I know it has been a long time since you've heard from me, so I'm posting a bunch of postcards from the summer and this early autumn in hopes that they catch you up (and keep a record of all our doings for my family, too.) I hope all is well with you and that you enjoyed your summer and that your autumn is colorful and full of good things.
We are relishing our time here on the farm, a full year now. We love this land and the house, which we keep renovating when we aren't doing farm things. We put in more perennials around the house, like hydrangea, sedum and aborvitae. We replaced the east door, stained and installed old-fashioned screen doors, I finished staining the dooryard stoop, and Alex and Adam built six benches to use around the gardens and over at the pond. We also stacked four cords of wood into the shed in July. We continue to work on our future bedroom and it's very near completion, replete with a new window and hardwood floors and lighting, all for a room that has never been finished in the entire history of this old farmhouse, so it's been rewarding to slowly pull the room together, and it will most definitely feel great to have a bedroom of our own.
![Yay! Alex installed the new door for the east side of the house.](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2913/14460491048_2b68276d73_z.jpg)
![What's a farmhouse without screen doors in the summer?](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14674995594_3de3a21c32_z.jpg)
![benches around the fire pit](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5560/14547173839_424065a22a_z.jpg)
![new benches](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5555/14710767996_ec9e4de47f_z.jpg)
![It's funny because I often sit on that bench and sing "Somewhere Under The Rainbow" to the ducks.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3882/14765955217_bf2dca4570_z.jpg)
![Trying to be mindful that there is beauty even amongst the tangled mess of weeds.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5596/14834305431_d06b5ab247_z.jpg)
The ducks and chickens have grown so much, and the ducks have just begun laying their first eggs. We did lose one of our six ducks to a hawk in August, despite all the fencing and bird netting, though, and so we are doubling down on our efforts to limit further predation. It was very sad and we were sorry to lose Millie.
![Olivia with the ducks.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14713819170_2ee0907da3_z.jpg)
![Good morning, ducks!](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2940/14778137426_acabf078b0_z.jpg)
![the ducks one summer evening](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5578/14932504990_b8d2cd3937_z.jpg)
![The ducks are watching Alex mow. It's wicked cunning.](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2930/14741877491_7d1723bbc4_z.jpg)
![Ah! It turns out the ducks were extra agitated because one of them had laid their first egg! This is ahead of schedule by about two weeks, too. Good duckies! #khakicampbell](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2945/15364974581_ab63744c78_z.jpg)
![another duck egg](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2944/15378749852_a477c12a39_z.jpg)
![This is the north end at the ell of the house, and our future bedroom. This is the only side we didn't put in a new window, wrap, side, and paint last fall. I'm happy to report that the nasty, old casement window is now in the dumpster and the much larger](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/15238400215_62ef03b7cd_z.jpg)
![This gives me a little thrill. Just saying. #diy #renovations #farmhouse](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/15240756352_0183a2a4c9_z.jpg)
![progress #diy #renovations #farmhouse #ultrawhite](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2942/15380832315_e8f045f033_z.jpg)
![It's moving in day with regards to our 95% complete bedroom! This is a teaser. #diy #renovations #thisoldhouseneedslove #homeimprovement](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3933/15351532210_0627876baf_z.jpg)
Alex finished constructing a moveable chicken coop he designed in July, and every other evening, the chicken hut and coop get moved to different location so that the chickens have fresh grass. He plans to build and attach nesting boxes to the side of the coop, because our ladies are nearly ready to begin laying. The chickens are so funny and they have such distinct personalities. We have named them all after grandmothers, mothers, and aunts from our family trees. The three Silver Gray Dorkings are Bernice, Doris, and Cleona Mae. The three Buff Orpingtons are Ethel, Myrtle, and Opal. (Opal is a sweetheart and enjoys cuddles.) The two Speckled Sussex are Edie and Edna (these girls are quickly becoming my favorites for their friendliness, too.) The two Jersey Giants (who are indeed giant), are Blanche and Maude. The two Golden Laced Wyandottes are Irma Irene and Gertrude. Gertrude may be the boss hen, which is fitting, given the stories about Gertrude. Lastly, the two Dominiques are Avis and Dottie, and they are characters. They are both the most velociraptor-like (read intelligent) and fast, of the bunch. Both watch every move you make with flickering, golden eyes, and they dart everywhere. Olivia says they are her archnemeses. (She loves them, still.)
