Tending Thankfulness

We’ve held off on decking the halls, baking the cookies, or setting the playlist to holiday carols. I still have pumpkins and gourds festooning Farmstead with late-autumn cheer. For those who’s hands are close to the land, Thanksgiving remains a sacred holiday—a time to reflect on the good of the season and its harvests.
There are many things for us to be thankful for on the farm this year, as we gather around a bountiful table. Turkey raised on our summer pastures, squashes from the garden, pies steaming away in the oven. The feast marks the conclusion of a bountiful growing season before we all embark into the depths of winter.
Here are some of the things I’m thankful for this year on the farm:
I’m grateful that the summer storms this year did not cause any serious damage to the farm and that we were able to afford replacing the roofs that suffered in last year’s storms before winter set in.
I’m grateful that the little lambs in the barn are chubby and happy and staying warm despite the cold snap coming early, their eager bouncing bringing smiles to all during morning chores.
I’m grateful for all the wonderful people who visited Farmstead Creamery during the summer season, for the music and pizzas and farm-to-table dinners. You’re welcome to join us this weekend for Small Business Saturday—a hot drink and tasty treat is on the house, with many beautiful and hand-made gifts to peruse!
I’m grateful for the chance to have my own business, to co-own my own farm in a beautiful corner of this magical and precious planet. How fortunate I am to live and work with the rhythms of the land as a steward, rather than singly chasing the dollar.
I’m grateful for the many opportunities for creative expression in my life—for writing, for music, for fiber arts, for teaching. Also grateful for the new punch needle tapestry commission with a hummingbird theme that will keep me busy this winter. It’s such a blessing to know that your art is appreciated.
I’m grateful for chickens. Even on a crummy day, a chicken hug is good therapy. And I really love eggs.
I’m grateful for the wonderful family team that makes Farmstead and North Star Homestead Farms possible. Such a caring, motivated, interdisciplinary crew doesn’t happen by accident. Call me biased if you like, but I think my family’s pretty awesome.
And I’m grateful for this beautiful day—the delicate hoarfrost in the morning, the bursting through of the sunshine sparkling on the snow, the song of the blue jay in the pine tree. Our attitudes become a major filter for how we experience the day. Try on the filter of gratitude, and see what changes, what stands out, and what melts away.
This Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for? Make a list, share it with family and friends. Pay attention to the big and the little things. Maybe you’re grateful for wool socks and the right to vote. Maybe it’s your favorite pet or long walks in the woods. Nothing is too big or too small to cast aside as unworthy of gratitude. Thankfulness requires humility—a mindset we can all cultivate for greater happiness and less strife. I hope for you much gratitude this Thanksgiving, and we’ll see you down on the farm sometime.