Little Boo Pumpkin

When Laura was waiting for the digital camera to charge in the outlet on the front porch, this was the only photo op she could think of. We grew orange and white ornamental pumpkins in our garden and they made great fall decorations for our front porch.

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear

Sulu was taking in the scenery on her drive around town.

Morehead trees

A lot of people say that our little town of Morehead doesn't have a lot going for it, but I would like to submit this photo as evidence to the contrary. Leah took this picture at the city park in downtown Morehead. Why would anyone want to junk this view up with a bigger Wal-mart or a bunch of generic restaurants?

The hills are alive

The neighboring farm has several beautiful horses that keep the fields down.

Hmm...I wonder where we get our love for animals?

Daddy says he comes out to our farm because we need help, but I think it's really because he wants to see his babies - and I'm not talking about his daughters. Dixie and Mollie are enjoying his attention. Unfortunately, Daddy only has one good petting hand for the time being, thanks to that whole splitting his finger open on the lawn mower blade thing. He had to have six stitches last Saturday to pull it back together.

Last Day Out

Soon, we will put the tractor in the barn for the winter. The garden of 2005 has run its course and will be reborn next year as a new garden, but for now the tractor and discs enjoy a last run through the patch.

A day in the life of Harry

Finally, some pictures of a full-grown Harry. He will be one year old this December 21. He's a sweetie, but does have a bad habit of pulling food off the table, the cabinet, the stove, and just about anywhere else you might find food. I guess he's a growing boy. And speaking of growing boy, he's recently discovered something about himself...

Bling

David must have good taste in Ice, cause Leah couldn't help but take a picture of her new engagement ring. They're set to get hitched next May.

Introducing David

David is Leah's fiancee as of August 2005, but most importantly he is the proud owner of Nina and Sulu. His hobbies include playing fetch with Nina, volunteering at the local homeless shelter, and, of course, picking on Laura, his future sister-N-law.

What's a rake?

Who needs a rake when you can play in the leaves? Mollie loves to jump around in the Fall leaves. When all the other dogs are shivering in the barn, Mollie's long black hair keeps her plenty warm and ready to play.

I squish your head!

A first for the Puppy Mill Blog: pictures with subjects that aren't puppies! Unfortunately for her, this first people-picture includes Leah getting her head squished by giant monster fingers. Looks painful, don't it? Well, mildly painful anyway, in a sleepy sort of way.

Death of a White Balloon

Sulu's picking up the pieces, literally.

The white balloon offered fun for all, even after its untimely death.

Nina and her Balloon

The story of a dog and her balloon:

It floated our way. Robo Dog warned it to come no closer.

POP!

"White Balloon"

October 26, 2005

RIP

Introducing Nina the Prefect

This is Dave's dog, Nina Simone, also known as Neener Beaner Weiner, or, affectionately, Robo Dog or Nazi Nina. She likes to be the boss, but she knows who the boss really is (Mollie!). She is really a big cuddly baby, though, when she is alone with her favorite person in the world: Dave.

Introducing Sulu Bulu

Sulu Bulu is Dave's dog, and a frequent guest at the farm. She loves to visit with Mollie, Maggie, and Cirrus. Harry is her long-time boyfriend. Willow, on the other hand, does not love her much, because Sulu is so hyper! This picture is Sulu Bulu running amuck at the city park. Doesn't her choker make her look so scary? Don't be fooled. This puppy is a big baby.

To Autumn

To Autumn

1.
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss'd cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o'er-brimm'd their clammy cells.

2.

Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?

Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may findThee sitting careless on a granary floor,

Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;

Or on a half-reap'd furrow sound asleep,

Drows'd with the fume of poppies, while thy hook

Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers:

And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep

Steady thy laden head across a brook;

Or by a cyder-press, with patient look,

Thou watchest the last oozings hours by hours.

3.

Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?

Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,--

While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day,

And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;

Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn

Among the river sallows, borne aloft

Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;

And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;

Hedge-crickets sing; and now with treble soft

The red-breast whistles from a garden-croft;

And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.

-John Keats (1795-1821)

Fall is Purty.

One good thing about the weather getting cold in Kentucky is the beautiful foliage across the forested hillsides.

No spring, nor summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one autumnal face;

-- John Donne (1572–1631) "Elegy IX: The Autumnal"

The Death of Warm Weather

Daddy comforts Maggie as she mourns the death of warm weather. Hurricane Wilma has brought rain and even a little snow to this region of the country. Much to our chagrin, we had to turn the heat on after dark this past weekend.

Pint-sized Harry

Harry is one of 6 babies that Willow had last December. This is him as a wittle-bitty baby early this Spring. He is huge now, probably weighing in at 75 or more pounds(?), but once upon a time he was a tiny little thing stumbling around the living room. We had rolled up the rug to prevent any of the puppies from using the potty on it, but they insisted on climbing all over it.

Down in Dixie Land

Our farm is also a Retirement home for old doggies. Daddy's dog, Dixie, came to live with us last year and now she putters freely around the yard reminiscing about the good old days and growling at the young whipper-snappers that follow her around sniffing her bee-hind(i.e. Harry, Maggie...). She never forgets, though, who her real owner is and loves to sit with Daddy when he comes over. Here she is with him and Anna in the living room.

She's a Maniac...

Here's another shot of Mollie being her usual crazy self. She looks rabid with her eyes all popped out, but she was actually just trying to get herself covered up for a nap. Just before this picture was snapped, she was rooting around and pulled the throw blanket up over herself before she laid down. Such a smart dog...

Mollie's getaway

Mollie decided to try her hand (paw) at driving, so we had to explain to her the problem of driving without a driver's lisence.

Willow of the Long Grass

Anna's dog, Willow came to us from Chere Menville's neck of the woods in 2004. She is Mommy to Harry (and 5 other beautiful mutt puppies scattered about in Rowan and Elliott Counties.

Farm Living is the Life for Me!

The view from the barn shows the back yard and the back of the house. We love the rolling hills of Eastern Kentucky, but the driveway gets a little hairy when it snows.

Cirrus Bo-dirrus

Cirrus is outnumbered 7 to 1 by the dogs, but he holds his own by suprise attacks and diving into small places. He was born on a Fleming County goat farm in early 2004 and has lived with us since he was a few weeks old.

Country Living

Leah and Laura's farm in Elliott County, Kentucky provides much of the inspiration for this blog. Although the twins' names are on the deed to the property, the seven dogs and one cat that reside there do, in fact, own the place.

Introducing...Maggie! And, oh yeah, our new blog.

Sleeping is Maggie's favorite way to recover from a long, hard day of ... sleeping