![Alex's latest project - a moveable coop for our 14 chickens. @bradstreetfarmer](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3865/14714359463_59b6fbf8cb_z.jpg)
![The moveable coop is in action! The girls will spend their first night (not inside the garage) in it tonight.](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2895/14550164268_cc23914bf4_z.jpg)
![Moveable coop is ready to use!](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2909/14736825275_9b5852243f_z.jpg)
![This is Blanche, one of our two Jersey Giants. She's named for her one white spot in her otherwise iridescent black feathers. She's very big and beautiful.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3878/14733646169_95004cf209_z.jpg)
This is Blanche. See her white spot?
![curious chickens](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5559/14932575057_58026e77f4_z.jpg)
![This is Myrtle and Ethel, two of our three Buff Orpingtons.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5574/14917199921_21e0931ff8_z.jpg)
Myrtle and Ethel
![zucchini time](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5584/15171752325_0f3d659ebe_z.jpg)
![chicken hut](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3912/15091922640_73229a6f94_z.jpg)
![This #silvergraydorking wants my ring. Not sure if this is Cleona, Doris or Bernice.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5600/15274889559_ab052da017_z.jpg)
We got over to the pond as often as could for picnics, leisurely swims, and roasted marshmallows around the fire.
![camp exterior](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3888/14805790797_b971a68a78_z.jpg)
![summer days](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2938/14547147899_6160f79a2c_z.jpg)
![respite](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15106952181_8e77a62d0c_z.jpg)
Our Ohio friends, Lane and Melissa and their two adorable daughters, who stayed with us last summer, visited us this summer, too. It was lovely to catch up.
![Look who stopped by! It's @mamawhimsy and family.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/15040481230_5eda4da6c8_z.jpg)
That garden we put in back in June, well...life intervened with some ugliness and painful rifts and something had to give. So after gardening for twenty years, we found ourselves letting our garden go to weeds. It made us sad. Still does. Instead, we tried to revel in the beauty of the meadow that formed so easily. With any luck, we'll have another go at putting in a garden using different organic methods that will hopefully have less weedy results. It's a metaphor.
![I'm ready for this summer to end. There were good things, certainly, like the ducks and chickens, getting some infrastructure built, making progress on our bedroom. But this has been a painful summer, too. We've had a huge rift in our family (not with the](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3921/15240984345_f14038ded9_z.jpg)
![Lots of borage, too.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5586/15054323899_257772798f_z.jpg)
![Brandywines #organic](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14897552738_74cf54b2de_z.jpg)
![Borage in our extremely weedy garden.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3904/14714651877_6384508c0c_z.jpg)
Over the spring and summer, all four of us served on the Palermo Days Planning Committee, which meant we met once a or twice a month until August 9 to help plan the town's annual summer festival. Additionally, Olivia and Alex ended up marching in the parade for our county democrats, I photographed the event and Adam designed the wonderful poster and flyer that went out to all the the folks in town. View more photos at the Palermo Days Facebook page.
![Farmers for Fulford](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3849/14990020086_605cb4301e_z.jpg)
![campaigner](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5582/14826393498_1a9cc087a1_z.jpg)
![Michaud/Fulford truck](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3841/15013236765_6012d60151_z.jpg)
![candy](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3919/14826696027_a30e3e48cd_z.jpg)
![child with flag](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/14990232116_b588748f96_z.jpg)
![fiddler](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5570/15012781802_7f313f2d72_z.jpg)
![Grange Hall](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/14990083246_2e6126c7a1_z.jpg)
Family came up for Labor Day and we had a wonderful visit, even if the weather didn't cooperate for a day at the pond.
![it's family time!](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3922/15118905095_542fc29dba_z.jpg)
![good food, good company](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/14932200739_973acd715f_z.jpg)
Adam and Olivia spent a great deal of time over the summer preparing for their table in the Youth Enterprise Zone at the Common Ground Country Fair in September. Adam made walking sticks, available in a variety of sizes and woods, each sanded to perfection. Olivia crafted darling needle felted animal portraits, and art in recycled bottle cap pins. Together, they made clay nature charms and designed block prints for recycled denim patches. As a result of this endeavor, they named their shop fishbull and launched a Facebook page. They also plan to open an Etsy shop in five months. It has been wonderful to have the house buzzing with their creative pursuits and seeing their unique styles expressed in their art. Oh, and their YEZ table did quite well.
