Tuesday, April 22, 2008

When coincidence is coincidental. . .or something like that



The starts (all the little baby veggies) are started and going in the green house. i was suprised to see that some rogue sunflower seeds from last year had found their ways into pots and were growing where ever they darn well pleased. The sunflowers from last year were grown for food, but apparently a few seeds escaped.



i finished reading Jesus For President yesterday. What a great book! It is inspiring and encouraging to hear of creative ways that others in the family are practicing love for their brothers, sisters, strangers and enemies. As if it could be coincidence that afternoon i woke up and got the mail. Right on top was a letter from Shane Claiborne (one of the authors of the book). i wouldn't have thought too much about it except that i wrote to him more than a year ago when the Simple Way (the community in which he lives) house burned down along with a better part of the block on which they live. So i had more or less forgotten about that and sure enough his response shows up the day that i finish the book. i try not to be too superstitious, but it was definitely cool in a blessedly creepy sort of way.
Two weeks to Bellvale. . . might get to meet the other author Chris Haw there. Regardless, we get to see Georg and Maida and a whole host of our good friends. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Just a quiet Sunday morning



Amy is asleep. The boys are at Wah-wah's (grandma's) house. The hogans just left to visit their nana. So it's me and sissy hang around listening to some Gregorian chanting on the radio. Sissy is building with her blocks, well she is while she is not trying to add her thoughts onto this blog.
i have come to cherish silence and calm as much as i love the chaos and pandemonium of community.
Friday the Hogan's were out as were we. We came home first, and it struck me how quiet it was, but how empty it felt. Their simply weren't enough of in the house. i suppose that this morning is different because it is just me and the baby who are awake. The silence has a different mood. It's a good thing.

Today's to-do list:

Work on the improved turkey coop.
Add a new windowed door to the coop.
Pick up the new ducks
Try and catch the silly pea-hen that mysteriously escaped yesterday.

What a life.

Friday, April 18, 2008

When 911 breaks. . .

Ok, so this is work stuff, which is totally taboo to discuss in the outside world (it's a personal rule). This is the third day in a row that 911 has broken - for an extended period of time. Yes, people of Cumberland County - you can feel safe - your 911 is broken. . . again. So who calls 911 when 911 breaks? No idea. Maybe we will all get a little tax rebate for services not provided.
 
Good luck!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Doin' the happy dance. . .

The green house is full of happy little dirt filled pots. Today we will start things like snake gourds, luffa, musk mellons, and other yummy treats.
It was a beautiful day yesterday and to boot the van (the BIG van) is all registered and inspected. So Chris and the mom's took all of the kids to the park. . . and there were extra seats. While at the park Mom and Owen had made some agreement that dealt with his potty training. Whatever it was, it made him very happy. The end result he was caught on camera doing the happy dance - some sort of Owen original shuffle. It was cute.
Back at home the kid-os are already outside digging around in the dirt (well, not right now, but you know. . . during the warm hours of the day). We head off to Bellvale soon for the family fun weekend. There are going to be seminars in many aspects of micro-farming. Each of the adults are taking a different "seminar" so we can come back and share what we have learned. Chris and Lorna are doing the backyard barnyard thing which will come in handy if and when we get a bit more land and start doing the goat thing. i am going to grab a couple of the older kids and we are going to see about honing our gardening skills! It should be pretty darn fun.
It's almost time to till the garden. . . can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Mud in our yard and my toes wanna touch it!

The yard is back!
 
Well, mostly. i can see most all of the garden, and its time to start the seeds of those yummy things that take way too long to grow in Maine. Yummy things like musk mellons, luffa, and the like for whatever reason have seen fit to take too long to grow way up here near the arctic circle. But fear not. . . we will make them grow!
In the meantime the turkeys and ducks are on the way. This is all very exciting because the improved paddock isn't done yet, the baby chickens are still in the house (where the baby turkeys need to go) and we are going to leave for a week to go to Bellvale two week after the turkeys arrive. What the heck?!?!
 
Already losing my shoes! i love spring!!!!
 

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The inaugural address -

i don't think that i would have believed that it was spring until i looked up today at the maple trees that sit just beneath our property line. There were buds! Really, real leaf buds at the tips at each of the branches and stems.
Kind of appropriate i guess that this blog started in the spring time just as the leaves are starting to peak out. It is a season of new beginnings in life here, and still a phase of metamorphosis. There is so much that remains dormant here on the pharm.
There are just a few areas of snow left. The turkey paddock is finally clear of snow. The birds are appreciating that, and the area around it is all but clear so i was able to put in some of the new fencing for the expanded turkey paddock. The yard is reminding me how much clearing i have to do this year before the new poultry arrives.
Garden starts go into the green house tomorrow. Among some of the more fun and exotic are the Luffa "sponges" (they are actually a cucumber like fruit), and the snake gourds - creepy, yet fun.
i just can't wait for the broccoli and the corn!!!!!!