Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving from Hideaway Meadows to all our friends!

All is quiet

     It is a much quieter morning this morning.  The air is still and cool under an overcast sky.  The tree was removed yesterday afternoon, and we are moving on to the next phase of rebuilding.  We've been planning on re roofing the barns and the indoor arena.  This is the perfect excuse to start.  If we look upon it as an opportunity rather than a trial, then it's better.
     We have found an amazing Arborist, who is a fair, decent, and honest man.  He also does roofing.  He'll come tomorrow and measure for an estimate.
     The horses have been fed and are quietly browsing through their hay.  I'm enjoying my first steaming cup of tea as I write.  Chimney cleaning is the next task on the docket...then filling the wood racks...how I miss my wood stove in the light months.  I will soon have a place to keep my tea kettle warm.  A crackling wood fire is like a familiar entity, a comforting presence in the house.
     We move forward.  I am loosely planning a large pot of homemade chili, sweet cornbread, and an old fashioned barn raising.  We'll see.
     All is quiet on the western front.

Big Tree Fell on our Barn! Chapter 2

The Arborist made short work of removing the tree from the barn :)

The damage is even more impressive now that it's uncovered!

Big Tree Fell on our Barn!

Big oak tree fell on the barn last night and destroyed one of the stalls. Horses are OK. Building sustained pretty serious damage :(

We Heard a big crash just before midnight last night that shook the whole house. We went out to investigate, and found one of the horses loose in the yard. When we further investigated to see how she got loose, we discovered that a big red oak had fallen on her stall. She had a runout, and we don't know whether she was in the stall at the time, but, wherever she was, in her fright, she charged through the fence. Neither she, nor any of the other horses were hurt, but the building did sustain some pretty serious damage:

Good evening from the Hideaway 8/10/2012

     The horses, hounds and husband have been fed and watered.  All are safe inside.  We got a little rain this evening, no thunder storms though.  I'm just as happy.  I really wouldn't want anything that would put the power out...too warm and muggy.  The birds love this weather.  They are singing happily in the trees around the house.  The fire flies will come out after the rain ends.
     The air may feel like wet laundry right now, but all  is quiet on the western front...at the moment.

Good evening from the Hideaway 7/28/2012

     It is a peaceful evening so far in the Hideaway.  We are awaiting the arrival of possibly severe thunder storms...mind you there is nothing on the radar as of yet...we shall see.  Anyway, all the stalls are done, and all the outdoor work is finished for the day.
     Tony and I have just finished a wonderful supper, and are relaxing with glasses of red wine and New Hampshire Chronicle.  The horses, hounds and husband have been fed and watered, and are settled for the evening.  We wait...
     One of the wonderful points of my newest Black and Tan Coon hound Nutmeg, is that she is teaching my older Coon Hound Ginger (who is terrified, I mean piddle on the floor Terrified) of thunder storms to be angry and bay and growl and bark at them when they visit the Hideaway.  Recently, Ginger has remained contained and continent during storms, but then we don't get the storms like I remember from my child hood.  We used to get some real "hum dingers" as my dad used to call them.  We used to get "real old fashioned" snow storms as well.  How many of you folks remember meteorologist Don Kent from WBZ channel 4?  Tony remembers during the Winter of 1969 when Don Kent forecast partly cloudy weather...24 hours later, we were shoveling 36 inches of partly cloudy.  We've come a long way in weather forecasting since then...or have we?  We had two three foot storms within a week that Winter, though they are never mentioned.  My suggestion for the evening is; make sure your dogs have been toileted, your laundry brought in, your car windows closed, your horses tucked safely into the barn, and to keep a weather eye to the sky in  New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and New jersey...just in case.
     For now, all is quiet on the Western Front.

Good evening from the Hideaway 7/22/2012

     It has been a wonderful day of sunshine and memories here at the Hideaway.  The sun has set, the horses, hounds and husband are fed watered and settled in for the night.  The fireflies are dancing in the brush along the edge of the driveway, and the mourning doves are cooing from the Spruce trees behind the house.
      Tony has spent  most of the day putting pictures and one video up on the Hideaway Meadows page.  I have spent most of the day working on my book.  What a wonderful way to spend a restful Sunday afternoon.
      It is a peaceful, mild evening.  All is quiet on the western front.

