Ice Storm 2005

It's time for

Farm Friend Friday

over at 

Verde Farm!

Today we spent the afternoon trimming trees

here on the farm that had been damaged 

a few years back by a severe ice storm.

This brought back a lot of memories for us

and so I thought I would post about it. 

This winter has been a tough one for most of us

here in the USA and Canada and overseas. 

Some places have been hit heavy by snow storms

that just keep coming and I'm sure we 

wonder if it will ever end.

So far here in Kansas we have had our share 

of snow and storms and even

a little ice....

but nothing compares to the winter of 2005.

This is what I saw around 9pm out our French doors.

It started around 4pm with rain turning to 

freezing drizzle.

By 8pm it started to sound like a war zone.

At first I heard what sounded like a loud crack

somewhere near the house. 

Then there was another and another right 

outside the window.

This was no little branch breaking...these were limbs!

My hubby had left for work around 3:00 pm so I was

alone ...and I was scared and I was worried for him.

We lived in the city at the time and we had HUGE

elm tree's on our 1 1/2 acres.

One very huge tree grew very close to the house 

with HUGE limbs that grew out OVER the house.

I figured it was only a matter of time before 

one of those limbs would come crashing 

through the roof.

Thank heavens that didn't happen...but the aftermath

looked like a war zone.

Hubby made it home safely but it was slow going

as the roads were treacherous.

The next morning we were shocked to see just 

how much damage the storm had done...everywhere

 you looked there were huge limbs either down or

hanging broken from the trees.

I couldn't hold back the tears.

Those beautiful old trees!

That whole day was spent talking to neighbors and 

surveying the damage but thank goodness no 

one was hurt or had their homes severely damaged.

The next day it was a whole different scene...the sun 

came out and the damage was transformed into

a glittering world of sparkling crystals.

This tree above is a Chinese Elm and was right out front of the house.

Not one limb was broken...the limbs and branches bent instead of breaking!

The other elms were American Elms that grow more upright.

This last photo is of the most severe damage

we received to the house other than bent gutters, 

bent fencing, bent BBQ shelf and chair.

All in all we were pretty fortunate.

Now we just hope and pray that this winter

goes out like a lamb. 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend 

(with NO snow) and for 

those of you who haven't entered my 

Give-Away 

..please do!

I will draw a winner on Monday Feb 28th.

Good luck!

Maura :)

My One Year GIVE-AWAY!

Our Lilac Lane

On February 24th 2011

it will be one year since I 

started this Blog.

I still find it amazing that I actually

had the nerve to do such a thing.

But...I did it...and I've had a ball.

I have met some WONDERFUL 

people through Blogging..

made some friends..

I have even got to visit far away countries

without ever leaving the farm!

When I sat down and wrote my first post

and then hit that PUBLISH POST button

I didn't know what to expect.

I really figured that it would just go out

into Cyber Space and that no one would 

see it or find it interesting enough 

to leave a comment. 

I can still remember the thrill I got

from seeing that first comment!

Driving up the lane to the cottage

Catherine from 

Le Monde De Catherine

who lives in France

and has a wonderful Blog 

was the first person to leave me

a comment.

I was THRILLED!

She was so kind and helpful

and yet here she was....a stranger.

She told me where I could get pretty

backgrounds and then how to 

get music and she was the first blog 

I followed.

We are now good 'blogging' friends and

one day I hope that we will get the chance to

meet in person.

Blogging has opened up a whole new 

world for me.

Living way out in the country like we do

you sometimes feel a bit isolated

but Blogging has brought 

the world to me.

And for that I am truly grateful.

SO.

To celebrate my first year I am having a

GIVE-AWAY!

First there is a wonderful Banner

from 

Maryjane who's blog is called

The Beehive Cottage

Maryjane makes beautiful banners 

and tags and mini journals.

The winner may choose a banner

from Maryjanes collection!

She has quite a few to choose from.

Second I have a wonderful purse by

The Sak

It's a perfect size for taking to garage sales

or flea markets and you can slip it over

your head and shoulder so that you can

use BOTH hands to HUNT for treasures ;)

Third is a medium sized Journal

with an attached pen

that you could use for writing 

down idea's for your next

blog post ;)

Forth is a set of

3 pretty tea towels

and a dish cloth.

