Vintage Home and Farm

It's time to bring out our Halloween decorations, which include orange and black pillows, pumpkins, black kitties, and giant spiders. It didn't take long to put everything in its place. We thought we'd share a few photos and give some updates on how things are going at Vintage Home and Farm. Above, the Jack O' Lantern treat bucket is one Paul carried every Halloween as a little boy. You can also see Gray Guy, our elderly kitty boy, who followed me around as I took photos. Loki kitty also trailed after me, then hopped up on the chair to pose. Below is one of my favorite decorations: a picture of our daughter on her first Halloween, wearing a pumpkin costume. Mojo the farm dog, below, also followed me around for the photos. As you can see, she recently had a haircut. Mojo loves to sleep on the couch, and is known for tossing pillows this way and that as she settles down. Thankfully, all our furniture is quite old, so we don't mind the animals being on it. No sense buy...

Nine months ago, we offered to become foster parents for the Olympic Peninsula Humane Society. There weren't any foster opportunities then, but we stayed on their list in case they needed help. Then, in mid-July, we got the call. They had a momma cat and three kittens for us to foster. The momma was found in a barn when she was pregnant, and now that she had given birth, the kitties needed a foster family to take care of them. They would be with us for 8-10 weeks, and then the Humane Society takes it from there. It has been a great experience, of course, except I forgot how crazy kittens get when they are big enough to crawl out of their pen. They were only in their pen for about two weeks. Since then, it's been total wild chaos in The Corral, which is the room of the house that they are in. Luckily we have a big enough house that it's not too overwhelming. The kittens love to race like bandits around the room, climbing up the furniture, clawing, and chewing on everything. ...

Last weekend, we bought a practically new hammock at a local auction. First, my husband had to order straps to attach the hammock to the trees. Then the straps arrived today. My husband wasted no time getting the hammock up and testing it out. In fact, each of us took turns climbing inside it.     It's amazingly cozy. I was surprised at how relaxing it actually was stretched out there. All of us agreed this is the perfect summer spot. The trees we put the hammock between seem to be growing at precisely the correct distance from each other so that a hammock could hang there. Was it planned that way? Sure does seem like it. Look at the beautiful tree canopy above. Family and friends, come and stay with us and enjoy the hammock this summer!

It isn't easy to pick up and go on vacation when you have a farm. There are animals to feed, a garden to tend to, weather issues to consider, etc. We worry about the garden and blueberry plants drying out in the summer while we're gone. We worry about the water pipes freezing in this old rambling house in the winter. Trying to give chickens and ducks water in the winter is tricky; you either have to carry water in heavy jugs from indoors or have a unique setup that keeps the hose from freezing. Sometimes their water needs to be refilled multiple times throughout the day because it freezes. Later this spring, when we restock the apiary with honeybees, there will be even more to consider. Since we have a dog and two cats, indoor animals also need attention. Covid wasn't why we delayed a vacation for over three years; instead, it was bec ause of this farm. There was just too much farm work to pass off to someone else. So be forewarned: If you decide to set up a farm or homes...