Willow came to live in the little chicken village next to the Hoop House this summer.  She always loved people and especially a special little girl named Addie.     Before she came here to live by the Hoop House, she spent many long summer days with her friend, Addie, who would feed her special “hen treats”. They both would explore the backyard to look for all kinds of fun little Addabugs for Willow to eat.  They would run through a sprinkler and just have lots of fun in the warm sunshine. Willow, the Hen, loved people more than she liked her chicken friends.  Willow also liked to walk alone so she would often be seen off in a distance checking under trees and around the garden for things to eat. Willow did the most curious thing…she would say her name.  I had heard a rooster crow or a hen cackle but I never knew a chicken who could say her name.  Willow could.    She would look at me and say “Wi Wo”.  She was a very sweet hen.   Willow was our Hen House Caretaker’s favorite.  Willow would follow her for garden work as she gobbled up grubs and … Continue reading →

              One bright shiny day, a short but spry gentle Gnome came walking up to the Hoop House.   You might remember that Princess Water Lily and Chief Thumper live there.  They are still waiting for the special Dream Catcher to appear.             You might also remember that Chauncey Pig occasionally visits Water Lily and Thumper there.   I will write more about their adventures another time.      For now, I must tell you about my new Gnome-Friend.  He has white curly hair that falls all around his face so all you can see is his round nose peeking out that looks like a rosy peach.   He wears a red cap on the top of his head that even covers his eyes. I can tell you that he is a very kind and gentle Gnome. That day, I watched as the Gnome approached the front porch.  I wondered what he would do next.  Then, I saw that in one hand he held a wooden tub and the other hand was held by a Friendly Frog. Yes, the little Gnome had a Frog-friend in hand. They climbed the stairs finally … Continue reading →

I NEVER KNEW DID YOU?   Rabbits can thump their back feet so it sounds like a drum?   Now I know, and well… do I have a story for you. One nice day, I decided to visit Princess Water Lily and Chief  Thumper in the Hoop House.   This day was different than all my other visits.   This day was a day that I decided to take another animal friend with me to the Hoop House. This one fine day, I went to find Chauncey Pig so we could walk to the Hoop House and visit Princess Water Lily and Chief Thumper together. Chauncey is a sweet, little, chubby pig that loves to walk everyday.   He came to live here in a Pig House because he needed a new home.   He had visited the Hoop House many times before Princess Water Lily and Chief Thumper came to live there. I explained to Chauncey that we would go to the Hoop House and visit the two bunnies so he was eager to go anywhere there was something to eat.   He had been to the Hoop House last summer where he munched on tomatoes, peppers, and broccoli.   He … Continue reading →

Who would have known that these two rabbits could magically escape into the Hoop House from their “bunny hutch”? Were they, perhaps, looking for the Dream Catcher to spin?  Were they just learning to become adventurers who were exploring every nook and cranny of the Hoop House? Who knows…they wouldn’t tell me one word about their adventure.  All I can say is that they were very, very, very sleepy the next morning since they were out all night climbing, jumping, hopping, nibbling, cavorting, rolling, tumbling, scratching, digging, exploring and on and on… They did leave clues behind in the Hoop House so being curious, I played detective. The middle bed where the lettuce, spinach, blueberries and grapes are planted had been freshly dug near the trellises.  The holes seemed to disappear below where the twigs, small logs, and straw had been intertwined to build the permaculture bed for planting all the seed this coming spring. Had the Adventuress, Princess Water Lily  and the Adventurer…Chief Thumper found another world below the middle garden bed of lettuce above?  If they did explore below the lettuce bed, what do you think they found there…worms?…mushrooms?…or even more…a small…small world of nature? When I found … Continue reading →

In the last G.A.B. I told you about the Hoop House having much in common with a Dream Catcher. Before we talk about why the Hoop House and the Dream Catcher have a lot in common, I must tell you how much Princess Water Lily and Chief Thumper love their new “bunny hutch” in the Hoop House.  Their “bunny hutch” arrived and we put it together then placed it in the Hoop House near the waterfall and pond. The “bunny hutch” has two levels with a ramp between so there is lots of space and room for the bunnies to travel back and forth.  They are so happy to be together again.  One day I saw Princess Water Lily stretched out over the top of Chief Thumper’s back as if to say…you can never leave me again.  You are staying put!!!!!!! Soon they will begin their adventures in the Hoop House with the Dream Catcher. First, I want to tell you a true story about the Dream Catcher in case you don’t know what a Dream Catcher is. Dream Catchers originated with a people called Ojibwe.  These people were important in connecting the Dream Catcher with other Indian nations and cultures. … Continue reading →