A very full moon is rising over our ridge. The biodynamic calendar says it was full the other day, but sure does look full now. I read online that the July full moon is called the thunder moon due to summer storms. I didn't hear thunder but I saw flashes of lightening surround the ascending moon.
There are so many things I need to write but there has been little space for writing. Lots of guests, events and more. Tomorrow morning we will attempt to shear our sheep ourselves. Maybe I can fill you in once that is done.
Meanwhile, enjoy the somewhat cooler temperatures. Here's a tip for those of you who are sweating out the summer with us: a wet bandana or dish towel to wrap around your neck at night makes a nearly 90 degree bedroom feel a lot more comfortable.
And stay tuned: more grief stories, stories about our little farm church and its first baptism out at our friends' creek, and pressure washing the rest of the barn. Haymaking. A barn full of hay. And friend visits. And a little more grief thrown in for good measure. And a very strange moon phenomena that took place on Saturday evening. Please, someone, help me understand! It descended over the ridge at a little before 9pm then sometime around 10pm it began to rise over that very same ridge. I had witnesses. What was that about???
But now, off to Youtube to revisit the basics of sheep shearing...
Goodnight!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Thursday Evening
Long day. Hot and sticky.
Market went well. We had great sales and for that I am very thankful. I wondered if someone prayed for our customers to get out to buy bread! The air was sultry. The sweat rolled. A summer shower rolled in, dumped rain for a few minutes then rolled on, leaving us in a tropical greenhouse. Yeay for rain. Great for our fields. Despite the dog days weather plenty of customers came out. What great folks who go out of their way to support us.
Speaking of fields, when I got home this evening, I saw that our neighbor had finished baling the upper hay field. We got close to 35 big round bales up there. Not prize-winning hay, but adequate. It even had some green left in it. He cut the bottom field as I washed bakery dishes to get ready for tomorrow's baking. Hopefully the rain will hold off for 24 hours and we can rake it and bale it tomorrow afternoon. I will try to finish baking early so I can help.
Farmer's market was enjoyable. Exhausting to expend so much social energy, but nice. We all enjoy eating each other's food. I enjoyed Penelope's quinoa tabouli. Yum. Also I succumbed to temptation and bartered some pizza crusts for a couple of veggie chimichangas from Tamales and More. Others enjoyed my bread and Jimbo's smoked trout. Like one big potluck! I was also happy to bring home some of Jonathan's eggplant and more sunburst squash. I think I will stuff them for our company due to arrive next Monday.
Now it is time for sticky people to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day.
Market went well. We had great sales and for that I am very thankful. I wondered if someone prayed for our customers to get out to buy bread! The air was sultry. The sweat rolled. A summer shower rolled in, dumped rain for a few minutes then rolled on, leaving us in a tropical greenhouse. Yeay for rain. Great for our fields. Despite the dog days weather plenty of customers came out. What great folks who go out of their way to support us.
Speaking of fields, when I got home this evening, I saw that our neighbor had finished baling the upper hay field. We got close to 35 big round bales up there. Not prize-winning hay, but adequate. It even had some green left in it. He cut the bottom field as I washed bakery dishes to get ready for tomorrow's baking. Hopefully the rain will hold off for 24 hours and we can rake it and bale it tomorrow afternoon. I will try to finish baking early so I can help.
Farmer's market was enjoyable. Exhausting to expend so much social energy, but nice. We all enjoy eating each other's food. I enjoyed Penelope's quinoa tabouli. Yum. Also I succumbed to temptation and bartered some pizza crusts for a couple of veggie chimichangas from Tamales and More. Others enjoyed my bread and Jimbo's smoked trout. Like one big potluck! I was also happy to bring home some of Jonathan's eggplant and more sunburst squash. I think I will stuff them for our company due to arrive next Monday.
Now it is time for sticky people to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday Evening
Today after milking and eating a nice omelet for breakfast Patrick and I tackled a few sheep to inject them with some medicine for parasites. Yesterday I ordered shearing equipment, so we will treat the rest of the flock when we attempt to shear them next week.
After working on the sheep, Patrick and I moved round bales of hay from the field into the barn. I was thankful to have a tractor for that job. The bales must weigh half a ton. They are nicely tucked in the dry barn, waiting to fill their role in the cold, dark days of winter.
The girls took care of laundry because they didn't feel like going outdoors in the humid heat. Thomas shoveled out a sidewalk by the basement door for me. I swept out the basement and gave it a bleach bath. We weed-eated, we cleaned out a feed closet.
