Happy New Year

It is somewhat difficult to wax poetic about the greatness that was 2019 while under siege by an especially virulent and debilitating strain of influenza, but in honour of New Year's Eve, here it goes...

The obvious highlight of 2019 for us here on Gael Glen Farm was having baby Alistair join our clan. We are incredibly lucky to have had this beautiful, happy and healthy little boy join our family on January 16, 2019.

The birth of our five perfect baby goats was another high point of 2019 for us here on the farm.  Luna, Percy, Duke, Bishop and little Autumn are the most adorable, cuddly goats.  I was never planning to own a goat herd but if the shoe fits...

Ava takes the cake as the "most bitey and rambunctious" part of 2019.  I love this big girl to bits but I cannot wait for the "puppy phase" to be over.  I am so done with the jumping and mouthing.  She is improving on the "sit" command though "leave it" continues to elude her.  If you can manage to get her to sit, she is so full of love and adores rubs and cuddles.  Let's call Ava a work in progress.

The 2019 growing season was one of our most challenging so far.  We had an incredibly late spring and several crops that failed entirely (winter squash, cucumbers, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower).  We still managed to pull off an incredible CSA program with gorgeous, delicious baskets of vegetables for 16 weeks.  A huge "Thank You" to Mrs. Cheryl and Kristy for coming by to help me on harvest days!

In 2019 we said both "Hello" and "Goodbye" to Granby the billy goat.  I cannot say I was sorry to see him go but I am grateful for the beautiful babies he gave us and all of the delicious milk that Martha and Mellie have been producing since August.

While Granby was a pain, the worst parts of 2019 would have to be the bout of stomach flu that steamrolled the family in late November, followed much too closely by a serious case of influenza that had us all out for the count between Christmas and New Year's.  When you are in bed on New Year's Eve with a fever, chills, aches and pains, a runny nose and a persistent cough - there is only one place to go in the new year...up!

From all of us here on Gael Glen Farm, we wish you a safe, happy and healthy new year.  If you should choose to send us some extra "healthy" wishes in return, we would certainly not turn them down.

I will leave the waiting up until midnight to those of you with more gusto.  I am all set to turn in early with the hope of greeting the new year fever-free. 

Happy 2020 Everyone!