My Secret Place
When I was young living in the mountains of North Carolina one of my favorite things to do was wander to a creek situated on the far side of our property. I now know it was a special place. I don't recall feeling as though I needed an escape but maybe I did. I can still hear the gentle trickle from the water. As if I was right there I can still feel the blanket of nature around me. I would spend what seemed like hours there. There was one spot in the creek that leaves would dam up the water flow and my mission, first thing upon arrival was to free the water. I never asked or wondered if mother nature wanted me to. It just seemed like the water wanted to flow....
So, here on our farm there is a spot that reminds me of that same place from my childhood. This creek is quite a bit wider, probably proportionate to a grown up version of what I saw then. In my 'adult' creek I have depth and can see wonderful reflections of the trees on the banks edges. If you look in the right spot you can see fish darting about. The water is very still. Its so peaceful.
I don't think I consciously declared this spot as my secret place but that's what it is becoming. The floor of the woods has had a few years of rest from the hooves of cattle tromping about. Now, with each new season I am greeted by new native wildflowers that pop up out of who knows where. This is just what's there now, spring! The summer will behold different ones and fall, and winter...well, I'll have to see.
MayApple emerges in the spring and produces a flower in May that later bears the fruit, or apple. Looking down upon the plant you cannot see the flowers, protected by the canopy of the leaves. Just who can you imagine has the vantage point to see those flowers?
The fern, as prolific as it seems to be in the richly composted forest soil, it always catches my eye. The bright lime green against the brown leaves... nature, our greatest interior designer.
I've been adding to my wild flowers, being careful to include only native varieties. Saturday mornings, after I've set up my vendor booth for the days farmers market I venture over to see Tim and Helga MacAller of FourLeaf Farm in Rougemont NC. I like to tell myself I'm going to say my morning hello's but something unusual lures me in further. Always truly excited about what they have I love hearing them describe what graces their tables on that particular Saturday. Usually, I cannot resist something, at least one little treat.
As I hurried to discover whether some of my additions I'd planted the year before had decided to charm my woodland setting, I was so excited to see....
I also planted Trillium but cannot find any sign that it came back. Tim MacAller told me though, "don't give up on it, it's a funny plant". The way he said it I'm convinced it's yet to appear. I finish this blog today, Friday...the day before my Saturday market. I'm thinkin I'll say hello to Tim and Helga......
So, here on our farm there is a spot that reminds me of that same place from my childhood. This creek is quite a bit wider, probably proportionate to a grown up version of what I saw then. In my 'adult' creek I have depth and can see wonderful reflections of the trees on the banks edges. If you look in the right spot you can see fish darting about. The water is very still. Its so peaceful.
I have read that Alamance County N.C. supplied the gold to the US government prior to the California Gold Rush. I wonder if anyone actually panned this spot in the mid 1800's? Maybe our fortune in gold has been left, yet to be discovered! Hmmm, maybe I should be panning, not blogging!
Often, I peer up and down this creek and imagine Native Americans skipping across stones or even local settlers making their way down the path to a neighbors. We've also been told there was quite an active liquor still on the property. I learned on PBS that a still requires a water source be close. So, maybe, ya think it was here? I'm always on the lookout for signs of activity from people before me. There is a fairly large mound of stacked rocks very near the crossing, who did that and why? Who else might have walked across this same path? Did this 80 year old stand of Poplar trees start from a bird carrying the seed or did someone plant them? I know, this is nothing more then an "if walls could talk" thing. Clearly certain places conjure more curiosity then others. Maybe its the age of all that surrounds me?
Serious though, can't you imagine parking your bum here on the banks edge, listening to nature? Pull up a rock, it will take you awhile to take it all in. I don't know about the rest of you but I feel closer to God in these natural spaces then anywhere. Surrounded by the awesomeness of earths beauty.
And, I must admit, that little girls imagination is still with this adult girl, especially in places like this. Maybe it's the peace and quiet that frees my mind?
