Our pioneer neighbour & a gift.

We met one of our neighbours today. She's an eighty year old woman who runs a farm on her own strength and gumption. What a pioneer she is; much like my gran was. Twelve head of cattle, eighty-five chickens, a donkey, pigs and twelve well-fed barn cats. Her Pyrenees dog guards them all.

We chatted outside her gate for only minutes before we were invited to come inside her farm-house out of the cool wind. Her home is a renovated clapboard house that is beautifully cared for and decorated. A large stone fire-place keeps her toasty warm. You could see that she loved her home and was very proud of it. She has run her farm on her own, with some hired help,  for years now since her husband passed away and has no intention of stopping any time soon. She filled us in on the history of working her land, trials and triumphs of farming in the Manotick area, and all with charm and whit.

I have a place now to pick up farm-fresh eggs at a very reasonable price, I might add. :) And just try to stop me from visiting those twelve little mouse-chasin' fluff-balls that run around the farm after every leaf that blows by.

I think I have mentioned in earlier posts that around five pm we could always hear the sound of a donkey in the distance. Now I know where he lives and that he is loved and cared-for. It was great to meet another neighbour.
I hope to visit Lucy again soon.

My old step-back cupboard is only getting sweeter by the day. I received a lovely gift from another blogger, Mary-Lou from Patio Postcards http://patioposts.blogspot.ca/, and wanted to show you the new additions. She's from Ontario, too.
The stones are tiny and so much detail has gone into them. 

The kitten is a thimble; cute and handy.

Thank you so much, Mary-Lou for such a sweet and thoughtful gift. Mary-Lou and I have exchanged flower seeds in the past and will continue to stay in touch through our blogs.

I'm off to cat-sit.

Have a wonderful evening.

hugs, Deb