When They Come

Sunday morning sunshine feels different than any other light.  It’s more robust, more golden, more open, somehow.  And right now, the farm is fairly glowing with it. If I’d ever been to Ireland and stood overlooking a range of hills in the early morning,...

The Chronicles of a Worried “Mama”

It’s cold here today. Really cold, and last night it was in the 20s. In anticipation of last night’s hard freeze, Philip and I spent an hour lowering the heat lamps in the brooder, and he humored me as I convinced myself that putting thin pieces of...

The Routine of Farming and Writing

I’m ready for winged and four-legged needs to tie me down.  For them to rope me into a rhythm that keeps them alive and breathes pattern into the chaos. Of words and travel and meetings. In just over a week, 6 guinea keets and 16 chicks will arrive here at God’s...

Hoping for Spring

Yesterday, we got a beautiful 6 inches of snow.  The air was thick with flakes for most of the day, and while I am – as is most of Virginia – ready for Spring, it’s hard not to revel in such soft loveliness. Today, the air is warming and already, the...

The Hues of Spring

From where I sit, I can see three umber-breasted robins helping to aerate our soil and eat the insects.  (Here’s to hoping they love stink bugs.) Yesterday, the daffodil above peeked out her head by the giant maple in front of the farmhouse. . . . and as if he...