tiny Oranges

While outside today, I noticed that some of the orange blossoms were already falling off and tiny oranges were appearing.  I went back into the house to grab my camera so I could show those of you who haven't seen these beauties before.  When I came back out, I found some critters also enjoying the orange blossoms!

Did you see the blue-green spider in the photo above?

Can you see the pollen on its legs?

The green in the center of the flower is the tiny orange.

I wish computers had smell-o-vision for those of you who have never smelled an orange blossom before.  It's a wonderfully sweet scent similar to a honeysuckle.

Till next time,

More Signs of Spring

We've had some really nice rains here lately.

I like rain.

It nourishes the earth and the body as it slows me down.

If we're home when it's raining, Country Boy and I enjoy sitting on the porch listening to the rain; it's so soothing.

Even though most of the leaves on our orange tree have fallen off due to frost (yes, even here in Florida and even though we covered it) the orange blossoms have appeared and are opening up.

They smell wonderful!  I'm so glad I'm no longer allergic to orange blossoms, especially living in Florida.  Although, sadly, there aren't as many orange groves around as when I was a child.

Yes, the plants are telling me that Spring is here but do I dare bring the plants out of the greenhouse yet?!  It's been such a fickle winter that I think I'll wait a bit longer.  I've already brought them out a couple of weeks ago because our weather was so warm that I had shorts on only to put them back because of freezing temps.  Fickle I tell ya!

I hope y'all had a wonderful weekend!  Ours was busy but productive.

Till next time,

This or That Rural Thursday

It's a dreary day here today.

We had a much-needed rain yesterday and today it is overcast.

I like dreary days.

I slow down.  I allow myself more time to do some things I enjoy;

reading, crocheting, cross-stitching and taking photographs. 

The light of a dreary day is perfect for photography.

Sounds strange, I know, but the colors of your subject are not washed out by the sun.

~~~~~

In farm news, the chickens are enjoying their first flock block.

Firsts with chickens are always fun!  They're very cautious creatures.

I purchased two flock blocks yesterday and after much hesitation on their part to get close enough to try it they are now surrounding each block, standing on top of it, whatever it takes to peck at this yummy treat!

Mmm, good eatin'!

Linking up with

    

Till next time,

Signs of Spring

In February.

Each day I'm noticing new signs of life around the property.

The other day, I spotted my azaleas starting to bloom.

These azalea blooms surprised me this year and I realized that I've not been anticipating Spring as much as I was last year.  Last Winter was harsh for everyone, even here in Florida, and from all the blogs I read last Winter I believe we were all anxious for the warmer Spring weather and the sense of hope and renewal that comes with the season.  I know that enduring the colder temperatures of last year made me long for and anticipate Spring much more so than this year.  

We've had many Spring-like days here already; bundled up in the morning but by the afternoon the layers are coming off, the house is opened up,  and I'm sitting on the porch crocheting, cross-stitching or reading a book.   Ah, isn't Spring here already?

Maybe that's why I was surprised to see the azalea blooms.  I'm beginning to see signs of new life around here telling me that Spring is not here yet but promises to come very soon!

How 'bout you?  Have you been anticipating Spring or is it sneaking up on you too?

Till next time,

Lucky Shots & Local Print Spooler Not Running

This afternoon I was walking back to the house from the barn and I noticed some action at the bird feeders.  I quickly went in the back door, grabbed my camera, went out the front door and was able to capture this Tufted Titmouse chilling on a limb...

before it flew down to get a drink.

It always puts a smile on my face to see the birds eating from the feeders, getting drinks and taking baths from the bird bath not to mention listening to their pretty songs and chirping!  Lucky me!

~~~~~

On a completely different, not-so-lucky and not-so-smiley topic... I spent a good part of the day (again) trying to fix the local print spooler on my PC.  I don't know why it quit working (a while ago) and I've tried all the 'fixes' that I could find on several different forums, several different times and it'll work for a second and then it quits working again.  Has anyone else had this problem?  I'm using Windows 7 and a Canon Pixma wireless printer.  I've even updated my print drivers.  Ugh!  Apparently, this is a common problem with Microsoft from the number of people I saw asking the same question!  Sheesh, you'd think the computer geeks at Microsoft could fix it so it wouldn't quit in the first place!  I've got some things I need to print out and I'm getting tired of emailing them to Country Boy's computer and printing from there.  I am thankful, though, that I can at least do that.  I can't imagine the frustration of someone not having that capability.

  

Does anyone have any suggestions, in plain, non-techie English?  I can't believe I wanted to major in Computer Science at one time.  Ha!  What was I thinking!  I'm this close to taking it to a computer shop *sigh* but I really don't want to do that.  (I'm cheap and I don't want to be without my computer, heehee!) So, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Till next time,

Simply Saturday

The beginning of this month, Country Boy and I voluntarily went on a ten day 'financial fast'.  The plan was to eat what was in the house, not go any place extra if we couldn't afford to burn the gas and basically not buy anything within those ten days.  I got the idea from The Cheapskate Next Door book I had just finished reading.  The author called it a Fiscal Fast and suggested to try it for a week.  We've easily gone five or six days in the past without intentionally trying so we decided to stretch ourselves and go for ten days.  This time was also about learning to be good stewards with the monies the Lord has blessed us with.

