The weather here has been cold and overcast the past few weeks, making me feel trapped in the house. But each time I did venture out to do chicken chores or put feed down for the wildlife, I was quickly ready to come back inside to the warmth! Despite the cold, I still hoped to … More Woodland Walk in Snow
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
For days in advance, the weather forecasters had been advising folks to be prepared for volatile weather that was to come our way nearly two weeks ago on a Saturday night. It was unusual to have the threat of strong winds, hail, and tornadoes in October, but here in Oklahoma it did not surprise me, … More A Better Plan for Next Time
Friday brought very balmy, warm weather, the likes of which Oklahoma had not seen in a few weeks. While folks up north were experiencing the “Siberian Express” hurtling down the plains and bringing bitter, below freezing temperatures along with it, I was enjoying the last hours of our unseasonably warm conditions. I intended to make the … More Tough Skin
This time of year, I am generally in the middle of dinner preparation about the time the brilliant sunsets take place. Lately, cloud cover or moisture in the air has produced some spectacular skyscapes. Being surrounded by woodlands to the north and west, and residential areas to the south and east, it is difficult to … More Pink Rain
Looking through the kitchen window while cleaning up the last of the breakfast dishes yesterday morning, I noticed a bit of orange in the neighbor’s backyard. Sure enough, Daisy deer was bedded down in an area where snow had melted. Here, she had found a bit of protection from the north breeze that had picked … More A Hard Winter In The Woodlands
For the third time today, I donned my heavy coat, muck boots and ear-flap cap. This trip would be to fetch the mail, but earlier I had been out to photograph the glaze of ice that coated the landscape. How can one stay indoors when the outdoors presents such a magical, shimmering wonderland? The first … More Winter Shimmer
All snug in the bed this morning at 7:30, I debated in my mind whether to get up or stay put. It was a little too early to be outside with the camera, capturing the frozen state of the landscape before the morning breeze got up. It would be too dark to capture decent ice … More Quiet and Crackle in the Woodlands
I knew Old Man Winter was coming. Last week meteorologists were predicting that he would travel through the Midwest and dip down into the southern states, arriving just in time for the weekend. Tapping into the resilient ways of my northern upbringing, I was prepared. FD and I had stocked up on deer feed, bird … More The Arrival of Old Man Winter
From the time Daisy deer delivered her twins in early June, it was evident her mothering instinct was strong and going full-throttle. For the first couple of weeks before giving birth, and for roughly a month after giving birth, a deer mother will patrol and protect her birthing territory with vigilance. Daisy was no exception … More What I Imagine To Be A Brave Fight
For the past two days, local news crews have diligently covered the aftermath of the EF-4/EF-5 tornado that hit Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, 2013. Native Oklahoman’s watch with empathy, knowing well the impact of volatile weather. People from across the nation and the entire world watch coverage in the days to follow, in disbelief. For … More Living In Tornado Alley
Day by Day the Farm Girl Way... 