Fairy Houses

If you know my dad, you know he’s kind, soft-spoken, and generous.  If you know my dad well, you know he’s also very, very creative. So the other day, as I made our farm scavenger hunt for the wedding, Dad said he had an addition – fairy houses. My...

The Farm Critters

Last night, Meander cornered a flying squirrel by the maple out front.  Philip swooped in (pun entirely intended) and saved the little gal.  Quickly, she scurried up the tree, and I’ve been hearing her cry, wail, squeak, chatter, talk all night and into the...

Everyone, Welcome Lyle

She took off like a bolt toward the bottom of the yard. Squirrel, I thought, as I walked to the garden to get the sprinkler and water the green roof. Dad stood on the front patio, watching Meander zoom down the hill. “Bear.” Did I just hear him say,...

The Lean-To with the Green Roof

It took some planning, some learning, and some grunting hard work, but here it is – our lean-to. The stone is reclaimed from an old bank barn, much like the one we want to build.  The front posts are cedar, harvested from a local farm. The beans are American...

When the Barn Is Filled with Music

As I write, Over the Rhine’s new album Meet Me at the Edge of the World is playing, and I find myself dreaming of the day when they might play in my backyard. Almost nothing makes me feel as at peace, as invigorated, and as solidly myself as sitting in a room...