Saturday, December 31, 2011

me thinks


"When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value.  Kinda cool right?  So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness.  And that’s without having to go out and buy anything.  It makes sense.  We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have".
script from a friend today

as 2011 comes to a close we remember Sidney, who passed away in July,
and who always appreciated the simple gifts life offered.

may your year ahead be replete with joy and thankfulness

Sunday, December 18, 2011

stories told

our pasture is home to a granite podium of sorts. an outcropping.
 this summer it was seat for India Flint in the mornings at her workshop
as she told tales from around the world, delighting listeners all.
thoughts of India's return to teach and tell more stories
next summer takes the chill away..

during the winter months the same granite serves for sheep to tell their tales to the flock,
this year especially as we have had little snow of late so they can wander some.
today Griffin is perched atop the podium having gathered his family and friends..
he is asking Della who quietly is waiting by the apple tree
if she'll tell Griffin's favorite story.
"If you lie down and chew your cud,
I'll tell you a story," said Della, a ewe
with the gift of Eternal Patience.
 "Oh! Mama's going to tell Griffin a story." whispered Lily
nudging her sister,Magnolia excitedly.


Lily and Magnolia
trotted across the pasture to the apple tree where Griffin
was leaping around Della and poking her with his nose.
"Now lie down," said Della, gently.

"I'd rather stand on your back, if you don't mind,"
said Griffin politely, trying out this precarious position
with interest.

"Very well," said Della, "but you must be still."
She cleared her throat.
"Once, not long ago, four great adventurers held council
on top of the Middle Mountain in the sky...."

and so Della told the story again, to Griffin's joy...
How the Lambs Came to Live at the Farm
written by our dear friend Katie Scrafford.

and to learn how you can hear India's tales
next summer here at the farm visit

such stories live in the hearts of all of us at Long Ridge Farm and beyond..

Sunday, December 11, 2011

rosin up

After years of lonliness and whining from the violin case
I decided it was time to rosin up the bow 
Twelve years ago I knew these pieces
yet not without effort
so I arranged for a tutor...
oh boy, here we go.
it's going to take some doing.
So if you wonder why I am not blogging
this is yet one more joy that needs attending.
Webster (named for the most amazing sax player, Ben Webster)
is not yet impressed.
Come on my bud.
His smiling will be the true test.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Savor the feast

as we celebrate Thanksgiving here on the farm with our loved ones,
family and furry (Wetherby gets an apple this morning),
we are most thankful for just this.
love, warmth and tradition.
may your day be blessed.

and as we sit around the table this evening for dinner
we will raise a glass to absent friends.

Friday, November 11, 2011

reading material

feel free to read my review of ISEND2011,
La Rochelle, France.
just published in the lastest issue of
Turkey Red Journal.
enjoy.
Photo by Nancy Zeller, traveling the train from Paris to Bordeaux Region

Friday, November 04, 2011

the last show of the season

wouldn't you like to come see my shepardess?
we've been growing wool for her for years now
she'll have yarns and roving from us
many naturally dyed
most interesting what she does with our fleeces.
want to try your hand at dyeing?
she sells the dyestuffs too!
she's been cooking up some scarfs and wraps
I think you should come
this weekend November 5th and 6th.
all under one roof and warm
just like we are here on the farm

Friday, October 28, 2011

with very good reasons....

time and events have taken me hither and yon of late...
the weeks before Rhinebeck are always a flurry and then
poof! we are there
dear daughter Faith is now a mainstay at the shows with me.
it's such a special treat
as always I plan to take pictures of the show but only briefly
 is there time to capture special moments.
this was one such moment with this most adorable baby and mom who stopped to shop
it was a great show as always and Sunday eve Faith and I made the trek north
arriving home late in the night.
the following day after unpacking from the show
I made my way east a bit to catch a bird in hand
from Australia
the bubbly had survived the trek
and we enjoyed the reunion
the following days were laced together with farm chores
and drives through New Hampshire and Vermont
gathering black walnuts
moments of alone time
clarity of purpose
apppreciation for the simple joys
togetherness for dinner and gathering
 the morning after India's departure
I spied this ephemeral fibre art on our fenceline.
I burst out laughing.
perfect.

a small Sheltie dog, Luna, hung with India all week
and misses her greatly
promises kept for their reunion here again
and now, the snow has arrived too early
more to come tomorrow night.
time to hunker and dream


Friday, September 30, 2011

too much rain, so much gold

thunder and driving rains tonight.
Sheltie dog Kalie paces, hates this.
too much rain, too much water.
yet fall's glory always shines
in hidden places
stitching is done for a dear friend
stitching still to do for
a personal goal
before the rains tonight i gathered marigolds
dry, bright and with purpose
and strung them as the rain
poured on
not new england's finest fall
but oh, so beautiful even so.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

a great heart must fly


our dear Katie lived on the farm with us for two and a half years.
she is a beautiful light.
as she worked her way though graduate school we shared an
incredible life here. she taught so much. she gave so much.
and she was just so much fun to be with!
we sheared, we hayed, we detangled skeins, we dyed and we dyed laughing.
and what she gave to our flock was unmeasured.
Katie is in the air tonight somewhere over the Atlantic
on her way to a new adventure in Rwanda, Africa 
where she will give her
knowledge to a noble cause.
i have a huge lump in my throat.
go Katie, our great heart! we miss you.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

have dyepots will travel

through Vermont I traveled this morning
on long windy roads
and farmlands
past the ravage of Irene's wrath.
new bridges reuniting towns
so torn apart
to arrive at a fiber oasis
in Proctorsville VT
with a few more than six loose ladies
and a few tricks from my wizard's wand
I helped them conjure some
great naturally dyed colors 
the results were stunning
a bright backdrop to what has been a very
difficult time in their region
it was fun, this is a good place to stop
Six Loose Ladies is open.
Vermont is going to be okay.
come visit.
on my descent into town I stopped to pay a hello to the lovely ladies
in waiting (heifers) at Windyhurst Farm
the farm owners happened to stop by, who I'm pretty darned fond of 
and Roger asked
"haven't you ever seen a cow before?"
with a big smile from him

and I said "yes, but none so pretty as these"
what a fine day for many good ladies

Friday, September 16, 2011

Chill of an early fall

early chill, possible frost.
the days are getting shorter
our friends are in full awareness
grateful for just another pasture rotation
and a few windfall apples
they know to soak up the sun.
a mid-afternoon frolick
pasture still wet from Irene's path
meets the fall sun