Good morning from the Hideaway 7/21/2012

     It is a gorgeous morning in the Hideaway.  The air is clear and cool, everything is covered with glistening dew drops, and the world is quiet.  Not quite 7:00am, and the horses and hounds have been fed, the horses are grazing quietly in the warm early morning sunshine. 
     The hounds just came in from the yard and are speckled with dew from the long grass.  They, at the moment are romping around the house playing...They bounce around like big furry balls and chase each other...up the stairs, into the bedroom, down the stairs around the living room, through the kitchen, under the table, over the couch, around and around, tails wagging, paws flying, long droopy hound ears flapping, tongues hanging out, and eyes shining.  They are such a joy in my life.
     I gave them both a bath two nights ago (They had once again gotten into the dreaded poison ivy). Their coats are shiny and soft.  They will get a drink of fresh cold well water now, and go back up to bed.  It's a tough life. If I had to come back in another life, I would want to come back as a dog, owned by me. All my dogs have been rescues...what amazingly wonderful companions.
     We are hoping to do some bicycling today.  It's a beautiful day for being out doors.  Well, I have just finished my first cup of tea of the day, and look forward to the day's adventures.
     All is quiet on the western front.
      

Good evening from the Hideaway 7/18/2012

     We survived the rambunctious weather of this afternoon, and the air has begun to dry out a little.  The barn is abuzz with activity, as folks have come out from their air conditioned shelters.  There are a few high cumulus clouds decorating the dusky sky.  I hear laughter echoing from the indoor arena, and lively conversation from the main barn.  
     The sky is a soft lilac with peach and pink undertones.  The clouds in the east are a soft gray.  The sky peeking through is pale turquoise.  
     My daughter and her three children; Five year old Jake, almost three year old Lila, and almost one year old Isabella just left.  I need a nap!!  I remember when I was a child and the "older folks" would say "I wish I had her energy." Now I am one of the "Older folks" and I say "What I wouldn't give for their energy."  
     We had an American classic for supper;  Chicken nuggets and mac n cheese, with a glass of red wine of course for the adults, and plenty of sweet and fruity Popsicles for dessert.  
     I am getting ready for bed.  Soon all will be dark and quiet in the barns, and the yard will be left to the peepers and the fireflies.  Wishing everyone a peaceful night.  
     All is quiet on the western front.

Wisdom 7/17/2012

Our world and our lives have become increasingly interdependent, so when our neighbour is harmed, it affects us too. Therefore we have to abandon outdated notions of “them” and “us” and think of our world much more in terms of a great “US”, a greater human family.


Dalai Lama

Good evening from the Hideaway 7/17/2012

     Every now and then we can hear the rumble of distant thunder.  It appears that our neighbors to the north are being pummeled.  No sign of anything here...yet.
     The robins, cardinals and cat birds are singing their bedtime songs.  The mourning doves are cooing in the spruce trees behind the house.  We are all safe inside if it does decide to storm.
     I just did my night barn rounds and all is peaceful, and secure.  "Putting the farm to bed" I call it.  I can see the storm that is making the racket.  I would estimate Portsmouth is getting it now.
     The fireflies are already dancing along the treeline, and appear as thousands of glittering diamonds.  There is so much beauty in nature.
     I'm relaxing with a glass chilled red wine and some fresh cherries as I write.  It is going to be a warm and humid night.  Thunder tomorrow, with some drying of the air.
     All is quiet on the western front.

Good evening from the Hideaway 7/16/2012

     It is a hazy, hot and humid evening in the Hideaway.  We are keeping a close watch on the horses, and hounds in such heat.  There is a nice breeze however.  I hear rumored that tomorrow will be even hotter.  
     One can survive extreme heat for long periods of time IF they are careful to hydrate.  So remember folks...lots of water all day long, punctuated with juices, and fresh fruit to replenish electrolytes....rest as you are able, and keep an eye on pets and livestock, providing fresh water and shelter.
     Crisp, cool garden salads, chilled fruit salads, old fashioned potato salad and assorted pasta salads will be our fare in such weather.  Keeping shades, blinds and drapes closed to the sun will help keep your home cooler.
      In the mean time...watch for the nightly dance of the fireflies, listen to the evening symphony of song birds, and enjoy your evening.
     All is quiet on the western front.

