Thursday Evening

I was grateful to be able to mill and bake today. The feed corn helped to clean the mill a bit. Not perfectly, but better than before.

We had several drop-in customers. One was a friend from our homeschool coop. As her children hunted eggs with the kids and played down by the creek she encouraged me and I made bread and rolled out pizza crusts. Her words of blessing toward me and the kids and our new public school adventure were just in time.

The day was hot and thunderstormy. We staked our tents at the farmer's market this afternoon, but when gale force winds and rain arrived, we still had to hold on for dear life. Signs were flying everywhere. A few tents were blown over and destroyed. Tables were dumped. Goods were drenched. Everyone worked together to make the best out of a challenging situation.

The wind and rain stopped. Drenched vendors rearranged and all of a sudden the sun returned, the skies cleared and those of us who could went back to business. I was so thankful that we managed to sell most of our breads and pizzas.

Sean and Julie dropped by. What a surprise! Their visit made the end of the market a real treat. It is hard to believe that this sweet newlywed couple, young and happy and on vacation down the road would want to spend time chatting with the former "farm boss!" I love them so much and am grateful for the amazing friendships that have come about, all interestingly linked to the farm.

After supper and dishes, (ugh, all the bakery dishes) Nora and Rose and I went out to the front porch to read our chapter in the dusk. It was the chapter in Charlotte's Web about crickets singing the song of the end of summer. Our crickets sang along with the story and as the sun set considerably earlier than last week I knew the song was true.

I must hit the sack and get ready for another bakery day tomorrow, but I have to mention that one of the sweetest sights I saw all day was Coco, standing at the fence in the front, lovingly kissing Duncan the bull through the wire. Cows are so tender toward one another. Even the calves like to give each other a gentle lick on the side of the face as a greeting or gentle gesture. Duncan gave her a kiss and they stood quietly, facing each other for a very long time. It made us smile.