Tuesday Dose of Cute: Hello, Spring. Hello, Creek!

Hello, spring. You're looking a little pale this year.

In the past five days we've had more snow than we had all winter. The biggest snowstorm of the year arrived late on the second day of spring, with big, soppy flakes that piled up to about five inches in no time. By the time I made it outside the next day with my camera (we're both down with the flu now) most of it had already melted, but it was so pretty while it lasted.

11 more photos and an update below (hover over each image for a description). . .

Thursday Farm Photo: A Little St. Patrick's Day Green

With a splash of daffodil yellow.

Love looking at these cheerful flowers? They reappear year after year and are all tucked away here.

The Daily Donkey 40: Treat time in Ireland? Nope—Donkeyland!

© FarmgirlFare.com, where we don't mark the arrival of spring by the calendar, but by the daffodils. And with 80 degrees today and highs in the 70s forecast for the entire next week, it both looks and feels like it's definitely here.

Friday Dose of Cute: Feline Philosophy

Take all the good in. . .

Saturday Dose of Cute: Spring Has Sprung!

Friday Farm Photo: Happy First Day (Night?) of Spring!

Does Anything Say It Better than Daffodils?

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the cheerful yellow foodie farm blog where a quick count this morning estimated the number of blooming daffodils in the yard (which faithfully appear year after year without even the slightest bit of assistance on our part) at around an astonishing 400 flowers—including a small clump that has jumped over and popped up next to the flowering quince (another no maintenance favorite), as well as two cute little rows of blooms that are marching their way across the lawn under the clothesline. What a perfect excuse not to mow the grass.

Thursday Dose of Cute: Where There Are Flowers. . .

There Are Usually Dogs (At Least That's How It Works Around This Farm)

Calling All Owners of Rescued and Adopted Dogs: Your Pet Could Be One of the 2009 Faces of Love!

How can you not love somebody who proudly calls herself a 'crazy dog lady?' That would be my dear friend and talented artist, Leigh Jackson, who says in her bio, "I found the loves of my life—except my husband—at animal shelters." Leigh's affordable modern dog portraits, which wonderfully capture the unique spirit of each beloved animal, are in hundreds of dog-loving homes worldwide (including many Hollywood celebrities') and have been featured in such publications as Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion and the Miami Herald.

Leigh's latest project is called Faces of Love, and you're invited to submit photos of your dog for consideration (with no obligation to purchase a portrait). "I am looking to paint all the wonderful rescued and adopted dogs out there: big, small, furry and not so furry," explains Leigh. She wants to share their stories, too, like Jak's, who is pictured below. He's a "foster dog extraordinaire" who "has raised upward of 50 kittens and helped rehabilitated 5 injured dogs. . . and even helped raise a baby squirrel."

Ten percent of purchases from this year-long project, which includes paintings, prints, a 2010 calendar, and a compilation book, will be donated to A Place to Bark Animal Rescue, Bernie Berlin's amazing sanctuary in Tennessee. I've written about Bernie and her tireless efforts to save hundreds of unwanted dogs and puppies from certain death before. She is a true inspiration, and I thank all of you who have generously made donations to A Place to Bark.

You can learn more about Leigh's 2009 Faces of Love project here, and you can see the dogs she's already painted—along with the photos that she painted them from—here. I know many of you have welcomed rescued and adopted animals into your lives, and I hope you'll let me know if your dog becomes one of the 2009 Faces of Love!

© Copyright 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the laid back furry foodie farm blog where even if the dogs are sitting right on top of the flowers (which is what Bear happens to be doing in this photo), we still wouldn't trade them for the world. And besides, at least the dogs don't eat the the flowers like some of the critters around here do.

Thursday Farm Photo: More Flowers (And More Snow?)

The First Daffodils in the Front Yard are Up!

Need a Bigger Bouquet Today?
You'll find all sorts of colorful blooms here and here.

