Hawthorne Hill Farm

A Day in the Country

July 23, 2007

We are a Christian homeschool family living in Michigan.  This blog is about our experiences of living in the country, both past experience and current ones.  We homeschool year-round and have only one child, Jeff, age 12.  This is our eighth year of homeschooling as Jeff has never been to public school.  We love it and it works for our family.  DH, Jim works during the day and is home evenings.  I am recently retired from GM as I took one of their early retirement offers.  It is the hugest blessing to our family.  I was working 4 p.m. to midnight and homeschooling during the day while dh was at work.  DH would be home evenings when I was working.  It was very hard on all of us.  I was planning on retiring in 5 years anyway, so this early offer was a God-send.  Every day I praise God for this huge blessing. 

Does anyone know about flying squirrels?  I didn't before this year.  We have had something (?) living in our attic for the last year.  I knew it was a nocturnal animal as I could hear it leave at dark and come back in before light.  I had tried sitting outside, watching to see it as well as putting down corn meal to see it's footprints.  Nothing had worked. In January, I was cleaning out the bird roost boxes that I have for the wild birds.  Opening one box, I heard some commotion inside.  When I opened it up, 3 small gray animals were staring at me.  It reminded me of hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil.:o) They had a short tail like a chinchilla and white on their stomach area and large nocturnal eyes.  They were very cute and I quickly shut the cover to the box.  What in the world was that?  After doing some research on the 'net I figured out they were flying squirrels.  Thus my story begins.....  Talking to some flying squirrel experts on the flying squirrel board (yes, it exists, check it out) they had some suggestions for getting them out of the attic.  Right now, I'm waiting until cooler weather (Oct.)and the fact that Momma squirrel is preggy.  The babies should be big enough by then.  I have new diggs for them to move into (outside) as my brother-in-law the woodworker made some 3 level houses.  The squirrel house plan is on the internet and he did a wonderful job.  I put a metal roof on them so they should last a while.  I will post a photo.  The squirrels are really cute and if you are willing to stay up to 2 or 3 a.m. you can see them at the bird feeders.  I see why folks have them for pets.  They move so fast!  Don't blink or you'll miss them. :o) Today I'm setting a live trap for the racoons living in the barn.  Oh, but that is another story for another day.  :o)

Welcome!!

11:09, Monday, July 23, 2007 .. Posted by Patti

I just wanted to say welcome!! This is a sweet little blogging community, where I have "met" some really wonderful friends. I hope that you will enjoy blogging here!

I'd love for you to visit my blog when you have the time.

Blessings,
Patti

Hi There!

04:23, Monday, July 23, 2007 .. Posted by CatherineAnn

So glad you've joined us here :) . I LOVE the homegrown tomatoes song! I'll have to search for it and perhaps teach it to my dd's; they love gathering the veggies from the garden, and frequently go about their day singing their current favorite song- which could be anything from The Sound of Music to a VBS tune LOL! I look forward to reading about your flying squirrel adventures- I've seen them in a pet store, and they certainly are cute; though I wouldn't want them in my attic, either.
Blessings,
Catherine

Welcome!

05:24, Tuesday, July 24, 2007 .. Posted by solodeogloria

Your flying squirrels sound so cute! Although it must be 'interesting' having them live in your attic, it's so neat that you found them.

I look forward to reading more about your adventures with the critters (raccoon too...we have LOTS of those guys around here...). Thanks, too, for the recipe.

Blessings,
Laurie