Dear Friends,
This is a quick 3 minutes and 15 second read with only one advertisement for a great cause. So READ IT!
With shorter days, chilly, clear mornings, frost on the squash, acorns carpeting the forest floor, migrating geese silhouetted against the sky and fog rising from the pond and rolling over the pasture, fall announced her triumphal arrival.
Enjoying the start of our most dramatic season, we celebrate this magical time when the trees are overladen with maroon colored berries and leaves transform to beautiful hues of deep red, vivid yellow and bold orange, but before departing their tree top homes and starting the endless fall cleanup process. We take pleasure in gathering the final spoils from the garden, gathering around nighttime campfires, and preparing for what lies ahead ... another dreary Cleveland winter and disappointing Browns season ... oh wait, that second part already happened!
Going around the horn (yes we are all baseball fans this time of year), firewood deliveries started in earnest with many scheduled the next two weeks. I may have a couple extra ricks if anyone is interested. Of course, compost deliveries are also underway with one customer persistently demanding delivery to have "medicine for my garden and compost to mulch garlic plantings" and another commenting "our sandy raised beds went from unable to support plant life to fertile, alive and productive. Your compost rocket fuel saved our garden." I only wish we could create more to meet demand. Too bad we can't turn all of the election BS into compost, then it might be more useful!
The ewes thrive in this weather with few flies and warm wool coats to enjoy the cooler temperatures and still green, lush pastures. Hopefully with all ewes pregnant, the ram departed last month. In November, they will be shorn and pregnancy checked by Dr. Beth with delivery expected in early January, when Lauren's home to help before going back to Amsterdam. We delivered 46 chickens and guineas to customers the past few weeks with only one known casualty and one jail break. Catching them is a unique challenge as chickens create noxious clouds of dust and guineas launch themselves vertically into our heads like punted feather footballs. Special thanks to Mike who assisted with the final six guineas. So far the young pullets only laid 2 eggs but we will collect full baskets soon. In addition, we stocked our freezer with soup chickens for the coming year. The ducks emerged as our favorite entertainment for feeding as they "talk, talk, talk, talk, talk ..." to us, waddle by our side demanding to be fed, eagerly eat from our hands and then jump off the dock into the pond to clean up. Lastly, I am happy to report no broken bones yet from the mountain bike trail.
We completed the restoration of the cupola. Not to be immodest (since I really did very little), but it is spectacular. The view from the 60 foot lift to put the cupola into place was a treat. As Harry commented, a trip to the sheep barn now resembles driving up to the Boston State House, but with sheep baas and guineas cries. In time, the copper roof and weathervane will develop a rich, green patina, but until then, it is our HHF beacon to the world, especially at night with the light on. We are now safe from low flying aircraft.
Fun Fact. Morgan, Harry's fiancé, will be running in the Chicago Marathon Sunday. It will be her third Marathon, the first a solo run in Chicago, with Harry on his bike, during covid and the second in Sacramento last year. She is running to fund cancer research. Please consider a donation to help her reach $10,000! In her words
"Hi everyone- thank you for supporting my fundraising goal! Cancer has affected so many people I know and love, specifically my grandma and my aunt. Their strength and resiliency throughout their journeys have inspired me beyond running. I’m participating in the Chicago Marathon to inspire hope for those facing cancer and raising money to help end cancer as we know it, for everyone."
Support my fundraising for 2024 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
As we start to close out the year, including the horrific hurricanes and this rancorous election season, I hope we can all remember what is most important in life and help and celebrate each other, the world around us and being a part of a caring, loving community.
Your friend,
Harry