Lots of little tasks that added up to a lot of hard work. A few people dropped in to pick up their milk shares.
At some point, I was going through the junk that Patrick pulled out of the feed closet off our back door. There was a big trash can filled up with shoes that Philip had stashed at some point when he was cleaning up. Out of sight, out of mind. I found missing Sunday shoes for little girls, now two sizes too small. Snow boots from three years ago. Ice skates. Leaky rubber boots. Ratty tennis shoes. Sandals for little girls. More work boots.
I felt a moment of aggravation, wondering why Philip would clean up by stashing. Then I came across his work shoes. Purchased a few years ago from Goodwill. Kind of ratty when he bought them, but he wore them all the time. I picked them up to throw in the contractor trash bag and started to weep.
Out of the clear blue sky. I wasn't even sad. I felt happy to get some tasks taken care of.
Cried and cried and cried and cried. Sobbed and stroked the old worn out shoes. Missed him.
We decided to save the shoes.
Not in the house or in the old trash can in the storage closet, but tucked out in the tractor shed in the tool area. Looking at those shoes makes me think of how hard working Philip was. How he loved to be frugal and to serve us. How good he was to us.
The kids didn't freak out to see me weep. They were matter of fact and compassionate. And even though they didn't cry, they were happy that I didn't throw away Philip's old shoes.
I did throw away all the leaky rubber boots and the too small sunday shoes, the snow shoes and the ratty tennis shoes. It feels great to see a cleaned out feed closet with dog food in the big old trash can instead of mismatched shoes. How bizarre that seeing a pair of shoes would make me weep.
By the way, the evening is cooler, but not cool. Feels like the end of July. Boy am I thankful to live in our moderate valley. Could be worse. The moon is waxing, larger than half. There was a rainbow around it this evening and I saw it hanging over the ridge to the south, behind the house. We had a couple of sprinkles today but no major rain.
Must go to bed. Bakery operates tomorrow.
After working on the sheep, Patrick and I moved round bales of hay from the field into the barn. I was thankful to have a tractor for that job. The bales must weigh half a ton. They are nicely tucked in the dry barn, waiting to fill their role in the cold, dark days of winter.
The girls took care of laundry because they didn't feel like going outdoors in the humid heat. Thomas shoveled out a sidewalk by the basement door for me. I swept out the basement and gave it a bleach bath. We weed-eated, we cleaned out a feed closet.
Lots of little tasks that added up to a lot of hard work. A few people dropped in to pick up their milk shares.
At some point, I was going through the junk that Patrick pulled out of the feed closet off our back door. There was a big trash can filled up with shoes that Philip had stashed at some point when he was cleaning up. Out of sight, out of mind. I found missing Sunday shoes for little girls, now two sizes too small. Snow boots from three years ago. Ice skates. Leaky rubber boots. Ratty tennis shoes. Sandals for little girls. More work boots.
I felt a moment of aggravation, wondering why Philip would clean up by stashing. Then I came across his work shoes. Purchased a few years ago from Goodwill. Kind of ratty when he bought them, but he wore them all the time. I picked them up to throw in the contractor trash bag and started to weep.
Out of the clear blue sky. I wasn't even sad. I felt happy to get some tasks taken care of.
Cried and cried and cried and cried. Sobbed and stroked the old worn out shoes. Missed him.
We decided to save the shoes.
Not in the house or in the old trash can in the storage closet, but tucked out in the tractor shed in the tool area. Looking at those shoes makes me think of how hard working Philip was. How he loved to be frugal and to serve us. How good he was to us.
The kids didn't freak out to see me weep. They were matter of fact and compassionate. And even though they didn't cry, they were happy that I didn't throw away Philip's old shoes.
I did throw away all the leaky rubber boots and the too small sunday shoes, the snow shoes and the ratty tennis shoes. It feels great to see a cleaned out feed closet with dog food in the big old trash can instead of mismatched shoes. How bizarre that seeing a pair of shoes would make me weep.
By the way, the evening is cooler, but not cool. Feels like the end of July. Boy am I thankful to live in our moderate valley. Could be worse. The moon is waxing, larger than half. There was a rainbow around it this evening and I saw it hanging over the ridge to the south, behind the house. We had a couple of sprinkles today but no major rain.
Must go to bed. Bakery operates tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
On Why We Homeschool
I never chose to homeschool for religious purposes. Don't think that is wrong, it just wasn't our reason for homeschooling.
