The cicadas have finally come and gone. Fortunately our trees and garden were not particularly effected by their once every 13 year ravenous food frenzy. As they departed, a rare drought and heat wave has permeated the south condemning us to two weeks of mid-90's temperatures and no rainfall. We were so proud of our beautiful sod area behind the barn that we have been very faithful to set the sprinklers on almost every day to keep it nice and lush but we cannot water the whole farm. Our vegetable garden has suffered a bit and with the heat wave, it was difficult to find the desire to tackle even the weeding. As we began to prepare for this weekend's wedding, we began to pray for some much needed rain - if not for ourselves but for a boost of green for our upcoming bride. The week has been long and hard here on the farm. We had to put down one of my best horses - Passion - after an ankle break a month ago continued to get worse and her health deteriorated. It was a tough day yesterday - very emotional, stressful, and fraught with complicated logistics. On top of the that - we had square bales sitting in the field that needed to be hauled to the barn. But all the tasks were completed last night - and we dropped into bed exhausted. Today we had a farm tour from a girl from Murfreesboro who was tickled pink to find a real barn. We considered her a good luck charm because we got that much needed rain right about the time she showed up. The wind blew and thunder pounded and rain came down in sheets. Jill and the boys and I just stood there on the porch and enjoyed the blessed event - rain - rain from heaven. Rain that if it had come the day before - would've made a very louzy day horrible. But rain today - was truly a special event. It felt like a cleansing of the week's sadness. It felt like it was brought to us as a special blessing for the upcoming bride to be to make her special day all pretty and cheery. It is a blessing - the blessing from heaven.
With the new baby goats now hardy and the a run of warm sunny days, our work list is revisited. Sprucing up here at High Point Farms has kicked into second gear. I dug threw my mom's drawer full of flower seeds and found some poppies and Bachelor Buttons. Strangely, those flower seeds do best if planted now in the middle of winter. So, dig a little, spread some natural fertilizer (reckon the city folks know what natural fertilizer is?), and a nice layer of rich black topsoil - then sprinkle in the seeds like I was preparing a roast. Tap it gently in and spray a fine mist of water on it - and hope nature is kind to us again with a gorgeous display of vibrant pinks and deep cobalt blue flowers. Of course, those flowers work best for May or early June weddings - so plans for zinnias, daisies, hollyhock, and maybe sunflowers are set for later when actual transplanting can take place. It is still nice that in the dead of winter when things seem colorless and gloomy that there is hope and anticipation for spring again - color and warmth and life. The hope of contributing to the "Happily Ever After" moments for a slew of upcoming brides is an exciting thought. A fresh new coat of paint and in fact a new color palette for the old Milkhouse is ongoing for this week. I can't wait to post pictures of that - wow, what a difference a good coat of paint and a new color does for making a good impression. I don't know why I question it - I say the same thing when I leave Phyllis's (my hairdresser) and she has recolored my gray hair once again with a fresh coat of some new color. Rain begins tonight and tomorrow and maybe there is a day or two before some more frigid cold temperatures set in again. I guess it is time for some indoor projects. I found a cute 10-bulb chandelier last week for the barn - just gotta find the right spot for it. Maybe some interesting ideas can play out as I tackle the "Garden Room" which is in the old Milkhouse - a room that we will set aside for caterer's needs and such. That is it for now. Pictures to be posted soon - ya know what they say - "A picture paints a thousand words....." so let's begin a story.   | AuthorArchivesMay 2013 CategoriesAll |
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