A whole row of them. The number as high as 18. Calves. It's that time. They're not in their pens yet. We still need to build them. There's so much to be done. Each calf needs a bottle. 18 of them. 2 bottles a piece. We love to have helpers on the farm. We've had a lot of them lately. We're so short on help. So, I pitch in. (Sometimes I think they wish I would stay home. I can be a little needy.) It was hot and I was sweaty. The flies hovering and biting my ankles. That's the day I choose to feed calves. But it was beautiful too. That farm boy came out to ... View Post
Rain, Rain, Go Away!
The rain! The gloom. It's been our constant companion! A random day of sunshine here or there. It's cold, damp and down right depressing. Discouraging. I watch my farmer push through. I do the complaining. I do the whining. He just works. Steady. Reliable. Through whatever comes his way. This rain doesn't seem to rock him. He's tired. He's weary. But he doesn't stop. The cows get milked. He lets the wee ones run with their mama's. Despite the mud everywhere the young ladies still find time to huddle. What are they up to? Plotting to take out the nearest fence, most ... View Post
To Hold the Moment
The petals danced in the wind. Pale, pink blossoms showering the yard. Spinning, whirling. Images of Anne of Green Gables The White Way of Delight flutter through my mind. Delightful visions. This tree. This moment. I want to hold it. The beauty. To behold. If we choose. I may have missed the significance; closed my eyes to what needed to be seen. We dash through life. Event to event. Attempts to numb pain. Create a rush. Rare do we pause; until moments like this; create ... View Post
Calves! They’re Everywhere!
Sunshine spilled over the mountain this morning. Cool mornings force us to use heat. Hot coffee awaits me as I stumble to the kitchen. I run the schedule through my head. I beat eggs and try not to burn toast. I burn eggs and the toast is safe. I continue the run through of the schedule. There's school work and book work. Calves need to be feed. Oh those calves! They're everywhere! Calves always mean Spring here on the farm. The Winter is shedding it's skin. Milk production will return to a ... View Post
Even in the Rush. . . We Can Slow it Down
The sun shone this weekend. For the whole weekend. There were no extra activities. Time seemed to slow. No rushing. Dinner with friends. The farm boy playing music. Time with my farmer. There was hand holding. Time to talk. Slow. Last minute guests at the guest house. Sheets on the line. Book work. Time for listening and dreaming. A fire at my partner in crime's home. Coffee. Slow. Soaking in the sun. Compost delivery. A ride in the truck to visit neighbors. No ... View Post
Celebrating my Farmer
He hangs yellow ribbons. This farmer of mine. He texts the college girl on her way home. She's on a bus headed our way. "He'll tie a yellow ribbon round the Old Oak Tree." She needs to look up the lyrics. You tube will show her what her parents have neglected. We pull into the driveway. There are yellow ribbons. I wonder at it. Had I missed these before I left. She gradually unfolds the story. I marvel at the gesture. Yellow ribbons and a song to welcome his daughter home. His quiet ... View Post