© 2009 FarmgirlFare.com, the warm and toasty foodie farm blog where the heat is once again coming from the woodstove rather than the blazing sun (which is the way it's suppsed to be this time of year), although we're not quite sure about another snowstorm. They did take the predicted 2 to 4 inches of accumulation out of the forecast, which is probably just fine with the daffodils.

Kit Kat Kate & The Contest Winners!(Yep, that would be the one from back in January)

Flower Girl

Meet Sarah Kate, also known as Kit Kat Kate. She's one of the three long-term inmates I rescued from the pokey back in December. She's small and sweet and has a little squeak of a meow. She's best buddies with panther-like Mr. Midnight (photo of him coming soon), loves to play, and graciously acts as alarm clock in the morning if you should foolishly attempt to sleep in. My mother fell in love with Sarah Kate during her recent visit, and, when not calling her Cuteness or demanding that her official name be changed to Kit Kat Kate, she was threatening to sneak her off the farm and back to California in her carry-on bag.

Sarah Kate's current favorite way to pass the time is to go in and out of The Shack about 90 times a day (via the homemade shredded-screen cat door so kindly created by The Doodle Monster), probably because she spent 8 months of 2007 in the slammer. It's hard to believe that in all that time nobody wanted to adopt her. I just love her to pieces.

Sadly there are millions of unwanted and homeless dogs and cats in this country, but thanks to the extraordinary efforts of artist and animal lover Bernie Berlin, that number continues to get a little smaller each day. For the past 8 years, Bernie has been running a full-time, non-profit animal rescue in Tennessee called A Place To Bark. . . And Meow. A Place To Bark is a 501c3 non-profit organization funded entirely by donations and Bernie's own personal money.

Last year alone, Bernie rescued and found homes for over 500 unwanted animals, many of whom were abused or injured. At times she has 50 or more dogs in her care. She literally goes to the pound and takes home dogs who are scheduled to be put down the next day. And somehow she miraculously has time to share her heartwarming and heartbreaking experiences on the A Place To Bark blog.

I think Bernie is one of the most wonderful people in the world, and thanks to the generosity of a whopping 2,400 animal lovers like you who made donations during January's America's Giving Challenge, Bernie will now be able to build a much needed shelter building on her property.

While A Place To Bark didn't win one of the four $50,000 America's Giving Challenge grants (so close in 5th place!), Bernie and the animals were still big winners. A Place To Bark received over $42,000 in donations, and the Zoline Foundation awarded her a matching $35,000 grant. The shelter building is going to become a reality, and Bernie will no longer have to bring dozens of dogs into her house during the winter.

Many, many thanks to all of you who made donations to A Place To Bark after reading my post about the challenge (and our newly adopted cat Topaz, who is doing great by the way) on Farmgirl Fare.

The winner of the signed copy of The Cornbread Gospels is Cyndee, who has 2 cats, 1 dog and 4 chickens - all adopted. The phone call from this foodie farmgirl will be going to Jeannine, who has a Cat Chalet on her front porch that is open to the local strays. Congratulations!

I'll be giving away another signed copy of The Cornbread Gospels soon (this is such a fun book), as well as several other neat new books, so stay tuned. In the meantime, if you're thinking of adding a new furry family member to your household, please consider adopting one from a shelter or animal rescue organization. It's a win-win situation for everyone. And if you're looking for a new pet charity to support, I hope you'll remember Bernie and A Place To Bark. Every penny makes a difference, and 100% of your tax-deductible donation always goes directly to helping the animals. Thank you!

© Copyright 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where just because a houseguest looks around The Shack and says, "There are cats everywhere!" doesn't mean you have too many - and I'm so grateful for each and every one.

Saturday Farm Photo: Daffodil Delight

I Love Them Even When They're Soggy

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where Farmgirl Susan shares stories & photos of her crazy country life on 240 remote Missouri acres - and we get the biggest kicks out of the littlest things.

Monday Farm Photo: The Definition Of Cheerful?

