Daisy Hill Poodles on a farm in North Dakota...

I'm living in North Dakota? 
I'm living in the Wild, Wild West?

How did I get here?!?

     I grew up in Rochester, Michigan (metropolitan Detroit area) then spent my early adult years raising a family and pursuing a demanding career.  I was a successful teacher with wonderful children, quite contented with my life.    Of course, things weren't perfect, but I was happy going to church and school events, had a good job and lived in a nice neighborhood.  Life was good.

     Then my world was turned upside down, and became better than I could ever have dreamed!  I feel like I'm living out a Dream!

Double Rainbows
Taken from our front porch looking North-Northeast ~ Summer 2006

     Fast forward to today, and you'll find me living in the midst of 2,500 acres of beautiful, serene farmland.  Our home is perched atop a hill surrounded by pastures with daisies, prairie roses and lots of wildflowers.  (That's why we're Daisy Hill Poodles!)  We have our Poodles and puppies, a couple of sweet cats, an African Grey parrot, a singing canary, several pet rabbits roaming around the farm and a yummy vegetable garden right outside our front door.   

Harvest Moon Rising
The view from our front porch looking East ~ October 2007
(The farm in the distance belongs to Richard's parents.)

     Over the years I've had horses, miniature horses, calves, several hundred sheep and lambs, a miniature pot-bellied pig, dinner hogs, llamas, goats, chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese and guineas.  I learned so much caring for all the different kinds of livestock.  I've also learned some important lessons about myself.  For example, I've learned that I DON'T like to raise animals for eating!   I hated market day!   (And when my beloved bottle-calf, Homer, grew up and "moved" to our freezer, I had to give up beef for almost a year!)

     As we look out across the fields and ponds we have unobstructed views of the countryside.  We watch vast flocks Canada geese, snow geese, trumpeter swans, pelicans, sand hill cranes and lots of others as they pass through on their migrations North and South.  Each summer ducks and a few Canada geese nest nearby to raise their broods.   They provide delightful free entertainment! 

     My lifelong dream of living in the country has come true.  I've been blessed with a loving husband, five precious children and their wonderful spouses, four darling grandsons and lots of pets on the farm of my dreams.   We have had sadness, to be sure.  The death of one of our sons in 2003 was a terrible shock, a grief that still lingers.  But God has been very good to us and He comforts us through the difficult times.  We have so much to be thankful for. 

We thank God every day for our many blessings!
 

Welcome to our Home

Dawn's early light across the water

 

Prairie rose in the pasture

Puppies having their first outdoors-playtime

Puppies playing near our backyard pond

Pelicans stop in our pond on their annual migrations

Canola ripening in the sunshine

This is where Canola Oil comes from.

Mustard field ripening
Yes - this is where your mustard comes from.

Wheat ready to harvest

Here come the combines!

Hay bales ready for gathering

     

Snowy Christmas 2002

Snow on the grainaries and ice on the pond 2002

Frost on the trees and snow on the bales February 2004

Drifts over the play yard fence at twilight ~ February 2004

Sunset on the farm

The skies are clear, the air is fresh and clean.
Thank You, Father!   This is truly Heaven on Earth!


 

God Bless America!

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