I am a writer, wildlife photographer, animal rehabilitator, and nature lover. I blog here to write about my life on our little piece of land. Photographs on this blog are © Copyright Day by Day the Farm Girl Way... (unless otherwise indicated) and are not in the public domain and may not be used on websites, blogs, or in other media without advance permission from me.
Late one afternoon in April, I ventured across the yard to toss a bowl full of vegetable scraps to the chickens. As I neared the chicken yard the hens began their usual routine of following me the length of the fence, with some running to stay in the lead for the best pickings. My normal … More Baby Gopher
“Each of us actually believes that things should be the way we want them, instead of being the natural result of all the forces of creation.” Michael A. Singer I felt more than a little overwhelmed this spring when I realized there was no way I could continue my plan to keep the pecan orchard … More Ready to Surrender
Last Thursday, FD and I packed our bags and loaded up the truck for yet another trip to Nebraska. But this time, we would be dropping our three dogs off at our veterinarian’s office for boarding, as this trip to Nebraska would be keeping us much too busy to give them the attention they needed … More Gathering in a Storm
I am not sure when I first noticed the return of the turkey vultures this spring. They are present all year long, with one or two spiraling high in the skies on warm days, but for the last three weeks a colony of more than thirty buzzards circled the skies just before sundown, and ultimately … More Lessons From a Buzzard Roost
This past winter was a strange and disappointing one for me. Temperatures were much too cold to work in the orchard, and even if I could have managed to tough out the freezing conditions, a state-wide burn ban left me without any means to burn the wood I’d manage to gather in an effort to … More A Little Show of Ice
In the early years we lived on this place, the “Lori measuring stick” ruled as I made my weekly rounds in the electric buggy, picking up neighborhood trash on our ten acres. I ranted and grumbled about the carelessness of our neighbor’s lack of trash disposal. I had expectations about how people should respectfully keep up … More The Language of Litter
I found myself restless and irritated at having to spend so much time indoors this winter. Last year’s weather allowed me to work outdoors all through the winter months. I managed to clear downed wood in the pecan orchard and I burned the debris for weeks on end. We entertained family who helped with cleanup … More Remains of Winter
The ambient light of town cast a beautiful glow over the landscape as I stepped outside with Oscar at 6:00 this morning. When I focused my flashlight on the front steps, I could see a glaze of ice covering everything. Yesterday’s weather had produced a thin layer of sleet, and overnight freezing fog and drizzle … More Happiness in Black and White
As I wandered the prairie grassland surrounding our friend Brad’s ranch, I felt at home walking through the tall grasses, and exploring the area beyond the house. The area reminded me of my many treks to the river near our home. The daytime temperatures had been cool and bearable recently, but strong, gusty winds kept … More Whisper of the Wind
We released Daisy deer to roam free and wild in January of 2012. Because she was a lone fawn, I still spent most mornings accompanying her on walks through the woodland below our home. Raising a single fawn had been worrisome for me, as deer are herd animals, and fawns are used to the company … More Scarlet Doe – Matriarch of the Woodlands
In the days following my foiled attempt at finding clues after sighting a deer poacher on the neighboring property, I found myself keeping close to home. The weather had become cold and blustery, with occasional fog and drizzle, and I was anxious about continuing my investigation before the coming weekend when rifle season would open. … More Keeping a Low Profile
