Last night I had a hard time sleeping. Thoughts of my Remy and our cat Molly who hasn't been seen for a full day now, jumbled around in my head. I also woke up with a stinging pain somewhere behind my right shoulder blade, one of those ones you can't quite pinpoint where the exact source of the pain is. Anyway, this morning Jay informed me that I was a bad partner during these wakeful times, that I was not considerate of the other sleeping person, that I snuffled, sighed, sneezed, and tossed. "Most people just lay there and try to sleep," he said. Now, I ask you, how does he know what most people do? When the kids can't sleep, they come in and tell us. Who are these other people whose sleeplessness habits he knows?

Work is taking up way too much of my time lately. And there are so many things to do at the farm, like get ready for Christmas, one of my favorite times of the year. Yes we have a very big tree, as usual, and once all our favorite ornaments are on it, I can't imagine a smaller one. The kids and I made some great new ornaments this year, gold pizzas with pepperoni or cheese.

Remy was the emcee at his school talent show last weekend, as well as doing his own comedy routine. He did a great job with very little practice. I've always known that oration would be one of his strengths, because of his verbal gifts. It was a very positive and I think, life changing experience for him. Here's an excerpt: " I love to read books. Here's a book question for you- if a book about failure doesn't sell, is it a success? I also love biology a lot but there's something that's been bothering me. Is a fly without wings called a walk? and here's another biology question. If a turtle has no shell, is he homeless or naked?" Okay he didn't write the jokes, but at 10, does it really matter?

I promise I will post tomorrow.

Weather again. Where is the damn sun? I've never felt like Vermont is as grey as they say, but this week I feel like it has never been sunny, ever. And I still feel bad. And there is still no definite winner.

Another grey rainy day. I guess that's November for ya. I'm trying to stay awake long enough to get all my work done so I can go home early. The flu or something has got me down.
Election: I'm thinking now that it really doesn't matter who finally is determined to be the winner. But I wonder how the decision can be determined impartially now. Both sides have got their dander up, and if the tables were turned, dander would be up in the same place, I bet. My solution is two years each. Historically, I had no idea the race in 1960 between JFK and Nixon was so close, winning by only 118,000 votes. I wonder if there was a recount? I suppose I could look into that, but I'm too tired and out of sorts to do it now.

A grey rainy day, and another reprieve from traveling. Last week I spent each night stringing red peppers, the long paprika kind, and hung them up to dry. Each day since, I wake up in the morning to a mound of moldy peppers on my table and floor underneath the ever smaller string. Maybe they are the wrong kind of peppers for stringing and drying. Obviously. But they do look pretty, and I'm going to try again with a little different technique.
Tomorrow is the day we decide whether we move out of Vermont or not. Get out and vote all you under 30 people. It's important!

Okay here is a link I know you'll like. I found it in my mag reading, which I find much more enjoyable than clicking. At this econcierge site you pay a monthly fee to be able to call them and ask an unlimited number of questions. They search the web and report back to you. It is truly decadent.

Election 2000. It is ugly here in Vermont. I've never felt so strongly opposed to a candidate. In fact I've never felt very strongly in any political race. On my way to work, a tractor in front of a rather upscale house is covered with what I perceive to be bigotry-laced slogans, but which are in fact just words and candidate names. I'm surprised at the reaction they arouse in me. I considered throwing tomatoes at the signs, but we are out of tomatoes. How about a nice rotten cabbage? I'm afraid for next Tuesday.
I was supposed to be in Amsterdam this weekend, but can you believe this, I left my passport at home, and do was unable to get on the plane. Stupid.

Halloween fun. Last night after trickortreating with the boys, we watched some of the Greenwich Village parade on TV. How odd, I thought, that this parade that used to be a cult event, is now a mainstream televised action packed celebrity hosted party! I would put a link to it, but I don't have time to look for one.
In this article about weblogs it describes what makes a good weblog. Again, the information age is passing me by. How does one have time to sift through the web and find interesting links? I'm still lucky if I have time to post once a week. I find the "mundane details" of my life to be pretty interesting to my readers ( mom and dad). So, anyway, Remy was a ghost and Jordan, of course, was a grim reaper with a 5 foot long scythe- we wouldn't let him take it to school though for their annual Pumpkin Man parade. Remy actually shared some tidbits of their classroom party, where 4 girls were dressed as the Spice Girls and sang songs and danced to a tape. The whole classroom danced with them, even their teacher, Cher (great name).

