Just When We Think It Couldn't Get Better . . .

You remember Flame?

Yup that would be her last August. Fresh out of the egg.  Of course the above photo is Flame today. A once a day egg layer and of course we now know that yes she was a pullet and opps, her biological Mama was not her surrogate Mama. Apparently her Mama , one of my two Rhode Island Reds dropped her eggs and exited stage right. Next occupant of the nesting box was one of three Buff Orpingtons.  Who happily felt broody and sat down to finish the task at hand.

As you can see Flame has blossomed into a lovely hen and eats scratch out of my hand twice daily. She is a precious joy to me as she and her Mama were great diversions during times of multiple wildfires and the journey to my becoming a widow. 

Three guesses. OK I will enable you all. My new toy that I purchased during the torrential rains prior to the generous snow. This marvelous piece of equipment , a gas fueled pump, empties my "swimming pool" under the house in about half an hour when it is full. And yes I am in the process of getting up close and personal with an excavator operator concerning putting in a French drain after the rainy season has gone wherever rainy seasons go. 

The most destructive issue currently. It is in the buck pen and the bug eyed boys act as if nothing has occurred. This tree has lived in harmony for the 7 years we have been here. Until the more than generous amount of snowfall we recently received. Now not so much, sigh. It did land perfectly and to my amazement didn't do nearly the damage it could have done. I will have to take down the dead oak and will replace the 16 foot cattle panel it dented in several places. But the caveat here is it left the "extra" panel attached in front of it unscathed. So bingo, replacement panel at no cost. Well  o.k. it was a few bucks about two years ago. But right not it is considered free of charge.

This puppy knocked my 48 inch high field fence down to 24 inches. I walk all four dogs in the back 21 daily this is not acceptable. 

This is my daughter Annie who worked with me , three bow saws, one wedge and a sledge mallet to take it down. 

As if nothing ever happened.  Thanks baby girl you are a blessing! 

And serendipitous at the Chiropractors office on Friday

Now to wait out the next few days of winter storm number , well, I think I am loosing count !

Let It SNOW!!

Woke up to 10 to 12 inches of snow on my 42 Acres of Paradise today. We got slammed even on the valley floor they got a good amount. It has slowed Shasta and parts of Tehama county to a crawl. Courts and schools closed. I can't leave my property as the plows that were so diligent in 2013 with the "Arctic Freeze" of three weeks are busier at lower elevations.                                                           

Winter Found True Nor Cal . . .

Shasta reach out and touch her. 

Mt Lassen on the left, Broke Off Mountain to her right. 

                            First Christmas tree harvested with Granddaughter Emily

                                                Grandgirls Aubrey on left and Claire

                                        
                            These two girls Aubrey and Claire can split wood by hand!

                               
                                                Final resting place for their efforts. 

                         A bit late but trust everyone had a wonderfilled Christmas!

Forgive the lack of perfect balance. I am amazed this got done. Read your blogs often a slow start to beginning again this is. Last storm left me with 1392 gallons of water under the house. Life as a widow has been met with some interesting journeys. 



                                 

One Word

Hospice 

Well This Is Unexpected ☹️

This is a short note and public service announcement.

You may see me looking at your blogs and perhaps even a comment. You will not see a post on my blog for now.

Geoffrey was unexpectedly hospitalized and I have a full plate now. I will pop up when and where I can. Thank you for your understanding 

Not Another Post!

Yes yet another post .  After the fiasco of  a technical nature I needed to experiment. I had written a post and previewed it then set it for release into the ether at 1 AM. Apparently somewhere in its travel the font shrunk. Wisp of Words kindly brought it to my attention. 

So I snagged it and turned it every which but loose to no avail. No matter how much finagling I did with the font it always reverted to the way it showed up after being flung into the ether in dark o'clock. I then said to myself "self you must do another post and lunch it in real time for any kind of a solid conclusion to your assumption."  And I did. 

To be sure this works in all ways let us take a stroll around the farm for some photos.

 Just for you Mama Pea look what I found in my strawberry pot today! It had three friends also. 

 If you click on photo above you can see this honey bees wings in action . 

 Longfellow "Would you please pass the Alfalfa?"

 Mama of Flame in the rear with her juvenile delinquent off spring in the lead.  

 The east end of the coop all snugged up in anticipation of wind, rain and cooler temperatures. 

 The "man" of the flock Mr. Paul Newman who asked "what you looking at?"

 This Moe. She is one of three pullets that are the Aruacana sisters.  

 Manny(far left)  and Jack to the left of the red sex link. And yes if guessed Pep Boys auto supply the Araucanian sisters are named for those icons you are correct. But there is no prize except for contentment you have of being brilliant.

 Encore , but stink'in cute photo Flame and Mama.

shadow effect intentional.

Sherman after a visit to the barn spa says "Does this do make my bum look fat?"

Lastly below are the newest additions to the flock two lovely red sex link pullets . Yet to be named.

If you have made it this far please kindly leave a comment as to size of font and photo size. Remember if you have trouble viewing a photo if you click on the photo with your mouse it will be viewed larger. 

Thanks for your help. You will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams. 

IS THIS THE LAST FRONTIER ? ? ?

If you are reading this post then you have made the move. This is home for now and the foreseeable future.  And you can celebrate by jumping up  and saying "beam me up Scotty ."  If you were a follower of the old blog (which will be maintained for reference) please take a moment and hit the follow link on the new blog. Or don't and break my heart I will get over it.  

For those of you who have been around awhile first my undying thanks for living through boredom, run on sentences and periodic bouts of insanity. Your allegiance is appreciated and the next check for your services is in the mail . Seriously folks where would I be without you? What I meant to say you are aware how I have struggled with getting a new look together and wow here it is in all its glory or lack of for you to enjoy. Gentle comments appreciated. 

I am hoping that this will be two things. The last time I change my complete blog look and the last home of Walnetto Farm on the internet. I am not leaving either the internet, blogger in specific or this good earth anytime soon but I am thinking this is the last homestead. It is a thought I have had for a long time now just haven't verbalized it much. 

Look at this. A blast from the past with wonderful alfalfa and Snowy River in the back with Tubby Tabby front and forward. So typically Tabby. 

Monkee one of the tripod cats here. He was a talker too. You may remember that he would stand by the laundry room door to the garage and command your attention when one of the other cats was waiting to come in. And he was always right. Miss this chatter box feline.

The big snow of 2013  that came with an Arctic freeze and subzero temperatures that lasted almost three weeks . Lovely to look at and so much fun. But it also came with frozen hoses and finally even frozen house pipes. Fun but maybe when it snows next it won't bring quite so much fun with it?

New kids Waylon on the right and Willa on the left. Little Trouble who got the award for the goat mama of the year.  

Baby Goat Bums what is not to love?

What I  always said to my kids. And it did! 

It is good to be home again. Please come to visit and don't forget to hit the follow link if you want me to automatically show up on your end when I post.