I would have to call our 'fast' a success even though Country Boy had to purchase one meal while at work one day.  Although he packs his breakfast, lunch and dinner every time he goes to work, there are occasions when the 911 call load is so heavy that he doesn't get back to his station to eat.  This was one of those times and couldn't be helped.  Other than that, no monies were spent.  For TEN days!

What an eye opener, too, on how much money is spent unnecessarily.  Sodas, coffee, snacks... these are very costly items at convenience stores and even at the grocery checkout counter.  They also create a lot of waste.  Take a few minutes before you walk out the door and think about what you may need to eat or drink while you're at work or running errands and bring it with you from home.  Use refillable beverage containers and drink lots of water from your tap (not bottled water!).  It's free and it's good for you!

Another biggie is buying an item(s) that isn't on your list.  Superstores are known for moving their merchandise around so that you'll have to hunt for the item on your list.  They're hoping that you'll walk past something that you just can't live without, snatch it up and throw it in your cart before you even stop to think about if this is really a need or a want.  Today, the line between needs and wants has become blurred.  We are bombarded daily with consumerism telling us that we need the latest and greatest (you fill in the blank with whatever is a shopping weakness for you).

Speaking of consumerism, the author also suggested watching a video on the Internet that explains consumerism quite well.  It's a twenty minute video but is well worth every minute of your time.  It truly explains consumerism and what it is doing to this country.  I urge you to watch it my friends.  You'll think twice before buying stuff!

The Story of Stuff

I will say that initially, the ten days seemed like it would last forever only because I feared failing the temptations I would run into.  But, once my mind was made up and I realized how much money we would still have in our pockets at the end of the ten days it became much easier.  And, quite rewarding!

Who wouldn't want a little extra jingle in their pocket?

I hope y'all have a great weekend and I'd love to know your thoughts on the video!

Till next time,

The Joys and Woes of Caring For Your Animals

I know many of my readers have animals in their homes or on the farm that are just as much a part of the family as the humans.  They're well cared for, loved and enjoyed.  Some folks may see that as spoiling them unnecessarily.  Not me.  My animals and pets are a great source of joy and entertainment for me (yes, I'm easily entertained *laugh*!) and I find a great sense of satisfaction in caring for them and even spoiling them!

As all pet owners know, though, there are times when caring for them is not so pleasant... cleaning up after them after they've been sick or have had an accident, scooping poop from the litter box, cleaning the chicken coop (which is on today's To-Do list) or stalls, well, you get the idea.

The other day it was time to clean the ducks pool.  It's not really a nasty job although, the water does have an odor when up close, but it's more tedious than it is nasty or unpleasant.

Anyone care for a dip in the pool?

What?  You'll pass this time!  Where is your sense of adventure, hahaha!  I guess I'd better clean it out then.

I use this handy little pump thingy that I hook up to the water hose, turn the water on and it pumps the icky water out.

The tedious part is that the hose I use is on the faucet for the garden which is in front of the chicken/duck run.  So, I'm going in and out of the chicken run several times during the pumping process.

The black hose is fed through a trap door and empties into the garden.

Then, I run around to the garden so that I can fill up a bucket to water other parts of the garden where the hose doesn't reach.  Back and forth, moving quickly because the water is constantly flowing.

Time to turn the water off.

At this point, I disconnect the pump, tilt the pool on its side and hose the mud out.  It's unbelievable how much mud gets in there.

I fill the pool back up and admire my tedious work!

I figured since I had the camera with me already, I would sit in the run again and see if the ducks would go for a swim in their clean pool.

They were all huddled up in the corner keeping their eye on me as I sat on the foot of the Chiki Hut right in front of their pool.

And this is what I saw for about ten minutes.  I was growing tired of waiting so I turned my attention to the chickens who were venturing out of the coop finally and getting nosy.

I realized that the ducks were inching forward towards the pool since I was ignoring them.  I decided to pretend to go to sleep so I leaned my head back, closed my eyes and was very still.  I'd open my eyes just a tad to see one brave duck take a couple small steps forward.  Once one moves, they all follow.  I didn't dare move to take any pictures of this long processional to the pool.  It took another ten minutes or so for the ducks to walk about twelve feet.  They sure weren't going to rush into this!

And then finally, my 'nap' paid off and the ducks were enjoying their clean pool!  The long wait of getting some photos of the ducks swimming in their not-so-new-pool was over!

Do you think they're enjoying it?!

It amazes me how they 'stand' on the water!

The old saying is true, water literally rolls right off the ducks back.

Happy ducks!

Tidal wave!  (I felt this one, by the way!)

Ah, the joy of watching the ducks swim in their clean pool!  So worth all the work in the end.

Till next time,