Down on the Farm

The Big City

Waverly loved New York City. When the cab would stop to let us out, she'd emphatically make the "more" sign, and first thing in the morning she'd be asking to go outside. In her Waverly way, she made friends everywhere she went, even in supposedly grumpy New York.

Waverly also very much enjoyed seeing her cousins. As did we all!!

Happy holidays everyone!!

I feel warmer already

Happy Solstice everyone!!!

It was 16 degrees below zero (-16F) this morning at 7 a.m.

But we are turning the corner, the days will now get longer, and soon it will be summer!! Or at least spring.

Chillin'

It was so cold out today . . .

How cold was it?

It was so cold the diesel gasoline in our tractor turned into this kind of viscous jelly, and clogged the fuel lines, pretty much bringing any forward movement to a halt. This problem then had to be remedied in -2 degree F weather, with the wind blowing no less.

I have been inside for hours since this happened, and I am still cold.

Enjoy the season!

Last Friday night Waverly and I came home to a clean house, laundry all done, dinner on the stove, warm fire in the woodstove, romantic movie ready for the dvd. As anyone perusing the blog can tell from the lack of farm related posts, it's the off-season around here! Majorly. I've definitely been enjoying it.

But I can feel already the first beginnings of getting excited for next season. Waverly keeps asking to look back at the summertime pictures of the farm on the blog. And I catch myself growing nostalgic for hectic Friday nights of washing and packing vegetables with Tommi and Susannah. Discussions between Peter and me are starting to circle back to touch on farm topics. "What kind of herbs should we grow next year?" "How are we going to promote the CSA?" "How are we going to keep Waverly from running into the road at the farmers' markets?" But at least for a few more weeks, all those issues go on the back burner.

Now's time to hang out with friends and family, sleep in, play with Waverly, eat and eat, and be grateful for the wonderful world we live in. Enjoy the season!!!

And so it begins . . .

On Sunday afternoon, Maryellen, Waverly and I went for our first sleigh run of the season down the hill in back of the barn. For those of you who haven't been here, it is a big hill. We picked a smaller and less steep portion because we weren't sure if Wavo would be into it. But after each run she vigorously made the hand sign for "more". So perhaps we have a speed demon in our midst. I am sure we will have photos and video footage as the season progresses.

Tommy Z

Wavo's friend Tommy came over to play the other day.

Tommy's parents are friends of ours, and he is a couple of months older than Waverly. Maryellen was once sitting at a restaurant with Tommy and Wavo, and someone asked her if they were twins, and you can kind of see why that person asked.

I guess these two have known each other pretty much their entire lives. They genuinely seem to like hanging out with each other, although they do kind of egg each other on into trouble sometimes. For example, they had a ball climbing on the grey easy chair in the livingroom. But I did find myself saying at one point, "Waverly, please stop head butting Tommy." And I heard Tommy's Mom, Tracy, say, "Now Tommy, don't kick Waverly in the head anymore."

Ahhh, to be young again . . .

An auspicious beginning for sledding

We've had a mix of rain, freezing rain and "glaze" the past couple of days. The deer print above gives you some sense of what the ground is like. It's messy, but it's supposed to get cold now, so I think all this mess will become a nice slick base for some good sledding ahead. Waverly got a few good runs in on the slight incline in the yard this morning, and I can't wait to try a real hill.

Take me out to the ballgame . . .

In certain circles in which we travel, there has been a debate for some time about the meaning of organic. Does "organic" mean a new way of conceptualizing our food system, in which industrial agriculture is replaced by sustainable, local and regionial food systems that emphasize low-processed, healthy, whole foods and diets? Or does "organic" simply mean producing food in ways that require less nasty toxic chemicals to be spread all over the planet? For the latter folks, an organic Twinkie is progress, but for the former folks, a food revolution is the goal.

Looks like the Twinkie faction is winning.

Winter's here

Snow is now on the ground, and chances are it won't be going anywhere until late March.

I was out framing one end of the greenhouse on Saturday, and Waverly and her Mama came out to say "Hi", on their way to shutting the beehive completely down for the winter. As you can see, I took some time to push Wavo around on her little sled, which she thinks is just the best. I am not sure who is having more fun during Waverly's childhood -- her, or me.

Waverly update

Well, I guess it is true what they say -- they do grow up fast.

Waverly has this Big Wheel-like scooter that her cousins Derek and Brett gave her. It is called Rock, Roll, and Ride, and the way it is set up now, it has a handle on the back so her Papa can push her around. She loves it, but she can't get up onto it by herself, and I (gladly) spend about 40% of my time in the evening pushing her around the house, because she can't quite push or pedal it herself.

But tonight, I went into the livingroom, and there she was sitting on her Rock, Roll, and Ride. I said to Maryellen, "Did you put her up there?" "No. Why?" But before I could answer, she started pushing herself around, and even semi-steering through the doorway. Unbelieveable. I almost starting getting choked up a bit because she looked so much like a little kid, rather than a little baby.

Next she'll be asking for the keys to the truck!

The dark days

These days leading up to the solstice are pretty bleak up here. I am looking out the window at 4:20pm, and, while it is not pitched black out, it is pretty much getting dark.

Soon. Soon the days will start getting longer.