The cherries have been picked from all of the local orchards, sweet corn and potatoes for dinner just about every night, and the sunflowers are in bloom; thats how I know summer is ending. I also know summer is ending because I will find myself back in the classroom teaching next week. Its a bittersweet of course, long days on the farm and watching it develop from all the hard work has been great, but its also nice to trasition back to school again. I look forward to meeting my new students, being social again (the animals arent much for conversing) and all the other things that fall brings.
For instance, the sunrises. As the air cools the colors seem to really be amplified in the sunrises and sunsets. And of course Windyknob has some of the best sunrises in Leelanau County. One thing I have learned this summer is that even animals appreciate the earth's beauty and will sit and take in the views. One morning in particular had an amazing sunrise and Baka the cat sat on the bench and just watched the sun rise up over the bay. Another thing I am looking forward to is my first experience in managing the sheep breeding. All of the pedigrees, strategies, genetics, traits, fiber, builds and more are taken into consideration for months and then in September I will start to "beef" up the rams and make sure the ewes are fed well in an effort to promote fertility. Then in early October I will have three different rams being used on 5 different ewes. The rams are from left, Dougherty, Ahgosa and Johnny.
I also intend on updating this blog more often, and more "officially" in an effort to give people a better idea of what is going on here at Windyknob farm. When the eggs are being sold, then the sheep will be shorn, whose fleece is available and just what project is next are all things I intend on blogging about. I promise to make a better effort, we will see how it goes.
