The chicks are about 7 weeks old and looking more and more like miniature chickens these days. They’re finally ready to come out of the coop and explore the outdoors. Although it will be a while before they’re free-ranging in the pasture, these little guys have plenty of room inside the safety of the aviary for now. Today was the […]
I grew up in an environment of “old stuff”–old houses and barns, antique furniture, and heirloom quilts and china. My grandparents lived next door in the family’s ancestral home, and Grandma Rieley loved antiques. Almost every Saturday morning she was either at an estate sale, yard sale, or antiques store. All of this influenced my appreciation and love of antiques […]
The chicks are a month old now and scampering about like crazy. Instead of the tiny fluff balls they were just a few short weeks ago, they are beginning to resemble small chickens. With their increase in size and activity, it was time to move these little guys to their permanent residence–the chicken coop. So, after scrubbing it down […]
A few weeks ago, I decided to coax cuttings of a flowering cherry tree into an early performance in order to speed up spring. Persuading plants to flower out of season is known as forcing. You can either trim branches from your yard or buy them from a florist. There are a number of flowering trees and shrubs that […]
Our newest additions to Green Hill Farm are getting BIG! It’s amazing how quickly these chicks are growing. I think they’ve doubled in size in two short weeks. They’ve already started developing wings as well as demonstrating various chicken behaviors–like scratching for food. I just love these darling, fluff balls and thought I’d share some recent photos with you. Hope […]
“The reason birds can fly and we can’t is simply because they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings.” ~J.M. Barrie, The Little White Bird A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song. ~Chinese Proverb
“Tea Time” Traditionally an opportunity to Enjoy a cup of tea Accompanied by dainty sandwiches and Tea cakes, Involving the use of good Manners and proper Etiquette. ~Tonya R. Hengerer “There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” ~Henry James, The Portrait of a Lady
“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.” ~James Herriot, All Creatures Great and Small Our beloved Sadie and Scout aren’t with us anymore, but we still think of them and miss them. I love the sequence of pictures below which was taken about three […]
*These quotes are taken from Karen Salmansohn’s book, instant HAPPY. *Photography by Tonya Rieley Hengerer “Trees that endure the stormiest times grow to be the STRONGEST and MOST BEAUTIFUL. Ditto how your stormy times can encourage you to thrive and BLOOM INTO YOUR MIGHTIEST YOU.” “Everything you’ve ever done, every person you’ve ever met, every experience you’ve ever had is […]
Hamish is one of our two sheep that was a bottle-fed lamb. He has tons of personality and a little bit of attitude as well. Whenever we are outside, he always baaahs at us to say hello. And, when it’s time for grain, well, I do believe he would walk up to the house and ask for it if he […]
My name is Tonya, and I grew up on a 300-acre farm in rural Virginia that has been in my family for over 100 years. After graduating from college, receiving my master’s degree in speech and language pathology, and living and working in a small city for six years, I decided to return to the place of my childhood. Here, in this rural area, on this patch of green, where for four generations my family has farmed, gardened, and lived, I, too wanted to be a part of this continuity. As a fourth generation farmgirl, I have many interests that not only include, but also go beyond the basics of farming, gardening, sheep and chicken-keeping. It is all of this and more that I plan on sharing in this blog.
fourth generation farmgirl 