Sunday Walkabout 7-14

Another week has sped by!

            It's been another WET one here on the hill. But, I'll spare you the tales of delay, frustration, loss and weather related issues. 

Suffice it to say...we are praying for a stretch of dry weather. It is not an exaggeration to say...the future depends on it.

There's not much farm news to share from this past soggy week.

Sixteen years ago today, we spent our first night in our new house on the hill.  After nearly six months of work and a daily commute from the northern end of the county, the final inspection was signed and the place deemed ready for human occupation.  

I took the photo below as we headed back to our basement apartment to retrieve our belongings and begin the next part of the adventure.

I walked out to the same spot this morning and took another shot.  Things have changed a LOT in sixteen years!  This place has seen a whole lot of living and dying and growing and changing.

            We have been truly blessed by all of our experiences here on the hill.

Happy Sunday!

Love and Sunshine to YOU

as a senior at
E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg, VA

The month of July always makes me think of the Boss’ mother.




  Her birthday was in July.






                            This very day, in fact. 

1963

Family reunions were always held in July and that meant that at least one member of the extended family came in for a visit.

So, every July…I think of Mom W.,

                  family...

                        ...and birthday celebrations.

Actually, Mom W’s birthday nearly kept our wedding from ever happening. 

Hoping to show just how much I loved and appreciated this kind woman who so graciously welcoming, who was so happy about my upcoming marriage to her baby, I wanted to do something special. REALLY special. 

She loved fresh coconut cake. So, I decided that is what I would make for her birthday that first year. A fresh, homemade coconut cake.  Yes!  That would be perfect! The fact that I had never made a fresh coconut cake, didn't have the supplies or a clue what I was doing didn't deter me for one moment.

That cake making nearly proved disastrous.  It was at least 95* (probably closer to 100*), the baking paraphernalia was woefully inadequate, the coconut shell incredibly hard and…did I mention…the kitchen had NO air conditioning?   …oh, yes,  and the Boss was going to help me. Oh, dear Heavens!

I am here to tell you that you can learn more about a person while baking a fresh coconut cake under adverse conditions than you ever will in years of counseling.  A fresh coconut cake requires that you obtain a coconut (in the husk) beat it with a hammer and extract the meaty, white flesh.  Then, you must grate the meat of the coconut (ever so gently...leaving the hard skin behind) so that you have lovely shreds to garnish the cake.

While the Boss grumbled under his breath, sweat rolled down his nose, and his eyes turned that odd shade of blue generally only seen when he’s on the verge of going into shock, he stuck with it. I learned that if I asked him to do something…he would…even if it killed him.  He learned that if I say I’m going to do something…I will…even if it kills him.  (hahaha)

We survived, cake baked and relationship still intact.

and....The cake was a great success!  

Barbara and Barbara - 1984

Mom W. was that pillar of maternal strength that I desperately needed at that point in my life.  She filled a void that I had felt for years. She was my counselor, shopping companion, confidante and dear friend. Maybe she remembered being young and uncertain as a bride-to-be (and later as a newlywed and new mom) maybe she was just incredibly cool.

We all made it to the wedding.


She was elated, although it occurred to me many years later how hard it must have been to be so joyful on our shared anniversary date. Not only did we share the same name, by some odd quirk of coincidence, we unwittingly chose her anniversary for our wedding date.

Mom and Dad W - 1949

She had tragically lost Dad W. just prior to their twenty-fifth anniversary in a motorcycle accident that saddens the entire family to this day.

But, she was there for her kids…like always.

She granted me encouragement when I really, really needed it and borrowing a line from Eric Church's song, Those I've Loved "I wouldn't be who I am today..." (without those I've loved along the way).  Without her interest and support, it is possible that I never would have learned to bake bread. (or possibly anything else) I thought of her often as I prepared bread for Market every week for 10 years. 

Her example of resilience in the face of adversity has been my inspiration throughout the years.  I can only hope that she would be proud of what I (we) have become.



The fact that it has been raining and raining and raining around here lately has everyone talking about their desperate need for sunshine.  Some post I read on Facebook the other night got me to thinking about Mom W. once again.



