beat the heat

What can I say. I'm frikin hot.

Update on Granny

All five Llamas are settling in quite fine. Kalamazoo, the gelding that I put in with the goats has finally ventured out of the yard. He went out yesterday for about 30 minutes and came right back. He stands at the gate looking toward the pasture his sisters are in but he wont be able to see them because they are off exploring. As a matter of fact I couldn't find them the other night. Linda and I went for a walk at dusk and had no luck figuring out where they were. So in the morning I took the tractor out and drove along the edges of the tree line.

I finally found them in a really nice little shaded thicket. Granny was on her side again, I really thought she was dead this time. I cautiously walked up. Nope she was alive. I helped her get up. We stood there for a while so she could find her sea legs. She seemed not to mind at all being talked to and caressed. Her long neck tall and proud. She passed a lot of gas right then.

Soon she was off with the others eating and keeping her eye sharp to the tree line and thick woods. Soon I couldn't see them. Later in the evening just before chore time I went to check on them and again and she was down on her side. See for some reason once she is on her side, she cant right herself, she is stuck. So I push her up and shes fine. But this time she was too weak to get up. I sat with her for a long time. Talking to her. The other three Llama stood very close by bending their necks down to sniff me. I felt clearly welcome. I tried to get her up but no good, so I gave up until Linda got home. We brought her water (which she drank) and a little sheep drench (glucose and minerals and stuff) but we still could not get her up.

Granny is 18. I clearly knew she came here to die, but to die with her herd, her family with grace and dignity. When I'm with her I feel like I'm back with my old granny, gas and all. Its nice in a way. I don't have pity for her really, she would hate that I'm sure. But I'm trying my hardest to make this transition as peaceful and loving as I can. The other girls wont leave her side so I'm not concerned about a coyote attack. But I'm going to ask around see what the best thing to do is. She doesn't seem to be in any pain or distress right now.

Yesterday I talked about putting her down and then I had a dream last night I was "put down" because I didn't fit into societies expectations of me. I thought I might be given a chance to conform and spared, but no, and as I was sitting on the floor cross legged (in my dream) the reaper came behind me with a thick strong rope and placed it around my neck. I relaxed and fell into it. I told myself not to fight it. It wouldn't take long, it would be over soon. Immediately I was plunged into a different place alive and well and carrying on again like normal. I don't really know what this means. But life is a beautiful gift and given grace it expires at its own will out of our reach or control. I have no idea what that means either :)

The Llamas

Lets start by saying, no I do not need any more animals. there!

So my friend and Farmer's market manager Lisa Branborg saw me on Saturday and told me she really needed to talk to me about llamas. Llama(s)? I had arranged to get a gelding from her for my goats (they make exceptional guard animals). Apparently there was a good gelding that she could bring me right away, however, there was a small catch. four females came with him. All around 5-7 years old except 1 old lady who was 18. HA! It was a compelling story of saving these fine llamas from the sale barn, they were show llamas and were treated very well but the couple was elderly and couldn't keep them any longer.

Sure why not?

So, Lisa brought them over with Brenda, Brenda is a llama mama too. They needed to be sheared so Brenda went to work right in the trailer! they were all so good.

I put the gelding in with the goats and gave the four girls the run of the 35 acre pasture across from the house. They stayed close that evening and at least they knew where the water and loose minerals were and in the morning they were still there. The old lady was on her side and I thought for sure she was dead. I mean wouldn't that just be my luck. But no she was just laying down. She had trouble getting up so I helped her. She was wobbly on her legs but soon she was up with the gang and off they were to explore. Haven't seen em since. The field is high, really needs to be hayed but I'll go out and look for em this morning in case granny needs help getting up again.

Here's granny (the llama ;)

So no I don't need more animals but I do love llamas and I do have the space and plenty for them to eat, and I can use them as guards for the sheep!

yup, its my birthday! (insert dancing)

I’m happy to report that today I successfully entered into my 44th year of life on this beautiful planet. A birthday is to me what New Years is to others, a time to look back and reflect and to roll out my dreams and goals for the coming year. It’s really exciting!

43 was a beautiful year for personal growth and overcoming challenges which I feel I did mostly with grace. A few breakdowns here and there but more for theatrics than anything, I am a Leo! But wow what a year. One year ago today I was beginning the big move to the new farm. I had no idea what was ahead. I spent my last birthday with friends at the new farm, fished for the second time in my life and got a hook stuck in my hand! HA! You can imagine what I was thinking the rest of the year would look like. This last year has had its challenges but with many rewards. I’ve been pushed to the edge of my ability and didn’t fall off so that to me is success!

