Christmas/Holiday Cards

Our first Christmas card of 2011 arrived in November.  Early, but understandable as it was sent by Glenn's brother who recently moved to California.  It not only announced holiday wishes, but also a new address - a kind of two birds with one stone thing - kudos.

In the past, our first card usually arrived, from a dear cousin, within the first few days of December.  I could depend on her regularity until last year...she married and her life has changed - so have her habits.

I am never early, rarely on time, and usually late sending out my cards which always includes my annual letter.  Therefore, our cards could be Christmas wishes, holiday wishes (don't forget the solstice celebration), or even New Year wishes - whatever is appropriate for that particular time frame.  I have no habits.

But, I too, will change; I will not expect the expected, and I will be thankful for the surprises - it all works out!

Regardless, I really like receiving Christmas cards.  I like the memories, I like any family updates, I like knowing that a person is still, well...alive.  Pictures are a bonus, even though; you will never get one of me - older age is not kind.

Some cards arrive from friends that we have not even seen in over twenty, thirty, even forty years.  But, the memories flood, and I might even get a trickle of a tear running down my check - I am wiping one away now! Seems like the bonds were only yesterday.  Boy, to not have aged those years (I might still be young in some one's memory)....but, it is so nice to remember.

Postage costs continue to rise.  People are busy.  People just get tired.  I understand, but...

I just wanted to let you know that I cherish every single card, every single wish that I receive - so  special, one of those treasures that I frequently mention...

As for my sending... it is that one time, that one reason to connect with people that are or have been a part of  my life!  I want you to know that you are always special to me!

My home may be minimally decorated this year, but the cards I receive are always placed/displayed where I can see them frequently - enhancing and festive, not only to our home, but to my thought.

I like Christmas cards.

Farm Expansion

Now, that we decided to make a firm commitment to expand our farming operations, we also determined that we needed more land to accomplish our goals.  Our livestock numbers, since the addition of sheep in August, were pushing our current acreage limits. 

Rent? Buy? Rent? Buy?  Renting property adjacent to our farm would be ideal, but there was nothing, at the moment, available to lease. 

Recently an opportunity presented us the answer - buy!  So, as of this past Friday, we purchased  55+ acres near the village of Fairfield - about a ten minute drive from the now, main farm. The property consists of a large hay barn with adjoining silo (very picturesque), a livestock shed, and a full 55 acres of pasture traversed by a spring-fed creek with distant mountain views. The pastures contains a few, lengthy rock ledges, but with our new management of all graze/no mechanical hay production; the land is perfect.  And, we can divide the livestock to ideal numbers on each farm.

The neighboring properties; a dairy farm and a restored historic home with wildflower meadow and  antique shop, are owned by acquaintances from a few years back. So, we are not exactly new to the surrounding landowners. The property is bounded on one side by an abandoned railroad grade adding a bit of history to the property itself.

But, all is not as pleasant as it seems.  This property has been leased for years, the buildings left to deteriorate, the fencing questionable at best, old machinery scattered throughout the barn lot, as well as trash piled in the buildings.

What I am trying to say is that this farm needs a lot of work, more than just a bit of TLC. 

Once the old tenant leaves; hint, hint...we can get to work - first on clean-up , then on reconstruction. 

This property is bounded by two public roads and is a great location for potential customers to drive by any time to view this operation and some of our product.  At least, that is the plan, the goal.

I love old barns!  We do not have one on our main farm.

So today you get the before view.  And, regularly (I say that with a lot of hope), I will present progress on the after view. 

December

DECEMBER 1ST - The day I consider the beginning of the festivities for the month...perfect timing as we received a beautiful fir wreath from my brother Robert and my sister-in-law   MaryAnn (different Maryann from below).  It is gorgeous, fragrant, and a joy to look at throughout the day.  And, a perfect gift for our home this season since, just yesterday, Glenn and I decided to forgo the annual Christmas tree (and, you call us foresters) -  bah humbug! (only kidding - more like laziness) We will be GREEN this year, but next year we will support a local tree farmer by chopping down a beauty - conifer trees are renewable (GREEN), too.

We opted to relinquish the crawling into the back of the under stair coat closet to retrieve the many boxes of holiday decorations; which crawling would be repeated, in about two months, to repack/restore all boxes.  Besides, I would have to really clean the house well before placing the decorations, and you all know how much I dislike cleaning.

Instead, we decided to use the time to focus on the continuation of working on house projects (paint guest bathroom, finish guest room, make a dent in the basement organization...you get the idea) so that we can appreciate each day more.  Our home/farm is our refuge; our place to not only work, but also to relax - our place of peace.  The more we get the house in order, the better our (or at least my) overall disposition.

This month our home will be sparsely decorated, but more fully appreciated. Needless to say, the wreath is ideal!

December especially brings to mind dear friends.

December 4th/10th (?) - Lois

December 15th - Jill

December 16th - Maryann                               Dates correct?  For the most part, I believe.

December 17th - Linda

December 21st - Matthew

 

I am trying to remember the exact dates of the birthdays of unforgettable friends/family from my life - past and present. I may forget the exact birth dates, but I never forget the person.  Many wonderful memories come to mind...bowling alley, sleepover, English class, camping, artwork....the list goes on!  Thanks to you all for sharing many remarkable times.  And, if any of the above are reading this...best wishes to you on your special day and throughout the coming year...HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Oops...I cannot forget to add my name to the list - yep, another year older for me this month, too!

CELEBRATE !

Stocking Up On Apples from the Flippin-Seaman Orchard

This afternoon, Glenn and I drove over the mountain, as in Blue Ridge, to specifically buy apples at our favorite orchard,  Flippin-Seaman, home of Silver Creek and Seaman Orchards.