There are a few things I miss, and actually have forgotten about, like a toasted bialy for breakfast. The taste is just not something you find in Vermont.
The fog was so thick last night, even with my fog lights on I couldn't see where I was. It is the first time ever I felt totally lost, except when I was getting my diving certification in some crazy quarry in New Jersey. I blew out my ears and couldn't ride the elevator at work for 2 weeks. I worked on the 23rd floor.
Anyway, I actually stopped the car on the road just before coming to my driveway, because I couldn't find it! I finally saw a little red flag (my mailbox) and crept over to that side of the road till I saw the indentation where I hoped my driveway was. Spooky!

Yesterday. What a beautiful day. Flying into New York, the pilot took us on a route right across Manhattan to New Jersey, turned around, and flew us right back over the city again. I could've reached down and touched the twin towers. When we took off froml Vermont, the sun was just barely coming up, so I couldn't really see much except a little pink in the horizon. I always think it's funny(odd) to be in such a place as Vermont in one instant, and in an equally exciting but totally different place as New York in the next. Because I was a New Yorker for so long, it seems familiar to be in the crowd, but nice to know I don't have to do it for more than a day at a time.

I can't believe I haven't posted anything for so long! But I remember thinking last week, I just don't feel the need, and then I got busy at work and I had Friday off so here it is Tuesday and la di dah, maybe later.
Gravel. (gripe, gripe, gripe) I have gravel everywhere in my yard and in my house. There must be a better material for pathways, something that doesn't travel with your shoes. Now I'm not complaining, but I wish it didn't spread itself around. The new pathways in the yard look very bare, but in my mind they have they have lovely perenial borders to break up the sameness. Luckily I have a very vivid imagination. Now if I only had the time to make those visions come true.

I love weather. I don't mean whether it's raining or sunny, I mean how weather affects every little thing. Like for instance, chickens. In the winter they don't lay as many eggs because of the lack of light. Okay, now that has all sorts of implications, doesn't it? It means that light is essential for production or reproduction. The same is true for plants. In the fall and in the early spring, vegetable plants do not grow as quickly, not necessarily because of the lack of warmth, but for lack of light. In fact, keeping some greens like spinach going through the winter requires that you start them very early so that they mature at the beginning of the cold season, otherwise they will never grow big enough for you to harvest. In the spring, as the days get longer, seedlings grow faster, so there is a point where seeds you started in April actually catch up to those that you have started earlier, like in February or March. Now what implications are there for humans? I don't know. But I do love keeping track of how long or short the days are, and where the sun rises and sets. I couldn't do that when I lived in NYC, or maybe I just forgot to care back then. Anyway, here is a fun fact, there is almost 1 hour less of daylight on the first of October than there was on the first of September. At least I think it's fun.

And tonight is another dinner at Shelburne Farms, this time for Jay's 46th birthday. Although we will miss cocktails in the garden at the Inn, it is still a very special place to drive to and to imagine all the things that have happened there, and all the new things happening there now, like O'Bread Bakery, Shelburne Farms Cheese making, an organic garden, and a wonderful inn and restaurant. I just hope it's not too cold tonight, because that white and black Italian marble floor could be pret-ty chilly. I think I'll wear socks.

Dedicated to pleasure and taste in dining and living, the international group,
Slow Food is trying not only to preserve all that's fine in the world of food and eating, but to teach children to really taste and know good food. We had a wonderful dinner with the Italian founders of this group about 2 years ago at Shelburne Farms. Local producers were invited to share their products and the dinner, all cooked and served in true Shelburne Farms style. It was a beautiful evening, filled with great tastes and inspirational stories. At least I think they were, since I don't speak Italian.

In the Free Press today, an article about the linking of Vt farmers and educators to encourage learning about food and agriculture in the local schools. I really wanted to participate in this program through NOFA, but I just don't have the time. But I wish my school would participate and stop feeding my kids fried, prepared food for lunch, or at least give a healthy alternative. I understand the budget crunch, but I'd rather spend $2.00 a day on something they'll eat, than to have them go without for $1.50. The prospect of getting kids involved in our farm and maybe even having their own little garden plot is exciting to me, but in Vermont, the timing is all wrong. I'm still thinking about it though.

Here's the scene from my movie today. Driving to work, it's a drizzly gray day. The leaves are almost at peak foliage, and a flock of Canadian geese are flying in V formation up above the treeline. I feel energetic and full of possibilities for today. I get to work, 2 of my co-workers have called in sick, and one friend's father died last night. It's very October.

No, I haven't given up, just been away. In North Carolina, the landscape near the mountains is actually quite a bit like Vermont. And the small town stories seem to have similar themes. Like how people hang out at the corner store and drink the same cup of coffee for three hours, just shootin' the breeze when there's nothing goin' on. But the scary part is all the signs on the road advertising "Tent Meeting 7:00", or "Revival Meeting Oct 6". Maybe in their speak it's similar to "Ethel Atkins Honorary chicken Pie Supper", or "Rummage Sale, Grange Hall". I wonder if they have food at the tent meetings. Actually I hope they don't. I can't think of worse food. Please don't make me go there again.

