“Say, the price for your brisket isn’t bad,” the man said as he glanced over the list at our farmers’ market stall, “when you consider how much you get paid for your steaks!” I tried not to let it get to me. In spite of the barb, it had been a decent market day, and […]
Sundried Tomatoes or Mountain Streams?
We are driving home from Ula’s eye doctor appointment in Schenectady as Saoirse wistfully glances back over her shoulder at the mountains in the distance. She sighs. “Can we please go to the Adirondacks this summer?” Her question interrupts my own thoughts, where I am tallying how much garlic I have left in storage, calculating […]
Of Songs and Suppers
“Can we invite Cyndi Lauper over for dinner?” Ula asks. Occasionally, my children’s dim understanding of reality surprises me. I am standing in the kitchen, searing pieces of beef before flicking them in the slow cooker to make a stew for Saturday at the market. She will be accompanying me, even though the forecast […]
The Goose and the Gander
On Sunday, there is a break in the rain. There is a lot we could be doing in that break: painting beehives, knocking back the weeds around the grapes and blueberries, mowing the lawn, taking the girls for a slow amble to one of the nearby ponds, catching up on needed sleep. We are doing […]
Nick and the Porcupine
The first summer we lived here, Bob awoke one night to a chewing sound he heard outside. He went out to investigate. As he shined his light on the door of our shed, a porcupine unabashedly turned and looked at him before returning to his treated lumber supper. Bob tried to yell at him to […]
Agrarian Domesticity
Going through my archives in search of apropos essays for re-posting, this one came to the surface. As you can probably sense, it was written during one of my more cynical moments. I am certain many of you can help me revise and update this job description….I’ve yet to have anyone apply! I am still […]
Humans and Livestock
This story originally ran in 2011. As the subject resurfaces regularly on the internet, I am re-posting it again this week. I am still at work on my latest manuscript, and anticipate a return to regularly scheduled programming in May. Is it possible for animals and people to live together sustainably? Is it possible […]
The Family Cow
I am often asked, with all our home-steady proclivities at Sap Bush Hollow, if we have a family cow. These days, I readily exclaim “ABSOLUTELY NOT!” much to the consternation of dairy romantics. While a milk cow is definitely an enrichment for some families, it turned out it wasn’t ideal for us….This post originally ran […]
What Makes the Butcher Sexy?
This post originally ran in October of 2009, but in honor of Valentines’ Day this week, it seems appropriate to select this as this week’s re-post. I am still at work on my manuscript. If I am able to stay on schedule, I anticipate returning to regular blogging and Tuesday Posts at the end of […]
A Knitters’ Dream Come True
For those of you who are daily blog followers, do you remember a post, way back last spring, when I was sitting out in a sunny spot in the barn, skirting some fleeces from these critters? Well if you did remember it, good for you. Because I completely forgot about it. …Until a few days […]
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