I never chose to homeschool to protect my children from the evils of the world. Or to isolate them from people who have different world views. We regularly have people seated around our table who hold different religious views, different political views and different ideological views. Heck, even Philip and I disagreed about many things in politics and religion, so homeschooling couldn't protect the kids from our differences.
I didn't choose to homeschool because I wanted to protect my children from the theory of evolution. I believe that God created the world, but I have no earthly idea how long those 6 days took in our real time. Sorry, but I don't really care if we are in a young earth or an old earth, or if my Creator happened to be behind a really big bang.
I didn't choose to homeschool to isolate them from their worldly peers who play with electronics and watch tv and wear bikinis. We don't have a tv, but they love to watch tv when they visit their friends and playing on the computer is a favorite pasttime, even though we choose to do other things besides that on our farm.
We have gay friends and Baptist friends and conservative friends and liberal friends and farmers and computer techie friends and young and old friends, friends who love Jesus and others who don't.
The reason I love to homeschool is that I have always loved living a complete life, a life that involves a lot of reading around the table, sharing fairy tales and history and science and really great literature. Weeping together over the sad parts, laughing until we cried in the funny parts. I loved being a part of the moment when a certain math problem finally made sense. To the mother and the child, all at the same time. I loved the intimacy that came all of us, toddler to teenager, studying the same history topic all at the same time, then going on an adventure to the actual site to see where it all took place.
I remember the year, when Thomas was 9, that he struggled to read the Cat in the Hat and progressed, in a matter of months, to reading The Hobbit. He now has stacks of books around his chair in his room, everything from World War II history to Russian novels, spy thrillers, sci-fi and graphic novels.
During our homeschool we have brainstormed farm vision. We have researched cool and amazing facts about ancient Persian history. We have turned science into practical biology, with Dr. friend outlining the complete inner workings of the chickens and hog we butchered together.
Sex education takes place on a regular basis when it is breeding season. Nora works on phonics decoding everytime she puts a label on our bread for market. The kids work on social skills as they interact with customers at the farmer's market, with interns on the farm and with other friends whose lives interface with ours.
Rose got an amazing education in economics when she decided on her own to sell fresh mint tea at the market. Maggie worked on home economics, learning to sew and market shopping bags. Patrick could be a statesman, the education he has gotten running the Botetourt farmer's market all on his own. Thomas has had a season of working the bakery with me for a year, last year getting up regularly at 4:30 to help with the milling and washing up.
All this and more.
At times it is frustrating to spend so many hours with one's family. Hard to motivate them and boss them and manage them.
But it has been the biggest joy in my life.
Middle of July is typically when Philip and I would begin to evaluate our homeschool plan, praying that God would show us what was the right direction for the coming fall semester. We love homeschooling, but felt like it was best to decide year by year what was best for our children.
Last year I considered public school because of my increased work load. Philip wasn't feeling as well and I thought it would be hard for me to manage. But with prayer and consideration, we decided to continue on our regular course.
I am glad we did because we had some terrific, even if hard, family time. The kids had a lot of dad time.
Now I am working more hours and have decided that it is the right time to enlist the help of our wonderful neighbors who are teaching in the public school. At least for this season of our life as we adjust and figure out how to manage without Philip.
We are all nervous about this very huge change in our life. I am terribly grieved.
But I remind the kids that some things about us are probably not going to change. We will always enjoy reading together. We will still farm together, but it will have to be before school and after. They will still go to farmer's market with me. We may not be the model public school family because farming will be the extra curricular and I don't plan on driving kids to every activity under the sun.
Now it is time to fill out paperwork and registration stuff. Look at student supply lists and get physicals. Who knows? We have considered so very many options, I can't imagine, but maybe another option will present itself that is even better than the public school.
For now we attempt to adjust.
Philip's death means a lot of changes on the farm. I feel like the surrender of our homeschool is another death. Death of a vision of our ideal world.
But isn't real life a continuing death and rebirth, a regeneration, just like the seasons? Some years our goats produce many many babies. Some not. Some years the garden produces tomatoes, sometimes it is the butternut squash and cucumbers that flourish. We might miss the tomatoes in the cucumber year, but we learn to appreciate the variety and the newness of the seasons, whatever they bring.
Surrender greatly hurts my pride. I have to admit it. I have no idea what our future holds and that hurts too, and makes me nervous. The kids are nervous about the thought of a new school but kind of excited about the challenge. I think they will do great. Our homeschool has trained them to be adaptable and flexible and that should serve them well in this new chapter, no matter how long it lasts.
