Morning has Broken, 13

Guest appearance

For the past few days, Barnard has wandered up close to the house in the morning when Ulani goes out.  She gives Ulani the leg rub and enthusiastic purring, but when I open the door for Ulani to come inside, Barnard runs back to the barn.

Until this morning!

This morning when I opened the door Ulani hung back and Ms. Barnard trotted right up the steps and into the house, pretty as you please!  Ulani, puzzled, needed to be reminded to come in herself.

Once inside, Barn' stood by the door and peered into the vast expanse which is the living room, feeling the warm, heated air caress her back.  Her toes relaxed into the dry, warm, woven cotton rug while she breathed deeply the smell of "no chickens in here"!

Then Luke came on the scene.  Paradise lost.

Luke hissed.  Barnard smacked him.  They took opposite corners of the dining table and hunkered down.  This was too much action for Ulani, who quickly entered to restore order and respect.  Or maybe she just told them to hold on a minute until she got her bet placed.

When I once again opened the back door, Barnard made like a banana and split for her home turf.

But I hope she'll be back!

Shhhh! She's sleeping!

Birthday kisses!

Yes, it's my birthday and I am not shy about it.  My close friends know I love to celebrate another year's passing and if it means stretching out the birthday visits over weeks, that's all good.

Regular visitors to Life at Busy Solitude Farm know I try to celebrate here, too.  Just last year every member of the BSF gang was featured.  And in 2010, Oskar and Ulani brought me a special present.  2009 had a revealing post!  I guess in 2008 I wasn't yet really mentioning myself much in my posts, but I always liked this post, so let's call it my 2008 birthday post!

Of course birthdays do bring some reflection, and I think all of you know that so many of the BSF friends seen in these past posts are no longer with us.  So a moment of reflection on their happy lives here, and how much they meant to me.

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And now, the 2012 celebrating gets under way!  I hope that each and every reader will take a moment today to think about all of the great things we have in our lives -- friends, health, laughter.  Do that, and it will the best gift I could imagine.

The Squirrel is Grounded

The jig is up.  I ruined it.  No more backyard fun.

Not until the wind blows the flying squirrel down!