My World Tuesday - Visitor

The pasture where we keep our horses boarders a large turf farm. The farm is no longer in business but a local hay farmer does cut and bale the grass. Since it's been raining so much, it hasn't been cut and is about waist high. There are 2 large fields separated by a tree line and the old farmhouse and barns. Lots of wildlife call this home including various types of birds, foxes, groundhogs and a herd of whitetail deer. We usually only see the deer at dusk but yesterday we noticed a darker spot among the seed heads of the grass. The only reason we spotted her is that we are on a hill and had a higher vantage point. This small doe very carefully made her way across the field. You could just about make out her ears as she turned to see what was going on. We were surprised to see only one deer as they are usually not solitary and where's there one there's almost always more. There are very plentiful around the area and can be a bit of a nuisance but I still think they are very pretty to watch.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Cichlids

One of the things that keeps us busy is lots and lots of fish. Craig and T are trying to breed Cichlids. I couldn't tell you what kind but T can go into lots of detail. We've had some fish eggs and babies but none that have survived. Until now...

This is a breeding pair of Cichlids that have laid eggs and nurtured the babies so we now have a whole bunch of small fish. The tricky part is figuring out when mommy and daddy decided they aren't babies anymore and they become fish food. With any luck, some of these babies will survive and we will have hybrid Cichlids.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - My favorite tack shop

In this part of Pennsylvania, we are in horse country. Unfortunately for me, it's predominantly English riders and the tack stores either don't carry any Western or the selection is limited. The one store that does, Leid's Shoes and Saddlery, is very close to the Kutztown Produce Auction and is a regular stop for us when we are in the area. Leid's sells everything from hay and grain to tack and supplies and also washes and repairs blankets and can do leather. They have a great selection of tack including used saddles and we always find something while we are there. The store is located next to the Leid family farm and also carries fresh eggs.

Halters, bridles, saddles, blankets and more

They even carry driving harness

First Aid, general supplies, pet food

Breyer horses, wraps, blankets, fence supplies

Boots, helmets, chaps

Boots, boots and more boots

Saddle display behind the counter

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Peaceful Percherons

In the field behind the Kutztown Produce Auction, there is a farm with a Percheron herd. Besides the two grays, there are about 5 of the black horses plus a yearling and a foal. This is a working farm and these horses are definitely used for farm work. They are well kept and in very good condition.

The horses were gracious enough to lines themselves up for a photo op. I imagine that the rock cluster under the tree is a favorite lounging spot to get out of the sun.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Tollgate Eco-Park

We came across this really cool little park while out looking for garage sales this past weekend.

The waters are trout stocked and there were lots of other little critters.

The water is really clear and it spills from a couple of small waterfalls.

Craig and T catching crayfish

We let this cute little guy go back to scavenging

We are planning to visit this spot again, maybe for some fishing this time.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Driving the Tractor

T doesn't miss many opportunities to drive the tractor. She'll even volunteer to scoop poop if she can use the tractor. She does a pretty good job with it, even with switching gears.

When Craig was adding a top electric wire to the fence to keep Montero off of it, he hitched a ride on the tractor that we were using to bring a large pallet into the barn for hay. T stomped on the gas and then stomped on the brake and almost launched her father. This is him basically saying, "Why I oughta..."

She did a good job transporting dad and pallet but I had to remind her to watch where she was going. The horses were smart enough to stay out of the way. Plus there was lots of grass to eat.

Heaven help us when she's ready for her driver's license...

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Wisteria

About 8 years ago, we took a small cutting (like twig size) from a wisteria vine that my mother had in her garden. We stuck it in the ground along some lattice on T's swingset and hoped for the best. It grew into a green vine which we wound around the lattice. The first couple of years it didn't flower but we kept winding it around. And then it bloomed. The flowers are gorgeous and smell heavenly! This is what it looks like this year. It has completely taken over the top of the swingset and the lattice and has started to climb into the trees.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday - Pleasant Run Park

We stumbled across Pleasant Run Park a couple of weeks ago but didn't have time to stop. I had Friday off and Craig and I were in the area so we figured we would explore a bit. The day was overcast and misting but warm.

The park is 11.5 acres of maintained open space and includes a small lake surrounded by green grass and some strategically placed benches. The area must have great fishing as there was evidence of quite a few anglers in the past. We also saw a couple of bass come up for a bug snack.

Lots of water lilies and cattails.

A really lovely stream runs along one side

Lots of little critters in the lake. Craig was looking for turtles and small fish in the shallows.

Painted turtle hatchlings. These guys were so new their shells were still soft.

There must be thousands of tadpoles in the lake

It was fun to explore and we came back with T after she came home from school to show her. I think there will be some fishing excursions planned for the summer.

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.

My World Tuesday

The strangest thing happened this morning that has never happened in the 9 years that we have lived in this house. A small bird crashed into the glass storm door with an audible thud. Bandit thought someone was knocking on the door. I have a plaque hanging on my front door that my mother painted of 2 chickadees and a bird house. Not sure if this little guy thought it was an actual birdhouse or what. When I looked, the little bird was on his back on my stoop, visibly stunned and panting. I turned him over and Craig came out to check him out. No idea what kind of bird this is but he's pretty small (maybe some kind of swallow?).

He picked him up and checked for broken legs or wings. He seemed physically ok but obviously knocked for a loop. He seemed to recover a bit - less panting and he was holding on to Craig's finger with his feet.

Craig very carefully placed him in a safe place in my garden and hoped that he would survive. When we checked back about an hour later, the bird was gone.

And, that is My World Tuesday...

To visit other bloggers and experience a piece of their world, check out My World Tuesday.