Good morning from the Hideaway 7/15/2012

     It's a beautiful morning in the Hideaway.  The sun is bright in the summer blue sky.  We have a cat bird singing so sweetly in the walnut tree by the outdoor arena.  They sing with such exuberance.  He or she sounds so delighted with everything.
     The woodchucks and bunnies were out feasting on dew covered clover this morning when I went out to feed the horses.  All was peaceful.  I have done my stalls already, before the heat of the day, and am back in the air conditioned house enjoying my second cup of tea.  It's my birthday today and I am thankful for the gift of this life, and to my parents or putting up with me over the last __ years.
     The hounds have been fed and out, and are snoring peacefully on the living room floor.  The plants have been watered and we are all ready for the day.
     All is quiet on the western front.

Certifiable? 7/14/2012

     The hounds are always growling and baying at the wildlife around the house, and Tony and I are always shushing them.  Nutmeg was up in the living room window when she spotted something out there in the yard.  She gave a deep, low, long growl and all the hair stood up on her back....all the way to her tail.  I got up to see what was vexing her, but saw nothing...nonetheless I growled too...deep, low and long....the look on Nutmeg's face was precious.  Her whole back end started wagging, and she gave me a look like "Impressive".  Then went back to growling and bristling....there we were, both hounds and myself staring out the living room window, and growling at nothing...if my therapist could see me now.  


Happy Bastille Day everyone!!

Wisdom 7/8/2012

"Gaining mastery over our destructive propensities, through the exercise of awareness and self-discipline with regard to our body, speech, and mind, frees us from the inner turmoil that naturally arises when our behaviour is at odds with our ideals. In place of this turmoil come confidence, integrity, and dignity - heroic qualities all human beings naturally aspire to."

Dalai Lama

Good morning from the Hideaway 7/8/2012

     It is a sparkling fresh morning in the Hideaway.  The air seems cooler and clearer, and the world is awash in sparkling dew drops.  The summer days are full of sunshine and the nights are filled with fireflies.  What a magical world we live in.
     The horses have been fed and watered and are munching peacefully on their hay.  The hounds have been fed and are relaxing on the deck.  I will attempt to...drum roll please...mow the lawn today.
     My three tomato plants are blossoming.  I hope to have red ripe tomatoes by the end of August...fingers crossed.  There is nothing on earth like a sun warmed, red ripe tomato, freshly picked from the vine. Mmmmmm.
     Do they still ring the bell at West Congregational Church up the street?  I haven't heard it for years.  It used to be rung precisely at 9:00 on Sunday mornings. I'll have to listen this morning.  It was always, I thought, a distinctly New England sound, echoing from that white steeple.
     I'm thinking scrambled eggs with cheese and onions for breakfast this morning, toast and hot coffee.
Happy Birthday to Katie and Frank.
All is quiet on the western front.
      
 

Good morning from the Hideaway 6/27/2012

     It is a cool and cloudy morning in the Hideaway.  The sun is peering weakly through the clouds, and there is a lovely fresh breeze.  The birds are singing and carrying on in the bushes around the house and barns.  The baby bunnies and baby woodchucks are busy grazing on the lawn.
     I have been puttering around the house, taking inventory of the herbs and spices in my spice cabinet.  Some need replacing.  This I will do this week.  It also reminded me of a great early summer tomato sauce recipe;
     5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
     5 fresh cloves garlic crushed
     2-28 oz cans crushed tomatoes, or 5 lbs fresh tomatoes from the garden (peeled and chopped)
     1-6 oz can of tomato paste
     1 sweet onion chopped
Saute the onion lightly in the olive oil, then add all other ingredients and let simmer for a perhaps 15 minutes.  To this you can add whatever you like;
     fresh mushrooms, Italian sausage, meatballs, zucchini squash (cubed), summer squash (cubed), sweet Italian pepper (chopped), a handful of fresh spinach (chopped), fresh basil...the possibilities are endless!  Just let it simmer until whatever you have added is cooked to your liking, then serve with your favorite pasta and fresh Italian or French bread.  Yummy!!  Notice that there is no added salt or sugar?
     Well I am off to organize my tack room.  All is quiet on the western front.

