Our feature photo this month is of our goat neighbors Trinity, little Wheezie, and Mango who have come to keep burro Speedo, and ponies Joe and Jack company. The two little sheep who also live there are a bit more camera shy, and are not pictured.
Little Wheezie. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
Little Wheezie got into trouble trying to nibble branches up on an apple tree on our neighbor’s side, getting stuck in a fork in the main trunk (see the tree in the far right of the photo). Sounds of emphatic bleating emerged from behind the shed on our side, and I saw the two bigger goats come running over to investigate. I joined the rescue team, hopping the fence and extricating Wheezie from the apple tree stockade that was holding her fast. Shaken but not injured, Wheezie recovered quickly and later posed for today’s feature along with the wee one’s guardians.
Close up of Trinity. She is quite the talker!
Speedo (left) and pony buddy Jack wanting in on the photo session.
Here’s Joe! He thought I might have an apple for him.
News from the farm
The long, dry and exceedingly hot summer is drawing to a close now as equinox approaches. The air has cleared of smoke from forest fires and most of the dust from larger farms tilling and pulverizing their soil post-harvest. We have had some much needed rain recently, but not enough to provide more than a top dressing of moisture on the parched earth. Drought-stressed leaves hang limply on tree, shrub and vine, slowly exchanging their summer dresses of dark green for more appropriate autumnal yellow and brown apparel. Those too, will be soon slipping away along with the daylight hours, and they will stand bare against the coming winter weather. The sound of rain on a metal roof is one of the most beautiful melodies I know, and I am looking forward to the return of the winter rainy season after the grape harvest is finished, and many quarts of applesauce and tomatoes have been canned.
Smoky sunrise on August 23rd. Forest fires and weather patterns created poor air quality throughout the valley.
Cascade table grapes netted with bird netting. Useless against bees.
Pinot noir grapes from my personal two rows of test grapes. I get to experiment with these two rows.
Pinot noir from the main vineyard, ready to harvest.
Apples festoon the trees like Christmas ornaments.
Honeybees and Yellow Jackets do as much damage as birds in the vineyard, and I would need to put up insect netting to keep them out. At this time of year, there is little else for them to feed on, and they are attracted to the sugary juice of ripe grapes as much as any other creature. They will do what they need to do to survive. I leave them alone, and try to harvest what I can. Tables grapes we eat as well as market, and pinot noir is only for ourselves at this point. We made vinegar last year in an experiment with fermenting our pinot on native yeast (see our November 2014 newsletter in the blog archives) . This year, if I can, I will attempt a batch of wine using Epernay II commercial yeast as well as another batch of vinegar on native yeast and acetobacter. Much of what I can get done on any front depends on juggling farm, personal life and elder care. We now have home Hospice help now for Rick’s mother, which will help.
Honeybee feeding on pinot noir cluster.
News from the Cats of Salmon Brook Farms
Our feline correspondent this month is Willow, close companion of Rick’s mother, eldest of the cats here on Salmon Brook Farms, and Chaircat of the Board of the Girls of Salmon Brook Farms. We think she is in the vicinity of 18 to 20 years old, but she’s not telling, preferring her age to be part of her mystique. We think her eyes give it away though. Willow would like to acquaint readers with her girls, Abby, Hope, Wynken, Blynken and Nod. A formidable older Calico, Willow has soundly thrashed the Boys of Salmon Brook Farms, mainly Mr. Marcus and Mr. Lucio, when necessary. Mr. Nano, always a reasonable fellow, feels discretion is the better part of valor, and prefers to show respect to this grand old Calico matriarch.
Willow – Calico matriarch!
Willow, enjoying some time in front of the window.
Miss Hope, consenting to a photo shoot.
Miss Hope cat.
Miss Abby in her bookcase shelf hideaway.
Closeup of Abby cat.
Lovely long-haired Wynken.
Blynken (left) and Wynken (right), loafing in their baskets.
Blynken, the Quiet Intellectual.
Blynken (left) and Nod (right), loafing int heir baskets. Nod has taken over the basket from Wynken.
Nod, spokescat of the Three Sisters, showing off her Paul Newman blue eye.
Music news (schedule posted on the Performance Schedule page)
I like to help other performers, when I can, by introducing them to the readers of this newsletter. Kiamichi, Tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, will share her gift by performing with authentic American Indian Flutes and telling stories of her culture. Her CDs will be available for $15. Seniors may purchase them for $10. There will be a raffle for one of Kiamichi’s CDs for $1.00 each ticket. Please attend if you are in the area.
“Native American wooden flutes, played for calmness, balance and comfort. Creator gives me the breath that I breathe into the flute. He creates the music that comes to our heart and ears.”
As for my own schedule, one more show managed to sneak in before I take some time off from actively performing until January or February of 2016. I will be at the Albany Farmers’ Market on Saturday morning, September 26th. Check the performance schedule page for details, and please visit http://locallygrown.org
In your area, wherever you may be, please do all you can to help keep your own local music alive. Go out and see someone you don’t know, host a house concert, download songs or buy CDs. Or even just stop for a minute to hear someone at a Farmers’ Market. Live, local musicians provide a wealth of talent most people will never hear about in this age of iPods, Internet and TV.
Bookings and home-grown produce:
Lavinia and Rick Ross
Salmon Brook Records / Salmon Brook Farms
http://home.earthlink.net/~redwine5
https://salmonbrookfarms.wordpress.com
A beautiful evening in late August after the smoke from fires had mostly cleared. A time to be thankful for good friends and neighbors, good food, and a good well. May each and every one of you out there have what you need. Help others in need. And whatever you do in life, do it with love.
Salmon Brook Farms 