...all my sorrows

Our weekend was family filled - we had fun, love, and fulfilling times - we had interesting moments - and sadness.

we had good food - sushi, pizza, salads, antipasto, cheese, bagels, butter, and caviar, fresh eggs, coffee, wine.

Family/friends, no matter how little you see them - love is there - closeness.

If I were to reflect, I would say...nothing is taken for granted, everything stays the same, life is very, very short, yet time stands still.

Rise to the Occasion

Christmas is a time of year when children get to make a wish.  It coincides with year end and New Year's Resolutions!  Time to take stock?

We can live day by day, as a wise 96 year old advises, welcoming each new day with positive thoughts and gratitude for the day.

We can have hopes and dreams for our future and the future of others...as Martin Luther King did in his infamous "I have a Dream" speech.

Overall we suffer - each to varying degrees, and we achieve success, those of our wish list and some unexpeted.

Taking stock at the end of the year and/ or during Christmas - is truly a way of re-evaluating our lives - understanding what is important to us - perhaps thinking about what is important to the Universe - and, in essence - rising to the occasion of our lives -metaphorically speaking.

Ambrosia Farms - Celebrating 25 years

I have been fortunate to have lived on this Farm.  The name of the farm was inspired by the Carole King song because much of the words echo what I've felt here.  As mentioned in the song there is a river, reminiscent of Native American life - there is a running stream which really makes sleeping a wonderful experience when the night comes, and beautiful green pastures along with old growth forests.  The area is still quite rural and affordable.  The Amish have recently relocated here bringing both good and bad affects.  But for the most part - nothing has changed since I came here in 1988.

Complimenting my life here is my fiance Gene.  His talents and skills have been important in keeping our animals happy and healthy by building perfect facilities, making green and great hay, keeping us warm in the winters with a wood stockpile, and troubleshooting every possible thing that goes wrong .

Life on a farm is a constant struggle - not only for ourselves but for the animals - making ends meet is hard - even with off farm income.  We have 30 goats, 5 horses, 1 pony, 4 hound dogs, 12 cats - and 215 acres of land with 3 buildings - a dairy barn, a horse barn, and a house.  All of these buildings need constant maintenance and much of the work we don't get to.  All of the animals live with lots of space and freedom to move - including full out running space - a predominant reason the animals live a long and healthy life.  All of this open space, peace and nature is a rare jewel - priceless by todays standards.

Both of us love being outdoors 24/7.  Sometimes we find the chores hard - especially as we are aging. But our caretaker shows no signs of slowing - much older than us - he has been a reliable relief for many many years.

Friends and family have visited often, showing support for all of our undertakings which have included caring for these animals, growing heirloom veggies, making hay, woodshop and sawmill work, pony and horse rides, and goat dairying, agritourism as well as hound dog rescue and adoption of wild horses.  None of our ventures have made money - but they support the farm upkeep and real estate taxes.

We see nearby cow dairy farmers struggle to make a living and large commercial ones that make a living but at the expense of the cow.  And we see more and more cattle farmers.  And some new veggie farms and lots of small local producers of artisan items.  Overall the future of small farming rests in a reliable distribution system that works for small farmers.

We have a great quality of life that offsets what we lose in financial stability.   I am so grateful for my time here.  One thing is certain - the next generation of farmers will be lucky - our conservation practices provide that these resources are preserved!

My Time for Reflection

The snow falls in the early morning and I sit near the wood stove.  I am at liberty to read, write, and reflect on my life and surroundings.  Much of my life - as with many Americans - is fast forward - with little time to decompress.  But I am responsible for filling my schedule with one project after the next because I am interested in so many things.  Yet I take liberty in the months of January and February when our UpState NY environs are cold and frigid.  I still go outdoors - in fact at any given time - I 'm milking a goat, walking dogs, grooming horses, feeding chickens, looking after a herd of 20 bucks and does - plus working off the farm.

Oh but in the winters,  I love to write as I am doing right now and read - and take stock - try to place some order in my life.

There's no telling anyone that life is short - we all experience it one way or another be it a close friend, relative, pet, or our own mortality.  Yet, as I reflect on impermanence - I need to be careful, as this is not a positive reflection for me.  I'd rather ponder and strive for what I believe to be the brightness of my actions and legacy.  Planting trees, fruits, and vegetables without taxing the Earth, preserving land, caring for animals, working to care for the elderly and sick, being kind to neighbors, watching my own and my mate's physical fitness, and being a source of inspiration for young people.  What more can I do in a lifetime.

Last night I read about the 5 "human" poisons (distraction, aversion, ignorance, craving, conceit) and the antidote to them.  Meditation such as mindfulness, empathy, impermanence, awareness will lead to wisdom.  Since I am not an intellect on Buddhist teachings I will not go further here but rather continue to read and learn!

GENE & I

We've enjoyed our lives together for a decade...and still! The first thing he did for me was build a tepee on the "land between two rivers" - designing, selecting and cutting the trees, and raising the structure which towered over us.

He has been an inspiration to watch from the beginning. I have learned more of his multifaceted skills including building, haying, engineering everything, and ingenuity surpassing a mere mortal. I bestow praise on Gene for the pleasure of witnessing his creative virtue and resourcefulness. He is an enclyclopedia of strength, work, and judgement. A true Renaissance Man!