Someone was requesting SUNSHINE be sent to them. Mom W. always sent us some sunshine...

Every single written missive I ever received from my mother-in-law ended the exact same way…

Love and Sunshine to you,

Mom W.

written in her characteristic bold and swirling cursive. (I can’t find a real example…but,that’s pretty close)  We teased her about it a little.  We always knew what every card and letter would say at the end.

…and you know what?  Despite the fact that it’s been a long time since she passed on, I still find myself looking for that handwriting from time to time. (and the wishes for sunshine would be greatly appreciated)

So, with fond memories of Mow W. on what would have been her 84th birthday, 

Mom W and her eldest granddaughter
being uncharacteristically silly -1992

    Here’s a little 
love and sunshine 

    
      to YOU 

to combat the rain.

Proof Positive

This post is mostly for the Boss’ cyber-friends…

you know who you are…

…the ones who are convinced that I do all the work around here.  Yeah, I know you’re “kidding”. But, you said since you hadn't seen any pictures...

Sometimes, I’m inclined to agree with you. Sometimes, it does seem that I do a little more than my fair share.  However, I generally only feel like that when I’m out of sorts about something else…or really, really tired and grumpy.

But the truth of the matter is that this place takes a whole bunch of teamwork. …and we ARE a team!

…and for the record, he didn’t pay me off.  I am not in trouble for anything and trying to make amends. Oh, and NO he didn’t hack my blogger account.  This is just part of my whole farming transparency and total truth campaign.

Every building on the farm is a tribute to the Boss.  He had a hand in absolutely everything standing here on the hill.

the house

the greenhouses

the hoophouses

the barn

The machinery runs (most of the time) due to his expertise and effort.

He mows, he tills, he weeds, he plants.  Sometimes he even does the dishes…

after T & A's wedding
THANK YOU!

He has supported me in all my farming ideas...even the ten years of milk cows.

He’s the muscle in the sheep operation.

He’s the chief vegetable and egg processor.

…and he can pack more into that Market trailer than anyone might imagine!

Yes, it really is THAT dark when we pack for Saturday's Market
...and YES, he had LOTS more to pack!

While it’s not directly farm-related, at the Market, he’s manager and photographer extraordinaire. If you haven't visited the Market's sites, here are the links... Staunton/Augusta Farmers' Market Facebook page and Staunton/Augusta Farmers' Market website.

He was the one that established our Market presence all those years ago.

Opening Day 1998

Farming can be hard, faith-building work. The weather related issues that have nagged the farm all this year are just the latest challenges that we have had to face.  It’s nice to share one's work with someone who you genuinely like,who shares your worldview and ambitions (or lack thereof)…someone who never lets things get too serious…

You GOTTA watch this! The Boss made a time-elapsed series of photos of our potato planting project last summer and set it to music.  It makes me laugh just to think about it.

Today, I’m thankful for the Boss. And all the things he does here on the hill.

Oh, and that I have proof positive to share with his friends. Hope y'all believe him now.

I Beg to Differ

…If it clouds up in the city, the weather man complains

But where I come from

Rain is a good thing!

Rain is a good thing…

…Farmer Johnson does a little dance
Creek’s on the rise, roll up your pants
Country girls, they wanna cuddle
Kids out playin' in a big mud puddle

Rain is a good thing!

…Start washin' all our worries down the drain
Rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing

Rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing

Rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing

Rain is a good thing, rain is a good thing

Rain is a good thing!

                       -Luke Bryan “Rain is a Good Thing”

Enough already!

So close, but yet so far...
it's raining SO hard that I can't get out of the truck to open the gate!

Ever since the release of Luke Bryan’s wildly popular song in early 2010, it seems that a whole lot of people think that all farmers want it to rain all the time.  

I cannot tell you how many folks have said, “guess you’re lovin’ all this rain!” 

(okay...it's not really Luke Bryan's fault...)

Rain is great, rain is wonderful…rain is essential to our survival. 

However…

another day-another downpour
this time I'm stranded in the hoophouse

This year we find ourselves in the odd position of praying that it will NOT rain.  …at least for a few days.