Magical scene 6/24/2012

     I just went for an impromptu walk in the woods.  It was just getting dark, but everywhere around me, all through the woods on both sides were hundreds of fireflies!!  It was an amazing and unbelievably beautiful scene.  I felt as though I was walking through a fairy tale. 
     Just the sight of all those tiny twinkling lights floating around in the dusky forest made me feel that anything was possible, witches and ghosts, princesses and fairies.  Truly a magical walk.

Good morning from the Hideaway 6/24/2012

     It is a perfect Summer morning in the Hideaway.  We have survived the heatwave, and the storms of last night which ushered in this cooler, clear weather.  The birds are singing happily in the freshly washed world outside.
    Have you ever noticed that the birds, especially the robins and the cat birds sing their morning and evening songs before a rain, no matter what time of day? There was a veritable symphony yesterday afternoon.
     The horses are all feeling good, and were full of energy when I fed this morning.  The hounds are basking on the deck, in the gentle morning sun.  Everything is so alive this morning.  Each blade of grass, each leaf, each spider's web is glistening with tiny droplets of rain water.  The air conditioners are off and the windows are opened wide to the breeze.
     All is quiet on the western front.
     

Good afternoon from the Hideaway 6/23/2012

     It has been a hot and muggy several days in the Hideaway, but as I look out the living room windows I am watching the dark and roiling clouds that spell relief roll in from the northwest.  All is still outside at the moment...awaiting the first breezes of the cool front.
     I am eyeing my old hound Ginger, but she gives no indication that there is thunder coming.  Both hounds have been lounging out in the yard, and are now sound asleep on the living room floor.
     During this last little heat wave I have been researching online about animal care in high temperatures.  Fresh water, and shade have been the order of the past several days.
     This new journey with the horses is teaching me a lot.  It is a journey that I am enjoying immensely!
     Well, thirty minutes later and the skies have opened up and it is thundering.  We just had a couple fairly close lightning strikes. I feel cozy in the house with my husband and hounds.  Relief is on its way.

Good morning from The Hideaway 6/19/2012

     The air feels soft this morning.  There was a light mist draped across the back pasture when I went out to feed the horses.  The sun was just beginning to filter through the trees along the outdoor arena, dappling the lush green dew covered grass with patches of gold.  All the horses are well, and fed.
     The mist has now burned off and the air foretells the coming heatwave.  Mmmmmm Popsicles, ice cream and ice cold lemonade.

Good morning from the Hideaway 6/14/2012

     The sun is actually peering through the clouds this morning.  The breeze is light and mild.  I have the windows open in the house, and I can hear the birds singing and rustling in the bushes as they go about their business.  It's good to see blue sky.
     The horses, and hounds have been fed.  All are well.  All is quiet on the western front.

Still Laughing at the Hideaway 6/13/2012

I'm still laughing at my horse feeding adventure of a few minutes ago.
     While feeding the pony at the rear of the back barn, I was accosted and attacked by a swarm of mosquitoes.  One flew into my right eye, just as I was losing my right boot in foot deep mud, staggering out of the mud, with grain pails in hand I was run over by the hungry pony, who trampled my left foot as I was still battling the mosquito in my right eye and trying to keep my right boot on.  Oh for a video camera.  I could have won the ten thousand dollar prize on America's Funniest Home Videos I'm sure.
In reflection:  I returned to the house, minus the mosquito, with both boots on, and a left foot that is still attached and intact due to the fact that #1 this is a smallish pony, and #2 she has a conscience.

Good night from the Hideaway 6/12/2012

     It is a quiet evening in the Hideaway.  The air is heavy and still.   It speaks of coming rain.  I was beset and besieged with baby bunnies as I went out to feed this evening.  They are so cute, but I worry for my garden.  I got alfalfa cubes and grain today.  The hay is holding out well.  I actually got zapped by the electric fence today, so my brush clearing must be working.  

     The horses, hounds and husband are all fed and watered.  The hounds are, at the moment giving some poor soul what for.  There is also a tree frog of some sort churring from the bushes right outside the windows of the Summer room.  I've never had one that close. 