I never chose to homeschool to protect my children from the evils of the world. Or to isolate them from people who have different world views. We regularly have people seated around our table who hold different religious views, different political views and different ideological views. Heck, even Philip and I disagreed about many things in politics and religion, so homeschooling couldn't protect the kids from our differences.
I didn't choose to homeschool because I wanted to protect my children from the theory of evolution. I believe that God created the world, but I have no earthly idea how long those 6 days took in our real time. Sorry, but I don't really care if we are in a young earth or an old earth, or if my Creator happened to be behind a really big bang.
I didn't choose to homeschool to isolate them from their worldly peers who play with electronics and watch tv and wear bikinis. We don't have a tv, but they love to watch tv when they visit their friends and playing on the computer is a favorite pasttime, even though we choose to do other things besides that on our farm.
We have gay friends and Baptist friends and conservative friends and liberal friends and farmers and computer techie friends and young and old friends, friends who love Jesus and others who don't.
The reason I love to homeschool is that I have always loved living a complete life, a life that involves a lot of reading around the table, sharing fairy tales and history and science and really great literature. Weeping together over the sad parts, laughing until we cried in the funny parts. I loved being a part of the moment when a certain math problem finally made sense. To the mother and the child, all at the same time. I loved the intimacy that came all of us, toddler to teenager, studying the same history topic all at the same time, then going on an adventure to the actual site to see where it all took place.
I remember the year, when Thomas was 9, that he struggled to read the Cat in the Hat and progressed, in a matter of months, to reading The Hobbit. He now has stacks of books around his chair in his room, everything from World War II history to Russian novels, spy thrillers, sci-fi and graphic novels.
During our homeschool we have brainstormed farm vision. We have researched cool and amazing facts about ancient Persian history. We have turned science into practical biology, with Dr. friend outlining the complete inner workings of the chickens and hog we butchered together.
Sex education takes place on a regular basis when it is breeding season. Nora works on phonics decoding everytime she puts a label on our bread for market. The kids work on social skills as they interact with customers at the farmer's market, with interns on the farm and with other friends whose lives interface with ours.
Rose got an amazing education in economics when she decided on her own to sell fresh mint tea at the market. Maggie worked on home economics, learning to sew and market shopping bags. Patrick could be a statesman, the education he has gotten running the Botetourt farmer's market all on his own. Thomas has had a season of working the bakery with me for a year, last year getting up regularly at 4:30 to help with the milling and washing up.
All this and more.
At times it is frustrating to spend so many hours with one's family. Hard to motivate them and boss them and manage them.
But it has been the biggest joy in my life.
Middle of July is typically when Philip and I would begin to evaluate our homeschool plan, praying that God would show us what was the right direction for the coming fall semester. We love homeschooling, but felt like it was best to decide year by year what was best for our children.
Last year I considered public school because of my increased work load. Philip wasn't feeling as well and I thought it would be hard for me to manage. But with prayer and consideration, we decided to continue on our regular course.
I am glad we did because we had some terrific, even if hard, family time. The kids had a lot of dad time.
Now I am working more hours and have decided that it is the right time to enlist the help of our wonderful neighbors who are teaching in the public school. At least for this season of our life as we adjust and figure out how to manage without Philip.
We are all nervous about this very huge change in our life. I am terribly grieved.
But I remind the kids that some things about us are probably not going to change. We will always enjoy reading together. We will still farm together, but it will have to be before school and after. They will still go to farmer's market with me. We may not be the model public school family because farming will be the extra curricular and I don't plan on driving kids to every activity under the sun.
Now it is time to fill out paperwork and registration stuff. Look at student supply lists and get physicals. Who knows? We have considered so very many options, I can't imagine, but maybe another option will present itself that is even better than the public school.
For now we attempt to adjust.
Philip's death means a lot of changes on the farm. I feel like the surrender of our homeschool is another death. Death of a vision of our ideal world.
But isn't real life a continuing death and rebirth, a regeneration, just like the seasons? Some years our goats produce many many babies. Some not. Some years the garden produces tomatoes, sometimes it is the butternut squash and cucumbers that flourish. We might miss the tomatoes in the cucumber year, but we learn to appreciate the variety and the newness of the seasons, whatever they bring.