See Daffodils - Or Even Just One

A year of Farm Photos ago:
3/29/07: Late Supper Picked By The Light Of The Moon
3/30/07: A Year In Bread Has Begun! (And it will continue!)
4/1/07: Making Mischief In The Morning Light
4/2/07: These Two Are On Top Of Breakfast
4/3/07: The Grass Looks Fake This Time Of Year
4/5/07: Lilacs! (Wow, we're way behind this year)

Two years ago:
3/28/06: It Seems Like They Never Stop Moving
3/29/06: They Certainly Do Learn Early
3/30/06: More Old Stuff Just Hanging Around
3/31/06: Doll Face & Her Baby Boy
4/1/06: Spring Has Sprung
4/2/06: Same Scene New View Of The Haybarn
4/3/06: Big World, Small Donkey
4/4/06: Babies Chew On Everything
4/5/06: The Lilacs Are Coming! The Lilacs Are Coming!
4/5/06: A Sweeter Sheep You Will Not Meet - Farewell
4/7/06: Purple Beet 'Greens' In The Greenhouse
Weekend Dog Blogging: Dogfoot
Weekend Cat Blogging: Molly Doodlebug & The Cat Cabin

And out of the kitchen came:
Garlic Lover's White Bean Soup

© 2008 FarmgirlFare.com, the award-winning blog where we love flowers like daffodils and echinacea that come up year after year despite being totally neglected - and a fenceline full of daffodils never fails to delight.

Farm Photo 3/4/07: Daffodils Already?

Apparently so.

Though as you can see by the little specks of ice, we're having a little struggle between the tug of winter and the pull of spring. But that's March in Missouri for you; there's no telling what you're going to get. Two days ago it was sunny and 60 degrees; yesterday morning it was snowing. By April we'll be seeing temps in the upper 90s.

Personally I wouldn't mind a few more months of winter—snowstorms, ice, 46 degree mornings in the living room (the warmest room in The Shack!) and all. As a non-summer person who could happily spend the rest of her days cozied up in turtlenecks, polar fleece, and thick flannel sheets, I feel this way each time March rolls around and things start heating back up.

Lately the wind has been blowing around like crazy lately no matter what the weather. What do they say about March? In like a lion, out like a lamb? I don't know if it'll go out like a lamb, but I do know that it will go out with lambs.

The first babies should begin arriving around Saturday, though there are a few mothers-to-be who look like they are more than ready to jump the starting gate. As for me, I'm trying to get ahead on sleep before I spend the next several weeks staying up all hours and clomping down to the barn for 2 a.m. checks.

Newsflash! Newsflash!
We interrupt this partially-finished post written earlier today to bring you an up-to-the-minute report from the barn. During what can only be described as Yet Another Crazy Day On The Farm, this evening Zelda gave birth to an adorable and healthy set of twins: a black boy and a black & white spotted girl. In the midst of the lambs' unexpected arrival, there were howling dogs and guns, a broken down pickup truck and blasting blues music, a loudly braying donkey, and frantic wives in fancy dress (but don't worry, nobody was shot or maimed).

And we're off! Now if only there had been something simmering in the dutch oven for the past five hours. . .

A year of Farm Photos ago:
3/4/06: Next?
3/3/06: Skinny Chip Checks Out One Of The Little Attention Grabbers
3/2/06: A Brief Distraction From All The Cuteness
3/1/06: I'll Spring To Life If There's Trouble
2/28/06: Martha & Her Twins
2/27/06: First Day Outside For Martha's Baby Boy
2/26/06: Start Small, Think Big
2/25/06: Anyone Recognize Those Ears?
WDB #23: Donkey Doodle Dandy Adores Lucky Buddy Bear
WCB #39: Patchy Cat Keeps An Eye On Everything Around The Farm
WCB #38: New Cat Hanging Out Of The Snowy Cat Cabin

And In The Garden:
Lowly Turnips Are Tip Top

Daily Farm Photo: 3/21/06

You Don't Mind One More, Do You?

Daily Farm Photo: 3/20/06

Happy First Day Of Spring