It's Been a Hell of a Few Weeks (and Not in a Good Way)

"Happy Birthday," said the doctor as he stood next to my hospital bed looking over my chart.

"Thanks."

"Next year you really need to do something a lot better than this for your birthday."

"No shit."

Let me back up a little.

Monday Farm Photos: Bringing in the First Hay

Surveying the hot job ahead of us. . .

Friday Dose of Cute: Snow Happy

Okay, Maybe Not (but at least it wasn't up to her belly)

Want to see more of Robin (aka Scarface)? She usually has a big old grin on her little beagle face.

© Copyright 2010 FarmgirlFare.com, the memory lapsed foodie farm blog where last month I posted a dose of cute called Cold Backs, Warm Hearts. It was two photos, but there were actually supposed to be three. Better late than never, the forgotten third one is now up—just in case some of you can't get enough of dogs in snow. And for those of you wondering about Scarface up there—she's had that scar on her snout since she was a pup, and we're pretty sure it came from a tangle with a poisonous copperhead snake. Our bad ass beagle is small, but she's tough. And although she's mostly retired these days, she still desperately despises donkeys on a very busy, full-time basis.

Sunday Dose of Cute: Cold Backs, Warm Heart?

Must Be a Dog Thing (Because Marta Does It, Too)

Want to see more candids of these three canines? Pictures of Daisy the Great Pyrenees livestock guardian can be found here, (mostly) action shots of Lucky Buddy Bear the Australian/English Shepherd stock dog (mostly) extraordinaire are here, and photos of Robin Her Beagleness are here.

© Copyright 2010 FarmgirlFare.com, the upside down foodie farm blog where the only thing better than having a farm dog is having four of them—though I'd really like about nine. And tomorrow I'll actually be posting a recipe!

Monday Dose of Happy and Cute: Thirteen Years and She's Still Got It

That smile that makes you smile.

Happy Monday!

Want to get to know our beloved beagle baby better?
The Story of How Robin Trotted Into My Life
6/15/05: Peek-a-Boo Beagle
7/7/05: Sitting At the Front Yard Gate
8/9/05: Robin's Smile Is Infectious
9/12/05: One Hot & Happy Beagle
11/13/05: We Have Llama Contact!
11/22/05: From Out of the Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/24/05: Year Round Thankfulness
12/10/05: Robin Loves Deer Season

1/15/06: Robin & Leopold
1/29/06: She Knows Every Warm Spot on the Farm
2/19/06: Fresh Spring Water is Better than Evian
4/30/06: Busted Nesting in my New Garden Bed
5/14/06: Beagle in Paradise
7/26/06: Heading Out on Her Morning Route
8/26/06: Robin Loves Life on the Farm
9/17/06: Hot Dog vs. Parched Pussycat
11/20/06: It's Monday Morning. Wake Up!
11/24/06: Ear Flaps Up? Check.

2/24/07: Curious & Oblivious (aka Patchy Cat & Robin)
7/17/07: Haying Supervisor
9/13/07: One Hardworking Beagle

5/15/08: After Some Fluffy White Puppy Kisses
8/9/08: Puppy Love
10/5/08: Little Beagle, Large Backyard
11/3/08: A Girl's Gotta Draw the Line Somewhere

2/4/09: Three Dog Sight
3/3/09: Little Beagle, Big Snowstorm
7/4/09: The Dog Days of Haying Season
7/9/09: It's My Birthday!
8/7/09: Why I Don't Landscape the Front Yard
11/23/09: Thirteen Years and She's Still Got It
1/24/2010: Cold Backs, Warm Heart?

© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the tri-colored foodie farm blog where she may not have much left in the way of teeth after all these years of happily gnawing on bones, but Robin still enjoyed her annual deer leg as much as ever last week (and we enjoyed some fabulous venison tenderloin for dinner last night!).

Friday Dose of Cute:Why I Don't Landscape the Front Yard

At Least She Spared the Nearby Surprise Lilies



The Dirty Paws Totally Bust Her—and Don't You Just Love the Pillow Rock?

Want to get to know our beagle baby better? You'll find links to lots more photos of 12-year-old Robin here.

© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the hot dog foodie farm blog where it's a good thing that I completely understand the need to find a cool spot on these hot August days—and that Robin is so darn cute.

Saturday Dose of Cute: The Dog Days of Haying Season

Our hay stacking supervisors: it's a rough job, but thankfully they were up to the challenge.


Wishing you an enjoyable and relaxing 4th of July!