Surrender greatly hurts my pride. I have to admit it. I have no idea what our future holds and that hurts too, and makes me nervous. The kids are nervous about the thought of a new school but kind of excited about the challenge. I think they will do great. Our homeschool has trained them to be adaptable and flexible and that should serve them well in this new chapter, no matter how long it lasts.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Monday Evening
Last night I fell asleep with a book before 8pm. It was delicious getting a more than full night's worth of sleep. When 6am rolled around I wasn't even tired. The morning breeze felt so luxurious as I sat and drank my cups of hot tea. We were out of heavy cream, so I gave up the coffee. Drinking hot tea in the morning made me think of my mom.
After breakfast and chores we all worked in the garden for some time this morning. Thomas dug up more potatoes and Patrick picked beets and onions and carrots. Rose requested Mrs. Geiger's recipe for pickled beets so I better ask her. We noticed that the damson plums are almost ripe so I looked up my plum jam recipe. Also noticed a recipe for Damson plum liquer. Rachel and I think that we should give that a try for the holidays!
As we worked in the garden I noticed the smell of the corn tassels. So sweet. Bees were buzzing happily, taking care to pollinate the corn and store up some nectar. I had forgotten about the sweet perfume of the corn.
I took care of town chores this afternoon and a visit to a friend's home. Several decisions weighed heavily on my mind so I went out to the cemetery to think. I have found that the cemetery is a great place to be still and cry out for wisdom. I think I have some answers, and while I am not thrilled about them, I have a peace that they are for the best. I missed being able to work out these things with Philip. Am thankful for friends who are willing to listen as I work them out.
This evening I didn't feel like milking, but went out anyway. The air is cool outdoors and the moon, almost half full, was hanging over the southwest part of the ridge. It was funny to see a hen hop up into a little decorative peach tree, leaving her little hatchling on the ground. She hopped and fluttered, trying to fly up like her mama, but just couldn't reach that lower branch. The mama clucked and clucked. In a minute I will check and see how they resolved their situation.
When I drove in this evening I noticed that the rest of the upper hay field has been mown. Let's cross fingers that it dries and that we can rake it and bale it tomorrow.
The sheep mamas are baaing to the lambies to stop their playing and head to the barn. Time to call it a day. So much more grass to munch tomorrow. They must take a rest. And so must I.
After breakfast and chores we all worked in the garden for some time this morning. Thomas dug up more potatoes and Patrick picked beets and onions and carrots. Rose requested Mrs. Geiger's recipe for pickled beets so I better ask her. We noticed that the damson plums are almost ripe so I looked up my plum jam recipe. Also noticed a recipe for Damson plum liquer. Rachel and I think that we should give that a try for the holidays!
As we worked in the garden I noticed the smell of the corn tassels. So sweet. Bees were buzzing happily, taking care to pollinate the corn and store up some nectar. I had forgotten about the sweet perfume of the corn.
I took care of town chores this afternoon and a visit to a friend's home. Several decisions weighed heavily on my mind so I went out to the cemetery to think. I have found that the cemetery is a great place to be still and cry out for wisdom. I think I have some answers, and while I am not thrilled about them, I have a peace that they are for the best. I missed being able to work out these things with Philip. Am thankful for friends who are willing to listen as I work them out.
This evening I didn't feel like milking, but went out anyway. The air is cool outdoors and the moon, almost half full, was hanging over the southwest part of the ridge. It was funny to see a hen hop up into a little decorative peach tree, leaving her little hatchling on the ground. She hopped and fluttered, trying to fly up like her mama, but just couldn't reach that lower branch. The mama clucked and clucked. In a minute I will check and see how they resolved their situation.
When I drove in this evening I noticed that the rest of the upper hay field has been mown. Let's cross fingers that it dries and that we can rake it and bale it tomorrow.
The sheep mamas are baaing to the lambies to stop their playing and head to the barn. Time to call it a day. So much more grass to munch tomorrow. They must take a rest. And so must I.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Saturday Evening
This morning the market was sunny and hot. Humidity weighed upon us as we chatted with our customers. I snagged ice from the cooler to put in my coffee.
All of a sudden, the sky darkened behind our tents and a streak of lightening flashed.
It may have been a quarter to noon, but we all scrambled to put up our goods and take down our tents and tables before the storm hit.
Customers and vendors all worked together side by side, carrying goods to the vehicles and loading up the market gear. The wind blew away the heat and humidity and the drops of rain seemed to sprinkle us with a newfound energy.
It was kind of fun and exciting to work together to beat the storm.
The rain didn't stick around for long, but it did help to drop the temperatures about ten degrees which made for a much more pleasant afternoon nap!
