Butterfly Hill Farm: Snapshots

Banner Photo

May 20:

The Farm is really greening up. Plants are breaking into buds and flowers, under our ever watchful eye. Buffalo Gal, a rose we brought with us from North Dakota, is covered with buds and today she presented us with her 1st flower.

Irises began blooming yesterday. And we were not surprised that the 1st to flower were Irises from Melanie's 2 Grandmas (Ethel and Dorothy, who have both passed). I noted that the Yellow Columbine is also breaking into flower. And the Bleeding Heart just continues to throw out cascades of flowers.

We got 1 inch of rain last night. We did lose a few limbs, but otherwise, the countryside is in that luscious, after rain, spring-moving-into summer, green.

I do remember that my Dad, when he came to our Farm in 2007 just 2 months before he passed, said: "This is paradise. When I go to Heaven, I want to come here." It surely is beautiful here. The landscapes are radiant.

And the Hummingbirds, with all their energy, have just arrived. They buzz about. I don't know how they have all that energy. They wintered in the Yucatan, crossed the Gulf on those tiny wings, and now are setting up home here. I supposed you could say, they are setting up home just like us.

All this makes a perfect backdrop for wedding preparations and for the wedding itself. Is this for real?

Photos

Except in very specific circumstances, all photos depicted here were taken on our Farm. Those circumstances off the Farm relate to the purposes of this Farm and this writing exploration. Almost all were taken by 1 of the 3 C's. If not, I try to make sure others are credited. I (Glinda) am usually the one carrying the camera, but not always.

I do my best to gain permissions of Folks whose pictures are shown on this Blog. If for any reason, you are pictured and would like your photo removed, just let me know. Thanks.

Glinda

...began her professional career as a Home Economist, later serving as a Home Economics Teacher Educator for 2 decades. In 1995, she moved into analyzing the Human Side of Environmental Issues. She went from studying Humans in their Little Homes to studying Humans in their Big Home, the Earth. Those 2 leggeds were, after all, creating a substantial problem for the Earth, which sustains them. After 30 years in higher education, she became Professor Emerita of Sociology and Interdisciplinary Ecological Studies at the University of North Dakota in 2005.

Glinda has a special interest in analyzing the split Humans have with Nature. Her focus is bringing Humans home to the Earth, opening at long last to the awe, magic, and love of this beautiful Earth whirling in the Great Cosmic Sea. She is a writer, teacher, poet, artist. She is the writer for this Blog, the substance of which will likely become a book she has known she would write.

Recent interview with Fast Recipes: http://www.fastrecipes.com/latest-news/nature%E2%80%99s-recipes:-living-off-the-land-in-missouri-2010061740080/

Richard

...grew up on a 120 acre Farm about 5 miles west of here. Those humble beginnings have had a profound effect on his Life. He was trained as a Wildlife Biologist and later responsible for the Wildlife Management Program at the University of North Dakota for over 3 decades. Retiring in 2007, he is a UND Chester Fritz Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology.

Richard brings to the Farm a lifelong interest in the Natural Sciences (Birds, Wildlife, Prairie Restoration, Ecosystems, Gardening) and the Humanities. As his wife (Glinda) says: "He is one of those few people in our Culture who can still read Nature's story and make it accessible to those around him."

Melanie

...would list a bio a little shorter than her Mom and Dad. That's because she hasn't lived quite so long, which is the normal course of such things. But her bio would be no less interesting and perhaps even more so. She has come to this work and this walk far earlier than her Mom or Dad.

Melanie has an interest in healthy lifestyles. It's not something you read about; it's something you do. She brings her love of life, her travel near and far, her love of people known and unknown, her playful curiosity, and her knowing to Gardening, Raising Chickens, Herbal Healing, and the Culinary Arts. She makes a place for Kids of all Ages on this Little Farm.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Snapshots

On Saturday, Julia asked what we had been up to here on our little Farm. In the moment, I could not tell her. This is the season of being in high gear. Winter is coming. Harvest is in full swing. With all the demands, we try to be grounded in the present moment. We focus on what needs to be done now. We do it thoughtfully and reflectively. When it's done, we move on.

This morning, I downloaded some images. What you will see in this little Blog entry are some "snapshots" of what has been happening here on the Farm. It is not a complete run-down but it will do for a "taste" of the happenings.

We have been ever mindful of the lack of Rain these past 3 months. The ground is dry and hard. Cracks are appearing. Melanie and I each made excursions where we snapped pictures of this. One can almost feel the "skin" of the Earth dry and crack. It is not a pretty sight.

Leaves are coloring up. Some of the Oaks are turning Red.

Harvest of warm season crops has picked up speed as they don't like temperatures close to freezing at all. Melanie and Richard worked on Baked Tomatoes. These lovely gems are sliced into quarters, covered with herbs (garlic, basil, thyme) and blessed with some Olive Oil. Then they head into an oven which is 300 degrees. They slow cook for a period of 3 hours or more. Melanie checks them occasionally. The aroma in the house is stunning. Melanie then cools them down and puts them in the freezer. When they are frozen, she warms the pans slightly by sticking them back into the oven. When they "break free", she loads them into freezer bags and pops them into the freezer.

And we did get Rain, about 1.25 inches. Melanie and Richard made a quick trip to the Pond. Aha! It is starting to fill. Richard estimated the water was about 25 feet across. Somehow, I had imagined that the water would be clear, reflecting the gorgeous blue sky. Imagination is nice.

This last week found us in high gear getting ready for the final batch of Sorghum Molasses, which we made on Saturday. One of my favorite things on this day is to watch the little ones grow. They are amazing. Little Dakota, who just turned 1, is beginning to take a few steps. And he seems also intent on imagining that time when he will ride a bike. In the background, the busy-ness of the Molasses production continues. I am amazed by how smooth the process has become after those days when we first reclaimed the tradition in 2004. The pieces of production and the people just seem to fall into place.

I turned my favorite Farm outfit into rags. It was tattered and worn. We try to get maximum use out of things. That's what the Old Timers did. We are novices at these things, but we are doing our best for now.

And we must not forget that on October 15, we had our 1st Pullet Egg. I wonder who?

Richard has picked all of the Green Beans. They will be used for eating, Dilly Beans and freezing. He has them all snapped and ready to go. Yesterday, he froze some. Those for eating and Dilly Beans are waiting patiently in the refrigerator.

Stuff's goin' on right here on this little Farm where Harvest is in High Season and Winter is just ahead.