Dwarf Coreopsis, also know as Mouse Earred |
Wood Violet |
Toothwart |
MayApple |
MayApple emerges in the spring and produces a flower in May that later bears the fruit, or apple. Looking down upon the plant you cannot see the flowers, protected by the canopy of the leaves. Just who can you imagine has the vantage point to see those flowers?
The fern, as prolific as it seems to be in the richly composted forest soil, it always catches my eye. The bright lime green against the brown leaves... nature, our greatest interior designer.
I've been adding to my wild flowers, being careful to include only native varieties. Saturday mornings, after I've set up my vendor booth for the days farmers market I venture over to see Tim and Helga MacAller of FourLeaf Farm in Rougemont NC. I like to tell myself I'm going to say my morning hello's but something unusual lures me in further. Always truly excited about what they have I love hearing them describe what graces their tables on that particular Saturday. Usually, I cannot resist something, at least one little treat.
As I hurried to discover whether some of my additions I'd planted the year before had decided to charm my woodland setting, I was so excited to see....
Solomon's Seal |
Dwarf Iris not yet in bloom |
I also planted Trillium but cannot find any sign that it came back. Tim MacAller told me though, "don't give up on it, it's a funny plant". The way he said it I'm convinced it's yet to appear. I finish this blog today, Friday...the day before my Saturday market. I'm thinkin I'll say hello to Tim and Helga......
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September 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Back to basics with sheep healthcare Sep 10, 2024
- Sep 10, 2024 Mac and Cheese Bites Sep 10, 2024
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August 2024
- Aug 12, 2024 Tales of a female farmer Aug 12, 2024
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July 2024
- Jul 12, 2024 Caring for sheep hides Jul 12, 2024
- Jul 11, 2024 Cucumber Lemonade Jul 11, 2024
- Jul 1, 2024 Cucumber Gazpacho Jul 1, 2024
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May 2024
- May 23, 2024 Almonds, Sweet and Spicy May 23, 2024
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January 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 Sheep fencing gone wrong… Jan 17, 2024
- Jan 17, 2024 In the beginning :Tales from the shepherd Jan 17, 2024
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April 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 The journey to vegetarian, or not? Apr 3, 2023
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March 2023
- Mar 20, 2023 Making sense of scents, or not... Mar 20, 2023
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February 2023
- Feb 26, 2023 Lamb Sliders Feb 26, 2023
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March 2022
- Mar 15, 2022 HOW TO BE THE BEST SHEPHERD: Lessons from a sheep Mar 15, 2022
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January 2022
- Jan 17, 2022 Lamb Bone Broth /Stock Jan 17, 2022
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April 2021
- Apr 26, 2021 Farming through Covid Apr 26, 2021
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June 2020
- Jun 19, 2020 Turning 60 Jun 19, 2020
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January 2020
- Jan 12, 2020 wool dryer ball transparency Jan 12, 2020
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September 2019
- Sep 10, 2019 It's hard not to project Sep 10, 2019
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June 2019
- Jun 21, 2019 Weaning, a whole new meaning Jun 21, 2019
- Jun 17, 2019 Strawberry Balsamic Basil Pops Jun 17, 2019
- Jun 10, 2019 Collard Salad Jun 10, 2019
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February 2019
- Feb 28, 2019 Shearing Day was not a washout! Feb 28, 2019
- Feb 5, 2019 The life of a sheep! Feb 5, 2019
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January 2019
- Jan 25, 2019 Lamb Liver Paté Jan 25, 2019
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August 2018
- Aug 23, 2018 Pokeweed, Friend or Foe? Aug 23, 2018
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July 2018
- Jul 20, 2018 Cucumbers Galore Jul 20, 2018
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September 2016
