Little reprieves, a Seaside Stroll and a healthy recipe for Bikini Season (ha!)

Still real chilly around here. 30 degrees on April 20th.

Ask me how much I love Friday mornings, when my daughter comes to the farm to do the barn chores and I get to lounge around a little before getting on with the day. I’ve been taking care of horses for 34 years now. For 34 years, no matter what the weather, twice daily, I have been up and out to the barn to feed and water and muck and rake and turn out …then to do it again in the evening. That’s on top of raising a family, holding down whatever jobs I’ve had (worn several hats in that department) and hold down the family fort.

There’s no doubting – animals (in particular, livestock) are a huge commitment. Eight years ago I added chickens to the mix and I absolutely love them. I wouldn’t trade it, it’s a life I chose and worked for and defend now and then… but there are moments when I look forward to an easier life. That won’t happen until my geriatric crew has all passed on, for I won’t give up on them up in their golden years . They’ve all been with me a long time, done their jobs, brought me much joy (ok maybe not on those really frigid mornings and evenings when my boots are soggy and fingers stinging cold before I’m halfway through. )

Someday, we will move down to live at the summer cottage from June through September of our golden years, when we don’t have the herd up on the hill to tend to. I might just bring a very small flock of chickens and of course, my dogs, with me.

For now, we’ll enjoy Stella as we currently do – with day trips and evening strolls and dinner on the deck and swimming and clamming and kayaking in the cove. 💗

Despite the cold and snowy rainy weather, I’ve been taking the dogs for walks when it won’t soak me. Frasier and I went down to the cottage two days ago to explore a little beach we hadn’t known was open to all residents and get our exercise in. Although it was yet another gray day, we saw signs that the Island is definitely beginning to wake up. Our neighbor, just in from her own walk, had deposited mulch bags around her spring garden, and another was opening up windows, airing out her cottage.