Misadventures of the Monster Librarian

Got back from my great, very relaxing weekend in PA to discover that almost everyone in the Kitchen (as well as all over the Farm) has been sick with a cold, probably due to this COLD New England fall we have been hit with. This means working a little harder to pick up the slack of those missing that day, but that only seems to make the day go by faster and that is alright with me. Also, a couple weeks back I was out of work for a week due to an old back injury that had flared up with all our moving, so today it was with some trepidation that I started physical therapy. The woman is great and the facility seems nice. I like that my PT has this no nonsense attitude and has given me "homework," being the stretches that I need to be doing to set things aright--very yoga-ish...now I am like "injured Japanese maple meets dog eared notebook stretching," or whatever yoga people call their moves. We'll see how things go. On the homefront, TSO, Rugby Girl and I are all s...

It felt a little deja vu-ish to be heading back to Pennsylvania this time of year; fall ripening around us, giving off those fragrant crunchy-leafed and leaves burning smells; since about this time last year I was heading to the very little town I found myself heading to this weekend. Last October TSO was moving home from WA, in time for B1 & B2's wedding--in a little, wonderful town in PA--CJ was still at the Farm, Amos was finishing college and I was a Librarian. How things change in the course of a year. This weekend found me heading to PA to see a former Farmer, Valley Girl, who has since moved back home and works in the mental health field there. I was graciously invited by B2's wonderful parents, Mama and Papa Bear, to stay with them for the weekend. I accepted. I arrived late Thursday night and enjoyed pie and a long chat with Mama and Papa Bear, catching them up on the Farm happenings, etc. Friday was spent in nearby Lancaster with Valley Girl. It was an aftern...

The house is still a work in progress. We are still alive, not buried under boxes. More soon!

In the same vein as yesterday's post, I again bring forth a critter sighting. Many critters in fact. Wait, can crustaceans be called critters? The Farm's Kitchen (where I work) has been home to many wonderful meals. The Kitchen is great because not only are we using lots of our own home-grown veggies right now, but all year round we usually see something that came from the fruits of our labors. The summer brings us loads of veggies, this year alone we harvested: Asparagus Beets Cabbage (purple and green) Scallions Peppers (Green and some small hot varieties) Tomatoes (though not much due to the blight which effected a lot of New England) Brussel Sprouts Kale Swiss Chard Cucumbers Squash Zucchini Broccoli Cauliflower Eggplant Leeks Corn Snow Peas/Snap Peas Green Beans Lettuce Greens in various mixes Carrots Shallots As well as many herbs: Rosemary, Thyme, Dill, Sage, Basil, Fennel I'm sure that I'm forgetting something, but you get the idea. These veggies usually carry u...

Here are some great and unprompted things that some of the Farm kiddos have said recently. I got these great milking "muck boots," (which look something like these ), for when I milk the cows every week. Upon arriving at dinner, after I had milked, I stopped at a table to talk with M who was with her kiddos M & S, when M (age 2yrs.) glanced down and said, "OH MY GOD, Monster, I love your boots!" in her most sincere voice! It was so adorable I had to laugh. TSO and I were dropping Mummy and kids: Big and Little Fish off at their new apartment, en route to the Farm, when Big Fish (almost 5yrs. old) made the profound observation: "Mom, first came dinosaurs, then Jesus, then Johnny Appleseed and then us, right?" Oh, my God. TSO, Mummy and I were trying so hard not to burst out laughing, for fear we'd stifle Big Fish's curiosity! Where do kids come up with some of these things!?

HOLY CATS! I love that there are so many visable signs of nature where I live! Cool animals sighting over the past couple of weeks since last I wrote, though none of them were as cool, or as close to me as the bear : TSO , S and I were driving into town, heading towards the highway, when what should run in front of my car? A BOBCAT! I was surprised at how small it was--about the size of a small dog. But still very cool! Some facts I gathered here : Type: Mammal Diet: Carnivore Average lifespan in the wild: 10 to 12 years Size: Head and body, 26 to 41 in (66 to 104 cm); Tail, 4 to 7 in (10 to 18 cm) Weight: 11 to 30 lbs (5 to 14 kg) Did you know? The bobcat is the most abundant wildcat in the U.S. and has the greatest range of all native North American cats. I had just turned onto the Farm's road from the state highway the other day when what should I see running across one of our fields? A RED FOX, not to be confused with Redd Foxx --because that would be weird! Some facts I gathe...