Ten Days...

Here we go again. More than ten days have passed since I last made a blog entry, not for lack of anything to say, but from lack of time. As can be expected, the month of May is a crazy busy one: weddings, Quinceanneras, Sweet 16's, proms, regular contracts, winery tours. Plowing, harrowing, discing, planting. Logging. Buying and selling horses, general upkeep of our own —shoes, worming, spring grooming and clipping. Shopping for puppies, a new (used) car for my daughter, and hay and grain to fuel our increasingly active horses. And we are just half way through the month as of this writing...

Rides, weddings, Quinces and proms are in full swing again, and are joyous this time of year. The leaves are budding, the ornamental flower trees and fruit trees shower us with pink, white and lavender petals. It has been a banner year for pollen in the northeast, too, and light green faerie dust covers everything. The days are intermingled with brilliant sunshine and rainy skies. The rain doesn't hamper us much, though, and we welcome it as we watch our flower, vegetable and herb gardens grow. In between the tender plants and artful flowers spring rapidly growing weeds. The wild birds are gluttons at the numerous bird feeders in our yard, and frogs are once again occupying the fish pond. The pullets are getting big, and the ducks are laying eggs — one has been nesting for some time and I expect to see ducklings soon.

In just two weeks, we celebrate Memorial Day, then we celebrate the halfway mark through the year 2011. Where is Time going to?

Photos: Top: A recent wedding at St. Clement's Castle, Gillette & Diesel on the vis-a-vis.

Second: The Cinderella Carriage with Sam & Cody in Hartford for a recent Quinceannera.

Third: All the teams are being shod. Here Dolly is put in the stocks because the farrier says she habitually leans her massive body on him! Danny, however, has improved and no longer needs the stocks.

Fourth: New hay bales, weighing approximately 1400lbs a piece. The flakes equal an average square bale and one flake feeds a team at each feeding. Also put up this week was a load of first cut Alfalfa out of PA. Half a bale of that highly nutritional hay at each feeding is more than enough for each team!

Bottom: An Amish-made culter packer.

Dawn, Bright and Beautiful

The view from the bedroom window this morning was bright and beautiful. Horses stood quietly, likely enjoying the sunshine after yesterday's rain. The trees are beginning to fill out again and it is a reminder that we have made it through a tough winter. From here on in, things will be brighter!

Gore Place

Cedar Knoll Farm was in a lovely suburb of Boston on Saturday, at a museum and farm called "Gore Place". It was a "gentleman's farm" for the one-time governor of Massachusetts, Christopher Gore (1806). As part of their annual "Sheep Sheering" event, we participated by giving horse drawn wagon rides and plowing demonstrations. We are told that nearly ten thousand people were there that one day! The lines were tremendous, and it was one of the year's highlights for us, so far, as an enjoyable venue. We are looking forward to returning next year!

Photos: Top: Terry plowing with the new team, Sam and Cody.

Second: Waiting for the tractor to drop off visitors, Terry shared his knowledge of plowing with horses with folks from the city.

Third: Elaine driving Danny and Dakota on the pioneer wagon.

Fourth: Tools of the trade - a 1900 lb hydraulic plow, two types of wrenches and "harness tape" hang conveniently from a lever on the plow.

Bottom: Terry, on what he considers to be "the best seat in the house".

Part 2 of Spring Flowers

Because Their Beauty is Fleeting...

In the Garden

Since we celebrated Easter on Saturday to accommodate the schedules of our (somewhat) adult children, Easter Sunday became a day of tremendous "rebirth" at the farm. Terry spent the entire day york raking the three paddocks, which required downing fences and putting them back up again. I spent a good portion of the day in the flower gardens, planting & pruning. The gold-fish pond, still in need of a good cleaning (it has rained numerous times since we pumped it, after all, and leaves blew in again), had me moving very heavy, flat rocks to build the waterfall. I am itching to get the pump working, and to fill it with orange, yellow, and silver beauties. The fence in this garden needed some repairs, and I spent the time to do this, too.

The animals, on the other hand, all had a very relaxing day. The horses had the day off, and stood chewing hay and shaking against May flies, as they watched Terry work in their paddocks. The peafowl and ducks somehow managed to get out of their protective condo into the wild blue yonder of the chicken run, and I'll be darned if we'll ever get them back to where they belong! Here's hoping they don't fly the chicken coop - they'll make a mess in the barn and gardens if they do!

Photos: Top: Getting the idea from a very creative friend (Gypsy Mare Studios), I searched my garden to see if there may be a fairy house hidden somewhere. One was found hidden under a bright orange bush, near the goldfish pond! Smoke from the chimney told me its inhabitants were very close by...

Second: Busy Bumble Bee

Third: The Mallard duck in the chicken run. His mate is sitting on eggs...will we have ducklings soon?

Fourth: A recently hatched bird egg, found in the pond garden.

Fifth: On a warm sunny day, Simba keeps me company while I work in the gardens. Because of his tiny size, however, he must remain protected from the numerous hawks that hunt our property.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Although the day isn't dawning bright and beautiful here at Cedar Knoll Farm weather wise, it is warm and almost balmy. The view from the house out to the barn reveals horses in fog, muddy and dirty from yesterday's rain. Our son, Brandon, is home from the Big Apple, and sleeps soundly on the couch as I write this. Friday was Earth Day, Good Friday, and my birthday all rolled into one. I find it most appropriate that I share my birthday with Earth Day each year! Had the gift of family (Brandon included), a friend's delicious "funny bone" upside down cupcakes, and the beautiful gift of viewing "Water for Elephants" with Maegan and my family for my birthday. HIGHLY recommend this movie, which takes place during the depression and revolves around the circus and its magnificent animals, and equally magnificent human characters!

Have been working Diesel single this past week. I love this horse. I often wonder if he still misses his brother. I would venture to guess that he dreams of him in the night. The work does Diesel good. This is evident in his posture, in his eye, in his attitude as he stands for harnessing and as he goes down the street. The dynamics of the herd has changed. Diesel, Dolly & Gillette are separated from Danny & Dakota now, for safety sake. Dolly was once the low-man on the totem pole. Now she rules the roost, henpecking the two boys. She chases Diesel at feed time. Gillette chases her. Diesel chases Gillette. Around and around they go, looking for the herd's anchor that was once Duke.

Photo: Top: The view from our house this Easter morning.

Middle: The New Yorker sleeps through all kinds of noise and commotion, including the antics of a tiny Chihuahua.

Bottom: My birthday "Funny Bones" from my friend Erin's Chocolate Rose Bakery in Plainfield, CT.