© FarmgirlFare.com, the planning for winter mealtimes during summer foodie farm blog where this year's big hot haying adventure is finally over (hooray! more photos soon), and at one point we had 7 four-footed critters supervising our stacking abilities—not to mention Rooster Daddy crowing his opinions from the sidelines. You're never alone on the farm—though you're often the only one actually working.

Tuesday Second Dose of Cute:Just How Deep Was That Snow?

It Was Up to a Beagle's Belly!

Want to see Robin in warmer temperatures (and with her legs)?
The Story of How Robin Trotted Into My Life
6/15/05: Peek-a-Boo Beagle
7/7/05: Sitting At the Front Yard Gate
8/9/05: Robin's Smile Is Infectious
9/12/05: One Hot & Happy Beagle
11/13/05: We Have Llama Contact!
11/22/05: From Out of the Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/24/05: Year Round Thankfulness
12/10/05: Robin Loves Deer Season

1/15/06: Robin & Leopold
1/29/06: She Knows Every Warm Spot on the Farm
2/19/06: Fresh Spring Water is Better than Evian
4/30/06: Busted Nesting in my New Garden Bed
5/14/06: Beagle in Paradise
7/26/06: Heading Out on Her Morning Route
8/26/06: Robin Loves Life on the Farm
9/17/06: Hot Dog vs. Parched Pussycat
11/20/06: It's Monday Morning. Wake Up!
11/24/06: Ear Flaps Up? Check.

2/24/07: Curious & Oblivious (aka Patchy Cat & Robin)
7/17/07: Haying Supervisor
9/13/07: One Hardworking Beagle

5/15/08: After Some Fluffy White Puppy Kisses
8/9/08: Puppy Love
10/5/08: Little Beagle, Large Backyard
11/3/08: A Girl's Gotta Draw the Line Somewhere

2/4/09: Three Dog Sight
3/3/09: Little Beagle, Big Snowstorm
7/4/09: The Dog Days of Haying Season
7/9/09: It's My Birthday!
8/7/09: Why I Don't Landscape the Front Yard
11/23/09: Thirteen Years and She's Still Got It
1/24/2010: Cold Backs, Warm Heart?

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the little dog foodie farm blog where we'll go months without mentioning Robin, and then sometimes it's double or nothing.

Tuesday Dose of Cute: Little Beagle

Big Snowstorm

Want an even bigger snowstorm?
You'll find links to lots more snowy farm photos here and here.

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the still white foodie farm blog where 12-year-old, semi-retired Robin now spends most of each winter curled up next to the woodstove, but she hasn't neglected all of her farmly duties—especially the ones that include ferociously fending off those crazy wayward donkeys.

Wednesday Daily Dose of Cute: Three Dog Sight

Can You Pick Out the Puppy in this Picture?

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the still frozen foodie farm blog where we don't know what's harder to believe—that Lucky Buddy Bear is already seven, that little Robin is already twelve (!!!), or that goofy one-year-old Marta can crack us up so many times a day and yet still be such a ferocious guard dog.

Monday Farm Photos:A Girl's Gotta Draw the Line Somewhere

Keeping A Close Watch on the Enemy

This is Robin. She hates donkeys. Hates them even more than cows, and she hates cows a lot.

When our wandering herd of five donkeys meanders up by The Shack (which happens at least a couple of times a day), our usually smiling beagle turns all menacing looks and ferocious barks (unless she's curled up indoors in one of her cat beds). This has been going on for years. And when she starts barking, she sets off Bear, who (because he does not hate donkeys) naturally believes there is an actual, non-donkey threat about to jump out of the woods and attack. He gets very excited. Every single time.


Does She Look Pissed or What?

I could never figure Robin out until I read that dogs can smell ten thousand times better than we can. Fifty thousand donkeys in my yard? I suppose I wouldn't be all that happy either.

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares recipes, stories, and photos from her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres—and most of us love donkeys (which really don't smell bad at all).

Sunday Farm Photo: Little Beagle, Large Backyard

Robin in the Hayfield

Want to see more pup pics?
Robin
Lucky Buddy Bear (Stockdog Extraordinaire)
Fluffy White Livestock Guardian Puppies

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where, at nearly 12 years old, Robin's daily inspection routes around the farm are a lot shorter than they used to be (and her time spent in the house impossibly curled up in a cozy cat bed is a lot longer than it used to be), but our little beagle baby still gets around—when she's not busy keeping those crazy donkeys a safe distance from The Shack and her yard, that is. (Robin hates donkeys. Hates them even more than cows, and she hates cows a lot.)

