It was an Irish lamb stew, made from our farm’s grassfed lambs, local root vegetables and a bone broth that we simmered for 72 hours straight. It came with a wedge of fresh baked Irish soda bread with local grassfed butter, a slice of Irish apple cake topped with custard cream, and a pint of […]
The Lost Chicken
Would you prefer that I read this story aloud for you? Happy to oblige! You can listen to the podcast version from The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow here: Don’t forget how easy it is to lose a chicken. My inner voice whispers to me on New Years Day as Bob and I open the […]
Forgiveness
Prefer that I read this story aloud for you? Happy to oblige! You can listen to the podcast version from The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow here: An unattended border collie is a scourge. Mom read those words aloud from one of her sheep dog training books thirty years ago, when we first started using […]
Secrets for Thriving 40 Years on a Family Farm
Prefer that I read this story aloud for you? Happy to oblige! You can listen to the podcast version from The Hearth of Sap Bush Hollow here: Lamb stew for the weekend’s special simmers on the stove in the cafe kitchen as I walk over to the cash register and sign in to my meeting. […]
Lucky Break
“I need a lucky break!” I scream to all of West Fulton generally, but to my friend Corny specifically. She’s driving by as I exit the post office. I turn to study the door behind me, making sure it closes properly. As the cold weather sets in, something funky happens with that door and it […]
This Marriage
It’s 3am when his hand finds mine beneath the covers. He winds his fingers around mine, then pulls me close, wrapping his arms fully around me. We stay there a long time before he whimpers, “you had an affair.” I launch from the bed with a mighty “HA! You had it coming!!! You SSSSOOOOOOO had […]
The Fledgling
I am wondering lately if I have spoiled my children in the past, or if I am neglecting them in the present. Bob shakes his head in disgust and tells anyone who will listen that I have always kept vampire hours, a mystery that he pretends not to understand. But we both understand. I’ve worked […]
Homemaking Meets Hospitality
“Saoirse, this isn’t our house. Get your stuff off the couch.” “Ula, this isn’t our house. No eating or drinking in the kitchen. Take it outside.” “Mom, this isn’t our kitchen. If you have to touch the food, wear gloves.” We own the cafe, but only because our name is on the deed. Already we […]