Success – Lombardi
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09, 2022
12
08, 2022
New Beginnings
A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
Rachel has moved into her own place. She is starting her first year of teaching and she, Penelope, and Cooper have found their own home. This has been quite a journey for her. The most recent leg of this 
journey occurred this past weekend when she gathered all her belongings into her new home.
We started Friday evening by moving the things from Miler Farm. We have had a record-breaking drought. Friday it rained. It didn’t last long and it left a rainbow – a nice reminder of new beginnings.
Step two involved borrowing a truck and trailer to retrieve the things Rachel had stored in Huntsville.
This went remarkably well and Brian was able to back the trailer right up to the front sidewalk. 
We finished by lunch and then gathered the remaining items from in town. This included a table from our storage unit and a sectional given to Rachel by a friend.
The last step was to move the dogs to their new home. They were most excited by the new couch.
It is very quiet on Miller Farm now. No Cooper to help me check chickens. Somehow, I’ll manage.
20
05, 2022
Ducks and Water
A Blog by Chicken Wrangler Sara
A friend of ours recently asked us to hatch ducks for them. They have a large pond and several of their ducks had disappeared.
We set an incubator full of duck eggs but there was a malfunction and only five ducklings hatched.
Ducklings are very cute – once they dry off. What amazes me about ducklings is how they are attracted to water from the time they hatch.
Rachel put water in their tub for them to drink but they all insisted on getting in it.
She quickly realized they needed more room so she moved them to the bathtub for a quick swim.
Now they are out with the big ducks. The first thing they did was find the mud puddle. Ducks are attracted to water wherever it is.
18
05, 2022
After the Bookstore closes
No Wednesday quote today. Instead here’s a fun video about what happens when the bookstore closes.
7
03, 2022
The Gonk Has Returned
Don’t know what a gonk is? Meet Gonk.
The Gonks’ signature features are a small, spherical body and two googly eyes. A gonk is not a gnome or a leprechaun though there are family resemblances.
Gnomes have a pointy hat and face full of hair. Gonks don’t. 
Leprechauns sport green hats and orange beards. Gonks don’t have orange beards or stovepipe hats.
Gonks are the creation of English inventor Robert Benson. They were quite literally the first toy craze in England post-World War II. Endorsements by Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers aided in their popularity.
Gonks also appeared in the 1964 movie Gonks Go Beat. The film is a take-off on the Romeo and Juliette theme. Two musical communities, one who likes rock and roll and one who likes ballads, become reunited through a couple who love across their communities.
With the publication of this 1960s Simplicity pattern. Gonks became homemade toys. Children loved them and they could be made from almost any material and any size.
The Gonk-guy below was created from the pattern by hubby-dear’s sister, seamstress extraordinaire.
Her Gonk creations were much desired and cherished.
Around our house, we have many of Nita’s Nitawork needlework creations including Mr. and Ms. Santa Claus, a holiday door wreath, and a Texas State Fair First Prize-winning wall-hanging of the Twelve Days of Christmas.
Sadly, our University of Texas gonk met his demise years ago.
That’s why I was so delighted to discover this round, cuddly guy with a great message on his shirt when helping Nita’s son clear out his sister’s apartment.
A treasure that brings back fond memories.
21
02, 2022
It’s the Big Ten
Anniversaries mark accomplishments and are fun to commemorate. February 24 will mark View From the Front Porch’s tenth blogiversary.
I’m not sure you’ll find blogiversary in the dictionary but when talking about an anniversary for a blog, blogiversary makes perfect sense
My original plan ten years ago was to blog every day. That quickly fell to the wayside when I realized writing blogs ate into my fiction writing time. Blogging became twice a week with a once-a-week blog from Chicken Wrangler Sara aka my daughter on Fridays about Life on the Miller Farm.
We also host guest bloggers periodically. If you’re interested in sharing a story or a word of wisdom, you’re invited to check out guest guidelines here. Authors are always welcome to introduce old or new releases, email me and we’ll discuss.
We’ve covered lots of topics over the years. You can read my very first blog, here. Or, Miller Farm’s first post here.
Our decade of blogging includes 1,295 posted blogs, 29,761 views from all over the world, 1,592 comments, and 175 followers.
By the way, it’s easy to subscribe and have the blog appear in your inbox. Simply, go to the home page and enter your email address in the box on the left sidebar below the purchase links to my published books.
Chicken Wrangler Sara and I send a big thank you for your support of View from the Front Porch this last decade and hope to see you more in the years ahead.
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12, 2021
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11, 2021
18
10, 2021
Southern Porching
It’s porch time on the Texas Gulf Coast. Gone are the oppressive high humidity and summer’s scorching heat. There are still warm days, but the evenings cool off. Unfortunately, mosquitoes still hang around. Sad to say, life in the south is never without mosquitoes.
If you take a ride on a country road, through suburban neighborhoods, or the tiny historic streets of cities like Charleston or New Orleans, you’ll find a wide variety of front porches. Southerners love porches. Entertaining on porches (porching) is a way of life in the South.
Going for rides is another Southern pastime, but that’s a topic for another blog.
Porches can be wide, spreading the width of the house. Wraparound ones circle the home. Some are small bungalow porches with columns of timber, stone, or brick. Others are portico porches also known as entry porches.
Every family home has its own anatomy for its porch.
But you’re guaranteed to see a welcome mat, real plants, a swing, a place for a dog, a ceiling fan on most, and even have a fireplace.
If you look closely, you’ll probably see a blue ceiling. The reason is muddled in folklore. It’s said “haint blue” wards off evil spirits. Haint being the southern word for ghost. Others say the color repels insects. Most simply fancy the elegant sky shade.
Screened porches make it possible to enjoy sitting outside on rainy days and stormy nights. Plus, the screen keeps out pesky bugs and insects. Screened back porches are particularly nice for a quiet “resting” place to read or a nap.
Fall is when seasonal decorating of porches begins in earnest. On your ride, check out all the lovely fall/Halloween decorations.
If you need ideas for your porch, check out 46 Fall Porch Decor Ideas That’ll Get You Ready for Autumn
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10, 2021
