Through Our Garden's Gate...

Through our garden's gate, you'll find...

A Daddy with his boys sweating over little green leaves newly planted.

On the other side of the fence, you'll find a goat...

and some guineas...just waiting for the moment they find that gate open so they can get in and have a feast.

They'll eat up my herb garden John Wesley planted for me.  Do goats like rosemary?

They'll eat up all our lettuce and cabbages and peppers and squashes.

And they'd probably eat up all our strawberries.

That would be a lot of hard work wasted, so we're trying to be really careful about the garden gate.  But we're also preparing our collective heart for the moment we find it open and see our critters eating their fill on all the hard work.  Cause, you know...it's as likely as not to happen with all the coming and going.

Lena's baby rabbits have grown and are nearly ready to leave the momma's nest.  They're adorable.

MaKenzie is supervising the garden work, while Anna enjoys a cool place to rest out of the sun.

Lena's learning to ride the four wheeler.

And believe it or not, my Mother's Day flowers have SURVIVED!!!!  They did NOT become gourmet goat food.  I hope the same can be said of our garden in the coming weeks!

Bees Aren't Boring...

 That is...unless they're Boring Bees...which the ones living on (in) my deck actually are.

 See this perfectly shaped hole?  No, my boys have not been borrowing their daddy's drill...

 I actually watched a bee drill out this beginning of a hole this morning.

 The audacity!  Look at the wood shavings he left on my chair!

 Yes, he certainly better hide!

 I guess my deck roofing is now a hotel for bees!  Too bad these aren't honey bees.  I might actually accept that as payment...

Can you see the bee in this hole?  I lightened it up and you can see the wing!  Where's the bug spray?

Counter-Top Farming...

So, help me out and tell me I'm not the only momma with worm eggs and polliwogs in jars on her countertop.  Granted the polliwogs were my own addition.  Who says I'm not a farmer?

Today...

Today I...

considered the ant...

stopped to smell the roses...

tried to bloom where I am planted...

and met an amazingly cute pig.

Happy Mother's Day to MEEE!!!

This afternoon, Harold went to "run some errands." He took all the littles with him. When they came home, Jared was bearing a bouquet of my favorites--DAISIES! And Lena, MaKenzie, Matthew and Jared brought me a gorgeous hanging basket that they had picked out for me!

I probably wasn't as grateful as I should've been. As soon as they pulled it out of the vehicle and I saw it, I exclaimed, "Are you all CRAZY??? The goats will eat that!" I guess that's okay. The goats will appreciate some gourmet grub!

A Tea Party...

 The girls decided to have a tea party out under the trees.  They put on their jewelry and fancy skirts; and MaKenzie wore her shoes in the style of the newest fashion--on the wrong feet!  (Oh, you didn't know that was fashionable?  Indeed!)

 They invited all their dearest friends, including the friendly potbelly pig, Wilburta. 

 The menu consisted of nature tea and tiny cakes.  Oh, my!  It wouldn't do to get any on Mrs. Bear.

 Or on the beautiful Miss MaKenzie!  We must use our best company manners.

Sisters spending time playing, talking, listening, and pretending.  Priceless memories for them--and for their momma!

Eeyore...

 Eeyore is our new mini donkey.  Isn't he adorable?

He was originally brought to the Hope Valley Farm via a four way multi-share acquisition by the Underwood Brothers.

Some of the original shareholders sold off their interests and now Eeyore is co-owned by only two of the Underwood Brothers, John Wesley and William.

But really, Eeyore is a friendly sort and likes to make us all think he's "ours." 

Even though Jared has feet of questionable odor, still Eeyore is a faithful friend.

Don't you wish you were as lucky as Eeyore to have a boy look at you with such open admiration?

What a happy boy my Jared is!  Who could resist that grin?  Not Eeyore!