Oh, to love what is lovely, and will not last! What a task to ask Of anything, or anyone, Yet it is ours, and not by the century or the year, but by the hours. — Mary Oliver, Snow Geese The survival of a livestock farm in a natural system relies heavily on her […]
Vaccines & Asses
The opinion piece written by the doctor for the NY Times says there are four types of folks who are resisting the Covid vaccine: the Watchful, the Cost-Anxious, the System Distrusters, and Covid Skeptics.* None of these describes Ula. She was fine when each of us became eligible for the vaccine and she remained below […]
Spring Headstones
One of our favorite history lessons with the girls was to walk the dirt roads and through the forests and fields, studying the historical clues: the stone walls and foundations that made the first homesteads and paddocks, the barbed wire that followed the civil war, the monoculture timber that came in the great depression, after […]
Life Lines
I’m reading an essay, The Art of Looking, by Christian McEwen, a section on the power of drawing, and the deep gazing that it requires, which can induce a meditative state. There are instructions in the text: to find something in nature — a plant, a tree, a pebble — and to watch it […]
Spring Peepers
We’re rushing this afternoon, whispering encouragements to the pork to finish braising, washing bowls and spatulas as quickly as we dirty them, slamming utensils back onto their shelves and racks as fast as possible. There are more important places to be than prepping in the cafe when the light is like this, when the temperature […]
Saoirse’s Choice
I remember the first time I stood in the barnyard, looked at an animal, and saw food. Growing up, I saw the livestock purely as animals. I stayed away when it was time to load them on the truck, mentally left the room when my parents, aunt, uncles and grandparents talked about the price per […]
Baking Lessons
“In professional settings,” writes Claire Saffitz of the New York Times this week, “machines called slab rollers in temperature-controlled rooms laminate the dough quickly and effectively, producing light, flaky, uniform croissants. Home bakers, however, must complete these tasks by hand, making it harder, slower and much more variable.”* The article makes me snort. I guess […]
Joyous Afflictions
“I don’t get it.” Ula’s flops across the couch, letting the heat of the fire melt away the chill of her day at the farm while she recounts her adventures. “Jenn accidentally poked herself with the needle while I was showing her how to do injections,” she continues, “and Pop Pop says, ‘you better go […]
Dog Commands
Journey sheds even through her turds. Her droppings throughout the yard are packed with bleached golden retriever blond hairs. The day to clean them off the lawn is carefully chosen – enough spring sun to convince us the task is pleasant; warm enough so they can be pulled away from the sod; cold enough that […]
On a Long Winter Nap
Folks, It’s been soooommmmmeeeee year. We’ve all seen a lot. We’ve all grown wiser. Your presence here on the blog and podcast has helped me reflect, learn and expand my thinking. I’m deeply thankful. And now, I’m taking the winter off to rest and recharge. The cafe is closed. The podcast is quiet. The blog […]
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