![he checks the surfaces](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/15092075967_86029c051a_z.jpg)
![finished walking sticks](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/15275505331_81878423d4_z.jpg)
![painting charms](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3897/15278673645_00fc878433_z.jpg)
![painting a clay charm](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5573/15091950849_98af926310_z.jpg)
![My teens are doing some last minute creating for their Youth Enterprise Zone (YEZ) table for next week's Common Ground Country Fair. They will be there on Friday. (We'll be at the fair all three days.) #unschooling #teens #cgcf2014 #yeztent](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3885/15024172320_718d82fd8e_z.jpg)
![f i s h b u l l - the name of their shop. Adam's latest design. #unschooling @superadamgalaxy](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3902/15052949030_4ca309faf0_z.jpg)
![YEZ tent set up](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15370077246_224ef2f981_z.jpg)
![their table](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3837/15389921251_5b33997c2b_z.jpg)
![presentation](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15206398830_65534b452d_z.jpg)
![fishbull booth](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3863/15393054525_79493d9291_z.jpg)
On the first day of the fair, we woke early to get the teens to their table and we saw that we had a mild frost.
![early start on Friday](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/15206366769_e02dae855a_z.jpg)
We spent our usual three days at the fair and did all our usual things; visiting friends, admiring animals and handcrafts, taking notes, attending discussions, shopping, eating, and generally enjoying the sights and sounds of all the activity around us. The weather stayed cool and mostly dry, just the way we like it.
![Meredith and Amanda](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3843/15206285057_d451fd9297_z.jpg)
![our friend has one of the best faces because she has one of the best souls #maine #mofga #commongroundfair #cgcf2014 #commongroundcountryfair2014 #207gram](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3855/15115755058_6cc08137dd_z.jpg)
![Unschooling talk with Sandra and Laurie. #cgcf2014 #unschooling](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3871/15288922041_9a6081871e_z.jpg)
![the garden parade](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3852/15205822809_948d32622f_z.jpg)
![gorgeous colors](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15392303942_1b3cbe539f_z.jpg)
![Wednesday Spinners](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2943/15392686905_7fb33f1ac3_z.jpg)
![I've always appreciated that children's experiences and knowledge are valued and respected at the #commongroundfair. Esther, who is maybe 7 or 8, spoke about controlling biting insects in useful and simple ways on the farm. #cgcf2014 #mofga #maine #itsdif](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/15127435518_05877700b5_z.jpg)
![my kiddos](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3920/15205898109_45e3cb0e81_z.jpg)
![crowds](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3876/15392921235_77c06d9e99_z.jpg)
![girl and horse](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3845/15392620982_e41de7eff7_z.jpg)
![Okay. We're absolutely getting some American Buff geese, someday. We all fell in love with these sweethearts.](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2941/15105312770_251886b9a6_z.jpg)
![peekaboo #mofga #commongroundfair #cgcf2014 #commongroundcountryfair2014](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3839/15279137306_d75089b940_z.jpg)
![Tide Mill Creamery](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3872/15206342287_4b669c131b_z.jpg)
![cabbages](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3903/15206306388_5b46d400ab_z.jpg)
![Casco Bay Butter #maine #mofga #commongroundfair](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5567/15127959540_aafca68239_z.jpg)
![onions](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3916/15206320418_3484b6155b_z.jpg)
![end of Friday](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/15392545512_886c8a6acb_z.jpg)
The day after the fair, Amanda and Phoebe visited us as they were in the neighborhood, having also been at the fair for Taproot. We sat around our table and ate peach cobbler, walked around the farm, talked about farming, old houses, feminism, unschooling, and creativity. Spending time with beautiful, insightful people was a wonderful way to spend a few hours, for certain, and an even better way to end September.
![Phoebe and Olivia on the woods road.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3925/15321876002_32999fc6b8_z.jpg)
![visited by magical folk, today](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/15322266645_cc7a05229a_z.jpg)
![discussing old apple trees](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5577/15319082171_5b7759599e_z.jpg)
![three fabulous women](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5554/15319062081_4f2a4d60ef_z.jpg)
![A wonderful visit and lovely gifts. Thank you, Amanda @soulemama. #taproot](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5571/15135798919_930e3bc13a_z.jpg)
Which finally brings us to October, which has been good to us in many important ways. We have become connected with a community of youngish farmers in our town, and we so enjoyed attending the farmer's market over at Blackbird Rise Farm. We went visiting, had a wonderful meal, toured someone else's farm, sat around another table, all things we hadn't done for quite sometime. Olivia's taking an art class where she is learning Intaglio printing. Our chickens are nearly ready to begin laying, the ducks are all laying now, and we've moved into our bedroom. But I'll save all that for later, as this post has been quite long enough.
Our life is good here, full and purposeful. Now, about this blogging regularly thing...I promise to work on it. Thanks for reading and scrolling (and scrolling.)
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