Welcome Comfort Farm

What a Difference a Day Makes.

They say if you don't like the weather in Michigan, just wait a minute. That certainly proved true from yesterday to today, Regardless, I like the cooler stuff and it instantly looks like fall outside this morning. A bit breezy, a little damp, and the colors coming on strong. The area farms have started harvesting corn and soybeans, surely contributing to my allergy problem, but I enjoy watching the big green machines doing their business in the surrounding brown fields.

The boys and I are heading back to the big city this morning as Michael has a post surgery follow up. I have a pot roast in the crock pot for our arrival back home. I love walking in to the smell of dinner already well on it's way when I have been gone all day!

Pictured above is Kristy's cat, Lizzy, taking in the morning breeze over the kitchen sink; a favorite spot of hers.

This afternoon we headed off to the Hiday Farm, where we participated in a Community Supported Agriculture program. Earlier this year the boys had planted pumpkin seedlings in this very spot. Today, after catching a hay ride out to the pumpkin gardens yielding pumpkins galore, they found our personal "patch" and Derek loaded up their pumpkins. Michael cannot pick up anything over 5 pounds until he has healed from his heart surgery, and these orbs were certainly heavy! We have enjoyed weeks and weeks of fresh organic produce and made many new friends (and critters) in the process.

"If These Stones Could Talk"

The husband and I took the boys to see a living history portrayal last night. Unique in the fact that it's a night-time tour of a cemetery in Marshall, MI, we enjoyed the tour by torch light. Highlighting people who have made or had an impact on the city of Marshall, 7 persons were featured last night. We were divided into 7 groups of probably 30 or so people and took off to various grave sites where the "deceased" appeared out the shadows and told us about their life. A black squirrel hung around the first site, closely followed by the addition of several bats. A nice touch.

Of particular interest to me was the grave site of Adam Crosswhite (1799-1878) who was a runaway slave who settled in Marshall and resisted capture, thanks to the citizens of Marshall. It is also the subject of Patricia Polacco's current book she is working on titled, "January's Sparrow".

Jointly sponsored by the Marshall Historical Society and the Marshall Civic Players, proceeds from this event benefit and assist in the preservation of the monuments at Oakridge Cemetery. If you are interested in attending "If These Stones Could Talk...2009", contact the Marshall Area Chamber of Commerce at (800) 877-5163. Spray yourself with OFF first and bring along a folding lawn chair if you have trouble walking and standing for long periods of time. The tour lasts approximately 90 minutes. I would love attend one in out town!

Country Alarm Clocks.

There is something to be said for grabbing breakfast out your back door. The chicken pictured above is called a "Tail-less Arucauna" and the hens lay colored eggs. With light blue and green colored shells, the egg bowl in the fridge always looks delightful.

I whipped them into some French Toast this morning with a side of sausage. The husband is already puttering in the garage, the kids are just now sitting down to their share of breakfast, and I am ready to start some housecleaning. The spiders have had a hay day inside and out, so bad so that we broke down and sprayed around the exterior of the house. I'm talking spiders the size of bats. (Well, ok, they are at least the size of a quarter with their legs out.) You can barely walk out the front door without becoming ensnared in a spider-manufactured hair net. With a seemingly extra dose of sticky this year, it is quite a feat to remove it. And I just pray to the good Lord every time that the spider didn't come along for the ride.

Our weather continues to be most pleasant. With highs in the 70's and lows in the 50's, I couldn't ask for anything more pleasant. I'm even getting tomatoes yet, which is nice. The yellow pear tomatoes are growing like bonkers, actually. Even so, I'll trim them back today and move them into the hot house in an attempt to stretch the bounty into the sure to come cool nights.

We are thinking about going to Marshall tonight to visit a cemetery where they hold an event called "If These Stones Could Talk". Actors imitate the people buried there, some historic figures, all to torch lit tours. If we go, I'll get pictures and report back tomorrow.

Goat greetings.

You know they are just here for the food, but it is always nice to be so warmly welcomed every morning. We even receive goat kisses at this point, and the sounds of every creature imaginable is in a chorus all around us. The din is deafening if I am, heaven forbid, running a bit late. These guys have an internal clock that is more accurate than any true ticker in our house.

I am working from home today while Michael continues to recover from his surgery. He is doing super and even played with the neighbor kids yesterday. He isn't on pain meds either. Lots of rest in between, but his recovery from this has been amazing.

