New at the farm, we have these matching vintage Schwinn 2-speeds that are perfect for a leisurely pedal into town to have dinner, shop at the antique stores or get a malt at the cafe. Thanks to The Bike Mobile for finding and fixing these up for us! 

We welcomed the new year by hosting a small precious wedding in the farmhouse.  What a blessing to watch two young people commit to making something new together in faith.  The ceremony couldn't have been more perfect or more moving. There was even an adorable little dog involved! 

This week, we'll start seeding in the greenhouse, so it is time to start being intentional about finishing up the storage crops we have tucked here and there in coolers, fridges and basement corners. Today, we're having scrumptious mashed Oneida Gold potatoes for lunch and yummy, yummy roasted Golden Beets for dinner. Beets are as close to the flavor of dirt as you can get without actually eating it. And I mean that in a good way. Nothing like enjoying the fruits of last summer's labor to get you energized for spring planting.

Sarge standing guard.

The days may be hot still, but the nights are cool and mornings misty as fall approaches on the farm. Late season crops are coming up strong and tender, the prairie next door is golden and tall, the crickets are loud and fruit ripe. This is our reward for a summer of cultivation.

Melons are a tricky bunch. Most of them - cantaloupes, watermelons - color up a bit on the outside as they ripen, or develop a more pronounced net, or even begin to smell slightly. All of these are iffy indicators of what lies inside, however. The best way to know when to harvest a melon is to wait for full slip. That's when the stem pops off the melon with just the slightest pressure. It's rather magical, the way the stem pops off in a little coin-shaped disk, leaving a blank star in in the skin of the melon. You won't ever see this star at the grocery store, because those melons have to be picked unripe, and then ripened with gas when it's shipping time. A melon that's been ripened in the field to full slip will only hold in cold storage for a week or two - so enjoy these babies while you can! Buy them locally and eat them quick!

When we got up at 4am, there was lightning flashing all around our valley, but far enough away that there was no sound, just pure silent beauty in the sky.  By 5, when the sun was coming up and the birds were waking,  I went out to sit in the prairie next to the house and listen to them while the lightning flashed pink and purple, mostly to the south.

Good morning, farm!  Overalls Day here at Circle M and the super-styling Barr Girls are showing us how it's done.