Originally posted on fourth generation farmgirl:
I’d like to start with the fact that I don’t normally get emotionally involved or gush over dessert. Yes. I enjoy decadent treats in moderation: a piece of Victoria sponge or chocolate cake on occasion. I don’t, however, just lose my mind over sweet things…….until last week. It started out innocently enough. My dad is…
Last weekend, Farmguy and I gathered our sheep for their spring shearing. We’ve had a number of warm days since early April with temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s, and the sheep were appearing a bit stressed by the heat. I was happy to finally get a shearing date, but also a little nervous about rain as we seemed to […]
Of course, he wasn’t always called Winston. When this black and white feral kitten first appeared on Green Hill Farm in the early 1990s, he was just another no-name, country kitty looking for food and shelter. You see, in the country, we don’t buy or go get a cat; it just shows up. First, it takes up residence in one […]
I hadn’t planned to write a post today as I’m feeling sad and a little mopey about Maud. While I’m happy she’s not suffering anymore, I miss her. I keep thinking I need to take her for a little walk, give her medicine, or look in on her. I miss Maud’s presence. I’ve spent a lot of time with Dash over the course of the day, figuring he may be somewhat confused by Maud’s absence. Plus, I needed to be around him more as well. It’s been a sunny, beautiful day on Green Hill Farm, and Dash and I have taken full advantage of it by going on two, long walks. On our jaunt around the pastures, I noticed both the sheep and chickens basking in the warmth, enjoying the spring weather. A sight that offered solace. This afternoon, I was running a tiny bit late feeding the barn cats and collecting eggs–just feeling a little off, I guess. Anyway, I walked into the barn, and “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is A Season)” by The Byrds was playing on the radio. I don’t know if you’re familiar with the song, but the lyrics, except for the title which is repeated throughout the song, and the final verse of the song, are adapted almost word-for-word from Chapter 3 of the Book of Ecclesiastes, set to music and recorded in 1962. “To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a […]
Farmgirl with Scottish Blackface sheep after a morning of vaccinating, de-worming, and hoof trimming. A while ago, I wrote a post about having the “winter blahs” and various methods that help lift my mood. A couple of these mood enhancing strategies included music and dancing. I even joked that I may have to install a disco ball in our […]
I really don’t know if I can take one. more. day. of winter. As I sit here writing, rain is sprinkling against the windows. It’s solid gray outside, and the ground is so soggy due to snow and rain that water squishes around my boots when I walk to the barn and chicken coop. The yard is like a marsh […]
Originally posted on fourth generation farmgirl:
Growing up on a farm as a child afforded many wonderful experiences. Meaningful experiences that shaped my values and inspired me. I remember when I was about 6 or 7 years old, my dad decided that it would be nice to have fresh milk and eggs. So, he bought a Holstein cow named Bessie…
“Are we there yet?”
It’s a true delight to be recognized by one’s peers, especially when nominated by someone as lovely and effervescent as Ritu, author of But I Smile Anyway. Many thanks to Ritu for including Fourth Generation Farmgirl with such a wonderful group of bloggers for the nomination of the Miranda Sings Award. This fun and upbeat award was created by Claudia’s Thoughts to […]
*I had a few issues with re-sharing this post yesterday, so I thought I’d give it another go. My apologies if you saw it already. BRRR!! It’s cold and windy outside, and it’s supposed to get even colder this weekend…8 degrees on Saturday. There is also snow in the forecast. I decided to re-share this post as I recently came inside from walking the dogs as well as feeding the barn cats, sheep, and chickens–plus, gathering eggs. And, I. am. frozen. Let me just say…I can’t feel my fingers yet. On a sunnier note, all the critters on Green Hill Farm are healthy and happy, and that’s definitely a heartwarming thought. I hope you enjoy the wintry photos. Have a wonderful weekend! 🙂 Farmguy spontaneously took this photograph last winter as we headed out the door to feed our sheep and chickens. He was amused by my “winter outfit” and wanted to capture the moment. I don’t normally dress like this, but it was during one of the polar vortexes. You see, in the winter, Green Hill Farm is our version of a tundra. So, with temperatures dipping into single digits over the last few days, I’m back to this lovely look, again. Ughh! Even though it’s cold and not fun to go outside, I thought I would embrace the beauty of the season by sharing some photographs from past winters on Green Hill Farm. I hope you enjoy!
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 