A Few of my Favorite Things

Time to write another article, and this week it falls on my 34th birthday. What to capture?
Many folks who visit Farmstead, when they learn how hard we work, ask, “Don’t you ever get a break?” I’m sure they’re thinking about the R&R time they’re having at their cabin, away from work and home, and wondering if we ever have the same.
Well, if you’ve ever had a farm you know that vacating for the weekend simply isn’t an option. Instead, there are little moments that allow you to fill up along the journey. And so, in celebration of my birthday, here are a few of the things that help me fill up on and around the farm.
Chicken Hugs
Have you ever hugged a chicken? If they’re not the wriggle-worm type, it’s a very precious moment. From the tiny fluffs of baby chicks that can fit in your palm to a full-sized hen that walks up asking for a hug, their soft and warm bird bodies are comforting (especially if your hands are cold!). The other day, while locking in the pullets (young hens) at night, I scooped one up for a hug and distinctively felt her leaning into the moment. She didn’t want me to put her down, so sweet!
Toads
Some people might not be fans of toads, but I find them quite charming. How many amphibians will let you pick them up? There they’ll sit, all plump and knobby on the gravel lane or by the coop door or on the back stoop, waiting for bugs to appear. Some are quite tiny, hopping around jerkily, while others are quite rotund. And while they’re not warm like a chicken, toads remind me of the magical parts of my childhood—always appearing when something good is on the horizon. And they eat pesky bugs, so you can’t complain about that.
Wild Birds
I had to reach for the bird book the other day because a long-tailed olive colored birds caught my eye in a tag alder shrub. It’s white throat and belly belied its whereabouts, though its darting form was shy of my presence. What was this bird? Paging through the well-worn book, it appears to be a cuckoo. I’d never seen one on the farm before—how interesting! The cranes, the hummingbirds, the flocks of geese overhead, all of these play a part in stopping and taking moments to appreciate nature in all its fine beauty. Our sweet little hummingbirds are going to fly to Florida and back again by spring. It’s amazing that this is even possible.
Studio Time
On the farm I have a yurt that is my tapestry studio. I love the spacious roundness of the yurt, how I can hear the sounds of nature inside like you would within a tent, and how it’s a space of my own safe from the dog or the cat terrorizing my yarn. Tapestries are incredible time commitments, often taking years to complete working one row, one thread at a time. It’s like a meditation practice, sitting down to work at the loom. But working with my hands to transform something as simple as yarn into a woven picture is an endlessly magical process for me. You can visit Farmstead Creamery to see some of my works.
Writing Time
Whether it’s journaling or writing these articles, capturing a story or moment in words is a way to actively rest on the journey. Sitting down to write an entire book from start to finish might feel daunting, but biting it off in pieces each week lays down the stepping stones for works to come. I’m in my eighth season of writing these articles, which means a considerable amount of content is now laid down on the page—the good days, the bad ones, fond memories and trying moments. I send them out hoping they will remind others to appreciate the precious nature of our time on this earth.
Chocolate
Ok, the happy list wouldn’t be complete without chocolate. We like to joke that our farm is powered by chocolate! For my birthday, ever since I was little, my cake has been cheesecake brownies. There’s a pan chilling in the fridge right now, waiting for tonight. Can I wait that long? When it was cooking, the whole place smelled heavenly…just a nibble?
What are some of your favorite ways to find little respites throughout the week? What are some of the small joys that help you fill up—sunsets, kayaking on the lake, morning walks with your dog. Treasure these and enjoy them to their fullest. Sometimes the best happiness and health comes in little everyday moments rather than grandiose events. And if you’re a September baby too, happy birthday to you! See you down on the farm sometime.