The view from the deck at sunset.
Another insanely busy summer here. Putting up hay, gardening, fixing equipment (an unending reality with farming), moving, feeding, watering and processing chickens, in addition to those other pesky jobs that come with summer: home maintenance, cutting firewood, and fixing fences, have kept us running full steam. Add to that sending our youngest son, Ian to the World Choir Games 2012 with his college choir (they took 3 gold medals), and then to the Olympics in London with his college marching band, and it's easy to see why our heads are spinning. Dinner has never been on the table before 8 pm this summer, and often more like 9 or 9:30. We've enjoyed the warm evenings and taken advantage of the deck off the kitchen to finally unwind after the busy day with dinner at sunset, watching the bats come out and keep our mosquito population down. Last night, we feasted on grilled lamb chops and quinoa and broccoli salad, and fresh vine-ripe Black Krim tomatoes. We spotted a Great Horned owl in a dead tree at the edge of our property, poised like a sentinel guarding the pasture. The light has begun to change, and with that, summer is drawing to a close.