     I transplanted three patio tomato plants yesterday, and they are doing well.  There is nothing better than sun warmed home grown tomatoes.   I hope to have some of the first in August.  I bring in the plants at the end of the season to protect them from frost and freeze.  I remember a couple years ago, I harvested my last on December 27th.  Where there's a will there's a way.  

     My daughter Jessica has started her own photography business https://www.facebook.com/LilaBellaPhotography.  I am so proud of her. She is doing so well. 

     Anyway...the hounds are asking to come in, and the perceived threat must have passed. All is quiet on the western front. 

       

Good night from the Hideaway 6/10/2012

     The sun is setting and the horses, hounds and husband are fed and watered  I just took my two hounds Ginger and Nutmeg for their second walk of the day out on the trails.  I don't even dare to say anything, but I haven't seen a tick today.  They enjoyed their walks immensely, and should sleep well tonight...I hope.
     The deer flies are out, but at least the mosquitoes were not too bad.  I find that the hounds pull less in harness than on their collars.  Nutmeg bays the whole way, in true Coon hound fashion.
     When I went out earlier to feed the horses, I had to be careful as there were baby sparrows all around my feet.  Perhaps it's because they are so young, that they don't fear humans.  They have had no reason to fear.  I wish it was the same with all living things.  I wish that no one ever had reason to learn to fear. Maybe that's what Heaven is all about.  Anyway, the pups are pooped, and soon we will go up to bed.  There is a crescent moon in the evening sky, and  all is quiet on the western front  

Good Morning from the Hideaway 6/10/12

    It is another beautiful morning in the Hideaway.  The air is cool and calm, a heavy dew has coated the grass and leaves.  I was greeted by the woodchuck as I went to feed the horses just now.  He or she just sits up and gazes at me as I walk by.  We will need good fences for the garden.     The horses are fine.  Marina is a little miffed as Parker has left for Show Jumping Rally.  She calls for him between mouthfuls of lush green pasture grass. The Hawthorn bushes are still blooming and the yard is full of their sweet fragrance.
     Everywhere I look there is new life, the little barn swallows nesting in the rafters, the sparrows nesting in the eves, and the mourning doves in the back barn.  All is awake and alive.
     The warm golden sun is bathing the trees behind the main barn with its light.  The hounds are still relaxing in bed, and except for the lonely mare in her paddock, all is quiet on the western front.

     It is a sparkling, sunny morning in the Hideaway, in the wake of the storms of last night.  There are a few high thin clouds in an otherwise perfect blue sky.  Everything is so lush and green, a soft breeze stirs the leaves and grasses.
     I fed the horses around 6:30 this morning, when all was wet with dew, and the sun was slanting through the trees along the outdoor arena.  The birds were singing their early morning songs.
     It feels as if it will be a hot day today.  A good day for working outdoors, or going for a bike ride.  As my mom and I were driving back from grocery shopping, I looked down on Route 495 north.  Traffic was already heavy.  I imagine that many are driving to either the beach or the mountains.
     I am planning on some barn work today, and working on my book this evening.
All is quiet on the western front.

Good morning from the Hideaway

     It was a misty cool morning in the Hideaway.  Calm and quiet, inspite of the forecast of Thunder storms this afternoon.  I hear rumors of dangerous lightning, possable hail, and wind.  Right now the sun is peering through the clouds.
     We got 4 of the outside lights fixed yesterday.  It was such a relief to be able to see outdoors after dark last night.  We still have 3 more lights to be installed, and the back barn to be rewired.  We need to dig a trench between the main barn and the back barn for the wiring.  I hope to have it all done by the end of July.
     Then it's time for roofing.    Little by little we are emerging from the shadows.

     Good afternoon from the Hideaway, and welcome to our blog.  Rain is falling steadily from the heavily laden sky.  The wind whips the rain sideways, and shakes great torrents from the tree branches.  The tall grass in the yard is bent low under the onslaught.
     The horses, hounds and husband were fed and watered.  Marina went out to play for a couple of hours, but is now snug in the barn.  The hounds didn't want to go out at all this morning.  Not that I blame them.  I fed the horses, then crawled back into bed for an hour, before making eggs, fried potatoes, and coffee for breakfast.
     I'm at work now, but wish I was home with my sweeties.  There's nothing like the sound of rain on the roof to make one feel cozy.