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The Rose of Sharon was in full bloom as we began our summer vacation at the end of July.  We had a wonderful time with wonderful people and wonderful food. Sarah was thrilled to have a visit from her Grandpa, who taught her how to play golf. We were all delighted to have a visit […]

We had a very pleasant, if occasionally rainy, Fourth of July weekend. Everyone waited patiently for the rain to stop. Our front-yard bunny found a nice dry spot. But it’s black raspberry season, so we could not stay inside forever. Jen and Sarah made a dozen or so jars of jam. Sarah made sure everything was […]

Work continues apace at the farm, as we (or, more specifically, Chuck Kelsoe and his nephew) dismantled the fence, which we are replacing.  Del Wolcott told me he that built this fence from locust trees that he cleared to build the house on the hill on the other side of what is now Wolcott drive, […]

I was not a friend to the deer this weekend, having spent hours and hours mowing acres and acres of the high grass in which they like to make their beds.  I was, however, a Hero of the Barn Swallows: they love it when someone mows because it turns into a feast.  They swoop around […]

On Saturday, we visited the Northern Dutchess Botanical Gardens to buy a few plants for the garden. We got the essentials: peppers (bell and poblano); lettuce (oak leaf, red sails, and red romaine); arugula; peas (snow and sugar-snap); soybeans; broccoli; strawberries (everbearing, Junebearing and all-star); herbs (green and purple basil, Italian parsley, and lemon verbena); flowers (coneflowers […]

  We had plenty of sunshine this weekend, enjoyed by what we can only hope is a large proportion of our pond’s turtles. The squirrels — all of whom are as fat as house cats — checked out the new growth. The birds also seemed to enjoy the fine spring weather.  Here is a mourning […]

There were more signs of spring this weekend, including this robin.  Today also marked the return of the barn swallows.  Since 2007, the barn swallows have arrived as early as April 22 and as late as April 28 — an impressively tight range. A less fortunate sign of spring is this capacious front door that […]

Sarah and her friend Michaela played with sticks before heading out to Kids’ Night Out at Bard. Herman the muskrat prowled about, looking for material for his lodge. He is far more photogenic in the water than out of it. A mallard sits pondside, watching the sun set.

We saw this fellow on Monday while we were kayaking on Commodore Creek, off Tarpon Bay, Florida. We should be back at the farm next weekend!

Sarah made beautiful placecards for Thanksgiving. Even though we were sad not have Grandma with us, we had much to be thankful for, including a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. For dessert, we had hickory nut pie (among other pies). It was an exhausting affair. The indefatigable Sarah, however, got everyone to play Monopoly, every day. She […]