The tea towels have

cloth tabs on them so 

you can hang them up.

Fifth is a Russian Jade

Necklace with matching

Earrings.

The earrings have

stainless steel 

shepherd hooks

Sixth is a pretty Bookmark similar to these.

So...if you would like a chance to win

this is what you have to do.

1) Leave me a comment here telling me

when you first started blogging.

2) For a second chance to win...already be

a follower or become a follower.

3) For a third chance to win mention

my give-away on your blog or add

it to your sidebar.

The draw will be made on February 28th

THANK YOU to those who have found my blog

interesting enough to follow.

Maura :)

Farm Friend Friday - Fur And Feathers Around The Farm

Bubba showing Shep who's boss last spring

It's time to join Amy over at

Verde Farm

for

http://www.verdefarm.com/>Farm Friends Friday

I really enjoyed visiting the other

blogs that took part last week.

It's such fun seeing all the 

sweet critters and lovely farms

and meeting others who love 

living or dreaming about the 

country life.

This week I thought I'd show you

a few of our furry and feathered 

friends here on the farm.

Some are still with us

others are not.

But we 

love/loved

them all.  

Percy and Priscilla spring of 2010

Percy and Priscilla

Talk about two geese with

totally different personalities.

Percy is very shy and sweet

while Priscilla is the curious

bold one who was always the first

out of the barn.

Heaven help the cats if Priscilla

spotted them in the barnyard!

Buttercup

Buttercup was given to us along

with her sister Marigold.

We raised them as chicks in a plastic 

storage bin on our kitchen counter

until they had enough feathers that

they could be moved to the coop.

She was the sweetest chicken.

As a chick she would fly up onto my hand

and then walk up my arm onto my shoulder..

then she'd softly peck at my chin or ear.

One time she flew up onto my head and

then promptly pooped.

Who'd have though a little bird like that

could make such a huge smelly mess!

As she grew up that bond remained.

Unfortunately one morning I went out to the

coop and found her laying on the floor.

She had died during the night although

there were no signs of any health 

problems. Sometimes this happens

but I just didn't expect it to hurt so much.

I still miss her and it's been nearly a year.

Shep guarding the spring chicks

The picture above is of Shep our Akbash.

He's like no other dog either of us have 

ever had. He's very loving and kind 

and very protective.

He's our big 'love bug'.

He's grown since this picture was taken!

Our wild feathered friends visiting us yesterday

I love watching the birds at the feeder.

Actually they were pretty lucky

when I took this picture...usually there are 

about 5 squirrels lined up waiting to take their turn at the feeder. They must

have been full as the birds had the

feeder all to themselves

this time.

Our neighbors cows that surround us on 3 sides

We have about 75 head of Black Angus

surrounding us. 

When they arrived it was just a bunch 

of cows. Now we have young

calves joining the herd as mothers

give birth out in the field.

They are curious creatures and sometimes

come to investigate when they 

hear us working outside.

Our lilac lane and a young Shep

Hard to believe that in 

two months those 

lilac bushes 

will be in full bloom.

Can't wait!

  

.

Our handsome and gentle Romeo

Above is our wonderful

Australorp rooster we call

Romeo.

He lives up to his name as all the 'girls'  love him. None of them 

complain when he wants to

'woo' them ;)

He coo's and dances.

He's very charming.

Chelsea the 'stalker' trying to get Olly to run

Chelsea is our little Shih Tzu 'farm dog'.

She looks cute and sort of innocent 

in this picture but believe me...

she's NOT. 

Out for an evening stroll around the farm last summer

All the animals get along pretty well. 

Shep is a bit of a pest especially to poor

Bubba our other Shih Tzu.

Hopefully he'll grow out of it for Bubba's sake.

In the very first picture you see Bubba tearing

a strip off Shep. It was a hoot  because shep

was just playing but Bubba was serious

and was pulling out mouthfuls of Shep's hair!

I guess it was finally 'payback' time.

I hope you have enjoyed your visit

to our farm and I hope

you will come back

and visit us

again.

Have fun visiting all the others

who have joined Amy

over at 

http://www.verdefarm.com/>Verde Farm

PS

I hope you'll join me

for my 1st Year Blogiversary

coming up this weekend...

I'm having a give-away!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~