Butterfly Hill Farm: Hummin'

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.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Hummin'

So many things have happened these last few days. The weather has been lovely. Overall, these past few days have been just beautiful, and decidedly extraordinary. If I take time to detail it all, I shall be sitting at this little screen and clattering away at these keys for a very long time. That surely is not my plan. I shall do what I can.

We have had company. Lots of company. People have been arriving via bicycle, cars, buggies, and on foot. Some were expected and others were not. And it has all been just beautiful.

Yesterday, Richard and I took time for Tea on the back deck. I had Melanie's Holy Basil blend, which she had gathered, dried, and blended last year. A little bit of Honey just made it fabulous. I do hope that the 3 of us, even when we are the busiest, can take time for tea and walks over the coming months. It is so easy to just keep on working. All work and no play makes for Jack (and Jill) becoming pretty dull boy (and girl). Grumpy underneath too. I don't even want to go there.

On this day, Richard explained that he had just planted 300 linear feet of Peas. He also had made some sticks to serve as row markers. He hoped that Joni and I might complete them in more of an artsy form. We were up to the occasion. I gathered paints, brushes and the marker. I painted them green. And Joni designed the lettering.

On these past past few days, we have picked up speed in cleaning up the garden beds. Help has woven in and out of our lives too: Calvin, Dave, Joni. Things are beginning to look tidier, more open to growing. That feels good. I love doing this. One of my favorite things to do is to focus on those tender shoots emerging from the soil.

Bumblebees are busy too. Melanie took this picture of our first Bumblebee out front. Things are hummin' over here at the Farm. It's Spring and it is indeed beautiful.