The Beer & the Bees

We got a sample of our latest collaboration with Small Pony Barrel Works today.  Doesn't this beer sound fantastic?!  Thank you honey bees for your service.

I LOVE seeing our logo on the bottle.
So cool.

It's a Little Bit Rainy Outside

Me: Good morning!

Goats: Uh huh...

Me: Come on out!

Goats: Nuh uh.

Me: I've got hay!

Goats: Solid nope.

Me: Good morning!

Sheep: Is it?

Me: Come on out!

Sheep: If you say so...ummm...nope.  Let us back in!

Me: I've got hay!

Sheep: Yep.  Right over here. A little closer.  A little closer.  Yes...there!  Thanks.  We'll just partake of that right in here.

Me: Good mor -

Ducks: YES!!  LET US OUT!  GOOD MORNING! GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  GOOD MORNING!  IT'S RAINING!  YAHOO!!!

Me: Uh huh. I have....

Ducks: Outta our way!  IT'S RAINING!

Me: Never mind.  Have at it.

Ducks: This is the best day EVER.

Peachy Keen to Try Anything

It was a pretty dull day here on Gael Glen Farm filled with paperwork, errands and meal prep.  Despite nothing particularly exciting happening, we did have a fancy supper for a Wednesday - raw oysters drizzled with fresh lemon juice followed by steamed mussels in a peaches and cream sauce with crusty sourdough bread.  All three boys loved it.  Each of them slurped up an oyster (Liam had TWO leaving only one for Ian!) and declared it delicious.  I am truly grateful to have such adventurous eaters.  Seeing the boys willing to try (and very often enjoy) pretty much anything is enough to brighten even the most mundane November day. 

Rainbow Pond Surprise

With the threat of inclement weather looming, I made an effort to get outside today to enjoy the blue skies and warm sunshine. I tried a new loop at the Carp Barrens. To call the top part of the loop a "hiking trail" was a stretch - it was more of a disappearing and reappearing beaver path - but I managed to keep mostly on track thanks to the GPS on my phone. I did have to trudge through ankle deep freezing water for part (soaking my socks and boots) and was pretty sure that I heard a loud snort at one point deep in the wilderness (I am hoping it was a deer) but aside from these small excitements, it was a pretty routine forest walk.

The bottom part of the loop, which I have done many times, was beautiful as always. I was particularly pleased with the incredible rainbow pond that I happened upon. I have never seen that before and it was as spectacular as it was unexpected.

Time for warm wool socks, a cup of tea and some computer work - perfect for resting my tired legs.

A Change in the Weather

The kids were very excited to wake up to our first snowfall of the season.  They were outside before sunrise to play in the snow.

The barnyard animals were less thrilled with the white stuff - "my footies will get cold!" - but they relented and shuffled themselves out of the barn to partake in the pile of warm spent grain from Ian's brew day yesterday.

Is there any more?

More please!

And so it begins...

Buck Shot on a Very Grey Day

Deer hunting season is a wrap.  Would you believe that someone from this farm saw a huge buck today with a beautiful rack of antlers and it wasn't Ian?!  This is our second year in a row where the deer did not cooperate during hunting season.  Funny enough, though, this is my second hike in the past week where I have met a deer during my brief time tromping around in the woods.  Last week, I saw a beautiful doe in the Carp Barrens and today, I bumped into a majestic buck in the Greenbelt.  There is nothing better than sending my hunting husband deer photos from my hike while he is sitting up in his tree stand watching squirrels!  (Except a deep freeze stocked with venison, of course, but if we can't have that then at least we can have a sense of humour).

Aside from the surprise deer encounter, the rest of my hike was pretty monochromatic.  The photos below are presented in black and white for dramatic effect but they are not too far off from the very grey day that was today.

Not many leaves left but this tree was a beauty.

Seamus & His Goats

Seamus has always had a special bond with our goats.  He adores our tiny herd and I wouldn't have it any other way.  Just a boy and his goats.  Warms my heart.