Maud Beloved Friend August 2005–April 8, 2016 “Maud” Our howling, rollicking, wide-open girl, your gentle, sweet nature enriched our world. Your hound dog antics and wagging tail created feelings of love and much laughter without fail. Memories of your soulful eyes and slow-lick kiss remind us of what we will surely miss. It’s hard to let go of […]
A little over a year ago, my dear friend and talented artist, Donna Tuten graciously invited me to paint at her art studio at 202 Market Square in Downtown Roanoke, Virginia. She suggested that I bring a photograph of a painting I admired, and she’d give me a mini art lesson. We would also have lunch and visit. It sounded […]
A number of years ago, Farmguy and I hosted a “shepherd day” for his clients and their families at Braeburn Farm. Braeburn Farm is a local farm, and the place where we learned about Scottish Blackface sheep. After participating in a shepherds’ weekend class nine years ago, we bought ten sheep of our own. And, because we so enjoyed our […]
I’m truly grateful for this place…Green Hill Farm. And, what I’ve come to realize is that no matter the challenges of living here, my love for this farm is constant and irreplaceable. I love it for its enduring ability to lift my spirits, fill my heart, and give my life direction. The very thought of it…is joyful. I hope […]
For those of you who follow this blog, you may remember our dog, Maud. Maud is our 10-year-old blue tick hound and beloved family member. I haven’t written a formal update post on her health and progress in a while as there hasn’t been much to report. Since Maud’s initial onset of an autoimmune disorder affecting her platelets and red […]
Originally posted on fourth generation farmgirl:
? 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…
Farmguy and I are in Tuscany and having a lovely time. So far, we’ve had a wonderful experience sightseeing, learning about the art and history of Florence, visiting museums, wine tasting, and just soaking up the beautiful sun and scenery. From the Ponte Vecchio to baked pears in Barolo as well as Michelangelo’s David to Dolce & Gabbana, it’s truly been a treat. So much of our enjoyment during this visit is due to our good fortune in learning about a fantastic tour company called, Sunny Tuscany. These private tour guides certainly have made our time here memorable. Many thanks to Amy, Monika, and Riccardo for their helpfulness, warmth, and attention to detail. Here are a few photos from our time in Florence. I hope you enjoy! More pictures and adventures to come. 🙂
“Chicken” ~Tonya R. Hengerer Charming creatures Housed in a coop, Including Chicks and hens–plus, a rooster, too… Keeping watch with a to-do, while lovely Eggs in a Nest accrue.
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 […]
“Daffodils” ~William Wordsworth (1770-1850) I wander’d lonely as a cloud That floats on high o’er vales and hills, When all at once I saw a crowd, A host, of golden daffodils; Beside the lake, beneath the trees, Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. Continuous as the stars that shine And twinkle on the Milky Way, They stretch’d in […]
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 