So this is our current "best animal" story.  Blake was found the Sunday before Thanksgiving of 2008 on a bale of hay, undernourished newborn kitten with goopy eyes.  After applications of neosporin plus $20 kitten food in an eyedropper, he was our lively winter amusement.  In Spring, we launched his "big boy kitten" life at the farm, where he played happily for about six weeks before disappearing to pursue the smells & sights of greener pastures?  Or so we hoped!  Predators can come around and we feared the worst.  Those were glum times. 

HOWEVER, not two weeks ago, practically two years to the day when Blake went MIA, this guy showed up in the barn unannounced, and when Julie called out to him he SAT DOWN.  A day later, he visited Will, and when Will spoke, he listened and listened.  We think Blake's back.  A miracle!

We delight in the birds that nest around here, or pass through on a migration route.  One day in May when Will and Julie were weeding, a shadow passed across the garden--sandhill cranes flying overhead.  We're happy these shy birds have frequently visited the farm. 

They find good company with other birds we've noticed in recent months including Baltimore orioles, a blue grosbeak, at least three rose-breasted grosbeaks, and a pair of Pileated woodpeckers all winter long in our home's backyard (think:  Woody the Woodpecker).

"Bucolic"  probably isn't on too many websites, but it aptly describes when farm life is mellow and relaxed.  Sometimes weeding is relaxing.  Good hard work is enlivening.  Julie loves harvesting and then going home to cook, even when it's only with an overwintered leek in early May.  Will looks pretty happy on the tractor bringing in the first cutting of hay--when blessed with a string of dry, breezy, sunny days.