June 21, 2007 by Elaine.

These long days of summer solstice,the roosters are weary. Nagging the hens to the roost, it’s nearly nine o’clock, and then up at four! Oh and up they are, trying to out doodledoo each other. Not even two pillows over the ears can keep the crowing out of my dreams.

These days have been the days of childhood summer remembered; days of pure blue, green and white. The clear blue of summer skies, the fluff of a little cloud…and the green, everywhere. Fifty years of fading childhood memories, but the joy of those summer days comes back so clearly every year…the meadows, the butterflies against those deep blue skies,birdsong…a shadey secret place…

The squash and cucumber seeds have lifted themselves out of the ground and yawned and stretched…two big fat leaves standing to soak in that sun…the peas are still racing each other up the trellis, and the carrots are starting to nudge each other out of the way…looks like that crowd will need some thinning.  Salad has new meaning when the lettuce has leaped from the garden to the plates, pausing only for a cold shower…lettuce really does have flavor, it’s a secret gardeners  know.

The puppies are starting to open their eyes and peak at the world….they give new meaning to cute!

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June 14, 2007 by Elaine.

We have puppies.. 11 of them. Up to our eyeballs in dogs! This will be a summer to remember. Goa, my old favorite, has her last litter. and Silfra has her first litter.  I see the moms check on each others pups.  Silfra, getting tips on puppy rearing and Goa, the old pro, making sure things are going according to her rules…she rules!  The old lady is in charge.  I will miss her beautiful litters, this old girl of mine is a great mother. Silfra is as proud as can be…5 beauties surrounding her, as she is off to a great start on this motherhood adventure. Both of the old girls,Goa and Embla, will retire this year. It was nearly 10 years ago that my dear friend gave us Boti, our first Iceland dog. Her legacy lives on here is so many ways. Boti and Goa, a wonderful pair… they have made some lovely puppies. He was about a year old when little Goa, just a pup, flew over from Iceland. I remember her tiny little self, snuggled up on my lap as I drove home from Logan.  She came just in time to help save save our beloved Jumiemoon that spring. The little lamb spent many days sharing the kennel with her own private sheepdog puppy. What a pair!

And the potatoes…how I love potatoes. Must be those Lithuanian genes! All tucked into their little bed in the garden, Caribe, Rose Gold, Carola, Cranberry Red, Red Dale…can’t you just see them. Yellow, purple, red, pink…they will be there, ready and waiting for butter or sour cream…or just salt and pepper…I love potatoes.

Hay came from Vermont…just in time to refill the loft.  A nice cool morning to work in, and there were many hands to help…unexpected and most welcome.  This will hold us over until new hay is cut later in the summer..it is easier to sleep when the loft is full.

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June 1, 2007 by Elaine.

We have a new addition to the family..a most beautiful (of course) grandbaby girl.  Kate was due on this blue moon…but she couldn’t wait.   It has been a few days now since Miss Kate left the NICU to join her family.  This sweet little package has turned that world upside down…Big (well 20 month old) brother Jack is not quite sure who or even what this is…she does move when you poke her, wears diapers, can really wail, and sure takes up lots of mommy’s time.  Daddy is home from work, Yeah! but he is a bit bleary-eyed and doesn’t want to play as much. For Jack it seem., the best part of this whole thing is Grammy’s truck.

It seems like just yesterday that I was bringing her dad home…the years do fly by.  She has his feet!

David is holding down the fort…farm, back in Maine.  50 lambs, lots of sheep, 5 new kids, 7 goats, 9 dogs, (2 pregnant ones due soon), cats, chickens, baby chicks and my goldfish! God bless this man. One lamb is sick..maybe pneumonia, and he is right on top of everything.  If only we could make New York closer to Maine.

The list of lambs for sale was due to be up on the website today …baby Kate had other plans for me it seems, making a dramatic debut 10 days before her scheduled appearance. How fortunate I am to be able to spend this time with my family. The list will be posted , the laundry done , the floors swept…all in good time. There are babies to rock, lullabies to sing and stories to be read.  Life is good.

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