a rural alphabet

Last evening Jerome and I attended a book signing in our town's lovely book store, Bramble Books. The featured title: A Rural Alphabet, the result of collaboration between two local artists and friends, colored pencil artist Monica Jagel and poet Joanne Adragna Shird.

http://colored-pencil-girl.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-post.html

Before the presentation we ate dinner in our favorite local restaurant, The Driftless Cafe, now under new management. (the link shows last night's menu. We had the special salad. Absolutely divine.) And who was seated at the table next to us?? Monica and Joanne!
The small gathering at the bookstore event allowed for lots of conversation with the artists and some surprising links among us. All too soon we noticed the darkening sky and remembered our chickens needed their house secured for the night and so we made our apologies for needing to leave. But not before purchasing a copy for ourselves and one to be given as a gift.  Once again, our small town demonstrated its large heart and soul. And the magic of interacting with two gifted and passionate artists  has stirred my own.

august

There are so many things to love about life here on our ridge meadow farm in our new life together. We're finding our rhythm and working at the fine art of living in the moment. A favorite time of day is just after dinner. After putting the chickens to bed we've begun a routine of walking the grounds and taking note of those small beauties that can be so easily overlooked. We can feel summer's desperation in the final days of August and a hint of that melancholy that can ride on the winds as a prelude to autumn. Most notable is the sunlight shifting and shortening at day's end, across the fields, down the road.

Looking back at the house from the road last evening just before 8 pm, the sun already below the horizon and the approaching night very still, we saw the full moon, the Grain Moon or Green Corn Moon, rising over the house. And felt a benediction.

If you follow Anne on her instagram site or MyGiantStrawberry, you know what I've been up to recently. Such a wonderful visit. And all too short. If there is a down side to living out here on the farm it is that we have put an additional 240 miles between ourselves and our children. When this thought threatens to overpower, I consider that despite the miles, we have never felt closer to our children in every other way.

a quick hello to any who stop by...

Spending most of our hours out of doors, filling our selves with summer. We feel as if we've lost many days and sometimes the urgency overpowers. Then we remind ourselves we have the rest of our lives.

am I really the only woman in the county who washes her chicken house windows???

is he really having the time of his life?

lots of time yet to grow a delicious garden despite the late start

We try to remember to enjoy the journey, and so

the pond garden is taking shape

there are evening fires at the pit beside our pond garden.
Yesterday together we put up our first pickles of the season.

Not our own cucumbers, as they are just learning to climb their fence. (Thank you Mary for giving me your extras.)

spinach, lettuce, arugula, kale, beet greens, basil, chives, parsley and radishes just gathered 

We try to notice those creatures who share this incredible ridge meadow farm.

As I type this Jerome is playing the organ and not on his knees pulling out weeds and invasive grasses. I feel the radiant buoyancy of grace.