After tending to some animals and having a brief stroll around the farm, I went to the garden to pick some potatoes and some rosemary. Sauteed a delicious trout filet from Big Pine Trout Farm that I dredged in a little spelt flour. Threw in some minced garlic and rosemary and when the trout was almost done, I added some vinegar to carmelize everything. A very fresh potato on the side was just perfect.
The kids are at a baseball game with friends and I am home for a brief spell of quiet. The kitchen is clean and the floor is swept. Sounds like time to take a book to the front porch. The laundry will have to wait.
All of a sudden, the sky darkened behind our tents and a streak of lightening flashed.
It may have been a quarter to noon, but we all scrambled to put up our goods and take down our tents and tables before the storm hit.
Customers and vendors all worked together side by side, carrying goods to the vehicles and loading up the market gear. The wind blew away the heat and humidity and the drops of rain seemed to sprinkle us with a newfound energy.
It was kind of fun and exciting to work together to beat the storm.
The rain didn't stick around for long, but it did help to drop the temperatures about ten degrees which made for a much more pleasant afternoon nap!
After tending to some animals and having a brief stroll around the farm, I went to the garden to pick some potatoes and some rosemary. Sauteed a delicious trout filet from Big Pine Trout Farm that I dredged in a little spelt flour. Threw in some minced garlic and rosemary and when the trout was almost done, I added some vinegar to carmelize everything. A very fresh potato on the side was just perfect.
The kids are at a baseball game with friends and I am home for a brief spell of quiet. The kitchen is clean and the floor is swept. Sounds like time to take a book to the front porch. The laundry will have to wait.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Friday Evening
The bread is wrapped. The dishes are washed. The floors are swept.
Since the kids were home today I made the executive decision to bake a few less loaves and supervise them in some household chores. The first chore was hunting down the cows who escaped from our field, shoved through a fence and were over a couple of little ridges on our neighbor's 100 acres of woods.
Since they worked hard and hiked far I wanted to make sure they had a good lunch, so the boys fried up bacon on the side and then cooked up chopped eggplant, onions, garlic, zucchini and mushrooms in the skillet. A bunch of basil and some sea salt made a perfect veggie lunch.
I have noticed that the last couple of weeks we are eating way more vegetables. And they are all grown by us or by our friends.
Tonight I was too tired to cook but wanted to eat anyway. Thankfully the chinese takeout is too far to deliver so I was forced to make our own stirfry for supper and it took less time than it would have taken to drive to the restaurant. Jonathan, a farmer friend at the Catawba market traded me some of his cabbage the other day. I stir fried it with some of our onions, peppers and carrots and the Thomas's garlic. Added soy sauce and some organic miso paste.
Patrick is milking Coco to give me a break since I washed his dishes. As soon as he is done we will take our vegetables out to the cool evening air and enjoy our supper. Plain fare, and fast food, but delicious. If I had ginger root on hand it would be even better. Nevermind. The sweet cabbage and carrots will be delicious. The kids will have fresh bread.
Not me.
Tired of bread.
See you at the market tomorrow! I am certain we will all find some terrific gourmet treats to enjoy for good health.
Since the kids were home today I made the executive decision to bake a few less loaves and supervise them in some household chores. The first chore was hunting down the cows who escaped from our field, shoved through a fence and were over a couple of little ridges on our neighbor's 100 acres of woods.
Since they worked hard and hiked far I wanted to make sure they had a good lunch, so the boys fried up bacon on the side and then cooked up chopped eggplant, onions, garlic, zucchini and mushrooms in the skillet. A bunch of basil and some sea salt made a perfect veggie lunch.
I have noticed that the last couple of weeks we are eating way more vegetables. And they are all grown by us or by our friends.
Tonight I was too tired to cook but wanted to eat anyway. Thankfully the chinese takeout is too far to deliver so I was forced to make our own stirfry for supper and it took less time than it would have taken to drive to the restaurant. Jonathan, a farmer friend at the Catawba market traded me some of his cabbage the other day. I stir fried it with some of our onions, peppers and carrots and the Thomas's garlic. Added soy sauce and some organic miso paste.
Patrick is milking Coco to give me a break since I washed his dishes. As soon as he is done we will take our vegetables out to the cool evening air and enjoy our supper. Plain fare, and fast food, but delicious. If I had ginger root on hand it would be even better. Nevermind. The sweet cabbage and carrots will be delicious. The kids will have fresh bread.
Not me.
Tired of bread.