We had long extinguished the skimpy supply of golden delicious apples provided by our own two backyard trees.

The drive was pleasant as we curved around, up, then down to the Nelson County side of the mountains. The day began with sunny skies, clouding quickly to grey; but we  never did receive the heavy rain as forecasted.  The temperature was warm, shirt-sleeve weather, and so satisfying to eek out another desirable autumn day before...the chance of another early snow is expected for Tuesday night and Wednesday morning - boo!

As we arrived, the packing facility was still in full production.  We entered the welcoming shed where the apples beamed from their huge crates.  And, these apples were huge -  just waiting to be placed in our 1/2 bushel bag.

Glenn and I wandered from crate to crate - Fuji to Golden to Pink Lady and back again.  Which ones?  After a quick taste  of a couple of apples; firm, juicy, flavorful even this late in the season, we decided to get 1/2 bushel of Pink Lady and another 1/2 bushel mixed of Pink Lady, Golden, and a few Fuji thrown in for a bit of yummy variation.  My friend, Ann,  told me that her best apple pies are those made with a combination of varieties; so taking her recommendation, I made sure to have a representative mix for my upcoming baking.

Adjacent to the store, was the packing shed itself.  Workers sorted, sized and packed each fruit with care.  The boxes of apples would find their way to grocery stores and fruit stands.  How interesting to observe a real, working,  packing shed - American at work!

A Flippin-Seaman brochure advertises, along with the apple varieties and available dates, a few free perks like fresh mountain air, country atmosphere, and good customer service - I can certify all of the above!

Best of all...getting back in the car with our apples, driving out of the parking area, and biting into one/several juicy apples for that special treat on that return trip home - fresh, sweet, and so delicious!

We have been making the annual outing(s) to the Flippin-Seaman Orchard for years - with kids, without kids, via motorcycle.... this is one trip we never seem to miss.

Blue Ridge Mountain View

As the seasons change, so do the visual aspects of my surroundings.

One most notable change is that of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The full greens of the summer to the multitude of autumn colors have now transitioned, no longer hindered by the leafy canopies of the tree-covered slopes and ridges, through to the actual topography of the mountains themselves.

Looking beyond the barren branches to the earth below showcases yet another aspect of these gorgeous mountains. What once was mountain tops and  modest slopes  have converted to definitive peaks, both round and pointed, and a long view of accordion-pleated slopes; even the smallest difference is obvious.

The minute to minute variations of sun, clear sky, clouds adds another unpredictable feature to entice my frequent assessments.

And, all this magnificence can be had from the warmth and comfort of my home, or from the luxury of the back deck - whatever my pleasure.

Have I mentioned how lucky/fortunate I am???? 

OH MY GOSH!!!

Just when I thought I was at the end of subject material for my next blog....

I consider myself a pretty observant person - at least in my garden - OMG, guess not!

Today, a visitor pointed out what had been growing (and it is not alive) in my garden for what must have been all summer;  just inches from where I regularly mow the lawn.  In my defense, it is an area that I do not weed very often - a quick pass probably once during the growing season and another after all the leaves have fallen.  After all, this is a barberry bush; Compact Crimson Pygmy Barberry, to be exact  - what I lovingly call an 'ouwie ouwie' bush.  I cannot get near it without getting some kind of puncture - and, it hurts.  So, even though I adore the deep burgundy/pastel pinky of the leaves, I do not like the constant pricks.

The leaves on these bushes are slow to drop in the fall.  Over the course of several months, the tiny, colorful leaves float to the ground.  Near the end of December, the bush is about leafless - the best time to prune, even though I have attempted the trimming during full leaf to get the best shaping of the shrub. Leaves gone, I can see the best places, barb-free, to hold the branches.  But, I still get pricked if I am not super careful.

Just last week, I discovered a tiny nest skillfully constructed on the interior of one of the branches - a perfectly concealed location for laying and hatching eggs.  I do believe even my cats stay out these bristly bushes - I repeat, they really hurt!  Hence, a really safe place for the rearing of young birds.

Then today, as pointed out by a friend of Glenn's, there it was....huge, and I do mean huge, paper wasp nest.  Why I did not see anything so noticeable, gray intertwined among the bicolor leaves of the barberry shrub, before is beyond any explanation; but I did not. I tried to measure the length of the nest without getting pierced, at least too badly.   The monstrosity measures a whopping 24 inches, top to bottom - yikes.  Think of the number of wasps flying in and out of this nest and the brood produced - that boggles my mind.

papery nest surrounding the access hole

Whatever...I did not see it and, thankfully, I never got stung - that is what is important!

You can bet next year I will be searching those bushes with an eagle eye....

Not So Black Friday

Black Friday, frequently the busiest shopping day of the year, is the contemporary name given to the day after Thanksgiving.

A quick Internet search revealed that the name was initially assigned to describe the heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic on that specific day.  That rationalization was imparted to a new one...the day the retailers turned a profit - were in the black.

I like a bargain better than most people, but I do not want to battle crowds...I would rather experience the peace of my farm.

I am not a shopper at heart.   And, my Friday is not black.

I woke to view a white frost glazing the lower pasture.  The early morning sky was a deep, clear blue.

Bright red berries accented the napping garden.  Blue Jays gathered enmasse at the feeder. The grass remains unseasonably green. The list is near endless....

No, my Friday is not black.

Then, I noticed a hairy woodpecker at the bird feeder just minutes after returning from collecting eggs where I was rewarded with the flight of a pileated woodpecker, slow and methodical, just above my head. Two, semi-black birds that I rarely observe....now, that is my kind of  'black' Friday, or any other day for that matter.