- Sep 5, 2016 Mother Nature's Lessons Sep 5, 2016
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August 2016
- Aug 23, 2016 Walking the Walk Aug 23, 2016
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July 2015
- Jul 2, 2015 To Wean or not to Wean Jul 2, 2015
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February 2015
- Feb 1, 2015 Sustainability & Our Precious Soil Feb 1, 2015
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July 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Lasagna Jul 24, 2014
- Jul 24, 2014 Squash Squares Jul 24, 2014
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June 2014
- Jun 2, 2014 Sustainability...What's it all about! Jun 2, 2014
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May 2014
- May 29, 2014 What I know now.... May 29, 2014
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April 2014
- Apr 4, 2014 Is the boss the farmer or the sheep? Apr 4, 2014
- Apr 3, 2014 Felted Chicks Apr 3, 2014
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January 2014
- Jan 28, 2014 Lamb Ribs Jan 28, 2014
- Jan 26, 2014 DIY Wool Dryer Balls Jan 26, 2014
- Jan 15, 2014 Let the New Year Begin Jan 15, 2014
- Jan 13, 2014 DIY Heat Jan 13, 2014
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October 2013
- Oct 30, 2013 WHOLEsome Food: EGGS Oct 30, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Cinnamon Pickles Oct 7, 2013
- Oct 7, 2013 Dog Biscuits Oct 7, 2013
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September 2013
- Sep 18, 2013 Peaches, Peaches everywhere Sep 18, 2013
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August 2013
- Aug 14, 2013 The Spider and the Butterfly Aug 14, 2013
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July 2013
- Jul 30, 2013 They don't wear galoshes Jul 30, 2013
- Jul 21, 2013 Blackberry Lime Jam Jul 21, 2013
- Jul 11, 2013 Lamb Sliders Jul 11, 2013
- Jul 9, 2013 Our Little Orchard Jul 9, 2013
- Jul 2, 2013 The Hay Bale Fiasco Jul 2, 2013
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May 2013
- May 17, 2013 My Secret Place May 17, 2013
- May 2, 2013 April. Did I miss it? May 2, 2013
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March 2013
- Mar 28, 2013 Prada to Carhart Mar 28, 2013
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February 2013
- Feb 21, 2013 Puttin Up the Fence Feb 21, 2013
- Feb 7, 2013 Lovely Cup of Chai Feb 7, 2013
- Feb 5, 2013 Looking for Llama's Feb 5, 2013
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January 2013
- Jan 29, 2013 Winter Garden Jan 29, 2013
- Jan 24, 2013 The rams are back in their pasture Jan 24, 2013
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September 2012
- Sep 7, 2012 Pickles! Sep 7, 2012
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June 2012
- Jun 13, 2012 Morning Gifts Jun 13, 2012
- Jun 5, 2012 Finding the Words Jun 5, 2012
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April 2012
- Apr 13, 2012 The girls and a few token boys! Apr 13, 2012
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March 2012
- Mar 30, 2012 Flavor! Mar 30, 2012
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October 2011
- Oct 9, 2011 Hay. A little three letter word that packs a PUNCH! Oct 9, 2011
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July 2011
- Jul 22, 2011 The Glorious Tomato Jul 22, 2011
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February 2011
- Feb 10, 2011 Shearing Day 2011 Feb 10, 2011
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November 2010
- Nov 30, 2010 This farm gives me Goose Bumps Nov 30, 2010
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July 2010
- Jul 23, 2010 Another aHaa Moment in Farming Jul 23, 2010
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February 2010
- Feb 24, 2010 Farmers Wearing Lace? Feb 24, 2010
- Feb 16, 2010 Girls with no Coats Feb 16, 2010
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January 2010
- Jan 4, 2010 Midnite on the farm Jan 4, 2010
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April 2009
- Apr 22, 2009 Hard Day on the Farm Apr 22, 2009
- Apr 15, 2009 Lamb Meatballs Apr 15, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Spring Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 14, 2009 Roasted Coffee Marinated Leg of Lamb Apr 14, 2009
- Apr 13, 2009 In the Beginning Apr 13, 2009