This next year to come is going to be the year I nurture myself. It’s going to be my year of cheese. It’s going to be a year of scaling back, of simplifying and focusing on my strengths and building on them. No new projects, no hatching new ideas. I want to live as sustainably as possible. Live off the land so to speak and use as little as I can. I want to quiet myself down a bit, try not to do so much, but do enough. I guess 44 I hope is the year I find my balance.

I am so grateful and have such a deep love and respect for my friends and the people I am so blessed to have in my life. I cannot imagine a good life without them. I am so grateful to have such a loving, caring, supportive and generous partner to share this life with and I am so grateful for all the creatures I share this life with on the farm that teach me grace, patience and compassion.

mornings like these

The dew is thick this morning. It blankets the front yard and pasture like a chenille blanket. Almost makes me want to lay down on it and let its softness take me in. The rain last night was a welcomed friend. The fields were dry and crying out for moisture and the air needed a good cooling down. Today, 94⁰ 30% chance of more rain, but when that sun comes out the air will be thick and our faces will burn, nostrils and chest will feel tight and oppressed. We will take more breaks and go slower on the toe. Each movement a slow dance of exhaustion, one foot in front of the other, tying up tomato plants on last time this season. On the bright side, we are in for a much cooler week.

The end of July is swiftly approaching, the long climb is almost over with, cool weather ahead. Something to look forward too. I love fall. I love summer too but usually in the winter. And I know there is still August to come but looking back in several years worth of Journals, July has always been the hottest for me. August changes somehow, maybe because there is less rain so less humidity or maybe because August is my last push to get things canned and put up so I’m spending more time inside? For whatever the reason I feel like the light at the end of the tunnel is a softer and gentler beast.

Not to change the subject or anything, tomatoes are really coming on strong especially Sun Gold Nugget cherry tomatoes, they are the sweetest of all of the cherry tomatoes, delicious. I printed up a recipe last week for our CSA members but I thought I would post it here too. This soup freezes very well.
Sun Gold nugget nectar

This is a delicious summer soup that can be served warm or cold. This recipe is inspired from Deborah Madison’s cook book, Local Flavors, one of my very favorite cook books of all time. Serves 4

2 pints Sun Gold tomatoes
½ sweet onion diced fine
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
½ teaspoon salt
½ jalapeño minced fine
2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped fine
2 tablespoons of really nice extra virgin olive oil
Remove the stems from the tomatoes and rinse them. Place the tomatoes in a heavy sauce pan with a tight fitting lid with half of the onions the salt and 1 cup of water. Cook over medium-high heat until the tomatoes “pop” out of their skins. Lower the heat and let simmer for 10 more minutes. Run the tomatoes through a strainer use a ladle to push the tomatoes through leaving behind the skin and a good portion of the seeds. This should leave you with just about two cups. Chill the soup and when you are ready to serve add the rest of the onions, the balsamic, olive oil and the basil.

Enjoy!

the oven

Okay, I have no idea what I was thinking building this cob oven right at the busiest time of the year, but I am so glad I did! It looks awesome! So yesterday, Nate and Kathleen harvested, I prepped for the farm table dinner and Linda did real people work. After all our "work" was done we went after the oven.


We are making the cob mixture; sand, clay and straw.

Leveling the platform and laying our oven tiles.

Making the sand mold for our oven

Putting the cob on. The walls are about 5-6 inches thick by time we are finished. We had to make more trips for sand and clay than we thought!

But we did it!

Tomorrow we will dig the sand out and have our first fire in it! Hope it doesn't fall apart!

A time to share

Yesterday we had a group of Global Gardeners www.global-gardens.org out from Rosa Parks Elementary school. That was a blast! what a bunch of incredible kids. They got a milking demonstration, then got to harvest ingredients for our lunch and then they got a cheese making demonstration which we used to make our own pizzas! We had a heck of a good time! It was a nice way to break up a really tough week.

So, I'm not going to candy coat things, so I'll just tell you, everyone on this farm is about to crack. The long days and extreme heat have made us all so emotionally frail that I started crying reading a Kohl's 15% off add. We start at 6am when there is enough light to make a difference and we get out and work in the field for as long as we can stand it 2 or 3 O'clock. Weeding, tying up tomato and pepper plants, harvesting, watering, trying to get what ever we can out of a struggling plot of vegetables.

The saving grace for me however is the outdoor kitchen project we've started. So after we get our work done we work on this project. We have built a 16X16 covered area and we are in the process of constructing a cob or what some call a clay oven oven underneath. Its pretty darn fun and its been really good to break up the day with something we're all really interested in.

Today we cob. I think the oven will be complete this afternoon. might be baking pizza tomorrow evening!