Saturday Daily Dose of Cute: Puppy Love

Two of Robin's Biggest Fans

And She Loves Every Minute of the Attention

Need a bigger cute fix?
Robin Photos
Fluffy White Pup Photos
The First Daily Doses of Cute
Daily Dose of Cute Part 2
Daily Dose of Cute Part 3
Daily Dose of Cute Part 4
Daily Dose of Cute Part 5

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we're all extremely grateful the latest humid heat wave has finally broken because, whether you're covered with wool or not, there are only so many days a heat index of 110 degrees is bearable on a farm (especially if you're not a summer person) — and sometimes our new portable electric sheep fencing (which Lottie isn't actually touching in the top photo) doubles as crowd control.

Monday Daily Dose of Cute: For Robin Fans

That's One Happy Little Dog!

Want to get to know Robin better?
The Story of How Robin Trotted Into My Life
6/15/05: Peek-a-Boo Beagle
7/7/05: Sitting At the Front Yard Gate
8/9/05: Robin's Smile Is Infectious
9/12/05: One Hot & Happy Beagle
11/13/05: We Have Llama Contact!
11/22/05: From Out of the Fog, A Little Beagle Dog
11/24/05: Year Round Thankfulness
12/10/05: Robin Loves Deer Season
1/15/06: Robin & Leopold
1/29/06: She Knows Every Warm Spot on the Farm
2/19/06: Fresh Spring Water is Better than Evian
4/30/06: Busted Nesting in my New Garden Bed
5/14/06: Beagle in Paradise
7/26/06: Heading Out on Her Morning Route
8/26/06: Robin Loves Life on the Farm
9/17/06: Hot Dog vs. Parched Pussycat
11/20/06: It's Monday Morning. Wake Up!
11/24/06: Ear Flaps Up? Check.
2/24/07: Curious & Oblivious (aka Patchy Cat & Robin)
7/17/07: Haying Supervisor
9/13/07: One Hardworking Beagle
5/15/08: After Some Fluffy White Puppy Kisses

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where, at nearly 12 years old, everybody's favorite beagle (well, except for that other one) may not be the mighty squirrel hunter and armadillo killer she once was, but she still enjoys the heck out of every minute—and we know that each day we have with her is precious.

Thursday Daily Dose Of Cute

Pup & Robin (taken 4/16, which means the pup is now bigger than Robin)

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where self-respecting beagles don't fall head over heels for the fluffy white puppy cuteness - and the above photo was taken just seconds after somebody white and fluffy tried to cover Robin's face with kisses. Blech.

Farm Photo 9/13/07:One Hardworking Beagle

Weeding Supervisor at 3:17 pm

Weeding Supervisor at 3:24 pm

It's a tough job, but somebody's gotta do it. And because nobody gets away with having only one job around here, Robin was, among other things, also this year's Haying Supervisor.

Robin's big beagle smile is infectious, and she emanates sheer joy and an exuberance for life during every waking moment. Everything is an adventure, and nothing gets her down. I often remind myself that I need to be more like this wonderful little dog.

It's been almost eleven years since Robin came trotting into my heart on her half-frozen baby puppy paws--and every day since I've been so very grateful that she did.

Want to see more?
You'll find plenty of other photos of Robin here. And you can read about how she turned up all those years ago here.

© 2007 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Farm Photo: 7/17/07

Haying Supervisor

Click here if you'd like to see more photos of Robin, the smiling beagle who loves country life. And click here if you'd like to read how Robin came trotting into my life ten (can it be already?) years ago.

A year of Farm Photos ago:
7/15/06: Something New Is Always Popping Up
7/16/06: Butterfly Bonanza
7/17/06: "I'm Ready To Come Inside Now," Says The Privileged Animal (That would be Cary, who is doing just fine for those of you who've been asking. I'll be posting my new favorite photo of her along with a brief Cary update soon.)
WDB#43: Morning Dog Walk Through The Woods

© 2007 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares photos & stories of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres.

Farm Photo: 2/24/07

Curious & Oblivious (Also Known As Patchy Cat & Robin)

A year of Farm Photos ago:
2/24/06: Falling To Pieces
2/23/06: Cold Heart
2/22/06: It's A Boy! It's A Girl! It's A Boy!
2/21/06: Note To Self Re Snowstorm Preparation: Think Tarp
2/20/06: Snow Dance
And Chickens On Snow (Not A Recipe)

And out of the kitchen came:
Susan's Super Spinach Soup

Welcome new visitors!
Click here for a brief introduction to this site.

Daily Farm Photo: 11/24/06

Ear Flaps Up? Check.

A year of Daily Photos ago: Happy Thanksgiving To You
And: Year Round Thankfulness

Daily Farm Photo 7/7/05

Robin At The Front Yard Gate