We are surrounded by animals—our own, those for which we take some responsibility, and those that are claimed by Mother Nature. We have seven horses, all mares—four quarter horses and three Appaloosas. Of course, we have our cats, as well as several rescued dogs. We keep a number of bird feeders filled much of the year, and we leave food out in the barns for the itinerant cats that pass through, particularly in winter. The wild animal population includes owls, songbirds, waterfowl, turkeys, bats, squirrels, frogs, various insects,  rabbits, deer, and many other animals that we hear, rather than see. We stock the ponds with fish, but any fish caught has to be thrown back.
 

We had planned to remodel the old farmhouse, but this turned out to be impractical. We built a new house away from the road and the barns. Foundation stones from the old house now outline many of the gardens on the farm, and a modern barn occupies the old farmhouse site.

The new house sits beside and above three ponds. It is well-connected to the outdoor world. A long covered porch runs across the front, providing access to the little-used front door

and to the door to the family room, which is the one everyone uses. The family room, kitchen, and breakfast nook is usually the busiest part of the house. The breakfast area was designed to hold a small table, but it is filled with cat paraphernalia and show ribbons. It overlooks a small patio with bird feeders and wind chimes, and one can see the gardens and hills beyond.