See you at the market tomorrow! I am certain we will all find some terrific gourmet treats to enjoy for good health.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Thursday Evening
The pond is not quite full, but certainly more full than a few days ago. The peepers are back to peeping and the bull frog is back to singing bass.
I had missed them during the dry days.
Sheep are happy to graze in the cool evening. I sat on the porch for an hour this evening watching them work over the upper field.
Farmer's market and baking went well today. It was slow so we had plenty of time to visit with other farmers. The five o'clock wake up time is working pretty well. I notice that I am not nearly as exhausted as I was two weeks ago.
Better go to sleep. But I think I may have to enjoy the coolness of the evening for a few more minutes. The waxing crescent moon is descending in the west. So pretty.
I had missed them during the dry days.
Sheep are happy to graze in the cool evening. I sat on the porch for an hour this evening watching them work over the upper field.
Farmer's market and baking went well today. It was slow so we had plenty of time to visit with other farmers. The five o'clock wake up time is working pretty well. I notice that I am not nearly as exhausted as I was two weeks ago.
Better go to sleep. But I think I may have to enjoy the coolness of the evening for a few more minutes. The waxing crescent moon is descending in the west. So pretty.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Manure
My new favorite thing on the farm is Larry's commercial power washer.
I borrowed it to take care of some barn cleanup.
First of all I worked over the new milking stanchion area.
Wow.
It was a zen-like exercise, washing down the little bits of grain, the spilled milk, the grime that settles in. We wash the area with a garden hose and sweep but that cannot compare to the power of Larry's power washer.
We had worked on manure removal in the barn earlier in the day and I was so excited about the borrowed tool that I moved it into the barn to clean the old milking area and the concrete lane in the middle of the barn.
I washed down the cobwebs, the bits of hay, the old dry manure, the dust.
I got covered in splashed on manure, head to toe. Thanked God for such a strong immune system and wondered if there were a way to develop a program to help other people develop a healthy immune system by having them come clean our barn. I wouldn't charge them too terribly much.
Working on the scrub down made me feel happy. I love our barn. I love loving on our barn. But as my helpers disappeared and the day grew short, I started to get very frustrated. At first I thought it was about the kids who would rather do other things than help me on the barn.
And that was a part of it.
But I also felt frustrated because I feel thwarted at times because I want to be a farmer and tend my sheep and weed my garden and clean my barn, but things like taxes and accounting and the bakery take up a large portion of my time.
Don't get me wrong. I am unbelievably thankful that I have been given the opportunity to be an entrepeneur. Our business is successful so far and has provided a decent income. Decent enough income to be able to stay on the farm. The bakery fits our family mission. It works hand in hand with the farm as a complimentary function.
I guess I felt the same frustration felt by many other countless farmers who also have to work another job to pay the bills. There are only so many hours in the day, even for those of us who are happy to work really long ones. I want more time to work on my farm.
I also felt frustrated because I remembered that as a family we would all seven of us work very hard, usually quarterly, to do a big, thorough barn clean up. Two grownups plus the kids were able to make a big dent in the duties.
With Philip gone I feel frustrated to have to be the bad guy all the time. The mean mom boss having to always tell someone to do something.
We are still learning our new roles and it is a bit complicated. Trying to figure out if the system needs to be revised.
I think it does, but that would require some extra time to sit down and work out duties and division of labor.
During our Bible study time tonight I asked the gals to pray for me to be a wise and kind manager. Way more patient than I am. I didn't even bother to ask them to pray for me to be nice. I hope God will work that out in the long run.
Tomorrow I will awake and bake, hopefully. The farm maintenance will have to wait for a time. But tonight I will dream of scrubbed clean barns. And the beams that drew me to this farm on the very first visit with the realtor, hand hewn logs, old, very old, cut by some tough old fellows, shaped with their tools, hauled with their horses and put into place by some very amazing old farmers. It is an embarassment that I am trying to work this farm in the footsteps of those wise men. I know nothing.
But I aspire, in these faltering steps, to live a life I think we were born to live. And I laugh, thinking about how such a modern convenience like that commercial power washer could bring me such simple and pure joy!
The kids wanted to use it to wash things down, but I claim seniority. Can't wait to knock down a few more spider webs.
By the way, I sure am thankful for a shower and clean water.
I borrowed it to take care of some barn cleanup.
First of all I worked over the new milking stanchion area.
Wow.
It was a zen-like exercise, washing down the little bits of grain, the spilled milk, the grime that settles in. We wash the area with a garden hose and sweep but that cannot compare to the power of Larry's power washer.