Now that the surgery hurdle is over, fall chores will begin in earnest. The trees are beginning their yearly color changes and the patio is littered with leaves. Patio furniture will go off to storage, fall garden clean up will be started, animal enclosures need attention, brush piles burned, weatherstripping is needed, wood needs to be split and stacked and well, a lot more. Spring is my favorite time of the year, but fall takes a close second.

I am a cool season gal and I welcome the colors and crispness that fall ushers in. Comfort food, the smell of wood smoke on cool mornings, and fall activities like making apple pies and everything pumpkin, are pleasing to my soul. Today I am trying a carrot cupcake recipe with marshmallow cream frosting. Paired with chicken and dumplings for supper tonight, the husband will come home to the smell of a warm dinner and the pleasing knowledge that we can stay up later, take in a DVD, and not have to go to work in the morning. Well, ok, I do have the "honey do" list".

New plumbing!

Michael has had a successful surgery to replace a "conduit" in his heart. They used a jugular vein from a cow! He is home recovering and while he has a few restrictions for the next 6 weeks (no bikes or skateboards!) he is already playing and back to normal. Ahh,, youth.

Clippers anyone?

I'm feeling a bit like the garden bike lately. The weather is sunny, you even have flowers scattered about, but you're feeling a bit overtaken with life around you!

We are up early today as we have a big day ahead. My to do list a mile long and all needs to be done before 8 AM. ugh. I actually put fruit in the fruit bowl last night and as I am scanning the kitchen I see that naughty barn kitty was snuggled up in a potted plant this morning.

Well, I have caught the 'what for' because I don't update this blog DAILY. So at the risk of totally alienating those who know me, and probably even those who don't, I will do my best at keeping my daily thoughts to the page. However, I am actually going to be out of town for a week, so other than that dry spell, I promise to do better. I'll see you back around next Wednesday!

Good Morning to you too, Frank.

This is Frank.

Let me tell you about Frank. He is a very sweet guy, preferring to be on your lap than anywhere else. He came to us several years back as a youngster needing a home along with a very sick goat. Kind of a package deal. The goat didn't make it, but Frank did. Forever grateful, he lavishes us regularly with love and presents.

As I sat here this morning answering emails and planning my day, Mr. Generous pops in the doggy door once again bearing a gift. And yes, that is a dead mole. Laying the freshly deceased critter at my feet, he proudly and vocally announced his prize and then proceeded to his cat chow bowl.

Speaking of cats, the husband is wondering why these bald spots keep turning up on his lazy boy. Being up at 5 am reveals many things. Perhaps even the answer to why bald spots magically appear on furniture.

It's been nice knowing you, Chloe. The husband reads the Blog.

Excuse me?

I wake up most mornings lately to find this barn cat, key word being 'barn', having apparently mastered the doggie door and making herself cozy in the fruit bowl. We found 'Clara Bell'  tossed in the road in front of the house in July and did not really expect her to live. Making a miraculous recovery with the help of some pharmaceuticals and TLC, she is now healthy and up for grabs. If you have an empty fruit bowl missing a cat, please contact me and I will be happy to make her yours.

We are getting a light rain today. The air has a crispness to it that suggests fall is ushering in it's presence, making it a good day to fix some chicken and dumplings for supper. The gardens have pretty much given up their  last bit of bounty and fall clean up chores will take precedence now. We have had such a warm September thus far that the leaves are all still very much green and lush. I would imagine that is about to change fairly quickly though.

I can see out to the pasture that the donkeys are on their morning 'run about'. They have a good sized mound out there in the center of their lot and they run circles around the barn, up and over the mound, and occasionally play king of the hill when on the top of the mound. It is cute to watch and I marvel at their early morning energy. Gracie, my bottle fed baby (donkey), remains my favorite critter out there, closely followed by Wendy, my three legged house mutt. Despite their smaller stature and early challenges, they are quite feisty, very loving and often at the top of their game. Good lessons for all of us!

Book Signing in Coldwater and Marshall, MI

Saturday, November 15, 2008

11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Taylor's Books and More
60 W. Chicago Street
Coldwater, MI 49036
(517) 278-2340

3:00 to 5:00 PM
Fireside Books
1110 W. Michigan Ave.
Marshall, MI 49068
(269)781-3800