While many folks think that farmers want rain, LOTS of rain, and Luke Bryan’s song has us out dancing, drinking and enjoying the downpour, there comes a point when too much moisture causes all sorts of problems.

The corn and bean farmers (who actually got their crops planted) are seeing some amazing growth.  That’s good.

The hay farmers are either watching the hay crop get more and more mature…too mature, or they “washed” the hay crop in the unexpected, torrential rains that keep popping up.  That’s NOT good. As a matter of fact, that's very bad!

there's a river through the barnyard

On a personal level, vegetable crops really don’t need this much water. The challenges that come with TOO much moisture are every bit as challenging as drought conditions.

Disease runs rampant in the warm, wet weather.

The bug population increases exponentially. Slugs and snails in particular, are eating everything they slide over.

Proper pollination becomes an issue as flying insects don’t get out much on dark, rainy days.

the strange shape is due to poor pollination--these will never look "normal"

Weed seeds, dormant for years, germinate and threaten to take over the entire garden.

Too much water causes tomatoes to crack open.

Crops, like cucumbers, where the fruit sits on the ground are subject to rot.

…and the animals are at risk for all sorts of parasites and possible foot issues due to the weather conditions.

When we face drought conditions, we can irrigate.  That’s not the perfect solution, but it does help. Oddly enough, I quoted a different part of this same song two summers ago when we were experiencing very different, very DRY conditions.  Read this.  For the record, I actually like the sound of the song and it’s in the MP3 line-up that is an essential part of my work routine.

However, there are no umbrellas big enough to cover our farm. (or any other farm, for that matter) There is no way to divert the rain water to some of our agricultural brethren elsewhere who are praying diligently for moisture.  Although, believe me, we would if we could.

So, we do other stuff.  We hope and pray that tomorrow will be a little drier.  That we will get a chance to get those potatoes in the ground. 

potatoes are cut and ready to go

can't plant potatoes in THIS!

That we will be able to get the crops for fall planted…BEFORE fall.

But, for the record…we’re not out dancing in the creek OR mud puddles. Although I have nearly lost my boots more than once in all the muck.

 …and right now,

 SUN would be a good thing!

The Object of Great Desire

I admit it…every single animal around here is spoiled.

  I give in far too easily.

Back when Miss Kitty was still alive and well here on the hill, I began buying canned cat food because she didn’t seem to have the strength to eat the crunchy stuff. If you somehow missed the tale of “Miss Kitty”, you should read this. "End of an Era" (be sure you have a tissue…it’s sad)

The other barn kitties got accustomed to eating clean-up after Miss Kitty, she always got first dibs and no one ever argued with her. But, after she died…I just kept buying canned cat food for them, because they seemed to like it so much.  See?  I told you.

It began to seem like that cat food was disappearing rather quickly.  I mean, three kitties can eat…and eat quickly, but this was getting ridiculous.  …and wait a minute!  How are these cat food cans getting outside?  …in the front yard? Hmmmmm

The Boss insisted that the DOGS were eating the cat food. I had suspected as much, but we had no hard evidence.  Occasionally, a dog would brush past us while we were doing chores, but either one of them just hurried back out the door…and at first we never suspected…we never gave them a second thought.

But, one day, something about the whole thing seemed more than a little suspicious. 

I waited…I watched… AH HA!  The dogs are so large that they can hold the entire cat food can in their mouth with ease.  Their floppy lips covered the contraband and they would slink out the door, taking their little goodie outside for some al fresco dining.

By the times the cats finish with the food, there is at most a tablespoon left in the bottom.  Why the dogs even bother is beyond me, but they both have a true weakness for all things feline.

They seemed to be taking turns.  Jed would get it and then Ellie.  They weren’t fighting over it at all.  I guess they were just putting one over on the humans.

Since the Boss is almost as soft-hearted as I am (oh, don’t tell), he devised a system so that the cats got their food and the dogs just ate “clean-up”.  Now, Jed and Ellie know that they can’t come in the barn to eat until we allow it…and yes, they get the can.

Now, if we could just get them to pick up after themselves!