When the seasons roll

I know I do an excited fall post every year. I wax poetic about fall fairs and crisp cool days drenched in sunshine and trees dying their hair blonde, brunette or becoming fiery redheads. And all that is still so very true, but it isn't just fall that does this to me. I get the rush from the change. Every few months I need some sort of change some sort of new, some sort of adventure. One can't be moving that often nor dying their hair (though the old me would disagree), but you still need something. And for me that is the seasons change.

That rush as one slowly starts to slide over the other, wrap together and for a few weeks become Siamese twins and confuse the hell out of everyone walking around. Then the old season comes out of the gate a little slower each day, whilst the new season emerges as the clearer stronger victor, pushing aside the previous weeks and subduing the dying season with promises of 'next year....'. That's what I need and love and currently am drowning in, that Siamese twin mash of summer and fall. And of course even excited for autumn my mind and heart rush past onto all the good (and bad and lengthy and dragging on-ness) of winter.

So basically I need to live in the now and work on enjoying it instead of the future.

And this is a lesson I've recently started accepting into my life on a daily front, not just at seasons change. For years I'd been in 'planning mode' focussed on what comes next and trying to be prepared. And now I've tried (somewhat successfully) to curb that bad habit and remember to love where I am in that very moment, because really you don't know how many more moments you may get.

this is where ill be aaaaalllllllll weekend....

and i couldn't be happier....

my intinerary:

Antlerstock is coming up in a few days! Soon dozens of people from all over North America will be traveling to Veryork to enjoy the Fall Festival here at the farm, two jam-packed days of workshops, talks, hands-on work, and all the questions you want to ask about anything from sheep shearers to winter gardens. Preparations are underway, and have been, for weeks. A truckload of pumpkins is getting picked up tomorrow. Saturday night a campfire will roar and 30+ jackolanterns will light up the farm. (Everyone will have a chance to carve their own between workshops) Bring your cameras, folks.

Some friends will be getting in Thursday, others Friday, and the party officially starts at 10AM on Saturday (though you are welcome to show up to park anytime after 9:30). A brunch of free-range egg vegetarian quiche, cider donuts, coffee, and such will start the day with introductions and welcoming remarks, followed by a short farm tour and outline of the day's events.

From there on out, this is the plan:

Saturday October 15th
10:30 AM - Farm Tour (everyone)
11:00 AM - Cheese Making (kitchen) with Cathy and Diane
11:00 AM - Backyard Woodlot Management with Brett (maybe Jasper)
12;00 PM - Chicken 101 with Jenna at the brooder/coop
1:00 PM - Lunch!
                 BBQ Pork from Flying Pig Farm of Shushan (3 miles from CAF),
                 Potato soup from homegrow spuds of Firecracker Farm,
                 Hand-pressed apple cider from CAF apples! (we'll have to shake them out)
                 Masonades of Lemon Ade, well water, and local beers
2:00 PM - Meat Rabbit 101 with Jenna in the barn
2:00 PM - Soapmaking with Tara of Ghost Dog Hollow Farm in the Kitchen
2:00 PM - Splitting and Stacking with Brett, Timbersports talk!
3:00 PM - Sheep 101 in the pasture with Maude and Sal
3:00 PM - Chicken History and Culture Lecture with Tamine of Common Sense Farm
4:00 PM - Wool Craft with Jenna - home wool processing, knitting 101 (bring needles and yarn!)
5:00 PM - Second Lunch, pies,more cider

Break till 7:30 PM - got to your hotel, get a shower, stretch your legs, or stay to help set up for the fire.

7:30 PM Campfire! Bring your instruments, blankets, etc!

Sunday!
8:00 AM Early Brunch! Come for more breakfast goodies and hot coffee
9:00 AM Canning 101 with Jenna in the Kitchen (berry jam)
9:00 AM Backyard Food production with Brett, talk outside, Q & A session
10:00 AM Intro to Mountain Music with Jenna
11:00 AM Trip to Common Sense Farm for Herbalism workshop in their fields (2 miles south)
11:00 AM Sheep herding/chasing lesson with Gibson.
12:00 AM Lunch! Homemade Pizzas with local cheeses
1:00 PM Gear up for a hike at Merck Forest in Rupert VT (amazing fall foliage!)
4:00 PM back at the farm for closing remarks, and thanks

That's the plan, so far. You will be able to skip in an out of workshops if you want, or not do any at all. Maybe you just want to sit outside with your guitar and drink fresh cider? Okay by me. There will be new books for sale on all sorts of topics covered here as well as copies of Made From Scratch and Chick Days, get one for a gift or for yourself signed!

If you are coming up to the farm please come prepared with a clothes ready to work, waterproof mucky boots, indoor shoes (if you don't like wearing socks in the house), rain gear (just in case), notebooks for taking notes and emails, warm clothes for the campfire (or if you're from Texas, Florida, or Southern California). Coffee is always a welcomed gift, because I have an addiction. And last, but not least: bring your excitement and kind selves! If you still need directions, you gotta email me with the address you registered with and I'll fork 'em over.

http://coldantlerfarm.blogspot.com/