Calm Before the Storm

Well, Frankenstorm is on her way. Admittedly, I'm a little anxious today and spending a good chunk of the day getting things put away here at the farmette and checking in on a couple of other properties that I help watch in the off-season. This morning's weather would never indicate such a beast of a storm is approaching; the fog is slowly burning off, it's warming up quickly and the light is exceptionally brilliant as it bounces off the thinning fog. The trees that still have leaves are all a deep, burnt orange now with the exception of a few red oaks that still hold on to their redness even after we've had a few frosts. The sheep are still finding some green to eat although I am having to supplement more and more with hay now; they'll start to get grain again soon, too. More signs of the changing season.

The shorter days make us all slow down some, and yet the things we need to get done in a given day don't change; maybe this is why it seems there are never enough hours in a day. Finding a balance between productivity and rest is sometimes elusive. When I watch Henry lounging around, which he does quite often and quite well, it reminds me to stop and take in the light and the view and all that is around me here. This is probably the real reason why they call them (wo)Man's Best Friend.

Henry.

Hat Season

We're gearing up for some sort of hit from Sandy here along the coast, and hopefully we won't have much damage or lose power for long if at all. Some day a generator would be nice, but until then the candles, lanterns and charged cell and computer will suffice. The sheep barn has two windows that face   southeast and have been open all summer, so I am deciding to board them up as I have in the past for winter months or put some plexiglass in them. Tomorrow will be the day I decide and do whatever needs to be done, as the weather is supposed to start in on Sunday. Weekends never seem long enough.

These are some nice shots of the hats - thanks Katie for taking them!

These are some much better photos of the hats that I delivered to the shop in town, and I've had a few requests for commissions since - so hat season is in full swing. Since the Sunday will be a wash and outside chores will be out of the question, the needles will be clicking away inside at the Salty Ewe.

knit lids!

I am so happy to have some hats in a really great shop in Dock Square called Daytrip Society (www.daytrip.com) again this year; I dropped them off this week and was thrilled to hear she'd displayed them on the front table the next morning!  Jessica also has a shop around the corner, Daytrip Jr. and am hoping to maybe have some small hats in that shop as well. We'll see. The excitement of having the hats out there gives my sheep a purpose which feels good after so many years of strictly hobby farming.

Letting Go

It was a big day here at the Salty Ewe, and even though I knew this day was coming, the reality of it didn't hit until after it was all over. Three sheep, including little Aztec the ram, were loaded into a truck this morning and then headed off for their new home in Northern Maine. A really great young couple is starting out with sheep, and they're adding a couple of other rescued crosses to their new starter flock. So, even though it is hard to see them go - but probably harder just letting go in general - knowing they will be well cared for and loved makes it all a lot easier.  Having some control when you have to let go seems to make it all a little easier. So, I am thankful to have had that this time around.

final pull from the garden yesterday

The cold came quickly, as promised. A hard frost on Friday night had me pulling up armloads of beans and peas in the dark - and the carrots and last bit of greens came up yesterday. The sun was out all day, but it took a good chunk of the morning for the frost to disappear from the lowest and most shady spots in the field. It was a full day of working in the gardens, reflecting on a summer that came and went with a blur. Summers can be that way sometimes.
The days are getting shorter now and many trees have lost their leaves completely, while others hang on with a tenacity that defies windy odds. I like those leaves the best; the strong ones. The sturdy and healthy stems will give way when they're ready. No sooner. And, then they will let go, too.

sharing sheep

Tomorrow, a woman will come to see the flock and decide how many she will take home. I'm gifting a small starter flock to someone who's come highly recommended and am looking forward to meeting her and having her meet the sheep. While losing some of these guys will be hard, it's the responsible thing to do and will benefit all of the sheep in the end - not to mention the pasture and mucking pieces.

ending another growing season

Today will be spent cleaning out some beds and preparing for the garlic planting, which may need to happen sooner than usual given the forecast. A cold, long winter's ahead -  snow is being forecast for  some places in Maine in coming days. But, here along the coast it is a perfect fall morning. Birds are active collecting berries and seeds and we've seen deer more than twice on morning walks in the past week. Henry usually sees them first, and someday he will not chase them. I am convinced. Almost two now, his puppy behavior is slow to subside.

The maples are vibrant and the oak trees are dropping acorns like mad, the metal roof of the barn sounding like a novice steel drum band some afternoons.
The changing rhythm, the shift in season pulls us along and the comfort of preparing for the coming winter adds to the richness of the season. Warm, foggy fall nights will subside to frost soon enough.