A killing frost. A bright morning with a sparkly white coating on everything. The cold air settles on the warm ground and sticks, when there is no wind to blow it around. Now where is my ice scraper? It's been under the seat for the whole summer, but somehow today, it wasn't there. Only a water bottle, three empty creemie dishes, some rainbow sprinkles, and a lego guy. I have to remember to add 10 minutes to commuting time to scrape off/ warm up my car. It was a gloriously clear commute this morning, the Adirondacks looming large across the dark blue lake of Champlain. A little place in Shelburne Bay visible from the Overlook always reminds me of Nantucket, and always makes me want to be near the water.

Ketchup. There is no substitute for real homemade ketchup. It makes even frozen fries (which of course we never have) taste really good. It takes a long time, but on a chilly autumn day, it makes your whole house warm and fragrant. Contact me for the recipe, or drop a hint about it for your Christmas stocking.

Frost. Is coming soon. Why is it that not everybody is showing up for their vegetable pickup? It won't be too long ( two more weeks) until it's over. The incredible variety and quantity of red and green stuff in that farmstand is more than I can stand. I just want to eat potatoes, tomatoes, and red peppers until I can't stand no more. Now if only I could cook...

Wood piles. I also have a mountain of wood in my yard. When we first moved to Vermont, friends and family visited more often, and somehow the wood got stacked very quickly. Now however, the woodpile looms as one job that can wait, since you're going to burn it anyway. But in other yards, people get quite creative with their woodpiles. My favorite one was the circular stack around an old tree stump. Photos of these piles would make a good coffeetable book, as good as the one about outhouses, at least.

Busy Busy. I have a mountain of dirt in my backyard, and a moat between the pizza hut and my house. The wonders of indoor plumbing are about to bring the pizza hut into the 21st Century. When we first moved here, the hut was a toolshed with girly pictures on the wall and pencil marks indicating the amount of hay baled each year. Maybe Jay could use that tried but true system to keep track of the # of pizzas he makes.
At 1:27 it will officially be autumn, my favorite time in Vermont. Although everyone has complained about the cold wet summer, I think it was just fine. Our subscribers had a bounty of vegetables, including amazing white, Japanese, and striped eggplant, and even artichokes. Around this time, we (Jay, Dave, and me) have great ideas for doing things even better next year- i hope we remember them later. I think Jay should do cooking demonstrations with the produce so people will know how to use them. Oops I guess he's kind of busy making pizza on those days.

Last night I was walking out past the farmstand, past the greenhouses on the dirt road leading out to the cutting flowers. I was just passing the last greenhouse when the sky turned pink with sunset light, and I realized I had about 5 minutes to cut 2 bouquets, or I would be searching for sunflowers in the dark.
This morning at breakfast, I realized the sun was not streaming directly into my eyes, but had moved south, out of range of the window. Soon it will be an effort for the sun to get up over the yardarm (whatever that is) before it goes to bed again. Is it really September already? Apparently so.

Harvest festival weekend. Thank you for a bountiful season. Thanks for holding off on hard frost until most of the tomatoes have turned green. Thanks for plenty of rain, but not too much. Thanks again.

How do I know if someone is reading this, or is it all about me, as I've recently been told?

Nutritional Value. Evaluation of nutrients in vegetables has shown a marked decline in nutritional value of, say, broccoli. The USDA spokesperson cannot account for the decline, however local grower guru Shep Ogden of Cook's Garden fame, says " It's the soil, stupid. Obviously, the vegetable cannot have more nutrients than the soil." If the soil is poor due to overuse and continuing reliance on chemical fertilizer, the produce will show the effect. So, eat your broccoli, and eat twice as much. I've always said, you can't have too much of the green stuff.
If someone would show me how to link to a web site, I could show you that at USDA.org there is no mention of this phenomenon.

Fresh eggs. Can't you just picture it, the farmer going to the chicken house with a handmade basket to gather the eggs? It's a bright sunny day and the air smells fresh. He opens the door to the milkroom and (rustle rustle) the biggest rat he's ever seen looks him straight in the eye and says thanks for feeding me, sucker.

My first post was a wonderful ode to the end of another season after a frosty clear night. Now I'm just trying to get the thing to post.
Ahha, so it was the firewall where I work (yes most farmers have a day job) that was not allowing me to publish. Pity, I only have time to write when I'm there.