A new season, a new start..........

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Fall has arrived here in the Northeast.  The leaves went from green to beautiful reds, oranges and yellows and have now turned brown and are covering our fields and forests.  The sky was very ominous today, Mother nature not being able to decide if it wanted to rain or just make us wonder.  The winds have been gusty and it smells like winter isn't far behind.  I love the changing of the seasons and this year it's especially poignant for me.
Personally, I'm at the beginning of a new season as well.  Suffice to say, my 19 year marriage did not survive a long distance work relationship and I find myself single again.  It's been a very strange, emotional few months but the healing has begun and I have so many new and wonderful things to look forward to as well as so many things to be thankful for and believe me, I am!

(We have a new farm sign!  My friend Luke, handcrafted the letters out of used work horse shoes for me.  Thank you Luke - it's awesome!!)

I have given my long range plans a lot of thought regarding the farm and though I have downsized and turned things around somewhat, Tylerfarm is still going strong and will continue as long as I stay healthy and enjoy it. Our sheep flock has gone from 60 to 10 with a new ram on his way here.  Sometimes businesses grow so fast that it spins out of control and becomes so much work, it's not a joy anymore.  That's where I was at.  Now I am back to where a few lambies in the spring will be as exciting as it used to be, not a worrisome burden as it can be  when you have 40 babies in a matter of a few days.  Our fiber, roving and yarns will be better because sometimes doing less and doing it better really makes a huge difference.

(My pumpkin eating sheep :)

In other farm news, the 9 piglets that we raised have all gone to the butcher and then to the customers who ordered them.  I like to raise them and having piglets for the first time was awesome but I'm always glad when they are gone.  When they weigh 250 lbs, they are a little unnerving!  I did keep one of the sow piglets, Daisy, and we will raise her and breed her to have a litter of piglets in the spring.  I won't raise 9 again at one time but will do a few for special customers that I have.

I have also been interviewing for a full time off the farm job.  I have worked with a vocational councilor on my resume and I have to say 30 years of working and life experience looks great on two sheets of paper!  I interviewed last Thursday and have another at our local hospital on Tuesday.  I am looking forward to going back to work, being in a social environment during the day and having the farm and my wonderful family to come home to everyday.
I have  been teaching classes for our local Adult Ed program and will do more during the winter semester.  I have been approached to teach at another school as well.  It's terrific that people are becoming so conscious regarding their food and wanting to learn to produce more of it for themselves and I love being able to help them do that.    I feel so blessed to be able to share what I have learned in my life with others.

(I never tire of driving down our driveway - I leave my troubles at the end of the road)

I'm going to keep my shop open on Saturdays.  We will continue to have beef and lamb as well as eggs and roving, yarns, sheep skins and hand crafted gifts for sale.  I'm adding new kits and other items as time permits.  A HUGE thank you to all of my customers who have continued to shop with us during the last few months of chaos.  I appreciate all of you!

(A festive gift from a friend - Thank you Anita! )

........and thanks to all of you who continue to read the blog, even though I have been in hiding lately.  I hope to find the time to be here more often and share what's going on around the farm.

~Happy Autumn to you all ~