We are looking forward to booting 2011 out the door and throwing away the key. I am also asking the powers that be to pretty please bring more good than bad in 2012.
2011
January: Good - Granddaughter Catalina Breeze born. Bad: Monster snowstorm
February: Good - Oldest son Riley home from the army to see his new daughter. Bad - Surprise lambings in bitter cold. Lamb losses and LGD attack
March: Good – 75 healthy kid goats born Bad – lose two excellent milkers from difficult freshenings
April: Good - Montecello, Kate’s horse from Welwyn, arrives for R&R from a jumping injury. Bad - Cannot find a creamery to bottle our milk and make our yogurt – creamery building delayed because of finances
May: Good - Invited to present at the inaugural Slow Money Conference in NYC and new intern arrives. Bad – farmers market sales affected by bad economy
June: Good - Kate is accepted for the Equine Management program at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown, PA. Bad – have to borrow money to pay for Kate’s college
July: Good – enjoying many guests at the farm stay and Fable is booked solid for Saturday dining and Sunday brunches Bad - The calm before the storm
August: Good – Neighbors. Bad - Hurricane Irene and no electricity for five days. Lost hundreds of turkey poults.
September: Good – garden harvest is abundant. Farmers market sales pick up. Bad - Storm flooding causes severe damage along streams and roads. Farmers market sales plummet again. Family crises begin.
October: Good – Warm autumn. Still picking and canning tomatoes. Bad - Family crises
November: Good – great weather and crew for turkey slaughter Bad – Continued family crises
December: Good – Kate home from college for the holidays. 2011 almost over. Bad - family issues escalate
Moonfall over Horse Pasture
Newborn Catalina snoozing
Montecello "Monty" arrives
Easter
 |
| The Rabbit Fleet |
Slaughtering Easter lambs
Shane becomes Monty's groom
Letting Broiler Chickens out of Night Cabin
 |
| View of Farm from Uppper Pasture |
White Highlanders on Pasture
 |
| Raspberries in July |
 |
| Catalina at Delaware County Fair. Moo! |
 |
| Bluebird in our Garden |
 |
| Riley home to visit Catalina |
 |
| The Hen Party |
 |
| Just Picked Tomatoes and Beans |
 |
| Just Picked Wild Apples for the Press |
 |
| Shane and Susannah Pressing Cider |
 |
| The Cider Press |
 |
| Morning Clouds over Mountain |
 |
| The Turkey Slaughter Crew Day 1 |
 |
| Turkey Guts |
 |
| Susannah Plucking Bronze Turkey |
 |
| Susannah and Kate cut Christmas Tree down |
 |
| Hauling the Tree Home |
 |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year |
The challenges of 2011 in both our home and business lives shape our outlook for 2012. 2011 was an important year for turning our energy inward to nurture and heal our family, to break or cement commitments and relationships, to question our judgments and actions, to adjust and make hard changes and to prioritize our goals and actions to attain happiness and sustainable success. A heartfelt thank you to our family, friends and customers who provided us with the emotional and financial ballast to survive the many steps backwards in 2011 and who nudged and cheered us forward with promises of love and commitment. A quick look into our crystal ball reveals renewed hope, happiness and success in 2012. We hope to share it with you.
.
Newborn Catalina snoozing
Montecello "Monty" arrives
Easter 
Shane becomes Monty's groom
White Highlanders on Pasture
1 comment:
You got through 2011, not an easy one for any of us Hudson Valley farmers. Dan and I have been thinking of you and Tom all year long. We finished our creamery and got our license and start making cheese officially in late January. Best of luck to you for 2012!
Post a Comment