Alisa's Brithday

Alisa allowed us to celebrate her birthday at the farm for 25 minutes. Kristin baked her a Macaroon Berry Tart.


So special to celebrate with you Lis!

Phillips Chain of Lakes Triathlon

For the 3rd year in a row, the Tennessens placed at the Phillips Chain of Lakes Triathlon. Below is a picture of the competitors, without Uncle Norb who finished the full triathlon two years ago. Also, he is the only one to bring home 1st place in an age group. Thanks to everyone who participated and especially to our huge cheering squad. It was a super fun event.



Danny, Dee, Kristin, Tracy, Marilyn, Dennis


Alisa, Norb, Mariann, Pauline, Kathi, Maurice, Monica, Denise, Brian, Muppet, Tracy, Barb

A Farmtacular Weekend

We had about 25+ people at The Farm July 8-10 and fit in many different celebrations. The weekend opened with a big bash for Susan's 30th birthday. Congratulations Susan! Here she is making a wish before blowing out the candles on her cake from Ovens of Harmony.

A report from Barb informed us that much of the garden is up and the potatoes are up. We have had new pototoes in Ireland on our trip.

Owl Pellet

Another great time had by all at the barn party. While walking in the field helping Lola Bea look for snakes (she was on a mission to find a snake), I noticed this sitting on top of one of the hay bales in the field. I knew it was some kind of animal digestion by-product, and wondered if it was from an owl perhaps. After doing some reading online, and some input from Rachel (Lola Bea's mom) I am sure that is what this is. Owls cough these big hairballs up after they've eaten something. It's all the undigestible stuff--hair / bones etc. I didn't take it from its place, though maybe I should have. I saw online that many people like to dissect these owl pellets because they have all the little critter bones in them. I even saw a site that sells them ($6 a piece). I'm thinking this pellet might be from a Great Horned Owl, but I'm not sure. It looks like Great Horned Owl pellet pictures I found online. Maybe that Snowy Owl my Dad saw last year is back hanging around. It would be a bigger rather than a smaller owl. You can see the little grasshopper in the left of this picture which gives some perspective. This pellet is ~3" long I bet.

If anyone is heading up there soon (Dennis and Marilyn next weekend?), it may still be there, you could put it in a ziploc bag and save it if you think of it. Not critical though. As you head out for the woods straight through the field, the second row of bales you come to as you are walking out, the first bale in that group is the one w. this owl pellet on it, and it's on the near end of that bale. I wonder how quickly the rain would disintegrate this, or if they stay pretty intact.

Owls are quite fascinating. I'm glad that in our eating habits, we humans are not required to cough up these massive hairballs as part of our digestion regimen.

Gardening

Hi all

Hope I have this right,and will try a report of my farm visit June 19th-20th.When I arrived at about 2pm sat., John Marlenga was there positioning a dumpster to hold the shingles that he will remove from the house and sheds. He said the materials will cost $3000. I will send him a check this week sometime. He helped me carry a small freezer downstairs. My friend Jane gave it to me. It is a bit smaller than I would chose, but it is free, and pretty knew.

The garden looks good. After I mowed both lawns, I work out there for a few hours. The "bun buns" have not been around as far as I can tell. I replanted a few flower seeds in places where the zinnias and Mexican Sunflowers didn't come up. I also planted another serving of dill, as we will have cukes for all of Price county if they produce. All that I planted have grown. also planted some parsley.

A few spears of asparagus have come up, and the pumpkins in the plot of ground that Norb plowed, are doing well. I went through there with the rototiller after I had done the garden. I threw out some of the big clods as I went. It is real nice dirt. Good thinking Mariann.

I saw a spotted fawn at the new place, so tried not to make to much of a stir over there. Also saw a turkey with a bunch of little turkeys on J. I can't remember just where I was when I saw them.

Hope this posts.

Love, Barb

Connected to the earth and our farm

From May 19 - May 28, 2010, six of us visited our Czech cousins in Prague and south Bohemia. Today, when I worked out, I listened to Writers Almanac, March 15, 2010. Garrison Keillor read a poem, 'Fields,' that reminded me of our farm and our visit to where Grandma and Grandpa Vlach came from.

Grandpa Vlach's birthplace - Kunicek, Bohemia. Old building in the background was there before Grandpa left the farm.

Grandma Vlach's birthplace, Prestineca, Bohemia

When Garrison Keillor read

these lines from a poem,

"Fields' by Faith Shearin, he

touched on experiences that I

have when I'm at our farm.

"I have taken root in my grandfather's
fields:

I may walk streets

of this century and make my living in an office
but my blood is old farming blood and my true

self is underground like a potato. At the opera
I will think of rainfall and vines. In my dreams
all my corn may grow short but the ears will be
full...

"I have taken root in my grandfather's

fields:....