Fond Farewell to Summer
The maples are starting to spark beside our creek, fiery reds and yellows shine amidst the lingering greens. The hummingbirds have abandoned the feeder and flower gardens, and the geese flock in large Vs in the sky, heading southwards. While the farm hasn’t experienced a frost yet, the signs that summer is leaving are clear.
Rainy mist and wind brought the Thursday and Saturday performances inside this week, where we collected cozily inside Farmstead while music and storytelling flowed from the corner stage. The drops pounded against the windows, but it couldn’t wash away the merriment of gathering together in community as we come to the close of our eighth summer with Farmstead Creamery.
We kicked off the season Memorial Weekend, which now seems like nearly a lifetime ago. And now with our second year of lambing in the fall on the near horizon, there are only two weeks left of the rigorous summer events schedule before the winter hours come to bear. If it feels like summer flew past this year and you’ve still been meaning to catch these special events, now is your chance!
Open Mic and Wood-Fired Delights
The flavors of autumn abound with sizzling comforts from the wood-fired oven, paired with community gatherings around stories and songs. The last Thursday of the month we’ll be rallying the open jamming crew, so bring an instrument or your singing voice to celebrate the last hurrah for our first season of Open Mic. Or you can come this Thursday too and listen or join in. There’s always room at the table or on the stage to celebrate our collective creativity and heart.
Farm-to-Table Deliciousness and Art Unveiling
Right about this time last year, Carole was visiting Farmstead as part of a ladies’ luncheon, and as she was checking out made a point to speak with me. “I just love your work and I want you to make me something. I’ll be in touch soon.” This led to the commission of a large punch needle tapestry with a hummingbird and flower garden theme, all made with wool yarns from our sheep. I finished that piece just this last week, and this Friday’s Farm-to-Table Dinner will be its official unveiling and celebration. Join us for a delicious three-course meal featuring tilapia from our aquaponics greenhouse and celebrate the arts with us.
Bookends to a Summer of Wishes for Peace
Memorial Weekend we dedicated the yarn-bombed Peace Pole that I made this spring. Songs and heartfelt prayers gathered there, along with members of the Peace Corp and world travelers of all types. Now, this Saturday, World Music gathers again on the farm for International Day of Peace as Classical Indian-meets-Jewish music trio is our featured performance amidst the smoky smells of wood-fired artisan pizzas. Kumar, the tabla player and I went to graduate school together, and having his trio stop at the farm during their upper Midwest tour is a real honor.
Celtic Music Session
This Sunday is the 4th Sunday of the month, which means it is Celtic Session time! Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and Breton tunes and songs abound throughout the afternoon, and all musicians and listeners are welcome to join the circle. Come early and enjoy one of Kara’s delicious Bismark puffy crepes. This series will continue throughout the winter as well.
I know that summer is ending when I smell applesauce cooking on the stove, feel the itch to bring out a crochet project that’s been on hold since early spring, or even work to straighten out the house after a summer of long-days neglect. And yet I know that summer isn’t quite over yet, as we give it one last hurrah these two weeks before October arrives.
We hope that you can join us to wish summer a fond farewell too. We know that many of you, like the geese and hummingbirds, will soon be heading south. And many of you, like us, will be prepping for the long winter to come. Farmstead Creamery stays open in the winter too! But between now and then, autumn (my favorite time of year), is a glorious time of transition on the farm and at Farmstead. So, raise a glass to summer’s end, and we’ll see you down on the farm sometime.