We had worked on manure removal in the barn earlier in the day and I was so excited about the borrowed tool that I moved it into the barn to clean the old milking area and the concrete lane in the middle of the barn.
I washed down the cobwebs, the bits of hay, the old dry manure, the dust.
I got covered in splashed on manure, head to toe. Thanked God for such a strong immune system and wondered if there were a way to develop a program to help other people develop a healthy immune system by having them come clean our barn. I wouldn't charge them too terribly much.
Working on the scrub down made me feel happy. I love our barn. I love loving on our barn. But as my helpers disappeared and the day grew short, I started to get very frustrated. At first I thought it was about the kids who would rather do other things than help me on the barn.
And that was a part of it.
But I also felt frustrated because I feel thwarted at times because I want to be a farmer and tend my sheep and weed my garden and clean my barn, but things like taxes and accounting and the bakery take up a large portion of my time.
Don't get me wrong. I am unbelievably thankful that I have been given the opportunity to be an entrepeneur. Our business is successful so far and has provided a decent income. Decent enough income to be able to stay on the farm. The bakery fits our family mission. It works hand in hand with the farm as a complimentary function.
I guess I felt the same frustration felt by many other countless farmers who also have to work another job to pay the bills. There are only so many hours in the day, even for those of us who are happy to work really long ones. I want more time to work on my farm.
I also felt frustrated because I remembered that as a family we would all seven of us work very hard, usually quarterly, to do a big, thorough barn clean up. Two grownups plus the kids were able to make a big dent in the duties.
With Philip gone I feel frustrated to have to be the bad guy all the time. The mean mom boss having to always tell someone to do something.
We are still learning our new roles and it is a bit complicated. Trying to figure out if the system needs to be revised.
I think it does, but that would require some extra time to sit down and work out duties and division of labor.
During our Bible study time tonight I asked the gals to pray for me to be a wise and kind manager. Way more patient than I am. I didn't even bother to ask them to pray for me to be nice. I hope God will work that out in the long run.
Tomorrow I will awake and bake, hopefully. The farm maintenance will have to wait for a time. But tonight I will dream of scrubbed clean barns. And the beams that drew me to this farm on the very first visit with the realtor, hand hewn logs, old, very old, cut by some tough old fellows, shaped with their tools, hauled with their horses and put into place by some very amazing old farmers. It is an embarassment that I am trying to work this farm in the footsteps of those wise men. I know nothing.
But I aspire, in these faltering steps, to live a life I think we were born to live. And I laugh, thinking about how such a modern convenience like that commercial power washer could bring me such simple and pure joy!
The kids wanted to use it to wash things down, but I claim seniority. Can't wait to knock down a few more spider webs.
By the way, I sure am thankful for a shower and clean water.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Showers of Blessings
Oh, joyous frogs!
Oh, delighted ducks!
The rain came down, again and again and the flash floods filled our pond.
Everything is green and clean and fresh. I can almost hear the weeds growing. Coco is happy. I love to hear her munch, munch, munch the grass that is green now instead of brown and crunchy.
What a gift is the rain. Nothing like a drought to make one appreciative. Nora and Rose are especially appreciative as they stomp the temporary creek in our front yard that flowed down from the Jefferson National Forest, across the road. I think I will sit out on the front porch and watch them.
By the way, while Thomas and I went to his Asperger's group meeting, Maggie and Nora stayed home and Maggie made her first batch of apricot jam from our friends' fruit off their tree down the road. I am so proud of her. Homemade apricot jam is our family favorite to spread on our signature freshly milled spelt pound cake birthday cake. Yum.
I better head to the front porch and enjoy the stillness. Hope you can do the same.
Oh, delighted ducks!
The rain came down, again and again and the flash floods filled our pond.
Everything is green and clean and fresh. I can almost hear the weeds growing. Coco is happy. I love to hear her munch, munch, munch the grass that is green now instead of brown and crunchy.
What a gift is the rain. Nothing like a drought to make one appreciative. Nora and Rose are especially appreciative as they stomp the temporary creek in our front yard that flowed down from the Jefferson National Forest, across the road. I think I will sit out on the front porch and watch them.
By the way, while Thomas and I went to his Asperger's group meeting, Maggie and Nora stayed home and Maggie made her first batch of apricot jam from our friends' fruit off their tree down the road. I am so proud of her. Homemade apricot jam is our family favorite to spread on our signature freshly milled spelt pound cake birthday cake. Yum.
I better head to the front porch and enjoy the stillness. Hope you can do the same.
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